Hermione felt the pounding in her ears again. She would see him for the first time since the Great Hall, gaunt and stricken at the Slytherin table with his mother clutching his arm. She hadn't meant to look for him. Not in the corridors, not beneath the white sheets of the fallen, not on the way to the Chamber of Secrets with Ron, but she was a stupid girl.

Malfoy's handsome face was contoured into a condescending smirk. "No faith in that giant brain of yours, Granger?" She looked up at him defiantly. "Maybe I don't have any faith in you!" she said, raising her voice. Malfoy only looked at her. You'll find I'm very surprising. Dramione AU, canon divergence, year 6 with a slow burn and a killer twist. Book I of "This World or Any Other" Series. COMPLETE. [Cross-posting of all stories currently in progress from FFN and AO3.]

Newly Headgirl Hermione Granger returns to Hogwarts for her final year without Harry and Ron. She is eager for a stress free year but her happiness comes crashing down around her when Draco Malfoy is made Headboy. On the outside he still comes across as the same arrogant, cruel selfish person she knows all too well. However after a series of events where Draco saves her life and comforts her unexpectedly, Hermione realizes that he isn't the man she thinks he is. She knows he is tortured by painful memories from his past but he is determined to keep that hidden. As the unlikely pairings relationship develops, Hermione is unaware of the heartache, choices and new feelings she will come to discover. ******************************************************** DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the character's such as Hermione, Draco, Harry, Ginny, Ron etc as they all rightfully belong to the very talented JK Rowling. I am merely a huge HP fan who enjoys writing fanfic stories from my perspective. However, I AM responsible for the story-line s/character developments/scenario's etc that come with this book and I take any cases of copying very seriously.