It's been ages since I posted my last story, so I apologise in advance for rusty writing. This story is for round 1 of the Ultimate OTP competition, using the dialogue prompt. I hope you enjoy reading this!

Hermione:

After seven years at Hogwarts, Hermione had safely concluded that most of the student population enjoyed sleeping in on the weekends. That was the reason why the great hall was almost always empty before eight in the morning, and thus also the reason why she always ate then. Normally, the only company she had on these days was a book. Today, however, Harry and Ron accompanied her. Harry had stepped up the intensity and frequency of Quidditch training for Gryffindor, which essentially translated to practice every other day.

"Hermione, can you pass the toast?" Harry asked from her right. She obliged, wrinkling her nose at the way the boys, especially Ron, ate as if they had been starved. It was a wonder how they managed to keep their shape.

"Wha's he doin' 'ere?" Ron asked with a grunt, frowning as he looked up from his plateful of eggs. It was only then that Hermione noticed a presence behind her – Draco Malfoy. One time enemy of Hermione, and now… well it was complicated. She hadn't quite come to terms with things herself. He stood with a relaxed posture, as if walking up to the Gryffindor table was a common occurrence.

"Granger, I need to see you – in private." Draco added with a pointed look at Harry and Ron, for both of them had stood up the moment he said the words. They were just looking out for her… yet she could not help getting slightly annoyed by the overprotectiveness. She sighed. They had no true inkling of the situation, after all.

"Why do you need to see her?" Harry asked, eyeing Draco suspiciously. Harry had managed to accept almost all the other students in the school after the war - even those who had previously wronged him, such as Pansy Parkinson. However, it seemed that the seven year long rivalry between Harry, Ron and Draco ran too deep. They treated each other with civility (or at least, Harry and Draco did on most occasions), but were far from coming to an understanding – and that was what Hermione wanted to change. The reconciliation of the poster boys of their houses would do wonders for inter-house unity. Of course, there were her own slightly more selfish personal reasons… but in anycase, she did not see the reason behind their animosity.

"I require the head girl's assistance regarding the plight of certain younger members of my house, and your unnecessary presence will only get in the way." Draco drawled after a long pause, "Of course, I have other nefarious purposes." She rolled her eyes and was about to make a sarcastic retort when she noticed that the words had actually affected the boys, who shared a glance. The tension at the table was palpable and Hermione just thought it silly. The Slytherin was riling them up on purpose, and at this rate, her friends would take the bait. She made a mental note to talk to Draco later.

"Harry, Ron, relax. I am perfectly capable of defending myself. If Malfoy tries anything funny, I assure you that he won't be out and about anytime soon. Brightest witch of our generation, remember?" Hermione joked in an attempt to diffuse the situation.

"Yes, but I don't trust him." Ron said simply, shooting a glare at the boy in question.

"I'm standing right in front of you, Weasel. Try to remember that with whatever semblance of a brain you possess. " Draco shot back with a sneer.

"I'll see you at eleven, ferret." Hermione sighed, interrupting Ron before he could come up with an insult to return, which would likely escalate into a full-blown fight. She wondered what Draco was up to. They had never approached each other with plans to meet openly before.

"See you, otter." Draco turned to saunter away, though not before giving Hermione a smirk. She raised an eyebrow in a perfect imitation of his in reply, unaware that the boy who lived was observing all of this with narrowed eyes.

Harry:

Ron seethed with anger, going on about what a git Malfoy was. Harry listened absently, nodding and agreeing from time to time. His mind wandered back to the scene he just saw. There was something odd about the way the exchange had played out. Hermione and him had almost seemed… teasing. Granted, Malfoy had not called Hermione a mudblood ever since term started, but that did not make him a likable person. Also, Malfoy would never have accepted anyone calling him ferret without some kind of insulting comeback. Otter? Since when did Malfoy know about Hermione and otters anyway?

What was even more disturbing was the way Hermione had raised her eyebrow when Malfoy smirked at her. Harry had seen that patronising expression countless times on none other than Malfoy's face, and it was just creepy seeing it on his best friend's. And then, there was also the fact that they had neglected to mention or even raise the matter of a meeting place. That could only mean that they had such meetings before. He tried to imagine his best friend and rival together in the same place, teasing each other. Ferret. Otter. Were they pet names? Harry groaned at the thought.

"Harry, did you hear what I said?" Ron interrupted his disturbing train of thought.

"What? Of course. He's a git." Harry agreed, knowing that was something safe to say. "C'mon, let's get down to the pitch."

He would be talking to Hermione later. Right now, he needed to rid his mind of all the unwelcome images…

It was a whole two hours later before Harry managed to find Hermione in the library. The quidditch practice had gone well, leaving the whole team in quite a good mood.

"How was practice?" Hermione asked in surprise, looking up from the transfiguration essay she had been writing. It was already a few inches past the required amount, Harry noted. Some things would never change.

"Good," He answered, sitting down on the seat opposite to her. He fidgeted for a while, wondering if he should actually ask. Maybe he was just overthinking? But no, for the sake of his sanity.

"Do you want to say something?" She asked, raising her eyebrows – again.

Harry hesitated, before deciding to just jump into it. "You seem to be quite comfortable with Malfoy."

Hermione looked shocked, for a moment. "Well we've been forced to work together a lot this year, and we have come to an understanding of sorts. So yes, I suppose we're quite comfortable with each other. " She finished lamely.

Harry panicked internally. Comfortable with each other. "You-you're not together with him or anything, right?" Harry asked in what he hoped to be a deadly calm voice. What would he do if it were true?

For a moment, there was silence as Hermione simply stared at him. Oh god, had he guessed right? Were they really dating? He imagined them snogging each other over a pile of books, and was suddenly filled with the overwhelming urge to punch Malfoy in the face. Or gag. Maybe both.

Then, Hermione burst into laughter. Harry blinked.

"You should have seen your face!" She said in between giggles. "Can you imagine it?"

Harry could not help but participate in the infectious laughter Hermione and Malfoy, dating? Laughable. What had he been thinking? Yet, that did not change the fact that they were… acquaintances of a sort.

"Just be careful, Hermione," Harry said, dampening the mood suddenly with a frown, "He might be up to something."

"I will." Hermione smiled, though Harry noted there was a flash of something else there. Was it sadness? "Don't worry, Harry. I can handle him."

He hoped so. Reformed or not, Malfoy still could not be trusted.

Draco:

Draco watched with amusement as Hermione stormed into the head common room. The portrait slammed shut behind her, grumbling loudly about the foul tempers of lions and the like. He supposed the wrath of one Hermione Granger was quite hard to bear.

"What's got you so flustered, Granger?" He asked, gesturing for her to take a seat right beside him. She did, willingly letting him draw her into his arms. He breathed in the cinnamon scent of her hair as she laid it on his shoulder, teasing it with his hands playfully.

"Harry." Hermione stated simply. "He actually asked me if we were together."

"And what did you say?" Draco prompted. Everything was going according to his plan. It was good that people were starting to realise something, even if it was just Potter…

Hermione stayed silent. A guilty silence, he deduced. This would be interesting.

"You lied?" Draco raised his eyebrow quizzically.

"No!" Hermione drew away from him sharply, "I didn't! I was just… withholding information. I just laughed and he assumed I thought the idea ludicrous and thus it couldn't be true."

"Turning into quite the Slytherin, aren't you?" Draco laughed, enjoying the miffed expression on the witch as he did so. She feigned indignation.

"Wait." Hermione paused suddenly, turning back to face Draco. Draco's smirk widened as he watched her realise the scene she had been greeted by in her dramatic entrance. "What are you doing in here?"

"Visiting the witch I miss?" Draco replied innocently, knowing perfectly well that was not at all what Hermione meant.

"You could have gotten caught by Terry! What if he had been in the common room?" Hermione fretted. "Besides, he doesn't know that you know the password. Think about the whole lot of explaining-"

Draco cut her off with a swift kiss – his favourite way of silencing Hermione. He savoured the taste of her lips, even if they were stiff against his. He refused to give up, daring to nibble her lower lip just the way she liked it… and that did the trick. She relented and gave him admittance, wrapping her arms around his neck as he punished her ruthlessly for the delay. It was with great reluctance that he allowed his witch to pull away when they broke for air.

"I'd assumed you planned the schedule as usual to make sure Boot was out." Draco whispered into her ear, enjoying the dazed look on the girl's face. Not everyone could say they had rendered Hermione Granger speechless. "Of course, we could just go up to your room, but I suppose you do have to defend your reputation as a prude…"

"Malfoy!" Hermione managed to growl out, though not without a blush. It was refreshing, to say the least. He loved to play the dangerous game of making her uncomfortable. It had ended in hexes once or twice… but the resulting amusement and inevitable "punishment" was always too tempting to deter him.

"Enough of this," Hermione crossed her arms. "So, why do you want to see me?"

"Can't I visit you for no reason?" Draco pouted.

"Very funny. Now if you don't answer me…" Hermione reached for her wand, tapping it twice. Sparks flew out from the tip. Draco stared back at her with a seemingly bored expression, although he kept a hand near his own wand. He doubted she would do lasting damage, especially since she liked him in working order. They continued a staring match for a few seconds, before Hermione suddenly shot a body bind curse that would have hit him had he not dodged at the last moment.

"Bloody hell, woman, fine," Draco grumbled with irritation, as Hermione smirked. He was definitely rubbing off on her too much. "I received a letter from my mother."

Hermione stiffened, the playful mood disappearing instantly. "Did she find out?"

"No, but it still concerns us." Draco continued. "In essence, she asked me if I was already in a relationship, or else she would strike up something with the Greengrasses."

"What did you say?" Hermione frowned. She looked as if she had a lot more to say, and Draco would bet it probably had to do with modern ages and how "these sort of pureblood traditions" were obsolete. His mother, perhaps, would not be opposed if he were to find another girl, as long as it was a "respectable specimen". After the war, he doubted she would put up much opposition. His father, on the other hand…

"I told her I already had someone in mind without elaborating." Draco stated slowly, gauging the girl's reaction, hoping she got the silent message of soon, but not now. "It's time to fulfill your wish. My mother will think I'm just trying to get out of this mutually beneficial alliance unless they know I'm serious, which will require the testimonial of those around us."

"Y-you want to reveal our… relationship?" Hermione asked, biting her lip as she looked up at him. As he expected, Hermione had caught what he meant immediately. He kept his face impassive as he nodded. Instead of looking happy, or at least relieved, as he thought she would, she simply looked worried.

"I thought you wanted to stop hiding this?" Draco gestured fluidly, confused. Hermione had always been the one going on about how horrible it felt to be hiding something from her friends. (Draco had pointed out that they were more of her bodyguards than her friends, but that had only ended up with him being painfully ignored for a day.) Now, she seemed unwilling. Bloody woman and their changing of minds.

"I don't think they're ready." Hermione sighed, aiming an accusing look at Draco. "Couldn't you have been less confrontational with them? They'll probably try to kill you now." She groaned.

"If I recall correctly, I was being quite civil until they started insinuating things. And if they try to kill me, I believe I can defend myself quite well." Draco drawled. "I say to hell with your bodyguards. We could always shock them into inaction by the sight of me snogging you senseless in front of everyone."

Hermione glared at him, "I was thinking something more subtle."

"That was what I was going for with this morning," Draco let out a dramatic sigh. "As a gentleman, I have to humour the lady. Fine, we'll take it slow." He conceded, though not without a smirk, "As long as we can still have some fun with it."

"I suppose a gracious lady has to compromise," Hermione tried to sound unwilling, but Draco saw the truth in the smile she was trying to hide. "Deal."

Ah yes, the two of them would have their fun indeed.

This is probably going to be a two or three-shot. If you have any ideas for how you want them to hint at their... relationship, feel free to drop me a pm or review. ;) Thank you!