Well, it has definitely been a while, hasn't it? I did hit a spell of writer's block, but I have cleared that wall now. I will assure you that I won't abandon this story. Really. I won't. So enjoy the next chapter, and "Glede seg over!"

Hermione spooned some food onto her plate with vigor. Right now her goal was to avoid the horrified looks that her Gryffindor friends were giving her.

Ginny was the first to recover. With the utmost concern for her friend, she asked, "Are you okay? Because I know a pretty nasty hex if he's said or done anything to hurt you."

That there was a good friend. Hermione smiled a watery smile. "Thanks, Gin, but he hasn't done anything that bad yet. I doubt that will stay the case but I appreciate the support."

Ron was so shocked, he was unable to eat. A fact worthy of the Daily Prophet, Hermione chuckled to herself. Harry, on the other hand was a bit more controlled. Taking a deep breath, he stated firmly, "He better not do anything to you, or he will have to answer to all of us."

Ron finally managed to gasp out, "How in Merlin's name could Ferret be Head Boy?"

"Well, he was top of the class, so that must be it."

"But he's a Death Eater, 'Mione, there has to be some bloody rule against having a Death Eater running the school!"

"First of all, Ronald, no one's ever proved that he actually was a Death Eater. Second, he's not going to be running the school, at least, not alone. Why do you think there are two Heads?"

"Why are you defending him, Hermione?" Harry cut in. "He's still Malfoy, and I don't care that his family was exonerated, I don't trust that ferret. The apple never falls far from the tree."

Ron stared befuddled at Harry. "What the hell is that supposed to mean? 'The apple never falls far from the tree...' Did you drink some bad pumpkin juice?"

Hermione chose to explain, "It's a muggle saying, meaning, a child is always like their parents. In this case, Malfoy will always be like his father." Hermione shuddered. The first and last time she had met Lucius Malfoy, was under a rather stressful circumstance. "But the thing is, Harry, is that people aren't apples, and people change. He's probably been through some tough times and who knows what else."

Her chocolate brown eyes seemed stern. Harry, knowing that it was pointless to try and sway her mind when she became like this, backed off humbly. "Just be careful, all right?"

She nodded. Ron was still gaping like a fish.

Picking up her book bag, Hermione waved goodbye to everyone and walked out of the Great Hall. Everyone, including the teachers, all had their eyes tuned to the poor girl who was sharing space with Draco Malfoy. The Slytherin table however, was shooting daggers at what they thought was scum, unworthy to be in the presence of a fellow Slytherin. Pansy Parkinson in particular had turned her glare up to a degree that screamed, KILL! That Mudblood bitch had best watch her back. If she so happened to lay a finger on that Adonis body that was her Drakeypoo, well, let's just say she knew several spells that weren't necessarily illegal, but were damn painful.

Draco had endured all his friends offering their various assorted hexes and curses that they believed would, "set that Mudblood in her place." He understood where that anger was coming from. Almost all of them were purebloods, even if a few of them were halfbloods. They had been raised to accept this as a fact. He had had this lesson ingrained in his memory since before he could contemplate its truth value.

But he had begun to question its validity. This Mud—... Muggle-born, Granger, had thus far showed a profound depth and intelligence. Maybe they weren't so different as his father had led him to believe...

No. This train of thought was leading to a direction that he did not feel up to pursuing at that time. Too much. It was all too much to bear, what with his father, and then his mother. Oh, his mother. Too much. Not today...

Hermione pulled off her shoes and flopped on the bed. She had been looking forward so very much to the year that she had left here. Now it was immeasurably ruined by one slimy ferret. But there was no point in complaining, so it would have to suffice to come to a truce. Picking up a large tome from the table beside her bed, the bookworm that was Hermione sat on the couch to wait for her rival.

The door opened and Hermione woke with a start. Her book was lying across her tummy on the same page as when she had lain down in the first place. In a split second, she pulled out her wand and muttered, "Tempus inictus." Small hands of a clock appeared, hanging in space and pointing to smaller, floating numbers. Eleven-thirty at night, she thought, must have been out partying. She knew the Gryffindor House had a party on the second day, so, maybe the Slytherin House had one today.

Rubbing the sleep out of her eyes, she peered over the back of the sofa to see Malfoy coming up the stairs. A small, green streamer was in his hair. Hermione smiled. He seemed to glow, he looked so happy.

Not noticing his observer, the blonde coming slowly into view snapped his fingers. Instantly, a scrawny house-elf Apparated into the room and bowed. "What would Master want?"

Studying his fingernails, Malfoy still didn't seem to see Hermione peering over the edge of the couch.

"Get me an iced tea, with ice, and a sliced apple. Leave it in my room. Got that?"

The house-elf bowed again. "Yes, sir!" he squeaked with vigor and Disapparated.

He let out a long sigh and opened his eyes again. Two brown eyes were staring at him from over the couch. He sneered, "Well, look who it is. Spying on me, were you, Mudblood?"

Hermione stood up, all the while still keeping eye contact, fury making them spark. "Perhaps you're not aware, but I do have a name. We are not children anymore, and I would expect you to treat me with civility. I guess I was wrong for thinking a mummy's boy like yourself would act anything other than a child. Well, you can't go running to her now, can you, Malfoy?"

All the while, Draco was bubbling with intense rage. This pretentious, over-emotional, nauseating, bitch of a girl, was talking to him in such a manner? How dare she! "I know perfectly well who I'm calling a Mudblood. You disgust me in every way."

"You would know disgusting, wouldn't you, being that you're related to scum like your father!" Hermione had never exploded to any degree that could match the level of red she was seeing now. "How could your mother marry someone like that? Could it be that she was dumb as well as blind?" She knew she was hitting low, but something about this boy just lit a fire under her.

Quick as the snap of a whip, Malfoy had his wand out. His face looked as though it could kill. He walked slowly towards her brandishing his wand. "You do not talk about my parents. At. All. Do I make myself clear?"

Hermione mustered all her courage and stared back at those fiery eyes. Those deep, grey eyes. Wait...what was she thinking? She shook it out of her head. Her focus back, she remembered the situation. "Fine then. We shall make a deal."

Draco had a momentary look of shock on his face. That rapidly fell away as he chortled out loud. "Oh, that was a good one, Granger. Me? Make a deal with you?"

Speaking over his laughing, Hermione stated, unperturbed, "I will refrain from bringing up your parents and your upbringing, IF you refrain from calling me a Mudblood. Can we reach an understanding?"

Was she serious? "Go to hell." As a second thought he sneered, "Mudblood."

She didn't think she could get anywhere with him. "Well, fine! If you want to live this whole year with constant bickering and arguing, then I will be more than happy to rise to the occasion. Forgive me for attempting to make this year, our last at Hogwarts, easier for both of us. But if you will continue to stomp your foot and keep your stubborn front, neither of us will benefit." Stepping to the side, she began walking off in the direction of her room.

"Wait."

She stopped and turned to see a resigned Draco Malfoy looking right back at her. "What?"

He sighed dramatically. "If you must be such a pest, I don't see how I will be able to get any rest with you nattering away at me at every chance. So for the sake of my sanity, yes, I will agree to your deal. Are you happy now?"

Hermione smiled wryly, "I'm ecstatic." She turned back around and continued to her room.

Draco watched her leave. He would never tell his friends any of this. If they knew that he had made a deal with Granger, they would laugh at him all the way out of town. No, he would keep it a secret. Another to add to the list. Entering his room, he sat heavily on the bed. He picked up the picture frame that was on his bedside table and let out a sigh. A real one this time. Setting it back down, he reached over, turned off the light, and got in bed, not bothering to change. Facing the photo, a single tear escaped and rolled down his cheek to fall on the pillow. Soon, sleep fell over him like a blanket and he fell fast asleep, dreaming of snow.

In the picture, a woman smiled back with just as kind, blue eyes, as snowflakes dusted her light blonde hair.

Well, I hope to get back soon with another chapter! Please review! Cookies will be granted to those kind enough to take a few moments to comment on this story! "Beholde flyttingen frem!" (Foreign Language Hint: Think where the Vikings came from...)

~Rachael