Disclaimer: I don't own anything

A/N: Omg, I'm soooooo sorry it's been so long since I've updated, but school has been HELL. I absolutely HATE it. Actually, I hate my english teacher (don't tell her!). she's evil and terrible. I personally think that she should RETIRE. I mean, she's already so friggin old. Anyhow, I hate that class!!!! Therefore, I've been having a hard time writing, cuz writing reminds me of english, and english reminds me of her. And then I'm in a crappy mood for the rest of the day. Anyhow, that is why this chapter is extremely boring, cuz I wasn't in a writing mood when I wrote it. And it's really stupid too. Also, it's very over used. It WAS gonna be better, but im in a terrible mood thx to my english teacher, so therefore all ya'll hafta read this boring thing. Well I suppose you don't HAVE to read it. Anyhow, I will stop complaining about school and get on wit other stuff.

Thanks to: Merusa, Madame Padfoot, Melissa Potter, perinnia, Lulu, Stacie, Iris, Escritora, Nessa, Rebecca, Gwen, may, zkiro, Tara/Jockaroo, Danny, li'l grasshoppa, Jessica, Bloody Raven, foxyness39, Sushi-chan, DrummerChick182, luvmealways, Star-Swept, Late-Summer-Night, Lala, Hermione_Malfoy, sydney, Moldanubikum

And thanks to my beta, Moi

~

Forever Never Ends

Chapter 16

Flashback

"Please put away your textbooks," Professor Moody said as he stood up from his seat and strode over to the front of the class. "As you all know, this will be my last year teaching here."

At this comment, all of the students in the classroom groaned; some of the Slytherins even did. Professor Moody had been the best Defense Against Dark Arts teacher they had ever had. Although everyone was in their seventh year and would be graduating, they were still disappointed that he would have to leave.

"And because of this and because you, class, have learned almost everything that needs to be taught," he continued, "we will be starting a very interesting project."

"What project?" asked Ron out loud.

Professor Moody smiled. "I was just about to go into that, Mr. Weasley. From now until the New Year, you will have absolutely no homework at all. Period."

The class cheered loudly.

"But, you will be starting a project that will probably take a couple months to complete. You will be partnered up into groups of two, and will be assigned to a certain curse. You will need to research and find out everything about that particular curse and find its counter-curse. Of course, for most of the curses, more than just incantations are involved in the counter-curse. Some involve potions, which you will need to brew or other such things."

"Are you sure it would take us that long to find a counter-curse?" Lavender asked. "That many months?"

"Miss Brown, I must remind you that these are very difficult curses, which you will need to know how to do. And they have very difficult counter-curses. At the end of the time allotted for you, which is until early January, you and your partner will need to give the class a presentation."

Hermione, who had been taking down notes of what the professor had just said, now raised her hand up high in the air.

"Yes, Miss Granger?"

"How much would this be worth to our grade, Professor?"

"Ah, good question. This project will be worth seventy five percent of your grade this year, so I suggest that all of you take it seriously."

Hermione nodded and quickly jotted it down in her notes.

"Now, without further adu, I will partner all of you up and assign a curse to you," Professor Moody said, a trail of groans following. Everyone had wanted to pick his or her own partners.

"Miss Brown and Miss Patil," Professor Moody said as the two best friends cheered. He looked down at a piece of paper, which was probably a list of curses. "You will be doing the Georgian Pedel Curse."

Professor Moody continued on and paired up the whole class surprisingly well putting most people with their best friends. Hermione sighed when the professor put Harry and Ron together. She was hoping to be paired up with one of them because they were her best friends, and she didn't really know anybody else that well.

"And I think that's all of you," said Professor Moody after he had paired everyone up...or at least most of them... Hermione then realized that he had forgotten her. She raised her hand quickly and waved it in the air like a five-year-old trying to get her teacher's attention.

Professor Moody looked up and saw her. "Ah, I'm sorry, I must have forgotten. Miss Granger, will you please come up here."

Hermione, wondering what was about to happen, slowly eased herself out of her seat and trotted up to the front of the classroom, where Professor Moody had indicated.

"And, Mr. Malfoy, would you kindly come up here also?"

Hermione's eyes darted over to the Slytherin side of the room and watched with a feeling of foreboding as Draco began to make his way up to the front of the class, looking just as confused as her.

"It's so nice to have both the Head Boy and Head Girl in this class," Professor Moody said with a beaming smile. "Both of you will notice that your names were not called. This is because you two will be working together."

Hermione gagged. She looked like she had just eaten a vomit-flavored jellybean. The professor noticed her sudden expression and questioned her.

"Would you prefer to work alone, Miss Granger?"

Hermione nodded eagerly and smiled as if it was a dream come true. She stopped smiling when she realized that Professor Moody was just kidding. Draco didn't say anything or even show any sort of annoyance at the professor's decision. The memory of being turned into a ferret was probably still dancing in his mind.

Professor Moody now directed his attention to the class. "I have put Miss Granger and Mr. Malfoy together for a reason. They will be assigned to one of the most difficult curses in the magical world, with one of the most complex counter-curses also. It is called the Satilatrom Sumina Omirped. As the Head Girl and Boy of this school, I have absolute confidence that they will be able to take on this challenge."

He turned to Draco and Hermione now. "The two of you may take a seat."

Draco and Hermione both hurried back into their seats on opposite sides of the room.

"There's about five minutes left of class. You may use this time to discuss and plan things with your partner."

Hermione, upon returning to her desk, put her head down on it and wondered if this day could possibly get any worse. All around her, the students were all talking to their partners. But she, Hermione Granger, was definitely not going to talk to Draco Malfoy.

"Oh, yes, I forgot to mention. You'll also be graded on how well you work with your partner, as this is a group effort."

Hermione groaned at Professor Moody's words and pulled herself out of her chair, determined to go up and talk to Draco Malfoy, even if it meant she had to swallow her pride. After all, this was for a grade.

Just then, the bell rang and everyone packed up all their books and began to leave. Harry and Ron were chatting happily in front of her as they began to slowly file out of the room. Everyone was pushing and shoving to get out of the classroom first, and Hermione was sandwiched between a bunch of people. She looked around for Draco. He was right beside her, she realized. They had reached the doorframe. It was now or never.

"Library. Seven o'clock."

She had said it quietly, but definitely loud enough for him to hear. Not wanting to linger around anymore, she brushed past him and ran to catch up with Harry and Ron.

Draco Malfoy smirked as he heard those words coming from Hermione's mouth. He watched as she ran off to catch up with her friends, Potty and the Weasel. This was perfect, he thought. Because of this project, he had a chance to get closer to her. It was just what he needed. He stood there, lost in his thoughts until Pansy grabbed his arm and the two of them, with the rest of the Slytherin house, began to walk to their next class.

~

When Draco entered the library, he immediately headed for the distant corner where Hermione's table was. She was sitting there, with a mountain of books on the table and scribbling something on the parchment that sat in front of her. Draco approached her tentatively from behind and looked over her shoulder to see what she was writing, his shadow falling over her.

"You're late."

"I never said I was punctual."

She turned her head around to face him, wearing a look of annoyance on her face. "I will expect you to be on time next time."

"Next time? Who says there'll be a next time?"

"Look, Malfoy, I didn't choose to work with you, alright? The only reason I'm putting up with you is because, and only because, I want to get a good mark."

"Ok, what the hell do you want me to do?"

She leaned down and pulled a piece of parchment out from her book bag and handed it to him. "Find these books, you and I need them."

He frowned as he scanned the page. "Some of these are in the restricted section."

"Well, that won't be a problem for you."

Draco chuckled and licked his lips. "So you're saying, you want me to sneak in?"

Hermione sighed and rolled her eyes. "How thickheaded can you possibly be, Malfoy? No, of course I wouldn't ask you to steal a book. The Head Boy and Girl are allowed to check out books from the restricted section without permission from the teachers."

"Right, and therefore you couldn't get these books?"

"There's a limited amount I can take out of the restricted section; only ten. So I need you to get the rest of these books."

"Alright," said Draco, feeling a bit dumb that he didn't know all of this and turned around, heading towards the restricted section of the library.

Ten minutes later, he was back, carrying a large load in his arms. If any of his friends had seen him like that, they would think he was possessed. He dumped the books on Hermione's desk and sat down across from her.

He sat there dumbly for a minute before Hermione finally looked up.

"Well, what are you waiting for? Start taking notes!"

"I was thinking that…uh…maybe you could brief me a little about what exactly the two of us are dealing with here?"

"What makes you think I know?"

"Well, you're Granger! You're…a bookworm!"

Hermione nodded her head slowly. "I will take that as a compliment."

"Actually - "

"The Satilatrom Sumina Omirped is a very complex spell that a wizard can put on another person. Of course, it would have to be a very powerful wizard, considering the fact that it is very difficult."

"What exactly does it do?"

"Think of it…as sort of a dementor's kiss. When the spell is performed, it will make the victim's spirit become depressed and then slowly wear away his soul. After a while, the victim's soul will be completely eaten away…and there will be nothing left." Hermione shuddered at her own words.

"This curse is illegal, right?" Draco asked nervously.

"Of course. And there is a counter-course, which is even harder than the actual curse. It requires a lot of different steps, which, as of right now, I don't know. But I think what the two of us have to do right now is to find out about the curse itself. The counter-curse will be dealt with later."

"How do you plan on finding out more about the curse?"

"By reading, of course! I didn't get all these books for nothing!"

"Shouldn't me and you be discussing the facts while reading?"

Hermione thought about this for a second. "You're right. Come sit here by me and you and I can read it together."

Draco got up and moved to the other side of the table where she was sitting at. He sat down and then moved his chair closer to hers so he could get a better view of the book. Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small black case. He opened the case to reveal a pair of small glasses. Hermione stared as she watched him slide the glasses on.

"You wear glasses?" Hermione asked with surprise. Her usually stern face broke into a smile as a small laugh escaped her.

"And you're laughing because…?"

"I just never thought, you of all people would be wearing glasses!"

"Actually, I think I look rather good in them."

"Are they just for reading?"

"No, I'm supposed to always wear them."

"And you don't?"

"I think they make me look a bit too…serious. You're one of the only few people who have seen me with them on."

"Oh, I feel really honored," Hermione said with a hint of sarcasm in her voice. "But how can you see without them?"

"I'm not blind, Granger. My vision isn't bad, actually, it's just not perfect."

"To tell you the truth, my vision is actually very terrible. Without glasses, I can't see much at all."

Draco was becoming more and more interested. If you had told him a month ago that he would be sitting here conversing with Hermione Granger, he would have told you that you were completely out of your mind.

"So how do you see?"

"I wear contacts."

"Contacts?"

"They're a muggle product. You put a thin piece of plastic in your eye and then viola! You have perfect vision. I find it easier than glasses."

"Really? Wow, that sounds amazing. Are they in your eyes right now?"

Hermione nodded.

"Can I see?"

"Sure." Hermione pointed at her eye. "It's right there."

Draco leaned in towards her until he was barely inches from her face. He looked into her eyes and what was there surprised him. It wasn't the contacts that caught his attention. It was actually the color of her eyes. They were a blue color, but instead of being the usual boring blue that many people had, her eyes also had so much…depth.

They stayed in that position for a moment, as her eyes mesmerized Draco. It was Hermione who pulled away first, noticing how close she was to him.

"I'm sorry. I got sidetracked. You and I should start on the project."

Draco nodded, secretly wishing that he could look into those eyes of hers, forever. "You're right."

Hermione began to read out loud from the book that was lying out in front of her, but then suddenly stopped after the first paragraph and looked at him.

"You know, you're really not so bad, Malfoy."

Draco smirked. "You like me?"

"No," Hermione said honestly, and Draco had to admit her answer was a bit disappointing. "You just weren't as bad as I imagined."

"Am I really that terrible?"

"Worse."

"Oh. So you and I are just temporarily putting our hatred away for the good of the project?"

"I never said I hated you. You may hate me all you want, though."

"Do you think we'd ever not be enemies? Maybe we could, uh, be a bit more civil to each other."

Hermione sighed. "In all honesty, Malfoy, I don't think we'll ever be friends. But…" and here, she winced.

"But what?"

"But that doesn't mean I'm not willing to try."

TBC

~

A/N: Alright…um…IF you read it, well, um…hopefully the next chapter is gonna be better, but it might be a while before the next chapter is posted cuz of school. Soooo…please be patient.