Disclaimer: I own nothing and never will (most unfortunately) own anything of J.K. Rowling's. Though I drool at the thought of owning Draco ;) I only own the plot.

Summary: Hermione comes back to Hogwarts with a new look but is still the same little bookworm. Will all the new attention from all of the right eyes change that and make her come out of her shell? Hermione finds out that there is more to Draco Malfoy then a "snotty nose brat". Draco has problems at home and Hermione understands him due to her own friendship problems. Will he let her help him? Can she find out whom he really is inside? Hence the name, "The Darkest Part of a Soul."

Chapter 1. The Look and Emotions

Hermione's P.O.V.

A tall, slim, sharply dressed, and rather bushy haired brunette stalked down Diagon Alley, one simple shopping bag held in her right hand. Obviously she was in very much of a hurry. To the normal onlooker, this would appear to be a Hogwarts student doing some last minute shopping…and the normal onlooker would be mostly correct. To the trained eye the brunette would appear to be no different in their eyes, with the exception of a hint of muggle taste in clothing rather than the more dramatic style pureblood witches tended to wear. But what did it matter if she was muggle-born or not? Well, to a good few, it mattered very, very much.

This bushy haired young woman is of course Hermione, female, now fox, of the golden trio. She was indeed doing some last minute shopping, just having arrived back from her summer trip to America with her parents. Though some of the miniaturized bags located in the large bag swinging from her hand held some rather…un-school like items. A look of anxiety crossed the pre--…crossed Hermione's face. She was worried terribly of what Harry and Ron were going to think of her. They always tended to make fun of her when she tried anything remotely female. This includes the time in second year that she had her makeup done by Parvati, and in their fourth year when she went to the Yule Ball with Viktor Krum.

"Well. They shall just have to…to…to adapt or…something of the like…" She said softly to herself, reaching into her left jean pocket, trailing her fingertips over the edges of her Head Girl badge for comfort. Yes, Hermione Jane Granger, had of course gotten the Head Girl badge along with her supplies list this year in her Hogwarts letter.

Vividly she remembered the constant owled letters she had gotten over the summer from her two closest friends…most filled with requests of what America was like, and in Ron's case more than Harry's, if she was bringing them anything back. Ah yes, and Harry had mentioned that he would be spending his last week before School at The Burrow with the Weasley's, and once Molly had found out Hermione would be back in time, she had of course been invited as well.

She couldn't wait. Turning into a casual clothing store, Hermione eyed in a rather disturbed fashion the seemingly miniature clothing that hung, rather held on for dear life, to the racks. Immediantly she twisted around only to find a highly made up women gazing down at her with keen predator like eyes. Hermione gulped. She had the distinct feeling that she was going to end up buying something whether she liked it or not. An hour later she scurried back into the street, holding another bag of miniaturized bags in her left hand. She of course would not mention any of her interest in the clothing after being "brain-washed" by the clerk, and would simply wear the clothing in her spare time about the Headrooms. Yes, yes, that would be perfect, nobody would know.

Only it would be somewhat difficult for anyone she ran into now to not notice her fairly female clothing choice. A thigh length flared mini skirt with black lace trimming clung to her pale skin, and a shirt resembling a corset hid her torso and chest from view. It was sleeveless. Hermione was panicked, afraid she would run into someone she might know. And that, my friends, is exactly what she did just then. Literally. She stumbled backward, teetering in her slightly heeled shoes. Almost instantly a pair of hands reached out to steady her, holding her about the waist firmly. Very firmly. Once steadied, Hermione let her eyes range up from the hands still holding her, along arms covered in a snazzy looking suit, and stopped for some reason on a rock hard chest.

Hermione was convincing herself it was because that was what she ran into and not because she was practically drooling to know what this man looked like beneath the suit. Awkward silence hit her ears suddenly, and she shook her head and looked up into the steely blue-grey eyes of Draco Malfoy. Rock hard chest indeed.

"Excuse me." Said his surprisingly husky voice. Was he actually apologizing to a "Mudblood"? This was when she realized her didn't recognize her. Oooohhh, this would be fun to toy with.

"No, it was my fault. I wasn't paying attention to where I was going." Hermione whispered, a little smirk playing across her lips for a moment before fading into a smile.

Draco's P.O.V.

"DAMN!" He thought, his eyes ranging freely over the female who still stood in his hands. Not that she seemed to mind. Not that he minded. But who would? This women was knock down beautiful, but…not in the normal fake way most men thought of when they thought sexy. She was natural. Something was different about her. But something was also very familiar. Her voice sounded so like someone he knew.

But no…he would have definitely remembered this girl if he had met her before, even briefly. A grin hung lightly on his lips.

"Do…you…happen to go to Hogwarts?" Slipped out of his lips before he could stop himself. Argh. He was supposed to make girls want him. Grovel. Crawl…not pounce on them the minute he felt his pants get a little tight at the sight. Though he was sure he wouldn't mind crawling under, or on this particular girl.

Hermione's P.O.V.

"Damn…" Hermione's mind popped out without her noticing. Had Draco Malfoy looked so good before? No, she did not think so. Whoa there cowgirl, Draco Malfoy was never hot. Never. He was a no good egotistical shit who liked to pick on people weaker or poorer, or even less bred up then him. And she intended to screw with his head as revenge.

"Yes, I do." She replied, and gave him a sexy look just to see if he would respond.

"Really? I've never seen you before." He said, "Though I won't mind seeing you again." Draco smiled at her in an interested way. He had responded. He was attracted to her. Well, not her, her appearance.

"Same here." Came her instant reply, though half her brain was kicking herself for saying that.

"What house are you in?" Draco said, now interested.

"Gryffindor." She replied simply.

"Shame." He thought, "I'm in Slytherin." He said and grinned at her.

"He's cute when he grins." She thought, smiling somewhat dazedly at him. "Well I guess I'll see you there Draco." She said and grinned devilishly back and walked off.

Draco's P.O.V,

Draco stared at her as she walked away. He was definitely not letting Potter get her.

"Damn" he whispered to himself. "I know I have heard that voice before…but where?"

Turning, the girl still on his mind, he headed towards The Leaky Cauldron where he was boarding for the last week of summer break so as to avoid his father's rage, and the sight of the Death Eaters torturing not only Muggles and Muggleborns, but also pure-blood witches. Thoughts racing through his head, he stopped short as his foot encountered a lightweight object. Glancing down, his gaze fell on a tiny shopping bag. The girls! He bent to pick it up and hurried back to the inn.

Reaching his room he tossed his suit jacket over a chair back and plopped down in a soft back chair beside a small fire, lit with the intent of providing light, and magically altered to not put off any heat. Pulling out his wand he muttered an enlarging spell and peered inside the bag. No receipt as he had hoped in finding out the girls na--…wait…she had known his? But…how? He hadn't said it, had he? Perhaps he had and just forgot that he did. Yes. That would be it.

Now then, back to the bag. Time to find out a little bit about this girl. Dipping his hand into the dark interior of the bag, wand held firmly in his fingers just incase something dangerous was inside, he poked at something soft. Clothes. He drew the one of the items out of the bag. There, hanging on the tip of his wand, was black pair of lace panty-shorts. Dangerous on more then one level, oh yes.

Hermione's P.O.V.

Hermione walked away from him and could almost feel the heat of his eyes on her back. Draco, Draco, Dra-- …Draco? Had…she said that? Oh Merlin. She'd said that when they parted as well. What if he found out? Her friends would find out…they would reject her. And he was bound to find out eventually. He'd laugh and say she was like every other girl, in love with someone they weren't worthy of. Perhaps she could avoid him. Maybe he wouldn't recognize her at school with robes on. Yes…he was staring mostly at her body…he wouldn't recognize her at school.

Making her way to the local Floo Network, in about five minutes time Hermione Granger appeared with a POP! in the Weasley's living room fire place. Casting a cleaning spell to rid herself of soot, she didn't have time to notice Ginny lounging on the sofa reading a magazine.

"Hermione!" Ginny squealed dropping the magazine she had been reading. "Oh, wow…"

Hermione looked at her confused "What? Did I miss some soot? Where is it?"

"No, that's not it, you look great." She squeaked in excitement.

"Don't flatter me." She replied with sarcasm, "Where are Harry and Ron at?"

And right on cue, the testosterone filled duo of the golden trio came galloping down the stairs. Harry in the lead, Ron coming up quick in the back. Unfortunately Harry saw Hermione first and came to a dead stop to stare, jaw dropped open. This was unfortunate because Ron hadn't stopped and crashed into Harry's back, knocking them into a pile on the floor.

"BLIMEY 'ELL, HARRY! What's the matter with you, stopping like tha—" His voice trailed off as he looked up at what Harry was still somehow staring at.

"Bloody Merlin!" Ron exclaimed at Hermione.

"Hermione you look...beautiful." Harry popped out, pulling himself out from under shell shocked Ron. Standing he walked quickly over to her and lifted her into a hug, spinning her around in his arms.

"Merlin he's strong." Hermione thought to herself. And it was true. Harry was taller, handsomer, and had masculinity about him he hadn't before. But he was still good 'ole Harry Potter, her best bud, ruffled hair, glasses and all. This was when she realized she was staring at him, and he her. Harry quickly set her back on the floor, blushing slightly. Hermione smiled and flushed as well, wishing her stomach didn't feel like it was filled with butterflies.

"What...I don't get even a hug. All you can do is stare at Harry and not notice me...oi. Well, if you won't hug me then I'll hug you." Ron had stood up whilst Hermione was distracted, and now scooped her up into his arms, hugging her tightly to him. "Missed you, Hermione"

After placing her once again back on solid ground, Ron took a step or two back to look her over. Thoughts of how much everyone had changed so much over the summer raced through Hermione's mind, and she was about to ask how they had all been over the break when the sound of footsteps approached.

"Hermione!" She heard Mrs. Weasley say. "I am so glad that you're here finally! I transformed Ginny's chair into a bed for you, so why don't we get you settled in, deary?"

Three days later Hermione was talking to Harry about school on the front steps of The Burrow.

Outside of The Burrow

Hermione's P.O.V.

"I'm glad you got the Head Girl position, Hermione. Though it isn't really that shocking." Harry said smiling at Hermione. "Wonder who the Head Boy is…"

"I just wish you were the Head Boy…because…I wouldn't mind living with you..." She replied without thinking, and then blushed deeply at the way this sounded. And the way she felt she meant it. Looking away, she laid her hand down on the steps, hoping he wouldn't notice her blush.

"Really, 'Mione? That's really sweet..." He replied, laying his hand down on hers accidentally as he turned to look at her. Immediantly he went to withdraw it, but Hermione stopped him by grasping it in her own hand. A slight flush came to his cheeks and he grinned sheepishly at her.

Hermione got the feeling deep in her gut that this was going to be a really great year. She of course, had no idea.