An Ordinary Day

Disclaimer: This FF also includes lyrics by Avril Lavigne. I don't own these in any way, shape or form. Although I do idolise her. And I've finally found a way to incorporate my two big loves into one.

Chapter 1: An Ordinary Day...

'I wake up in the morning
Put on my face
the one that's gonna get me
through another day.
Doesn't really matter
how I feel inside
'Cause life is like a game sometimes.'

A slight, blonde haired, pale boy rolled over in his sleep. He opened one bleary eye, blinked several times and then did the same with the other. As he climbed out of bed, he found that he was the only one awake. His other four companions were all peacefully asleep, unaware of what was happening. Looking out the window, the boy saw what looked like another ordinary day; cold, drizzly and depressing. He sighed. Then he dressed, and without a backward glance, ambled down the stairs and out of his Common Room. Draco Malfoy was facing yet another ordinary day.

In another part of the castle, a sturdy, busy haired, brown-eyed girl rolled over in her sleep. Opening both eyes with a quick flutter, she was up and out of bed, seemingly eager to face the world. The rest of the girls in her dormitory were also snoozing peacefully, and as the girl looked out the window, she seemed to fade slightly at what, or rather, whom she saw. Her eyes dulled, and pulling her hair back off her face into a Pollyanna, she made her way slowly down the stairs and out of her Common Room. Hermione Granger was facing yet another ordinary day.

But then you came around me
The walls just disappeared
Nothing to surround me
And keep me from my fears
I'm unprotected
See how I've opened up
Oh, you've made me trust

The boy scuffed his way along the hallway, toying his Arithmancy book, which he had picked up from his way out of the Common Room. He seemed to be unwilling to move, as though he simply wanted the world to stop. As he reached the final staircase before the Great Hall however, what he saw made him want to turn around and leave again. His stomach flipped, and his heart felt as though it was in his mouth. This feeling was not unusual. This feeling was the reason he came here every morning, the reason he dragged himself out of bed at this ungodly hour. The reason was Hermione Granger.

The girl walked briskly along the halls, head held high, her feet ringing out the sounds of authority. She, Hermione Granger, was a Prefect, and deserved every second of it. As she got to the stairs however, whom she saw on the other side made her stop dead. It was him. Again. Every day he was here. Watching, waiting. She did her best to pretend he wasn't there, as she made her way calmly down the stairs, into the Great Hall, and to the Gryffindor table. She sat down, and watched him from the corner of her eye, walk slowly to his own table, sit down, and open his Arithmancy book. It was the same routine every day, it never changed. And never would. Their silent understanding did not seem to need to be spoken. They ignored each other, and that was that.

Draco watched as she sat down and opened her own book. So graceful, so elegant, so beautiful. He was infatuated. He, a Malfoy, was in love with a Mudblood. How could this be? Yet to his delight, she opened her own Arithmancy book also. Finally, a reason to talk to her, away from her friends. Alone. Arithmancy was their common bond, their connection.

She could feel his eyes upon her. She opened her book, and tried to study, but to no avail. How could she, when she was practically being stalked? He had been doing this now for over two months, yet everyday, he would not speak a word to her. He would simply sit there, and read. Or so it seemed. But today, today was different. Today she looked up as he slowly stood, and walked carefully towards her table, as though afraid of what she might do. Yes, today was going to be very different.

He swallowed his fear and decided to do it. He was going to make conversation. No insults, threats, to her or her friends. Just pleasant conversation. As he approached her table, he could feel her looking at him. Indirectly, yet all the same, looking. His plan was going to work. It was going to work.

Hermione had had enough. By the time he had reached her table, she had an entire speech prepared mentally. He stood across the table from her, looking as though he might speak, but she cut in.

"Stalking me again Malfoy?" She slammed her book shut.

OK, so maybe everything wasn't going to plan. He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could, she cut across again. Unbelievable.

"Listen Malfoy, whatever it is, I'm not interested. Not in your filthy insults, or tricks, or you in general. Now please leave me alone, I'm trying to study."

She book was violently opened again, and she ducked behind it, disappearing.

Now the plan was ruined. Time to switch to plan B. Let's just say what we feel.

"That's not what I was going to do, I just wanted to have a civil conversation with you."

Her head slowly emerged from the book, angry, yet curious. Success.

She couldn't believe what he was saying. A civil conversation?

"Malfoy, I've been at Hogwarts now for six years, and not once have I had a civil conversation with you. Now leave me alone." Her word was final. The boy resigned back to his own table, defeated. Something he didn't enjoy.

OK, Plan B had also failed. Why couldn't he just say it? Just say it Malfoy, damn it! Just tell her you like her...

Not today, it wasn't going to happen. Maybe today was going to be like every other day.

She watched the subdued figure turn his attention to his book, and she smirked, satisfied with the outcome. She was just about to start studying, when footsteps approached. She looked up, hoping it wouldn't be that little prat again. Luckily, it was the person she'd been hoping to see. The boy that approached was smiling, and his green eyes sparkled as magically as ever. The green eyes she'd fallen in love with so long ago. That enchanted her, every day of her life. He seemed muddy, and slightly tired, but looking just the way she loved him for looking; like himself. No pretences, no guards, no shields. Just Harry. Her heart seemed to melt slightly, not that this was unusual, it happened every time she laid eyes on him.

Harry eyed the Hall, seeing his best friend, and unfortunately, Draco. He smiled jovially, making his way towards her. This was good old Hermione; smart, funny, always there, a strong and loyal friend. She would always give her opinion, even sometimes when it was unwanted. But he loved her for it. Not like that of course...no, his heart belonged to none. It was simply there for the taking.

Because I've never felt like this before
I'm naked
around you
does it show?
You see right through me
and I can't hide
I'm naked
around you
and it feels so right.

Draco watched sullenly as Harry entered. He was just too annoying for his liking. Little prat. He decided all chances of conversation were now entirely ruined, and that he would be better off going back to his Common Room. Just as he passed Hermione, however, he looked directly into her eyes. What he saw was his greatest fear. It was that sparkle, the same that he had in his eye when he looked at her. But no, her attention was not turned towards him. It was focussed on Harry. How he loathed that boy even more now. Breaking eye contact, he strode out of the room, much too quickly.

Hermione could feel eyes on her. They weren't the pair she wanted. The pair she wanted were gazing at the array of food on the table, unblinking, and open wide. She willed Malfoy to stop looking, and he did. He seemed to rush hurriedly out of the room, not that she cared. She pushed all thought of him out of her mind, and turned to Harry.

"So how was Quidditch practise? You looked pretty chilly out there today." She smiled as he turned to her, apparently pleased to be able to talk about his one true love.

He was starving, and without even realising that Malfoy had passed him, he was hungrily hooking into whatever food he could lay his hands on. At the sound of Hermione's voice however, he stopped and sat down. Good old 'Moine. She would always pretend to care about Quidditch.

"Pretty alright. The team's not looking too bad. I think Ron's just having a shower, and then he should be down. Pretty cold. Did you come and watch? I didn't see you."

Ron stopped outside the Hall, near the doors. There were his two best friends in the whole world, wrapped up in conversation, and the love of his life, pretending to look like she cared while Harry demonstrated what had happened with wild arm actions. He felt a pang near his heart. Hermione would never see him as more than a friend, no matter how much he tried. She could detect his feelings, he was sure. But why would she not say anything? He could have kicked himself for that thought, when he was the one that should be confessing his feelings. He shook off these thoughts and strode to the table, taking a seat opposite them, as the rest of the Hall slowly filled with the other students.

"Morning Hermione. Always surprises me that you can be here earlier than us."

He laughed slightly, trying to stay normal.

Hermione's attention fixed on Ron, who had just entered. He looked comical as always, with his mismatched clothes and ruffled hair. He was such a loyal and just friend to her. All right, they constantly bickered, but this was just a personality clash. He had always stuck by her, and always been truthful. Except lately. He had been acting kind of weird around her. Almost like he...

"I like to study, I always feel active in the mornings. Besides, I'm not hurting anyone. And..."

She was almost going to tell them how she wasn't alone, how Malfoy was always here. But she decided better. She didn't feel right in telling them. It seemed almost...sacred. She left the sentence hanging, and poured herself some cereal.

Breakfast continued normally. None of them received any post, and at the end of the meal they parted their ways, with Hermione and Harry going to Potions, and Ron going to bed. Typical.

Draco slipped into a chair in his common room, beside the fire. He was crushed. His one attempt at talking to Granger had failed, miserably at that. He really wanted to tell her though. He had enough weighing him down, without this. Deciding he might head off to Potions early, the thought struck him. That's it! She does Potions. I'll tell her afterwards that I need to talk to her about...Prefect duties...that'll get rid of Potter. Perfect. I'll just have to get rid of Snape, but that shouldn't be too hard. And with much more positive thoughts in his mind, he set off to Potions.

Harry's breakfast was pretty much the usual. He felt happier today than he had in a while though...the rumours about him being mad had stopped for once. And his scar hadn't burned in over two weeks, an improvement in itself. Sirius' death was still burning inside him like a gaping hole, but he was moving on. He remembered Dumbledore's words, so many years ago. It does not do to dwell on the past and forget to live. These words comforted him, when he was feeling sad, but schoolwork soon pushed it out of his mind anyway. As they parted ways, he felt in some way, like he wanted to be Ron, getting to give up Potions. But he felt that in the end, it would all be worth it. He would be an Auror, and Snape would still be some manic-depressive wannabe DADA teacher. With these thoughts entertaining him, he walked slowly to Potions, chatting away about anything and everything to Hermione. He was lucky in some ways. He had two of the best friends in the world you could ever want.

Ron headed up to bed, feeling still slightly empty. He knew what he needed to do to fill this spot. He needed to confess to Hermione. He mulled it over and over in his mind, and then came to a decision. He would tell her tonight. After dinner, he would ask her to patrol the halls with him before they headed off to bed, ridding himself of Harry. Then, I'll take her upstairs to the Astronomy Tower and tell her. It's time I got a backbone. It's time I confessed. And with speeches running through his head, he drifted off to sleep.

After note: One chapter down! The next one is done, and will be up soon. Please review.