Discovered.

Draco walked the corridors, unnoticed by the general population of Hogwarts who hustled and bustled around him as he wandered aimlessly through the seemingly never ending passages.

Somewhere far away he heard Peeves cackling inevitably followed by the screams of first-year girls. Apparently he was dive-bombing the little squirts with ink pellets. Draco chuckled to himself. Then, as he predicted, a flustered Argus Filch lumbered passed him, panting and cursing having probably ran up the last few staircases. Mrs Norris followed him, naturally.

Draco couldn't help feeling sorry for him really. The poor man had never gotten over Umbridge's departure.

He saw a great grey owl fly past the window, clutching a small, brown parcel as McGonagall ushered in a class of second-years.

He saw a group of Hufflepuff girls, each of them clutching an identical book as if it was a lifeline, giggling and chatting enthusiastically…

"Yeah I know he left her, but with good reason…yes I know that, but jumping off that cliff was totally unnecessary! Of course he was going to jump to conclusions…"

He saw the Gryffindors striding down the corridor, thinking that they owned the school. Treated with respect from both Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw…

"Well I'd say that Comets have outgrown the Nimbus…Nah, the Firebolt is definitely the best though…are you kidding me? The Cleansweeps just can't compare!"

He saw a group of Ravenclaws huddled together, hosting intelligent conversations about music, literature, and politics…

"Did you hear about Fudge? He claimed the maximum possible allowance for his second home while he was still Minister for Magic! If he isn't already totally disgraced, this'll do it! Yes, I'm sure it was quite within the rules, but…"

Draco didn't see any Slytherins. He wasn't surprised, they usually kept to themselves, especially nowadays.

And then there was just Draco. Ignored. Hated for being a Pureblood. Hated for being a Slytherin.

Then, as if out of thin air, Hermione Granger popped up, grabbed his arm and whisked him away.

"Where are you taking me?" he cried, but to no avail.

Together they attracted more stares than McGonagall would've in a bikini; the Pureblood and the Mudblood? The Gryffindor and the Slytherin? Even after the Great Wizarding War, this was by and large unheard of in Hogwarts. But Hermione knew her way around. She took him through tapestries, down slides, across secret passages, and once, a door pretending to be a wall. By the time they reached the Library, Draco was rather out of breath.

"What the hell was that?!" Draco panted. "Do you want to ruin my reputation for ever?"

The girl gave him a warning look, and then preceded to drag him along to the farthest corner of the library, where there was no chance of being overheard. He looked around - there weren't many people there anyway. A few Ravenclaws, all ready revising for next years' exams…some Hufflepuffs browsing through the fiction area. No Gryffindors. No Slytherins. Perhaps they had much better things to do than wasting time in the Library.

Hermione stopped walking, and started talking.

"Okay, I need to straighten out a few things with you, is that ok?" She waited for his consent before carrying on. He looked around, to make sure nobody could see them. Then, he nodded.

"Since when have you felt this… attraction towards Harry? How much exactly, do you like him? Do you love him or is this just sexual? Is it a possibility that you like him just as a friend? Do you think that the increasing estrangement from your family might be the reason why you have a desperate need for somebody to love? Might it be that you chose Harry because of his near royal status amongst wizards of the reformed world? Do you think it is because he stands as a symbol for everything the Death Eaters rebelled against? Do you see anything of yourself in him? Can you deny that your feelings for him amount to nothing more than a crush? Is the reason why you like him so much partly to do with your dislike of the people around him; blood traitors and Muggleborns?"

Draco had given up trying to understand the brunette by the third question. How was he meant to keep up with the flabbergasting speed at which she questioned him? For the first time in his life, Draco was forced to admit to himself that Hermione Granger was indeed, much more intelligent than he was... or perhaps just a little more psycho.

"How about I ask you a question." said Draco. "How many times did you practise that before getting it perfect and how on earth do you expect me to answer in perfect order?" Hermione blushed, and didn't answer. Draco sighed.

"Well… I've liked him for, say two years? Something along those lines…his rebellion against Umbridge… greatly impressed me…" Draco trailed off, until he saw Hermione's inquisitive expression, she was eager to know more. "And I do… love him… and as for sexual desire… surely that's expected of a hormonal teenager boy?" Now it was his turn to blush.

"Well…what about your family? Not to mention Harry's current popularity? Are you certain these aren't factors?" Hermione persisted. He scowled before answering.

"Naturally, my family would… disapprove, but the estrangement between father and I has been years in the making. By now I have no greater wish than to infuriate and ridicule him. Although, I think the fall of Voldemort saw to that." He gave Hermione a weak smile which she didn't return, obviously waiting for more answers.

"As for popularity, I don't give a toss about that anymore. Who cares? The Malfoys had status before the war, a pureblood line stretching back thousands of years, but it all turned out to be our downfall! I've learnt my lesson, and I don't care about bloodline or influencing people anymore." He said this last statement with such barely hidden contempt that Hermione looked a bit scared again, like she did that night in the Prefects' bathroom. Seeing this, he smiled at her and she relaxed.

"I was wondering…" she paused. "Do you see yourself in him? I mean you're so different but…"

"No." Draco answered. "In fact I think what attracts me to him most is the fact that he is precisely the opposite of what the Malfoy family has stood for generations. He's just so…forbidden…" Hermione looked at him, looking at him like he was an intriguing specimen of the elusive (or imaginary) Crumple Horned Snorklack.

"You have to understand this." He begged of her, "It's more than an infatuation. It's like… an obsession! I might just be experiencing the typical angsty part of every wizard's life which we call being a teenager." He paused. "But this is different to anything I've ever felt in my life. Hermione, please understand…" She looked supremely shocked at his use of her first name. "I think I'm in love. I'm in love with Harry Potter."

A large thump echoed through the silent library, both he and Hermione turned alarmed towards the disturbance. Someone was moving on the other side of the bookshelf. Draco glanced at Hermione, panicked. She had a calm exterior, but her eyes were filled with fear. She put a finger on her lips, signalling for Draco to be quiet and listen. Then slowly, she tiptoed around to the end of the bookshelf, Draco close behind her.

And there, with a heavy book by his feet and a horrified expression on his face, stood a certain Harry James Potter.

Draco and Hermione froze.

Harry paused.

And then he fled.

A/N - Gosh how I love writing cliffhangers! MUAHAHAHA Can I again thank my wonderful Beta who never seems to tire of my often futile attempts at using long and complicated words. I would thank my reviewers, but so far I haven't got many! It's very simple:

Read, Review, Recommend! And I will continue to write :D