Draco Malfoy's First Love

Chapter Eight: The Library

Hermione stopped up the stairs to her dormitory as fast as she could. She deliberately avoided her friends because she wanted to be left alone. The nerve of that arrogant twit! She thought. I hope he rots in hell for what he did!

"Hermione?" a voice cautiously asked. Hermione looked up from her four poster bed to see Ginny at the door. "What's wrong?"

"Go away, Ginny," she muttered and closed the hangings around her bed.

* * *

Malfoy lay in bed wondering that night. "Ok, that wasn't the best way to handle the situation," he thought aloud. "Maybe I can talk to her tomorrow. I'll make her understand."

* * *

Hermione didn't get very much sleep the following few nights. At least it was finally Christmas Holidays, so she didn't have to worry about not paying attention in class. She sat absentmindedly in the Library all afternoon two days before Christmas. Her thoughts were interrupted when Ron came and sat down beside her.

"Hey, Herm, what's up with you lately?" he asked.

"Oh," she said in a startled voice, "nothing, Ron. I'm just a little disappointed about not seeing my parents this Christmas," at least it's partially the truth, she thought.

"Well, don't let it get you down. You know me and Harry are your family too." Ron then did something he never had done before--he gave her a brief hug and a light kiss on the head. Then he got up, slightly embarrassed, and walked off.

Hermione smiled; at least she had some people here who cared about her. Hermione stood up and started to pack away her things when she suddenly felt a presence behind her. Then she felt the slightest touch of a hand on her shoulder. Ron, she thought. She smiled and turned around to face her returning friend, only to once again stare at the face of Draco Malfoy. "ARRGGHH!" she screamed as she tried to run by him. He grabbed her shoulders, though and brought her back to him. Thinking he was about to kiss her again, Hermione mustered up all the courage she could and spit in his face.

"EUUGH!" Malfoy groaned, letting go of her to wipe the spit onto his robes. "What a disgusting creature you are, Granger!"

"You were trying to kiss me again, Malfoy! What was I supposed to do?"

"I wasn't trying to kiss you," he retorted angrily, "In fact, I was coming here to apologize for the other day. Geeze!"

"Oh, well, I guess you're forgiven then." Hermione said in a slightly embarrassed tone. A flush came to her cheeks, "I didn't know you possessed the ability to say you're sorry. I guess I was wrong and I'm sorry for that."

"Apology accepted, Granger." He seemed to be fighting some internal struggle. "Now if you'll excuse me..." he said at last and made his way towards the door.

What was that all about? Hermione wondered. "Malfoy?"

"Yeah?" he said, not bothering to turn around.

"Thanks."

"For what?"

"Everything," she said, then added, "except the kiss."

"Oh, okay, Granger," his voice had regained its arrogance. He turned around to face her, "I'm very sure you didn't enjoy that." He added sarcastically with the return of his 'Draco' smirk.

"Don't be so full of yourself," she snapped back. "Viktor was a better kisser."

"You mean that round shouldered, duck footed, grumpy, arrogant seeker from Bulgaria? I didn't know he meant so much to you."

"More than you or your stupid kiss ever will, Malfoy. And he's not arrogant, you are."

"Touché, Granger. I've certainly learned my lesson." And he turned to leave again.

"Malfoy?"

"What?"

Hermione's curiosity got the better of her, "What did you mean on Halloween when you told me you weren't like you father, and you didn't want me, of all people, to think that?"

Malfoy turned around in surprise, she remembered something he told her almost two months ago? "Nothing," he replied, going to the far corner of the vast library and sitting in a comfy armchair. To his surprise, Hermione followed him and sat down in a chair beside him. "Tell me," she pleaded.

Malfoy took a deep breath and started, "What I meant was that I don't act the way my father does, and you should know that, seeing as you're the smartest person I know."

"Yeah, right Malfoy. Every chance you get, you insult me because I'm muggle-born, you insult Ron because his family's not," she paused, "as well off as yours. And you constantly pick fights with Harry because he beats you at everything."

"He doesn't beat me at everything." Malfoy sounded hurt. Then he added smugly, "I got to you first."

With this, Hermione stood up and prepared to leave. "No, wait, that was wrong," Malfoy said as he got up, "I'm sorry."

"Not as sorry as you'll be when you end up in Azkaban for being a Death Eater," Hermione snapped angrily. She'd had just about enough Malfoy that she could take for one day.

"Alright, Granger, you want to know the truth," Malfoy yelled, "for your information, I am nothing like my father. I prance around the school acting like a superior idiot because that's what's expected of me! The Malfoy family always does this--even around other purebloods. If I was suddenly known as the nice boy on campus like your precious Potter, my father would probably beat me to a pulp at home for acting like a commoner." He stopped for a moment, "or maybe just use the Cruciatus Curse again," he muttered softly. "So you have an idea now about the way that I am. And I guess your right," he added, "I am jealous of Potter."

Hermione stared at the head bowed Malfoy for a few moments. She had no idea what life was really like for him.

He continued, "No one at school really likes me either. Well, no one worth much to me anyway."

"Malfoy," Hermione muttered, "I really had no idea." She took a step closer towards him, "I don't know what to say..."

But at that moment, Malfoy decided it was not a time for words, reached out, and pulled Hermione into a fierce and passionate kiss. Hermione trembled as Malfoy pulled her closer to him. His arms embraced her, almost hurt her, for he was grasping on too tight. It seemed as though he didn't want to let go. After a few moments, Hermione regained her wits and, seeing it was her only free limb, kneed Malfoy in a place that need not be mentioned in this text. He let out a grunt of surprise and pain, and quickly released Hermione. "Granger, what the hell is the matter with you?!"

"Nice, Malfoy," she screamed, "Really nice. And to think that I almost believed what you told me!"

"But it was the truth...I..."

"I don't need to put up with you anymore, Malfoy. Goodbye!" and with that, Hermione stalked out of the library and ran as fast as she could back to Gryffindor Tower.

You've really done it this time, Malfoy's little inner voice told him. "Shut up!" he yelled out loud.

* * *

Hermione's eyes started to tear up as she reached Gryffindor Tower. Malfoy will do anything to get what he wants, she thought, and to think I actually believed his little 'story.' I'm an idiot.

As she entered the portrait hole, she tried to avoid the eyes of Ron and Harry, but they saw in an instant that something was seriously wrong.

"Hermione," Harry exclaimed, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Hermione lied, "Just leave me alone." She ran as fast as she could to the girl's dormitories and collapsed onto her bed.

"What's up with her?" Harry asked Ron.

"Well earlier she told me that she missed her family this Christmas."

"And what did you say to her?"

"I told her that if it makes her feel any better, that you and I think of her as family"

"Good idea, Ron," said Harry. "Why don't you go see if you can cheer her up? I really don't think I could comfort her better than you."

"Thanks, Harry." Ron smiled and walked up the spiral staircase to the girl's dormitories.

When Ron got inside he saw Hermione slumped down on her bed, staring into space. "Hermione?" he asked.

"What?"

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"That's a lie."

"Well maybe you won't like the truth, Ron!" Hermione screamed at him, throwing her pillow in his direction. Ron caught it with a hand and sat down next to Hermione on the bedspread. "Tell me what it is, Love.'

Ron had never called her that before. Hermione liked it; it made her feel warm inside. She finally mustered up the courage and told Ron, "I was sitting alone in the Library after you left, and Malfoy came in and we started quarreling. He then finally told me a story, which, by the way was a lie, and then he grabbed a hold of me and...and..."

"And what?" Ron's anger was audible in his voice.

"And...he...kissed me!" finished Hermione, sounding utterly revolted. She then broke down into a puddle of tears and threw herself into Ron's arms.

"He...he kissed you?"

"Yes." She sobbed silently for a few minutes, and then realized that Ron was sitting there, very stiff and reserved. "Ron?" she looked up at Ron to find the most horrible sight. Ron's face was so red and twisted with anger that he barely looked like Ron at all. She saw his fists clenched with fury. Suddenly he got up and walked out the door. Hermione thought she had done something wrong and quickly followed him down the stairs, wiping the tears from her eyes. "Ron," she called, "where are you going?"

Ron was crossing the common room with a fury in his eyes that Hermione had never seen before. "RON!" she screamed, but it was too late--Ron had already exited through the portrait hole.

"Hermione!"

Hermione looked down to see Harry staring at her with bewilderment. "Oh, Harry," she sobbed, running to him, "Harry, it was awful. I told Ron that Malfoy kissed me, and he got all stiff and walked out and...and...I'm afraid to know where he's going!

Harry took her in his arms and hugged her close, "Shhh," he whispered soothingly, "It will be alright."

"But Harry," Hermione said, "I'm afraid that Ron has gone to beat up Malfoy!"

"He'll never even touch Malfoy if his cronies Crabbe and Goyle are around."

"Which is why we better stop him," Hermione said urgently, "come on." Hermione pulled on the sleeve of Harry's robes and lead him as fast as she could out of the Portrait hole towards the dungeons.