AN: Um, sorry for the wait! I'm out of school for summer break and it's been a very eventful one so far!

Please, please review. I know I've been terrible at updating but that will change. See, I actually have the next few chapters written. It's just a matter of typing them.

There was just something about Draco Malfoy that captured all of Hermione's senses. His mere essence had the power to ensnare her and awaken powerful feelings in her. Feelings which existed in the depths of her heart; ones that she hadn't even known were possible.

HEAR—First Year

It started quite early on, probably during her first year at Hogwarts. From the start (or at least before the troll incident), Hermione had no friends. She wasn't a social pariah by her own volition; it was just that people didn't know what to make of the fact that she felt much more at ease with her nose buried in a schoolbook. Her classmates teased her, called her names, and whispered about her in their small coteries. Even at the tender age of eleven, Hermione was used to this treatment and had learned to take it in stride—somewhat. Optimistically, foolishly, and idealistically, she had hoped that things would be different at a school who's mere existence proved that anything was possible, but in that first month, she learned not to expect any different than what she'd experienced before. She gathered that she would feel nothing but loneliness during her education at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The sadness of that prospect took over and she lost the hopeful glow of excitement that she had once possessed. So, when the second week of October found her alone in the library, nobody was more surprised that she to hear someone speak to her.

"May I join you?" Hermione looked up from her book in surprise and saw a boy about her same age with alabaster skin, shockingly blonde hair, and stormy grey eyes. She looked at the table behind her—convinced that he was addressing someone else—but the other tables were all vacant.

"Um, sure. Go ahead."

The boy pulled out a chair and sat directly across from her. "My name's Malfoy, Draco Malfoy, and I am from Slytherin." He extended a pale hand and Hermione took it with a soft smile.

"Hermione Granger, Gryffindor."

Silence fell upon the table and Hermione nervously twirled a curl around her finger. She had never been good at small talk due to her lack of a social life.

"So…what brings you to my corner of the library?" she ventured. As soon as the words had left her mouth, she winced at how stupid they sounded. Apparently, Draco didn't share her opinion, for he smiled.

"I need to get away from my housemates so I said that I was going to the Owlery."

Hermione looked confused. "Then why are you here?"

"Easy. They'd never check the library for me. They think that only losers and Hufflepuffs hang out here." He backtracked slightly. "That's not what I think though. In my opinion, the library is a type of sanctuary for me." Draco flushed, he'd never said that out loud before. Would she think him a complete bookworm for admitting that? In disbelief, Draco watched as her brown eyes began to sparkle.

"Really? It's the same for me! I mean, sometimes I come here even when I've already completed all of my assignments. I know it makes me come off as odd, and that's probably why nobody wants to be my friend; but I can't help it. I feel…at home near books."

She said this all quite breathlessly, she didn't think that it was possible for someone to consider the library a haven…besides her, of course. Then her words caught up to her. Hermione was in the unfortunate habit of rambling when she was nervous or excited—and at the moment; she was both and could not control what came out of her mouth. She was immensely embarrassed and was in shock that she had admitted to being friendless.

Her cheeks turned red and she hastily flipped a page in Hogwarts, a History, trying desperately to cover her humiliation. She started at the words so hard that they started to blur together. Her once chance at making a friend, and she probably just scared him away!

She moved to turn to the next page when a hand covered hers. "I'll be your friend." Hermione stared up at the boy in astonishment. After all that she had foolishly let slip, he was still willing to talk to her and even befriend her?

"Really?"

He smiled. "Of course. I've never been friends with someone from a different house before. And you seem okay, even though you are a Gryffindor." His smile turned to a playful smirk as he spoke those last words and Hermione giggled. Who knew that hearing four simple sentences spoken by an eleven year old boy could make her so deliriously happy?

End notes: So, this is only the first in a five part series. (Excuse the shortness—each new chapter is longer than its predecessor!) Please review! I have the next three already written! Reviews will only motivate me to type faster! :D

The first person to guess the next sense featured will get a cameo in the next chapter! I'll notify you if you're the winner. : )