In Front Of Me

Draco threw his books forcefully on the floor in his dorm. He hated her. He couldn't even think about her face because it would send him into another rage. He couldn't believe what was going on with him. He'd never felt so horrible in his entire life. Just who the hell did she think she was? She was nobody, and Draco was definitely somebody. Everyone knew him, but that doesn't necessarily mean they liked him. He couldn't understand why he was doing this. It was all her fault, and he knew it. She's the one who had to go get with Weasley. A plan slowly formed in his head.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Draco spotted his target sitting at a table in the usual place. The library was considerably empty as he made his way to her. She didn't look up, and it was very like her not to. He silently sat in the chair across the table from her.

"What are you doing?" Draco asked in a whisper.

"Trying to get my work done," Hermione said still looking at her homework.

"Can I talk to you?" he asked, getting closer to her.

"No Malfoy, go find someone else to annoy," Hermione said. He got up, and moved to where she was sitting so he was standing right over her. She looked up nervously.

"But it's important," he said, pushing her homework out of the way, and sitting in front of her on the table. She looked up at him angrily.

"Well? What?" she snapped. Ron entered the library just then, and looked to where Hermione and Draco were. Draco acted. He leaned in to kiss Hermione. Hermione gasped, and pulled her fist back, and with all her might, punched Draco right in the jaw. She sent him tumbling backward off the table and onto the floor. Ron hurried to where he'd witnessed what had happened. Hermione stood, and looked over the side of the table to where Draco lay.

"Damn Granger. What the hell did you do over the summer?" Draco asked, rubbing his throbbing jaw. She was rather tiny, but she could pack a punch.

"Training. I might be little but...just what the hell were you doing anyway?" she said, feeling slightly satisfied. She hadn't noticed Ron's presence. He stood, still massaging his aching face.

"Are you alright Hermione?" Ron said, putting his hand on her arm.

"Oh, uh...Hi Ron. I'm ok...I just...yeah, I'm ok," Hermione said, brightening a bit. She shook her hand. It hurt slightly from hitting Draco.

"Good, you scared me. Hey, have you seen Kat?" Ron replied, looking around. Hermione's heart sunk.

"No, sorry Ron," Hermione said, looking down, depressed.

"Oh, well I'm going to go look for her. See ya 'Mione," he said, running off. Hermione slumped back into her chair, and began her homework again. Draco smirked and sat across from her again.

"This is unbelievable," he said, laughing.

"What?" Hermione snapped.

"You fancy the Weasel," Draco said confidently.

"I do not...how do you know?" she demanded.

"Well, it's not like you try to hide it or anything. It's so obvious," Draco said.

"It is?" Hermione said, her cheeks turning pink. She didn't know she was that obvious.

"Yeah. Wow, that's really sad. But, come to think of it, we might be able to help each other," Draco said.

"Help each other? What are you talking about? Wait, I have a better question. What the hell was all that about?" she asked.

"Well, think about it Granger. I said we could help each other. Don't you understand what that means?" he asked. Hermione thought for several minutes, then looked up, grinning.

"You fancy Kat, don't you?" she asked, smiling.

"Well, maybe but you had better keep your mouth shut," he said.

"I can't believe this. Oh, and sorry to break it to you, but I don't think she's exactly your type," Hermione said, still laughing.

"I know, that's the weird part," Draco said.

"She won't give you the time of day," Hermione said, grinning. He stood to take action against her last words and she stood with him.

"I'd like you to remember what just happened before you go any further. I guarantee you are making a big mistake," her said.

"Right, I don't want your knuckles finding their way into my jaw again," Draco said backing up, and taking his seat again. Hermione did so also.

"So what does all that have to do with just now?" Hermione asked.

"Well, I figured that putting the moves on Weasel would make him jealous. I never figured you had fists of steel," Draco said, rubbing his jaw again.

"That was a pretty dumb plan. You weren't really going to kiss me were you?" Hermione asked disgusted.

"God no! Do you think I'm that stupid?" Draco asked, appalled by the idea.

"I won't answer that question for your sake," Hermione said, grinning.

"Well, what's your plan? Wait until they break up?" Draco asked.

"I don't know, I guess I don't have a plan," Hermione said sadly.

"He just ignored the fact that I was about to kiss you! I mean I wasn't going to, but that in itself says something about his lack of concern towards you," Draco said.

"So what? I don't exactly see Kat falling at your feet. Last time I heard, she hated you," Hermione said defensively.

"Well, I'm working on another plan. It has to work. If it doesn't, I don't know what I'll do to get her," Draco said before realizing who he was talking to.

"Well, any plan you have is certainly not including me. I'll do this on my own. I kind of already had one going," Hermione said.

"Really? Now what is your plan?" Draco asked, curious.

"Well, I guess I figured that if I act like I fancy Harry around Ron, he'll get jealous," Hermione said.

"That won't work. I just proved that with my plan. You have to change your appearance a bit, maybe your hair or something. Then you have to ignore him. It drives a bloke mad when he can't get the attention of a girl," Draco said.

"Are you sure?" she asked, wondering how he knew so much.

"Take it from me, I know what your going through," Draco said. Hermione realized how civil he could be and it made her wonder if his whole personality was just a charade to hide the person inside.

"And what's wrong with my hair anyway?" Hermione asked, angry.

"Let's not go there," Draco joked.

"How do you know your new plan will work?" Hermione asked.

"I'm a Malfoy after all, and I always get what I want," he said as he stood and left the library. He was trying to work out another plan to get Kat when he bumped into Harry.

"Watch it Potter," he said coldly.

"Oh, s-sorry Draco," Harry said. He bit his tongue when he realized what he'd said.

"Since when am I Draco? What happened to Malfoy, or slimy git?" Draco asked, smirking. Harry fidgeted, and instead of answering, hurried over to where Hermione sat.

"Oh hi Harry. What's the matter? You look like you're about to be sick," Hermione said concernedly. Their little encounter had blown over for now.

"Hermione, I think I'm in love with Draco Malfoy," Harry whispered, sweating furiously.