Chapter 10

The weekend was short for most and Monday had hit everyone like a brick wall. The eighth years even got to sleep in until lunch so they could do their placement testing.

"You know we are taking a placement test, Granger. You're not supposed to study for it." Draco said with a yawn as he came down the stairs.

A frazzled Hermione was sitting at the study desk with four books sprawled out across the surface and a cup of brown liquid in her hand.

"Not until I've finished my coffee, Malfoy." She spat, not even glancing up.

"Whatever you say Granger." Draco had noticed that every morning before ten, Hermione would be carrying the same blue cup of coffee around, holding it like it was her child. "I'll put on a fresh pot, seeing as you've drained this one…" he trailed off looking at the mostly empty pot of coffee.

Draco placed the pot under the maker and instantly it was full.

"Magic is a wonderful thing." Hermione said right behind Draco, making him spin around suddenly.

"Damn, Granger, warn a guy next time." Draco said as she took the pot off of the counter and filled her cup about 3/4th full. She plopped in four sugar cubes and a splash of cream, then took a sip, signing in gratification.

"I think I may have to cut you off…this is what? Your fourth cup?"

"Maybe." Hermione walked away not leaving him a chance to retort.

He walked over to the desk she had just sat down at and looked at the books she was reading.

"The Standard Book of Spells? Really Granger? You think they're going to test us on how to make a feather float again?" Draco asked lifting the covers of the other books, being sure not to lose her page.

"You never know, what if I space out and cant remember?" She asked grabbing the book he was looking at and putting it in front of her.

"Yes, that seems so probable." He rolled his eyes and walked back up to his room after topping off his own cup.

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A little while later Draco emerged from his room once again and noticed Hermione was no longer at her desk. He looked at his watch and figured she was at the Great Hall already. He grabbed his things and exited through the portrait.

"Umph!" Draco grunted as something collided with him. He looked down and noticed a dazed Hermione sitting on the floor sprawled across his lap.

She looked up at him and then back to where she was lying, blushing crimson.

"Oops…sorry Malfoy." She said as he helped her up.

"No harm, no foul I guess." He brushed his clothes off after making sure she was stably on her feet. "I thought you went to the Great Hall?"

"I did but realized I forgot my lucky quill at the desk." She mumbled.

"Lucky quill? You, Granger, don't need luck." He said matter of factly.

"Why must you question my every comment?" She said, "And what's that supposed to mean?"

"That you're just naturally smart, luck would be pointless for you I suspect." He ignored her first question.

"Thanks, I think." She rubbed her arm before turning to go back into the common room. "Sorry again Malfoy."

He walked away with a slight wave of his hand.

(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)

"Drake." Blaise nodded his head when Draco sat down.

"Morning." He said grabbing a piece of fried chicken off of a platter.

"It's afternoon now." Pansey said.

"Whatever." He threw a piece of his chicken at her only to receive a glare in return.

"Hey what's the new kid doing here? Haven't classes started for everyone else?" Blaise said staring at the doors of the great hall.

Draco followed his gaze and noticed Seth wasn't alone either. Granger was walking next to him, talking about something. They both stopped and he put his hand on her shoulder saying something, then after a smile and a nod she turned and walked to her table.

"You alright Draco?" Pansey asked noticing the frown on his face.

He turned back to the table shaking his head a bit. "Yeah, not the best chicken today is all."

Seth walked behind Draco and sat only a few spaces down.

"Oi! I thought you were a seventh year?" Blaise asked.

Seth looked over the three Slytherins calmly before saying anything. "I am."

"Didn't the seventh years start classes today?" Pansey asked politely giving blasé a little elbow in the side for his rude tone.

"Yes, but professor McGonagall wanted me to take the placement test to see how well I will do at the seventh year level. Durmstrang taught different material, you see." He raised his head somewhat arrogantly.

"So that's where you came from then?" Pansey questioned before taking a bite of her roll.

"Yes. My father wanted me to take a…different approach since the war has ended. So he sent me here."

"Different approach?" Draco asked with narrowed eyebrows.

"Yes." was all he said. He turned back to his empty plate and began to pile some food on to it.

Draco looked at Blaise who raised an eyebrow and then went back to eating. He looked up at the adjacent table and found his co-head fully engaged in a potions book. Potter and Weasley were stuffing their faces and of course the girl Weasley was most likely in class. Draco glanced back at Seth who was, surprisingly, staring directly at him. He glanced over at Hermione and then back to Draco with a bit of a smirk.

"Please finish up and make your way into the corridor so we may turn over the Great Hall for your testing." Professor McGonagall made her way up to the podium.

The small amount of students who were in the hall started to pack up their belongings and soon filed out of the Great Hall doors to await their test.

(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)

"Time is up! Quills down." McGonagall magically had all of the tests float up to her podium and aphetically sort themselves into a pile. "Your schedules will be handed out tomorrow based off of where I see it fit to place you and the extra classes some of you signed up for. Some may have fewer classes and some may have more. This does not indicate whether you did better or worse than another student. As I recall, some of you like the challenge of having more classes," She eyed Draco and Hermione with a small smile. "Enjoy the rest of your day off."

Everyone stood up, some stretched, others made a B-line for the doors.

"Think you did well Harry?" Hermione asked as she gathered her things. Ron came walking up seconds later.

"Fairly well I guess. Seeing as we didn't learn anything last year, I had to go off instinct and previous years."

"Well you saved the wizzarding world, that has to count for something right?" Hermione smiled.

"I assume you did great Hermione." Someone from behind her said. The three turned to see Seth walking behind them.

"Seth," She smiled at him, "I think I did ok, some things were a little tough though. I guess time will tell." She looked at Ron and Harry, "Oh! Seth, this is Ron Weasley and Harry-"

"Potter, yes, nice you meet you two. I feel as though I've known you for a while now though, with all of the news and media." He shook their hands.

"Right, well don't believe everything you here." Ron said flatly.

"I know what to believe, Weasley, no worries about that." Seth smiled at Ron. "I better be off. I'll see you at eight Hermione?" He asked turning to her.

"Yes, in the Library." She smiled politely.

Once he walked away, Ron looked at Hermione, "You're going on a date…to the library...?"

"Its not a date, Ronald. He chose muggle studies as one of his electives. He's a pureblood so he is hoping to get a slight head start. He just wants to talk about muggle life. He introduced himself on the staircase when I was on my way down here. He is very polite Ron, I suggest you give him a chance." Hermione gave him a stern look at his annoyed expression before walking back to her common room.

"Blimey, Harry, its like fourth year all over again." Ron said.

Harry patted him on the back and started to walk out of the Great Hall.

(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)

Hermione walked through the portrait hole and right into a sturdy figure.

"We've got to stop meeting like this." Draco joked. "Twice in one day is two times too many."

"Very funny Malfoy." Hermione tried to stifle a laugh after she balanced herself using Draco's arm. "Where are you off to in such a hurry?"

"Pansey and Blaise want to meet up by the lake. The castle seems a little…stuffy." He looked out the window wall.

"I get what you mean." Hermione said following his gaze. It was sunny and, according to all of the other eighth years outside, the weather was more than nice. "Maybe I'll follow your lead." She looked back at him before walking to the desk.

"Wait, you're going to come hang out with Blaise, Pansey, and I?" He said taken back.

"No, of course not," She laughed, "I just want to go outside for a bit." She grabbed her book and walked back to where he was standing.

"Now I feel offended." He put his hand to his chest and faked a frown.

"Oh, hush. You wouldn't want a boring Gryffindor hanging with you guys anyways." She mocked.

"Of course we wouldn't. We may take you to the dark side if you stayed long enough." He smirked

"Well then," she smiled at him, "Wouldn't want that." She walked past him up to the portrait. "See you latter Draco."

He paused and cocked his head as the portrait closed.

Outside the portrait she stopped and shook her own head before muttering, "Maybe I am going crazy." Before she kept walking again.

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A/N:

Thanks for hanging in there guys! Just started a new job and balancing classes, leaves me minimal time, but I promise I will update ASAP. Reviews with comments and/or ideas would be utterly helpful and may make the process go faster ;)

Happy Reading!