DISCLAIMER: All characters and settings are property of JK Rowling, our literary queen. Thanks, byeeeee

Chapter 1

The fourth year Slytherin and Gryffindors were all in a room, not quite the size of the great hall, taking their winter potions exams. Draco couldn't help but notice the golden trio whispering among themselves, and judging by the stressed looks on the two boys faces, the conversation was undoubtedly about the fast approaching Yule Ball.

"How about it, 'Mione. I don't have anyone, you don't have anyone…" Weasley trailed off. Draco watched as Hermione Granger, arguably the most brilliant witch of their class, maybe even the school, face turned a deep shade of red and her facial expression changed from irritability to straight anger.

"Not that it's any of your business, Ronald, but somebody's already asked me," Granger lashed before standing up and walking over to Professor Snape, handing in her test booklet. She appeared next to Ron, again, angrily picking up her bags and books from the table. "And I said yes." With that, Granger stormed out of the room, leaving Ron's last minute attempt at getting a date to the Yule ball an epic fail.

"Mental, that one is. I doubt anyone has actually asked her. She's just too proud to admit it," Weasley muttered to Harry Potter before getting a swift smack to the back of the head from Professor Snape.

"Stupid git," Draco muttered under his breath, turning his attention back to his exam.

"What was that, Draco," whispered Pansy Parkinson next to him. Draco tried not to cringe at his almost-girlfriend's shrill voice. He just shook his head.

"It's nothing. Nothing important." Draco looked up again, looking at the door that Hermione had just left out of. He quickly finished his exam and left the room.

Draco didn't know when his feelings had changed about muggleborns. Probably sometime around when Hermione Granger had punched him in the nose and called him a cockroach just one year previous. The power the punch held and the term 'cockroach' had made it click in his mind that no one, no matter who they were born to, were inherently lesser than another person. What made a person lesser was how they chose to act towards others, especially those with less privilege. That single punch and word combination had sent him into a spiral and made him re-evaluate everything he had ever said to every muggleborn, especially Hermione Granger. No matter how cruel he was to her, she never started anything first. She carried herself with such class and dignity even when he had been so awful to her. Besides that, she was possibly the brightest witch of the century. Draco didn't dare tell his father about any of this. Granger was a topic of many conversation at the Malfoy manor, mostly "Draco, why is that filthy mudblood friend of Potter's doing better than you?" Lately it had become harder and harder for Draco to bite back his anger when his father called Hermione a mudblood. That was one thing Draco beat himself up about over and over again. He should have never called her a 'filthy little mudblood' in their second year. He remembered the moment so clearly, when those words came out of his mouth. He could see the young Hermione's face suddenly fall. It was as if he had completely torn down all the walls that made her strong. Draco would never forgive himself for it.

Draco was about to turn a corner to go down to the dungeons when he heard something coming from a small corridor to the side of him. It sounded like a girl crying. Draco hesitated and looked towards the passageway to the dungeons before turning and decided to follow the noise of the tears. As he slowly walked down the stairs and rounded the corner, he saw someone with a small frame and bushy, brown hair sitting on the steps. Conjured birds flew around her as Draco realized it was none other than Hermione Granger herself. Draco hesitated. Should he just turn around and go back up the stairs? It really wasn't any of his business. But he wasn't one to leave someone distraught alone. Plus, he was curious. He slowly continued down the stairs and stopped when he was in front of Hermione. The girl slowly looked up and furrowed her brows when she saw the blonde headed boy in front of her.

"Draco..?" She asked, her voice mirroring the confusion on her face.

"May I sit down," Draco asked softly. Hermione nodded and Draco sat down next to her.

"What are you doing here? Come to taunt me," Hermione sniffled. Draco shook his head next to her.

"I just didn't think you'd want to be in here alone, Granger." Hermione's head snapped up when he called her by her name. She was expected 'mudblood' or at least 'muggleborn'. It was a very rare occurrence that Draco Malfoy, son of one of the most established pureblood families in the wizarding world, would call Hermione by something as decent as her name.

"Is this some kind of sick prank," Hermione asked softly, turning her head to face forward again. She didn't want Draco to see the tears forming in her eyes again.

Her and Draco had been at odds since their first year, though she suspected the attention was on her because she was friends with Harry. She had always found it so juvenile that Draco and his family (and really most wealthy purebloods) would really think of someone lesser just because they weren't raised in an all wizard household. It wasn't so bad the first year. Yes, there were comments here and there but Draco had spent most of his year taunting Harry and Ron, as Hermione wasn't friends with them the entire year. It didn't start hitting hard until the year after when Draco called her a 'filthy little mudblood' and she was petrified soon after. Though Hermione had to admit, Draco hadn't bothered her much since she punched him in the nose during third year. It wasn't normally like Hermione to act out in violence but the pressure of all her classes and having to deal with time travel had messed with her and stressed her to the point where her nerves were as thin as a wire.

"Look, I saw you get angry at Weasley and storm out of the room. This isn't a prank, I just know Weasel can be a git and-"

"It's Weasley and I'm fine," Hermione snapped. Draco sighed and made to get up. "Wait, no I'm sorry. You don't have to leave. It's just… it's been a long day." Draco looked at Hermione. Stress was wearing on her. He could see giant eye bags and dark circles under her eyes and her skin didn't have it's normal glow to it.

"Why is that," Draco asked, trying not to grit his teeth. He normally didn't like talking about feelings with girls, or small talk at all. He was more of a quick shag and never talk again type of guy. But this was Granger. That wasn't even in the picture. Hermione rolled her eyes at the question.

"Everyone is just so obsessed with this stupid ball. I don't even understand the appeal. And yes, I thought I would be going with Ronald but as it got nearer and nearer, he wasn't even asking me. And when he asked me today I just… I felt like a last resort. And it makes perfect sense. He's had his eyes on those Beauxbatons girls since they've arrived so of course I'm not going to be a first choice." Hermione barely got a breath in as she spiraled through her emotions.

"Well, Weasley's a git." Draco raised his hand as Hermione opened her mouth to defend him. "And I know he's your friend, Granger, and I know you two probably both want to be more but boys are thick. They wouldn't know a relationship if it hit them in the face. Weasley probably doesn't even realize he likes you." Hermione opened her mouth and closed it again, trying to formulate an response but couldn't. Draco took this opportunity to speak again. "As for the appeal of the ball, it's an excuse to let yourself go. There's so much… evil and dark things going on right now that the ball is an excellent excuse to let your hair down and just relax, even if it's just for one night.

"So I'd assume you're going. So you can… just focus on having fun for a night?" Hermione suspected Draco's affiliation with the dark lord. Hell, most of the school probably suspected it, but Hermione was possibly one of the only one that expected he had no choice in the matter. Draco shrugged.

"I might stop by for a little while." There was a thick silence that was soon interrupted by the small birds Hermione had conjured splatting against the wall.

"Bogger! I told Ron I had a date in the heat of the moment and I don't. I'm going to either show up to the ball looking incredibly stupid or I'm going to sit up in my dorm room as everyone suspecte," Hermione exclaimed angrily.

"Why don't you just find a date," Draco asked her. Hermione sighed as her shoulders slumped.

"It isn't that easy for me. I don't think anyone actually thinks about me like that. And I know Harry doesn't have a date but he's… He's Harry. I don't think he nor Ron even realize I'm a girl," she answered with a sad chuckle. "I don't think I've ever caught the attention of a boy in that way. Bushy hair, big teeth. I guess there's Krum but he doesn't really have anything intelligent to say. No, I'd rather go alone than go with him." She said it as if she was trying to convince herself. The corridor fell silent again.

"Go with me," Draco said suddenly. Hermione looked shocked and Draco must admit, the words coming out of his mouth shocked him as well. He hadn't meant to say it.

"Yeah, I'd love to see the looks on Weasley and Potter's face. And I could get rid of Pansy at least for a night. Plus, you could make Weasley jealous. Yeah, this just might work!"

"Aren't you and Pansy…" Hermione trailed off as Draco shook his head.

"No, I honestly can't stand her. I think she just fancies my because of my name."

"Draco, come on, we don't like each other." While this stung Draco, he controlled his facial expression and continued.

"It's strictly a business arrangement, Granger. We pretend to like each other for one night and we both get something out of the arrangement."

"Would anyone actually buy it?"

"I find myself to be pretty damn convincing." Hermione chewed at the side of her cheek, something Draco had noticed she did when she was deep in thought. She finally sighed.

"Fine, but if we keep talking, I'm going to be late to Muggle History," Hermione muttered, gathering her books.

"Why are you taking that class anyway? You were raised in a muggle household," Draco asked, standing up and brushing off his pants. "I suppose you just like burying yourself in books to escape the real world."

"No, I just find it interesting to see it from a different party's perspective," Hermione huffed, her ears tinted slightly pink. "Anyway, meet me in the library at 8:00 tonight so we can talk about the logistics of our plan." Hermione turned around and marched up the stairs before even hearing Draco's answer. Draco shook his head and headed back down to where he was originally going.

At 7:50 that night Draco wandered out of his common room, careful not to bump into anyone. While he didn't technically have to be back in his dorm until 10:00, it would be very out of character for him to be going to the library of all places at night, and he didn't need prying eyes asking question.

It was 7:58 as Draco was about to round the corner to the library when he ran into Gregory Goyle and Blaise Zabini on their way back from probably harassing some first year from another house. That was those two's favorite activity.

"Where are you going Draco," Zabini asked, curious as to why Draco was seemingly on his way to the library.

"I need to go to the library," Draco muttered, figuring it useless to lie.

"You never go to the library," Goyle questioned.

"I am tonight," Draco snapped. He took a deep breath. "Professor Snape asked me to grab a book for him," he lied expertly, figuring it would do a better job of leading them off his trail than being snappy.

"Do you want us to wait for you," Zabini asked. Draco shook his head.

"No, I might wander a bit when I'm done. Don't know how long I'll be. I'll see you two later in the common room." With that, Draco pushed by them and to the library, ignoring the confused muttering from his two friends. He checked his watch. 8:05.

"Bollocks," he swore under his breath. Hopefully Hermione was still there. Sure enough Hermione was in the library at her usual secluded table that she used to study. Unsurprisingly, she had her nose in a book, although Draco didn't recognize the title. Must have been some muggle book. Hermione pursed her lips as Draco sat down across from her.

"You're late. I thought you bailed." Draco shook his head.

"Ran into a couple people. They were extremely curious why I'd be going to the library."

"Well, the library is an incredibly useful place. I feel like most students should get some use out of it."

"Yeah, it's useful if you're some git that actually studies and dedicates a specific time and place to do homework." Draco hadn't meant for his words to sound as harsh as they did and regretted them as soon as the hurt crossed Hermione's face. Before he could even think about apologizing, Hermione cleared her throat and summoned a piece of parchment and quill.

"So I think we need to create an actual contract with some rules in place." Draco fought the urge to roll his eyes.

"Typical Hermione Granger. Has to plan everything out to a t," he sneered.

"Rule one," Hermione started, putting the quill to the paper. "No saying rude things that night." Draco pursed his lips.

"Okay," he agreed. "But light teasing is allowed," he added hastily. Hermione nodded, writing it down.

"Rule two. Don't be oggling and getting cozy with other girls. I don't care what you do after the ball but none of that when we're in the public eye."

"Okay. And same for you but with boys." Hermione nodded.

"Three, no PDA."

"Granger, no one is going to believe we fancy each other."

"I don't want you touching me!"

"How are you expecting this to work," Draco questioned. Hermione chewed the side of her cheek then sighed.

"Fine, but you can't kiss me." Draco shrugged and agreed, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms.

"And four," Hermione started before looking up at Draco. He felt his stomach tighten as her chestnut eyes fell onto him. "We have to make it believable." Draco nodded and signed the bottom of the parchment.

"I'll pick you up at 6:45 on Saturday. Be ready," he said before getting up and leaving the library. Hermione chewed her lip as she watched Draco leave the library. She couldn't help but be hesitant with her decision. But then again, why was he being so decent to her?

It was almost 9:30 by the time Hermione got back to the common room.

"Blimey, Hermione. Where've you been," Ron asked.

"Library," she replied plainly.

"Say, who are you going with anyway," Harry asked from the red couch situated in front of the burning fire.

"It's a surprise," Hermione told him, turning on her heels to head up to her dorm.

"I bet you anything she doesn't even have anyone to go with," she heard Ron telling Harry. Hermione couldn't help but smirk at the surprise her two best friends were in for as she made her way up the stairs.