The next day Hermione sat at breakfast thinking as Ron and Harry talked about Quidditch. Tensing slightly she felt as though someone were watching her. She looked around but couldn't find the culprit until her warm brown eyes met stormy grey.

Quickly, Malfoy looked away, but she stared just a moment longer. She gathered up her things and left. While she was not exactly sure what potions would be like today, she would know in about ten minutes. Malfoy walked in and sat on the stool next to her smirking, as usual.

"Hello Granger," he greeted, but for once it wasn't mocking or unkind in any way, merely acknowledging.
"Hello Malfoy," she said with just a hint of a smile. Turning back she started taking notes as Snape began his lecture on the uses of Unicorn horn. Being so engrossed in what she was doing she forgot who was next to her until their arms hit each other. She tensed up waiting for a harsh remark as usual. Malfoy however had been completely lost in thought himself and apologized. She was surprised for a moment before muttering a quick "It's fine."

Then Snape's voice cut through her thoughts. "Miss Granger, stop talking to Malfoy, or would you like me to add more detention?"

Draco spoke up instead, "Sorry professor. I was asking Granger if she had any ink."

Several people looked at them strangely and Hermione herself was shocked at this before Snape continued to drone on. She tried to catch his eyes to show her gratitude for his actions but he had already lost focus on anything around him. Soon class was over and the day was relatively uneventful until after her last class.

Hermione found herself cornered in the common room by an angry Ron while Harry was at practice.

"You sure looked chummy with Malfoy today," he sneered.

"Ron, it was nothing." She didn't want to get into this right now. It would only end in them not speaking.

"He took the blame so you wouldn't get detention. This is Malfoy we're talking about 'Mione. He doesn't do that for Slytherins, let alone Gryffindors and definitely not us. He wasn't even insulting you. He has to be up to something." Ron's face was only growing redder and his hand were clenched into fists so tight his knuckles were white.

"We're partners for the rest of term. Is it so hard to believe that he could just care about his grades more than some petty grudge?"

"Really Hermione? I know you aren't that stupid."

At this she felt the tears star to roll onto her cheeks and ran out wiping them away angrily. How dare he? What did he know about anything? She stomped away not really caring where she went, she just needed to be out of there.

Draco was coming from his usual spot in the library when he noticed a curled up figure in one of the aisles. Looking at the familiar brown hair and figure he realized who it was.

"Granger?" he asked. His voice had come out much softer than he expected but decided it was unimportant right now.

When she looked up her warm chocolate eyes were rimmed with red and her cheeks were tear-stained. "Go away." To her relief she found her voice was still quite steady despite her inner uneasiness.

More concerned than he wanted to be he stuck out a hand to help her up. "Come on, we have detention soon, you can explain there."

She bit her lip as it occurred to her that she had completely forgotten about that. This was yet another reason to have some gratitude towards the blond.

"What makes you think I want to tell you?"

Draco couldn't help but smirk as she stood up and started walking with him. "I've gone to school with you for years. The only people you trust with anything are the only reason you ever cry." Even then he surprised himself but he supposed that you pick it up whether you like the person or not.

She sighed and not for the first time she was completely confused. When had he started to notice that? Perhaps it was his statement which made her do it, or maybe it was her anger that led her to confide in him. Either way, she knew she would concede.