A/N this is a series of mixed Dramione drabbles/oneshots based on prompts for Kyota-Chan's 'Aboard the Love Boat' fic challenge. Possibly quite AU, HPB/DH disregarded. Let me know what you think of it so far in a review!

I'm also looking for a better title for this story, so if i think of a better one along the way i might change it! If anyone has any suggestions, let me know!

Disclaimer – I do not own Harry Potter, any of the characters, places etc, anything you recognise. It all belongs to J.K Rowling; all I own are the plots of the stories.

1) Gnomes

The grounds at Hogwarts, especially in the summer when the conditions were right – were often prone to a gnome infestation. Hagrid, who had been advised by the Hogwarts supply teacher, Professor Grubbly-Plank to use a sedative potion on them in order to catch and remove them, had refused to use this method, preferring a more humane way of removing Hogwarts of its gnomes. He often gave the students who had been given a detention with him the job of doing the task – it was not dangerous and was hard enough work to warrant the said wrong-doers a punishment for their petty crimes. He was used to Fred and George Weasley being sent to him and was often quite grateful for their assistance – they had much de-gnoming experience from living at the Burrow and were rather adept at getting rid of the little pests. When Professor Snape approached him in the Great Hall after lunch one afternoon however, assigning him with the task of giving two students a suitable errand for arguing during one of his classes, he did not expect to hear the name Hermione Granger.

"I assure you Hagrid," Snape had explained "Miss Granger has irked me enough to warrant herself a detention – however hard you may find that to believe"

"Who's the other one, then?" Hagrid had asked

"Mr Malfoy" said Snape "I trust you are able to carry out my request? I have little time to sit in my office monitoring those who do not have the capability to remain silent during my classes. I unlike some," Snape gave Hagrid a scathing look, a nasty smile appearing upon his pale face "have more important matters to attend to"

"Right you are then" said Hagrid, waving cheerfully at a couple of passing first years "send 'em to me after dinner? I've got something I can give 'em to do to keep 'em busy"

Hermione appeared at his hut at seven o' clock, looking rather abashed "detention, Hermione?" said Hagrid "that's not like you"

"It wasn't my fault" Hermione muttered "it was Malfoy"

"Ah, Hermione" said Hagrid, placing a huge hand on her shoulder "don' let him get to you…"

"I couldn't help it!" Hermione protested "I've had enough of his arrogance and nastiness…he's constantly picking on someone, he shouldn't be allowed to get away with it, someone had to put him in his place. I've been putting up with his childishness for almost seven years…"

"What did you say?" said Hagrid, beckoning Hermione to follow him to the cabbage patch

"I called him a stuck up ferret" said Hermione. She paused "I might have sworn at him too"

Hagrid made a tutting sound

"I know" said Hermione "I shouldn't have done it"

"No matter" said Hagrid "but you don' want to go getting yerself into trouble over Malfoy, Hermione. He's not worth it"

"I really didn't mean to get so angry…I just couldn't help it" said Hermione "I thought I'd have detention with Snape" she added

"Told me he's got more important things to do" replied Hagrid "sent you to me instead. Don' mind gnomes, do you? They've been ruining the cabbages; I haven't had a problem like this since the Flesh Eating Slugs"

"I can handle a few gnomes" said Hermione, relieved that Hagrid didn't have any more…exotic creatures in mind for her to attend to

"Looks like Malfoy's on his way over" said Hagrid, gesturing to the stone steps of the castle, where a tall, blonde figure was making their way slowly towards Hagrid's hut "I'll jus' get you some gloves, they can give a nasty bite when they want to, gnomes"

Hermione peered into the cabbages and saw that many of the leaves had large bite marks upon them. On closer inspection, she saw a gnome poke its head out from behind one, grin cheekily at her and retreat back behind the plants.

"Granger" said Malfoy by way of greeting. Hermione turned "Malfoy" she said "Hagrid wants us to get rid of the gnomes. He's gone to get some gloves…"

"Gnomes?" said Malfoy, snorting "what have we got to do, just spray them with some sort of repellent?"

"Hagrid prefers to use more kindly ways of removing them" said Hermione testily

"Alright, Mr Malfoy" said Hagrid, returning from his hut with two pairs of thick, dragonhide gloves, several lettuces and an armful of wooden crates "take these gloves, you too, Hermione. You're going to catch 'em and stick 'em in these crates. I've got a bit of fresh lettuce here, to tempt 'em like. When you've caught 'em, stick 'em in these crates and I'll take 'em out of the grounds tomorrow…there's a field jus' behind Hogsmeade that they'll be at home in. Got it?"

"Got it" said Hermione, pulling on her gloves. Malfoy merely nodded.

"Any problems, I'll be in my hut. I'll have a pot of tea and some cakes ready for when you're finished"

Hagrid departed, leaving Hermione and Malfoy alone. Hermione pulled a crate near to her, tore some leaves off one of the lettuces Hagrid had supplied them with, and set to work. A gnome peeked out from behind a cabbage leaf, eyeing her with trepidation "come on, have some lettuce…" Hermione coaxed. The gnome giggled at her and took a bite out of the cabbage instead.

"You're doing it all wrong, Granger" said Malfoy who had not done as much as pull on his gloves

"Oh and I suppose you're an expert at de-gnoming cabbages, Malfoy?" said Hermione

"I've watched the gardener at the manor do it enough times" said Malfoy lazily. He took a few steps forward "gnomes are clever" he said "watch" he took the lettuce from Hermione's hands, pulled off one of the leaves and put a piece in his mouth

"What are you doing?" said Hermione

"Eating this lettuce" Malfoy replied airily "I wouldn't want to waste it on bloody gnomes, thanks. They can have Hagrid's wilting cabbages if they want"

Hermione raised an eyebrow

"Don't you want any, Granger?" said Malfoy "you're missing out"

Hermione heard a scuffling sound behind her. She turned and to her surprise, no less than a dozen gnomes had crept out from their hiding places and were closely watching Malfoy who had finished the first lettuce leaf and was starting on another. He looked at Hermione, smirked and threw the rest of the lettuce into the cabbage patch where the gnomes converged on it

"Clever" said Hermione, grabbing one and shoving it into the crate

"Reverse psychology, Granger. They're not as stupid as you'd think" he crouched down and lifted a squealing gnome up by the ankles and forced it into the crate next to its companion

"Hurry up, won't you? I don't intend to stay out here all night with you, Granger. It's your fault I'm stuck out here in the first place"

"Oho!" said Hermione, struggling with a gnome who had gripped itself firmly onto the edges of the crate and refused to budge "and I suppose it was me who called Ron a brainless, insolent prat, drew my wand on him and consequently spilt half a cauldron of Amortentia?"

"You were the one who decided to stick up for the weasel" said Draco, Stunning a gnome and throwing it into the crate next to Hermione "you could have stayed out of it but no, not the amazing Hermione Granger, sidekick to Potter who knows absolutely fucking everything and has to act the hero and stick her nose into situations that don't involve her"

"I stick up for my friends" said Hermione "because I actually have friends, not just people who follow me around and pretend to like me"

"You know nothing about me, Granger" said Malfoy acidly "so keep your mouth shut"

Hermione chuckled mirthlessly "I suppose Crabbe and Goyle are your friends, are they? I try not to compliment you too often, Malfoy but you strike me as more intelligent than they are – I can't imagine you being on the same wavelength. And as for Parkinson, well…I suppose you enjoy the fact that she runs around after you like a lost little puppy?"

Draco's hand moved to his pocket and Hermione reached for her own wand but at that precise moment, Hagrid stuck his head out of the door of his hut "finished yet?" he called

"Nearly" said Hermione

"I'll stick the kettle on then"

Hermione and Draco finished the rest of the de-gnoming in silence. Hermione caught Draco's gaze occasionally but his face was impassive. Hermione who was, essentially good natured – perhaps sometimes too much so – knew that what she had said had struck a nerve, despite Draco's indifference. Maybe what she had said to him held more truth to it than she had thought – she had said it to hurt, to wound to get back at him for being such an insufferable bastard, but now she thought on it, he really didn't have any real friends. He had plenty of admirers, people who wanted to share in his notoriety and influence over both the teachers and the students, those who knew how wealthy and powerful his family were, but nobody who she could class as a friend of his. Could it be possible that she was feeling sorry for Draco Malfoy?

The de-gnoming finally over and done with, Hermione stood up and rubbed her back, sore from crouching next to the cabbages for so long "I'm going to have a cup of tea with Hagrid" she announced as Draco stood up too "he offered it to you as well as me" she added.

Draco laughed "I'll see you around, Granger"

"Yeah" said Hermione as he retreated, his back to her "see you around"

2) Lace

Hermione had bought herself a new school shirt and it was starkly different to the ones she normally wore. This, she thought shrewdly as she held it up to herself, is what you get when you go shopping in Hogsmeade with Parvati and Lavender.

It was made of crisp, white linen, cut at the shoulders and with a lace trim. It fitted her well and she could not deny it suited her but still, she was a little anticipative about wearing it. It was lower cut than she was used to – the buttons only fastened just above her modest cleavage. It showed very little flesh, at least compared to the tops Parvati and Lavender wore but she had never been the type of girl to wear shirts like this, shirts that were cinched in at the waist with fussy lace trims.
She put it on anyway. It was not as if anyone would notice and she didn't want her new purchase to go to waste. Ron and Harry of course, acted as was expected and made no comment on her new wardrobe addition. At breakfast, she thought about going back to her dormitory and changing – she preffered her normal, cotton shirts that had ink stains on the cuffs but by lunchtime, she had decided against it. It wasn't an ugly shirt, it was quite pretty really and, she admitted to herself, she had begun to quite like it.

Ron and Harry had Quidditch practice after dinner and so ate quickly, said a quick see you later and departed for the Quidditch Pitch, leaving Hermione to finish her slice of chicken pie alone. She walked back to Gryffindor Tower, her mind upon the History of Magic essay she needed to complete for Professor Binns by Monday, when, while walking along the corridor, she saw someone else walking towards her in the opposite direction. She thought nothing of it until they drew closer and she realised it was Draco Malfoy. Expecting an insult or at least a dirty look, she hurried past without meeting his eyes.

"Nice top, Granger" he said as they passed each other. Hermione came to a halt.

"Er, thanks" she said, confused and admittedly, rather astounded

"No problem" he said, continuing walking and not looking back

Hermione grinned to herself, resolving that she would, maybe, wear that shirt again sometime.