A/N: Thank you for the reviews! I was told that Draco wouldn't say some of the things that he would normally say, and I agree. However, I don't have time to re-read Harry Potter 5, so sorry if Draco's not completely in character. Enjoy this chapter!

The next few days seemed like a blur to Hermione. From homework, schoolwork, spending time with her friends, and dealing with Umbridge, Hermione was beginning to feel stressed out, just as she was in third year with the time turner. Ron still hadn't talked to Hermione and Harry. They had both tried talking to Ron just last night in the common room, but things hadn't gone so well.

Harry and Hermione approached Ron, who was sitting by the fireplace looking lovingly into Lavender's eyes.

"Ron, can we talk for a moment?" Hermione asked Ron politely. Ron looked over at Hermione.

"What is it, Hermione? I'm a little busy with my love, Lavender." He said, turning to his girlfriend. She giggled like a little schoolgirl.

Hermione tried not to vomit. "Ron, please. Can we talk—privately?"

"Fine." Lavender got off Ron's lap and walked over to her best friend, Parvati Patil while shooting daggers and Harry and Hermione in the process.

"Ron, mate, Hermione and I miss you. We never get to spend time together anymore." Harry said.

Ron looked like he was about to roll his eyes. "You two are so annoying."

Hermione and Harry were stunned. "What?"

"You heard me. You're just jealous that I have a girlfriend!"

"In case you didn't notice, I have a girlfriend too." Harry retorted angrily.

"Well, Hermione's jealous because no one wants to be with her so she's trying to steal me away from my Lav-Lav!" Ron spat.

Hermione's eyes filled with tears. How could her best friend say that to her? She was not jealous in the slightest. Hermione's only boyfriend was Victor Krum last year, but she decided to end it. Hermione wasn't interested in a boyfriend at the moment, and she could care less about "Lav-Lav". Biting her lip, Hermione pulled back her hand and slapped Ron across the face as hard as she could. Then, without looking at Ron or Harry, she promptly ran away from the common room.

---

Hermione didn't know where she was going, and she didn't particularly care. Right now she just wanted to run and go somewhere far away. Knowing that Harry would try and look for her, she wanted to go someplace where he couldn't find her. Since it was so dark out, she knew that Lake would be a good place. The moon was bright, and you could see its reflection in the water. Hermione thought that it was absolutely beautiful, and apparently she wasn't the only one, because another stranger happened to be sitting against the tree, staring at the lake.

As Hermione quietly walked closer too see who the stranger was, she accidentally stepped on a branch that was on the floor, causing the quiet night fill with the sound of the branch breaking in half. The stranger's turned around in Hermione's direction, and she was able to see whom it was.

"Are you spying on me?" He angrily asked her.

"N-no, Malfoy, I was just trying to-"

"Just save it. Mind your own business." And without hearing Hermione's reply, Malfoy swiftly walked into the castle, leaving her alone in the darkness.

Hermione stood there for a few minutes, thinking about why Malfoy was being so uptight. He normally liked to brag and make fun of her, but he had just walked away without even insulting her.

"Hermione! Hermione!" Harry's voice snapped Hermione out of her thoughts.

"I'm right here, Harry." Hermione called out. Harry found her voice and soon came face-to-face with her.

"Are you okay?" Harry asked her, concerned.

"Yeah I'm fine." Hermione lied.

"Do you want to talk-"

"No thank you Harry." Was all Hermione said. Harry nodded, understanding, and silently walked alongside Hermione as the two friends returned to their rooms.

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The next day, Hermione had potions with the Slytherins. The class was chatting quietly while waiting to Professor Snape to arrive. Harry was sitting next to Hermione, and Ron was sitting next to Lavender, which didn't surprise Hermione.

"Hermione, something's wrong with Ron." Harry told her while staring at his ginger best friend and his girlfriend.

"I know that Harry. He's a git."

Harry looked at Hermione and widened his eyes.

"Did Hermione Granger just CURSE?" He asked dramatically. Hermione just laughed and playfully shoved Harry.

"But I'm serious. I think Ron's under the influence of some potion or something." Harry said with a frown.

"I don't know Harry. Maybe you're right, but I'm still very upset about what he said yesterday."

"I know, Hermione. I'm sorry he said that." Harry put a comforting arm around Hermione's shoulder.

At that moment, Professor Snape walked into the classroom, his robe trailing behind him. Immediately the class became quiet, and gave their undivided attention to their Professor.

"Today you will be working on a four week project. You will be brewing polyjuice potion. This will be done in pairs. Because of the Headmaster's orders, I must pair a Slytherin and a Gryffindor. Listen as I call out the pairs."

Everyone wanted to groan at the thought of working with someone from a different House, but no one uttered a sound.

"…Potter and Parkinson, Wesley and Crabbe, Brown and Goyle, Longbottom and Nott, Malfoy and Thomas, and finally Granger and Zabini."

Malfoy raised his hand.

"Yes, Malfoy?

"Sir, Thomas isn't here. He and Zabini got into a fight and now they're in the hospital wing."

"Then you and Granger will have to work together."

Malfoy clenched his teeth but still nodded. Snape continued to discuss the project. Hermione's jaw had almost fallen to the ground. Great, just her luck. Now she needed to work with Malfoy for four weeks while he was in some pissy mood. After Class, Malfoy walked up to Hermione.

"I don't want to work with you on this project, but I'm not going to have some mudblood screw up my grade so meet in the library after dinner." And for the third time, Malfoy just walked away from Hermione, leaving her alone in the Potion's classroom.