AUTHORS NOTE: I forgot to mention that everything except the plot belongs to J.K. Rowling and whoever else. I own story and Sugar-N-Spice98 owns plot. She gave me the idea

One week later saw the old and new students arriving for another year at Hogwarts. Hermione sat with her friends at the long table in the great hall hoping for a normal year. As usual Professor McGonagall sorted the first years and they all clapped when one was put in Gryffindor. Once the sorting was over Professor Dumbledore stood up to make his announcement.

"Welcome back to Hogwarts students. For some of you this is the beginning of your schooling and for the rest it is a time to continue learning. The care taker has asked me to inform you that he has the list of rules for you and that you stay away from the Forbidden Forest as it is forbidden. I also would like to announce that starting this year we have a new class that everyone must take. It is a History class of sorts so that you may learn where magic originated from. For in these dark days in our lives we need to be united as one not torn because of foolish beliefs. Each of you will receive a pamphlet on who your partner is and who you must research together. Also I feel the need to warn you that you are being graded by your effort as a team and how well you do on it. Should only one of you do the assignment you both will fail and have to retake your year, and yes we will know if you both have put effort into it. That is all. Let's eat." With that Dumbledore clapped his hands and a great feast appeared on the table. Ron dug right in not really caring what Dumbledore had to say but Harry and Hermione were worried.

"Harry what if he puts you with Draco? I mean he can't be serious. He's dangerous." Hermione said shooting a glance at the Slytherin table where Draco was shooting daggers at them. Apparently he also thought that's what the head master had planned.

"Don't worry. We'll be fine. As long as Dumbledore is alive they can't touch me. Right?" Harry said a little unsure.

"That's right mate, even if the ferret is a death eater." Ron said through a mouth of food. Hermione made a face at Ron's display of manners or lack of.

"You don't know that he's a death eater. All the same we should still keep an eye out. Besides who knows, we might not get paired with him." Hermione said trying to be optimistic. Harry eyed her like it was unlikely but went back to his food while Ron was too busy shoving his face. Honestly Hermione didn't see why Harry liked Ron so much. She sure didn't but knew everyone thought they'd make a perfect couple. Also Harry was her best friend so she would put up with Ron even if she didn't want to.

Hermione spared one more glance at the Slytherin table where Draco sat between his two goons looking worse for wear. This gave Hermione a bad feeling. If Draco was worried then she should probably be too. Once dinner was over a white envelope appeared in front of everyone. Hermione slowly opened hers fearing for the worst. Before she was able to read the letter inside she heard Harry groan aloud.

"What is it Harry? Who'd you get?" She asked looking frantic.

"I've been paired with Pansy Parkinson." He said looking put out as he looked over at the pretty brunette who was just opening her envelope. Pansy then promptly screamed at it then fainted making Madam Pomfrey run to her. Everyone watched as the 5th year was levitated out of the great hall.

"That's just great. My partner fainted because she's paired with me. What next?" Harry asked sarcasticly, but Hermione wasn't paying attention. Her honey brown eyes were glued to the piece of paper in her hands. On it sealed her fate with one Draco Malfoy as her partner for the rest of the year. She was stuck with him for, according to the sheet, at least 3 hours every day including weekends till the end of the entire school year. The entire school year with Malfoy, bane of her and her friend's existence and hater of "mudbloods", and with that she also promptly fainted.

Hermione woke with a start to find Harry sitting by her bed with a worried expression on his handsome face. If she didn't see him as a brother she would try to take him for herself. It'd save her from Ron at least. Speaking of him he was nowhere to be seen.

"Harry? What happened? Where's Ron?" She rambled out. Harry smiled at her usual 'must know everything at once' persona.

"First off slow down there. You hit your head pretty hard on the floor. Second you found out Malfoy is your partner for the year. I feel for you. Third Ron is off somewhere with Lavender again. So how are you feeling?" Hermione let everything Harry had just told her sink in. She was stuck with Malfoy, her head was killing her, and Ron wouldn't bug her for a while at least. It all made her want to faint again but she repressed the urge turning to Harry to give him a fake smile.

"So who's Ron paired with?" She asked with fake enthusiasm.

"Lucky sod is paired with Lavender," Harry grumbled looking angry, "At least he likes his partner. Pansy hates my guts and she's probably a death eater!"

"Harry lower your voice. You'll get into trouble. Besides where is Pansy? I thought she fainted as well." Hermione said scrunching her thin eyebrows together. She had become quite the beauty over the years. Her unruly hair as wild as ever but fit her mature face. Her button nose softly dusted with freckles and her mouth was soft and plump. Her body matured into a young woman with large breasts, a thin waist leading down to full hips, a plump butt, and mile long legs.

"Yeah she did. She already left. I tried talking to her but she just glared at me and stomped off. Although I'd rather have her than Malfoy."

"Thanks Harry. You're making me feel soooo much better." She said sarcastically while rolling her eyes. Harry gave a sheepish grin and reached over for Hermione's hand. They were as close as siblings got and a lot of people mistook it for a relationship.

"Well isn't this just cute." Malfoy sneered making Harry and Hermione jump. They hadn't even heard someone walk in. Hermione was the first to recover.

"What do you want Malfoy?" She asked trying to look as dignified as she could while being propped up in a bed.

"Oh nothing. Just thought I'd check on my 'partner'. After all we're going to be spending lots of time together mudblood. Wouldn't want miss perfect to fail now would we." He turned and walked out of the room smirking making Hermione's blood boil.

"Why that stupid little ferret. If I wasn't worried about my grades I'd cause us to be held back just to irritate him." Hermione said pursing her lips together in an angry frown. Harry reached for her hand again.

"It'll be alright 'Mione. He's jerk we all know that. A good looking jerk, but a jerk all the same" He said grinning. Hermione laughed at him. No one but her knew he was gay. He'd make Peter Pan on ice skates look straight.

"Oh Harry you're impossible", she said with a fond smile, "now get me out of here." Harry jumped to do as she asked. With him gone to find Madam Pomfrey Hermione now had time to think about Malfoy. Was he planning something foul? Was he going to offer her to the Dark Lord? Hermione didn't even know if he was a death eater but she knew his father was one. Like father like son was the saying. She just prayed it wasn't going to be like that in this case.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: THANKS FOR ALL THE REVIEWS! AND Sugar-N-Spice98 YOU MAY KNOW THE PLOT BUT THE SURPRISE HAS YET TO BE REVEALED! THANKS FOR READING! AND UBER NICE REVIEWS MAKE ME WANT TO WRITE MORE!