Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I do not own Harry Potter... (Although, like many here, I would gladly take it off of Rowling's hands if need be!)

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Hi there!

Thank you so very much to everybody who has favourited/followed!

Thanks to JayBat for your review. I hope my reply smoothed things over, and I've actually written the explanation for Hermione's power, and that should come up either next chapter or the one after.

Also thanks to Writer Wisher for reviewing - all in good time... I love most Dramione stories I read to bits, but my personal favourites are quite gradual to make it more realistic. I might be taking it too far, but the way I've written Draco is such that true Dramione will take a while, but Hermione's side is a bit easier to include. As for the sibling bond: their reasoning is explained in the second chapter, but in short it's the sense they are each other's magical family. That bond is not as significant as Hermione's power, but will come in handy later.

Furthermore, (I forgot to mention last chapter), thank you a million to my first two author favourites; Simione88 and MsReader2016! Great to know you guys like my writing! Also thanks for your insightful PMs - you know who you are!

Please do review! It just makes me feel that little bit better about writing these chapters! Also - it's great to hear what you're getting from a different perspective, so I know if I need to adjust my writing. Let me know what you think will happen next!

Last chapter:

1. Draco and Hermione met at the Astronomy Tower, and negotiated a deal for exchanging information; Hermione wanted info on Umbridge and Draco wanted to know more about Hermione's power.

2. More of Hermione's power, and its control were revealed.

3. Hermione defended Harry against Lavender, and they are due to meet Umbridge.

Do review, lovelies! A little click will just make my day.

Again: parts of the story in bold are directly from the book (I still take no credit for that)! Sorry if this bothers you but as I mentioned, this is my first story and I find it hard to find a starting point! There is very little with Draco in it for this one, but he will be big in the next chapter I promise!

It seems like it's been a while (only two weeks!), but I'm hoping the chapters will be better quality now that I have a bit more time! Right now I'm really busy, but you guys are on my priority list!

Just to confirm due to confusion: I update every two weeks on Wednesday.

So far keeping updates regular, but they will potentially slow down a tiny bit as we get deeper into the story. Any ideas and thoughts are appreciated! Without further ado...

Signed off,

YourDiamondAngel

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PAST - No match for a Malfoy.

When everyone had copied down Professor Umbridge's three course aims she said, "Has everybody got a copy of Defensive Magical Theory by Wilbert Slinkhard?"

There was a dull murmur of assent throughout the class. "I think we'll try that again," said Professor Umbridge. "When I ask you a question, I should like you to reply 'Yes, Professor Umbridge,' or 'No, Professor Umbridge.' So, has everyone got a copy of Defensive Magical Theory by Wilbert Slinkhard?"

"Yes, Professor Umbridge," rang through the room.

"Good," said Professor Umbridge. "I should like you to turn to page five and read chapter one, 'Basics for Beginners.' There will be no need to talk."

Professor Umbridge left the blackboard and settled herself in the chair behind the teacher's desk, observing them all with those pouchy toad's eyes. Harry turned to page five of his copy of Defensive Magical Theory and started to read.

It was desperately dull, quite as bad as listening to Professor Binns. He felt his concentration sliding away from him; he had soon read the same line half a dozen times without taking in more than the first few words. Several silent minutes passed. Next to him, Ron was absentmindedly turning his quill over and over in his fingers, staring at the same spot on the page. Harry looked right and received a surprise to shake him out of his torpor. Hermione had not even opened her copy of Defensive Magical Theory. She was staring fixedly at Professor Umbridge with her hand in the air.

Hermione willed her face to remain impassive as her arm began to tingle. She stared directly at the toady-old-lady, ready to obliterate her. Harry turned to her with surprise, and she shook her head surreptitiously willing her message into his head. 'Don't you dare rise to the bait, Harry Potter, I swear.' Her inner voice echoed throughout her head, and she glared him into submission as he opened his mouth to speak.

She returned her focus to Professor Umbridge, so intently focused that she almost missed the platinum blonde flash as Malfoy turned towards her, staring quizzically. She deliberately ignored him, choosing instead to remain with the book closed on her desk, back straight and rigid, legs crossed daintily and arm straight up, defiant in its intent.

She waited minute after minute, watching out of the corner of her eye as, one by one, each of her classmates turned their attention to the silent battle going on before them. She lifted her chin up, refusing to back down, and she felt her Gryffindor peers - even Lavender who'd she'd threatened just that morning - raising up theirs in solidarity and support. Even some Slytherins were intrigued by the power struggle that their house if any would be the most aware of.

Then, to her shock and surprise, Draco Malfoy, the boy she'd been up until early hours talking with, raised his hand as well. His pose was neutral, and his face as emotionless of her; he gave no indication whether his raised hand was to be in support or disrespect of her own.

"Yes, Mr Malfoy." A sickly sweet voice asked, mere seconds later. It took all Hermione's strength not to shake with anger, and she clenched her fist under the desk to relieve her anger. She glared at Harry in warning, sensing his protectiveness immediately.

"Mada-...Sorry...Professor Umbridge..." Malfoy spoke smoothly, his tone one of respect. If anyone else had attempted the same, you would have described it as simpering or cooing, but on a Malfoy, those terms could not be further from the truth. "My sincerest apologies for interrupting your lesson, but I would just like to say on behalf of many in my house, that we are so glad the Ministry have seen fit to provide us with a such a competent and impressive teacher. My father says he's heard nothing but praise of your abilities from the Minister..." He trailed off, pretending to be unaware of the positive, and beaming expression on the woman's face. Umbridge looked gleeful beyond belief.

Hermione finally broke her promise of impassiveness, rolling her eyes at his blatant flattery.

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If Draco Malfoy had been anyone else, he would have felt sick to his stomach twice over for having to flatter such a frumpy old woman, but fortunately, he was not out of practise when it came to charming those who were not the most appealing of people. He could sense Granger's fury from across the classroom, and sent her a smug smirk whilst Umbridge preened at his words. His father's instructions were clear.

"She already knows the Malfoy's support this Minister, Draco, you need only confirm it and set an example for all your other Slytherin classmates."

Draco waited patiently for Umbridge to stop her embarrassing display before she responded.

"Well Mr Malfoy, it's refreshing to see that some people in Hogwarts appreciate all the Ministry is doing for them." The statement was sweet, but there was a bitter undertone directed at Potter. Surprisingly, he just shrugged it off...Merlin's sake, Granger! She warned him...Umbridge would be suspicious.

Draco watched Umbridge's smug smirk slip off her face as she realised Potter wouldn't do anything. She sighed and looked towards Granger, who still had her hand up, and had regained control over her anger. He saw Umbridge finally give up before he heard-

"Yes, Miss Granger, is it?"

"Yes, Professor." Her voice was ever the epitome of respect. She would have made a good Slytherin.

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"Do you seem to have a problem with my simple instructions, dear?" Hermione kept her cool, despite the direct insult. She'd planned exactly how to do this.

"I had a query about your course aims." Umbridge gestured for her to continue. "You see, Professor, according to the O.W.L. syllabus, we need to know how to perform defensive magic, but there's nothing in your course aims regarding the practise of magic."

"Well Miss Granger, if you study the theory hard enough, I'm sure you will perform fine in the examina-"

"You mean we're not using magic? At all?" Seamus's Irish accent rung through stronger in each syllable.

"Please raise your hand Mr...?"

"Finnegan." Seamus said, raising his hand as he spoke. Umbridge ignored it. Hermione tried again, raising her hand completely calmly.

"Yes, Miss Granger." Umbridge huffed, betraying her annoyance.

"Professor, after seeing Mr Slinkhard's name on the book list, I took the liberty of reading other books, given he's such a riveting writer. I thought it would be a great way to become fully informed and on board with everything our new Ministry is doing." Hermione swore she heard a faint snort from the Slytherin side of the room. Definitely not Malfoy, his composure was too unbreakable. Definitely male - perhaps Zabini.

Regardless, she continued as if uninterrupted. "His excellent book, "Underage Magic: Restrictions and Theories" had a chapter discussing the magical ability of students our age. According to him, in order to master a spell at an underdeveloped age, you need to have it ingrained in your magical core memory, which can only be done by practising beforehand." Umbridge was wide-eyed and shaking in a combination of fury and shock.

"Miss Granger!" She exclaimed, but Hermione did not miss a beat.

"Given our magical core's and abilities are not as advanced as that of a powerful witch, such as yourself..." Hermione smiled, charmingly. She could flatter just as well as Malfoy, but her intention was not to flatter this toady woman, but to mock her with enough plausible deniability that she could stay out of trouble. "...and given that, I'm not sure we could quite manage to do the practical spells correctly the first time. Unless you believe all of us to be exceptionally special and powerful wiza-"

"NO!" Umbridge screeched, all but jumping up and down in panic. The whole class went silent in shock at her sudden outburst. She blushed at regained control over herself. "Detention, Miss Granger."

"Merlin, Professor! Whatever for? My sincerest apologies if I insulted you - that was not my intention." Hermione reverted to "panicked-perfect-student-schoolgirl" mode, and Umbridge bought it, smiling in victory. Too bad it was to be short lived.

"For trying to...undermine the authority of a Hogwarts Professor...hmm...and for...inappropriate rudeness towards a Hogwarts Professor."

'Gotcha!' Hermione cheered for herself inside; the Professor couldn't have picked a worse excuse. But she had to keep faking.

"I'm so sorry, Professor, I didn't mean to be rude." She bit her lip, as if about to cry. "I'm sorry, this never happens to me. I have so much respect for all the teachers her an what they do..." She punctuated this with a dramatic sniffle. "I wouldn't-... I didn't-..." She could feel the students around her looking up from their fake reading and glaring at Umbridge. There was one thing you didn't do as a teacher if you wanted to be validated at this school, and that was undermine Hermione Granger. The students views had not yet been decided, but it was not favourable from anyone in Gryffindor, and even some Slytherins.

But sometimes, making Umbridge look bad to others was not enough. Sometimes the most satisfying manipulation is when the victim (a loose term in this case, as the woman was anything but) begins to question their own judgement. So Hermione went for the unexpected. After all, that's the best way to catch somebody off guard. The unexpected.

"I'll happily come to make it up in detention tonight." She sniffled again. She deserved an Oscar for this performance! "It won't h...happen again." Sometimes you just had to pretend you were beaten. Umbridge stared at her, as if she was expecting more of a fight from the fiery, muggleborn best friend of the 'problematic Mr Potter'. Then again, she was probably confused enough as it was by Harry's lack of reaction. Hermione smirked internally at her victory.

"Today at 7.00pm, Granger." Hermione did not miss the convenient leaving out of the 'Miss'.

"Yes, Professor." Impassive again.

"And no more talking back - have you even read the textbook page?" Hermione looked up in confusion, as did everybody else in the class. Did this woman just ask if Hermione Granger had read the textbook? Immediately, every single person's opinion of the woman dropped. Slowly, steadily, subconsciously, but surely dropped. Slytherins and Gryffindors alike looked at the woman in absolute shock.

"I always read all the books set for the year before September, Professor." Her voice was that of a pristine little girl, and with a twirl of her finger under the desk, a stream of light circled her head, reminiscent of a halo, making her eyes look wide and innocent. At that moment, the bell rang, and each student in the room left to feed the Hogwarts Rumour Mill. Hermione Granger got a detention...for beating Professor Umbridge.

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Draco had to give it to her; Granger was good. As the class rushed out, he stayed behind, lurking in the shadows and watching her as she waved off Harry and approached the front desk. Umbridge had left the course aims up - presumably for the next class - and was sitting behind her desk.

"Professor Umbridge?" He heard her voice. Good as she thought she was, she was still predictable.

"What now, girl?" Umbridge's voice was predictably exasperated. Kill her with kindness? What a Gryffindor plan?

"I would just like to apologise again; it was just the eager student in me reading ahead and worrying about exams, I didn't mean to offend you or attempt to undermine anything. I was just trying to be a good student." Draco could hear the feigned despair in her voice, and despite only being able to see Umbridge (and her look of distaste) from his position, he could easily imagine her sly, deceitful innocence.

"I've had just about enough of you, Granger." Umbridge spat, standing.

"Professor..." Said girl began again, but she was cut off.

"I know what you're doing: trying to make me a fool in my own classroom, but know this." Umbridge slammed her hand on the desk, and Granger flinched back. "I have the power here. I have the Ministry on my side. And I will always...always be worth more than some muggleborn trash like you."

Draco watched Granger grow taller as Umbridge mentioned her blood status - rookie mistake. If there was one thing that lit Miss Firecracker's fuse it was mentioning her parentage.

"I suppose I could say the same about you: you're here to undermine Harry and Professor Dumbledore, and whatever you think you can do, and whatever power you think you have, just know that I don't take kindly to threats, Professor." She said, her voice even. The Gryffindor was matching Umbridge like the ultimate Slytherin, threat for threat, mirroring her words with dagger sharp words of her own. "And before you call me a young girl, just know I will do whatever it takes to defend my friends." Winds began to flow around her. She'd probably said too much - if she'd wanted to use this memory against Umbridge, it had backfired terribly. She stalked off, sparing a glance at the rest of the classroom, but not seeing him hiding, then paused.

"See you later, Professor. Maybe." She paused. "Actually, maybe not. I don't suppose you're actually expecting me to show up to your farce of a detention?" She flounced out, and he heard her footsteps rattling down the corridor. He followed her stealthily until she stopped to compose herself.

"Wow, firecracker." He snarked. "Somebody got an aggression makeover. Although," His hand ghosted up to his nose, reminiscing, "you may have just been that way all along..."

"I don't have time for your games Malfoy. What do you want?"

"Nothing much, really. Just a little conversation - honestly, you're supposed to be smart. Speaking of which," he cocked his head at her in mock-disbelief, "You actually found more of his books? Really? This is taking teachers' pet to a whole new level..."

"No actually, it was a bluff. I figured she hadn't checked him out, and my facts were true, even if they were from a different book.

"Confessing to lying to a Professor. Quite some nerve from someone who just threatened a teacher?" He sniggered at her surprised glare. "'I don't take kindly to threats.'" He imitated her lofty voice, and smirked.

"Malfoy." Her voice was flat and cautious. "How much did you hear?"

"Ah, ah, ah." Draco reprimanded, mockingly. "I think I'll ask the questions here, don't you agree? It's time to end this once and for all. I saw enough to get you in big trouble for threatening a teacher, even if she threatened first. On top of that, I now have a witness. If our dear Madame Umbridge got the idea that I knew something, convincing her innocently to check with Legilimency would not break our oath, would it, firecracker? So you're going to tell me the full story. Don't cut corners or find loopholes; this is not a deal or exchange. This is blackmail, plain and simple, and let me just tell you: you're no match for a Malfoy."

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Hope you enjoyed!

It's coming. Next chapter you'll finally get the reveal about most of Hermione's power. It's written and ready, so look forward to it.

This chapter, I wanted to see what would have happened in the Granger-Umbridge power struggle had Harry not butted in. I prefer those rare scenes in the book, but more so in fanfictions, in which Hermione shows her devious side - let me know how you think I did! I also wanted to begin to hint at Draco's admiration, so I hope you got that!

The ending was awful I know - don't hate me - but I'm not delaying the explanation. This time it will happen. And you'll here it. Sorry if it's anticlimatic, but the build up was so fun and exciting to write that the pressure for the explanation it was too much. If you've read similar stories it's not the same old - there are plenty of twists - but there will be things you may recognise. Hope I pleasantly surprise you, two weeks from now.

I hope you all enjoyed, and had a fantastic week so far!

Please press that big button saying Review! Even if you don't have an account feel free to post Anonymously/as a Guest. Didn't get reviews last time, so please REVIEW! That button right down there!

I'm not going to give up on you if I don't get a certain number, it just makes me that little bit more happy every time I go to write a chapter, and it really does make my day! Only so can get some feedback as to my writing style and where to go, be it negative or positive!
Thank you!

Signed off,

YourDiamondAngel