A/N: Hey people! Thanks for reading my last chapter! I had 38 views in two days! :D But if so many people read it, how come no one reviewed? I don't mean to be rude or anything, but reviews give me motivation to update faster. So PLEASE give me a few reviews at least. Thanks! See you at the bottom.

"The prick!" Hermione thought, walking to Potions. She sat down next to Harry and Ron, slamming her books on to the table and glared at the front of the classroom. Harry and Ron exchanged puzzled glances at each other, unaware of the cause of Hermione's mood. Potions, though, always put Hermione into a good mood, now that Professor Slughorn was teaching it. Professor Slughorn absolutely LOVED Hermione because of her brains. She was after all the "Brightest Witch of Her Age."

Professor Slughorn brought out a small cauldron of a dark blue potion to the front class.

"Can anyone identify this potion?" Professor Slughorn asked.

Obviously, Hermione's hand shot into the air. Harry and Ron rolled their eyes.

"Yes, Miss Granger?"

"It's a truth-telling potion, sir. Slip it into a person's food or drink and they will reveal their secrets to you. Though the quantity of the potion, will therefore result in how much they will answer."

"Excellent, Miss Granger. Ten points to Gryffindor. Right. So today we will be brewing this potion, class. And the person that brews this potion correctly will receive this," Professor Slughorn said, gesturing to a small vial in his hand. In it was a small bottle with the truth-telling potion in it.

"This contains enough to ask the person you gave the potion to three questions. Partner up and begin. You have a half hour." Professor Slughorn announced.

"So…" Harry started.

"I'll go be partners with Lavender," Ron said, leaving to go sit next to her. Lavender and Ron had been doing almost everything together recently, ever since they had started dating last week.

Hermione turned to face Harry. "Let's get started." After a half-hour, Hermione and Harry's potion was the best, seeing as Hermione did most of the work.

"Excellent!" Professor Slughorn complimented, giving them each a bottle of the dark blue potion.

XXXXXX

Hermione walked into the Head dormitories and collapsed on to her favorite couch and pulled out a stack of homework from Transfiguration. She began to furiously scribble on the piece of parchment. She was almost done when she heard someone come into the common room.

"Hey Mich-" Hermione started but she suddenly distracted. He had just come out of the shower and was shirtless. His bronze hair was wet and matted to his face. Hermione quickly ducked her head down and continued writing, her face blushing furiously. Michael Corner was no joke. He was smart and handsome at the same time. Half the girls at school had a crush on him, maybe including Hermione. He was literally the next Draco Malfoy. Hermione herself had admitted that Draco Malfoy was something of a looker; that is, before the war. The war had really messed him up. He had stopped taunting Harry and kept to himself. He didn't have much of a social life and had dropped of quidditch. His face had become paler and there were bags under his eyes from sleepless nights.

Michael had obviously not notice Hermione's embarrassed face because he just sat down next to her and looked over her shoulder at her Transfiguration essay. Hermione's mind on the other hand, was racing a hundred miles an hour.

"Transfiguration, huh?" Michael asked.

"Yeah," Hermione mumbled.

They both sat like that for a while, Michael looking over Hermione's shoulder while Hermione writing. Suddenly, Michael broke the silence.

"Oh, right! McGonagall told me to give this letter to you. One sec. Let me get it," Michael said, getting up and walking to his room. He came back with a letter and a t-shirt on him.

"Thank you!" Hermione thought mentally. Sitting with a half-naked Michael Corner was driving her over the edge.

"Here," Michael said, handing her the letter.

Hermione read it slowly before promptly shrieking, "MALFOY!"

XXXXXX

"Hermione, this is for the best," McGonagall explained for the umpteenth time.

"No – it – is – not." Hermione said through gritted teeth. "I refuse."

"Miss Granger," Professor McGonagall said sternly. "He needs your help," she said softly.

"I can't help him, Professor," Hermione reluctantly whispered. "In his eyes, I'll always be that Mudblood. The war didn't change him."

Professor McGonagall took Hermione's hand into her own and said, "You can do this."

McGonagall had extended the preparation time period for a month comparatively to one week. At least now, the four students had a little bit more time to prepare, but they still felt like it wasn't enough.

XXXXXX

"Now, because I thought Malfoy couldn't change, I'm stuck helping him personally! Like I don't have enough problems already," Hermione moaned to Zabini, Hannah, and Michael at their next meeting.

Hannah and Michael gave her sympathetic faces, while Zabini straight out began to hysterically laugh.

"What are you laughing about?" Hermione said sharply at Zabini.

"You – are – stuck –with – Draco." Zabini said, in fits of laughter.

"Shut up."

"I pity Draco."

"Excuse me?! I'M the one you should be feeling sorry for!"

"I feel sorry with anyone stuck with you…" Zabini mumbled.

Hermione snorted. "Say's you."

Hannah and Michael watched the whole thing with confused expressions on their face.

"Um…can we get started?" Michael started.

"Sure!" Hermione said, smiling at Hannah and Michael and then glaring at Zabini. They all worked on their class courses together. Zabini quickly became friends with Michael and Hannah, who chatted like long lost friends. Hermione just gave Zabini the cold-shoulder. After a few hours, they all agreed they had done enough for one day and left. Hermione was just about to leave when Zabini called out to her.

"Granger…a word."

"Yeah?"

"We should put aside our own prejudices before teaching others to put aside their prejudices, right?"

"I suppose…"

"Friends, then?" Zabini said, stretching out his hand.

Hermione looked at him awestruck. HE wanted to be friends with HER?! "Sure, Zabini," she replied coolly.

"Blaise,"

"What?"

"My name is Blaise. Not Zabini," he repeated. "See you next week at the meeting, Hermione!" Blaise said, leaving the room.

"Blaise…" Hermione thought. It sounded so weird coming out of her mouth…yet nice.

A/N: Yah! Hermione and Blaise are friends now so now Draco can come in! If I get more than 10 reviews on both the chapters combined, I'll update the next chapter sooner. I have some fun coming up… Hehehe… till next time.