Spread

For Colorcrystal, just like I promised

The train ride back was a miserable one. Hermione looked out of the rain spattered window thinking of all the classes and people she'd be with during the upcoming year. She thought of Harry, Ron, and strangely Malfoy. Although he was a foul, loathsome, evil little cockroach then was something horrifyingly fasinating about him. How he thought he was superior to everyone else was both infuriating and sexy. Though not one living soul knew about her attraction to Malfoy she felt that it was painfully obvious.

'I wonder if he can see it in my eyes, is that why he is always giving me those irritating little smirks?' Hermione blew hot air onto the cold window. Slowly, almost as if she were afraid, she drew a heart with the initials H.G. and D.M. before it disappeared. Even though she could still see the faint outline of the letters, Hermione left the window alone. If anyone were smart enough to find it they would never guess that it was Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy. The thought was almost funny.

Hermione looked down at Harry and Ron, they had fallen asleep almost the second they stepped onto the train. 'What would they think of it? Probably send me to an institution immediately. I can hear Ron now 'Why would you like him? Of all people!' He'd probably stop talking to me for weeks. Best keep it to myself.' Hermione nodded firmly. Someone walked past the glass door, a flash of white blonde hair, black robes and a green scarf. 'Draco.' Was the first thought that popped into her head. She shook herself hard, 'Wow, that was weird. Wonder where that came from?'

Just as she finished the thought the train jerked, Harry and Ron woke with a start. "I don't want any pie!" Ron yelled, Hermione looked vaguely amused.

"You don't have to have any pie, Ron." She laughed, Harry rubbed his eyes and Ron sat up.

"What time is it?" Harry asked, there was a slight slurr in his words from his nap.

"It's about time that we got there. Better change into our robes." They changed and sat down again. Hermione alone on one side, Harry and Ron on the other. They stayed silent for awhile, Hermione thought of bring up the subject of Malfoy just to talk about him. She had this strange urge to. But she stayed silent, for one she didn't have a reason to talk about him and for two it would be weird.

Thankfully she was saved, Ron started talking about Quidditch. After about twenty minutes of that the train pulled into the school, they were greeted by the horseless carriages and taken to the school. The whole time Hermione was almost dead quiet, a boy was on her mind and she couldn't get him out. She had caught glimpses of him while in the crowd but for some reason she seemed to always just miss him. 'It's alright,' She told herself, 'I'll see him in the Great Hall.' Again she gave herself a bemused look then shook herself gently. 'I mean, painfully I'll see that little ferret in the Great Hall. Yea... Painfully.' Hermione wasn't entirely comfortable with the whole Malfoy thing, and she hoped it stopped soon.

They entered The Great Hall, it's beauty still took her breath away. As she gazed up into the brilliant night sky she was so enraptured that she didn't notice the ferret cast a glance her way. They filed to seats at their tables, friends breaking apart to sit with their table. Gryffindor was across the hall from Slytherin, Hermione reasoned that it was to keep them from fighting. But still there were a few shoves and name calling when the students seperated. Expecially by Malfoy, he almost cleared an entire circle around himself because people didn't want to get pushed. Hermione rolled her eyes at his childish behavior and sat down. Ron glared and said snappish remarks about Malfoy, but Hermione simply tuned them out. Her eyes were on the headmaster, Albus Dumbledore. He was the strangest looking man she had ever seen, but he was also the most brilliant and fasinating man as well. His sparkling blue eyes looked down at all the students, a smile warmed his face like a proud father. She adored him.

After everyone was settled Dumbledore continued to beam down at them. He gave them a speech, warned them to stay away from the Forbidden Forest, told them the things that Filch didn't allow in the corridors, and asked them to all enjoy the feast. But through out his speech Hermione's eyes continued to wander towards the opposite table to an arrogant blonde boy. After about the fifth time Hermione dragged her eyes away Pansy caught sight of her. Pansy raised an eyebrow and leaned over whispering something in her friend's ear. The friend glanced at Hermione and then leaned to tell someone else, this continued the whole way down the table. Quiet snickers came from the Slytherin table, and quick glances were shot to Hermione and then to Malfoy. A rumor started circulating that Hermione Granger had feelings for Draco Malfoy.

The food appeared but the rumor continued to spread, it jumped from the Slytherin table to the Ravenclaw table around to the Hufflepuff table and then started on Gryffindor. It spread like the plague, almost everyone was told and finally one of the Weasley twins turned to Hermione and said. "Hermione, I usually don't listen to gossip but it's going around that you are into Malfoy. Now I know that can't be true, right?" Hermione's jaw dropped.

"What?" Hermione screamed, it pierced the upper registers. "Of course not! That is disgusting! Who said that? Oh my god, gross. Malfoy! Never! Sick!" Her mind worked in overdrive. 'How do I cover this up? Who found out? How did they know? I told no one! Did they see? How can I cover this up?' Her brain screamed for answers but was met by silence. She looked over at Malfoy, a smug snicker firmly on his face. Her looked turned to ice and it clearly said, 'This means war.'