You could've heard a pin drop in the Great Hall on Monday morning. Everyone at the eighth-year table was eating in silence, no one wanted to make eye contact, blink, or breathe too loudly by accident. Susan kept glaring at Lavender, who was shooting dirty looks at Dean and Seamus, who – for once – weren't speaking to each other.

Today was the day that McGonagall was announcing the TA positions.

When the bell for first period rang, Hermione and Draco shot out of their seats and walked quickly towards the transfiguration classroom. "That was the most awkward meal I've ever been to," Draco whispered conspiratorially, "and believe me; I've been to a lot of awkward meals."

Hermione clapped her hand over her mouth to stop from laughing loudly. "If you've been to so many awkward meals, I'd have thought you'd be an expert at dissolving the tension," she said quietly, grinning.

Draco smirked. "Ah, now that is an art I have yet to perfect," he said, pretending to be wistful. "Maybe we should attend some classes?"

Laughing softly, Hermione paused as Draco insisted on opening the classroom door for her. He then proceeded to sit at the desk beside her and take out his parchment, quill, and ink. Hermione studied him as he pulled his items out of his bag, periodically tugging on his sleeves. That's a really noticeable nervous habit, Hermione noted, tilting her head. He does that all the time. Maybe if he'd actually not wear a long-sleeved shirt, he'd stop…

Hermione was amazed that things hadn't become awkward after her and Draco's night together in the country bar. The next day, they had met in the Great Hall at breakfast and had spent the day studying together; it had been quite wonderful, really. They were totally at ease with one another, and Hermione had been able to help Draco with History of Magic while he had given her a hand with their massive project in Astronomy. We're quite compatible partners, Hermione thought to herself, not realizing the double meaning that her words possessed.

While she was setting up for class, Hermione heard the rest of their year file in. Harry and Neville came to sit behind Hermione and Draco, while everyone else sat awkwardly away from the people they were fighting with; Sean and Dean sat in desks on opposite sides of the classroom from one another, Susan and Lavender refused to be on the same side of the room, and Justin was sitting beside a stunned and silent Hannah. Hermione didn't realize that she had been holding her breath until McGonagall swept into the room, her excitement breaking the cloud that hung over the room.

"Good morning, class!" she said exuberantly, clutching a pile of papers to her chest. "As you all know, over the weekend your other Professors and I have reviewed your applications and decided who is going to be placed where." Pausing for dramatic effect, her fingers poised at the top of the first paper, McGonagall's eyes swept over the classroom. Everyone was on the edge of their seats, including Hermione. "Be aware that these positions are final and non-negotiable," she said finally, passing out the papers face-down on everyone's desk. "Please do not turn over your page until I give you leave to do so."

"This is a bit intense, isn't it?" Hermione whispered to Draco.

The blonde nodded. "I feel like it's the sorting all over again," he said quietly. "This is way too pressure-filled."

Hermione counted the sixteen "clicks" that McGonagall's shoes made as she walked up the aisle from the back of the class to the front. Whirling around dramatically in her green tartan robes, she smiled. "Alright students, please turn over your pages….now!"

The crinkle of paper was heard all across the room as students flipped over their pages to read the near-identical letters;

Dear Hermione,

Thank you for your thoughtful application – the quality of writing and experience made the choices for your teacher's assistant positions very difficult, however, after much deliberation, we decided to place you in

POTIONS

We hope that you find your experience helping to teach this class both educational and enlightening.

Sincerely,

The Hogwarts Staff

Smiling, Hermione glanced over at an equally-satisfied-looking Draco. "Did you get what you wanted?" she asked.

He nodded. "Yup. You?"

"Yeah. What class did you get?"

Draco's eyes widened. "Oh Merlin, I never told you! I applied for the potions post – apparently I got it. And you?"

"Potions!" Hermione squealed. "We're going to be working together!"

With an insanely huge grin splitting his face, Draco looked like he was about to say something more when a tap on her shoulder turned Hermione around. "Hey, 'Mione," Harry hissed. "What'd you get?"

"Potions," Hermione answered softly. "And you?"

"DADA," Harry said proudly. "I was really worried that they weren't going to let me in because…well…you know…."

Nodding, Hermione turned to Neville. "Did you get Herbology Nev?"

"Yeah!" he said, his joy obvious.

"WHAT THE BLOODY HELL IS THIS?" a loud voice called out from the other side of the classroom.

Hermione, Neville, Harry, and Draco all turned to watch a positively livid Dean Thomas slam his letter down on McGonagall's desk. To her credit, the cat-like professor only arched her eyebrow. "Language, Mr Thomas," she said sternly. "Now, what is it that you're so concerned about?"

"You have me TAing bloody HISTORY OF MAGIC!" Dean shouted, a vein in his temple throbbing, his hands clenched and his eyes wide. "My first choice was DADA, which I obviously didn't get because your precious prodigy Potter got it -" – Dean spat furiously with each 'p', his anger building with every word he spoke – "- my second choice was COMC, which I also, quite obviously, didn't get, and my third choice was Charms. Why the HELL did you sods put me into HISTORY OF BLOODY MAGIC?"

Dean was panting when he reached the end of his rant, his letter now crumpled beyond all recognition in his fist. Still completely composed, McGonagall stood up to her full height – still a solid six inches shorter than Dean, but intimidating none the less – and glared at the angry boy before her. "Mister Thomas, I recommend that you consider your words carefully," the professor warned, her eyes turning a darker shade of blue. Hermione and Draco shared a wide-eyed look. "Us 'sods' put much careful consideration into your posting, and believe that you are perfectly suited for the post."

Snorting, Dean crossed his arms. "Oh yeah? Why, because I'm such a stupid lug I could never succeed doing anything else?" he asked scathingly. "Or is it because Professor Binns feels that he could suck the life out of me?"

McGonagall shook her head. "What that course needs Mister Thomas is someone who can bring history to life! Hogwarts' grades in History of Magic are horrendous, and we fear that it's because of Binns' teaching methods. We selected you so that you could get the children interested in history, and keep them awake!"

Dean remained unmoved. "Find another bloody guinea pig," he spat, throwing his paper down onto the floor. "I'm not putting up with this crap."

Storming out of the classroom, Dean slammed the door. Everyone listened to his fading footsteps, and McGonagall glared icily at the door. "Would anyone else like to voice their complaints?" she asked in a tone that suggested everyone should remain silent. When no one raised their hands, the professor smiled coldly. "Wonderful. You're expected to report to your assigned professor this evening during study hall to plan your first lessons. Class dismissed."

But of course, no one left the class; everyone quickly moved into a clump at the center of the room to discuss their new TAs. "Who got Defense?" Lavender asked, staring down Justin and Sean.

"I did," Harry said quietly.

Lavender nodded, her lips curving up into a half-smile. "Figured as much," she sighed, looking at her paper. Still, I am pretty wonderful at Charms…."

"You got DADA Potter?" Susan's voice rang out, clear and unemotional.

"Um….yeah," Harry said slowly, tilting his head up to meet Susan's eyes (she stood a solid four inches taller than the petite saviour).

"Looks like we'll be seeing a lot more of each other, partner," the witch said coolly, extending her hand.

Looking at the extended hand like it might explode, Harry gingerly reached forward and shook quickly before taking a step back. "Hopefully we can both bring our expertise to the table," he said, filling the tense silence.

Susan nodded brusquely. "Both of us can show that Prewitt a thing or two, maybe actually teach the younger years some valuable defense and attack spells."

"Hopefully they'll never need them," Harry said somberly, his eyes sad. (Hermione noticed that her friend didn't disagree with Susan's jab at Prewitt – she really is a twit though, the witch thought.)

Hermione heard the click of Susan's boot heels as she stood up a bit straighter. "You never know, Potter," she said darkly. "There are still Death Eaters out there, just waiting to become the next dictator." With a pointed glare at Malfoy, Susan turned on her heels and left the room, heading left towards the Great Hall.

"Who else got Charms?" Lavender said loudly, pushing past a frowning Harry. Grinning cheekily, she continued; "Who's the lucky witch or wizard that gets to work with me?"

"That'd be me, Miss Brown," a male voice squeaked.

Lavender whirled around and her face fell. "Oh, hi Justin."

Finch-Fletchly, however, couldn't have looked more ecstatic. "I'm so thrilled to have you for a partner Miss Brown – can I call you Lavender?" He grabbed ahold of Lavender's upper arm and started maneuvering out of the classroom. "I've already been discussing ideas with Flitwick, and I think we should start with….."

Lavender looked back desperately before she was pulled behind the door, and everyone burst out laughing. "Sucks for her," Seamus said. "If anyone can deal with Justin, though, she's the girl for the job."

"Hey, what'd you get Seamus?" Neville interjected.

"Care of Magical Creatures. You?'

"Herbology."

"Oh Neville!" Hannah said, her voice unnaturally high. "I got Herbology too!"

Draco rolled his eyes as Neville and Hannah's gazes met, and their eyes grew soft. "That's brilliant Hannah," Neville said softly, unconsciously moving towards the blonde girl.

"Brilliant," she said quietly, looking up, her cheeks flushed.

Seamus cleared his throat awkwardly. "So, erm, who else got COMC?" he said loudly, not able to startle Neville and Hannah out of their joint reverie.

"That's me, Seamus." Luna's airy voice carried across the classroom, and Seamus smiled.

"Wicked!" he said. "Can we do a lesson on those Knargle things that you talk about? It'd be nice to actually understand what you're talking about sometimes."

Not hearing the joking tone in Seamus' voice, Luna nodded seriously. "We need to discuss it with Hagrid – that class really doesn't cover any legitimate household magical creatures."

Raising his eyebrows, Seamus nodded silently and looked skeptically at Hermione. Sighing, she restarted the conversation. "Draco and I got Potions, which just leaves Tranfiguration. Who got McGonagall's class?"

"That's me and Michael," Padma said, holding up her letter to the light coming in from the window. Giving a devious smile, she laughed and said "Parvati will be soooo jealous!"

Michael looked his new partner up and down, his eyes wide. He was obviously still in shock that he was assigned to work with the twin. Coughing loudly, Harry said, "So Michael, you got the subject you wanted?"

Blinking slowly, Michael took a moment to register Harry's words before nodding. "Erm, yeah. I did. Sorry, I have to go – um – talk to Slughorn. See you all next class."

Dashing from the room, Michael was gone before anyone could say another word. Padma frowned. "What's got him all worked up?" she asked, her brow furrowed.

Draco shrugged. "Who knows? He's an odd duck, that one."

The remaining students nodded their agreement before they all headed off to their respective classes. "What do we have, Draco?" Hermione asked, leaning over to see Draco's schedule.

"Give me just one second," Draco said, pulling his schedule out from his sleeve. "Ah! Here we are! We have Potions."

It was then that Hermione noticed several dark brown splotches all over Draco's schedule. They seemed to be sort-of linear, but she couldn't place the substance. "Draco," she started, "what did you spill all over your schedule?"

Hurriedly, Draco folded his paper and stuffed it back up his sleeve. He shrugged. "I don't know. I didn't really notice that."

Suspicious, but mindful of Draco's very fragile bubble of privacy, she said nothing. Hermione and Draco walked silently side-by-side the entire way to class, their shoulders occasionally brushing. Rather than flinch away, Hermione longed to lean into Draco's side and increase the thrilling electric sensation that she felt whenever they touched. Shaking her head, she looked down at her feet. Focus Granger, you can't do this to yourself.

When the group arrived in the dungeons, Harry slipped past Hermione and sat down next to Draco. Arching her eyebrow at her friend's odd behavior, Hermione sat down in the desk behind the two boys. Neville came down and sat beside her. "What's with Harry sitting up there?" he whispered, taking out his materials.

Hermione shrugged, placing a vial of rat spleens on her desk. "No idea," she replied.

"Could it be -" Neville was interrupted by Hermione's frantic shushing when Harry started to talk.

"So, Malfoy," he started awkwardly, tapping his finger on the top of his jar of bubotuber pus. "I, uh, wanted to talk to you."

"I guessed as much," Draco said dryly, beginning to copy down the day's instructions into his notebook in perfect cursive.

The blonde's tone was a perfect imitation of Professor Snape, and Hermione had to stop herself from flicking the back of Draco's head. Can't you see that Harry's trying to talk to you, you dunderhead? she shrieked in her mind.

Harry blushed, and Draco looked up from his notes. "Sorry," the Slytherin said. "That was incredibly rude of me. What did you want to talk about?"

Sighing with relief, Harry smiled crookedly and starting copying down the notes in his nearly illegible scrawl. "I, um, just, uh….I wanted to start over. You know, with us."

Draco's writing slowed to a stop. "…sorry?"

"I, erm, was wondering if we could try again, you know? I mean, it's really stupid that we decided to hate each other when we were eleven, and, I mean, we're totally different people now, and I thought that maybe we could try again if that's ok with you?"

Harry's words all came out in a blurred rush, but Draco followed every single syllable. Keeping his face neutral, the blonde chewed lightly on his lower lip. "…you're proposing a truce, Potter?" he finally said, his grey eyes locking on Harry's green.

The dark-haired boy gulped, but he sat up taller. "Yeah, yeah I am. Are….are you accepting my proposal?"

Draco tapped his long, pale finger on the desk. "Of course, Potter," he said slowly, smiling slightly. "I'd be happy to start over. That is, if this isn't a trick of some sort."

Suddenly very serious, Harry shook his head vehemently. "No, no, no. I would never do that to you, ever. You have my word. This is a genuine olive branch."

Looking thoughtfully at the boy beside him, Draco's gaze flicked back to Hermione. His eyes asked for her opinion, and she gave it to him with a barely perceptible nod and a wink. Draco turned back to Harry, smiled, nodded, and extended his hand.

Grinning like a madman, Harry nearly knocked over his vial of bubotuber pus in his haste to shake Draco's hand. "Brilliant! This is great Ma – can I call you Draco?"

A bit taken aback, the blonde nodded. "I don't see why, but I suppose you can call me Draco."

"Well, Malfoy is this snarky git from my early years at Hogwarts," Harry said, smiling. "Draco is a completely different person."

"Ah, I see," Draco said, nodding. "Then, by all means, please call me Draco. Honestly, I'll answer to anything but Ferret."

It took a moment for Harry to realize that Draco's last comment was intended to be a joke. He laughed, seemingly genuinely surprised that Draco had a sense of humour. There was a pause before Harry continued; "But that means that you can't call me Potter. Only teachers and old people do that."

Draco laughed lightly, and let go of Harry's hand. "Alright, Harry. Let's try this out, shall we?"

It was at that moment that Hermione truly let herself believe that this would be a wonderful normal year at Hogwarts.

A/N: Sorry that it's a touch late, but here it is! I'm hoping to get the next chapter out by Saturday, October 13th. Please R&R!. ~sneakyslytherin