Hermione skimmed through Hogwarts: A History for the thousandth time, performing her start-of-school ritual. It was one of many guilty pleasures for her, cracking the binding of her worn book, taking comfort in the familiar words and the soft lull in which they cradled her mind like a warm embrace. This was one thing that was always able to bring Hermione absolute peace.
That is, until she noticed Draco Malfoy.
Hermione always noticed Draco, whether he was laughing in the Great Hall with his friends or gliding a hand through his hair on the Quidditch Pitch. She noticed the way the sun glinted off his sliver-blonde hair, and the way he smirked whenever he said her name. She noticed his glances at her in class, getting longer and longer each time she looked back. She knew the gentle movement of his hand as he took notes in Charms, and the way he took his tea on Sunday mornings. This was her biggest secret, the part of her she kept hidden from her closest friends. The part of her infatuated with Draco Malfoy.
It was the start of term, the first night back at Hogwarts. While her friends were making merry in the Gryffindor common room, Hermione had quietly slipped out, seeking peace and quiet in her favorite room of the castle. Now she sat by the window, a cool breeze blowing her hair gently away from her sweater as she read her favorite book. A shockingly loud bang erupted from a few bookshelves away, forcing Hermione to snap out of her reverie and yank out her wand. She had thought she was quite alone in the library, and had finally let her guard down. Slipping out of her chair she crept behind the looming shelves and whispered, "lumos."
The soft light beaming from her wand glinted against white-blonde hair. Hair that she knew almost as well as her own. She let out a soft yelp.
"Fancy meeting you here, Granger," mumbled a bruised Malfoy from under her feet.
"Oh my god," she said. "What on earth are you doing on the library floor Malfoy?"
"Well Granger, as lovely as my view is from down here, I am not here by choice."
It was only now Hermione realized the position they were in. Her Hogwarts skirt, bunched higher than usual from her slouching in her seat, gave Malfoy a generous view from his spot on the floor, lying flat on his back.
"Oh you sorry wanker!" she stomped away, not offering him help off the floor.
"Granger," he grunted. "For once in your life could you not be such a sad sack and have a bit of a laugh? No wonder your friends chose to get smashed instead of be with you."
Hermione bit back a haughty laugh. "For your information, Malfoy," she sneered, "I left the party for some peace and quiet. Thank you ever so much for interrupting me." At this Malfoy gave a loud guffaw, attracting the attention of the omnipresent Madam Pince.
"Who's there?" she cried. "The library is closed!"
Draco, having silently gotten to his feet, gently pushed Hermione closer to the shelf behind her, effectively hiding her in the shadows. "What are you do-" "Shhh!" Draco interrupted. To his surprise, Hermione didn't fight him off, even when he pressed closer to her, pinning her against the bookshelf. They waited till Madam Pince had toddled to the back of the library to separate themselves. "I cannot believe you Malfoy," Hermione whispered violently. "What are you even doing in the library?"
"I could ask you the same question, since the library is closed."
Hermione bristled. "Madam Pince is very lenient with me. I don't want that leniency to end because of her getting the," she gestured to the small space between their bodies, "the wrong idea."
"And what would that idea be, Granger?" Draco asked coyly."
"Honestly Draco, if you keep smirking like that your face will freeze that way."
And just like that, she was gone.