I Will Meet You There

By: Yami Malika

Disclaimer: Nope, still don't own Harry Potter yet. I'm working on it though. I still own that mp3 player though if you're interested?

Overall Summary: After a confrontation in the hallway, two students find themselves "bumping" into each other more often. While they're at it, they seem to learn more about themselves in the process. Oh, did I mention that they hate each other? (Follows loosely around HBP. HGDM)

A/N: I had this chapter written for a while, but I never got around to posting it. I got some inspiration to put it up though, and I realized: I really like this story. I hope you guys do as well.

Here's chapter 2!

-

Chapter 2: In The Library

-

Hermione let out a long exasperated sigh as she clutched her books to her chest tightly, not wanting to have a repeat of previous events if a crazed student decided to crash into her. Speaking of said occurrence, Malfoy's excuse did get Slughorn's approval as he nearly cried at her 'heroic efforts' as he put it. She did wind up telling a shocked Harry and Ron that the thing was a lie. (Although the duo wasn't too thrilled that it was Malfoy's story.)

Hermione had her turn to ream her friends out though for letting her sleep through such a long period. She had to make up all her missed Rune's work on top of homework from her other classes. Harry flushed, not wanting to admit that he was still reading his Advanced Potions book, forgot her and caused her to miss a class. They had immediately dropped Hermione's short alliance with their enemy and replaced their questions with apologies. She forgave them as always, but decided to work a bit in the library to ensure that Ron wouldn't be copying her 15-foot Defense Against the Dark Arts essay that was due the next day.

She occupied the table in the far back, relaxed that it was a good time at night that no one was there but her. Well if that included Madam Pince who was always stalking around in the library. Hermione laid out her books when she realized that someone had left a book of their own at her table. She picked it up and looked at the title.

'Magickal and Bewitched Objects: Reparo!' Hermione read to herself. Someone had folded a page to mark his or her place. She was opening the book when she heard someone running into the library.

"Granger! Get your damn filthy hands off my book!" The girl looked up to be greeted with the pale face that was Draco Malfoy.

"This is your book?" She asked dumbly.

"That's what I said you stupid girl. Now give it!" Draco commanded holding out his hand. Hermione complied with a huff for being called 'stupid'.

"Yuck. I should really burn this thing you know. Look how grimy it got after you touched it." Draco said with mock-disgust dangling the book in front of her.

"Shut up Malfoy." Hermione rolled her eyes. Six years and he still acted so immature. "I'm surprised Madam Pince hasn't thrown you out for being so loud yet. I recommend you do it yourself." she pointed out.

"What makes you think you have authority to tell me what to do Mudblood? You know what? Because you said that, I'm staying right here." He added with a flourish taking a seat right in front of Hermione.

"Good, because you know what? I'm leaving." Hermione stated gathering her things. Just then Draco's next words caused her to stop.

"Thanks for before." He said plainly and quite randomly.

"F-for the Potions thing?" she stuttered immediately, stunned by his sudden change of personality.

"Pfft. What else? Gosh, for someone who thought they were so smart, you sure are dense." He replied nastily causing Hermione to blush with rage. For a moment, she had felt flattered that he had thanked her; now however she guessed that he had said that just to set her up. Bastard.

She resumed to collect her books, and swept past him when she had realized that Draco had grabbed the end of her robes.

"Hey!" Hermione shouted with frustration.

"Aren't you gonna ask me about the book?" He asked just as plainly and and random as before, tugging slightly at the robes.

"What?"

"The book of mine you found. You aren't the least bit curious? You saw the title, and I know that you were going to tell Potty and Weasel all about it."

"I...well erm..." Hermione stuttered. Was he really going to tell her about it? She took her seat once again once Malfoy had released her and looked at him straight in his serious-looking gray eyes. "So...what about the book?"

"Hmm let me think...first off--" Hermione held her breath--"It's mine. Second of all, I have no intention of telling you anything more. Yep, that's about it." He ended with a laugh after looking at Hermione's expression. "Geez, don't give me that look Granger. I didn't say I was going to tell you anything. I just asked if you were curious. Got my answer though." He sneered.

"You're awful!" Hermione shouted standing up.

"Ah, temper temper. We don't want Madam Pince to throw you out do we?" Draco said mimicking Hermione who looked as though she was going to slap him as she did in her third year.

Restraining from doing so, Hermione left without another word.

Leaning back in his chair, Draco smiled. When he finally straightened himself up he grabbed the book and flipped open to his marked page. He stood up and left the library himself, reading where he left off. 'Tch, I don't think it is going to be in here...'

X, X, X,

'That Malfoy is such a prat!' Hermione thought angrily, laying restelstly in her four-poster. She had been thinking of him since she returned from the library in a fury that had shocked Harry and Ron. When they had asked her what was wrong, she had just snapped that she was going to bed. Turning over on her side she attempted to close her eyes but all she saw was glowing pale skin, and a mess of blonde hair. By now, Hermione's blood was boiling so much. Just then a thought crossed her mind. The book that Malfoy had in the library...she hadn't told neither Harry nor Ron about it. She jumped out of bed, nearly tripping over her mass of blankets and burst into the common room where her two friends were the only ones there, playing a game of Exploding Snaps.

"Hermione? Are you alright?" Harry asked at her sudden appearance.

"Is everything okay?" Ron added with concern.

"I met Malfoy in the library!" Hermione burst, a bit out of breath.

The color seemed to drain in both Harry and Ron's face--though more in Ron's.

"W-Wha?" Ron stammered trying to keep himself calm.

"Not like that you moron!" Hermione said rolling her eyes, regaining her composure.

"Did you find out more about him being a Death Eater?" Harry asked eagerly, ignoring Ron who was blushing with embarrassment and relief.

"Something like that." Hermione began. "When I went to the library, I found a book about repairing magical objects. It was marked so I was going to take a look at what this person was repairing when Malfoy burst in and took it." She had left out the part where he had thanked her.

"This could have something to do with what he was asking about in Borgin and Burkes..." Ron responded with a smile from Harry who was glad that they were back on the subject of exposing Malfoy.

"That's what I was thinking." Hermione nodded. "He did tell me that he had a feeling that I was going to tell you two though..."

"So? He probably thinks that we're totally oblivious of his Death Eater status! He didn't know we were following him through Knockturn Alley." Harry said excitedly, nearly bouncing in his chair.

"True...what do you suppose he's having repaired?" Hermione asked when Harry's face fell. Her information in fact didn't help at all, for they knew already that Malfoy was attempting to fix something. It was what that was the question. Both Hermione and Ron understood Harry's disappointment.

"Well...at least we know that he's still interested in his plan..." Hermione said softly blushing a bit hoping Harry would still be satisfied.

"You're right Hermione." Harry said noticing that she had felt guilty.

"We're just gonna have to keep an extra eye on him aren't we?" Ron exclaimed with determination that gave relief to Hermione.

"Anyway...I think I am going to pack it in for the night. G'night guys." Hermione stated turning to her dorm.

"Er...wait. Hermione?" Ron called a bit hesitantly.

"Yes?" She responded facing Ron, feeling the heat rise a bit in her cheeks.

"D'you...d'you think I could look at your essay? To make sure I did it right?" Hermione's frowned. In other words 'can I copy your work?' She had expected...or wanted him to ask her...

"Ugh, fine. Only because I'm too tired to fight okay?" Hemione sighed grabbing her bag and handing Ron the long piece of parchment that was rolled up. She proceeded to her room, waving her friends off. "Oh, and you can take a look at too if you like Harry."

"Thanks a bunch Hermione!" Harry and Ron said in unison as the girl entered her dorm feeling slightly satisfied. She was able to get Malfoy out of her head...at least a little bit more then before. She was going to have to keep her eye on him as Ron said. With that Hermione fell asleep.

-

I threw in a little bit of Hermione x Ron in this chapter to keep the realism up. Sadly, Ron is just a little dense about his feelings, and Hermione is thinking about Draco (Yay!). Perhaps I should skip ahead in the book a little for the next chapter…hmm…

Please take a look at this equation before you go: more reviews equals (me + happy) equals faster updates. You don't need AP Calculus to figure out what to do next. ;D