There was a knock on the door, followed almost immediately by another one and Hermione hurried to answer it. She flung it open to find Ginny standing there, her hands on her hips.

"You'll never guess what," she said, not bothering to wait for an invite and stepping in.

"What?" Hermione asked obediently.

"Guess who the newest member at the dance school just happens to be?" Ginny was obviously relishing telling Hermione this news but Hermione grinned at her.

"Errr...let me guess...mmm...Draco Malfoy?" Hermione teased her friend who's eyes widened in surprise.

"How did you know?"

Hermione relayed the story about yesterday and Ginny nodded. "Yes, that's what I heard. He's been entered into the competition with Beth. Can he dance then and why would he want to be entering a competition?"

"I haven't a clue and to be frank I don't care."

"But you must want to know! It's just natural to want to know," Ginny insisted. "Did you see him? Does he still look like he did at school?"

"No, sorry I only heard him," Hermione cleared her throat deciding to tell Ginny the whole story. "I recognized his voice."

"How could you? It's over four years since we left school, his voice will have changed."

"I didn't recognize it from school. I recognized it from the bridge – it would seem that Draco Malfoy is The Jumper," Hermione chuckled at the look of utter bewilderment on Ginny's face.

"What? How? He was going to jump? Why?"

"Well, I never was actually sure that whoever it was was going to jump. I don't know anything more but yes I'm sure it was him."

"Well, they have lost all their money so maybe that was why?" Ginny mused. "Ooh! How exciting!"

Hermione sighed. "All I know is that it's another couple entering the competition and if Beth is anything to go by they'll be the ones to beat."

"She did look like the cat that had got the cream," Ginny said. "What are we going to say to him? Are you going to tell him you know it was him on the bridge?"

"I won't have to. He saw me, didn't he? Now his comment about my behaviour being typical makes sense. Anyway I plan to avoid him for as long as possible and if I do have the misfortune to bump into him I'll just ignore him," Hermione said.

"Aren't you going to have great pleasure in showing him how wonderful you've become since leaving school?" Ginny asked. "Not exactly the stuffy bookworm any longer, are you?"

"Thanks for the compliment but he's already seen me," Hermione repeated.

"Yes but you were all wrapped up for winter! Wait till he sees you in your sexy dancewear," Ginny wriggled her eyebrows.

"I don't wear sexy dancewear."

"And when you came back from the bridge that day you were all gooey eyed about The Jumper," Ginny reminded her. "Perhaps Malfoy's changed as well."

"No, he hasn't. Now I realise that the sarcasm was just him. I was being generous making an allowance for his behaviour. I was wrong."

"Well you won't be able to avoid him for long because all the couples in the competition are at the theatre for the day on Saturday, remember? So we can practise on the actual stage," Ginny grinned at Hermione's expression. "I don't care what you think, I'm looking forward to it."

''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

It hadn't taken as long as she thought to drop off her tutorials and she arrived at the dance studio early. There was music coming from the studio and Hermione realised that the lesson previous to hers was still going on. Something told her that it was bound to be exactly who she didn't want it to be and she stood for a moment, torn between peeking in and just keeping well out of the way and going straight to the changing room. Curiosity won and she tip toed over and gently pushed the door open a slither.

She had been correct about the occupants as she could see Beth clearly. She was dancing alone and Esme was giving instructions.

"No, that part has three steps and your arms need to move slowly upwards."

Beth repeated the actions. "Is that better?"

"Yes. Now Draco you need to mirror those movements so that your arms move slowly down until you can take Beth into the dance position again."

And that was when Hermione Granger got her first look at Draco Malfoy since school. He stepped into her line of vision and started moving his arms as instructed by Esme. Hermione stared at him, not quite sure what she had expected. He was tall – she remembered that from the bridge – and he looked slim. His hair was still white blonde but it was cut fairly short so that it looked messy on his head. She couldn't see his face clearly but he definitely wasn't wearing a sneer. What caught her attention was his easy and graceful movements. He took the steps with ease, his arm movements in time and elegant. Begrudgingly, Hermione admitted that he and Beth looked great dancing together.

She stood up, ready to make a quiet exit to the changing rooms but she was treading on the handle of her dance bag and before she could move she had to untangle her foot. She bent down to untie it but misjudged her distance from the door. Her head met with the wood heavily, swinging it open and making her groan and hold her head. When she looked up, three faces were staring straight at her and she wanted to cover her face and run. Instead she stood up slowly, still rubbing her head.

"Hermione?" Esme came towards her. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, I just banged my head on the door." Hermione refrained from adding – whilst spying on you all. "Sorry."

"Oh, it's not problem. It gives me the opportunity to introduce you to our newest recruit," Esme grabbed her hand and pulled her into the studio. Hermione now felt like banging her head against the door on purpose for her own stupidity. How did she get herself in these situations? So much for avoiding him! She was now standing right next to Draco who was watching her with interest. She couldn't tell from his expression what he was thinking and she was trying to avoid his gaze anyway. "Hermione, this is Draco Malfoy. He will be dancing in the competition with Beth." Beth gave the gloating smile that Ginny had described. "Draco, this is Hermione Granger. She is dancing in the competition as well."

Hermione didn't offer her hand and neither did Draco. Hermione turned to Esme. "We already know each other. We went to Hogwarts together."

Esme nodded. "Oh yes! Of course you would have." She turned to Draco. "There you go another friendly face for you."

Draco's face again showed absolutely no expression and Esme looked slightly taken aback. "Right then, I'll see you in a few minutes then, Hermione."

Hermione nodded and made a quick exit. She sat down heavily in the changing room and sighed. She somehow couldn't imagine that coming to dancing was going to be quite so relaxing from now on.

''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

She was proved right the very next lesson because when she arrived William, her dance partner was waiting outside the studio for her.

"That new guy is dancing with Beth," William said, his tone tinged with bitterness. Hermione ignored it because she knew very well that she wasn't William's first choice. He was obsessed with Beth and he had made no attempt to disguise the fact that he wanted to dance with her.

"Never mind," Hermione said, dismissively.

"Well now Esme wants us to show them our routine!" William folded his arms in front of himself. "She wants them to see the standard they need to be to enter the competition! I mean, I don't see why we should. They are our competition after all."

Hermione now joined in with his sentiments but for an entirely different reason. She didn't care if they saw their routine but she did care that she was going to have to perform it in front of Draco Malfoy. The thought of it made her cringe.

"Ooh! Can't we get out of it. I don't want to do that either," she said. Esme chose that moment to poke her head out of the door.

"Are you ready?" she asked and Hermione reluctantly nodded. She got changed and then walked to the studio. She opened the door, her heart in her mouth. She was about as nervous as she'd ever been which was ridiculous and she needed to get control or she'd just make a fool of herself.

Draco and Beth were sitting to one side and neither of them acknowledged her when she walked in. Esme nodded her approval and went to put the music on. Taking a deep breath, Hermione stepped closer to William and took the opening position for their dance. She was confident with the dance, they had done it lots of times and apart from a couple of little tweaks it was almost perfect. But she knew she would have to concentrate and not think about their spectators.

The music started and Hermione missed the first step, her arm slipping to the wrong position. Immediately she corrected herself and fell into step with her partner. And then suddenly it was easy again. She caught the odd glimpse of Draco but she focused on William and the dance went smoothly. When they finished there was the sound of clapping and Hermione looked over in surprise to see both Beth and Draco clapping. Not very enthusiastically, but clapping.

"That was wonderful, thank you," Esme said. She turned to Draco and Beth. "I hope that has given you an idea of the level we need to get you to."

Draco and Beth left and Hermione was pleased with herself. She had danced well and she was glad it was over. The lesson went well and Hermione began to feel that she really did have a chance in the competition. This weekend would be the test because she would get to see all the other couples dancing and that would give her some idea where she was. She went to shower and got dressed, grabbing her stuff and hurrying from the changing rooms. She had a lot of work to do tonight as Lisa – her friend with the shop – had said she could sell double the tutorials if Hermione had them available. So Hermione was determined she would have them available. Double the tutorials meant double the money!

As she passed the studio she heard music and she vaguely wondered if Esme had another lesson. She and William were usually the last ones but maybe someone was taking extra lessons with the competition approaching. Anyway, she didn't have time to stop and find out so she hurried past. And then she heard a yell followed by a groan and she stopped and turned round. Reluctantly, she put her bag down and went back to check. If someone had hurt themselves she should check if they were okay. She pushed open the door to the studio and was greeted by the sight of Draco Malfoy on the floor, holding his ankle. Without thinking she rushed over and bent down by him.

"Are you okay? Do you need me to get help?" she asked. It wasn't until he looked up at her, his face a few inches from hers that she realised that this was a bit of strange situation. His face was creased in pain but his eyes showed no relief or gratitude that someone was offering to help him. Instead they were cold and hard.

"It's just my ankle, I'm fine," his answer was a mumble and he went to stand up. He didn't manage it though and with a little groan he had to sit back down again. Hermione, who had also stood up, stared down at him.

"You don't look fine to me," she said and she raised her eyebrows challengingly. She didn't care if he wanted her help or not. He could stay on the floor all night for all she cared. "Do you want me to help you or not?"

"No."

"Fine, please yourself."

Hermione turned quickly and headed for the door, her anger rising. Ungrateful, ignorant pig! She had her hand on the door when she heard him call her.

"Granger!" She turned reluctantly to look at him. The use of her surname brought back memories she didn't want reminding about and she now wished she'd just gone home without stopping. He indicated his ankle. "I need my wand to fix this..."

"Do you?" Hermione asked as if she didn't know what he meant. She didn't feel like making this easy for him.

"Yes, I need you to fetch it. It's over there in my bag." Draco waved his hand across the room.

"I thought you were brought up to use your manners?" Hermione goaded him on purpose.

Draco gave her a glare. "Just get it, Granger."

"You have to be kidding me! As if I'm going to help you when you're speaking to me like that!"

Draco sighed again and tried to stand but again he failed and he hit the floor heavily with a groan. He turned to her.

"You're enjoying this aren't you?" he asked. He then phrased the words carefully and slowly, obviously hating saying every one of them. "Would you fetch me my wand, please?"

Hermione smirked. This was fun! Payback! And she didn't feel guilty because she'd started off being nice and offering to help only to have it thrown back in her face.

"I thought you didn't need my help, Malfoy."

"Well obviously I do," Draco looked exhausted by the entire conversation and Hermione decided to just fetch it for him, then she could go. She walked over to his bag, got his wand and handed it to him without a word. She then headed for the door again and left without a backward glance.

Hee hee - I love their little arguments! Anyway, let me know how you think it's going. x