She had just a little time before breakfast, maybe she could skip it…Gurgle… maybe not. She still hadn't told Malfoy about the shoot on Saturday and it was now Thursday morning. The weather had been rubbish all week, so naturally Professor Dumbledore had cast a heating spell before going to the World Ministry meeting which was taking place in Amsterdam this year. The Floo network was jammed pack with the press and highly known wizards from all over flooing to Amsterdam, even apparating would be hard, only twelve participants from each country were allowed to. Many people were against taking portkeys seeing as a high danger of limbs being swapped if too many people used a port key at one time, so Dumbledore wouldn't be back until next Monday, this left Professor McGonagall in charge.

Yep, she had just over fifteen minutes to see her aunt and get to the Great hall for breakfast, oh and can't forget dying of heat exhaustion. She was dressed exactly the same way as that day where her and Blaise had changed her outfit, but now she pushed her socks down and showed a great deal of skin, but not for that purpose of course.

"Buona Mattina." (Good morning) Hermione said to her aunt, as she entered her office. Selene swirled around in her chair to face her young niece.

"Principessa di Buona Mattina!" (Good morning Princess) Selene smiled down at her niece before kissing the teenager's cheek. "Come siete?" (How are you?)

"Fien grazie. Come siete?" (I'm fine thanks, how are you?)

"Fien, I'm impressed you haven't forgotten how to speak Italian." The elder said smiling.

"And I'm impressed that you've remembered how to speak polite English."

"Watch it missy!" Hermione giggled at her Aunt's mock hurt look. "I know you're not here for a quick Italian lesson, so what is it you need?"

"You caught me Zia! I was wondering if Malfoy and I could have permission to go to Hogsmeade on Saturday even though it's not a Hogsmeade weekend."

"Ah yes, Castelli wrote to me about this, your uncle and I want you both back by 1.30, at the latest!"

"Grazie Zia!" (Thank you auntie!) Hermione looked down at her watch. "I've got to go, I need my daily nutrients!"

Selene laughed at Hermione's retreating form. Maybe it really was the right decision coming back.

Hermione met silver eyes as soon as she entered the hall. The walk to the Slytherin table was long and winded, she had just passed the Gryffindor table when somebody called her.

"Hey 'Mione."

"Hi Harry, what can I do for you?"

"Nothing, I just wanted to see how you're doing."

"Oh well…" She looked over Harry's shoulder to see Ginny glaring daggers at her. "I'm good, Listen I'm really hungry, could we…"

"Oh no problem, I'll see you in Potions?" She nodded and made her way to her house table.

"I saved you a place, Miya."

"Not today Ali, I'm having breakfast with the devil…"

He always sat all the top end of the table, the closest to the professors and furthest from the doors, unfortunately her legs had managed to get her to the evil, satanic, peroxide using bimbo (who amazingly enough has the same intelligence as her.).

"Crabbe, move your good for nothing ass out the way for Snape to sit down."

Crabbe in reply grunted something along the lines of 'Ok Malfoy', he really is good for nothing, she thought as she took her seat next to the Slytherin Prince.

"Not happy to be sitting next to me, Snape?"

"Why on earth would you think that, Malfoy?" she gave him the sweetest smile she could muster. While trying to imagine how she could kill him with a cup and a wooden bench, so far only three ways had sprung into mind.

"Any other girl would be dead happy to be sitting here."

"Really? I've never found Crabbe attractive!"

His long fingers wrapped around his goblet, the ring on his little finger shining in the process. The Malfoy emblem it was two snakes wrapped around an 'M' with a dagger going through the dip in the letter.

"Wow, it's beautiful"

"Really Snape, I know I'm gorgeous, but please make your love for me more subtle." His light grey eyes sparkled with sarcasm and mischief.

"Shut it, I was talking about your ring."

"I seem to know for a fact that you also have one."

"Yeah, but it's not as fitting as that."

The Snape emblem was a black Rose shaped into an 'S'.

"I prefer yours, the Malfoy cress is a bit too dark for my liking."

"Do you want to switch, I mean just for the week or so?"

"I was thinking just that." They swapped rings, they Snape family ring which used to be positioned on her right hand index finger fit only on Malfoy's smallest finger and visa-versa.

"Enjoy your breakfast without me, only today, I have errands to attend to."

"Thank Merlin!" Just as Malfoy got up and walked down to the doors, he stopped and faced her.

"6.30 at the Quidditch pitch tonight Snape, you get to watch me practise."

It felt so natural for Hermione to walk to the Slytherin stand without batting an eyelash at crimson and gold stand. She walked up the long stairs easily, all that skiing finally paying off, and saw Millicent and her gang of airheads. There were five of them: Millicent, Isobel, Giselle, Tia and Becky. On the other side of the stands were Alisha, Pansy and Scarlet. Wonder why there were only girls.

"This pitch is like a carbon copy of the one at Beauxbaton. Who's on the Slytherin team?"

"Well there's Jose Claiborne, Ian, and Damien Humbeetle who are the chasers, Blaise is the keeper, Christian and Marc Blackwood are the beaters and Draco's the seeker and captain."

"So you guys just sit out here watching them?"

"Well we support our best friends, while the blondes over there – no offence Hermione, admire our Slytherin boys." Pansy remarked

Right now the boys were just practising control over speed. Draco would twirl around on his broom and watch the boys carefully.

"Oh my gosh! He's just so good-looking!" Giselle said mocking fainting. Hermione rolled her eyes at their childish behaviour.

"…So sexy…"

"…So modest…" Ok Hermione had to laugh at that, how many brain cells does that Becky girl have?

"Hello Ladies." a too familiar voice drawled from behind her.

"Hi Draco." The five girls said in unison then giggled hysterically.

"How was I doing out there Pans'?"

"Is Draco Malfoy doubtful about his abilities to coach a mere quidditch team? What is the world subsiding to!" Pansy grinned cheekily when Draco lifted one eyebrow.

"Your sense of humour just cuts through me." He said, not fully serious himself.

"Aw lighten up Dray, you know you were made to boss people around." Pansy laughed at her best friend's reaction. "I'm assuming you didn't just come here for my opinion."

"Right you are I came to give Snape here her flying lesson."

"No way am I getting on that thin piece of wood with you Malfoy!"

"Nah-nah-nah Snape remember the deal." Urgh! How could she forget?

"Fine, Scarlet look after my stuff."

Malfoy lowered his Hurricane 2005 so she could get on in front of him. The other girls were shooting her jealous looks; I mean did they really think they had a chance with him? She steadied herself onto the broomstick and waited for Malfoy to take off.

"We can go you know? I'm safely on now."

"Do you really think I'd wait until you're safe?"

"No I suppose not."

"Exactly, anyway you're flying." Hermione gave him a blank look, the only verbal test that could describe it was 'HUH!'

"Well what did you think I meant by flying lesson?" he remarked.

"I am not flying this broom with you!"

"ok, I'll just go get Goyle to help you."

"NO! I think I can manage."

Thought you might." He murmured.

She nervously pushed her foot of the ground and they sloppily took off into air, in a chaotic manner Hermione tried it steer the stick away from the forbidden forest but was having not luck in doing so, he felt light headed when a rather large tree got closer and closer. She closed her eyes in anticipation for the impact, but none came. She felt cold, smooth hands gently placed themselves on top of her own and manoeuvre away from the wildlife, suddenly remembering that Malfoy was sitting in close proximity.

"Maybe I should take over for while." He whispered throatily into her ear, she nodded not catching the sexual innuendo. "So Snape, why do you hate flying so much?"

"I dunno, during my first few months in Italy Raphael- Castelli's son, took me on his ThunderSpeed and I totally lost it, I couldn't stop shaking for days."

"Raphael Castelli, eh? Did you check his mouth for cavities too?"

"Raphael and I are just good frie- That reminds me, what are you doing on Saturday?"

"Probably something or the other, why?"

"Well remember when Castelli said we'd have to repay him for the clothes with a photo shoot?" Malfoy nodded. "To cut a long story short he's moved it up to Saturday morning, I've got permission for us to go and everything, I just need you to agree."

"And why would I agree, dear Snape?"

"Because you're a Malfoy," She stated simply "You crave the attention. Deep down you'd like to be the centre of attraction, maybe it's you're last name or just another special 'Draco Feature' but I sure as hell know you'd love to be recognized by teens every… just like me. Maybe that's what eats you up inside about me Malfoy, and maybe that's also the reason you despise Harry because you've been in his shadow in many things for too long. First quidditch, then money – think about that hefty inheritance that's waiting for him, or the money he gets from all the articles and interviews he's done, then last but not least his Girlfriend. I know you don't want Ginny Weasley, but I can see the envy in your eyes when you see them together, you want that…" At this point they had stopped flying and were standing together on the empty Ravenclaw stands.

"How did you asking me for help get on to what you think I want! You forget your place in life Snape." His silver eyes blazed an unnatural fire in them. "Great for you, you're pureblood, beautiful and rich but you're also a manipulative, cunning bitch, just right for Slytherin. I thought this bet would have at least made us friends or acquaintances but no, you opened that big mouth of yours and ruin everything. If you must know I don't really give a shit about what Harry Potter has and hasn't got because guess what Hermione? I think he lost half of it trying to recover from you leaving! Oh poor mudblood me! My parents never told me I was adopted, so I'm going to run off to Italy and find my family, ditch my friends in the process, come back as a fucking celebrity, again forget my only friends whom are the only people who actually didn't forget your existence then bitch-slap me and the rest of the school around like we're you're fucking whores! You should have just stayed in muggle Italy where you belong. 'Cause I for one now wished you'd never come back."

"You don't fucking understand anything do you! You've got it all wrong." She retorted, tears welling up in her eyes.

"I'm not that first year prick anymore Hermione, I wish you could see that! You hardly even speak to me, how the hell can I tell what I'm saying is right or wrong about you if you won't open up to me!"

Guilt spread over both their bodies as they realized the impact of their words. A few minutes had passed and they were still there just staring at each breathing heavily.

"Why does this always happen when we're together?" Hermione said, trying to break the mood.

"I really have no clue."

"I think I understand."

"You're Hermione Snape, you understand everything."

"No Draco, I mean I understand 'Us'"

"Lucky you, cause I certainly don't." He looked down at the floor and then back up at her with slightly wide eyes. "You called me Draco."

She gave him a sarcastic smile and answered "No shit, Sherlock." And laughed at herself. She could see his eyes begin to soften and continued.

"I understand how badly we've been treating over Draco, and I understand for all the wrong reasons, I mean I would get angry at you for a reason not even I can remember and I'm sorry."

"You're right, I'm sorry too. I guess I was maybe a bit envious of you."

"Are you sure, Malfoy?"

"Damn sure, Snape, are we ok?" Malfoy's hands were stuffed in his pockets, his hair dangled over his eyes in a boyish manner, which contrasted well with his attitude.

"Merlin's beard, Malfoy! We've never been ok." She grinned cheekily at his attempt for a half smile.

"So are we…" he couldn't/didn't want to find the right word.

"We can be friends, Malfoy, on two conditions. One: you teach me everything there is about being Slytherin Royalty and in return I'll teach you to be a better person."

"I think you've just gotten yourself a deal. Sealed with a kiss?"

"Always." He leant down, close enough to tease her and felt her hot breath on his face, she cupped the back of his head and pulled his towards her. Their lips met in a fury trying to dominate power from each other. They reluctantly pulled apart when they ran out of breath.

"Was I really a bitch to Harry?"

"Do you want the truth or a Friendly lie?" He smirked, still trying to recover from the kiss. He sae her glaring face and carried on. "I think you need to talk to them, I mean you've just come back into their lives and you've been separated from, things they may say will hurt but don't forget they're probably hurting just as bad."

"Why Mr Malfoy, are you getting soft on us?"

"Why no Mrs Malfoy, I'm not."

"Mrs Malfoy shall become Mrs Crabbe if Mr Malfoy does not change her name back to Miss Snape."

"You're no fun!" he said with a childish pout on his face, like he's a four year old whom is not allowed a biscuit.

"I have to go find Harry, Ginny and Ron. I'll see you later?"

"You'll never get rid of me." She started to walk away when Malfoy shouted behind her. "I'll see you Saturday morning, Snape."

With her back to him she smiled, as she realized she'd gained a friend.

Hermione arrived at the Fat Lady's portrait and asked her to call the three out. They came out to a nervous yet calm Hermione.

"Hermione, What's wrong?"

"Before you guys say anything I just want to say that I'm sorry for the way I've been acting for the first month of school. I shouldn't have been so distance, and horrible to you Ginny. I understand that I've been neglecting you guys and been with Blaise the whole time, I really can't state my reason for it because I don't know! I hope you can all accept my brief yet –to me- meaningful apology."

Hermione felt tears swell up in her eyes for the second time in the last two hours, she willed them away but they ended up being squeezed out but three pairs of arms wrapping around her.

"Oh 'Mione, I'm so sorry, I was such a meany! I shouldn't have said those things!"

"Yeah you were right, if you could walk up half the castle alone, then why we couldn't visit you is something I couldn't understand." She hugged Ron and smiled gently into his shirt.

"What does my favourite Voldemort slayer have to say?"

Harry broke into a huge grin.

"He say's Welcome back Hermione Snape."

AN: Hello everyone! Now I need to tell you that I'm a bit upset with the amount of reviews I got for the last chapter – which was the longest! Come on guys, give us a break! Italy was great fun! So beautiful and er…. Not relaxing. Got any suggestions for this chapter? I hope my italian's improving! Ciao!

Over and out

CocoaFlavourPunk