Chapter 14

Hermione waited for McGonagall to finish talking to Zacharias Smith about his time table so she could get her own. Draco and Blaise had managed to get theirs already and were pleased to have a considerable amount of classes together.

As the professor finished with him, she turned to Hermione. "Ah, Miss Zabini, nice to see you this morning," she greeted her.

Hermione smiled at her, "Good morning to you Professor."

"I've been meaning to talk to about your courses. As it is right now, you have your options wide open so you can go into whatever field you choose. But because of the advanced program that we are offering you, we also need an idea of where you want to go into so we can incorporate that into your curriculum," she told her.

Hermione sighed. She knew she couldn't avoid this forever. She had a general idea of what she wished to do, but was worried that she might not like it. Well, worst come to worst, she can always go back and change her mind. "I think I may want to go into Law Enforcement," she told her professor.

Minerva clapped her hands together. "I was hoping you would say that. You would make an excellent addition to their ranks! Now that it is settled, I can begin to incorporate that into your schedule as well."

Smiling, Hermione walked over to Draco and Blaise where the three of them compared their schedules. To Hermione and Draco's pleasure, they had the six courses that they were both taking in common, and Draco had the morning to sleep while Hermione attended History of Magic.

As the three walked into their potions class, she saw that Ron and Harry were already there sitting by each other. Harry smiled at her, whereas Ron just turned the other direction. She smiled back at him.

"Ah Miss Zabini," Professor Slughorn greeted. "You and Mr. Malfoy sit down over there," he said, gesturing to an empty seat in the middle of the room. "Mr. Zabini, please sit by Miss Greengrass."

Hermione and Draco took their seats and Hermione turned to see Blaise go red as he sat beside the witch. She smiled, thinking how happy he must be to sit beside her. As she returned her gaze, she noticed Ron glaring at the two of them. She rolled her eyes at how childish he was being.

"How many times have you read the textbook for this class Hermione?" Draco asked her teasingly, as he got out his books and quills. He was rather looking forward to getting to sit near her in this class. It meant that they would have more excuses to be together. Not that they didn't already have enough reasons to meet up.

"What makes you think I've read them?" she asked him. "For all you know, I might not have read them even once."

"Well, you're Hermione Granger. You've had to have read the textbooks before school started," he told her matter-of-factly.

She sighed defeated. "Only twice," she said sadly. "There was just so much going on this summer and I didn't have time to read it any more than that."

He laughed at that. "Of course. It's a shame really, that you couldn't read it any more than that. I'm not sure how you're going to fare in your classes now," he teased.

She took his words seriously. "I know. I might not be able to get good marks in the NEWTs this year."

Before he could make a retort, Theodore Nott walked up to her. "Hello Hermione, how are you this morning?" he asked.

She looked a bit confused. "I'm good thanks, and you?" she asked him politely.

He gave her a grin. "Rather great this morning. Hey Hermione, I haven't exactly gotten to know you well these last few years. What do you say that you and I get together some time to get to know each other better?" He asked as he stroked her hand.

Blaise and Draco were glaring at him, as Hermione pulled her hand away slightly so it wasn't touching his anymore.

"I don't know Theodore. This is NEWT year, I'm not sure how much time I'll have this year. Maybe some other time?" she said nicely.

He looked more persistent. "I'm sure I can persuade you to allow us to have a bit of personal time. It's not like you need to study all the time," he said forcefully.

Draco growled. "You heard her Nott. She doesn't want to get together with you. Now back off before I make you," he said angrily. He knew exactly what was running through his mind and Draco did not like it one bit,

Theo sneered at him. "Oh yeah, Malfoy? And what are you going to do to me? Knowing you, in a fight you would just run the other direction. Better yet, you would probably just switch sides. Because that's all you do you traitor. You desert what your entire family believes in like the coward you are. Now go away, me and Zabini here are setting up a date."

Hermione had never seen Draco look so furious. "Theodore Nott, I am Head Boy. Now if you don't stop harassing the Head Girl, then I will personally make sure you have detention tonight," Draco seethed.

"I'm not harassing her unless she says I am, isn't that right sweetheart," Theo said with a smirk.

Hermione squirmed. "Mr. Nott, I would prefer if you would return to you seat," she said diplomatically.

Draco flashed Theodore a smile. "You heard the girl Nott. Now either you run back to your seat like a good boy, or I will give you detention for a week."

Theodore huffed. "You win this time Malfoy. But just know this. I do not give up easily, and when I see something I want, I take it. And I always get what I want."

He stalked off back to his seat. Hermione looked extremely uncomfortable, and Draco wrapped an arm around her protectively, in a friendly manner.

She gave him a smile. "Thanks Draco. I don't know what I would have agreed to if you weren't here to make him leave," she said.

"You could have said no," he pointed out.

"Yes, but he doesn't exactly seem to accept no for an answer now does he?" she asked.

Draco had to give her that. Theo had a reputation for being with many girls and then throwing them out after they were done. And Hermione most certainly did not deserve that. She deserved to be placed on a pedestal and treated like a queen. And Theo most certainly would not give her what she deserved.

As the bell went off, Slughorn stood in the front of the class. "Welcome to seventh year Potions. You will be sitting next to your assigned partner all year, and they will serve as your partner when we are brewing potions. I assume by now you all know the drill, so it's time to get started. Today we will brewing a memory potion. Now who can tell me what this does?" He asked, looking immediately to where Hermione was.

Sure enough, she raised her hand to answer the question. "The potion allows the drinker to further increase the ability to access their memories," Hermione said in a tone of knowledge.

"Very good Miss Zabini," he stated happily. "Ten points to Gryffindor."

"And what may cause one to use this potion?" he asked again.

While Hermione raised her hand again, this time Draco beat her to it. "It can be used in certain fields to training to improve one's ability to perceive a fact based on a memory. An example of this would be in the Auror department where they need to recall a memory to make a connection to an important detail in a case," he told the professor.

Hermione smiled at his answer and he gave her a smile back.

"Excellent! Ten points to Slytherin," he beamed at him.

He looked over to where Potter and Weasel were. While Potter had been writing down his notes furiously and quickly, Weasley had been sitting there glaring at the two of them. He merely shook his head. If that boy wanted to get back into Hermione's good graces any time soon, then he would have to stop his fool hardy actions. Just by spending the summer with her he knew that if there was one this Hermione hated, it was people acting like a prat for something she couldn't control.

Blaise and Hermione decided to take a walk on the grounds to spend some time together without any other company. While both of them liked spending time with their friends, they wanted to have some quality sibling time together. As they passed by the Black Lake, Blaise spoke.

"How were your classes today 'Mione," Blaise inquired.

She gave him a smile. "They were great! I forgot how much I missed Hogwarts last year. I'm so glad to be back to learning!" she said excitedly.

Blaise laughed. "I swear, you are so like our mum at times," he shook his head. "I think she is relieved to have you back. After all, she could only nag me to study so many times. You have no idea how many lectures I got for being third in our year. She was furious that I wasn't first like her!"

Hermione laughed. "Well Draco and I are rather hard to compete with," she teased. "Besides, you hate reading," she said pouting. It was beyond her how people could possibly have a dislike for books.

He rolled his eyes. "Please. Books are for nerds like you and Draco. I'd rather play Quidditch than study."

Hermione gave him a glare. "Draco likes to read and he plays Quidditch," she pointed out.

"Yes, but Draco Malfoy is one odd child," he said to her.

Hermione giggled. "Wait till I tell him that tonight," she said. "I'm sure he would love to know what his best mate really thinks of him." As the said that, the two of them sat down under a tree.

He faked mock horror. "Oh no 'Mione! Please don't tell him. I swear, I'll do anything!" he pleaded.

"Hmm, I could use this to my advantage," she said scheming, while giving him an evil look.

"See, you so should have gotten sorted into Slytherin," Blaise teased.

Hermione remembered the question she had been meaning to ask him all week. "Blaise!" she exclaimed.

He looked at her strangely. "Yes?" he asked warily.

"Do you like Daphne Greengrass?" she asked her brother.

He looked squeamish, "Well she's a good friend of mine," he said, avoiding the subject.

"Yes, but do you like her as more than just a friend," she persisted.

He looked conflicted for a couple of moments before giving in. "If I answer this, you have to keep this between the two of us," he said hesitantly. Once she nodded with compliance, he continued. "Yes. I have feelings for her, and I have no idea what to do whatsoever," he confided in his sister.

She gave him a big smile. "Ask her out," she demanded.

His eyes widened. "I don't even know if she likes me, and you want me to ask her out? Seriously Hermione. I don't know how much relationship experience you have, but that is not what I do," he told her.

"What, the Great Blaise Zabini is scared of asking out a girl?" she retorted. Once she saw his expression, she knew that he was serious.

"Ask her out. She'll say yes. Trust me, she likes you," she told him.

"How do you know?" Blaise asked her sceptically.

"Because I am a girl. I know these things," Hermione told him.

"Then how do you not see the swarms of guys who want you?" Blaise thought to himself. But to be honest, he was glad that his little sister didn't know. It made chasing the guys who were not good for her away. The last thing he wanted was her to be used by some idiot.

He nearly wanted to punch Theo out after the stunt he pulled in class. But he knew better than that. However, if he touched one hair on her head, then he wouldn't hesitated in punching him out.

"Did I ever mention how happy I was to have you back in my life?" he asked her while bringing her into a tight hug.