Chapter 3: Arithmancy

A/N: If i owned Harry Potter.. I would have a flying pig..are there flying pigs??!Then NO I do not.
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Hermione woke up early and headed down to the Great Hall. She didn't meet anyone on the way there...especially not Malfoy, she thought. She didn't know how she would ever live the "incidents" of the night before down. Malfoy sure wasn't going to let that happen. When she got there she took out her schedule to see what classes she had that day. No surprises. First Arithmancy with, ugh...Slytherin. At least she knew Malfoy wouldn't be in that class. After that, one of her favorite classes, Transfiguration with Hufflepuff, then Lunch and Potions with (no not again)...Slytherin.

She finished her breakfast and headed to Arithmancy. She knew she'd be early, but she wanted to have time to chat with Professor Vector before class, but when she got there, she wasn't alone. Malfoy was in the room. "What is HE doing here?" she said before she could stop herself.

"Oh, Malfoy? He's taking arithmancy this year; we were just discussing how to get him caught up. Any ideas?" When Hermione didn't answer she went on. "I thought that you wouldn't mind tutoring him, Hermione, being the best student in class." Hermione, once again, was too shocked for words, Malfoy (again) smirked. "Well now that settles that" said Professor Vector smiling, "So from now on, until Malfoy catches up, you'll share a desk and spend an hour each day after class working together."

Their expressions didn't change. Then the bell rang loudly and the class filed in. Professor Vector assigned Hermione and Malfoy to one of the double desks in the very back corner of the room.

"Psst, Granger" whispered Malfoy, "Since we're going to be seeing each other on a painfully regular basis for some time"

"No treat for me either" interjected Hermione

"I'll ignore that", continued Malfoy, "I think it would be a good idea to ermm... forget last night and try to be at least sociably nice"

"Fine", said Hermione, "But about last night..." It was one of the rare occasions when it was Malfoy's turn to blush.

"Uhh, what about last night?" Now it was Hermione's turn to blush.

"Alright class" said Professor Vector, stopping their conversation, "turn to page 132 and do numbers 1-35." There was much groaning from the class. "But" she continued "if you finish it in class today, you have no homework tonight!", this was followed with many sighs of relief. "Alright then, Begin!"

"So Hermione?", whispered Malfoy uncertainly. Almost nice even. Hermione noticed that this was the first time he had ever called her by her first name.

"Oh.... never mind"

"Well don't get any ideas in your oversized head Granger!" he sneered, back to his old self again.

"OHHHH...." said Hermione, fuming. Malfoy then muttered something that sounded to Hermione like "mud blood", and Malfoy couldn't help but notice how much Hermione's cough seemed to sound like "ferret".

As soon as Professor Vector said, "class dismissed", Hermione hurried out of the class to Transfiguration. She got there the same time as Harry and Ron. "Have fun in Divination class?" asked Hermione

"Tons" replied Ron as he rolled his eyes.

"You'll never guess who was in Arithmancy!" said Hermione, as she sat in the desk beside Ron and in front of Harry.

"Who?" asked Harry.

"Malfoy!"

"How'd that bloody, nasty Git, get in Arithmancy in his sixth year??" shouted Ron.

"Dunno" said Hermione with a shrug, "But he's going to ruin it!"

"Just sit at the other end of the room" said Harry, "it can't be that bad."

"Oh yes it can! I have to TUTOR him!"

"Ooooo, bad luck 'Mione"

"Yea the WORST!" she said emphasizing worst.

Transfiguration went on as normal. Hermione got top marks for turning her chicken into a stone yard ornament, but Neville lost points because his still had feathers and clucked occasionally.

Next came lunch. Hermione had forgotten how good the food at Hogwarts was! Partway through lunch Malfoy stopped by her table. He glared superiorly around the table before bending down to her ear.

"So, Granger" he whispered, Hermione liked the way his warm breath felt on the side of her face but her expression showed nothing but displeasure, "When do you want torture hour to commence?" She turned around and studied his face. It was the first time she has really ever seen him up close. His clear grey eyes sparkled with malice and his beautiful silver blonde hair was slicked back except for a small strand that had fallen out of place in the front. He wasn't as pale as he had been before. "He must have went on holiday to the beach" she thought to herself.

"3:30, just after the last class but before dinner." she said aloud.

"I'm not an idiot. I know when 3:30 is."

"Whatever, just be there."

"Where you prat" (all of this was said to softly for Harry and Ron to hear, if you're wondering why they haven't attacked yet ;) )

"Where do you think? The library."

"Fine" He glared over the table once again before leaving.

"What was that all about?" asked a very puzzled Ron.

"I have to tutor him. Remember?"

"Oh yea" said Ron, then teasing "But it did seem like...."

"Oh Shut it!" said Hermione but she was now laughing, "as if that's going to happen."

They made sure to be on time to Potions. (They didn't want to start on the year too badly.) Snape began assigning seats. Hermione sat in the desk beside Harry and in front of Malfoy and Ron. Hermione and Malfoy's groups (being the two highest scoring people in the class), finished early. Hermione chatted with Harry and Ron while waiting for the class to be dismissed. (Obviously Snape knew that Malfoy's grade in Arithmancy was depending on Hermione's good-will.) Finally Snape dismissed the class.

"Good-Luck 'Mione" called Ron as he and Hermione parted ways. "I'll need it", she thought to herself.
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A/N: Please REVIEW!!!!!!!!!