A/N: I'm so sorry for the long gap in between the last chapter and this one, and I'm even more sorry to say that an even longer wait is here...*wince*

So, Ramadan is here, and the rules include no swearing...However, swearing is extremely important to Draco's character development. That leaves me with no choice but to wait till the end of Ramadan to post new chapters...I'm EXTREMELY sorry for disappointing you guys, and I promise I'll be back soon!

Thank You to 'Bananna18', 'Lizzet1215' and 'patriciajlewis' for the favourites, and to 'Davih21', 'Lena2244', 'Lizzet1215', 'LostInAGoodBook', 'gnaw-arteries', 'hkmluce', and 'mo-rrgue' for the follows! And of course, I shall forever be thankful to honeysweetcutie for her extremely lovely reviews, and her support! A huge shout-out to her for her favourite and follow! Who else here is mindlessly obsessed with her WIP 'Ashes to Blood'? I know I am!

Again, sorry for making you guys wait!

Infact, how about two chapters today as a very small compensation?

I'll post the second one a little later today!

Hermione

Hermione sat down at the desk in the Charms classroom, fuming. She could still feel Malfoy's words bouncing around in her head.

Some 'brightest witch of your age' you are.

Who did he think he was, questioning her intelligence like that?

And right after he had just put up a great display of idiocy. He had been walking a very fine line indeed, with that arse Michael. One more wrong move, and he would have been expelled from the school before she could say 'Wingardium Leviosa'.

As she cooled off, Hermione had to admit to herself that not all of her irritation had been over him grilling her about her brains. As much as it mortified her to admit it, she was pretty annoyed by the way he had gotten her panic attack under control. There was no doubt about the fact that it had worked, but she couldn't stop herself from comparing it to the way she had calmed him down, back in their Sixth Year.

The memory still sent a rush of colour up her cheeks.

Curse her impulsive self, what had allowed her to let herself straddle him like that?

As her eyes tracked him across the classroom where he was sitting with his friends, she couldn't help but wonder if he ever thought about it. If the situation hadn't been so serious that day, it would have been almost provocative. Maybe she would have enjoyed herself.

What?!

What the actual fuck?!

Shuddering mentally, she peeked at him out of the corner of her eye, as if making sure he hadn't somehow figured out what she was thinking about. But Malfoy wasn't looking at her at all. His gaze was focused on a letter in his hand, while Nott and Zabini read over his shoulder and Parkinson grinned at him proudly.

That reminded her, she'd have to thank Parkinson for trying to help her out earlier. The witch had become a great deal more civil ever since Hermione had spoken for her at her hearing. Merlin knew she preferred this version of her to-

Focus, Hermione.

Silently reprimanding herself, she focused once again on the letter in Malfoy's hand. It looked quite official. Maybe he'd show her if she asked.

Yeah, right. And maybe Voldemort was just a mentally troubled guy who wanted a hug and someone to talk to.

Grinning to herself at the metal image that popped up in her head, she tried to figure out a way to read that letter. Sure, people might call her nosy, but once her curiosity was piqued, she would do anything to sate it.

"Okay class, today we shall be practicing the Ascendio spell", Professor Flitwick's squeaky voice broke in. "So, follow me in a single file to the Quidditch pitch."

He trotted on ahead on his short legs, and excited murmuring filled the classroom as students began to follow him in a haphazard fashion.

Once on the Pitch, which was unusually empty, Professor Flitwick demonstrated the spell, which caused him to reach only a few inches higher than the tallest students in class. Then, in a good-natured fashion, he waited while the snickers quietened down, and then told them to pair up and practice.

Hermione turned around with a smile, thinking that maybe she could pair up with Parkinson, considering she still had to thank her-

And proceeded to smack face first into someone's chest.

A very tall, blonde someone.

With a very well-defined chest, if she might add.

Malfoy's hands were around her arms in a flash, holding her up.

"Really, Granger", he snorted, "we need to stop running into each other like this. Literally."

She merely scowled at him and said," Well, come on then. We've got a charm to practice."

Thirty minutes later, Draco had succeeded with the spell six times, and she still had her feet stuck firmly on the ground.

Exactly like she wanted them.

She was botching up her wand work on purpose, because of two reasons. One, she was pretty sure ascending that rapidly in the air would aggravate her lungs, and two, she was deathly afraid of heights.

The bell rang, signaling the end of the class, and she started towards the castle with a relieved expression, Malfoy falling in step behind her with Zabini and Parkinson close behind.

As they crossed into the Entrance Hall, Malfoy said "You're getting rusty, Golden Girl", his voice dripping with amusement.

Struck with a sudden, irrational flash of irritation, Hermione retorted. "Yeah, well, excuse me. As, you'll remember, I was too busy with trying to find Voldemort's horcruxes last year to brush up on my charms technique. Maybe, you could help- Oh, wait. You weren't here either, were you? No, you were too busy chumming it up with your fellow Death Eaters and trying to murder us all."

Everything that happened next was a sort of a blur.

Malfoy grabbed her by the arm, turned her around, and slammed her into the wall. "You have no idea what you're talking about", he snarled, his face inches away from hers. Over his shoulder, Hermione could see Parkinson and Zabini hurrying over, shocked expression on their face. "Don't try to imply that I did any of it at my own free will. I would never. Never."

Zabini put a hand on his shoulder, pulling him back, but Malfoy just shrugged off his hand irritably, gave her one last venomous glare, and stalked off. As Parkinson reached her, asking her if she was alright, and to 'just ignore Malfoy and that he was just being a prat', Hermione brushed off her concerns and remembered just in time to thank her for her help with the altercation with that arsehole Corner.

Waving to her, she turned to go to her dormitory, still shaking from Malfoy's sudden display of violence.