A/N: A big thank you to the people who have left reviews! :)

Disclaimer: I do not own the fantastic world or characters created by J.K. Rowling but I will use some of her words and ideas to further my plot. :)

Chapter 14 - The Boy with Two Faces

Hermione took her time tiding up her Potions station as she reflected on the class. She couldn't have followed the instructions in Advanced Potion-Making any closer but Harry's notes from "the Prince" were still outperforming her. She wasn't used to being second best and she didn't like the effect that it was having on her. But it wasn't envy that had her distrusting the Half-Blood Prince. He didn't seem like a very nice person and some of those jinxes that he had made up were just cruel. Levicorpus reminded her far too much of a Death Eater's idea of fun. Despite the fact that her and Harry had already argued about his declaration of his blood status, she wouldn't rule out the Prince having been a Death Eater. All of Voldemort's Death Eaters couldn't be pure-blood, there weren't that many pure-blood families left. She quickly had a thought to ask Malfoy about it later.

Finally, she put away all of her supplies and grabbed her bag. Harry and Ron had left ahead of her and she had only just realized that she was alone in the dungeon room. She left the classroom and jumped at the voice behind her.

"Hey Hermione!"

She spun around to face the excited sixth-year Ravenclaw Terry Boot. He was leaning against the wall by the door of the classroom and it appeared that he had been waiting for her.

"Hi Terry. How are you?" She asked with a smile. She was definitely on friendly terms with the boy but they talked less now that Dumbledore's Army was disbanded. Mostly, they talked about their classwork.

"Good," he grinned. "Yourself?"

"I'm fine, lots of work, you know."

"Yeah, I do," he laughed. He shifted his feet and ran a hand through his thick, dark hair. "So, this weekend is the first Hogsmeade weekend and I was wondering if maybe you wanted to go with me?"

She was shocked and was sure that her face showed it. Terry Boot was asking her out on a date. Why were boys that were not Ron Weasley showing an interest in her this year? First, Cormac McLaggen at Professor Slughorn's dinner parties and now Terry was asking her to Hogsmeade. Well, at least Terry was nice and polite, Cormac was rude and pompous. But she was not interested in dating the nice Ravenclaw, her feelings lay elsewhere.

She blurted out the first excuse that came to her mind because she didn't want to hurt him. "I'm sorry but I have to tutor someone Saturday afternoon. When it was scheduled I didn't realize that it was a Hogsmeade weekend," she lied.

"Oh," he frowned. "Well, that sucks."

She nodded. "I'm sorry."

"No, it's okay," he smiled brightly. "The next Hogsmeade weekend then?"

"Sure," she replied quickly.

"Great! See you later Hermione," he said before walking off in the opposite direction that she was headed.

"Bye Terry," she answered trying to sound cheery.

Why did she agree to a date in the future? And why hadn't Ron asked her to go to Hogsmeade with him? English boys were so confusing and hard to deal with. Viktor had always been very honest and open about his intentions and she had never needed to analyze his every word because he told her exactly what was on his mind. Ron wasn't like that at all and she sighed as she realized that she now had to go and talk to another confusing, English boy.

*~()-()-()~*-*~()-()-()~*

Draco looked up at his best friend as he was hit in the head with another ball of parchment. He dropped his quill. "What do you want?" He asked irritated. "Can't you see that I'm trying to work?" He gestured to the books spread out before him on their table at the back of the library.

"I just wanna know why you never told me that you dumped Pansy. I know that we don't get much of a chance to talk anymore," he added sadly, "but that is big news."

"I didn't dump Pansy. She broke up with me," Draco replied.

"Really?" Theo asked in surprise.

"Yup," he replied disinterestedly. "It was what you thought…Her father."

"Relieved?" Theo asked with a mischievous grin.

Draco couldn't suppress his chuckle. "Yes, and I didn't even have to do any of the dirty work."

Their quiet laughing was interrupted by a breathless Granger appearing at his side. "Malfoy," she panted as she pushed her unruly hair out of her face. "I am tutoring you Saturday afternoon."

"You are?" Draco asked.

"Yeah, you are?" Theo repeated with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes, I am," she said with determination.

"Why?" He asked curiously. It seemed odd and very out of character that she would schedule a study session for the two of them, and especially on the first Hogsmeade weekend of the year. Fortunately for her, he hadn't planned on going anyway. "Won't you be joining Potter and Weasley in Hogsmeade?"

She shook her head. "No, I found myself in a rather tight spot and used you as an excuse. Please," she whispered.

He grinned devilishly. "Are you begging, Granger?"

"I would never beg you for anything, Malfoy," she retorted.

He heard Theo chuckle but he was too focused on keeping eye contact with Granger to care. "You might regret saying that one day but I'll play along. You may tutor me Saturday afternoon. I'll meet you here."

"Great," she nodded. "I will see you then."

As soon as Granger left, Theo bombarded him with questions. "Why do you two seem to be on speaking terms? And since when are you getting tutored? And if you are spending private, tutor time with Granger than why haven't you shagged her yet?"

"I'm not getting tutored, we have work sessions together. It was Snape's idea because Granger and I have the same class schedule. We're no more on speaking terms now than we were before," he lied.

"I don't believe you," Theo stated bluntly.

"Well," Draco shrugged, "it's the truth."

Theo pointed his quill accusingly at Draco and shook his head. "No, you're too much of a Slytherin to be telling the truth but I'll forgive you if you tell me all about Granger's bedroom repertoire."

"You are such a prat," Draco laughed. "I have no idea why Daphne picked you over me."

"Because I'm cuter," he grinned. "And a lot less serious."

"Yeah, you're a gem," he told his friend sarcastically. "Now, let me get back to work!"

*~()-()-()~*-*~()-()-()~*

Ron and Harry walked into Hogsmeade with the bitter, cold wind in their faces. It was far too cold for the middle of October as the two boys were dressed in their winter's jackets, hats, mittens, and scarves. They stopped into Honeydukes after sadly noting that Zonko's Joke Shop was closed. Hogsmeade was also suffering in these dark times.

"How come Hermione isn't here again?" Harry asked as they looked at a new product display.

"She's tutoring Malfoy," Ron answered grumpily. "I don't know why, the git doesn't need tutoring."

He had been looking forward to the first Hogsmeade weekend with Harry and Hermione but Malfoy had to ruin that with his special note from Snape.

"I still don't know if I trust him, Harry," he added.

"Yeah, me either," Harry confessed quietly.

"He's a slimy git no matter how much he's helping us," he finished with a definitive nod.

Ron looked at the display of new extra-large Sugar Quills disappointedly. For a moment he wished that he hadn't spent so much money on Hermione's birthday present so that he could pick up a few sweets but then he remembered how much she loved her birthday present and he was content once more. His attempts at being alone with Hermione had failed thus far but his hopes were still high.

"Harry, m'boy!" A pleasant, male voice boomed from behind them.

The two boys turned around and plastered awkward smiles on their faces to greet Professor Slughorn.

"Oh no," Harry spoke out of the corner of his mouth.

Slughorn was wearing a ridiculous fur coat and matching hat. His plump stomach seemed to be protruding more than usual and he was holding a large bag of crystallised pineapple. The Potions master fawned over Harry, and Ron tried not to appear annoyed.

"Harry, that's three of my little suppers you've missed now! It won't do, m'boy, I'm determined to have you! Miss Granger loves them! Where is the lovely Miss Granger?"

Harry didn't even have a chance to answer the question before Slughorn spoke again.

"So, why don't you come along?"

"Well, sir, I've had Quidditch practice."

Ron couldn't help but grin to himself. The truth was that Harry had been deliberately scheduling Quidditch practices to clash with Slughorn's dinner parties. He, Harry, and Ginny usually had a good laugh thinking of Hermione being stuck in a room with McLaggen and Zabini since she was too polite to turn down Slughorn's invitation.

Slughorn didn't even notice his presence as he continued to good-humouredly berate Harry before he left with a wave.

"You can't evade me forever, Harry!"

Ron pursed his lips and refrained from saying anything. He was used to being ignored and overshadowed because not only was he best friends with the Boy Who Lived and the brightest witch of the age, he was also a Weasley. Bill was a former Head Boy with a great job and one of the most beautiful women that Ron had ever seen was now his fiancé. Charlie was the Seeker who had been good enough to play for England. Percy was another Head Boy who had never stepped one foot out of line while he was at Hogwarts. Fred and George were the popular jokesters who were loved by everyone and now they were successful businessmen. And he was just Ron, an average student and an average Quidditch player with a penchant for getting into life-threatening trouble.

He was used to be ignored and overshadowed but that didn't make him feel any better.

"Let's go to the Three Broomsticks," Harry suggested. "It'll be warm there."

They made sure that their scarves were covering their faces before they left Honeydukes and ran to the Three Broomsticks. The street was practically empty because of the bad weather so they didn't need to worry about bumping into anyone.

They sat down at a table and ordered two Butterbeers. The warm atmosphere and delicious beverage did nothing to improve Ron's mood as he spotted Ginny snogging Dean Thomas in a corner of the pub. Seeing one of his closest mates running his hands over his little sister was not a sight that he wanted to witness. He also noticed that the display made Harry rather uncomfortable too.

"Let's head back to school," Harry said as soon as they finished their drinks.

"Yeah," he groaned.

The weather outside was still terribly cold and windy and their trip to Hogsmeade had been the worst that Ron had ever had. It was time to return to Hogwarts and the warm fire in the Gryffindor Common Room.

*~()-()-()~*-*~()-()-()~*

"Malfoy," Hermione began tentatively as she watched him put the finishing touches on his Ancient Runes essay.

They had been working since most of the students, third year and up, had left for Hogsmeade and the library was empty except for the two of them and Madam Pince. She couldn't contain her curiosity any longer and she had to ask the question that was on her mind.

"Yeah Granger?" He asked as he continued to write.

"Do you know anyone nicknamed the 'Half-Blood Prince'?"

He laid his quill down on the table and looked at her as he thought about her question. "No, I don't think so. Why?"

She brushed him off, "No reason. Are all Death Eaters pure-bloods?"

"What's with all the questions, Granger?" He inquired suspiciously.

"Would you believe it's simply a thirst for knowledge?" She smiled.

He chuckled, "Not for a second." He began to scratch his chin with the feather of his quill. "But I don't really care so, yeah all Death Eaters are pure-bloods…or at least as far as we know. Some families, like mine, have a pure-blood lineage that is undisputable but I suppose it is possible for there to be half-bloods doing a really good job pretending to be pure, that is what you're thinking isn't it, Granger?"

"Yeah, it is," she admitted in astonishment. There was no doubt that Malfoy was very good at reading people.

She asked no further questions and simply watched him finish his essay. He dotted his last period and left the parchment alone to dry.

"Done," he declared. He watched her glance at her watch and frown. "No one will be back from Hogsmeade for at least another hour."

"I know," she sighed.

"Why didn't you go? Why did you insist on this little study session?"

"Someone asked me out," she confessed. "And instead of telling him that I'm not interested I made up an excuse and you were the first thing that popped into my head."

"Well, I'm flattered," he grinned.

"Shut up Malfoy."

God, he could be so annoying but he was surprisingly civil and he had yet to make one remark about her blood status. At least, he was starting to appear like more of a human being and she really did owe him for agreeing to her scheme at the last minute, and in front of one of his Slytherin friends no less.

He laughed. "Who asked you out? Weasley?"

She shook her head and felt her face flush hot. "No," she murmured. "It was Terry Boot."

"Oh yeah, he's had a thing for you since last year," he told her confidently.

"No way," she squeaked. "Really?"

"Stop blushing like a school girl, Granger," he teased.

"I am a school girl!" She argued.

"Yeah, but you're so far above all the other girls at this school."

She furrowed her brow and looked at him in confusion but he quickly turned away from her and busied himself with packing his bag. He carefully rolled up his parchment and stowed it away. He stood up and slung his bag over his shoulder but she grabbed his arm to stop him from leaving.

"Malfoy wait."

He stared at her small hand on his right forearm before he narrowed his eyes and said coldly, "Don't touch me with your filthy hands."

He roughly wrenched his arm out of her grasp and walked out of the library without a backwards glance.

She winced at his tone and immediately scolded herself for thinking that Malfoy actually had a good side. She had started to believe the act that he was putting on for them and she hated herself for that. He was still Malfoy and he hadn't changed. He was not a nice guy like Harry and Ron.

He was still the spoiled brat who had spent his first year trying to catch her, Harry, and Ron out after curfew.

He was still the vile boy who had introduced her to the word Mudblood.

He was still the one who had teased Harry mercilessly about the Dementors in their third year.

He was still the thirteen-year-old who had relished the thought of getting Hagrid fired and Buckbeak executed.

He was still the jealous teen who had acted as Rita Skeeter's source.

He was still the writer of Slytherin's version of Weasley is Our King.

He was still the teenager who had scrambled to join Umbridge's Inquisitorial Squad for extra credit.

And he was still the one who wished she had been terrorized by Death Eaters at the Quidditch World Cup.

"D'you want to be showing off your knickers in mid-air? Because if you do, hang around…they're moving this way, and it would give us all a laugh…If you think they can't spot a Mudblood, stay where you are."

That last comment in particular still bothered her and she often wondered if he was right…if Death Eaters knew that she was Muggle-born just by looking at her.

He was still terrible but if he could help the Order in this war and help Harry defeat Voldemort then that would be a great contribution but she would not open herself up to him. He was too dangerous and she was too willing to see the good in people.

A/N: Malfoy is one complicated guy. Lol. Tell me what you think about the changing character perspectives, it's the first time I've really played with it this heavily.