Author's Notes:

WOW! I didn't expect so much feedback. When I woke up this morning, after posting the first chapter last night, I had about 25 e-mails that had reviews, people that added me to their story alert list and their favourite stories list. Thank you all so much. And to top it off, I just keep getting more e-mails!

So, for those of you who reviewed or added me to your favourites list and alert list, this chapter is dedicated to you.

Enjoy

DISCLAIMER: If I owned Harry Potter, do you really think I'd be writing this story. Thank you JK Rowling, you are a legend.

Chapter Two

Monday, Februray 2nd, 1998

The rest of my weekend went quite well, if I do say so. Granger and I had worked on our potion and so far it looked as if it was on the right track, but tonight it would be put to the test.

I must say this is one of the weirdest potions I've ever worked on. Not only did it call for muggle ingredients as well as wizarding ones, but it required us to add things to it like fragments of our memories, or scraps of parchment with our favourite quote on it. I wasn't too sure what the end product was going to be, but I do admit, I was interested in finding out. Even more so after my conversation with Blaise this morning.

"How's the potion-making going, mate?" he asked me as he grabbed some of the black pudding from the platter in front of him.

I shrugged instead of answering.

Blaise waited a moment for me to elaborate but when he realized I wasn't going to say anything, he continued by asking, "And how is it working with Granger?"

"Infuriating. She continually takes charge and instructs me what to do. Last night, she told me to slow down on the stirring because I was going too fast. The instructions said at a medium speed, and I was going at a medium speed. But according to her, I was going a quick medium," I groaned as I saw her walk into the Great Hall. I watched her walk all the way to her spot at the Gryffindor table and snapped back to my own table when I heard Blaise chuckle.

"What?" I snapped at him as I hear the owls enter the Hall with the post.

"Oh, nothing. So, what happened? Did you slow down?"

"Did I, fuck," Blaise cocked an eyebrow at me as I said this. I paused for a moment, pretending to be interested in the Daily Prophet that has been dropped in front of me, before giving in. "Okay fine, I did. But only because I realized that she MIGHT have been right and I was perhaps going one stir too quick a second. Happy?"

Blaise shrugged, "I'll admit I was looking for some good gossip, and that's not really that exciting, but it will suffice. Have you figured out what the potion is supposed to do yet?"

I shake my head no. There's no need to ask if he has, I already know he knows. "How's it going with Weasley, then?" I opt for, instead.

Blaise nods, "Yeah, alright. He's becoming a bit more tolerable over time, but still a pain at the moment. Has Granger figured it out yet?"

I contemplated that for a moment. I hadn't considered that she had figured it out yet, but it wouldn't surprise me if she had. She is a stuck up know-it-all, afterall. I was about to reply when I saw Pansy walking into the hall. I quickly chugged down my pumpkin juice and stood to leave. "Sorry mate, can't deal with THAT drama right now," I said, nodding towards Pansy subtly. Blaise nodded curtly and I made my way out of the Great Hall without being seen by Pansy, which is miraculous. Normally I can never skive under her radar.

Debating what to do for the next twenty minutes before I had to be in Transfiguration, I walked out onto the grounds. It was quite warm for a change. The sun's shining and there doesn't seem to be any clouds. The grounds are still covered in a foot and a half of snow, though. Being this far up in Scotland apparently means that you get a tonne and a half of snow over the winter.

I sigh in content as I trudge through the snow. I notice someone else's footprints on the path and decide to see who it is. It doesn't make sense for anyone to be out here unless they are "playing hooky" as the Muggle's say, apparently. I heard Granger quote it once.

I follow the footprints and notice they are leading to the benches and tables around the side of the castle. I look up and see a female form with bushy hair sitting on one of the benches with her legs pulled up to her chest and her chin resting on her knees. Odd, wasn't she just in the Great Hall?

I walk over and she looks towards me as she hears me approaching.

"Sod off, Malfoy. I'm really not in the mood," she grumbles as she lowers her eyes again. This time she has been crying, I can see it. The tear stains down her cheeks are fresh.

"What's wrong, Granger? Weasley gone and stomped on your heart?"

"I thought I told you to sod off?"

I walk a bit closer and look down at her. "Since when do I take orders from you? Come on Granger, you can tell me. Weasley doesn't deserve you anyways." She looks up at me through her teary eyes, questioning me silently. "What I mean to say, Granger, is that even Blood Traitors are above Mudbloods."

I watched as she scoffed in reply and shivered against her will.

"You'll get sick if you stay out here, Granger."

"I don't care."

"You don't care if you get pneumonia, the one illness that doesn't simply take a potion to fix?"

She shrugs but doesn't say anything to me. I look at the time on my wrist time-keeper and see that there's less than ten minutes until we have to be in Transfiguration.

"Come on, Granger. You'll be late for Transfiguration."

I watch as she sighs and looks up at me for a quick second. "What the hell do you care, Malfoy?"

Damn, good question. Why do I care?

"Uhh, I don't," I said stupidly. "I just thought you'd like to know…" I trail off. What the hell has gotten into me?

She glares at me once more before sighing in defeat. She stands up and starts walking towards the castle. I walk beside her.

"So, just out of curiosity, why are you so down?" I ask, somewhat timidly.

"Why do you care?" She gives me another look.

"Well, I don't care about you. But if something is bothering you, it might distract you from your studies, and I refuse to let our potions project get anything but a perfect 'O', so, let's hear it."

She doesn't reply. She just keeps walking in silence. I'd almost given up when I hear her speak.

"It's a number of things, really. The most important one is that my grandfather is ill and the doctor's aren't sure if he'll be alive much longer. I got the news by owl from my parents this morning."

"Oh." Maybe I shouldn't have asked. I really am no good at the whole consoling thing. I don't even know why I asked in the first place. Surely, I wasn't going soft and actually cared about the Mudblood. Right?

We walked in silence up through the castle and entered the classroom just as the bell rang magically throughout the castle.

The rest of the day flew by rather quickly, considering it was a Monday. Before I knew it, it was seven thirty and I was on my way up to meet Granger so that we could work on our potion.

She was already there waiting when I walked into the common room. I walked over and sat down, waiting for her to tell me what to do. I had long since tried to take control. I was getting to old to argue with her. I loved to rile her up, but when it came to school work, I just couldn't be asked.

She then did the oddest thing. She didn't jump straight too it. She didn't tell me to stir, or add one of the ingredients. She simply said to me, "Evening, Malfoy."

I didn't know what to do. We never greeted one another. Before I could say anything in reply though, she continued to talk.

"I just wanted to apologize for being… well… off earlier. I wasn't myself, but thanks for making me go to class. I appreciate it."

Still taken aback, I simply nodded and then looked around. "So, what do we do first?"

"Oh, right," she said and shuffled some papers about. "Right, first we add the beetroot, followed by the saffron and coriander leaves. God, these really are odd ingredients. After that we have to add more dragon's blood and exactly thirty seconds after that, we drop in a slip of the edible parchment each, with the name of our favourite food on it. That's weird. That doesn't really sound right. Did I write it down wrong? Does yours read differently?"

I looked at my sheets and shook my head. "That's what I've got. Then we taste it. My taste should taste like your favourite food and vice versa. Ugh, I bet your is going to be some disgusting Muggle dish like Sloopy John's. What the hell is saffron?"

She sighed as she collected the ingredients and two of the small slips of edible parchment. "Sloppy Joe's. And no, it's not. Can't stand them," she corrected me. "Saffron is a spice, or an herb, depending where you're from, really. It's common in muggle Indian dishes. It has a very distinct flavour and I believe it's the most expensive herb on the Muggle market at the moment. I wouldn't know for sure though," she explained as she handed me a strip of the edible parchment.

I accepted the small strip of parchment and wrote down my favourite food before heading over to the cauldron and began to stir the mixture, which was now I vibrant blue. Granger walked over to the other side of the cauldron as well and began to add the purple vegetable. She then added the green coriander leaves and some little thin stick things that I assumed was the saffron. The mixture was now a blueish purple, and as soon as the dragon's blood was added, the colour changed to that deep mahogany like it was a couple of nights ago. I continued to stir the potion as Granger counted to thirty.

It must be the longest thirty second ever as I watch her plump pink lips mouth the seconds off. When she reaches twenty seven she starts to count out loud to let me know that it's nearly time to drop my piece of parchment in.

"Twenty-seven, twenty-eight, twenty-nine, thirty."

We both immediately add the strips of parchment and as I continue to stir, the liquid like mixture is changing to a deep, rich, delicious looking brown colour. It immediately reminds me of Granger's eyes. It's about the same colour.

Granger nods in approval as she looks over the instructions again and grabs her wand out of her robes. She conjures two drinking goblets and a ladle to serve us some of the potion.

She puts a bit into each goblet and hands it to me.

"Cheers," she said as she raised her glass slightly in a toast before sniffing the potion.

I take a whiff of mine. I'm not sure what it smells like, but it's delicious. Really rich and full of sugar, with some sort of berry perhaps. I easily take a sip and take a moment to relish the taste in my mouth. Mmmm. I don't know what that flavour is, but it's delicious.

"Hmmm…. Glazed cinnamon buns? That's your favourite food?" Granger asked me with her eyebrows raised.

I nod. "What is this?" I ask her. I take another sip trying to place the flavour.

"Eton mess," she grinned. I give her a confused look. She sighed, shook her head and explained. "You poor deprived child. Eton mess is made of meringue and raspberries. It's even better when there's some white chocolate and whipped cream in it."

"Sounds disgustingly sweet," I note.

"It is. But it's so worth it. My parents never used to let me have it more than once a month because all of the sugar in it. They didn't want me to get cavities."

Another questioning look from me and she sighed again. "Never mind, you wouldn't get it. It's a muggle thing."

I snort in disgust and gather my things off the table. I think it's time for some more homework, before I get into an actual conversation with the filthy little Mudblood. I begin to walk towards my room when her voice carries over my way. "Don't forget that we have to write a paragraph describing the tasting."

Oh yeah, I forgot about that. Shit. "Please, Granger. I'm not a dimwit. I do remember what homework I have to do."

"Just trying to help," I heard her grumble as I closed my door.

I didn't need her to remind me. I mean, I had forgotten about it, but she didn't need to rub it in that she remembered. And I sure didn't need her to remind me, even though I had forgotten. She didn't know I had forgotten. She was so irritating sometimes.

I did my homework and decided it was time for bed. I prepared myself for my slumber, and got myself into my comfortable bed. I pulled the covers over me and turned my lanterns off with a flick of my wand.

I closed my eyes to sleep, and it was not long before I fell into an uneasy slumber.

Tuesday, February 3rd, 1998

For the second time in a week, I woke up before my pillow began vibrating to wake me up. I wasn't entirely surprised, however. I had been up and down all night. I had even tried releasing myself sexually a couple of times throughout the night, but to no avail. I kept waking up after dreaming about a girl with long curly hair and dark cinnamon eyes. I wouldn't allow myself to give into the dreams. They meant nothing anyways. Dreams never mean anything.

I groaned when I looked at my time keeper and it read six in the morning. Fuck. Oh well, there's no point trying to go back to sleep so I get up and go to the bathroom. I turn on the steaming hot water and step into the shower. I let the water fall down onto me and down over my body. I must have stood there without moving for at least a solid ten minutes. I finally picked up the soap and washed myself off, washed my hair and rinsed off before stepping out of the shower. I then go over to the sink, not bothering with a towel, and brushed my teeth. I was walking around our large bath when I heard the door click over. I whip around to see the intruder.

Of course it was her. She was completely oblivious that I was there until she had closed the door and looked around again. Her eyes landed on me a moment later and her jaw dropped.

"Malfoy! Oh god, so sorry. Sorry, sorry!" she rushed. She didn't move though. She just stood there, gaping at me and all my glory. Her cheeks turned an adorable shade of fuchsia as her eyes roamed over my body.

I rolled my eyes at her and put on my best smirk. "Take a picture Granger, it'll last longer."

She seemed to snap back to reality. She stuck her tongue out at me before she proceeded out of the bathroom.

I stopped for a moment. Had she really just stuck her tongue out at me? Really? Isn't she the one that is continuously calling me childlike? Without thinking, I grabbed a towel and wrapped it around my waist as I walk out the bathroom door, following her into the common room.

"Hold on, Granger. What the hell was that?"

"What?" she asked as innocently as she could. Her cheeks were still tinged pink.

"You stuck your tongue out at me. You're meant to be the most brilliant witch of our age and you couldn't think of anything else other than to stick your tongue out at me? I know that I have a remarkable body, but I didn't expect YOU of all people to become speechless over it."

"God, Malfoy. Could you get any more conceited? Did you stop to think that perhaps there was no witty comeback because I've just gotten out of bed and I'm not fully awake yet?" she asked me, her eyes narrowing and making that cute little angry face of hers. "Not to mention the fact that I was caught off guard. I wasn't expecting to walk in on you in your birthday suit."

I raised an eyebrow at her but didn't say anything. I simply went to my room and got dressed for the day. I looked at my time keeper and realized it wasn't even seven in the morning. What in Merlin's name was she even doing awake?

I didn't dwell on why she was awake as I went over some notes for the quiz we had in DADA today. Just past half seven, I walked into the common room to see Granger sitting there reading over the instructions for the potion today.

She explained to me what we had to do, but I didn't really hear her. I was too busy trying to figure out why I couldn't stop staring at her. Something was different. I analysed everything I could think of. Different make-up? No. New robes? No. Different lighting? No. She just looked different. Almost, dare I say, pretty. For a Mudblood that is.

I stirred the potion as she added today's ingredients and we sat in silence while we waited until we could add the last one for the morning. I looked around the common room, trying to look anywhere but where she was.

"So, why were you up so early?"

Her eyebrows shot up in surprise at my question. Hell, my eyebrows shot up. The words were out of my mouth before I could even think about them. She shot me a curious look before replying.

"I couldn't really sleep. I was up all night," she explained. She seemed hesitant for a moment before asking, "What about you?"

"Same. Trouble sleeping," I said coolly.

She nodded quickly in understanding before looking back down at her notes.

"Do you know what this potion does?"

I watched as Granger raised her head to make eye contact again before raising an eyebrow. "Yes," she answered slowly. "Don't you?"

Shit. Of course she knew. I couldn't let myself be outdone by the Mudblood once again. Shit.

"Of course. I am a pureblood, Granger. And potions runs in my family."

Granger nodded slowly. "And aren't you at all worried about the outcome?"

Outcome? What outcome? What the hell was going on? Now I was really worried about all of this. Not only did Blaise and Snape know, but Granger knew what the outcome was meant to be, and I didn't. I was going to be left to figure it out for myself.

"Nah," I replied, playing it cool.

Her eyebrows really shot up once more. "Really, you're not at all bothered about the outcome if we brew it properly?"

"Not if, Granger. When. When we brew it properly. And no, I don't think I am. I can handle anything that the potion does to me in the end."

Granger's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "You don't know what it's meant to do," she stated with a smirk. Damn, that smirk could rival a Slytherin's smirk.

Wait, what had she just said? That I don't know what it's meant to do.

"Of course I do!" I insist.

"You don't," she countered. "I highly doubt you'd be acting this nonchalant about it. Oh my god, you don't know what it is meant to do!" She began to laugh hysterically.

"Well, why don't you tell me then!" I shouted at her. She continued to laugh for a moment before her musical tones came to a small giggle.

"Oh, this is rich. I cannot believe you don't know. And sorry, I can't tell you, it's against the rules. Besides, even if I could, I don't really think I would."

"You're an evil little bitch," I grumbled under my breath as she motioned for me to begin stirring the potion again.

"Thank you," she smirked once more as she added the last ingredient for the morning, feather of peacock. "See you in Potions," she gave a small wave and another smirk before she gathered her bag from the floor beside her and walked out of the common room, presumably to the Great Hall for breakfast.

This bitch will probably be the death of me one day.

Breakfast went by uneventful, as did Potions and DADA before lunch.

I was at the Slytherin Table eating lunch with Gregory Goyle and Vincent Crabbe when we were all interrupted by a female voice ringing throughout the hall.

"You are the most indignant, ignorant, repulsive git around. What the hell are you thinking?" I whipped my head around to find the source of the noise. Of course it was Granger. She seemed to be yelling at the Weasel, because he was grumbling a reply to her that I couldn't make out.

"Are you kidding me, Ronald Weasley? THAT'S what your response to all this is? You are so immature!" Before Weasley could do anything else, Granger slapped him across the face. Hard. I felt the sting in that slap. I think everyone in the hall did, considering the strong silence.

I watched as Granger grabbed her bag and stalked out of the Great Hall, chin held high. There was another moment of silence before people began speaking to again.

Greg turned to me with raised eyebrows. "Wonder what that was all about?"

"I don't know," I muttered, shaking my head. I finished my pumpkin juice and gathered my belongings.

"Where are you going, Drake?" Vince asked.

"I'm going to find out what's going on," I said with a mischievous smirk and a wink at them.

I rushed out of the Great Hall and out the front doors of the castle, thinking that Granger might have headed out that way. I was right, as soon as I ran out the front door of the stone building, I saw Granger round the corner heading to where I had found her the previous day.

I followed her once more and caught up with her before she even reached the seating area.

She looked over at me and I could tell she'd been crying again. As soon as I noticed, my stomach tied itself into knots. I did not really like the feeling, but chose to ignore it.

"What's going on now, Granger? Weasley told you he's gonna ask for Green's hand in marriage?"

She rolled her eyes at me. "Malfoy, why is it that you show up when I want you around the least? Could you leave? Like, now? Please?"

"No, I don't think I will."

"How did I know that was coming?" she asked herself under her breathe.

"What happened?" I asked before I could stop myself, sitting down beside her on the bench she'd just sat on.

She didn't look at me as she fought back more tears. The knot in my stomach twisted again as one of the tears fell from her eyes.

"Granger?" I asked quietly.

"What?"

"What happened?" I repeated.

"What's it too you? Why do you care anyways?"

Why did I care? I wasn't sure. I wasn't even sure if I did care. I think I was just tired of the stupid arguments that didn't need to happen.

"I don't know. Just trying to fulfil my duty as Head Boy and ensure that every pupil is comfortable and taken care of equally."

She seemed taken aback by my response as she wiped away another stray tear. She still didn't answer my question as another minute passed, so I decided to give it one more go.

"So?"

She took a deep shaky breath and exhaled before replying. "You're going to think it's really silly, but I'm upset because of the way Ron was treating the fact that my Grandfather may not make it through the week. He was saying stuff like it's the circle of life, you'll get over it, and whatnot."

I suddenly felt furious with the Weasel. How could he be so insensitive about a subject like this? Especially when it was happening to his best friend! I wished I could punch the bastard in the face, but I decided that wasn't the best option.

"That's not silly. It's reasonable. He's your best friend, he should be supportive and offer you comfort in this time of need for you."

Granger sniffed as she wiped away more tears. "You're right, Malfoy," she said after a moment, nodding in agreement. "He is a bellend, isn't he?"

I chuckled at her. I genuinely chuckled at Hermione Granger. What was the world coming too?

"It's Brown." She said after a moment of silence.

"What's brown?" I ask, confused, looking around to see if I can figure out what she's on about.

"Lavender Brown. Not Lavender Green," she elaborated.

"Like I give a fuck? She's a Gryffindor. I don't tend to give a shit about them," I told her.

"Yet, here you are with me," she quipped.

Damn. She's quick with her words isn't she? Merlin, it's great.

I nod slowly, "Here I am."

-.-

Author's Notes:

Well, what did you think?

This is my first time writing a FULL story in first person POV. It's proving a bit difficult, but I'm enjoying the challenge.

So. Please review! If you review I'll give you candies. Or chocolates, perhaps? Or maybe some Eton Mess! ;)