Disclaimer: All characters are owned by J.K. Rowling

Hermione was hurrying to Professor Heron's office because she had gotten word from Lavender that he was calling for her.

"I really hope I got that question right..." She was so preoccupied in her thinking that when she moved around the corner she bumped into somebody. The collision shook her hard enough that her knees let go of her balance and she fell to the floor. The other person however, was able to hold onto the wall and stay standing.

"Here let me help you." The person held down a hand and Hermione reached for it. And then she felt it again, that strange sensation she felt when she touched the hand of...

"Malfoy!" Yes, it was Draco Malfoy who she bumped into.

"Watch where you're going, Granger." He was standing there, his hand locked in hers, looking down on her on his gray eyes. Hermione could swear that she almost felt the same way on him that she felt on Harry yesterday... almost....

"I'm sorry." She lifted herself up with the help of Draco's tight grip and she felt like all her dizziness were blown away. She noticed that she was still holding Draco's hand, and when she tried to pull it back, he didn't let go of it. "Let go of my hand, Malfoy."

"No, I won't." Draco was now looking at her very intently, he was seizing her up like a priced antique collection that he has never seen his whole life. Hermione could feel that his grip became gentle, like she was made of porcelain and that he didn't want to break her. Then she looked into his eyes again. She could feel what he was feeling now. He was nervous, and he didn't want to hurt her. She can't believe that Draco would feel this way about her... then Draco released her hand... and it all disappeared.

"Where are you off to, Granger?" Hermione felt than knew that Draco was trying to change the subject.

"I'm off to Professor Heron. Um, thanks for the help. And sorry for bumping into you." And with that she walked past him.

"My pleasure."

*** "Ms. Granger, I'd say I have to congratulate you for being on top of your class again..." Hermione was now standing in front of Professor Heron, but she was hardly noticing him and hearing what he was saying. She was rather too preoccupied about worrying whether she did right in that one question... just that question...

She got back to her mind just before the Professor noticed so something. "Um, Professor, may I ask what score did I get?"

Suddenly, from smiling, the Professor's expression change to worry. Hermione bit her lip. She knew there was something wrong. "Hermione, this is the first time..."

Hermione cut his words. "I made a mistake..." She couldn't believe what she said either.

"It's just one mistake, Hermione. I assure you it wouldn't affect your grades. Shall I remind you that you're still on top of your class?" But the Professor's efforts were useless. Hermione was scanning his table to see if her paper was there, then she looked into his eyes. Like a vision, she saw the answer to her question. It was that mistake, and she will prove to him that it wasn't a mistake after all, that she was right.

"Professor, what if I showed you an evidence that a replica wand is actually working?"

The Professor was startled. "What? How did you know?"

"Please Professor, this is very important to me, please answer my question." Her throat was blocking her voice but she had to let it out.

"Very well. I will give you a week to provide the evidence. If you do, or when you do, you will get perfect score... but I still need to remind you that it won't..."

She cut him off again. "Thank you very much, sir."

And with that, she left the room. Just a few paces outside, while she was thinking of getting the wand from her room and showing it to Professor Heron right away, she suddenly remembered it was tucked inside her skirt. She pulled it out and she let out a big smile as she ran back to his office. But when she got there, he was gone.

"I'd have to come back later then... I'd show him..." Hermione was too eager to do it.

***

Draco Malfoy was holding a letter from a very fine piece of parchment. It had obviously come from his father, from the expression of anger on his face. He had always disliked the way his father controlled him, always telling him what to do. Draco knew that maybe the only reason why he was so mean at school was because he was being oppressed at home, he needed a place where he could be superior over others. And then Draco realized that the only reason why he hated mudbloods so much was because his father taught him to. If he hadn't been taught to hate mudbloods so much maybe he would have made friends with Granger in the first place. Draco shivered at the thought. He's still not used to liking mudbloods, especially Granger. But there was something in her eyes that made him feel so warm around her. He was glad that his despise of mudbloods doesn't completely run in the blood, or else, he would have no way to control it. Or so he thought.

Draco started to read the letter, even if he doesn't want to. His father has always told him to reply to every single letter, that way he'll know if he really was reading the letter. But this time, Draco didn't want to reply. It wasn't a simple message of "I'm okay, don't tell me that you're okay, tell me what you have done to mudbloods and Potter lately..." kind of thing, it was a letter of command, and one that also contained a very deep secret. That was why it was sent using a very special owl, and was tied very tightly on its leg. Draco cannot believe what the letter was saying, he can't even believe that his father would tell him this, though he knows that he's evil enough to say it. His father just told him to kill Harry Potter.