A/n: sorry, i know it's late but only by one day, can you forgive me enough to send me lots of lovely reviews *pleading look*?

Loads of hugs for my wonderful beta TheBeautyOfTheGrave, you are truly amazing xx

Oh and a little warning i think Draco might be slightly OOC here, it just so hard to write him hating Hermione!

Disclaimer: doesn't belong to me.

It was hard to get through the day we were to get the train without thinking of her. I knew who was going to be Head Girl by the end of the first year and it wasn't anyone in Slytherin. I had been shocked when I walked into that compartment but not from seeing her there as she obviously thought, judging from her barely suppressed mirth. No, walking in and seeing her appearance had been similar to being hit by a train.

She had looked…almost…pretty, especially when she saw my expression and giggled.

I tried with everything I was to stop my face from showing any emotion so as not to bring shame to my family name; even though my father had died in the war, I was still a Malfoy and I must live up to that name. All my years of practise could not stop my reaction then though; she had changed so much over the summer, becoming more womanly- but not in the overt way that Pansy was, in her own subtle Hermione way - her clothes hinted at curves hidden from view and her hair fell freely around her shoulders, framing her oval face. I did the only thing I could, throwing my suitcase and owl into the rack and stalking off to talk to Blaise and Pansy.

During the prefect meeting I studiously avoided looking at even her reflection in the window, leaving her to deal with everything; she could cope with it. I could feel her resentment of me for not helping but I just ignored her, otherwise I would have done something to ruin both my family's reputation and my power within school.

xxx

I was impressed by our living quarters, they were a fair size for just two people and we had a kitchen. On the downside we had to share a bathroom and a common room but then one of us could always retreat to our bedrooms - that one would not be me.

I got away from her as fast as I could even before the bumbling old coot had made it to the door, having not taken anything in, just absorbed in her childish reaction. She was affecting me just by standing there, her eyes slightly dazed at the rooms before her. She looked adorable and innocent.

What had gotten into me? I was being turned on by a dirty little mudblood. I must not think of her in any other way, she is beneath my notice unless to insult.

Yep that ought to do it, tell yourself off why don't you.

XxX

Waking up the next morning was hard. I had been tossing all night and must have only gotten an hour's worth of completely undisturbed sleep. I heard Granger get up and thought maybe I should too as I knew I would not go back to sleep. On silent feet I went to the kitchen to get some coffee, only to freeze in the doorway, my promises to myself last night forgotten.

She was placing a glass back in the cupboard clad only in some indecently short shorts and a t-shirt which had risen up - revealing firm, lightly tanned skin. Her hair was tousled from sleep and her movements were slow, as if she had just awoken. In truth she looked delectable. [Fwee :3]

Not that I would ever tell anyone that.

Then, stifling a yawn, she turned and started at the intensity of my stare. I shook my head to clear it of those unwanted thoughts and stood aside to allow her exit from the kitchen, unable to do much else. Getting my coffee, I waited until I heard her vacate the bathroom. By the time I was ready she was gone.

In the Great Hall I could not stop staring at her, she looked so serene and peaceful amidst all the playful banter, head-bowed to her plate. I didn't eat much breakfast, too caught up in watching her and avoiding Pansy. I snapped out of it when Professor McGonagall gave me my timetable. It was nice to be able to see free periods set throughout the week rather than having lesson after lesson. I knew those free periods would all too soon be filled with studying and homework. Not that I cared, I would just pay someone to do the work for me.

xxx

Ugh, Pansy is so annoying. She actually seems to think I am going out with her and we are going to get married and have lots of lovely pureblood children. I don't think even my father would make me go that far to save our pureblood heritage. She makes my skin crawl. For example, right now she is flashing me this grimace that she obviously thinks is sexy and alluring but well... you get the picture, it's Pansy for goodness sake.

Okay she is seriously putting me off my breakfast now (toast drenched in chocolate sauce, if you were wondering XD). I got up from the table, muttering something about heading to my first class to Blaise, who was also looking at the demented girl beside me with horror, and swaggered from the hall.