Author's Note:

I got the title Sparks Fly, after a Taylor Swift song. I just got inspired with the song because it's perfect for a Dramione bgm. Here's my favorite lyrics:"My mind forgets to remind me you're a bad idea. You touch me once and it's really something, you find I'm even better than you imagined I would be. I'm on my guard for the rest of the world but with you i know it's no good. And i could wait patiently but i really wish you would."

And yeah, before I forgot, I did not follow the timeline in the original book. The setting of this story is the present, as in 2012 because I found it easier to think of modern stuff than old stuff, if you know what I mean. So rather than year 1999 or 2000, I switched it to year 2012. Hope you don't mind. This is a fan fiction, after all, so anything can happen, right?

~~~x

The moment the bell rang, Hermione was up on her feet, gathering her stuff, determined to confront Malfoy before he could get away. She didn't even jot down the assignment written on the board because of her great anticipation to talk to Malfoy. She will just ask Penelope later, she thought. She saw Draco talking to the professor while the rest of the class piled out of the classroom, girls giggling and blushing as they walked past him. Hermione was on her way to him when Penelope (or Pepper, as she told her to call her but Hermione refuses to call her that because there can only be one Pepper in her life and that's her cat) blocked her way.

"Hi, Hermione." Penelope said. And by the look on her face, Hermione knew she's going to ask her a favour. And being Hermione, she would love that, of course. She loves helping people. But this isn't the time for favours whatsoever, damn! She has to catch up with Draco Malfoy first. She has to find out what the bloody hell he is doing here!

"I was wondering," Penelope continued, "If you would like to sign up for the school paper? Well, either that or the drama club. I've signed up for both, you know. My older sister's in both clubs and she wanted me to gather applicants."

So they are friends now. Fine. "Umm, okay." Hermione mumbled, not really listening to her. Extra-curricular activities can wait. But hey, muggle clubs! Hermione would like that. But really, now's not the time to think about muggle clubs or extra-classes or study groups or whatever. She glanced behind Penelope's shoulder and found Draco Malfoy gone.

"Drat!" she cried. Penelope flinched.

"Oh, not you." Hermione said, and ran out of the room hoping to catch up with him, mumbling a quick "see you around" to Penelope, who stood there with a confused expression on her face, watching her new friend stumble out the door. But he was nowhere in sight. Hermione sighed, as she dragged herself to her next class, which is Gender Studies.

She collapsed on a desk at the back of the classroom. This was only her second class today and her mind's already exhausted. Her brain is still buzzing with unanswered questions. But before she could settle her mind that she would continue her hunt for Draco Malfoy later and concentrate on her class for the time being, he walked into the room. His eyes scanned the classroom first before his gaze fell on her, or rather, on the empty seat beside her. Like he doesn't have a choice, he rolled his eyes and walked in her direction. He plopped down on the empty seat next to her.

Before Hermione could even say anything he leaned in, his nose a few inches from her own that she could practically smell him. Mint and aftershave, so strong and so masculine. She inhaled sharply.

"Zip it, Granger." He whispered harshly, as if he could read Hermione's thoughts. "We have time for a little chat later. Or maybe never. Just don't irritate me right now, you understand? I'm so full of this place already."

Hermione just stared at him in horror. So it's true, then. He's really here. She's not hallucinating after all. But she doesn't understand. Why is he here of all places? He's going to explain to her later. She would make him. They both averted their attention to the board. The teacher was handing out syllabus and discussing the grading system. And after she was through explaining her rules and regulations inside the classroom, she began an introduction about Gender Studies.

"So class," The professor began, "How would you differentiate sex and gender? Anyone?" Her gaze scanned the room for a volunteer. A couple of hands shot up in the air. Draco scoffed. Hermione made a quick glance in Draco's direction and glared at him, before she raised her own hand. The teacher noticed her and smiled.

"Yes, you, pretty girl in the back." She said. She had a warm smile, which reminds Hermione of her own mother. She looks like her mother, an older and feminist-looking version of her mother. She's pretty sure Professor Docena is a lesbian. Maybe that's the reason why she's teaching this course, Hermione thought to herself. She can't help admiring her for her bravery. The world is full of sexist men who think they are the superior gender and abuse the rights of women. The blond git next to her not an exception.

Hermione cleared her throat. "Sex refers to biology." She began. She has already read about this during the summer vacation. "It refers to the physical characteristics of what makes one male or female and is constant over time and constant across different societies and cultures, whereas, gender refers to socially determined or culturally defined differences between men and women. It changes across time and changes across places and culture. If sex refers to what makes one male or female, gender refers to what makes one masculine or feminine."

Beside her, Draco cursed under his breath. "Know-it-all, mudblood." He mumbled to himself but Hermione can't help overhearing. She rolled her eyes. Typical Malfoy behaviour.

"Very good," The professor said, writing what Hermione said on the board, making two columns for sex and gender to better compare the two. And then she started talking about gender roles and gender stereotyping.

Gender Studies dragged on. Hermione is beginning to like this class actually, if it weren't just for Draco Malfoy who is making unnecessary noises beside her, robbing her attention from the board. He sighs heavily from time to time, riffling through his notebook and then closing it with a thud. His pen also just made its hundredth trip to the floor, like he let it fall off his desk on purpose, aware that it irritates the person sitting next to him. It was disconcerting to Hermione who was trying so hard to focus on the lesson. But she's trying her best not to let it bother her. She can't believe it. She has endured 7 years in Hogwarts being annoyed to tears by Draco Malfoy, and now she has to endure it again, in the least expected place! Merlin, what has she done to deserve this punishment!

The bell rang, at last. Hermione grabbed Draco before he could get away again. He will answer all her questions whether he likes it or not. If she has to beat him up just to get him to talk, she would!

"So, Granger," Draco began, as they walked together in the crowded hallway. He was a fast walker due to his long legs. Hermione was trying her best to keep up with his strides. "Where do you get lunch around here?"

"Forget about lunch first." Hermione said, irritated, dragging Malfoy inside an empty classroom and locking the door behind them. Outside the classroom they could hear people talking about their classes, laughing at jokes, making plans for later. It was already half past 11 in the morning, and people we're all headed to the cafeteria and those who have no classes anymore for the afternoon decided to loiter around in the hallways with their friends. "Tell me, Malfoy, what are you doing here? Are you even aware that this is a muggle school? If you are then I don't understand."

"Nice to see you, too, Granger." He said, sarcastically. "I'm here the same reason as you are, to get a useless muggle degree. This is fun, don't you think? You and me here in this muggle-infested dump they call college. You just don't how glad I am to see you this morning. To see a friendly face again, you have no idea how it feels. Imagine, you and me here. It'll be like old times, Granger." He fake-smiled at her, his hand clutching his heart. He was mocking her.

Hermione sighed. "I don't believe you, Malfoy. Stop mind-fucking me." She said, patiently. "Tell me the truth. "

"Mind-fucking?" Draco said, snickering. "Is that a muggle slang? I am not familiar with it."

"Fuck you, Draco Malfoy!" She yelled, losing her composure. Hey, they don't have all day to do this! She has classes for Godric's sake! She's been distracted enough this morning. "If you are here to ruin muggle lives then I will stop you. You will not succeed, Malfoy."

Draco scowled at her, figuring she wouldn't buy his stupid explanation. "Why do you have to be overly dramatic, Granger?" he said, arrogant expression on his face. "It's none of your fucking business anyway." He made a move towards the door but Hermione blocked his way before he could even turn the knob.

"Tell me, Malfoy." She said, again. "Or else I'll force the information out of you." She was threatening him. She can't believe she's threatening him! The familiarity of such confrontation is kind of nostalgic to her, like they're back in Hogwarts again, those 7 years of torments from this bloody, rotten, arrogan git. It's been three years since he last bickered with him. Well, she doesn't really want to threaten him now. She just doesn't have a choice.

"How can you be sure I won't hex you before you even make an attempt?" He countered, crossing his arms on his chest.

"Because I happened to know you don't have your wand." Hermione shot back. Actually, she doesn't know for sure. She was just guessing.

"And how do you know that?" He asked, a look of panic crossing his handsome features.

AHA! She was right then. She tried to think of a good explanation on why she knew. Stupid Malfoy, shee thought.

"Because if you do you would have pointed its fucking tip up my throat already." She said. She smiled in triumph. She got him at that. Stupid git.

He stared at her again, face full of unmasked anger. He sighed heavily. "Fine." He said, closing his eyes and staring at the ceiling before he looked at her again. "I got sent here, okay? Stupid Ministry dared to send me to this muggle dump as my punishment for being an ex-death eater. They think this is a sort of a rehabilitation program. To get acquainted with the muggle world. To learn their ways and culture and all that shit. To prove that they're not the vile, filthy creatures I and my ancestors believed them to be. I have to do this, Granger. Because if I don't comply, I'd end up in Azkaban instead. Like my father..."

His voice trailed off, and Hermione can see the pain in his face as he speak of his real condition. And Hermione can't help noticing that he flinched at the word 'death-eater', like he never want to hear that word again, or speak about it again. And that moment Hermione felt sorry for him, because she doesn't want to acknowledge it but she felt his pain.

After the war she has heard about death-eaters being sent to Azkaban, including Draco's father, Lucius. She has also heard from Harry that Draco is given another alternative rather than being sent to Azkaban because he was under-aged- the law not permitting a 17 year old boy to spend his life in that horrible horrible prison. She always thought they will wait until he is of age until they send him there for his sentence. She never thought there was an actual alternative, like this one. Now it seems like Draco has to spend four years interacting with muggles. Four years without magic. She knows how difficult this punishment must be for a spoiled prat like him. All his life he had loathed muggles. Of course he does, being raised in such false prejudices. Hermione doesn't understand it but she felt the need to help him now, in this strange place, for his new life. She doesn't want it but how could she leave him when he doesn't know anything about muggles? He didn't even take Muggle Studies back in Hogwarts, thinking it's stupid and a waste of time. But now here he is, in the real muggle world, lost and broken.

"Now what, Granger?" He said, frowning at her. "Going to laugh at me? Go on. Enjoy yourself."

Hermione took a deep breath. She can't believe she's going to say this to Draco Malfoy but what else could she say?

"So, Draco," She began, shyly. "What about lunch?"

Hey! What do you think of this chapter? Please give me your opinions. Do you like it? Do you hate it? Or maybe give me your suggestions on how to make this story better. I would appreciate it. Review Review Review.