On Wednesday morning the mail arrived at Hogwarts. Hundreds of beautiful owls of all sizes and colors swooped skillfully through the air of the Great Hall delivering envelopes and parcels to the students below. Draco wasn't expecting to receive anything today but a brown envelope with a deep red seal fell before him. It was addressed to him from the Hogwarts administrative offices. Oh Merlin this couldn't be good he thought to himself as he opened the seal to see what was inside. It read:

Dear Mr. Draco Malfoy,

On behalf of the Hogwarts Academic Administration and the Department of Education for Young Witches and Wizards we are writing to inform you of your academic probation effective immediately. If your academic performance in the following courses: Potions, Herbology, Advanced Against the Dark Arts, does not improve by the end of the Spring semester you will hereby be expelled from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Hope you are well.

Matilda Honeypot

Senior Academic Advisor

Department of Education For Young Witches and Wizards

Draco folded the letter back up and tucked it inside his robes. He began to rub his temples wondering how he was going to get himself out of this mess. Perhaps his father could just pay off the Department of Education for him? Draco had far more to worry about this year than Herbology.

"What did the letter say Draco?" Pansy probed.

"Merlin Pansy do you ever mind your own damn business." Draco shot up from the table angrily and headed to Potions class. He'd rather get there ten minutes early than deal with the Spanish Inquisition. He tossed his Advanced Potion Making textbook on the table and rested his head on top of it.

"Wow. You're here early…"

His eyes shot open and he picked up his head quickly at the sound of her voice.

"You're usually the last one to stroll in with your pack of goons." Hermione said matter-of-factly.

"I guess I just felt like being a total geek today, like you Granger." He smiled half-heartedly. Hermione could tell something was wrong.

"Is everything okay Malfoy?" She asked cautiously.

He looked around the room realizing they were the only two around.

"Things could be better, I guess." He sighed. "I got this in the mail this morning." He took the letter from underneath his robe and handed it to her.

She read it quickly and gasped.

"Draco!" She stopped and looked around, making sure they were still alone.

"Academic probation!? How did this happen?" She asked, very concerned.

"I guess I just got distracted…" He shrugged.

"I'm in these same three classes with you I could.." She suddenly realized what he meant by "distracted" and she knew she had to help him now.

"That's it. I'm going to tutor you Draco until you get these grades up!" She declared.

"Mmm, that's one of my favorite fantasies about you Granger. My sexy, little tutor. Make sure you wear a very short skirt for me." He reached behind her and gave her arse a firm squeeze. She slapped his hand away fast.

"This is serious Draco! Meet me tonight. 8pm in the Ancient Runes and Artifacts section of the library." People were beginning to trickle into class, Hermione turned quickly heading back to her seat.

"Looking forward to it. Remember what I said about that skirt!" He teased. She stuck her tongue out at him playfully.

Draco smiled to himself. Perhaps flunking his classes wasn't such a bad thing after all.

It was nearly 8 o'clock. Hermione gathered the books and parchment she would need for her and Draco's tutoring session and headed towards the library. Just before she reached the library doors she felt a hand grab hers. "Draco I was just…" She turned around and bit her tongue hard. Her eyes wide in shock. Ron was standing before her in the dimly lit hallway a pained look now spreading across his face.

"Draco? Why would I be Draco? And since when do you call him Draco anyway 'Mione?" Ron asked, his voice growing more and more angry.

"I don't! I wasn't! I'm just.. I'm late for something Ron. I have to go, I'm sorry."

He gripped her wrist tight and narrowed his eyes at her.

"Tell me the truth Hermione what's going on with you and Malfoy?"

"Ron, stop that! You're hurting me! Nothing is going on between us!" Hermione pleaded trying to pull away from him. It took him a moment but he finally let her go and began his apology. "I'm sorry Hermione. It's just that I really miss you. I never get to see you anymore… and if it's because of Malfoy so help me I'll kill him!" Ron clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. Hermione felt terrible for lying to Ron. They had come a long way since Ron broke her heart when he hooked up with Lavender Brown. Hermione forgave him, she had to, and they'd nearly been inseparable ever since. She knew she had been neglecting her friends ever since the semester started, but she couldn't stop herself from seeing Draco. She was in far too deep now and she knew someone was going to get really hurt by all of this. Tears fell down her cheeks and she wiped them away on the back of her hand.

"I miss you too Ron. I really do. Let's hang out this weekend okay? You and me." She smiled trying her hardest to hold back more tears.

"Really? Okay brilliant!" He pulled her into a bear-like hug. She patted his back in return.

"I have to go now Ron. I'll see you later okay."

She walked through the library doors and headed towards the Ancient Runes and Artifacts section.

"I thought you had stood me up." He smiled pulling out a chair for her. Why did he have to be so gorgeous she thought, shaking her head.

"I'm sorry I'm late I just got—"

"Have you been crying?" Draco cut her off. He held her chin and turned her face towards him. "What happened Hermione?" His voice booming.

"Shh, Draco someone will hear you. It's already.. unusual for us to be together.." Hermione hushed him.

"Let them hear! I don't care. Would you please just tell me what's wrong Hermione.." He pressured.

"It doesn't matter Draco. Let's just get to work shall we?" She lifted her Herbology book, bringing it in between them. She winced slightly and Draco immediately noticed. Before she could stop him he pulled up the sleeve of her sweater to examine the source of her pain. Her wrist was red and slightly swollen, and there were obvious finger marks left behind.

Draco shot up from his seat now blinded by rage.

"Who did this to you Hermione!? Tell me! Now!" He was seething. She'd never seen such a murderous look from anyone in her life before. Like he was capable of something unspeakable. She shuttered, now very afraid.

"Draco please, sit down! It's okay, really. I'm fine." She pleaded desperately, tugging on his arm to get him to sit back down.

"It was Weasley wasn't it? Wasn't it!" He shouted.

"He didn't mean it! I promise! He just didn't realize what he was doing. Please sit down Draco. Please? For me?" She begged.

He eventually sat back down but for the rest of the night he was quiet and distant. She wasn't even sure if he was paying attention to her lesson.

"Okay that's it for tonight, but we should meet here a few nights each week to get you caught up." Hermione started piling up her books.

"Thank you for helping me, beautiful. You are an excellent teacher." He pulled her slim waist in close to him. Her body quivered against his own. "I wouldn't mind meeting you here every night." He whispered into her ear. Starting to leave small, wet kisses down her neck.

"I might be able to make that work." She giggled. Her laugh was intoxicating to him. After so many years of making her scowl, yell, and even slap him in the face.. it was nice to be the source of her laughter.

He lifted her effortlessly from the floor and sat her on the edge of the table, sliding her books and papers out of the way before kissing her once more. He stood between her knees, running his hands up her thighs and resting them on her hips. He began sucking on the deliciously smooth skin at her collarbone.

She moaned involuntarily, then quickly covered her mouth. She managed to muster every ounce of willpower she had left. She knew she had to stop him before this went any further.

"Draco wait! We can't do this here, someone might see us!" She gripped both of his arms trying to keep him at bay.

"That makes it all the more fun don't you think?" He teased.

"Draco it's late, I really should get going." She gently pushed him away from her and hopped off the solid wooden table. She began collecting her books once more.

"Okay but wait, I was thinking… that maybe…" he swallowed hard.

"Yes?" She was growing impatient, tired from the day's events.

"I was thinking that we should go out on a proper date together. This weekend?" He managed to get out. He hated feeling so vulnerable.

She smiled. "Draco, that's a very sweet idea, but how could we ever go on a date together? I mean you're you.. and I'm well me.." She looked up at him feeling sorry she had to be the realistic one of the two.

"Relax, no one would even see us. There's somewhere I want to show you. Merlin, just say yes Hermione!"

"I wish I could this weekend. I really do. But I actually.. have other plans. I'm sorry Draco." She knew how hard he was trying and she hated hurting his feelings.

He began to look even paler than usual. "Plans with who?" He snarled looking down at her wrist again.

"It's just a couple of friends catching up.. It's no—"

"Friends? Hermione do you think I'm a fool?" That terrifying look was back in his eyes, making her stomach feel uneasy.

"Of course not. It's just not what you think it is, Draco." She tried to calm him down but there was no use. She could tell his mind was now somewhere else. Somewhere very dark she suspected.

"Goodnight Granger." He growled through gritted teeth. He left without looking back.