A/N This is important, I decided to cut this chapter in half, because it was 41 pages and I would never get it done with school, and hockey, and everything else, so the second half will be the next chapter. Thought I'd let you know. Oh, and I didn't go into detail about Hermione's date with Seamus, because its not really important or relevant

Update – I hope the sexual references and everything don't offend anyone, and please note that these next two chapters are NOT the romance Hermione and Draco have, AT ALL.

Edited April 26th, 2009

Disclaimer-If I was J.K Rowling, wouldn't I be writing the books, not fanfiction?

The First Potion

The next week passed normally. Hermione's date with Seamus went really well and she spent the week after it in a blissful happiness full of ignoring Draco and spending as much time as possible with her boyfriend. It was so easy to lose herself in being in a relationship – knowing that someone else fancied you and that, if you wanted, you could hug, kiss, hold hands - whatever you wanted whenever you wanted. It was one of the best feelings in the world.

Soon, however, she felt herself dreading the Monday they would begin the assignment. The sixth years grew tense as that day approached; none of them had any idea what to expect and how they would act. It was an object of direct concern for all of them and Hermione had drifted off into contemplative silence more than once in the presence of her peers, only to be jerked back to reality by their constant repetition of her name.

At breakfast on Sunday an eagle owl dropped a thick letter onto Hermione's plate. She recognized the handwriting as identical to that Professor McGonagall wrote on her homework, assignments, and essays so she decided not to open it until she got back to her room, because she knew what it was about and didn't want anyone to notice for fear of them trying to read it.

When she opened it later, she found a very long letter detailing what she should do during the assignment to help Draco. Only Professor Snape – and most likely Dumbledore as well - knew the potions they would be subjected to, so she was given suggestions on how to become his friend, or at least get him to trust her. Every situation, she was informed, should be used to her advantage.

Personally Hermione thought that her chances of succeeding were close to nothing. In academic work she put in a lot of effort and did well, but when dealing with other people you have to rely on their reactions and them. She wasn't good at relying on other people and disliked doing it. No matter how hard she tried, Draco would have to respond in good ways so they could progress as one unit.

Unfortunately she would also be testing several potions, but Professor McGonagall thought it would strengthen the trust in the relationship which, to be honest, they didn't have and most likely never would. With those thoughts in her head, she went to sleep Sunday night.

-

Hermione woke up and got ready for the day quickly, as usual. However, as she performed simple tasks like brushing her teeth and showering, her mind was buzzing with complex thoughts and her stomach was churning. She and Draco hadn't interacted at all in the preceding week, so it was, essentially, the beginning of two assignments for her. Her school assignment and the one for the Order.

The other four were sitting in the Common room; Harry staring at the fire and the others glaring at him or sitting and staring off into a corner. When he saw her he stood up quickly and joined her by the door, grateful for the presence of someone who didn't seem to hate him to the very core.

They sat at their designated House tables without speaking and Harry stared at the food on the table silently. Ron was already there, eating everything within reach of his hands and the two remained oblivious to the looks they were getting. They often weren't up so early in the morning to be on time for breakfast.

"Hi." Ginny said cheerfully as she sat down and began to butter her toast. "Hold on - Is that Ron, and Harry?"She gaped at the two boys, toast momentarily forgotten, but when they didn't reply she closed her mouth.

"What's wrong with you two?" She reached over the table and grabbed Harry's hand, flipped it over, and felt for a pulse. "He is alive."

Harry didn't seem to realize anyone had just touched him, and Hermione wondered exactly how worried he was, because he hadn't responded to Ginny's touch. With a start she realized that if Harry drank a truth potion, everyone could ask him anything about his life, love or evil, and in a day his private information could be splashed across magazines. She stopped feeling so concerned with herself and began to fret over him.

"They're not feeling well." She said hoarsely, taking a gulp of tea and burning her tongue. Ginny accepted this answer after a pause, which suggested she suspected more was going on.

After they ate breakfast the sixth years all went to the dungeons to meet Professor Snape. Ron kept giving her secretive glances, and it annoyed her. She didn't see why he didn't just say what he wanted to say, if it warranted that many looks. He did it again and she was about to march over and ask if she had something on her face when they were told to stand with their partners.

After being given their half of the instructions, they marched solemnly back to their dormitories, and Hermione discovered that Ron, Lavender, and Seamus were also on her floor. She was particularly thrilled about Seamus's location and spent an extra minute smiling and grinning at him, until Draco's disgusted noises got the better of her patience.

Inside the Potions room they stood in silence for a moment, until she tried to be proactive. "Shall we get started, then?" Hermione asked and Draco nodded. He opened the potions room door and set up a cauldron, before turning and giving her a pointed look.

"What?" She asked, somewhat defensive.

"I have the first half of the potion, so you have to wait outside." He said boredly, and she left the room, rolling her eyes at his sullen look.

After about five minutes Harry, Pansy and Blaise entered the room. Their angry voices suggested that already they were fighting. After a moment of annoyed gestures, Pansy shoved her half of the instructions into Blaise's hand and stormed to her room. Harry and Blaise both muttered 'women' under their breath and then gave each other awkward looks.

She began to wait.

-

It was quite awhile before she began to work on her half of the Potion, and the whole time Draco sulked outside, barely speaking to Blaise and completely ignoring Pansy when she took it to her head to emerge from her room. When the last instruction had been completed she left the room, her hair bushy from the heat and humidity of bending over a cauldron and her face flushed.

"It's done?" Draco asked, sounding almost as though he wished she would say no.

"It just has to simmer, for another minute or so." She replied, watching the blood red potion bubble ominously. She looked over and saw that Harry's potion was light green, but he seemed to be happy whenever he looked at it. Were their potions supposed to be different colors?

Their potion flashed white, red, blue, pink, and then green. The pair took a few steps closer, and so it was no surprise when the piece of paper that flew out hit Draco in the eye. He looked at it and then the color that had seemed to be missing returned to his face in a rush, accompanied by a sigh of relief.

Hermione.

It struck her then, harder then ever, that she hadn't put anything in the penseive. Her hand shook as she ladled some of the potion into a vial, and then filled up another bottle with it, for Professor Snape's examination.

Draco watched her intently as she tipped the glass tube and swallowed its contents, hesitating only briefly beforehand. A moment of tense silence followed, and then her eyes shone a brilliant blue, before returning to their normal color.

He knew something was wrong when she turned to look at him, eyed his entire body and then smirked.

-

Harry was waiting for Blaise to call him when the door opened. Draco stood there and told him to get Pansy, looking slightly hassled. Disgruntled by the fact that he was being told what to do, he turned and went to her door anyway. Because his back was turned, he didn't hear or see a figure dart out from under Draco's arm and dash up to Hermione's room.

After banging on Pansy's door for about a minute, he gave up and turned around. It took approximately one second for him to take in the sight before him and for his jaw to drop. Hermione came down her stairs with her skirt hiked up to above mid-thigh, had taken off her tights and strapped on some black heeled boots that cut off at her ankle, which he knew was most certainly not approved by the dress code. To his complete and utter horror her robes were open, exposing her blouse, which was unbuttoned quite low at the top and displayed her lacy black bra underneath. Her tie was extremely loose and had the sexy look Pansy had never been able to achieve with her own.

"Harry." She said silkily in a voice he hoped he never had to hear again, "You look sexy today." She walked up to Harry and looked directly into his eyes. Instead of the warm comfort they usually held, they were filled with a cold, piercing stare.

"I-er-Hermione are you alright?" Harry asked and shot Draco an odd look as he emerged, staring as his enemy was hit on by his best friend.

"Potions ready!" Bellowed Blaise, and Pansy reluctantly came out of her room. When she saw Hermione her eyebrows shot up and she stared in shock for a moment. Then she rolled her eyes, muttered something quite nasty under her breath and walked by, barking for Harry to hurry up and come along. He looked at her hesitantly and followed hurriedly when she began to caress his arm.

"What a shame, isn't it Draco? We're alone now." She practically stroked his name with her tongue and lips, if that was possible, and took a few steps closer to him.

"Not really, I prefer to stay out of Potter's ugliness." Draco said haughtily, his eyes slipping down to what her shirt now exposed, before he looked away from her altogether.

"You want to be alone with me?" Hermione leaned in very, very close and he couldn't help but feel that her voice should never sound like that. The usual know-it-all lilt and intelligence had disappeared with the gleam in her eyes.

"No, that's not it at all." He rolled his eyes, shifting uncomfortably. If this was how she'd felt the other day, when he'd cornered her, than he definitely understood her unwillingness to respond to him.

"I'll be back in a second. Unless you care to join me?" She winked at him and sashayed over to the bathroom, opening the door with finesse. He turned away quickly, disturbed by the image that created.

The door to the potions room opened and Draco looked up, glad that his friends would emerge. First came Potter, who was moving in a strange way, almost like he was having difficulty walking, and he smirked at Draco. For a moment, the blond was transfixed by some sort of recognition, and then he realized that that was the same expression he had practiced in the mirror the week preceding his first year at Hogwarts.

"Come on Potter,' Pansy said, looking thoroughly amused by his new walking habit. "Its already six o clock."

"Call me Harry." He said suavely, and gave her a cocky smile Draco recognized. Pansy watched him with slight interest, flushing a bit, and Blaise rolled his eyes, shaking his head at Draco. The threesome left together and Draco was left to wait for his partner.

As he waited he thought about the way she was acting, and the responses her behavior would undoubtedly receive from people in other houses. Finnegan won't like this. He thought with amusement, a small smile forming on his lips. I bet the Gryffindors will all freak out.

Hermione appeared at that moment, and he was shocked to see that she'd straightened her hair and put on some glittery, bright eye shadow. And some eyeliner. He shook his head, quite disturbed. The new Granger, instead of making him amused and entertained, made him want her go back to normal.

"Let's go Granger." Draco said quickly, thoroughly annoyed with the change in the two Gryffindors. He turned to leave but she grabbed his hand and turned him around; she had quite a grip. That, or he was just quite weak.

"Call me Hermione." She whispered, and Draco was suddenly aware of the close proximity of their faces. She kissed him and pushed him against the wall, her hands moving to cup his neck and hold onto his arm. He shuddered, grabbed her arms and pushed her back, holding her hands up and away from him. She pouted at him, puckering her lips in a way that might have been attractive, if it hadn't been her.

"Don't try that ever again, you stupid mudblood." Draco growled, letting her hands go and violently throwing the door open.

When they reached the Great Hall Hermione flung open the door dramatically and walked through, grinning. It seemed, at first, that no one noticed, most likely due to her altered appearance, until they realized that it was Hermione. The bookworm, know-it-all Gryffindor who hardly left the tower without several layers of clothing on. She attracted many an astonished and horrified look, which made her preen from the attention in an uncharacteristically confidant way.

When they sat down, rather grudgingly on Draco's part, at the Gryffindor table everyone was staring in complete shock. He was sure that if she'd randomly shown up one day like that, he would have been staring, too. Seamus was staring from the Slytherin table, and Ron was positively gaping from the Hufflepuff table.

He had to admit it caught him completely by surprise when Hermione suddenly stood up, sat back down on Harry's knee and started snogging him senseless. His eyes nearly popped out of his head when, instead of pushing her off, blushing and incoherently mumbling nonsense, Harry gave as good as he got. Their movements drew attention as they pushed plates off the table, and someone wolf-whistled.

"Slut!" Someone yelled across the room as buzzing broke out through the hall.

"Granger!" Draco hissed and pulled on her arm, looking around quickly.

"Yes?" She turned to look at him, not even dazed at all, with raised eyebrows.

"What are you doing?" Someone who was probably a Gryffindor asked from down the table.

"I don't think it matters what I'm doing, it matters what I could be doing." She gave him a suggestive smile – she received a dark blush in return - and then turned back to Harry, who had put on a very Malfoy-like pout. Seamus stood up from across the Hall, his face a puce and he stormed over to them, hands in fists. He pulled on Hermione's arm, who detached herself from Harry without any sign of guilt. To Draco's further horror, the raven-haired male turned to Pansy and began to talk in the low voice of someone flirting.

Seamus did not relinquish his grip on his girlfriend and she walked after him, winking at random males who watched with jaws open and everyone watched with sick fascination as though it were a soap opera on television. He had no choice but to follow his partner out of the Great Hall, falling into step with Crabbe. When they exited the Hall, she had her arms wrapped tightly around Seamus.

He pushed her away, backing up. "Oh, no. Look, I don't know what the potions done to you but – just back up."

"Why? I like being close to you." She smirked at him, fingering her tie slightly and making the Irishman flush.

"Hermione?" Ginny's voice interuped their conversation, and she followed her, face red. "How could you? You – you just completely ate Harry's face off in front of the whole school! You know how I feel about – your boyfriend was right there. What are you wearing?"

"I'm not doing anything." She rolled her eyes, "Ginny, I'm just enjoying the moment. Seizing the day, and all that."

"You're not seizing the day, you're being a complete and total slut." Ginny's hand flew to her mouth and she watched in horror, as though Hermione would react violently. She didn't, so the Weasley just shook her head, said, "What's wrong with you?" And stormed away

Ron emerged from the hall, his hands clenched and his facial color rivaling Ginny's. "Hermione, what the hell?"

"Why is everyone freaking out? Is it my fault I notice hot guys? Speaking of which…" She eyed Ron suggestively, and he turned crimson. Draco snickered, his head looks an over grown tomato.

"How could the teachers let you take a potion that would make you act like this?" Neville asked, frowning as another large group of her classmates followed the drama.

"You all need to chill out." She said, wrapping her finger around a strand of hair. "I'm not cheating on Seamus. Its only cheating if you go all the way."

"No its not." Dean argued, crossing his arms.

She smirked at him, deliberately scanning his body. "You can run to first, steal second and sprint to third, but it doesn't count unless you get all the way home."

Most of the people looked quite confused, no doubt because she was referring to a muggle sport, but Dean looked unimpressed by her logic. "Look, boys, I have places to be, people to do…" She smiled at their expressions, "See you later."

With a girly wave she turned on her heel, swaying her hips as she walked and primping her hair. Harry watched her retreating figure with approval, and Draco was pretty sure he heard him say 'Nice ass,' before someone hit him.

They paused outside their dormitory and she turned to him, looking bored. "I should go talk to Seamus. Better salvage our relationship or something." She touched his lips with her fingers and strode down the hall, making him wonder why she'd even walked all the way there with him.

With a shudder of horror he opened the door to Common Room, trying to repress thoughts of Hermione and her newfound sexual prowess. He was surprised that Blaise, Pansy and Harry were already there, lounging around inside.

"What is with Granger?" Pansy was complaining, trying to be nonchalant. "She's such a slut now."

"A sexy slut." Harry smirked, his eyes glazing over in a way that made Draco want to throw up.

And then suddenly a thought came to him as the word 'slut' repeated over and over again inside his head. In his set of instructions, he'd had to add a piece of paper that was magically sealed and he hadn't been able to read.

He dashed into his room (ignoring the strange looks he was receiving) and practically destroyed everything in his haste to find the book. A few pages ripped - he repaired them quickly - and he flipped through, at last coming to the first page of the questionnaire.

How would you prefer Hermione to act if you had a choice?

Right where Draco had written 'a slut', there was a rectangular hole. He threw the book away, hoping he had made a real discovery, and hurried out of his room, making sure to check his hair before he did so.

"What did you put in the questionnaire?" He asked urgently.

"What?" Blaise asked, clearly dumbfounded.

"In the questionnaire, the first question asked how you would prefer your person to act, what did you put for Potter?" He really detested when no one else followed his train of thought instantly.

"For Potter…Gay." Blaise said, looking somewhat amused.

Draco turned to Pansy and she said, blushing slightly, "More like Draco." Of course! We fill out the questionnaire, and they use our answers in the potions! That way you can't copy someone else's theory on what the potion is, they're all different!

Draco went back to his room without responding to their questions and tried to erase several of his answers, but it didn't work. He even accidentally set his page on fire, and apparently there is such a thing as fire proof paper. He supposed the teachers set a spell on them when they duplicated the answers. When did they get so smart?

"Where've you been?" Draco heard Blaise ask and realized Hermione must be back. He emerged from his room and he was disgusted when a bunch of Gryffindors followed her inside.

"Apologizing to Seamus." She answered airily; clearly her thoughts were more preoccupied with sizing up Dean. "He's asleep."

"He's asleep, how could you apologize to him?" Neville asked suspiciously.

Hermione shrugged, "He was awake when I arrived, but now he's not." She smirked at Pansy, whose mouth had fallen open.

"'You shagged him?" Ron choked out. Hermione sat on the couch and crossed her leg, causing her skirt to hike up and Ron to turn a fine shade of magenta.

"Did I say that?"

"You implied it."

"Think whatever you want." She said in a teasing voice.

"What's wrong with you?" Ron thundered, crossing his arms over his chest.

Draco had been enjoying their stupidity, but now it was boring to listen to them pitifully try and figure out what was wrong with Hermione. "You are by far the most unintelligent people I have ever had the unfortunate chance of meeting.

"Do you really think that Granger regularly gets it on with people halfway through the day? It's obvious she is the one who drank the god damn potion, like Potter and hopefully those two." Lavender and Parvati were fawning over Harry, who was enjoying the attention. He pecked Parvati on the cheek. She looked elated and Lavender glared evilly at her.

"We know that, you idiot." Ron muttered, "It's just satisfying to say."

"You can all leave. None of you were invited in here. Get lost." He rubbed his right temple with a frown as they did as he said, with glares.

Ron tried to stay behind, as though his friends needed protecting, but was finally forced to leave when Draco threatened him - as if he would ever try and take advantage of a mudblood. And then, at long last, they were alone in their Common Room.

"I'm going to bed." Pansy announced. She walked to her room, but when she reached the door, stopped, turned around, and looked at Draco. "Goodnight Draco." She said sexily with a wave and disappeared inside her room. Hermione scowled and stomped to her room. Draco smirked - this was what he was used to; girls vying for attention.

"Granger is very…" Blaise began but seemed at a loss for words.

Draco turned on his friend, his neck cracking loudly. "No, she's not. She's not anything! She's a mudblood. She has no standards! At least Pansy has standards, and some class. I bet she'd take anyone…"Blaise's mouth fell open and stared at something over his friend's shoulder.

Draco turned around and saw Hermione at the foot of her stairs in a blood red, very revealing piece of lingerie. If she hadn't been so good at Transfiguration, he might have wondered if she actually owned it, but her skills were good enough to transfigure an article of clothing. For the moment he was completely frozen, and then he jerked his head in the other direction.

"What are you three looking at?" Hermione giggled and wandered over to Harry with a predatory gleam in her eye. There was a knock on the door and Draco jumped at the chance to take his eyes off Hermione. Dean stood outside and he pushed past Draco without saying anything, simply scowling in his direction.

"I need to talk to-" His eyes fell onto Hermione straddling Harry, snogging the daylights out of him.

"Granger, you have a visitor." Draco growled and threw himself down on the couch beside Blaise, who watched him, amused. Hermione got up slowly, fixing the strap on her clothing and stood in front of Dean, who looked at her attire nervously.

"I need to talk to you." He said uneasily, "About what you're doing. It's killing Seamus. I know its the potion, but…"

"Why don't you come up to my room with me? We can talk there." Hermione said quietly, lowering her voice so it was impossible to determine what emotion she was trying to portray.

"I don't think that's such a good idea." Dean cast an anxious look at Harry, as if he would receive assistance. The other Gryffindor wasn't even looking in their direction.

"Why? What do you expect is going to happen up there?" Hermione purred, grabbing his arm and looking up at him from under her eyelashes.

"Nothing." Dean cleared his throat. "Why can't we talk here? It's about Seamus, is all…"

"You're Seamus's best friend. Of course nothing is going to happen." Hermione took his hand and he followed her helplessly. Harry watched her go, taking the time to eye her backside with appreciation, while Blaise fished around his backpack for a book.

He won't be Finnegan's best friend for long. Draco thought, watching the door close. Disgusted by all the Gryffindor 'loyalty' he'd seen that day he retired to his own room, where he fell asleep.

A/N If there are mistakes in there, I'm very sorry.

Please review!