From a Flicker To a Flame.

Chapter 1; The Flicker

Draco Malfoy stomped down the stone steps towards the great hall that dark December morning. Half awake, cold and dreading the seven advanced N.E.W.T. classes he had ahead of him it was fair to say that he wasn't impressed, not in the slightest.

He turned the wind in the staircase in a daze, his pale hand resting on the wide stone banister as he took each step.

He continued until being interrupted suddenly by his hand hitting off the warm hand of a fellow student. Agitated he looked up, words of disgust on the tip of his tongue only to be met by her.

He looked down, embarrassed for no obvious reason.

"Uh, sorry Granger." He stuttered.

"No, it was my fault, I wasn't looking where I was going. I apologize Malfoy."
The wavy haired brunette replied in an equal state of embarrassment.

Ever since having been appointed head boy and girl they, Draco Lucius Malfoy and Hermione Jean Granger, had called a truce. They were not friends, but civil.

However civil, didn't explain why Draco could not look into her eyes. Civil did not explain why Hermione blushed whenever he was near. Civil did not explain why they got tingles whenever they touched off each other.

At that very moment both had that pleasant feeling in their hands from where they had bumped into each other.

As they went their separate ways on the stairs, Draco looked at his tingling hand and smiled at the awkward memory.

They were in all of the same classes, they had patrol duty together, they shared the head dorms. They could not get away from each other.

Patrols often went silent, and when words were spoken it was often about homework or playful digs at each other. 

This night was different.

"Hello Malfoy." Hermione greeted the handsome, blonde boy as she put whatever book she was reading into her bookbag.

Draco spun around where he saw her at the foot of the stairs.

"Granger." He responded politely with a slight nod.

They climbed the exhausting drag to the top floor of the castle where they were to begin their patrols and then descend from there.

Out of breath and slightly sweating by the time they reached the top floor neither were fit for light hearted gossip, that wasn't until they had patrolled two floors lower.

"Oh did you hear that Hannah Abbot and Neville Longbottom were caught shagging in one of the greenhouses by Professor Sprout?" Hermione laughed.

Her laugh was like music to Draco's ears.

"Yeah I did, Zacharias Smith told me in charms. Did you know that Ernie Macmillan was the one that dropped the hint to Sprout?" Draco replied.

"What!?" Hermione exclaimed.

"Yeah, he's a jealous ex." Draco laughed.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Well I know enough about those."

Draco glanced at her. "Trouble in paradise?"

Hermione opened her mouth to speak but then closed it.

"You can tell me. I won't breathe a word." Draco swore with a hand on his heart and a charming smirk on his face.

"Course you won't." Hermione teased.

"I won't. What happens on patrols..." He stopped walking and waited for her to finish their private joke.

Hermione rolled her eyes playfully. "...stays on patrols."

"Go on tell me. I dare you." Draco teased, tickling her from behind.

Hermione giggeled before turning around to face him.

"Ron and I broke up..." She spat out.

Draco's jaw dropped and his eyes bulged at this new found information.

"...because he thinks that Lavender Browne might still love him." She finished in a pain filled voice.

Draco met her eyes for the first time, only to be met with more pain.

Her eyes filled with pain and rejection, started to water. She turned around
when they threatened to spill.

Draco put a soothing hand on her shoulder, not entirely sure of what to do.

"Hermione?" He asked using her first
name.

She spun around, watering h eyes mixed with curiosity.

"Any man who breaks your heart, shouldn't be allowed to love at all." He said quietly but with certainty before turning on his heel and leaving her alone on the fifth floor corridor.

After about 20 minutes of searching Hermione returned to the head commen rooms in the hopes that he was there.

Never in all the years of knowing Draco Malfoy, had he ever acted in such a caring or friendly manor. It wasn't normal and Hermione for sure was going to find out the reason behind his sudden change of attitude.

Hermione caught herself smiling as she thought about him teasing her only a half hour before.

His ruffled blonde hair, side swept and perfect. His gunmetal gray orbs that pierced into her with such a sexiness she felt guilty just thinking about it.

His toned muscled torso hidden by the white school shirt, sleeves rolled up to his elbows despite the cold temperatures. His pale skin, to her surprise, was warm, despite its icy appearance.

His lips positioned perfectly in his permanent, playful smirk which had long lost its menace.

Hermione had often caught herself thinking about him. What his lips must feel like? What he was like in bed? What it would feel like to fall asleep next to him?

She often put this down to being horny. She hadn't been with Ron in nearly four months and now was the time to move on. She had a date with Michael Corner the following week, and she was looking forward to it.

After finally giving up on getting an explanation on his sudden mood change Hermione decided to head straight to bed, she could get an explanation any time.