CHAPTER 2

Draco had better things to do than worry about Hermione Granger's excessive teeth brushing, anyway.

'Sure you do.' Blaise nodded, cutting a peach with the edge of his fork, and stuffing a piece into his mouth. 'Your History of Magic assignment.'

'Ha ha, Blaise.' Draco said, rolling his eyes. 'What I mean is, hey, we're roommates, I'd care only if she messed up my room or something, right?'

'Which we all no know is not possible.' Blaise added. 'More like she'd clean up after your mess. Which I'm sure she does. You gonna eat that croissant?'

Draco passed it to him.

'And anyway,' he said, 'I always knew she was retarded.'

Blaise raised an eyebrow, but didn't say anything. His partner continued, oblivious of the change.

'I just figured that I'd try asking her once again what the matter was. There's a chance she, you know, might not bite my head off. Very small chance, though. I should take it, right? I mean-.'

'Look at you.' Blaise interrupted, pointing the fork at Draco. When the latter looked nonplussed, he continued. 'Look at you, you're wondering about her.'

Draco bristled. 'I'm wondering about her weirdness is all-.'

'Ah-ah. You're not. You're- my god, Draco, you're thinking of checking up on her.'

'No I'm not!' Draco snapped, outraged. 'I'm merely wondering whether my roommate is bonkers.'

'We established that years ago,' Blaise said, dismissively. 'And since when has she become your roommate- from the Mudblood Granger?'

'Since she started cleaning my room.'

'No really?' Blaise looked impressed. 'Your room? Not just the Common, but your dorm as well?'

'Sure. She can't stand the mess. I just have to be careful about my pornos, so-.'

'Speaking of pornos,' Blaise cut him off. 'I'm expecting a new one today. Playboy. You'll like it.'

'I will?"

'Uhun. Good stuff. There's a girl in it who looks just like Pansy.'

He ducked, as Draco aimed a donut at his head.

oOo

'How's Malfoy been acting up?' Harry asked.

'Fine,' Hermione replied, absently. She was looking at Ron with a mixture of disgust and amusement. He was spooning kiwi pieces mixed with yogurt into his mouth so fast all she could see was a fluorescent-yellow-cream blur.

'That's strange,' Harry said. He paused and looked at Hermione again. 'He's not been giving you hell?'

'To be honest he thinks I'm a cleaner or something.' She said, shaking her head. 'He wouldn't dare bug me since I clean up after him.'

Harry rolled his eyes. 'I would say he's taking advantage of you, but knowing how much you love to clean, I'd say he's the one being taken advantage of. But whatever, right? As long as both of you are happy?'

'Yes.'

'I mean-.' He broke off, and looked nervously at her. 'I mean if he's bothering you, Hermione, all you have to do is-.'

'He isn't bothering me Harry.'

'Me and Ron would be pleased to-.'

'There's no need, Harry.'

'Pleased to what?' Ron demanded suspiciously, looking up from the now-empty fruit bowl.

'Nothing,' Hermione said, quickly. 'Nothing. You- you guys head on to class. I have something to do.'

She wiped her mouth with a napkin and stood up.

Harry looked curiously at her. 'The library? No wait, it isn't even open now.'

'No more SPEW, thank heavens.' Ron added.

Before Hermione could retort, Harry demanded, 'But where are you going? What do you have, first period?'

'Free.' She said, looking down at her hands, and wiping them unnecessarily on her napkin.

'Free? But didn't you used to have Arithmancy?'

'Yeah, well I dropped it.' Hermione said, quickly. 'Anyway, have to go. Bye!'

And she dashed off.

Harry and Ron stared, nonplussed at each other. Ron had abandoned his breakfast.

'She dropped Arithmancy?' Ron demanded. 'She dropped Arithmancy?'

'I can't believe it,' Harry breathed. 'She loved that godforsaken subject!'

Ron nodded. 'Maybe something is wrong with her,' he said, slowly, 'Have you noticed she's been acting all out of sorts, of late?'

'Very jumpy,' Harry agreed. 'And sort of nervous. I though it might be exam pressure or something- although we have- what? Six months to go? But if she's dropping subjects like this, something is definitely up.'

There was a pause. Ron stirred some porridge with his spoon.

'Maybe-.' He hesitated. 'Maybe it is Malfoy. I mean, she might not be telling the truth when she says he's left off bugging her.'

'Could be,' Harry admitted. 'Yes, Malfoy's the only thing wrong in her life right now.

His expression grew determined. He threw his spoon down.

'Come on, Ron.' He said. 'Let's go fix the little blighter.'