knowl·edge; noun

1. acquaintance with facts, truths, or principles, as from study or investigation; general erudition: knowledge of many things.

2. familiarity or conversance, as with a particular subject or branch of learning: A knowledge of accounting was necessary for the job.

3. acquaintance or familiarity gained by sight, experience, or report: a knowledge of human nature.

4. the fact or state of knowing; the perception of fact or truth; clear and certain mental apprehension.

5. awareness, as of a fact or circumstance: He had knowledge of her good fortune.

6. something that is or may be known; information: He sought knowledge of her activities.

7. the body of truths or facts accumulated in the course of time.

8. the sum of what is known: Knowledge of the true situation is limited.

9. Archaic. sexual intercourse. Compare carnal knowledge.

He wonders if it is possible to know too much? To learn too much?

It's clear that knowledge is power, especially in the wizarding world. One need only look at He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named or at Dumbledore to see that.

But both of them are also very . . . alone. And Draco doesn't want that for himself in the future. Ever. He's been alone his whole life and he's tired of it. Perhaps that's why he's drawn to her. Because she's the most kind, open-minded person at Hogwarts that he knows and he feels like she would be the most likely to accept him.

He spends too much time trying to figure out a way to spend time with her.

Days in the library. Nights in the restricted section.

This isn't healthy, isn't acceptable isn't . . . normal for a Malfoy. But she fascinates him. So much of his time spent competing with her, glaring at her, hating her . . . of course it evolved, changed, grew. Now he spends time in awe of her fierce competitive spirit, watching her, loving her . . .

She is just so good, so caring, so open, and he wishes with all his heart that those could be directed at him. That the word ferret would melt away and the word friend would take its place.

He knows that will never happen, cannot ever happen, would not ever happen.

So he decides to become someone else.

A book in the restricted section gives him the answer he is looking for.

I don't own Harry Potter. I hope you all enjoy this.