What shall we say to Harry and Pansy? Maybe Ron and Mandy Brocklehurst – a Ravenclaw student in their year. I don't want him to end up with Lavender. I think Lavender should end up with someone like Crabbe… hahaha. No I'll probably do Lavender/Knott. Thoughts welcome!

Chapter Four

Hermione Granger was infuriated by Draco Malfoy. But she had to admit he was very handsome.

Hermione Granger was lovely; with lush, dark-blonde hair, large auburn eyes, and a slim but curvy frame.

Hermione Granger was virtuous. Hermione Granger was the brightest witch of her age. Hermione Granger loved a challenge.

Hermione Granger found a challenge in Draco Malfoy.

Draco Malfoy was infuriated by Hermione Granger. But he secretly thought she was pretty exquisite.

Draco Malfoy was very attractive; tall and lean, silky white-blonde hair and dreamy grey eyes.

Draco Malfoy was protective. Draco Malfoy put on airs. Draco Malfoy loved a good verbal battle.

Draco Malfoy was begrudgingly impressed by Hermione Granger.

A week had passed. As predicted, Blaise Zabini replaced Bletchley as the Slytherin keeper. Fred Weasley snorted at this at breakfast.

"Him? He's so small! What happened to Flint's philosophy bigger is better?"

"It's not like he's tiny Fred. Though I am surprised. He's quite nimble. You'd think he'd maker a better chaser." Katie replied. Angelina laughed.

"That's what we said. But we saw him play. He's pretty good. Really fast reflexes."

"Hmmm…" Ginny hummed looking at Zabini. Hermione nudged her and she turned to Hermione with a dazed expression on her face. Hermione raised an eyebrow and Ginny shrugged in an I-can't-help-my-hormones-way.

"What about our own keeper now Oliver's gone?" George asked. Angelina pulled a face.

"I've been thinking about that. I'm going to hold tryouts tomorrow. But I already know how well everyone plays. I've been to every Quiditch tryout since my first year, and I know McLaggen is probably the best…"

"McLaggen!" Fred, George and Alicia chorused. Angelina looked at them helplessly.

"You've got to admit he is the best. I know he's got a god awful personality but I can't not give him the spot for that."

"I'm not training with that prat." George whined. Angelina gave him a harsh look.

"If your not happy with my decisions George you don't have to be on the team. Remember you're trying out as well. We may have a new set of beaters this year!"

"Hey Angel don't kick me off the team as well!" Fred fake begged fluttering his eyelashes. "George said it not me!"

"I'm not kicking anyone off. I'm giving everyone in Gryffindor a fair tryout. That's how it should be." She was smiling but her words were serious. Fred and George muttered a bit more about McLaggen being a 'foul, stupid git" but they didn't argue.

"I hate McLaggen." Ginny whined to Hermione as they left the hall together.

"I don't fancy him much either. I'm just glad I'm not going to be on a team with him." Ginny sighed.

"I guess I won't be either." Hermione looked surprised at her friends sudden sadness.

"Well you can always tryout Gin. Angelina said it was a fair tryout."

"Yeah but you can't break up those three. Doesn't matter. I can play on the Quiditch team next year."

"Well why don't you go for keeper?"

"I'm not the right build."

"Well how about seeker then…?" Hermione asked with an uncharacteristic sly smile. Ginny held her gaze for a second before they both burst out laughing.

"Can you imagine Harry's face?" Ginny laughed evidently cheered up. Hermione, pleased that she'd lifted her friend's spirits, gave her a parting smile and headed to potions.

Harry and Ron were going to be late because they had to grab their books first so Hermione headed down to the dungeon on her own. Leaning against the cold wall, Hermione decided to flick through her notes before class started. She wondered what it would be like now Snape wasn't teaching it… and worse, what Snape would be like teaching defense against the dark arts. Scary was what jumped to mind.

She lifted her head when she heard footsteps hoping it would be another Gryffindor for her to talk to. But no, the universe was a cruel place. Hermione groaned when she caught site of that unmistakable white-blonde hair. She pulled her notes closer to her face so she couldn't see him.

"Well, well, well. Look who's here." Came the drawl of Draco Malfoy. "Hermione lowered her notes so he could see her withering stare. Malfoy was unperturbed.

"Why's Potters princess down here all alone?"

"People smelt your hairspray coming and fled." Hermione replied hotly. Draco's eyes hardened for a second before his countenance changed and he smirked.

"But not you? Just can't bear to be away from me can you?" Hermione was thoroughly ruffled. Insufferable git! She opened her mouth to retort but Harry and Ron came running down the stairs. Ron looked exasperated when he realized the teacher wasn't there yet.

"We ran all that way and we're early?" Ron groaned. Then he realized who Hermione was with and his ears went red. "Malfoy."

Harry narrowed his eyes at him too and stepped in front of Hermione protectively. Hermione couldn't help rolling her eyes at their reactions. She was perfectly capable of looking after herself.

"Weasle-bee and Potty to the rescue!" Malfoy chuckled darkly. Hermione blushed when she realized her thoughts had been along the same lines –minus the nicknames.

"You stay away from her Malfoy!" Ron shouted glaring at him. Malfoy looked comically down at the distance between himself and Hermione. He was at least 10 meters away. And then with great amusement in his eyes he slowly took one step towards Hermione. Harry and Ron both flinched. Malfoy laughed.

"What's the joke?" Zabini called merrily joining Malfoy. Harry and Ron's hands flew to their wands. Hermione looked up at the ceiling despairingly.

"They are." Draco nodded at Harry and Ron. Blaise grinned.

"Come on I need better entertainment then that. Where's old Slughorn?" He asked looking around.

"Not here, obviously." Harry answered stiffly.

"Very good then, shall we play a game?" They all stared at him.

"Like what?" Hermione asked bewildered.

"Ooh I don't know. Something, fun." Blaise winked at her and Hermione looked away scandalized.

"I don't understand where everyone else is." Harry added ignoring Blaise's comment. "We're not that early."

"We're not early at all anymore." Hermione added checking her watch. "Class should have started by now."

"Argh! Quick Granger you alert the paintings while we alert the authorities." Malfoy mocked. Hermione almost turned to go before she caught the smirk on his face. She huffed as Blaise laughed good-naturedly.

"Well don't you think it's odd?" she asked resentfully. Malfoy shrugged.

"Not according to you. Didn't everyone run away?" he sneered. She raised her chin indignantly.

"Something must be wrong. Maybe we should try to find Slughorn?" Harry continued on his own thread of thought.

"Right, well off you go scar-head. We'll be off now." Malfoy replied looking at his timetable. He grinned at Blaise. Realization seemed to flicker on Blaise's face and they turned to leave.

"Your welcome to join." He called back to Hermione playfully. She didn't bother to reply and turned to Harry and Ron.

"What do we do?"

"Well maybe everyone else is just really late…" Ron started but Hermione just looked at him like he was an idiot.

"By almost 20 minutes Ronald?" She snapped. Ron look rifled.

"Calm down Hermione." Harry soothed her placing a hand on her shoulder. "I'm sure there's a perfectly reasonable solution." Hermione's shoulders sagged.

"Sorry." She muttered.

"Let's try and find a teacher we can ask." He added smiling at her.

"Alright." She agreed and they made their way up the stairs.

20 minutes later they were sprinting to another classroom on the second floor. They had finally found Professor Sprout. She listened to their worries with kind concern until she clarified where they had been waiting. Then, with a smug smile she pointed to their timetable where the classroom was written and they realized it wasn't in the dungeon at all. They thanked her and dashed off. They were forty minutes late when they dashed into the room.

"Sorry professor we were waiting at the wrong…" Hermione's words died in her throat as she looked around and saw Draco and Blaise smirking at her. They were working calmly on a potion, which must have been cooking for at least fifteen minutes.

"Not at all, not at all. I trust it won't happen again." Slughorn soothed waving them in. "Some other students had had that problem as well. It's my fault for changing the classroom location. I just hate those dungeons. The lighting is very unflattering." He added with a laugh. The trio shot poisonous looks at Malfoy and Zabini.

"I'm afraid you won't have time to start your potion now. If you come over here you can observe my own and I'll run you through its importance."

As they walked past Malfoy and Zabini, Hermione glared at them.

"I did invite you along." Blaise grinned.

"You could've told us." She snapped at them. Malfoy smirked at her.

"You could've checked your timetable. It's not my fault you Gryffindor's are always oblivious to the obvious." Hermione flicked her hair over her shoulder angrily and stormed past them.

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