The next Saturday was much the same as the first; the cooling breeze, sunny skies, and relaxing atmosphere had returned; Hermione had decided to enjoy herself as well, but seeing Ron miss the Quaffle again had put a damper on her good mood. Instead she had decided to leave their practice and calm her mind at the tree she was at before, in front of the lake. She had just started a new book about meditation in the wizarding world, and it's affects on one's magical abilities.

This time around she was perched up on a large branch, as wide as a desk and a few meters high. After charming some music into the air, she had left her bag, wand, and book open on the ground and closed her eyes trying to zone in on the "Inner Peace", as Ginny had called it.

Ten minutes passed and Hermione deemed that was the most "inner peace" she was ever going to get. She opened her eyes to see the Slytherin Prince leaning against a nearby tree, watching her with a quirking grin and the book in hand. Her smiling lips formed into an "O", and her brows furrowed at the seemingly friendly look on his face.

"Inner Peace huh?" Draco pulled himself onto her branch, walking it like a trapeze till the end, and sitting himself down opposite of her. At the confused looks she gave him, he laughed nervously and levitated a bag of chocolate frogs from the ground. Realizing her wand was on the ground and she was unarmed, a brief look of fear crossed over her face.

"Relax. I won't pull anything, Slytherin's honour."

"Syltherins have honour?"

"Granger. I'm trying to be civil. You could help a little."

"I don't trust you. Not one bit. You're up to something, I know it." With that, she jumped off the branch, grabbed her wand and held it ready.

"Well whatever evil I'm up to, or, not up to, can we continue that tomorrow? Today, let's just be friends." He threw his wand at her feet, and she jumped, half expecting it to explode. Hermione raised a disbelieving eyebrow, and Draco quickly covered up this slightly embarrassing moment; "

"Why would you, Draco Malfoy of all people, pureblood prat extraordinaire, someone who's taunted and teased me the past six years, want to be friends?"

"I'm sick of fighting all the time. And Crabbe and Goyle don't have the most stimulating minds," at this Hermione smirked, and he continued, "Listen. No one's around. So our reputations as enemies won't get ruined. I just want to relax, and you can imagine how easy it is to relax with people of my house, only helpful when it benefits them."

"Okay. I'll try to be .. civil; but I still don't trust you."

"That's fine," he patted the spot she had occupied moments earlier. "Chocolate frog?"

"No thanks," she said, climbing back up but sitting a little farther away.

"A little chocolate never killed anyone Granger."

"Coming from you, it might." She half-joked, and he demonstrated by eating the one he offered to her. Hermione half-smiled, accepting the wriggling piece of chocolate. She threw it up in the air and caught it in her mouth, closing before it jumped back out. Draco laughed and tried himself, missing.

"You have to get it right under your eyes, so you can move back and land it in your mouth!" Hermione said, finally convinced Draco's intentions weren't evil when he tried again and it splattered onto his forehead. They spent the rest of the day enjoying themselves, throwing chocolate frogs into the air, and seeing who could catch the most. Inside, Draco was in pure bliss, and Hermione wasn't feeling that bad either.

The next day, Hermione wandered to the same spot, wondering if she'd have Draco's company once again, and the out of place events that occurred yesterday. She sat her book down and heard a friendly, "Oi, up here". She turned to look and found Draco already waiting for her. "Granger, I've ALMOST got it!" Draco smiled, attempting to catch a piece of chocolate in his mouth. He missed by a long shot and Hermione had to laugh at his resiliency.

As the sun went down, their spirits went up. By one o'clock, Draco's face was covered in chocolate, and by three Hermione's hair started to get messy from laughing so hard. Five o'clock came along with deeper topics for their conversation. At seven the bells chimed for dinner, yet both kept denying their hunger. Nine passed and neither noticed, genuinely enjoying each other's company. Finally it was 11 O'clock, and the lighting spell Hermione had charmed started to dim, catching her attention.

"Oh! It's past curfew Malfoy, we've got to go!" She said hurriedly, losing her balance in the process. Anxiously she packed her book bag, but forgot her novel alongside Draco. Transfiguring her bag into a locket, she fastened it around her neck and looked towards the path back to the Great Hall, then back at Draco, unsure of how their relationship stood.

Draco watched the emotions play across her face, and sighed unhappily.

"Granger?"

"Hmm?"

"Are we friends?" After a moment of receiving no answer and a confused look, Draco jumped down, smiling sadly. "Here, you forgot this." Handing her the book, he turned his back and began to leave.

"No. wait! Malfoy, stop walking away." Hermione scurried behind him, grabbing his wrist to keep him from leaving. Feeling her small fingers curl half way around his wrist, his paused, not daring to move. Was that tingling? Draco, get a hold of yourself. "Malfoy, you know what everyone would say. Ron would have a heart attack, and your father would be livid. Besides, we barely know each other, two days of laughs doesn't count for much. I mean, a week ago you went out of your way to bother me and my friends, and then this last week you've been ... nice! And it was as if you disappeared, and someone new took over your body. And now, your suddenly being so different. What am I supposed to think of this?"

"That maybe we could work things out? Granger I'm not daft, I'm not going to come sit with you Gryffindorks at lunch, and share a Calderon during potions! Look, I'm sorry I was naive enough to believe you lot could ever give a guy a second chance. Goodbye."

"Malfoy, you know we cant be enemies one moment, and friends the next. No! stop walking away from me! Please, just listen. I'm not going to say we're friends yet, because we're not. But maybe.. could we meet here again next Saturday?" She asked quietly, afraid he might say no.

After a moment, he finally turned around to look her in the eye, smiling. "Yeah. I'd like that Granger".

They walked off in their separate ways, he towards the Dungeons, and her towards the Gryffindor Tower. Neither noticed two pairs of green eyes watching from a distance.

She knew as well as everyone else that she was a terrible liar, and Hermione thanked her lucky stars that no one saw her sneak into bed. Draco on the other hand was met with Blaise waiting on the couch.

"How'd it go?"

"Pleasant."

Blaise slid off the couch and followed Draco towards their dorm room, noticing the obvious glow shinning off his mate. Minutes later another two Slytherins entered the common room, and retired to bed after an interesting discovery.