:: Chapter Twenty-Five: Back To School ::

The next morning the tension of the previous days events wore off and Hermione was abuzz with excitement for then new term. At promptly five o'clock in the morning she entered the dark, green chambers of her love and started to shake him witlessly.

"Hermione Granger, go away before I turn into that evil Slytherin you thought you left at the Manor." He garbled before pulling the plush pillow over his head.

"Term starts today." She was beaming.

"You're an odd one." His voice was muffled from the layers of fabric and stuffing covering his face.

"Odd? How so?" She looked at him bewildered.

"You're excited to go to work, with hundreds of children who want nothing more than to annoy you for the remainder of your life, and we have to manage hiding from Patil."

"Parvarti? You're not afraid she's going to run her mouth still are you?" She gazed at him as he peeked his head out of the pillow. "Oh, Draco, that's silly. You don't need to hide from her. Knowing her she probably told most of the staff, or the parts that didn't know at least." She tried to remain serious but couldn't help but smile at the look the coated Draco's face.

"Well this is going to do wonders for my reputation." He said sarcastically before casting the pillow and covers off of his body.

"Well I'm going to the Great Hall for breakfast." She said before nearly skipping off the breakfast.

"That woman is mad." Draco grumbled after her.

Hermione was sitting chatting with Parvarti when Draco entered the Great Hall. He approached the two and sat across the table from Hermione where she was sitting at the old Gryffindor table.

"Good morning Patil." He said briefly.

"Don't worry Malfoy, your precious reputation is still in tact… For now."

"Do girls tell each other everything?" He asked in a strained voice.

"Pretty much." Hermione said with a sympathetic smile. He shook his head softly. "At least I didn't tell her that you whimpered like a little girl when we…" She was stopped when his hand covered her mouth quickly.

"I don't think she needs to hear that." Parvarti giggled whereas Hermione smiled beneath his hand. He moved his hand and changed the subject quickly.

"So Patil, what class are you teaching here?" He asked; her eyes almost instantly lit up.

"Divination. Trelawny retired last year saying her eye could not handle any more deaths in the future; she approached me saying that I had the sight. Apparently I have Seer blood in my veins." She beamed. Draco turned to the table, suddenly fascinated by the wood grain. Hermione could have sworn she saw him roll his eyes. After a moment of silence she kicked his shins under the table.

"Ow." He said in a mumbled hiss. "That's great Patil."

Breakfast went by in a blur and the children were handed schedules as the morning passed. Draco and Hermione looked over their own schedules. She couldn't help but notice the scowl that crossed his face as he read over the parchment.

"Is there something wrong?" Hermione asked at last.

"Double potions with Gryffindors today." He said with the same scowl marked on his face. She couldn't help but smile.

"It's not like you have to take that class anymore Draco, and besides there's nothing wrong with Gryffindors."

"Of course not, if you were a Gryffindor yourself. But I, however, was a Slytherin. The complete opposite of those goody-two-shoes Gryffindors."

"Excuse me, but you happen to be dating the definition of goody-two-shoes Gryffindor." She leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms over her chest. He looked at her, a slight frown gracing his lips.

"I'm sorry, its just I never really got over the whole 'anti-Gryffindor' thing. Especially with Potter acting the way he did the other day." He finished the sentence with a slight roll of his eyes.

"Oh please, that wasn't a Gryffindor thing. That was a guy thing. You can't honestly tell me you'd be thrilled and overjoyed to see your girlfriend with another guy. And the fact that she's with your sworn enemy, and added to that she's been sneaking around to see him."

"I had to put up with it too you know." He said softly.

"Yes but Draco, you won." With her words Professor McGonagall announced that classes would be starting momentarily.