Malfoy had told me to meet him at the lake after breakfast with my favorite book, so here I was, hiding in my dorm room in Gryffindor tower. I did not want to go to the lake. I did not, I did not, I did not! Ginny had snuck out of the clutches of Zabini and scared me half to death when she showed up in the room behind me.

"Ginny what are you doing up here?"

"I could say the same to you," Ginny smirked. "Hiding from Malfoy, are we? Well, I can't say I blame you."

"Yes Ginny, but what happened with Zabini?" I wondered because she seemed sort of strange.

"I can't spend the whole day with him," she spluttered at me. "He's a nightmare!"

"Why? What's wrong with pretty boy?" I smirked. "Not good enough for you?"

"Am I or am I not talking to the girl who got paired with Malfoy? The girl who is hiding up in her room because she is scared of a boy." She was pushing my buttons and she knew it. I tried not to let her but it worked anyway.

"Fine, Ginny! I'll pick out a book and I'll go spend the afternoon with Draco Malfoy!" Ginny was smiling. "But if I'm going then you have to spend the whole day with Zabini," I finished with a triumphant smile on my face.

"Fine, Hermione. You win. I'll go find Zabini." And with that she left the room. Now all that was left was to find a book to give to Malfoy.

The search took almost two minutes before I found what I was looking for. I pulled out an old book covered in dust. It was my favorite but I hadn't looked at it in years. I brushed off the front and as the dust was removed, the title was revealed, Hogwarts, A History. I put the book into a small bag and raced through Hogwarts to the lake. When I got there, I saw Malfoy leaning up against a tree with his smirk.

"Hello, Granger," his smirk increasing in size. "Where have you been? I've been waiting forever. Did you change your mind about coming? Or was it Weasley?"

"Sorry, Malfoy," I shot back at him. "I was finding you this book." I reached out with the book in my hand, waiting for him to take it. He reached out his hand, about to grab the book but then at the last second, he pulled his hand back with a look of disgust on his face.

"Granger may I ask you something," Malfoy asked.

"Yes, I suppose so."

"Why in the world do you think I would want to read this book? All the books in the world Granger, and this is what you choose." His words stung. I could feel the tears rising up in my throat. It was just words and I knew it. They shouldn't hurt me, and I knew deep down not to let the words get to me but it was my favorite book. My first introduction to the wizarding world and Malfoy was shooting me down.

I walked away from him and sat down on the other side of the tree, putting my book down next to me. As I was sitting there, I saw Neville leading Luna out onto the grounds. They raced each other down the hill until Luna leaped, tackled Neville and they rolled down the hill together, laughing. When they stopped rolling, Neville placed a kiss on Luna's lips.

"They are so lucky to have love," Malfoy whispered the sentence into my ear. "What I would do to have love like that."

"What would you do?" I whispered back.

"Anything."

We sat there in silence together for a few more minutes, watching Luna and Neville.

"Hermione?" His voice scared me because I hadn't expected to hear it.

"Yes, Malfoy?"

"Isn't Luna in a lower grade? Why does she get to be with Neville?" It was a really good question and it stumped me. I knew she had owled me about it, but I couldn't remember the exact reason.

"Maybe it's because McGonagall can see how strong their love for each other is," I said after thinking about it.

"Yeah, I guess." There was silence for the next few minutes. "Well Granger, I guess we'd better take advantage of the day. I will read your — Hogwarts, A History, and you will go for a flight on my broom. Accio broom."

"What?" I was in complete shock. How could Malfoy expect me to fly on a broom? "But Malfoy, I've never flown before."

"You'll be fine," Malfoy said, waving an arm at me. "If you fall off and die, oh well, too bad, so sad. Its just a muggle born lost." He shrugged. "Also you should be able to save yourself because in case I haven't been listening these past years — you are the smartest witch of our age. Or at least you're supposed to be." And another typical Malfoy smirk "And another thing. Whatever you were expecting to wear tonight, forget it. Mother sent me a dress for my girl to wear. I'll send it up to your dorm and that's what you'll wear. Don't try to wear anything else, Mother wants pictures."

I didn't know what to say, so I walked over to Malfoy's broom and mounted. I gently pushed off from the ground and flew very slowly. I looked down to see Malfoy, sitting under the tree with my book in his hands. As I looked down at him, he looked up at me.

"Can't you go any faster Granger?" Malfoy yelled up at me. "That is the fastest broom you know."

"I'm going as fast as I want to, Malfoy. You are the one who make me do this. Leave me alone and let me flyyy!" I turned upside down and had to struggle to right myself again. I looked down to see Malfoy rolling around on the ground laughing his head off.

"Granger. You are the worst, haha, flyer I have ever, ha, seen" And he continued to roll around in ultimate laughter.

I flew to the ground and threw his broom at him. Then I ran back up to the castle with tears flying down my face and was back in my dorm before I realized I'd left my book behind. How could Malfoy be so mean!