Hermione looked up as a sloppily folded otter note came her way.

Mi,

It's Do. How are you? You seemed a little distant last night after the whole "I.O." thing. I notice that Re always sends you otter shaped notes; I'm not so good at those so sorry for the piece of crap artistry.

-Do.

Hermione magiked away the writing and scribbled down a response:

Do,

Clever with the names. I'm fine; I had to do a double take when I got this though. It's still a little weird, you… being nice. A little startling to say the least. Am I right in remembering that your patronus is a Chinese water dragon? That's why Re always sends me notes in the shape of an otter, it's my patronus.

It wasn't long before she got a response in the form of another otter returning instead of the water dragon she sent out.

Mi,

I am clever…and sexy. But that's not the point. The point is you're avoiding the question.

Hermione didn't even bother getting rid of the writing and merely wrote three sentences before folding it back into a dragon.

And I'm going to get away with it too, class is over. We're back to enemies, and I win. Neh-nah!

SCENEBREAK

"Harry, mate, what's wrong?" asked Ron at lunch.

"Nothing. Why do you keep asking me that?"

"Cuz, you seem like somthin's botherin' ya." Said Ron through a mouth full of food.

"Maybe it's because I'm annoyed at being asked the same question over and over again."

"Oh."

"What did I miss?" asked Hermione joining the table.

"Not much. How was History of magic?"

"A total pain. Malfoy wouldn't stop bugging me."

"Wannus do ex 'em?"

"No Ron. I can handle him."

"Hermione?" asked Ron swallowing his food.

"Yes?"

"Umm… can I, uh, t-talk to you for a second?"

"Sure." Said Hermione fallowing him out of the Great Hall.

"Well, umm," he started as they were alone. "T-there's a Hogsmaede (sp?) weekend coming up and-and uh. N-never mind." He stuttered turning to run away.

"Ron!"

"Yes?" he asked his voice a little squeakier then he would ever admit.

"Nothing." She answered lowering her head.

"Well, wasn't that the most pathetic display of the century." Said Draco as he slid out from the shadows when Ron was well away.

"Shut up Ferret."

"I thought we swore off the names."

"Sorry Draco."

"You should be… I could help you."

"Oh?"

"You do want to go out with him correct?"

"Well, umm... yeah."

"We need to stroke his ego."

"Pardon?"

"Trust me."

SCENEBREAK

"Ready?" Harry whispered to Hermione as he walked next to her to their next class.

"He told you the plan? He won't tell me the plan, forget the fact that it centers around me, but he tells you the plan. Great."

"Don't worry, it'll work."

"Says the Boy-who-lived-to-earn-his-own-bed-in-the-hospital-wing."

Harry merely chuckled. Draco had cornered him after lunch and explained, "what they would do". He had to admit that it was a decent plan, but seemed too simple. Seeing Ron's ears redden as Hermione approached him, Harry was sure it would work.

"Ah, Weasel. I've been looking for you." Drawled Draco. "Though I didn't have to look hard, your ridiculous red hair makes sure of that. But, strangely, that wasn't how I found you. You see, I find that where ever the mudblood cow goes, you're not to far away."

The effect was immediate: Ron lurched forward only to be held back by a startled Hermione.

"He's not worth it…"

"You mean you're not worth it mudblood. I don't think even Weasel is stupid enough to want to fight for you."

Hermione looked at Draco shocked. She looked into his eyes and found that he was enjoying this emencly, more then he could if this really was just part of some plan. She felt unshed tears start to sting the corners of her eyes.

THUD!

Hermione looked up to see Draco on the ground with Ron on top of him, smashing his face in.

"Don't-thud-you-thud-ever-thud-talk-thud-about her-thud-like that-thud-again! Thud. You arrogant son-of-a-bitch!"

Harry rushed over to pick his friend off his 'enemy', but not before letting him finish his sentence. He watched out of the corner of his eye as Hermione looked down at Draco's gruesome bloodied up face and the shock that spread upon her own as he winked at her with a lopsided grin from under the pain. Show off. Harry quickly returned to the task at hand.

"Come on we need to get out of here before a teacher comes." As he led them away, he heard Draco give the practiced threat of "If this got around the school there would be hell to pay". Harry knew that after that he would go up to Madam Pomfrey and tell her he crashed on his broom, after washing off most of the blood of course.

Ba-BaDaa! I realize that I probably spelt a couple things wrong, but give me a break! I'm writing this at 1 in the morning! Oh, and who do you guys want to see together? All slash and Het suggestions welcome. And I also have a surprise in mind for WAY later in the story. The only clue ill give you is the initials "I.O." MWHAHAHAHAHA!

-Peace.

Lbw.