A/N: My, how fast these reviews came! I am always bored to complete another chapter but for the sake of you readers, I am working my arse off just for your entertainment. Ü I made this chapter longer than the usual in exchange for more reviews! Yes, I am adding a little in the amount of reviews I usually require for me to post the awaited, next chapter. So that is all I require of you, read and review, and the story shall be finished. Muahahaha! Thanks for all those who took the time and reviewed my previous chapters (of course you had to! Tsk-tsk!) I know that an idea of a dumb Draco is very unlikely, but let's just see who gets the last laugh. Just a question: Bertie Bott's come in pouches right? But in the movie, they used boxes. What do you think? I'll just stick with the box, okay? So folks, enjoy and indulge in reading this next chapter entitled…

Chapter 4: An Encounter of a 'Mudblood' and a Dragon

"Psst!" rang a muffle yet harsh sound in the stale-smelling space of the library. Busy checking out some library books, Hermione ignored the wee sound that disrupted part of her attention.

"Granger you mudblood!" the irritating utterance called out again, this time a bit hoarse. Hermione jerkingly turned her head around, and sure enough, lurking behind the bookshelves was Draco, obviously hiding from anybody's vision. Students' were slowly emptying the library for in about 20 minutes, another Hogsmeade trip was scheduled to happen.

"Couldn't you at least give me a minute to notify my friends that I am parting their company?" she pleaded with the tone that suggested she was in a stage of irritation.

"Couldn't you at least give yourself a minute to recognize that I am in a hurry!? Make it quick!" he abruptly snapped. "I'll go and wait for you at the door." It was still sure and obvious that they utterly detest each others company.

A few seconds later, Hermione came out of the door, carrying a load of books, with a pout painted on her face. And through the tiny space between the wooden library doors, Draco could see the 2 boys snickering in their seats. 'Great friends! They must've guffawed with the thought of Hermione being stuck with me…'

"Are you aware that those two numskulls are the only phenomenal outcastes in this Hogsmeade Trip?" Draco informly asked.

"Well, its their only opportunity to read the latest Which Broomstick without somebody's grimy hands on it. They have nothing left to purchase in Hogsmeade anyway. Harry's checking out this feature 'Brooms from Past to Present…"

"And I guess mo-Ron's slobbering over the Chudley Cannons' pin-up."

"Yeah, obviously," Hermione replied, rolling her eyes. 'What's new with that?' She was slightly pissed off that her friends didn't accompany her with her 'rendezvous' with Malfoy. But as she tried to be optimistic, it was good that Harry and Ron weren't in Malfoy's range. She could at least avoid the icy stares, for the two was relatively like cats and dogs. Too much of this might cause one of them to cast an 'Avada Kedavra' to the other. Hermione shrugged to the thought of that occuring.

Their little conversation had led them to the bottom of the staircase. The situation was pretty good for nobody had at least tried to be mean to the other. "Look, we still have around 15 minutes, you might want to do some last minute preparation or at least consider leaving those books behind. I'll just meet you after then."

Hermione headed to the Gryffindor common room and laid down the books she borrowed. She grabbed another, red book from her study table though, expecting the worst and most boring Hogsmeade trip she'll ever have. Draco on the other hand, gave his cronies Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle orders to taunt, bully or strike any kid who'll make fun or will make a big deal out of the sight of Malfoy and Hermione together. He also went to grab his black, velvet pouch filled with galleons, sickles and knuts from his polished, antique wooden trunk.

Fifteen minutes passed and neither squeaked a sound as they were trapped in their own dilemma, absorbed into deep thought. Soon they arrived at Hogsmeade. As both of their feet were landing on the Hogsmeade ground, Hermione made the effort to utter a few words. "Let's head straight to Honeydukes," she said, fidgeting on the pages of the book she brought.

"Are you serious Granger, or are you seriously out of your mind? A site of a crate of Bertie Bott's will definitely be irritating to my sight. It will unquestionably prevent me from your offensive sight as we take our tea together," he said with a mocking little smile matching his tone.

"If it's so offensive then why don't you just wear sunglasses or better yet, CLOSE YOUR EYES!" Hermione said, her voice raising at the end of her statement.

"Sunglasses? Tsk, tsk. Why, is it a sin to use your eyes?"

"Whatever Malfoy. Let's just go and move, if that's alright with you though," she spoke with ridicule.

And thus they went ahead to Three Broomsticks. As Draco came to enter the oak doors of the store, a horrified look was visible on his face, the blood flowing in his veins adhering through extreme coldness. The source of his shock was right in front of him. Pansy and a bunch of her girl friends were seated in the table adjacent to the door. They suddenly paused their little chitchat, and suddenly bursting in to tiny giggles and murmurs at the sight of Draco together with Hermione. Pansy just looked at him with a straight face, and subsequently forced a smile. Draco, red as a beet, stood frozen into his position. He too forced a smile on his face. And with Hermione's slight push, he was able to disconnect his feet from the floor and bring him back to his composure. With his aristocratic look, he then rendered a nod and proceeded forward, straight at the very back of the room.

A pale look on Draco's face was very evident, which then awakened Hermione's curiosity. "What was that all about?" she questioned as they sat down on the soft cushions of the stools. "What was what? Stop asking such foolish questions and let's get on with our orders," he replied, avoiding the subject.

"So, what would you want Granger? Chamomile tea?" he suggested, with a bit of chortling.

"What's so funny about that? Just cut the crap and get ourselves some butterbeer!"

After a few minutes…

Draco was quietly sipping his butterbeer, sitting as erect as he should be. But Hermione noticed that from the corner of his eye, he was still looking at the table Pansy was occupying. 'Boys! I just don't get 'em'

"What are you doing? Spying on the activity of others?"

"Is it a sin to use your eyes, Granger?"

And with a thud, the book she brought landed on the table. This jerked Draco, disrupting him from his attention. "And what is that? Why in the world would you bring that book? Return it for refund?" Draco was acting less of a jerk as he was, probably because Pansy's presence troubled him.

"Well, for your information, we having a test on Defense against the Dark Arts tomorrow, and I thought of reviewing again."

"For what? The 16,739,000th time?"

"Don't you have a test too? We're having a test on magical beasts and I assume you also have one. Don't you have a bit of studying?"

"Me? Tsk, tsk. Why study? My brain is not in need of such trash."

"Well, if you're just so intellectual, why don't give me a little assistance. I've read it here somewhere and the term for the biting fairy lapsed from my consciousness. Thought you might help me with that…" she pleaded with mockery, skimming thought the pages of her book. 'There is no way Draco will get that. This means more reading for me…'

"That's easy, a doxy."

Hermione's brow raised up. She scantily flipped the pages of her book and there it was:

DOXY

(Sometimes known as biting fairy)

'How in the world did he know that?' Amazement filled Hermione's eyes. 'Sure this kid was bratty and all that, but I never figured he had wit at all.' It was just a dumb, simple question, but it surprised her to have answered it ordinarily - and correctly. Her buffing backfired, but there was no harm done. And with that, Hermione spread a little, timid smile on her face.

"Thank you."

"No problem."

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This is the end of chapter 4!! Sorry to keep you all waiting. I cannot promise you that I'll be able to post the next chapter at once (after 85 reviews). But just give me the appropriate number and we'll see… But I absolutely promise that the next chapter will be up soon after you review.