The Harry Potter universe and its characters are the sole property of J. K. Rowling. By using them below, I am in no way claiming ownership.

Hermione had slept badly, refusing to go to bed until an older prefect agreed to check the dormitory. The resulting dark circles under her eyes had been a perfect excuse to stay in the castle on the blustery Saturday morning, while the other students were trekking across the grounds for the Hufflepuff vs. Gryffindor Quidditch match. Once the corridors were empty, Hermione snuck down to the library, hoping to find some solace in its books.

Draco had no choice; he had to leave the safety of his chamber. His anti-social streak had proven a boring endeavour and there were several pieces of outstanding homework in urgent need of completion. What few books he could find in the Slytherin common room weren't helpful. How could 'How to Poison your Foes and Get Away with It' or 'Cursed Artefacts and Where to Find Them' help with his Divination and History of Magic essays? Who even put these books in here? He had no choice - he had to go to the library.

He timed his excursion through the corridors with military precision, trying his best to avoid any other students. As he crossed the threshold into the library unmolested, he let out a sigh of relief. It appeared that the library was completely empty, with the exception of the resident librarian. Draco ditched his homework on an empty table and moved over to the stacks, looking for the divination section.

The Mythology and Prophecy books were confined to the far corner of the fourth aisle. He tilted his head, eyes roaming the volumes for one on Norse gods. Professor Binns had set an essay on the use of magic in mythology, and Draco had a natural proclivity for Thor. The desired book was bound in red leather and sat on a shelf at waist height. Upon removing it, he realised he could see straight through onto the fifth aisle, where a pair of eyes glared back at him. Draco recognised them immediately.

'You!' Draco snarled, suddenly appearing at the mouth of the fifth aisle. Hermione jumped, dropping her Witch-Lit. She bent down to pick up the battered book.

'Stay away from me,'

'You,' he repeated, pointing at her as she straightened. 'You witch!' He took a step towards her and Hermione reacted instinctively, flinging the small edition from her hands at him. The book caught him in the shoulder and he swore, stopping in his tracks. Hermione grabbed a larger tome and raised it threateningly.

'Come any closer, Malfoy, I dare you.' Draco narrowed his eyes and shoved his hands in his robes.

'You think it's real funny, don't you?' He growled.

'I'm not laughing,' she shouted back, still gripping the book.

'You scheme it up with your girl gang, huh? What's next, they're going to kidnap me and sacrifice me to a greenpickle?' Hermione narrowed her eyes,

'It's grendelmage, you poncy moron, and if you don't stay out of my bed then I just might!'

'I wasn't in your bed,' Draco sneered.

'I should have had Colin take a picture, then everyone else could be visually assaulted by your wand.'

'You filthy mudblood!' Draco's cool was gone. 'I suppose I should congratulate you on involving McGonagall in your stupid scheme, she certainly acted like she wanted a piece of this.' He gestured to himself.

'Oh please, no witch would ever want a piece of you.' She retorted, the reference to McGonagall not registering in her mind.

'Why don't you tell that to Ginny?'

'You leave Ginny alone!'

'I will, as soon as she stops trying to 'Kedavra me in the hallways!'

Hermione lowered her book, frowning.

'What are you talking about?'

'You planned it so well, didn't you, little miss cleverclogs? Get the little Weasley to try and top me in the corridor so your precious McGonagall can step in to save the day and accost me herself.'

'If people want to accost you, Malfoy,' Hermione replied, incredulous, 'it's because you're so irritating.'

'You've gone round the school spreading a bunch of silly rumours about me, and you've got a whole group of people to act like they want the Malfoy, and I'm fed up with it, OK?'

'Want the Malfoy?' Hermione repeated, simultaneously amused and confused.

'You know. Like they're in love with me or something.' He pouted moodily at the opposite bookcase. 'I didn't serenade you in the courtyard and I haven't been anywhere near your bed.' He glanced back at her. 'Oh, thanks a bunch for telling Snape I was hassling you,' he added on, sarcastic.

'You were in my bed.' Hermione put the book on an adjacent table and folded her arms. 'You did serenade me in the courtyard. You even floated up to my window the night you broke up with me at the ball.' Hermione paused, thinking. 'That's a thing. How did you float to my window? How did you overcome the wards?'

'I don't know what you're talking about.' Hermione narrowed her eyes, then took two steps towards him. She placed her hands on either side of his face and forced his gaze to hers.

'Say it again.'

'I don't know what you're talking about.' Hermione released him and took a step back, looking pensive.

'I don't think you're lying.' Her eyes moved back to his. 'Then what's going on?'

The pair exchanged notes on the week's events. Draco had cringed at her recollections of his romantic displays, and enjoying the feeling of power, she had slightly exaggerated his actions. He still denied it, convincingly, and somehow it made sense in her mind. After all, how could Draco suddenly possess magic that even Dumbledore wasn't capable of? Although... she corrected herself, perhaps Dumbledore doesn't levitate because he doesn't want to, it's not that he can't...

Draco regaled her with his story and Hermione suspected that he was also embellishing the facts, with such extreme displays of emotion from Ginny seeming impossible. Something else clicked in her mind.

'Wait,' she interrupted him. 'Who specifically was infatuated with you?'

'You want a list?' Draco asked, seeming smug. Hermione nodded. 'Well...'

'And go in order.'

'Ginny. McGonagall. Colin. Then there was a group... Katie Bell, maybe Lavender. One of the Parvati twins. I didn't get a good look at them.'

'And no-one else?' Hermione asked. Draco shook his head. 'Draco... these are all Gryffindors.'