Author's Note: This is set in the 6th year, but Draco is not a Death Eater and has not been given any missions by Voldemort, and there will be time travelling involved. Let me know what you think (:

Having rested rather well last night post train journey to Hogwarts last night, Hermione was feeling quite content. It was a weekday, which meant lessons first thing. As the owl post created a smattering of feathers all over the Great Hall, one rather out of the ordinary bird landed right in front of the girl, who had been patiently telling Ron, as if he were a child, "Ron; if you eat your banana that fast then you're going to choke."

He however continued to deep throat the banana. "What? I'm hungry."

When the owl butted her elbow in a persevering fashion, Hermione looked right into the striking creature's face, and gently took the fresh parchment out of its beak, replacing it with hot buttered toast. The owl consumed said toast and hooted thankfully, before taking off.

"Blimey, Hermione, what is it?" the one with the glasses prodded. Curiosity abound, the two boys stared resolutely until the slightly unnerved girl opened the folded parchment.

Miss Granger,

Salutations to you, I have a request. Please find your way to my office as soon as you finish reading this letter.

Ever so sincerely,
Professor Dumbledore.
P.S. I enjoy Licorice Wands.

"That's the password." Harry muttered, sounding almost jealous that it wasn't him receiving indistinct summons to the headmaster's office.

"What did you do Hermione, take too many subjects?" Ron sarcastically suggested, and then he really did choke on his banana.

"I have neither dropped nor added anymore subjects. I don't know what it's about, but I'll catch up with you later, okay?" Hermione replied brusquely, and headed in that very direction that she had been pointed in.

The problem became all too clear after she uttered the password and walked in. Her eyes narrowed, and her small feminine mouth was agape with horror.

"Malfoy!"

"Nice face, Granger." He smirked.

"Good morning, Miss Granger." Dumbledore nodded amiably at the Gryffindor, who was clearly knocked for six. She mumbled something unintelligible by way of a reply.

"Now, the reason you two have been summoned here us because as the brightest girl and boy in your year, I would like you to participate in a little project." the headmaster lilted in a slight accent.

"There's just one problem sir-I don't like Granger." Malfoy protested. If looks could kill, then Hermione Granger would most certainly be deader than a dead thing in Dead Land.

She decided to be more polite in her explanation. "Me and Malfoy aren't really famous for getting on, despite the interhouse co operation encouragement…how are we supposed to work together productively? There's so much history there."

"Ah, history." Dumbledore beamed, which surprised the pair. "An excellent subject, wouldn't you agree?" he took out a sherbet lemon from a nearby bowl and popped it in his mouth.

Hermione mumbled a passive yes, whilst Malfoy snorted. "Don't go getting all infatuated, Granger."

"What did you say?" she raised her eyebrows.

"Well, I can't imagine even a girl of your, ahem, 'type' being able to resist me."

"Come again?"

"Well, you can't deny I have the body of a god."

"Right," she agreed. "Buddha."

Dumbledore chuckled in appreciation, startling her.

"Why do we need to do this anyway? If Granger does something wrong, we'll have to say it was the Dark Lord and he planned it all along." Malfoy complained.

"Malfoy, this is the twenty first century. You can't just cock up and blame it on the Death Eaters." Hermione pointed out.

"Well what are we supposed to do? We're meant to know what we're doing and be dignified! I mean, good lord we're British aren't we?" he became the slightest bit flustered, almost as if he wanted to pace but needed to ask Dumbledore permission. He refrained.

"You're not, you're German." she muttered, thinking him and Hitler would have made a fine couple.

"Ah…" Dumbledore began. Hermione blushed, he smiled and said to the both of them, "Nobody will ever win the battle of the sexes. There's too much fraternising with the enemy."

Malfoy smirked knowingly then. Hermione strived not to shudder.

"Now, your project will take place over the whole school year, so you will be able to postpone your other studies."

Blank confusion swept over the teenagers' faces. Dumbledore elaborated, "You've heard of the new time turners, I assume?"

Even Malfoy was impressed now. "We're going to experience genuine history?"

"Yes."

"Which time period?" Hermione chipped in.

"1943, mid February in Nazi Germany."

She gasped: World War 2 was a fascinating period, but to actually experience the time…

"There are going to be a few minor changes: you will stay the same age but you're going to inherit the ability to speak fluent German, which will also be your nationality in your papers. "

He let the pair take this in. A whole new identity each. Hermione was named Hanna, and Malfoy was going to be Max.

"You will be provided with the correct time period clothing, and you will be staying in a building with a couple of other teenagers. It is safe there and you will be warm, but you will have to take care of yourselves and each other. When you address each other, it will sound like your actual names, Draco and Hermione. Luckily to others it will sound exactly like Max Riem and Hanna Mets, due to various charms. Keep note of how everything works around you. These new time turners are still to be wrapped around the two of you, but it will act rather like Apparating, transporting you not only to the correct location but time. Have you any questions?"

Draco appeared to have one. "When are we to embark upon this mission?"
"In two days. You may prepare and tell only those close to you what exactly you may be doing; to the others you are simply testing something out for me. Is that understood? I have complete faith in you." The headmaster gazed over his half moon spectacles over the shuffling teenagers who nodded quickly and quietly. Dismissal soon occurred, and once they were together in the corridor, alone, Hermione broke the silence.

"Can I just clarify here and now that whether we are spending a year together or not, I never have and never will understand why you find yourself so damn attractive."

"My sense of humour: That's what makes me so attractive." And then he actually winked at her. She snorted in disbelief, and simply turned away.

A year with the person she disliked most. Brilliant…