A/N: Woah woah woah, we're in the double digits now (as in chapters). Whoot, whoot! Also over 100 favorites! *Stands up and kicks chair in excitement all the while with excessive fist-pumping*

And puasluoma , there is absolutely nothing wrong with being a virgin. I didn't mean it like that, promise! Draco just teases Hermione any way he can, and it's only embarrassing to her because it was Malfoy that suggested something sexual(and the way he said it, can you imagine?), and what he says next doesn't help, either. (Chapter six, if you guys are wondering.)

I mean, I am one, and so are most ofmy friends (thank goodness, since most of us are pretty too young for that).

Disclaimer: I doughnut own Harry Potter or anything to do with Harry Potter.

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I have two more bloody days. Two more, and I'm free! It's so close, I can practically taste it.

The things I'm going to shout at Malfoy, Merlin, he should hide Friday night. I'm probably going to call him 'Malfoy' about a hundred times. Just to do it without having to be angry will be a fabulous feeling.

And I won't have to worry about being trapped by him anymore! I'll just silence and move him out of my way with my wand, oh the glory of it! I think I might even have to curse at him, just cause I can. In a calm voice, I can finally tell him how much I hate him. No yelling is needed, and no irritating need to hex him to Mars. Just calm, simply venomous name-calling.

I feel like a kid anticipating Christmas.

For the most of my advanced Ancient Ruins class, I had a large grin on my face. Two more momentarily became my motivation, my motto. It played through my head like a broken record, and if anyone asked what I was thinking about, since my grin was quite daydream-like, I would just repeat those words, and all would be well in my mind. In theirs they'd be thinking two what? But I won't explain even if they ask; I couldn't care less.

Ginny flourished in my good mood, and for the whole duration of lunch, we played Exploding Snap, Wizards Chess and multiple Muggle card games my mother had given me. It was slightly a shame, though. I hadn't eaten breakfast with Malfoy. That means supper with him in the Great Hall. Bugger.

But I can't let that get me down now, no siree! I've got one more fascinating class, then all I have to do is scarf down some food next to Malfoy, watch him take a bite and leave. Then I'll be free, and once a shared breakfast is over the next day, I can avoid him until that night. Yes, things are finally looking good.

Two more.

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Why do I even plan to stay positive anymore? I already know Malfoy's going to fuck it up somehow.

Okay, so currently I'm in the Slytherin dorms, sitting on Malfoy's lap. Let me explain.

I was planning on dragging his sorry arse over to the Gryffindor table, but then I remembered the tickling incident, so I chose to drop it and comply with the pale hand that was dragging me by the wrist to sit at the Slytherin table. Normally you're not allowed to intermingle at dinner, but with McGonagall's efforts for House Unity and the Law, she's letting it slide. She kinda has to with the latter excuse.

Ginny gave me a sorry look, so I shrugged in a whatcha gonna do type of way. I was planning on hurrying the hell up anyway.

Malfoy was still acting like a spoilt toddler who had been denied a toy. But I preferred it this way because he didn't try to talk to or bother me in any form or fashion. He just sat staring at his food and occasionally conversed with Zabini. Bloody Zabini.

But then three bloody Slytherins had to ruin the awkward peace by announcing a party in their Common Room.

"Yeah," one was saying, "it's gonna be good. We stocked up on Firewhiskey last week, and Harper's got the newest Weird Sisters album."

"And anytime with everyone together is a good time," the second one said.

"Draco, you're gonna be there, right?" number three said. "You're always good at parties. Remember when-"

"Shut it if you know what's good for you," Malfoy growled, shooting a pointed look at me.

"Oi, she can come too!" said number two. "It'd be better that way. It wouldn't be good if people started telling rumors the day after, and Granger here won't know if they're true or not."

Number one nodded. "Definitely. There's probably going to be a lot of other houses there, anyway 'cause of the Law and all that House Unity shit."

Gears seemed to be turning in Malfoy's head. "Looks like we've got plans tonight, Granger," he said with smirk.

I looked down at my plate, knowing he was going to win. "Hermione," I grumbled lowly.

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After supper I had tried to run off and hide in my dorm, but Malfoy followed me. I definitely wasn't going to let him overhear my password, or let him know where the Heads dorms were for that matter, so I didn't try it. Instead I turned to him.

"Draco, I don't want to go to a party. I need to study," I said with malice, but the curse made me sound pouty.

"But I do, so we're going," he stated. My fingers flexed.

"Why do you want to go?" I asked, trying to sidetrack the curse from agreeing.

He shrugged his shoulders. "Booze, friends and loud music. It's the dream." He said it in a way that indicated it was most definitely not the dream. He just wants to bloody get back at me for blowing my top at him.

"But there'll be so many people there," I said in a disgusted somehow cheery tone. He raised an eyebrow.

"And?"

"And," I said slowly, thinking up a plan. "We won't be alone."

"No, we won't," he said carelessly. I groaned internally. Like hell I was going to flirt him. I'd rather just put up with some drunken Slytherin idiots.

Once we were there, Malfoy sat himself in an armchair and pulled me with him. So that's how I ended up aboard S.S. Malfoy's Lap without a lifeboat or radio to call for help. Merlin save me.

I didn't really know what to do but twiddle my thumbs as Malfoy conversed and laughed with his friends. Multiple times he tried to offer me Firewhiskey, but I'll be damned if I take one sip. I don't hold alcohol well. Malfoy didn't seem to care, as he had a whole bottle to himself.

Then a joke was told that was apparently so funny, because he leant forward and buried his face into my neck before laughing. My body went rigid, and I eyed him from the corner of my vision. He rested his head on my shoulder and looked at me, his eyes going in and out of focus. He's fucking drunk. I would laugh if he wasn't currently holding me captive with his arms tightly wound around my waist.

"That wasss funny, My-yawn-ee," he slurred. My lips tightened.

"You're drunk," I stated. He laughed joyfully, his hand coming up from underneath my arm to cup my cheek.

"Isn't it great?" he asked, blinking heavily.

I shook my head. "Not really."

"Oi, lighten up Granger," Zabini said, taking a breather from snogging Daphnee. "Have some fun for a change!"

I got the idea he was a bit tipsy.

"Yeah," Malfoy whispered in my ear. "Fun."

I cringed when his Firewhiskey-lined breath hit my face. "No," I said lightly, fighting the curse with all my might. "I think it's time for me to go."

Then I stood up and started to weave my way out, but Malfoy suddenly grabbed my shoulders.

"Holy-" I exclaimed, turning around hastily so I could steady him. He seemed to be having trouble standing, and I had a feeling that if he went down, I was going down too. He chuckled, slinging his arms over my shoulders.

"Looks like we're dancing," he muttered.

"How much did you drink?" I asked, suddenly cursing myself for not monitoring Malfoy and his idiotic ways.

"Only a few bottles," he slurred. "Where're we going?"

"You're not going anywhere," I said, taking his arms off me and holding him by the elbows, checking to see if he could stand on his own. He seemed to manage, so I started walking off again.

"My-yawn-eeee!" he called after me, but I didn't turn around until I heard a squeal. I was just in time to see Malfoy and some petite, blue eyed girl fall to the ground, their mouths colliding somewhere in the middle.

They didn't separate for three seconds, and when his mouth was finally free, Malfoy's surprised voice slurred out, "Well hell-o!"

Then he made her giggle by giving her a wink and a smirk, something the Firewhiskey hadn't affected.

I didn't realize I was breathing heavy and clutching my wand until I blasted them apart, running out of the dungeons in a haze. Distinctly I heard Malfoy cursing, and Zabini saying something, but it didn't matter. I need to get to my dorm.

I let out a howl the moment I shut the door, clutching my hair and panting wide-eyed.

Why did it hurt so much? Why do I feel as if I've been stabbed in the chest? It must be the Law's magic, or…or…

Oh who am I kidding? My husband-to-be just kissed a girl and winked at her. I have the right to be as fucking upset- and angry- as I want.

When he's sober, he's a dead man. I threw a vase of flowers against the wall, grinning at the odd satisfaction it gave me.

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It wouldn't really have been that bad if the whole school didn't know about it the next morning, and it wasn't even that accurate. Everyone was talking about how Draco Malfoy and Astoria Greengrass had snogged at the Slytherin party, and about how Hermione Granger had thrown a fit and cursed them before running off in tears.

I don't like it when people talk about my personal life. It's so much harder to deal with something horrid when everyone knows about it, and especially when everyone wants to talk to you and make you feel better.

Ginny knew this, so she didn't pester me, knowing I'll tell her anyway. Which I did, and she gave me a quick but warm hug before we entered the Great Hall. I'd rather not skip breakfast and have everyone assume I'm in my dorm crying my eyes out. Facing everyone is better.

I glared at Malfoy from across the room to find him openly staring at me, a sad and tired look on his face. It threw me, to say the least. He's not the one to show emotions.

About halfway through breakfast I left, annoyed by not only Malfoy's stare, but Lavender and Parvati's pity looks. Ginny came with me, and we were planning on going to the library, but she was currently trying to persuade me into going out to the lake.

"But Gin, I need to check out some books," I said determinedly.

Ginny copied my determined tone onto her face and added to it. "Mione, can't we just study what you've got? There's like ten books already in there!"

And she wasn't lying. Undetectable extending charm. I patted my bag lovingly.

I sighed. "But I still need another one for that-"

"Hermione!" We both turned around to see Malfoy running up from behind us. I frowned at Ginny.

"What do you want Malfoy?" I asked calmly. He pouted a bit.

"Call me Draco, and I wanted to apologize. What I did was completely uncalled for and I promise-"

"Call me Draco?" Ginny asked with a wide smile as something clicked in her eyes. "Hermione. Call. Me. Draco!"

I looked at her oddly.

"I'm Draco, Ginger idiot," Malfoy spat, turning back to me. "But I really am sorry, Hermione. I was drunk and I never should have gone in the first place because I knew you didn't want to go. Will you please forgive me?"

I stared curiously at him a minute and readjusted my bag strap on my shoulder. "Um-"

"I can hold that," he said, snatching my bag and looking at me expectantly for a response.

"Call me Draco," Ginny whispered in my ear, and I gasped. Then I started laughing.

Malfoy had the curse now. It passed to him when I got jealous at the party. I looked up at his uncharacteristically smiling face and started laughing again.

"Man, Hermione!" Ginny said. "You must've been pretty ticked last night! He's so whipped!"

Malfoy scowled at her. "I am not."

"Yeah you are," Ginny spat back.

"No I'm not."

"Yeah, you are."

"No, I'm not!"

"Stop it you two," I interrupted. "I'll think about it Malfoy. Give me my bag back."

He frowned. "Draco, and I'll just carry it for you."

"I'm perfectly capable. Besides, I don't want you coming with us."

His face fell as he handed it over. "I really am sorry," he muttered, kicking his feet with downcast eyes.

"That's for me to debate," I said before taking Ginny by the arm and walking off.

She started laughing hysterically when we rounded the corner.

"Sweet Merlin," she wheezed. "How long do you reckon he'll be like that?"

"Well," I said, grabbing my chin. "It didn't last over a minute, but I was pretty pissed, so I'd say three days with him acting just like that."

We shared a look and started laughing again.

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Classes today were…different. Malfoy had the audacity to sit by me in every subject we had together. The teachers were a bit flabbergasted, but with the rumors that have been surrounding the two of us within the last few days, probably everyone at Hogwarts knows that we are betrothed.

The first time he tried to sit by me, I outright told him that I'd rather sit by a hippogriff, emphasis on the hippogriff. But then he sat down in a seat near mine, proceeding to stare and pout at me the entire time, no matter how many glares I gave him.

And he always snatched whatever objects that I was holding or carrying and demanded that he held them for me. He even grabbed several books, one of which I was currently reading.

"Look Malfoy-"

"Draco," he said with a nod of his head.

I sighed. He did call me Hermione when I was under that curse, so…

"Draco," I grumbled. "You can sit by me next period, but-" His face had lightened up, and was about to interrupt me. "-you can't stare at me, and you have to do your share of work. Deal?"

I just can't work with a Malfoy breathing down my neck. If we compromise, it'll be better. I hope.

He nodded his head several times. I half smiled out of relief. "Good."

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"But Mione-"

"No Draco, please. It's for your sake as well. You're going to hate me after you're back to normal and remember making a fool of yourself in Hogsmeade over me. Besides, Harry and Ron said that they were going to stay the weekend. I'm going to be around them a lot."

"I don't care. I just won't talk to them. I'll talk to you," he said confidently, as if he just solved the problem.

I was about to tell him one of the many numerous things are most likely to go wrong when Ginny popped up behind me, very cheery. She's been nothing but smiles since Harry told her he was coming.

"Hey Mione, hey Malfoy," she said in a sing-song voice. Malfoy nodded in her direction. "What are we talking about?"

"I'm going to Hogsmeade this weekend with Hermione and her lot," Malfoy said.

"No, no he's not," I said hurriedly. "He just thinks he is."

"Oi," Ginny said, momentarily placing her hands on her hips. "I'm a part of your lot, as Malfoy put it, and I say he can come."

"Thank you, Ginger," Malfoy said, smiling at me smugly.

"Ginny!" I exclaimed. "But it's not fair to him, he's not himself."

"Think about it," she whispered in my ear. "He can carry the shopping!"

"But you've got Harry to do that."

"Yeah, but you don't have a Harry," she said like it was obvious.

"Yeah, but I'm not going to buy anything," I said, coping her tone.

We didn't seem to be whispering quiet enough. "I can buy you something," Malfoy cut in.

"No, that's fine. You don't have to," I said with a wave of my hand.

"But I've got plenty of extra money, and we're going to share everything one day, so it's not like it matters."

I thought about how to word my answer. "Yes, but I don't need anything right now. Thank you for offering, Draco."

I turned to Ginny before he could answer. "I am not letting him tag along so that Harry and Ron can laugh at him. He did no such thing to me when I was like that, so I'm not going to do it to him," I said with my arms crossed.

Ginny scrunched her nose before sighing. "Yeah, I guess it would mess with my morals if I belittled someone in a vulnerable state."

"Exactly," I said, glad that she understood.

Malfoy seemed a bit distraught. "Hermione!" he moaned. "We never do anything together!"

I closed my eyes a moment. "Draco, if I promise to study with you in the library every night you ask, will you drop the Hogsmeade issue?"

He bit his tongue in thought. "Yup! See you tonight!"

I groaned as he walked away. Ginny patted my back.

"There, there. At least you know he won't make you mad for three days," she said reassuringly.

I snorted. "That's hardly a condolence. I'd rather have a snarky, cunning Malfoy that sometimes offends me with the truth than this arse kissing ferret."

"Sounds like someone has a crush!" Ginny sang. I slapped her arm.

"Stop being so immature! I just know what version of Malfoy I like better, that's all," I said defensively.

"Would you like to list his good and bad qualities while having a pajama party?"

"No thanks Gin," I said, not quite sure if she was being serious or not.

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After a quick lunch with Malfoy in the kitchens, as I didn't trust neither him nor my friends as he is with curse, I went to my dorm to be alone until classes started again. I just needed five measly minutes to myself. I played with Crookshanks, read for pleasure, and made some nice tea.

But then Ginny was knocking on my door, screaming for help. I thought someone had died, but no, she just forgot about her essay that's due in fifteen minutes. I sighed as I brought out my quill.

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Malfoy smiled and waved me over when I spotted him in the library. He was in the back, sitting a few tables away from my favorite spot.

"Hey Hermione," he hollered happily. I nodded as a substitute for a greeting, sitting down across from him.

I started taking notes from one of my books as I waited for him to start working, but he was just watching me with the corners of his mouth slightly turned upward.

I decided to break the silence. It seemed a bit awkward on my part.

"So whatcha got there?" I asked with my head bobbing in the direction of his parchment and books.

"Oh, I just grabbed these randomly off the shelves. I used to-" He stopped talking suddenly, lips firmly shut. He glanced at my book. "What are you reading?"

I gave him a suspicious look, but didn't inquire on his unfinished sentence. If he didn't want to tell me something so bad that he fought his curse for it, then I wasn't going to push it. Yet.

"Several books on the history of hieroglyphics, for Ancient Ruins," I explained. His eyebrows went up a bit as he smiled.

Malfoy actually knows a lot about school, he just never talks about it. But with this curse, he answers every one of my questions with detail and facts that aren't really necessary, but interesting all the same. I'll have to get him like this more often.

Maybe he'll let me see this side of him when he's normal. It'll be even better then, because he won't sigh and stare at me when I say my input.

I know I acted a lot like his is now, especially at the beginning. Merlin, how did he ever deal with me as nicely as he did? I'm going to have to be nicer to him now. Damn.

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A/N: Word count: 3,379.

So how was that chapter? Is it stupid? Unrealistic? I'm kinda getting that vibe, but all the same I can't find it in myself to redo it, because I like certain parts…I dunno, please review so I know if it's going alright?

What do you guys think about Hermione and Draco's way of treating each other? Good or bad for being thrown together? And there's also their separate feelings, ways of coping, and personalities to consider. Does it work? They'll get somewhat along…eventually. There's still a bit of shock between them, I think.

Opinions? Please? I'm going out on a limb with this story and I want to know it's going good…

And MissusGages you little stinker, you! In your review you guessed exactly what was happening in this chapter, and I wrote it literally right after I posted the ninth chapter! Tell me, are you a Seeer (sp?)? Until next time,

-GG222