Wednesday, October 12th

Ginny wasn't sure if the cease fire was over. The Slytherins were acting more normal today but that didn't mean any thing. She knew from Theo that they were allowed to resume normal activity but Draco had made a formal statement that he was done cleaning up their messes.

"So Draco always cleans up after the other Slytherins?" Ginny asked as they started to make a Draught of Sleeping Death. The potion was harder than the last one they had made but not by much. They had gotten full marks on their last potion.

The rest of the class was working faster and more efficiently than they had on Monday. Snape had announced yesterday that while the top team would go on to compete, the top three teams would be exempt from the potions portion of the OWLs this year. Ginny had no doubts that she and Theo were going to be in the top three groups but she wanted first.

"Pretty much," Theo replied, slicing his wormwood bark with quick, efficient strokes. Ginny had to admit he was pretty sexy when he was in his smock but that could be just her. She had a thing for Potions boys.

"Does this mean that the Slytherins will ease up?"

"Until Draco revokes this mandate. Either that or start doing the cleaning ourselves and trust me, none of us really want that."

"Is it so hard?"

"Not really. It's just easier to let someone else do it and Draco is damn good at that sort of thing. Good god, woman. Are you finished with the cinnamon already?"

Ginny looked down and sure enough she was. "Yeah, I guess I am. Why?"

He shook his head. "You're damn fast, you know that, don't you?"

She shrugged. "Years of practice. I was always sous chef to my mom when she cooked."

"Sous chef?" Theo asked, interest thick in his voice.

So Ginny spent the remainder of the period explaining a muggle kitchen to Theo as they made their potion.

"That sounds wicked cool. Like potions, but cooler. I mean you do it all with just a microwave and stove."

"Well, they have ovens too," Ginny pointed out as she bottled their potion.

"Ovens?" he gasped. "What are those?"

Ginny chuckled. "Tell you about it tomorrow."

8()8()8

Draco rubbed his neck and tried to focus on the charm he was supposed to be performing. His mind, however, kept slipping back to the events of the past forty eight hours.

Blaise was being a moron and there was nothing Draco could do about it. He knew there was nothing he could do about it and it was killing him. He knew he should distance himself from it all. He really should go back to his war with Weasley girl. That would keep him distracted. Besides, she was cute when she was flustered and he kinda wanted to see how she would behave when she got pissed off.

The problem was, he had almost bonded with Granger yesterday. It was strange to think about but in a way he kinda owed her. They weren't friends or anything but he decided to be a little nicer to her. At the same time, he wanted to be a little mean to her. She was definitely fueling his fascination with all things Baby Weasel and doubtless if he kept being her partner that fascination was going to grow.

"Any time now, Mr. Malfoy," Professor Flitwick said timidly.

Draco snapped out of his thoughts and tried to remember what spell he was supposed to be doing. Just as he thought he might have it, bubbles burst into existence before him. He blinked. He sure as hell didn't do that. The snickering from the Gryffindors stopped and Flitwick applauded.

"Good job, Mr. Malfoy. You may return to your seat."

Draco turned back to his seat. As he went, he saw Hermione Granger put her wand away. As he approached her seat, he waited until the boys were looking away and nodded his thanks to her. A smile flickered across her lips and for a second he thought he could tell what Weasley boy saw in the girl.

As he walked past her, he realized that whether he liked it or not, things between him and Granger would never be the same.

8()8()8

Ginny dug through her bag as she knelt in the corridor. The hall was deserted but she couldn't find what she was looking for.

"Looking for something, Weasley?"

Ginny looked up as Draco Malfoy walked towards her, holding the small potions book. "Never fancied you getting this into potions," he commented.

"Well, Theo just makes it soo interesting," Ginny purred, snatching at the book.

Draco was three inches taller than her and he held the book out of her reach but only just. "Weasley, I know you're fantastic at Potions."

"And how do you know that?" Ginny demanded.

"Because aside from Granger and me, you're the only student Snape's seriously considering sending to the WPC this summer."

Ginny's heart skipped a beat. She was being seriously considered?

"That's good to hear," she managed to drawl. "I take it our cease fire is over."

He tossed the book back to her. "Yeah, darling, it is."

"Good," she said, catching the book. She turned to leave but he called after her.

"Yeah?" she replied over her shoulder.

"Do me a favor, Weasley."

She thought he was going to ask her to stop taking extra lessons with Theo and she was prepared with a jealousy dig but he just said, "Leave Pansy out of this."

She blinked. It took her a moment before she realized what he was talking about. Pansy was in a bad place right now, what with Blaise being with another girl. Even after she figured that one out, it took another moment for the green eyed beast in her to subside enough that she could shrug.

"What ever."

Ginny turned around again and clutched her book to her chest, wondering just what the hell that was about. She wasn't in love with Malfoy… was she?