DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING IN THIS STORY EXCEPT THE PLOT.

Italicized words are thoughts of the characters unless it is a letter.

Chapter 3- Tutoring in more ways than one

It was already their 5th week at Hogwarts, and Hermione and Draco wearing getting along okay. They still didn't have the friendship that they both secretly wanted, but they were still on good terms with each other. It was mid term, and every student was given a progress report with their current grades. Hermione, of course got over 100% in each subject, but Draco maintained 95% in every subject, except transfiguration, he was struggling with a 71%. Unfortunately for Draco, a copy of every student's progress report was sent home to his or her parents. When Lucius saw Draco's transfiguration grade, he was outraged. Purebloods were supposed to be good at every subject, especially transfiguration. Lucius thought that it was unacceptable to receive a grade lower than an 'A', so he sent Draco a letter.

Draco,

Your grade in transfiguration is outrageously unacceptable. I expect an 'A' for the end of term, or else there will be a punishment- and trust me, you will not like it. If this continues I might have to disown you. I will not accept anybody ruining the Malfoy name. You will do whatever it takes to raise that grade; do you understand me? Even if it means being tutored by that little disgrace of a wizard, Mudblood. You deserve a Howler, but I will not embarrass the Malfoy name in from of your peers.

-Lucius

Disown me? Lucius has a lot of nerve to threaten me with that. I am too valuable to him and the dark lord for him to disown me. But he does have a point; Professor Snape has already warned me that if I do not pull my grade up to a B I will be suspended from Quidditch and Head Boy duties. That would mean no more of Hermione's stereo. Maybe I should ask her for help, but what could I give to her in return?

Draco went over to Hermione's room and knocked on the door.

"Come on in," Draco heard the familiar voice of Hermione shout through the door.

He walked in and found her painting her toe nails a bright red.

"What do you think of this color, Draco? I just bought it in Hogsmede yesterday. It's called Blood," Hermione said.

"It's, err, nice," Draco replied.

"So, I know you didn't come in here to talk about my nail polish. What do you need?"

"Well, I was wondering, I'm kind of struggling in transfiguration right now. I have a 71%, and if I don't raise it I will be in a lot of trouble with my father and I might be suspended from Quidditch and Head Boy duties.

"Wow, you're in some pretty deep trouble. Sure I guess I can tutor you. When do you want to start?"

"Well, I was hoping we could start tonight. We have a transfiguration test tomorrow, and well, I need to get and 'A' on it."

"Okay, let me just finish up here," Hermione said as she put on her last coat of polish.

Hermione got up and went to go get her textbook, wand and some objects that they could transfigure.

"Okay, we're going to start with a simple spell that will probably be on the test tomorrow. It's transfiguring a needle into a pincushion. The spell is: Pintastrophy!" Hermione said, "Do you have your wand?"

"Yes," Draco replied.

"Okay now you yell Pintastrophy, then tap the needle once. If you did it right you will have a pincushion," Hermione said.

"PINTASTROPHY!" Draco yelled, and the needle turned into a pen, "It didn't work."

"I know, Draco. It's the way your pronunciation the word. You want it to be pIntastrophy, not pEntastrophy. Try it again," Hermione said.

"PINTASTROPHY!" Draco tried again, and there in front of him was a pincushion.

Hermione moved a little closer to Draco to examine the pincushion. She picked it up, and slowly looked up into Draco's eyes. Kiss me; kiss me, just KISS ME Draco! Hermione couldn't help but think.

Should I kiss her? It's the perfect timing. Uh… just do it Draco!  Draco leaned in and pressed his lips against hers. It was complete bliss.

Hermione slowly pulled away. Oh my goodness, oh my goodness. Draco Malfoy just kissed me! "Wow, I wasn't expecting that," Hermione lied.

"Was that your first kiss?" Draco asked.

"Uh, yah. It was," Hermione whispered, "I know, you can say it. I am not a good kisser."

"Maybe you could just use the practice, like the way you're helping me with transfiguration," Draco said.

"You mean you would be like a tutor?"

"Yah, sure why not. I would much rather tutor you in that subject than Pansy."

"Oh," Hermione said as she leaned in to kiss Draco.

She's catching on quickly. There's more to Granger than I thought there was.  Draco reacted quickly to the kiss, and it became more passionate by the second.  This time though, Draco pulled away, "Unlike you, Hermione, I actually need to take a breath."

"Oh, haha. What time is it?" Hermione asked.

"It's 7:45, why?"

"Oh my goodness! I promised Ginny I would come down to the Gryfindor common room 15 minutes ago! I have to go. I'll see you later, Draco," Hermione said as she ran out the door.

Why didn't I stop her? Ginny could wait, but I can't. I need Hermione right now. And I still haven't finished studying for that transfiguration test!  Draco went into his room, got a blanket and his transfiguration textbook, and went to go lay down on the couch in the common room. He didn't notice, but he had drifted off to sleep, with the book lying down on his chest.

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Hermione didn't come back till about midnight, and when she did she found a sleeping Draco on the couch. Aww… he looks so cute when he is sleeping. He's not terrifying at all when he's like this. Should I wake him? I probably should, he might get mad if I didn't, or extremely embarrassed.

Hermione walked over to the couch and gently shook Draco. "Hey, have a nice little nap?" Hermione asked.

"Why did you wake me up?" Draco mumbled as he rubbed his eyes.   

"Because, you don't sleep as well on a couch, and if you want to ace that transfiguration test today, then you need all the sleep you can get," Hermione said.

"Wait, did you say the test was today? Don't you mean tomorrow?"

"No, it's already 12:30," Hermione replied.

"Ehh… great. I'm going to bed," Draco got up, but tripped on the coffee table.

"Oh, dear. Let me help you," Hermione said as she took Draco's arm and helped into his room.

"Thanks, Hermione. Good night," Draco said.

"Good night."

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Hermione woke up around 7:30 and was surprised to find Draco not up yet. Maybe he went to breakfast already. Hermione walked down the many staircases to the Great Hall (A/N: I am having a complete memory blank, and cannot remember what the place is where they eat called. I am so sorry, if I get some of the names wrong.) and found Ron, Harry and Ginny already eating. She looked over at the Slytherin table and saw that Draco was missing. Pansy walked over to Hermione.

"Mudblood!" Pansy called out, "Have you seen Draco, he does share a common room with you, right?"

"No, Pansy, I haven't seen him, I thought he had came down here. I'll go check on him in a little bit, okay?" Hermione replied, obviously annoyed with Pansy.

Hermione grabbed some fruit and a bagel and went up to find Draco.

When Hermione go to Draco's room, she knocked on the door. 

"Draco? Are you in here? I brought you up something to eat because breakfast is over downstairs," Hermione started.

"No. I couldn't eat anything; I'm too sick," Draco.

"Are you okay?"

"No, I think I have what muggles call the flu."

"Oh, no Draco. Let me in your room, I'll help you."

"No, I don't want you to get sick, Hermione."

"I've already gotten the flu shot. I can't get the flu," Hermione said.

Hermione heard the door lock click and she opened the door to find a VERY pale Draco.

"Oh Draco, here get in bed," Hermione said as she began to fix the covers on his bed.

"I have a horrible headache and lying down makes it---" Draco didn't finish his sentence because he began running to the bathroom.

Hermione ran after him, and held his head up (like her mom used to do to her) so he wouldn't hit it on the toilet.

"Here Draco, brush your teeth now," Hermione said once he was finished. She loved taking care of Draco; something about it was—romantic. (Not the throwing up part; the taking care of him part!) Hermione led Draco back to his room, and placed a wet cloth over his head and kissed it.

"Do you want me to miss classes and stay with you today, Draco?" Hermione asked.

Hermione reminded Draco of his mother. Whenever he was sick she would stay by his bedside all day. "I feel bad about you missing classes, but if you don't mind I really would like you to stay," Draco replied.

"Okay, Draco I will," Hermione pulled up a chair next to his bed, and held his hand as he fell asleep.

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When Draco's fever broke, he was in need of a shower, but he was way to weak to even get up. Hermione decided that they could both put their swimsuits on, and that way Hermione could assist Draco in the shower. (A/N: I know I used a slightly similar shower scene in my other story, but it fits really well with this one too, so I hope you guys don't mind.) The got their swimsuits on, and Draco held on to Hermione's arm to support himself. They got in the shower, and Hermione used Draco's shampoo to wash her hair AND Draco's. Draco began to moan as he felt Hermione's fingers massage his scalp.

"Are you feeling better?" Hermione asked.

"Ever since this shower, I fell 100% better," Draco replied.

"So your saying you don't need me to help wash you now?"

"No, I guess only 90% better. You keep up whatever you are doing because it feels great. I could get used to this."

"Ha, ha. Well I'm so sorry to disappoint you, but your done- you can get out of the shower now because I need to finish up," Hermione said.

"No, that's okay, I think I'll watch you," Draco said.

Draco pushed his hair off his face, and watched as Hermione began to wash herself. He saw her blush when she noticed that he was watching her. Draco lifted his hand up and took the sponge from her.

"What are you doing?" Hermione asked.

"Washing you," Draco said as he began to move the sponge up and down her back.

"Oh," Hermione said very surprised by his action.

"Thank you for what you've done today, I really appreciate it. Tell me what I can do to make it up to you," Draco said.

"Hmmm, let me think about it. Okay, much as I hate to get out, but we are both done now," Hermione said as she rinsed off.

Draco opened the door and held her hand as she stepped out.

"Wow, that shower must have worked miracles because you seem all better now," Hermione said.

"I'd feel even better if you-" before Draco could finish, Hermione leaned over and kissed him.

"All better now?" Hermione asked.

"Much," Draco replied leaning in to kiss her again.

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A/N: Hey guys! What do you think? I told you things would heat up a bit. Remember, before anything big happens between them, they have to have to little things like this first. Hehehe. Okay well please review; I love reading them! To fanfic authors, reviews are like candy! Thank you so much!

Much love,

Jenn