Chapter Seven

Advanced Charms

Hermione sat quietly in the Advanced Charms class, waiting for Professor Flitwick to begin the class. She was staring straight ahead at the wall. It took her five whole minutes to notice who had come in and sat next to her. "Malfoy? You're taking Advance Ch-."

"My father said I have to." He interrupted her. "Believe me, I wouldn't be here if I had a choice."

She smiled on the inside. That was the longest thing he'd said to her in all their years at Hogwarts with out it being an insult. "I expect it will be quite fun?" She said, dying to keep the conversation going.

"I doubt it. I never really liked Flitwick."

Hermione frowned. "He's a great Professor."

"Well, he doesn't like me. So we're even."

At least he has SOME bit of humor.Hermione thought. "Good morning, class." Professor Flitwick said, waddling to the front of the class. "Now, as you've noticed, I've chosen only my best students from last year to join me in my advanced class." Hermione glanced around. Indeed, almost every person there had been more than excellent at Charms last year. "Now, for today, we'll start with something very simple. We will be practicing on how to levitate much heavier objects than before."

"What kind of objects?" Someone from the back of the class asked.

"Each other. Won't it be fun?" Hermione opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. She glanced at Malfoy, who just shrugged. "Now, now we'll need partners. All females, please look to your left. That will be your partner, whether you like it or not." Malfoy. "Now, in the end, if you don't have a partner, please select one that is not already taken. Come on, now, let's not waste time. Swish and flick!"

Hermione and Malfoy took a small empty space near the back of the room. "So, why didn't you shoot an insult at Harry in Diagon Alley?" Hermione asked him.

"I just didn't see the point in starting a fight and."

"Wingardium Leviosa!"

"Ah!" Malfoy found himself a couple of feet off the ground.

"And what?" Hermione said, holding her wand steady, as not to let Malfoy fall.

"And I really didn't feel like.going a little high are we?" Malfoy looked down. He was well over five feet in the air. Hermione made him spin in a circle with her wand. "You're making me sick!"

"Didn't feel like what?" She said.

"Well done, Miss Granger!" Professor Flitwick said, interrupting them, then went to observe his other students.

"Well? Didn't feel like what?" She asked impatiently as she let Malfoy drop to his feet.

"Ugh.I didn't feel like arguing with anyone. I wasn't particularly feeling well. Wingardium Leviosa." He raised Hermione a couple of inches off the ground. "Why were you staring at me on the train?"

"What? Wingardium Leviosa." She levitated Malfoy. They were both floating around in the air. "I wasn't staring at you."

"Sure you weren't." Malfoy twirled Hermione around twice very rapidly, causing her hair to fly out around her. "I wasn't asleep, you know."

Hermione yelped as she came to a stop, her eyes crossed. She attempted to tap her foot on the floor, only realized there was no floor to tap. "I.well.look, it was the first time I had been so close to you without you attacking me with rude remakes," She said, making Malfoy rise higher in the air and spin at the same time. In doing this, he reminded her of the fairies she used to watch on Muggle TV when she was younger. "I enjoyed you not screaming insults at me." She said, bring him back down.

"Yeah." He said, lowering Hermione back to the floor. She did the same.

"Well done, class!" Professor Flitwick said happily. "Next time, we'll try something a little more complicated. Good day, all!"

Hermione gathered up her things. "See you next time." She said to Malfoy, and without giving him a chance to answer, she trotted out the door, a large smile on her face.

"What are you so happy about?" Ron asked her as she entered the Great Hall for lunch.

"What? Oh, nothing." Her smile faded.

"How was your first Advanced Charms?" Harry asked.

"I got placed with Malfoy in partners. We got to levitate each other and, it was really fun!" She laughed at herself and told all about the levitation experiment and Malfoy spinning her really fast for a good five minutes before she realized both Harry and Ron were staring at her. "What?"

"You," Ron said slowly, "Are going on and on about how happy you are to have Malfoy as a partner."

"I am not! I was merely saying we have a lot of fun in that class."

"Sure you were. You like him, don't you, Hermione?" Ron asked, standing up.

"No, I don't!" Hermione said, standing to challenge him. "I just enjoy having him for a partner in Charms!"

"Whatever, Hermione. I know you." Ron said angrily, and stormed off towards Professor Callon's class.

Hermione huffed and sat down. Why wouldn't Ron just lay off? Or what she that obvious with her feelings for Malfoy?