A/N:hey, i know it's been a little longer than usual, so sorry. I scratched my mom's car, and had to work on making it less noticable (which i did gorgeously, by the way), and with swim meets and summer homework and work and blah blah, i've just been very busy.

but i made this chapter longer than usual... its almost twice as long as my others! and the plot is developing.. keehee. at least i hope so. i have TEN FRICKIN REVIEWS. woohoo, i feel special. can i get a hallelujah? (crickets chirp, and someone throws a tomatoe) OTAY. go ahead and read the dang story.

disclaimer: i own all, biotch! (sike naw)

continue at your own risk, this sad attempt at writing isn't pretty.

Draco was sitting in the Interpretation of Runes class, staring at Hermione and daydreaming. No, he wasn't imagining her running into his arms, kissing him and telling him everything would be wonderful from then on. Malfoys don't think that way.

Instead he was thinking back on third year, when Hermione had slapped him. He had been showing off, being an overall jerk and making Crabbe and Goyle snort with laughter. He was talking about that overgrown oaf, Hagrid, and his stupid, violent Hippogriff.

He had caught sight of potty and the weasel, and wanted to piss them off (as usual). He started talking particularly loudly, so they'd hear him. He'd never really paid special attention to Hermione; she was just a tag- along for Potter and his sidekick.

So you can imagine his shock when she, not Weasley (whom you'd suspect would do such a thing), marched straight up to him and looking livid, slapped him hard enough to leave a handprint.

Hermione had no idea what kind of effect that day really had on him. With that one little smack, she had challenged everything Draco had ever been taught. She had hit him, and nothing happened.

He didn't do anything about it, just held a shaking hand up to his face as she walked away. His father didn't do anything about it, just told him to carry on like usual. Crabbe and Goyle, and his loyal Slytherin cronies, certainly didn't do anything about it.

Everything Draco had learned as a Malfoy told him a deed such as that would not go unpunished, and yet here it was. It made him stop and think, look at himself and his situation, and wonder what else his father told him which might not be true.

For example, the fact that purebloods were superior to muggleborns. If that was true, than how in the name of Merlin did Hermione manage to get top marks in every single class, while he could barely keep himself at a close second?

Draco didn't like to doubt himself, or his upbringing. It made everything unclear, and gave him a distinct headache. But Hermione forced him to think about it, that day in third year. He'd never seen her the same way after that.

She was no longer just another potty sidekick, or an unbearable know-it- all, or a Mudblood with bushy hair and bucked teeth (until the Yule ball, that is). She stood out from the others, and he saw her as her own person.

But Draco couldn't just stop picking on her; it was in his nature. Besides, it was quite the entertainment. Draco was shaken out of his reverie when he was handed a rather large piece of parchment and told by the professor to translate it. He was currently at a table with Millicent Bullstrode, how on earth she managed to keep passing marks was unknown to Draco. "Do you have your book?" Draco asked, feeling lazy and not wanting to dig through his bag for his.

"Yes, you can share with me," she replied as she slid the book between them. Draco stared blankly at the parchment. Why did he sign up for this horrid class again? It was unbelievably boring. Because father wanted him to, Merlin knows why.

He looked over at Hermione for the trillionth time that day, or so it seemed. She was absorbed in her translation, putting full effort into this class, as usual. Draco wondered if she was human.

Potions. It was Draco's favorite class, and the one that he'd been looking forward to all week. He felt totally at ease as he walked into the chilly, dank stone classroom. To him, it felt like home. He took a seat at the far left table, near the front of the class.

About 6 or 7 more students walked in, and Draco subconsciously noted Hermione was among them. Several minutes later, professor Snape slinked in from his office. "I see you have all taken your seats. Well stand up, because for Advanced Potions, I will be assigning you each partners whom I think are at the same level, in order to assure quicker progress on the part of you all."

Silence ensued. By now, everyone knew not to interrupt Snape. "Very good. Now if you'll stand up, I'll assign tables to you and your partner," he paused, waiting for his students to stand. "Harry Potter—"

"Oh Merlin, that fool is in here?!" Draco muttered, he hadn't seen him walk in.

"—Parvati Patil."

Well duh, obviously Potter wasn't up to his level, Draco thought.

Draco didn't pay much attention after that, until he caught his name. "—Draco Malfoy. Please take a seat at the table behind Potter." Draco smirked as he sat down. The back of Potter's head, an open target the rest of the year. It was almost too good to be true.

It wasn't until then that he thought to look at the person taking a seat next to him. His partner, the witch who (according to Snape) was just as able at potions as he. As he looked to his right, it wasn't a huge shock to see Hermione, scooting her chair rather far from his. It was the obvious choice, of course.

But that didn't mean he had to like it.

REVIEW, BITCHES!
just kidding, you know i love you all. and you only have to review if you feel like it (although if you do, it will make my day).
and you aren't really bitches. excuse my language. 3

w1cked angel: i took your advice on the title. I LOVE IT! you totally own me, a huge thanks to you.

tennisplaya278: i have been trying to keep them in character, i don't like fics when they are totally different either. It's like, if you are going to change them so much, why don't you just use make your own characters?! keehee.. i thought it's be fun to put Padma and Draco together, but i'm not sure how it'll turn out. we'll just see how things develop, my characters have a mind of their own, man! hah. de nada for the update. haha. you are an awesome reviewer man. please stay with my story!

go on, review. i'm waiting....