AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thank you so much for the reviews, favourites and follows. Please keep supporting me guys.
Childresselsie – Thank you for your advice. I will keep that in mind.
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DISCLAIMER: I don't own Harry Potter.
Harry opened his eyes slowly. Last night's memories came floating to him. He looked beside him and found Pansy's side of the bed was empty. It felt too much awkward to share a bed with Pansy on their first night. They both stayed as far as away from each other on the bed.
Harry shook his head and slowly sat on the bed. He was wide awake then. Looking around the room, he saw Pansy Parkinson standing in front of the wardrobe with her back facing him. She was in nothing but a towel. Her hair was wet as a sign she just took a shower. The way she was busy in the wardrobe, Harry guessed that she was looking for clothes.
Harry was looking at her with astonishment. Pansy suddenly turned around and found Harry staring at her. Saying nothing to him, she literary ran to the bathroom with her clothes.
Pansy closed the door and lent on it. She was surprised and embarrassed. After all she was wrapped just in a towel. She shook her head. "Oh dear God!" she muttered and started getting dressed.
...
Harry just sat on the bed. He could not believe this incident had happened. He was then feeling embarrassed and awkward.
I never meant to stare at her. I was just too shocked to look away.
He took deep breath.
Still it was inappropriate. I have to apologize to her.
His thoughts got interrupted as Pansy entered the room in her school uniform. She looked him and he looked at her. Both of them turned red remembering what happened earlier.
"I am sorry Parkinson. When you saw me, I had just woken up. I wasn't staring, I swear," Harry said quickly.
"It's alright, Potter. Actually I forgot to take my clothes in the bathroom, that's why..." She paused. "It's not your fault"
Harry nodded and got out of the bed went to get ready in the bathroom. Harry chuckled to him remembering their conversation. He never thought that he would see Pansy Parkinson get embarrassed for something.
...
Draco had spent the rest of the night in the common room. He was upset that Hermione had seen him in his most vulnerable state.
How could I let this happen? I have to control myself. Draco, control yourself!
He finally came back to his room in the morning. Entering the room, he found Hermione sitting on a chair looking as sleep deprived as him. Ignoring her, he grabbed his school uniform and went into the bathroom.
...
Hermione was right. She couldn't sleep anymore that night. She had too many thoughts in her mind about Draco, his nightmare, Voldemort and Astoria.
As far as I remember Astoria is a Greengrass, Daphne's sister. Why was Malfoy blaming himself for her death? He shouted to let her go in his dreams. Who is this 'she'?
Above all these his final words kept ringing in her mind.
He was right. What could be more terrible to facing Voldemort every day, having him take over your house, your family! I can never deal whatever he dealt with.
She didn't even realize that it was morning until Draco showed up. She looked at him. He had no emotions on his face as if nothing happened last night.
...
After a while Draco came out. Hermione stood in front him. "Malfoy..."
Draco interrupted her, "Granger I don't want to talk about it. I hope you will keep last night's incident to yourself."
Giving her no chance to reply, he took his bag and went out of the room. Hermione just kept looking at his back like last night.
...
The members of quarter no 4 were at the Great Hall having their breakfast. Among the pairs, it seemed Ron and Daphne were doing quite well. Both of them were comfortable talking to each other. Others were just talking to their housemates.
The Headmistress rose from her seat. "Good morning, everyone. I have a little announcement for the sixth and seventh year students."
Most of the students groaned in annoyance.
McGonagall kept going. "Sixth and seventh year students are going to take their seventh year together. So your class schedule is a bit different from previous year. The schedules are designed keeping your new situation in mind. If you face any problem later regarding this, you may come to us. That's all for now. Thank you"
The members of quarter 4 checked and found that they have the same schedule.
"They are literary making us inseparable," Blaise said.
The others nodded in agreement.
...
Their first class was double potions. The students were waiting for Professor Slughorn in the dungeon. After awhile Slughorn entered the classroom, "Good morning everyone. Welcome to seventh year," He smiled at the students. "This year curricular system is a bit different. You have to work in pairs. So to avoid trouble, you will work with your assigned partner by the ministry"
The students groaned at this.
"Great," Draco muttered in annoyance.
Slughorn started handing out sheets to the students, "Everyone, take the sheet that has your name on it. The lesson plan is given there along with the counter number for you and your partner."
Slughorn turned to the board and started writing. "You are going to make a new potion today. I am writing the instructions on the board. You go fast to your assigned counters and start working with your partners."
...
Pansy and Harry stood at their counter.
"So, I will grab the ingredients. You prepare the cauldron. Is that okay?" Harry said.
Pansy nodded, "Alright"
Coming back with the ingredients. Harry found Pansy had the cauldron ready. Pansy was nothing like Harry thought. They worked quite efficiently with each other. Their potion was almost ready. They just had to wait 15 minutes to let the potion change its colour. They sat on the stools to wait.
"Who knew that I could work peacefully in potions with Harry Potter?" Pansy said turning her face to him.
"I didn't, I am sure about that." Harry smiled. "You are much more tolerable than I thought"
"Potter, do not talk like you know me," She glared.
"Then, I am interested to know you," Harry said.
"Hmm... Fine. And how do you propose we do that?"
"How about we play 'Twenty Questions'?"
"What is that?" Pansy raised an eyebrow.
"We ask each other 20 personal questions and we have to answer it honestly."
"I am stuck with you here anyway. So what the hell, I will go first" Pansy said "Favourite colour?"
"Blue. Favourite food?"
"Chocolate frogs. What's your hobby, Potter?"
"Playing Quidditch. Yours?"
"A very few people know this. I like to draw"
"Really? I could have never guessed that." Harry smiled.
Pansy nodded "I know. Okay, tell me a thing you would not like to admit to anyone."
"What? That is a hard one Parkinson"
"Come on Potter. Show me your Gryffindor courage." Pansy smirked.
"Fine. Uh... you have to promise this will remain between us" She smiled mischievously. "You have my word"
"Okay.. I love my house. But I don't like the symbol. Never been fan of lions."
"Wow!" Pansy was totally surprised. "I wouldn't have imagined that!"
"Alright. Now tell me about yours?"
"Copy cat! Fine" She looked at him. "But the same conditions apply."
Harry nodded in agreement.
"Okay I will follow your path, it is House related. I always wanted to get sorted in Ravenclaw." She paused. "I never even liked Slytherin house until I got sorted."
Harry was too surprised to say anything. He shook his head in disbelief. "Why?" Her eyes looked into his. "Now Potter, you are breaking the rule. It's my turn to ask question."
Harry was going to say something but got interrupted by the sound of alarm coming from his wand. They looked at the cauldron and saw the potion's colour had changed. Forgetting about the game they started working.
...
Draco and Hermione coordinated quite well with each other in making the potion. They were not awkward at all. But when they had to wait for the potion to change colour, things got extremely awkward. They just sat next to each other without saying a word.
At last Hermione broke the silence. "I am not sure if I should mention 'the incident', but I am sorry. I never meant to intrude; I just wanted to help you feel better."
"I know. Always ready to help others, huh?" Draco looked at her "And I apologize for my behaviour. I was just caught off guard"
Hermione was surprised. "I never thought that I would ever see you apologizing to me"
"And I never thought I would be engaged to you, Granger" He countered back.
"I second that. I thought we would end up killing each other on the first day," She smiled softly.
"Come on, Granger. We're not in third year. I know, you can resist yourself from punching me now and then" Draco smirked.
Remembering the incident Draco was referring to, Hermione's cheeks became red. "You deserved that, so I am not guilty," She smiled.
"So, I don't deserve that now?" He raised his eyebrow.
"No. I believe, you have proved that you are a changed person now," She looked into his eyes.
"Don't be so sure Granger. You know nothing about me" He said quietly.
"But I know this one. I just know" They stared at each other for a moment.
"I like your confidence" He smirked.
Hermione's heart started beating fast. She was unsure of what to say. "I like your tidiness."
"At last my fiancé likes something about me!" Draco smirked.
Did he just tease me? Oh my God! Seriously!
She was amused. "I guess you are less of an insufferable git, now" Hermione smiled.
"I agree" He shrugged.
"I can't believe I am saying this but I am not that much horrified about getting married to you now."
"Even after last night?" Draco's voice was full of surprise.
"Yes, even after last night" She nodded. "I mean I still prefer not to marry you. I will definitely continue my research for a loophole, Malfoy. But I feel that if I have to marry you, it will not be the end of the world"
"I appreciate that. I will try not to disappoint you." Draco looked at her face. She understood that he meant his every word. She just could see that in his eyes.
"I think it's ready" Draco said.
"What?" Hermione didn't understand.
"I meant the potion is ready"
"Oh! Yeah I see"
"Let's finish the work"
"Sure" Hermione nodded.
What is wrong with me? How could I forget about the potion?!
Hermione decided to set her thoughts aside for then and get back to work.
.
A/N: Please review and let me know what you think about it.
