...

Hermione was sure the teachers were trying to destroy her. Every class she had been partnered with Malfoy, making her life living hell. Something about house unity. She hadn't listen to that god awful crap and was just trying to figure out how the hell she was going to survive. There constant bickering meant that she was not fully concentrating(well, as far as not concentrating goes for Hermione Granger) and that projects were going all wrong. Just the other day in potions they had both ended up looking like cartoon Einsteins with black faces and static hair, it was embarassing to say the least, Hermione Granger never ruined anything. Naturally it was all Malfoy's fault. Thankfully, all lessons had been merged with Ginny's year, as their weren't many returning to Hogwarts to comlete their final year.

Today their first lesson was DADA, and they had been forced together again. Hermione was determined to succeed in this subject, after all, if she didn't it would be a disgrace. She was one of the golden trio for goodness sakes! not that that made much of a difference anymore now that the war was over. Anyway, Malfoy wouldn't mess it up for her, she wouldn't let him.

They were sent off to complete their tasks in pairs, practising blocking hexes. Malfoy walked over to stand opposite her and just sat casually on the floor.

"Are you going to send a hex at me or not? Are you going to move your good for nothing lazy backside or will I have to do it for you?" She knew it was a bit harsh but the frustration usually got him to move. suddenly a shot of water shot towards her but she defended it easily. "Is that all you got?" she challenged. In a flash he was standing an inch away from her. He had an almost pitying look on in his eyes but his jaw was set. She wanted to slap him for that look in his eyes. She would not be pitied.

"You think that's all I've got after fighting a war Hermione? I just wouldn't want to hurt you, I've hurt you enough already" he said quietly, gripping her lower arm, where her scar from his aunt was. Hermione didn't know whether to be furious that he thought she was unable of blocking a spell or… She didn't know what the 'or' was. To say the least she was confused. Why would he say that when he had always called her that name? The name that tatooed her arm, that was her battle scar. The name that wasn't her own.

"Are you two quite finished?" McGonagall called, and they realised the whole class was snickering at their close proximity. Hermione ignored the class but couldn't help but feel that McGonagall sounded like Mary Poppins when she spoke like that. Malfoy stalked off throwing a hex over his shoulder, Hermione easily blocking it. She furrowed her brow and bit her lip, concentrating on both the duel that she and Malfoy were semi-consciously having and the thing that Malfoy had just siad to her. Bloody hell, life couldn't get any more confusing.

...

Until lunch Hermione had been avoiding Draco's gaze. It was almost painful to admit that Malfoy had the slightest bit of compassion. She had been crucioied and not that…scared... how the hell could a weak cowardice ferret have that effect? It wasn't as if no one had said her name before. But not like that- wait, what was she doing? she had to stop thinking these things. The great hall was full as Hermione made her way over to the slytherin table, rubbing an apple on her shirt sleeve. It was an old habit, that Ron was befuddled by.

As she reached the slytherin table many eyes were on her. Pansy was glaring and Blaise looked confused, to say the least. Probably the first time in history that a gryffiondor has gone to this side of the hall, Hermione thought to herself, making the corners of her mouth turn up ever so slightly. She finally came to a stop opposite the head boy.

"Draco, McGonagall wants to talk to us about the prefect rounds, she wants to have it over and done with by the end of this lunch time. Well aren't you going to move?" Malfoy had gone quiet.

"You just called me Draco." Blaise was shaking his head slightly in disbelief and Pansy looked as if she were about to faint. It was just a name, but it was nice to know it wasn't only her that was affected by a simple word.

"That is your name isn't it Malfoy?" she replied with a smirk. She bit into her apple and turned on her heels, walking away, swinging her hips.

"Not one that you're entitled to use," she heard. She tried to keep calm. She could she Ginny laughing at the whole spectacle and Ron turning beetroot coloured. Harry was simply smiling and rolled his eyes at her.

She looked over her shoulder at Malfoy, who didn't seem to have any intention of moving. "Well? Are you coming or not?" He scowled and rose striding past her. It was all Hermione could do not to laugh.