A/N: As always, I don't own anything

Chapter 3

As much as she'd loved being able to wipe that grin off Malfoy's face yet again, there had been a tension in the air for the rest of the day. Whilst Arithmancy was the only lesson they had alone together, they shared most of the classes at the same level. She had felt his eyes burning through her from behind in defense against the dark arts, and the sideways glances throughout potions. Hermione had spent the day fidgeting uncomfortably under his steely glare.

And now she had the prospect of having to write about him for their assignment. She twirled her quill deftly between her fingers, splatters of ink covering her fingers. The parchment lay on the table untouched. It had been this way for the past 47 minutes. Not that Hermione was counting. She had never struggled to start an assignment before. It was unheard of. What predictions could she make for Draco Malfoy? She couldn't be truly honest as Professor Vector would see them. But she couldn't lie either. She stopped pacing, sat down and put quill to parchment. She had to write something.

Draco dropped his bag on his trunk and dropped into his bed. He didn't understand why Granger's comments had affected him so much, but he'd been stewing in them all day. He closed his eyes and dragged his hands over his face, but she was there. Fuck this, he thought, I'll just get this done and she can leave me the fuck alone. He dragged himself up and dragged some parchment on to his bed, but what on earth was he supposed to write? He wanted to annoy her with this, he wanted to pay her back for the way she'd gotten under his skin today, and what better way to prove he'd changed. Suddenly inspiration struck him and he dipped his quill in his ink and let the words flow out of him.

An hour later and he looked proudly down at his work. He couldn't wait to see her reaction to it; how she would act around him once she'd read it. A tiredness struck him and he placed the parchment neatly on his bedside table. He took of his uniform and placed it, neatly folded, on top of his trunk. It was too warm for pyjamas, but with none of his old roommates back at Hogwarts he had the dormitory room to himself. He slid under the blanket in his boxers and closed his eyes. Sleep came quickly, but it didn't have the desired effect of rejuvination. His dreams were haunted, as usual, by a bushy haired muggle born's strangled screams and the disgusting sight of his sadistic aunt's pleasure.

The rest of the week passed quickly, and it was Friday evening before she knew it. She looked over to the Slytherin table looking for the tell tale platinum blonde hair, but she couldn't see it. She clutched tightly to the roll of parchment in her bag. She hoped she didn't come across too mean, but she thought it best to tell the truth, and she knew Malfoy's would be far from kind. Suddenly, the fine hairs on the back of her neck raised on their ends and Hermione jumped as she caught the sight of Malfoy from the corner of her eyes.

"Here you go, Granger." He placed his roll of parchment in front of her. "Well...have you got mine? Or has hell frozen over and you haven't done homework?"

Hermione's hands shook as she took the parchment out of her bag, slowly. Why, oh why does he have to read them? She thought. She felt the strange urge to tell him she hadn't done it. But was she really so afraid to offend him that she would risk losing her academic reputation. Malfoy had been right. Why the hell did she have to be late that day. Any day. She swallowed hard and quickly handed over the parchment before she could change her mind.

"I look forward to reading this." He nodded with a smirk on his face and suddenly Hermione was scared about what she was going to read in hers. The smile made her feel uncomfortable. And she squirmed a little in her seat. His face softened a little and Hermione felt more nervous and confused. And then he left as quickly as he'd arrived.

She moved the parchment to the side and tried to eat but it was no use. She could feel Ginny's eyes on her as she moved her uneaten dinner around the plate. Finally, she snatched the parchment and half ran back to the dorm room.

She had been pacing around the room for the last half an hour. She felt sick, and dizzy and a million other things all at once. She picked up the parchment from her bed to read it for the millionth time.

Readings and Predictions on Hermione Granger by Draco Malfoy

Hermione Granger's heart and character number are the same. It is plain for anybody to see, even those such as myself who do not know her all that well, that there is no more fitting number for these than 4. She may be predictable, but it is only because her intelligence is so constant and unfaltering that there can be nothing else expected from her. Her academic skills are second to none, and her title of "Brightest Witch of an Age" is well deserved. She is organised, logical and reliable. I believe the reason her character number and and heart number are the same is because she stays so true to who she really is and who she wishes to be. The flaws of fours are stubborness, over practicality, suspicion and prone to angry outbursts are to be expected in someone so brilliant. Her suspicions usually prove true and so it is just further evidence of her intuition. And stubbornness and angry outburst are to be expected when other people cannot see the world in the same way as you do.

Her social number is 9, which represents completion and achievement to the fullest degree. Another thing that is blatant to see by anybody who has spent any time with her. Nine's dedicate themselves to service, often as teachers, scientists and humanitarians. Hermione has already shown these qualities to the world with her work in creating S.P.E.W. She certainly works tirelessly, and again it is plain to see she is an inspiration to many. I however feel the flaws of nine's - being arrogance and conceit - are simply a defense mechanism of Miss Granger's and that her displays of these behaviours are often misunderstood and are simply her way of displaying personal strength.

Ginny walked in as she finished reading and sat down next to her on the bed.

"You look like you've been punched in the stomach. Is what that slimy git wrote that bad? Do you want me to go and punch him in the stomach?"

"Actually it's just the opposite." She handed the parchment to Ginny and flopped back onto her bed. Ginny read through and looked at Hermione.

"Well, this is good. Why are you upset?"

"Because, I thought he was going to be awful. So I was - let's say - less than kind." She pulled a pillow over her face and groaned into it.

"Well, who cares if he happened not to be an evil prick this one time. He still deserves whatever you said about him." Ginny said, lying down next to her. "It will be fine, I'm sure. Don't get yourself stressed over Malfoy. He's a big boy, if he doesn't like what you had to say he'll just have to get over it."

Draco laughed as he read Hermione's descriptions about him. He knew she wouldn't be singing his praises but the girl hadn't exactly pulled any punches either. He'd had no idea just how much he bugged her, but for some reason he liked that. Not in the same way he'd enjoyed bugging everybody else, there was something about the idea that Granger would be thinking about the things he'd said to or about her, that he was under her skin, highly satisfying.

Readings and Predictions of Draco Malfoy by Hermione Granger

Draco Malfoy's heart and character number are exactly the same at five. Five's represent instability and imbalance. They cannot commit to any one thing and are forever changing their mind. This obviously is a very accurate description of Mr Malfoy as one minute he's a Death Eater, and the next he's back at the school he helped destroy acting like he's done nothing wrong. It's very apparent that Draco Malfoy is unable to choose what side he is on. Fives enjoy travelling but are tend not to stay in one place for very long. It is obvious that this is due to the fact that most people in the wizarding community know of the terrible things he has been involved in and therefore their judgement of him make him feel too uncomfortable to remain in their company. And his family's money probably helps greatly with his desire to travel. The fact that his character number and heart number are the same show that he his true to his character, thus proving that his intentions were probably true to his own beliefs all along, and none of his despicable actions were done under duress or the influence of others. Draco's tireless bullying of those who he feels are inferior to him is proof of his irresponsible and conceited attitude that go along with a Five's personality.

His social number is nine which represent achievement and completion. They are often an inspiration to others but can be conceited and arrogant when things don't go their way. Mr Malfoy's plans were often foiled and this would be when his arrogance and disdain for others would be the most apparent. As for inspiration, he has often found blind followers in his fellow slytherins. However, I feel his academic achievements should not go unmentioned and he does maintain high marks. I believe that Draco Malfoy likes to believe himself a leader and display this to the outside world to cover that he is not always the best at everything, and he has fears and worries and difficulty making decisions just as much as other people. He likes to show himself off as special, when in reality he is not.

For some reason the words on the parchment had not annoyed him as much as the way she had spoken to him in their class. Perhaps it was because he knew she would be feeling terrible now if she had read his account of her. Perhaps it was because he realised just how much he affected her. Either way he fell asleep with a smile on his face and tonight the nightmares didn't return.

Saturdays were meant for relaxing, but he couldn't stay in bed any longer. He needed to get out of his room, he couldn't stand the darkness of the dungeon, but he didn't want to be outside where he knew there would be too many cheery students laughing and enjoying themselves in the sun. He suspected nobody would want to be indoors on a day like this, and so he headed to the library; a place where he would be able to find solitude and peace. He had been sat uninterrupted for over an hour reading when he heard footsteps nearing him. He prepared to grab his stuff and move away from them when he saw Hermione round the corner. She stopped dead as she saw him there, and an obvious blush rose to her cheeks. She pulled her jacket tighter around herself, as though it were a shield and she felt like Draco would be attacking at any minute. Like she was preparing for a fight. But a fight would be too easy.

"Granger." Was all he said, not taking his eyes of her. He wanted to see her squirm.

"Listen, about what I wrote…" Her voice was quiet and squeaky; laced with nerves.

"Oh don't worry. It's not like I didn't know you felt that way about me. You've done enough to show it over the past seven years."

"Like you didn't deserve it." Hermione said, suddenly dropping her arms, like she was dropping her defense. Draco let out a short laugh, and Hermione looked uncomfortable again. There was just something about that look on her face. She moved over to a nearby desk and leant against it, "But still, I wasn't being a very good student, or person, when I wrote it. I was angry, but I shouldn't have let that affect my work." Draco raised out of his chair and walked towards her. Hermione pushed back against the desk as he got close to her and the legs screeched as they moved along the wooden floor.

He was uncomfortably close. She wasn't sure she'd ever been this close to Malfoy before. She could feel his breath against her skin, and goosebumps rose on her skin under the stare of his grey eyes. Her stomach knotted, and she began to tremble slightly. She breathed in and the smell of peppermint and books invaded her nose and throat.

"I tell you what, I'll be the bigger person here and give you another chance. You can sit in here with me and write it again if you want. I have nowhere better to be."

"Ummm…" Hermione's throat was dry. She shifted uncomfortably but every time she did he seemed to shift closer, now his face was less than 10 inches from hers. She dared to look up into his eyes and her stomach clenched, her throat closed and she could feel her hands dampen with sweat. A few moments passed but it felt like a lifetime and eventually he stepped aside and allowed her to move. She had no idea what to do. She wanted to the chance to change what she'd written but she was nervous about sitting in a room with him now. What the hell just happened? She wondered. But before she knew it, she was pulling a chair out and sitting down. Whilst he made her nervous, he also intrigued her at the same time. The Malfoy she knew would've loved handing in that piece of work and dragging her name through the mud by declaring she hadn't taken it seriously. What did he have to gain out of her redoing it? And what was with what he wrote. The Malfoy she had thought was predictable and could be read like a book was suddenly surrounded by question marks. And she wasn't the kind of person who could leave questions unanswered. So she pulled her parchment out of her bag and began writing, hoping his intentions would become apparent.

Draco kept watching her as she wrote. She had caught him numerous times, his eyes wandering from his book to her. She figured he was trying to read what she was writing. It was like being here with Viktor all over again. He had a smile plastered on his face like a cheshire cat, looking very pleased with himself.

"Excuse me. Is there something on my face?" Hermione asked, indignantly.

"What?" Malfoy asked looking up from his book once more. A book he'd only turned the page of twice since she'd began writing, and she knew he could read faster than that.

"You keep staring at me!" She barked.

"You have this really stupid, goofy look on your face when you write. It's amusing." Hermione blushed. She knew what he was talking about. She scrunched her nose and bit her tongue when she was concentrating.

"Oh. Well, you're distracting me. If you want this doing, could you please stop watching me."

"Absolutely."

She continued writing, but she could still feel his eyes drifting up to watch her, so she sped up.

"There!" She snapped, louder than she meant to, as she pushed the piece of paper across the desk towards him. She suddenly felt more than one pair of eyes on her, and noticed that others were around now. Malfoy laughed a short sharp chuckle and took the parchment from the table.

"I'm leaving now. I am sorry about what I wrote the last time. I was angry. This is what I should have written in the first place." Hermione left without looking at Draco again.

Readings and Predictions of Draco Malfoy by Hermione Granger

Draco Malfoy's heart and character number are exactly the same at five. Five's represent instability and imbalance. They cannot commit to any one thing and are forever changing their mind. This obviously is a very accurate description of Mr Malfoy as he has struggled with many of the decisions he has made: whether to act according to his own moral compass or commit the acts others force him to commit. Fives enjoy travelling but are tend not to stay in one place for very long. Again I believe this indicates his struggle with whether to follow others or himself. And he is lucky enough to enjoy his family's wealth and travel as he pleases. The fact that his character number and heart number are the same show that he his true to his character, which is why I believe he could never fully commit to the terrible acts he began, and that he was acting under duress.

His social number is nine which represent achievement and completion. They are often an inspiration to others but can be conceited and arrogant when things don't go their way. Mr Malfoy has never had trouble being a leader, and I believe that once he has come through the other side of the terrible ordeals he has been through, he can put this to great use. His conceit and arrogance are a flaw that many cannot deny having, that Mr Malfoy's is apparent is simply due to his openness about who he is. He is smart, and a truly bright wizard. I predict that one day he could be a great one.

Draco wasn't sure whether to believe this was truly how she felt but he hoped it was.

That evening, Draco walked into the Great Hall for dinner and sat down by himself, as usual.

He looked over to the Gryffindor table and saw something he hadn't seen this year yet; Hermione was laughing with friends. The food had not yet appeared on the table, but Draco's stomach was rumbling. Heads around the hall began turning towards the teachers table so Draco followed suit and saw Professor McGonagall stepping up to address the student.

"Hello students." Her voice echoed and bounced off the walls and everybody fell quiet. "I hope you are all settling in well and things are getting back to normal here. We know the past year has been difficult for many of you and so I have a few announcements that I hope will help you feel better. Firstly, the Hogsmeade trips will begin earlier this year, with the first being next Saturday. Secondly, that as a celebration of the wonderful effort many of you put into repair this school, this year we will be hosting a Christmas ball, the day before the train back to London. I hope you will all enjoy the festivities and if anybody wants to contribute to the planning please see Professor Babbling. Anyway, I shall keep you from your dinner no longer. Enjoy." Food flooded the table and noise erupted once more.

Once he had finished his food he dragged his tired body back to the Slytherin common room. He stayed there for as long as he could stomach with all the young Slytherins chattering excitedly about the Christmas ball. Why another ball? He knew he would have to attend another at the manor when he returned home, so why in the hell did they have to have one here too? He could just skip it. On second thoughts it would be interesting to see if Granger could pull off another Yule Ball style transformation. He plodded into his bedroom and undressed. Again, no nightmares came. His dreams were peaceful but still full of a bushy haired muggle born with deep brown eyes.

A/N: Well for once, a quick update. My dissertation is finished so I thought I'd write and post this before the madness of exams takes over.

Hopefully, it shouldn't be too long a wait until the next chapter is up but like always please be patient.

ENJOY