Chapter 2

Hermione was awake before dawn. She spent the morning just lying in bed, hoping to avoid Draco. It was all so new; loving Draco and seeing him would make it difficult to fight. 'Oh you silly girl, just get up and face the world' she told herself and with that she got up from bed.

Getting ready and taking care in doing so, she carefully went outside into their common room. Making as little noise as possible, given that it was only six-thirty in the morning, she tried hard to not wake up Draco. 'Careful 'Mione' she told herself. When she was safely out of the dorm she ran off.

She went to the dining hall, and sat down. "You did it Granger." She told herself, "You got out of the serpents lair."

"Not quite." She recognized that drawl, she sighed and turned around and there he was, leaning against the wall in his Slytherine uniform.

"Why are up?" she asked "Are you okay?" Draco simply raised an eyebrow at her concern, "I could ask you the same question." He said and began walking towards her, Hermione turned around as he sat down next to her. They were the only ones in the hall, "So why are you here?" he asked again

"I wanted to avoid you." She answered truthfully, Draco didn't change his expression, "Why?" he asked, Hermione looked at him incredulously "Um, I don't know, maybe because I'm under a potion and I can't be within a 5 mile radius of you without wanting to kiss you!" she exclaimed

He nodded and faked a pondering expression, "Now what are we going to do about that?" he asked Hermione looked at him confused, "You see Granger, we are heads, we share duties, several classes and a dorm." He explained, then his expression hardened, "How in the hell did you expect to avoid me!?" he asked suddenly angry

"I don't know!" she cried, "I don't know okay!" she put her face in her hands, Draco closed his eyes and tried to calm himself, "Why can't everything be normal?" he asked, Hermione snorted and looked up, "We're wizards," she started and looked at him, "Nothing will ever normal."

Draco laughed, "You're right about that mudblood." He said, Hermione caught her breath, "It's not darling or sweetheart, so why when you call me mudblood I see it as a compliment." She said. Draco's eyes widened, No one called her mudblood except Draco, it seemed almost, in a way, affectionate.

"It's an insult Granger." He said trying to explain it to her, "I know, but no one calls me that except you." She said it so sweetly, Draco couldn't help it, and he kissed her roughly. She responded immediately and wrapped her arms around his neck.

When they pulled away they were panting and leaning their foreheads together. Hermione's heart was pounding fast and loudly, she wouldn't be surprised if Draco could hear it. She looked at him in shock, got up and ran away, again.

Draco sighed and ran a hand through his hair; he needed to stop kissing her. She was in love with him and he promised Dumbledore that he wasn't going to take advantage of her. Granted that he didn't care about the old coot but a part of him actually cared about the mudblood.

Mudblood! How could she see that name as a compliment? Draco got up and went to the Slytherine table. He sat there for a while just thinking before, other students came entered the hall. "Hey Draco." Said Pansy as she sat down with Blaise, "Are you okay?" asked Blaise

"No," he answered "It's this whole situation with Granger." He said putting his head in his hands, "What happened?" asked Pansy, Pansy and Blaise has always been Draco's closest friends, Crabbe and Goyle were more like minions or bodyguards.

"She's in love with me." He said stating the obvious, but Blaise and Pansy understood, "Poor girl." Muttered Pansy, Blaise and Draco looked at her in shock, "Poor girl!?" they exclaimed "What, the poor child is in love with this idiot," she said pointing to Draco, "Hey!" he said offended Pansy ignored him.

"The poor thing must be so traumatized." Blaise started laughed and Pansy smirked but Draco looked unimpressed. "I don't want her to love me, I can't stand her." 'Lie' thought Draco; if he really didn't care then why kiss her? Lust thought Draco it has to be.

Caring wouldn't do anyone good, he looked at his friends they were still teasing hi but he wasn't listening.

Hermione sat in the library with a book in front of her but she wasn't concentrating. Why did she have to be in love? She couldn't concentrate on anything; all she can think about is Draco. The worst part was that Hermione loved rationally.

She didn't put Draco on a pedestal, he was imperfect and she loved him that way. It was absurd, she always knew Draco was beautiful but that was it. Now she was trying to understand him, she wanted to know him; she was over analyzing every little detail of their every encounter.

She saw how he tries to hide his feelings with unjustified actions. She saw his fear, she saw his hatred. What she wanted to see was his love; she wanted to know what it would be like to be loved by him. It was an innocent curiosity, a simple desire from a love struck girl.

Then Hermione saw the time and realized that if she didn't leave now she would be late for class. She took her bag and ran out of the library and went for Herbology. It was a pity she shared that class with Draco, what a lie!

Hermione sighed before she entered the classroom, it's now or never!

The second she entered the class and took her seat, Harry and Ron bombarded her with questions. "Where were you at breakfast?" asked Harry "I wasn't feeling well and I just didn't want to face Malfoy." Hermione said and looked away from her friend.

She didn't lie exactly, she wasn't feeling well after her encounter with Draco and she didn't want to face through out breakfast. I need help! She thought in despair. Then Draco walked in with Blaise, he looked at Hermione and their eyes met and held each other.

Hermione could feel her heart pounding, it never did that before. It's the potion, said Hermione to herself, it's the potion. When she realized she was blushing, she quickly looked away. Then she felt something poke her side, she turned and saw Ron, "Why are you blushing and why does Malfoy look like he has won the Quidditch cup?"

"Ron stop bothering Hermione." Said Harry, Hermione sent Harry a grateful look and tried to pay attention to the teacher, tried being the key word. She couldn't focus, when she was to aware of Draco, Hermione groaned, This is going to be a long day.