Chapter 4 Smells Like Love

Authors note: Just so people know I update every weekend multiple times. I try to update during the week but between swimming and school I don't always have the time. Anyways thanks for reading and enjoy!

Disclaimer: Don't own anything but if I did Draco Malfoy would be a werewolf.

Oooo

Hermione took a seat next to Harry as Ron sat next to Lavender. Snape stormed in like normal.

"It's to my understanding that you students have already had five professors before me, and they have all left or been fired."

Hermione nudged Harry under the desk when he muttered. "Yeah and you'll be next."

Snape continued. "You will now divide, into pairs. One partner will attempt to jinx the other without speaking. The other will attempt to repel the jinx in equal silence. Carry on."

Hermione jumped to her feet and practical ran to Neville. She had been trying nonverbal spells since 5th year but now she could try them more frequently and openly against someone else.

Hermione had managed to repel Neville's jelly leg jinx while Snape was circling the classroom. Ron and Harry caught her attention as well as Snape's.

"Pathetic Weasely. Here – let me show you."

Hermione watched in horror as Snape raised his wand towards Harry. Suddenly "Protego!" came shouting out of Harry's mouth and Snape was knocked back against his desk.

"Do you remember me telling you we are practicing nonverbal spells, Potter?"

"Yes." Harry was eyeing Snape coldly.

"Yes, sir."

"There's no need to call me "sir", professor." Hermione gasped as her hand flew to her mouth. Harry received his first detention of the year. Probably many more to come.

After class Hermione scolded Harry as Ron congratulated him. Her best friends were going to be harder to handle than ever this year.

Oooo

The day had gone by rather quickly in Hermione's opinion. She was sitting in the library waiting for potions her last class to begin. Surprisingly she found Malfoy deep within the library. Over 10 books spread out in front of him, all on different pages. Harry's words were still ringing in her head. 'He's one of them.' With all her heart she didn't want to believe that he was one of them. Yes, Malfoy was always a git to her but she liked to look for the good in people. So she saw no problem in spying on him. She was always in the library so it's not like he would notice her.

However, she was completely wrong. Malfoy had smelled her the moment she walked in to his dismay. He also couldn't help but notice her circling the rows of books around his table. Finally, he had enough and let his head fall onto the book he was currently reading.

"Bloody hell Granger what do you want?" His head was still smashed into the book as she appeared around the corner.

"Oh ….um." He lifted his head from the book and noticed the shock in her eyes. She was also carrying a light pink blush that made her look gorgeous in this dim lighting.

Draco or maybe his Veela was feeling very adventurous. "Does little miss Perfect have a crush on the big bad Slytherin?"

She scoffed before the blush on her cheeks stained a different color. "No, I was just wondering what you were researching." She leaned over the table to get a glance at the text.

Using wordless magic, he quickly shut all the books and levitated them on top of each other.

"How did you do that!" She finally meet his silver gaze.

"None of your business mudblood." He grabbed all the books before shoving past her. His plan for the vanishing cabinet could not be discovered by her. It was truly important and even his filthy little mate couldn't ruin it for him. But her brown eyes that swam with gold sparkles made him melt. He just wanted to sit town and tell her everything. Pour his heart and soul out to her. However, she would never understand. If Hermione ever found out about the mark on his left arm she would think he was a monster. At least more of a monster then she already thought now. He decided to just head to potions and wait until class started. Better than having to deal with his overall doom he was facing.

Oooo

While in potions class Hermione watched Harry and Ron wrestle over the last two books. Sadly, for Harry he got a very beaten up one that someone had written all over. Ron got one that was in tip top shape.

"I've prepared a few potions for you to have a look at, just out of interest, you know. These are the kind of things you ought to be able to make after completing you N.E.W.T.S. Now does anyone know what the first potion is?"

Hermione's hand was the only one that shot into the air from Slughorn's question. "It's Veritaserum, a colorless, odorless potion that forces the drinker to tell the truth."

"Very good!" Slughorn walked to the middle potion. "Does anyone know this one?" Once again Hermione's hand shot straight into the air. "Go ahead."

"Polyjuice sir."

"Very good! And how about this last one."

"Amortentia!"

"Quite right! Do you know what it does?"

"Oh yes, it's the strongest love potion in the world. You can identify it by the steam that rises in spirals. The smell is also known to smell different to every person. It smells like what attracts the person most."

"Correct, correct! Now out of curiosity what does the potion smell to you?"

Hermione took a step closer as Malfoy's head shot up. The smells from the potions were masking her scent but her constant talking was hard for him to ignore. However, this part grabbed his attention.

"Well professor, I can smell fresh parchment, old library books, and … green apples." She blushed before moving back to where Harry and Ron were standing. Meanwhile Malfoys heart started racing.

He flashed her a quick glance before his thoughts overtook his concentration. 'Did she just describe me? No, why would she. But that sounded like things I would smell like.'

His attention was drawn to the front of the class as the fat professor help up a bottle of Felix Felicis. "Now class this is known as liquid luck. This amount will last about 12 hours. Dusk till dawn. The person to brew the best Draught of the Living Death will win this prize. Begin!"

Draco practical ran to his caldron. He truly needed this more than anything. 12 hours of luck would do wonders for him. The possibilities seemed endless as he threw ingredient after ingredient into the caldron.

Slughorn called time and Malfoy made a quick sweep of the room. The sight of Hermione caught his eye. Her hair was 3 times its normal size and her face looked rather flushed. The sight almost made him smile.

To his disappointment Potter was awarded the potion and Hermione seemed rather upset. She stayed to help clean up while Ron and Harry left her.

As Malfoy passed her he muttered. "Nice hair."

Hermione laughed out loud hysterically before storming out of the room. He watched in amusement as she cast a spell on her hair to tame the mess.

Oooo

At dinner Hermione snatched Harry's new potions book and performed a few spells to check and see if it contained dark magic.

"Hey give it back!"

"Half-Blood Prince." She read aloud.

"What?"

She cleared her throat. "It says the owner of this book is the Half-Blood Prince."

Harry snatched it back from her. "So."

"Harry just be careful. The writing in that book looks familiar and there's a lot of notes that are not just about potion stuff." She elbowed Ron to try and get him to help.

"Oh yeah Harry just be carefully mate." He went back to stuffing his face as Hermione rolled her eyes. She placed her hand over Harry's looking him directly in the eyes.

"Please Harry."

"Okay, I'll be careful."

Hermione smiled before changing the subject and going back to eating.

Oooo

The rest of the night went by in ease until the realization of having to patrol with Malfoy. He could never be civil with her and the thought of having to be with him every night sent chills down her arms. Especially with what happen the first time.

Now that the Prefects knew their assignments they were just supposed to meet there partner in the corridor they would be searching. When Hermione finally got there she noticed Malfoy leaning against the wall with a smug look on his face.

His current plan was to just have fun with her. Soon enough he would tell her or she would find out about his blood heritage so why not mess with her while he still could. It's not like he already had 5 years to do that.

"Malfoy." She approached him with her arms crossed against her chest.

"Granger, nice of you to show up. Shall we get started?" He lifted his hands to signal her to start walking. She huffed before agreeing and started to walk. He quickly walked beside her with their arms almost touching on every step. He was closing his eyes and just breathing slowly until he felt her stare.

"What." He didn't even open his eyes.

"I hope you fall."

"Granger I wouldn't be talking. You're the one who let Potter beat you in potions."

"Shut up ferret he beat you as well."

"Yes but it's not like I tried."

"Sure, whatever you say." Malfoy stopped walking and looked down into her eyes. He could feel his knees going weak when she meet his gaze.

"What's that supposed to mean?" She looked at him for a few more seconds before continuing to walk ignoring his statement. She went to search a classroom before coming back and joining him in the hall.

"Okay Granger then let's talk about the weasel. You guys snag yet or is he doing that Lavender chick. Or maybe he's snagging both of you."

Hermione turned on him so quickly he took a step back to balance himself. Her face was bright red and her voice was very low and dangerous.

With every word she poked him hard in the chest. "You have no idea what you're talking about you little ferret. Would you like me to bring up your parents! How about the part where your dad is useless and sucks up to Voldemort! And how he will most likely end up in Azkaban like your Aunt! Or maybe how your mother …"

Malfoy rose to his full height. "Don't you dare say the Dark Lords name out loud." He pushed her hand that was poking his chest away. "You should take your own advice and not talk about things that don't concern you." Malfoy rather liked the changes the Veela gave him. Especially being a lot taller than Hermione. She always had to look up to him.

"You started it." Her face was regaining its normal color and she broke the silence once more. "I'm sorry."

Malfoy laughed before walking again. "It seems that the Gryffindor doesn't know everything."

She joined him to go and search the few remaining classrooms. The rest of the patrol was as civil as it could be between the two. Which to say the least consisted of him not calling her a mudblood but there was still bickering between the two. It's what they were known for.

When Hermione settled down into her bed after patrol she found herself smiling. Maybe these nights with Malfoy would help her see the good in him. While everyone else saw the evil. She did glance at his left arm a few times but saw no sign of it ever having a mark. However, his sleeve was always down, she just really wanted to believe Harry was wrong. How could a 16-year-old be a Death Eater.