Hey guys! I should be getting another chapter up today in addition to this one. Thank you so much for following/reviewing my story. It really makes me feel like I'm doing something worth my time :) Enjoy!

The remainder of the train ride was a blur for the Head Girl. She spent most of her time chatting with her friends (trying to keep her mind off of the Head Boy), but once in a while a Prefect came to her because the next patrollers had not yet shown.

'This is getting ridiculous,' she thought the fourth time a Prefect had sought her out. 'When it is Ron's turn, I'm going to bodily remove him from the compartment just so that no one comes looking for me again!'

Finally the train pulled into Hogsmeade station. Hermione and Malfoy helped Hagrid gather all of the first years, sending them on their way to the boats. They oversaw the loading of the students onto the carriages after the first years had left. Eventually, only Harry, Ron, Neville, Hermione, Malfoy, Pansy Parkinson, Theodore Nott, and Blaise Zabini were remaining, along with two carriages.

The group stood awkwardly for a moment before Hermione spoke up. "Well, we can't all go in the same carriage, they only fit four comfortably. And Malfoy and I are supposed to be in the last carriage—"

Ron let loose with an exaggerated sigh. "Oh, come on, Hermione! If one of you is in the second-to-last carriage, it's not going to kill you! Just let Malfoy go with his Slytherin—"

Harry clasped his hand over Ron's mouth before he could say something stupid. "It's alright, Hermione," he said, talking over Ron's grunts and holding his wand on him, daring him to move. "We'll go in the first carriage, and you can follow with the Slytherins."

Hermione would have agreed right away, but there would only be room for three Slytherins and herself, unless she sat on someone's lap…which she absolutely did not want to do, definitely not. But just as she was about to mention this aloud, Harry drug Ron into the carriage, calling for Neville to follow. Soon the carriage was making its way up to the school.

"Well, bollocks," she said under her breath. To her surprise, the Slytherins all started cracking up. "What?"

Malfoy looked at her with mirth in his eyes. Hermione thought she had never seen happiness or heard laughter that was so beautiful. 'Get a grip, Hermione! What about Ron's laugh? You've always loved the way his eyes shine when he's excited or happy. What's so special about Malfoy's silvery-blue, unique…mesmerizing…AH! Focus!'

"Never thought you had it in you to talk like that, Granger, let alone in front of us." Blaise was still chuckling as he climbed into the carriage, Pansy and Theodore following after him. Malfoy walked to the door of the carriage and held out his hand.

"After you, Granger."

She just stared at him for a moment. "Who are you, and what have you done with Draco Malfoy?"

He just smirked in response.

Walking slowly to the carriage, Hermione decided that sitting on his lap might not be so bad (okay, so she wasn't just deciding that, but still…). She gingerly placed her hand in his before climbing into the carriage. When she entered, she was surprised to see Pansy sitting on Theodore's lap. Trying not to be disappointed, Hermione took a rear-facing seat across from the last empty one and next to Blaise. Malfoy climbed in and sat across from her.

For the first minute or so, no one talked at all. Hermione, looking down at her hands, didn't notice the silent conversation going on around her.

Pansy poked Draco gently in the arm. Catching his eye, she looked pointedly at Granger before raising an eyebrow at him. He gave her what to anyone else would have been a very convincing "I don't know what you mean" look. Pansy knew better, and she rolled her eyes at him.

Theo smirked, looked at Pansy, and nodded, showing he agreed that something was up.

Blaise made sure that Draco was watching him before joining in. He looked at Granger, scrunched up his face in a thoughtful expression, and looked her up and down (slowly), as though trying to see what Draco was clearly seeing.

Inexplicably, Malfoy suddenly was very angry with Blaise for his scrutiny.

Hermione saw a long, pale arm that could only belong to one person shoot out to her left and collide with Blaise's right thigh. The victim emitted a low grunt, and Hermione saw him grimace, but he didn't protest or retaliate. Hermione thought she must have missed something, as she couldn't understand what provoked Malfoy to hit one of his best mates, nor did she think that guys generally allowed such abuse without defending themselves.

Blaise—and Pansy and Theo—knew exactly why Draco had done what he did. Blaise hadn't responded in kind because he now had the information he had wanted all along, and a bruise was a small price to pay for that knowledge.

Malfoy was furious with himself. 'Why did I do that? It's not like I have any reason to be upset. Blaise was just trying to get a rise out of me….Wait, why would that get a rise out of me, anyway? It's not like I like the girl…is it?' He thought over the events of the last few days they had been around each other. Then he went further…to the Manor the night Granger was tortured and how he had been himself in agony, having to watch. He could never really stomach watching his Aunt Bella in action, but that night a heated anger was also present. He had thought it was because she had been a classmate, someone he had known for years, or maybe because he knew that she and her mates could be his salvation, but maybe he had been mistaken. Then he thought back to school before the war. Was all of his teasing and taunting actually indicative of affection that he was not allowed to show?

'Bloody hell.'

While Malfoy was busy having an epiphany, Hermione was gathering her courage to start a conversation. Drawing in a deep breath, she made up her mind and began speaking, trying not to go too fast.

"So what NEWT classes is everyone taking? I wonder how many classes we'll have together. I'm taking everything except Care of Magical Creatures, Herbology, Astronomy, Divination, and Muggle Studies." She almost kept going, but she remembered just in time that she had asked a question, and she wanted to make a good impression.

Pansy was shocked into silence, and Blaise was busy gloating soundlessly while watching Draco's face, so Theo answered. "I'm taking seven classes: Defense, Potions, Runes, Charms, Transfiguration, Herbology, and Muggle Studies."

Hermione assumed that, since his father was a Death Eater, Muggle Studies was required for Nott, as well. However, he didn't seem as embarrassed by it as Malfoy. She resolved to ask him about it some time.

By this time, Pansy had recovered. "I'm in all the same as Theo, except I'm taking Astronomy instead of Herbology." Again, the chagrin was absent over the Muggle Studies issue.

Blaise, feeling triumphant from his success with his best mate, turned to Granger and put on a sexy smirk. "I'm in all the same classes as Draco, except History of Magic. Utterly pointless class if you ask me, mate," he continued, turning to face a very pale—or more so than usual—Draco, who wasn't paying any attention to the conversation. Blaise chuckled softly and turned his attention to Theo and Pansy.

Hermione looked at Malfoy with a curious expression. She laid her hand on his knee gently. His head jerked up to look at her, meeting her eyes with a wary expression.

She gave him her best "are you alright" look, and he seemed to understand. He responded with an "I'm okay" set of his mouth. After only a second of eye contact, he turned his attention to the other Slytherins, and she gently removed her hand.

Hermione didn't realize until after she moved her hand that she had enjoyed having it there.

Malfoy had been in heaven for a few short moments. It was incredible, he thought, how a simple touch could get him so on edge. Trying to hide the fire in his eyes, he had given her a guarded look. 'Why is she touching me? What does she…oh, she's worried about me. Merlin, of course, she saw the punch I gave Blaise. I'm such an idiot! I shouldn't have let Blaise get to me, I know that he was just trying to prove that I…that I….Bloody hell, I can't even think it, how am I supposed to come to terms with it?'

Shortly after averting his attention, Hermione noticed that Malfoy was off in his own world again. 'What is he thinking? Is he upset about me touching him….No, that's silly, he touched me today….Okay, that sounds dirty, that's not what I meant. Okay, back to the subject at hand. Is he wondering why I touched him? Merlin, Hermione, just listen to yourself! When did you get so arrogant? Focus on the conversation.'

But just at that moment, the carriage reached the front doors of Hogwarts, and the group was disembarking.

Malfoy didn't offer to help her this time.

As soon as she got out of the carriage, Ron, Harry, and Neville hurried to her side. The Slytherins walked up to the school without a word to any of the Gryffindors.

"'Mione, we're so sorry! It wasn't until after we were in the carriage that we realized there were too many of you left for one carriage!" Harry was mortified, and he was apologizing at the speed of light. "Was it completely awkward? Did they squish you between two of them? Did they ignore you? Insult you? Do we need to hex them into the next century? 'Cause we—"

"HARRY!" Hermione shouted. "None of the above! Pansy sat on Nott's lap, next to Malfoy, and I sat next to Zabini. And I started a cordial conversation, which they graciously joined in on. You do not need to hex them, so get the idea out of your head right now. Let's head inside, we'll be late if we don't go in now."

The four friends went through the entrance and made their way to the Great Hall. Laughter and excited conversation could be heard echoing out into the Entrance Hall. They sat in their usual seats at the Gryffindor table, waiting for the Sorting to begin and catching up with their other classmates. Hermione was forcing herself not to let her eyes wander over to the Slytherin table.

Malfoy, on the other hand, couldn't keep his eyes off of his partner. Blaise nudged him in the ribs at one point, calling Malfoy back to the discussion between the seventh years. He soon lost interest, turning his eyes to his plate instead. 'What is wrong with me?' he thought. 'I've never even given her a second thought, and all of a sudden she's all I can think about! Chit must've slipped me a love potion.' He rolled his eyes at himself. 'Idiot, this is Granger you're talking about, she's too much of a goody-goody to do that. And besides, why would she slip a love potion to you, of all people….And now I'm thinking in the third person, lovely….'

Determined to get the Head Girl out of his thoughts, Malfoy forced himself to get involved in the conversation. Blaise could tell that the enthusiasm was beyond forced, and he decided to speak to his friend about it at the first opportunity.

The Sorting was an exciting event for everyone, as the Hat spoke this year about rebuilding and celebrating. He also briefly mentioned old enemies putting differences behind them and finding kindred souls. Both Head Students thought of their partner, hoping that the Hat was giving them a premonition instead of an admonition.

After ferrying the younger students after the House Prefects, Malfoy and Hermione met up and silently began following the directions they had been given to their new, shared dormitory. When they reached the correct corridor on the sixth floor, the pair began searching for the painting of an angel on a cliff.

Malfoy noticed her first. "Just there," he said softly, pointing towards their left. They approached the painting together.

The angel looked at them with a speculative gleam in her eyes. "The new Head Boy and Girl, I presume?"

When she didn't continue, Hermione expected that she was looking for an answer. "Yes, ma'am. I'm Hermione Granger, Gryffindor. This is Draco Malfoy, Slytherin. May I ask your name?"

Malfoy was utterly distracted by the sound of his name falling from Granger's lips.

Hermione was determined not to examine her feelings on the same subject—at least, not until she was in bed, alone, and could think properly.

The angel smiled mischievously, as if she knew both parties' thoughts. "You may ask, and I will answer. My name is Pythia. I was the first Oracle of Greece in my time. Perhaps you have heard of me?" Both students nodded their heads in awe, bowing slightly at the introduction.

"And so, you will be starting your journey. Tell me, then, the pass phrase. Before you enter, you will choose a new phrase for future entry. Mind you, you must both agree on what to use. And I like to play riddles and games, as I become rather bored, sitting here with no one to speak to most of the year, so I will ask a question, you will agree on the answer, and that will become your code. The answers must be a Greek term or name. Each time you come here together, I will pose another question for a new password. It will not change again until you answer another question for me. Doing this will help unify you, which the Headmistress has informed me is one of her main goals for this term.

"So, firstly, what is the current code, and what is the correct English translation?"

Malfoy answered. "Cephalus. It means 'head.'"

Pythia smiled. "Too right, Draco. And here is my question: what need you do in order to achieve your goals this year?"

Hermione's mind immediately began buzzing. Malfoy, who was much too tired and stuffed to think properly at the moment, decided to agree to whatever word Granger came up with for the new password.

After a few moments, Hermione turned to Malfoy and said, "How about 'Castor'? It's a Greek name that means 'to shine or excel.'" Malfoy merely nodded, allowing Granger to give Pythia the new pass code.

"Very well, young ones. Welcome to your home for the next year. I look forward to becoming friends with you both." She swung forward on her hinges to allow them access.

Hermione had very little of her mind available to take in the sight, but what could process her environment was already buzzing with tired appreciation. There was a large, ornate white marble fireplace to the right of the room. Surrounding the fireplace was a gold loveseat and two deep green armchairs. A red Persian rug was nestled underneath the black wood coffee table.

To the left, on the front and back walls, were two large desks surrounded on both sides and above by empty bookshelves. A red and gold chair sat at the far desk, and a green and silver one was under the desk at the front. Between the two, on the left wall, was a large bay window and white-cushioned seat with four pillows (green, red, gold, and silver). The mix of color and texture throughout the room was actually quite stunning, and Hermione found herself grateful that her partner was a member of Slytherin House, thereby bringing in the complementary colors seen in the room.

On the back wall opposite Pythia's portrait, there was an ornate staircase leading up to the left. Hermione and Malfoy both went straight to the stairs, exhausted after their long first day as Heads. When they reached the landing, they followed a u-turn in the hall and headed back towards the end with the fireplace. The first door they reached was ajar—it led to a tastefully-decorated bathroom in white marble and purple accents. The next door held a plaque reading "H. G." The last door, only a few feet down, read "H. B."

Malfoy snorted softly. When Hermione gave him a questioning look, he said, "I just find it interesting that your initials happen to be the same as those of 'Head Girl.' It's almost like you were meant to have the role all along." Hermione wasn't sure whether or not he meant it as a compliment, but she was too tired to analyze the statement.

An awkward silence ensued during which student neither could look at the other. Finally, Hermione said, "Goodnight, Malfoy. See you in the morning."

Both Head Students went to their respective beds, but neither fell asleep for some time.

Hermione was trying to focus on the start of her classes the following day, but her mind kept going back to the Head Boy and his transformation. 'He's not the boy—man—I thought he was,' she kept thinking. 'I really don't know him at all….But I want to.' That was her last thought as she slipped into unconsciousness.

Malfoy, however, was purposely examining his feelings. 'I think that I have come to li—no, I can't…the girl…no, Granger, not the girl. There is more than one girl in this world. Just not more than one that I—AH! Focus, Draco! There is nothing there, and there never will be. And that's that.' A few moments later, he found himself thinking, 'And if there were something there on my end, I doubt there would be any on hers at any point in time, so there's no use dwelling on the matter.' Slowly, he too fell out of conscious thought and into pleasant dreams.

Pythia, alone in her portrait and gazing up at the full moon on the canvas, chuckled softly to herself. She whispered softly in Greek, "You may think you control your destiny, but it will always find you. And though you may not admit it, you always wanted it."

Hermione woke but didn't open her eyes, wondering where she was. The bed she was lying on was enormous, and the silk sheets felt unfamiliar on her skin. Eventually, she opened her eyes to the gold-cream-and-crimson beauty that was her Head Girl suite. She sat up and glanced at the clock on her bedside table. 'Seven o'clock. That gives me enough time to shower before heading down to breakfast.'

She hopped out of bed and rummaged through her trunk to pull out a uniform and robes. Before she left the room, she looked out the bay window—similar to the one below but with only the Gryffindor colors on the pillows. Her room had a spectacular view of the lake and the Forbidden Forest. She couldn't quite see Hagrid's hut from the window, but she assumed that she would be able to from the window in the common room downstairs.

Grabbing a towel and her bathroom necessities, she walked out into the hall. A quick glance behind her told her that Malfoy was awake, as his door was ajar. Turning, she made her way towards the bathroom. When the door opened, the vision of Malfoy half-naked rose again to her mind, but it was quickly dispelled when he emerged fully clothed in his uniform. Still, she couldn't help but notice how good he looked with his wet bangs hanging in his eyes and his Slytherin tie drooping loose around his neck, shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows. Forcing herself to look at his face, Hermione said cheerily, "Morning, Malfoy! All done in the bathroom? I'd like to get a shower before breakfast, if that's alright." Puzzled with herself, she thought, 'Why am I asking his permission to shower? I can use that bathroom any time I like! It's half mine, after all….'

He raised one eyebrow at her before commenting. "I'm finished, Granger. And you don't have to ask my permission. If you want the bathroom and I'm not in there, just take it. It's my own fault if I'm not finished and you've taken it."

Without a word, Hermione continued to the bathroom. She tried to focus on her morning routine, but she kept thinking about Malfoy.

'What is wrong with me? I've never really given him much thought before, and all of a sudden I can't get my mind off of him! And what about Ron? Yes! Ron! Hermione, what are you thinking? You finally get Ron to notice you, and you're going to just throw it away because Malfoy is suddenly so attractive to you? I mean, I know he's gorgeous, and strong, and funny…and a gentleman…and intelligent….

'Bloody heck.'

Okay, so she was attracted to Malfoy. The question was, in whom was she more interested? 'Time will only tell,' she decided.

When her hair was dry, she was fully dressed, and her teeth were brushed, she walked back to her bedroom to grab her bag and headed down to the common room. Malfoy was sitting in one of the green chairs, seemingly waiting for her.

Without spoken agreement, the two left the dormitory together. Malfoy opened the portrait hole and held the painting back, allowing Hermione to go through first.

"Thank you, Malfoy." He grunted in acknowledgement.

On the third floor, the pair met up with Harry, Ron, and Ginny. The three seemed to simply ignore the fact that Hermione and Malfoy had been walking together. The Gryffindors chatted amiably, and Malfoy walked a dozen or so paces behind. Hermione felt awful, and she tried to pull back to talk to him, but Ron grabbed her hand and wouldn't let go. She almost told him off and pulled away, but they were so close to the Great Hall that it wouldn't make much difference at that point. He'd have to let her go in a few seconds, and she wouldn't have time to converse with the Head Boy before they split to their separate tables, anyway.

Draco was crushed. He'd only just realized his feelings for the girl, and she was clearly already taken. He had hoped that there was no agreement between the two heroes, but this blatant display quashed that hope quickly and completely. 'I wonder how serious they are, or if there's anything I can do to make her drop him?' He sighed. 'I'm screwed. I'm already considering splitting them up and I don't even know how she feels about me! How did I get in this deep this quickly?' But he knew, deep down, that it had been a long time coming. He'd just been repressing it because there was no way he could have a relationship with her. They had been on opposite sides of the war, and his parents disapproved of her blood. He figured that they wouldn't have any sincere objections—at least, not verbal ones—now because the war was over, but he was beginning to be afraid that 'now' was too late.

Soon after the five students were sitting at their respective tables in the Great Hall, the professors began to pass out schedules along the House tables. Because McGonagall had become Headmistress, there was a new Head of Gryffindor: Professor Vector, the Arithmancy teacher. When she reached the seventh years, she said excitedly, "I know that I haven't had the pleasure of teaching you all, and I dare say we don't have much time together, but I hope that the time we have will make us great friends. So, here are your schedules. Those of you in my NEWT class will see that I have you second this morning. And don't think I'll go easy on you simply because you're in my own House!" She cheerfully continued down the table.

Ron chuckled. "She's energetic, that one. Definitely going to be easy getting along with her. I hope she gives us leeway. You know, because we're older. By regular standards, we should have left school already."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Really, Ron, I don't see what your problem is with school. Don't you enjoy learning?"

"It's not learning that I don't like. It's having to read about it instead of just going out and learning on my own. And I really don't like being tested on it."

She was dumbfounded. He didn't like to read? Was he crazy? For a moment, she began to wonder what she had ever seen in Ronald Weasley. Then she remembered his fierce loyalty to herself and Harry, and his bravery in the fights they had been part of through the years. 'But is that enough?' she wondered. 'Is loyalty and bravery enough to have in common in order to make a long-term relationship work?'

Shaking her head, she looked down to the schedule in her hand. As today was a Wednesday, she would have Defense class first, followed by Arithmancy, both in the morning. After lunch, she had History of Magic and then a free period before dinner.

When breakfast began winding down, Hermione, Ron, Harry, Neville, Seamus, Dean, and Parvati began walking towards the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. The only seventh year Gryffindor not taking Defense was Lavender. She had decided that she'd seen enough of dark creatures and curses and was going to focus on Divination instead. (Hermione secretly wondered if Lavender were using it as an excuse not to have the class with her and Ron since they had now admitted their feelings for each other. Maybe the pain of Ron's break-up with her was still too fresh.)

The group was all excitement as they walked through the halls. The new professor hadn't been present at the feast the night before, and so they were anxious to find out who would be teaching them. They were the first students to reach the class, and they immediately took the first two rows of seats. Hermione sat next to the one empty seat, with Ron across the aisle on her other side.

Soon the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws joined the group. Hannah Abbott and Susan Bones sat in the seats behind Hermione, with Justin and Ernie Macmillan taking the two behind the Hufflepuff girls. The four Ravenclaws of the class, Padma, Terry, Michael Corner, and Anthony Goldstein, took the seats behind Harry and Ron. Eight seats in the back two rows and the empty one next to Hermione were open for any Slytherins that would be joining them.

About a minute before the class was supposed to begin, the door to the classroom opened, and in filed the entire seventh-year Slytherin class.

Millicent Bulstrode, Tracey Davis, Daphne Greengrass, and Pansy took the first four seats together. Theo, Blaise, and Goyle took the seats behind them. Goyle looked forlornly at the empty seat to his left. Hermione felt a pang in her heart for the loss of his closest friend. Even if she wasn't particularly fond of Crabbe, it was sad that someone so young had to die, especially in such a manner. 'I wish there was something I could do,' she thought sympathetically.

Malfoy walked forward and took the seat next to Hermione. She smiled at him and raised an eyebrow.

With a clouded expression, Malfoy whispered to Hermione (but hoped that others were listening to his explanation, as well), "I won't disrespect him by taking his seat. At least, not today. He should be here with us, and I want to honor his memory."

Hermione smiled sadly at him, placing her hand on his forearm and patting him gently. After a small moment, she turned to the front and again removed her hand.

Malfoy's only thought was, 'I could get used to that.'

Neither Hermione nor Malfoy noticed the death glare shooting from Ron's eyes at Hermione's display of companionship.

The next moment, the door to the professor's office opened, and in walked…

Bill Weasley!

All of the Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs, and Ravenclaws exclaimed in excitement.

The Slytherins were silent, but Hermione could see Malfoy's shoulders slump in her peripheral vision.

"Hullo, all!" Bill began. "For those who may not know me, I'm Bill Weasley, your new Defense teacher. In class, I ask that you please refrain from calling me 'professor.' Simply 'Bill' or 'Weasley' will do. However, in front of any other professors, I insist that you use the title so that none of us get scolded by the Headmistress.

"So, first things first, I want to test your skill levels. So I have a short exam"—there was a chorus of moans—"for you to take first, and then I will be asking each of you to demonstrate a few of the more advanced spells that you may or may not have learned at this point. Don't worry, there're only about fifty questions on the test, and it won't be for a grade. I just want to know where to start with the lessons." He handed out the papers, only pausing a moment to look questioningly between the Head Boy and Girl.

The room was silent for the next forty-five minutes of class while everyone took the exam. Hermione was happy to note that there were only five spells listed that she didn't know, and only four others of which she had read but had never attempted.

Then Bill collected the exams and had everyone take out their wands. "I'd like to see everyone attempt a Patronus charm first, and then show me the best shield you can conjure. Harry, can we start with you?"

Harry's stag danced around the room for a moment, and then he performed a rather impressive shield charm. Bill moved through the class, calling on everyone randomly, until only Hermione and Malfoy were left untested.

"Malfoy, give it a go."

Unfortunately, Malfoy (along with all the other Slytherins) hadn't been part of Dumbledore's Army in fifth year, and he didn't know how to conjure a Patronus. Nothing happened when he attempted the charm, but he hadn't truly expected any different. His shield, however, was quite above par, and Bill praised him generously for it.

"Alright, 'Mione, show me what you've got."

For a moment, she couldn't decide on a memory. She'd never truly had issue with doing so before, but for some reason, she just couldn't concentrate. 'I don't think sitting next to Malfoy is going to be good for my marks,' she thought. 'Wait! Malfoy! Alright, remember what it felt like when he said your name….'

"Expecto Patronum!" The force of the otter erupting from her wand almost threw Hermione backwards out of her chair. Everyone could feel the energy from her Patronus pulsing through them, brightening their already light moods. Harry, Ron, Bill, and Hermione all looked at each other in awe—no Patronus they had ever seen had been that powerful, other than the one Harry conjured from across the lake for himself and Sirius in third year.

Hermione let the otter fade, and then Bill took the floor again. "So, I can see that some of you are behind the others. I don't want you to feel as if you are behind for your age, though, as Patronuses are supposed to be in the curriculum for spring term of seventh year. However, since most of you have already mastered it, I am going to assign a partner for those who have not. Work on it outside of class, and that way we'll have more time to cover a wider variety of defensive spells. I expect everyone to have mastered the Patronus charm by the time you return from the Christmas holidays."

They were assigned partners—Harry to both Theo and Tracey, Ron to Blaise, Seamus to Millicent, Dean to Goyle, Parvati to Daphne, and Hermione to both Pansy and Malfoy—and a reading for the next class, and then they were dismissed.

When they left the class, Hermione, Malfoy, Blaise, and a few other students began making their way to Arithmancy while the others left for another class or a free period. All the Head Girl could think of was the strength of her Patronus. 'I've never had one that powerful before. How could that memory be so much stronger than any other I have used? Malfoy…he shouldn't have that great of an effect on me so quickly.' She realized that her Slytherin companions were discussing Quidditch, so she didn't feel guilty keeping up her mental conversation with herself. 'Well, if I'm being honest with myself, I have always found him rather attractive. And second year, when he called me a "Mudblood" for the first time, I was more hurt than angry. And I'm not a violent person by nature—the only thing that would have enticed me to hit him in third year would be true disappointment in his actions….That must be it! I cared for him on a subconscious level, and when he spoke as he did about Hagrid, he was disappointing my expectations for him! And I never hated him, though Harry and Ron certainly did at times. This isn't a new feeling at all. It's just new for me to recognize it.'

While Hermione was busy discovering herself, Blaise and Malfoy were having a discussion about Quidditch that was anything but a discussion about Quidditch.

Blaise smirked at his best mate and said, "So, Malfoy, going to get some lessons in Patronus charms from Granger, eh? Excited?"

"Shove off, Zabini. You're getting lessons from the weasel, which isn't much better."

"At least I beat him in something, though. I'm a far better keeper."

Draco didn't respond, ignoring the implication that he didn't beat Granger in anything.

"And what about you? Been brushing up on your seeking skills, have you? I think you might be a little rusty. It's been a while, you know, since you've caught the Snitch." Blaise was grinning triumphantly.

Draco shot him a heated glare. How dare Blaise make assumptions on his love life? Not that he was wrong—it had never happened, so of course it had "been a while"—but he still shouldn't talk about that, especially in front of Granger. "At least I can play more than one position, Zabini. I'm much better at keeping than you. And in case you've forgotten, I'm a hell of a good beater, too." Draco narrowed his eyes at his mate, making sure he got the threat behind the "beater" comment.

Blaise seemed to take even more pleasure in having enticed Draco to play along. Both could tell that Granger wasn't listening, so they knew she wouldn't be catching on to their innuendo. "Yes, but your style of chasing is far too obvious. I think you need to improve on your subtlety."

Draco was about to answer, but they had reached the classroom, and the conversation had to end. Professor Vector may be a little eccentric, but she had good ears and a keen understanding of the minds of teenage boys, not to mention the fact that she was the new Head of Gryffindor in McGonagall's place. Granger took a seat in the front row, and Blaise and Draco sat behind her. A few moments later, Vector began the class.

"Welcome, seventh years! It's good to see everyone again. Now, I want you all to know that, despite the fact that I am now Head of Gryffindor, there will be no preferential treatment of anyone in my class. I expect the same level of dedication from all of my students, and I hold them to the same standards of behavior.

"Alright, let's get started, then…."

The class went by entirely too slowly for Hermione's liking. She could feel Malfoy's eyes on the back of her head, but she couldn't do anything about it. The feeling was unsettling, to say the least.

Draco, on the other hand, felt that the time went too quickly. He was enjoying the view of the Head Girl's bushy curls shining in the sunlight coming from the window to their right. 'Her hair isn't even that bushy anymore. It has a nice, soft curl to it now. I wonder if it feels as silky as it looks….'

He tried harder to pay attention to the lesson after that.

I think this is my favorite chapter so far (I have a couple more written, just not posted yet). I didn't really set out to make things move so quickly between them, but as I was writing, it just felt natural. Let me know what you think. I love constructive criticism! :)