The Quidditch matches were going well. Hermione was surprised just how well it had all worked out. The school seemed to be really getting behind the teams as the competition progressed and there was a buzz about the games.

She'd watched every game that Blaise, Ginny and Draco had played in and in next match, which was the semi-final they were due to meet one another. How the hell was she supposed to cheer in that game? She decided to worry about that when it happened.

After dinner, Hermione helped Ginny get ready for her first date with Blaise then sent her off to meet him. She then felt suddenly at a lose end and decided to get out of the Common Room for some fresh air. It had been a busy few days with Committee stuff, Quidditch, almost being flattened by a giant scoreboard and some interesting interactions with a certain Mr Malfoy.

Hermione grabbed a light jacket, descended the stairs to the Common Room and stepped out into the corridor. As she lifted her head she almost jumped out of her skin because someone was standing by the wall. That someone was Draco Malfoy.

Hermione put her hand to her chest and took a steadying breath. "Oh my god! You scared me to death!"

Draco looked very far removed from his usual, confident self. He was shuffling about uncomfortably and he wouldn't look her directly in the eye.

"Sorry." His reply was a mumble.

"I was going to get some air," Hermione said, feeling the need to explain where she was going and not knowing why. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." He still wasn't looking at her and he didn't seem to be in any hurry to offer her an explanation to his presence in the corridor.

"Right then... I'll see you." Hermione had no idea what to say and Draco was just standing there so she had no choice but to carry on along the corridor as she had intended. She glanced behind her as she rounded the corner but Draco was gone.

'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

According to Ginny, her date with Blaise had gone really well. It was the semi-final Quidditch match tonight so their next date would be the following evening. Hermione was really pleased for her friend but their relationship seemed to be on fast forward and it took a bit of getting used to. There was also another implication of them seeing each other and that was that she and Draco would inevitably have more contact as well. She had no idea what Draco's strange behaviour was all about last night, she'd never seen him acting so nervous and uncomfortable and she was almost tempted to ask him about it today. Almost. She had dared to think that he might have been coming to see her but she couldn't think why and if this was the case then that didn't explain his strange behaviour. If he was coming to see her then why didn't he just say that when she appeared in the corridor?

Potions was first lesson and Hermione was the first one there. She took her usual seat and started to open her book when Professor Snape stopped her.

"Put the books away, Miss Granger. You're moving seats today."

Hermione did as she was told and waited patiently for further explanation. Once the rest of the class arrived, Professor Snape explained that they would today be making a potion called Everglue.

"This potion works exactly the same as glue except it can only be used on living objects including wizards. It won't stick any inanimate objects to each other but it will stick a living being to them. If a wizard touches the potion and then paper or wood or anything they will be stuck. It can be mixed to any strength. At its weakest it will hold most fully grown adults as long as they don't struggle against it. At its strongest it can hold almost anything. It is even used by Dragon keepers to restrain the Dragons."

Professor Snape had Hermione's full attention as she knew nothing of this potion.

"The special property of Everglue is that, even at its strongest, it can instantly be made dry and smooth, therefore releasing the animal or person." Snape looked around the class. "As you make the potion you will add an ingredient of your own choice. The name of this ingredient will become the Spell word used to dry the glue. I cannot stress this point enough so please listen carefully. Only the person who makes the potion can use the spell word to release the grip of the glue. If that person forgets the spell word or cannot perform the spell then there is no way to release anyone from it."

The class was silent now, each pupil listening intently to every word.

Professor Snape gazed down his nose at them. "The safest way to try this potion is on a small creature like a mouse. Unfortunately, the small creatures have a tendency to try and wriggle free and we have had several incidents with them removing limbs in attempts to escape."

Several girls made noises at this piece of information but Professor Snape ignored them.

"Therefore we must test your potions on each other. I trust you all have the common sense to not repeat the actions of the mice?" Professor Snape didn't look convinced that this was the case but he wasn't waiting for an answer so he continued. "I will not be able to release anyone if this potion is not mixed correctly so I am going to split you into ability groups. The strength of the potion made will match accordingly. This should reduce the risk of any permanent fixings yet still allow you to mix potion that actually works. Have I made myself clear?"

The class nodded and Professor Snape began reading out names. Hermione was not surprised to be placed with Ginny, Blaise, Draco and Anthony. They were given the recipe for the higher strength potion and they all began working on their own cauldron. It was a complicated and intricate potion and it required concentration so they all worked silently.

After about ten minutes Hermione heard a few noises from the next table. She ignored them as best she could because she was at a particularly intricate part of her potion but the noise got louder and she had to look up. Theo's cauldron was popping loudly and bubbles of his potion were beginning to shoot up in the air making the other students on his table screech and dodge them. By now the whole class was watching and Professor Snape had come over and was waving his wand over Theo's cauldron.

Suddenly the cauldron started to shake and with a loud pop a huge globule of potion shot up into the air sending students screaming and ducking. Theo stepped backwards and he lost his balance falling heavily against Ginny who was standing behind him. Ginny fell forward onto the table knocking first Hermione's then Draco's cauldron's off their stands, their contents spewing over the table. Ginny was unable to avoid the mixture and within a second she was stuck to the table. Blaise, seeing what was happening made a grab for her but he missed and ended up with one hand stuck to the table. Hermione watched them both in horror. Not only were they stuck to the table, they were stuck with a mixture of her own and Draco's potions and she had no idea what the implication of this was. She just knew it couldn't be good.

I know that the Glue took up a lot of this chapter but please bear with me I am going somewhere with this, you will see next chapter. Anyway, hope you liked it - please review x