A/N: AHHHH!! So many reviews!! Thank you all they are so lovely….and it just made me want to write this chapter. In fact, it almost wrote itself it was so excited by your reviews…..and also to answer one comment a reviewer made…Dumbledore had the teachers pair them together for everything, because he thought it would help them bond faster….and also, I know Draco seems a bit OOC but there is a reason for that…..which you shall not find out for a while… ::evil laugh as I just realized that was a great way to keep people reading::……and finally to all my reviewers thank you all again. I shall try not to disappoint you…well here we go the next chapter…..

Ready As I'll Ever Be

The rest of the day sped by, although mine and Draco's quick friendship made me uneasy. As did the almost constant thoughts I had about him. Why was I unable to get him out of my head? His lazy blonde hair, his warm silver eyes, like pools of liquid mercury, floated through my brain incessantly. It was beginning to get on my nerves quite a bit actually.

"Attention Prefects," Draco called, his voice floating over the Prefects. But they heard and shuffled about getting ready to pay attention. "We have the patrol schedules here. I don't want anybody complaints without a valid reason. You are to patrol from 11 PM until 1PM. Anyone found outside of his or her common rooms is to be given detention. Dumbledore wants it clear that you are not to leave your partner during patrols. If one of you is captured, or injured, come straight to the Head Dormitory. It is found on the seventh floor, the portrait of the Gold and Red Intertwined snakes. The password is Roaring Snakes, everyone clear?"

Everyone more or less nodded. I began handing out the schedules.

"Hermione…"Ron hissed.

"What Ronald?"

"You've put me with Padma."

"It was either her or Pansy." That shut Ron up really quick. All I wanted was to go to sleep. I had a wicked headache. Probably from thinking about Draco all day, I mused. I had a chuckle to myself.

"What's so funny, Hermione?" Uh oh, the object of my affections….had I just thought that!?!??!!??!!? It was Mal- Draco. For God's sake! I couldn't even call him Malfoy in my head now. He was Draco. Oh damn.

"Nothing, Draco, let's get to sleep. And what was that password thing about?"

"Dumbledore pulled me aside during dinner and told me about it. It can only be used in a true emergency, so that way, the students can still reach us, but can't come waltzing into our room for no reason."

"Good one."

"Yeah I was going to tell you, but then I thought you might want some time with your friends."

"You are one of my friends." Had I just said that!?!!?!?! But I knew it was true. Draco was one of my friends now, although Ron and Harry would probably skin my alive if they found out.

Draco looked mildly surprised. "Am I?"

"Yes," I sighed, resigning myself to being teased.

"You are one of my friends too, Hermione."

This day just kept getting weirder.

We were at the portrait by this time. "Slithering Lioness" We said together. Draco just laughed. I went into the bedroom and flicked my wand.

"I really wasn't joking when I said I liked your pajamas, Hermione." I looked down, and finally realized what pajamas I had on. They were the ones my parents had bought me for Christmas last year. They even went to Diagon Alley to get them for me. The top was Slytherin green with roaring lions on it, and the bottoms were a deep burgundy with slithering silver snakes. Everyone in my old dorm scowled when I wore them. Then I remembered how much they flattered my figure and flushed.

I flushed deeper when I realized Draco was again only wearing boxers. Red, this time.

"Are you, are you going to sleep in that all year?" I stammered.

"No, during the winter time I throw a shirt on too." He smirked. God how I hated that adorable smirk. I groaned out loud.

Draco laughed. I had never heard Draco's laugh when he wasn't taunting someone. It was nice, refreshing, like a dip in the pool on a warm summer day. I groaned again and crawled into bed. Draco followed. This time I consciously left the barrier spell down. I saw no need to keep us separated, now that we were friends.

But I couldn't sleep. Try as I might, I was always aware of how close Draco was to me. I had my eyes shut, but I could feel him there, lying next to me. He shifted, and his arm draped across my stomach. I was finally able to sleep.

I awoke first this morning. I realized the Draco and I were both on our sides, and he had his arms around my waist, pulling me close to him. He probably thinks I'm Pansy, I thought bitterly. Then I wondered why I was bitter. I didn't have a reason for that, so I just slipped out of his arms and went into the bathroom.

I showered and dressed. Then for some reason, I felt compelled to wear a little bit of make-up something I almost never do. And I let my hair dry naturally. I but on the tiniest tinge of blush, and a quick dab of lip-gloss. My hair fell in waves down my back. I looked at myself in the mirror.

"Are you going to be done anytime soon? You do realize we have only the one bathroom? And not that I don't like you enough, Hermione, but I don't particularly fancy going to the bathroom while you are in there."

He was teasing me. I slipped out the door, and went to the portrait. I walked out without even looking back.

"Hermione!"

"What Ronald?"

"You're –you're wearing makeup!!!"

"Astute observation, Ron."

"You look fabulous, Hermione."

"Thank you, Harry. At least someone appreciates it," I looked at Ron. He was staring at his scrambled eggs. "Ron, how can you stand to eat eggs?"

"I like eggs."

"They are dead baby chickens."

"I like eggs, Hermione. Now let me eat in peace."

"Fine, if you want to eat dead baby chickens-"

"Thanks, Hermione, now you've put me off my eggs."

"Sorry about that Harry, but you know, they are-"

"You've made your point. The eggs are already cooked, you might as well let Ron eat them. He won't save any baby chickens by throwing them away." Sometimes Harry was too smart for his own good. "What have we got next?"

"Double Potions." Ron groaned. I groaned. I hate Double potions.

We made our way down the dungeons, and into Snape's lair. It was icy cold.

"Sit down, class." Everyone did. This year the desks were spilt into groups of two. Everyone paired up fairly quickly, and I was stuck partnering with Neville. How he got into NEWT Potions, I will never know. But at least he isn't afraid of Snape anymore. We all matured a lot after fifth year.

"Dumbledore has asked me to focus on Healing potions this year, as he feels it will be necessary in the coming war. Today we will start with a simple potion, the Pepper-Up potion. Instructions are on the board, you may begin. " And with that, Snape retreated into his office.

The potion was brewed without incident. I'm sure Neville and I got at least an E, if not an O. The rest of the day went fine as well. Lunch was the only spot.

Ron was a bit angry, due to the fact that during Herbology, he was partnered with Padma.

"Ron, Professor Sprout made me work with Draco, it isn't my fault you had to work with Padma! Maybe if you would just bloody apologize to her, we would all be spared some grief!!" I ran to my common room, a single tear falling down my cheek.

"Slithering Lioness," I cried and flopped down onto the couch. That is when I realized someone was already on it.

"D-D-Draco? What are you doing here, I thought you were at lunch."

"I got tired of having Pansy the Pug throw herself at me. She has no pride." He had a sour look on his face. Even in my current state, hearing Draco call her Pansy the Pug made me laugh. "You look like you need the space more than me, Hermione. I'll go lurk in the library."

"Thanks, Draco."

"No problem." And he left.

"Hermione….Hermione…. come on, Hermione, we have patrols." I opened my eye. Draco. I closed it again. "Hermione. I know you are awake, I saw you look at me. You slept through the afternoon-" I shot up. "I got your homework for you." I lay back down. "Hermione, we have to go on patrols tonight, no excuses." I got up, grumbling.

"Whose bright idea was it to go on patrol the third night?"

"Yours." I scowled at him. "Ron was looking for you at dinner. It took him all he had to talk to me with out killing me. And yes, Hermione, before you can ask, I was decent to him. Grudgingly, but there is only so much I can do. He said to please meet him in the Gryffindor Room tonight. I reminded him we have patrols tonight and said you would talk to him at breakfast tomorrow."

"Right thanks, Draco." I went into the bathroom to wash my face. I can out a minute or two later.

"Ready?"

"As ready as I'll ever be."

A/N: Ahh finished…..no don't look at me like that. I meant the chapter, not the story. Hahahhaha fooled you. This chapter achieves everything I wanted it too. It was very hard not to write in a bit of hanky panky (IE Hermione Draco action) in the crying scene, but somehow I restrained myself. It is too soon for that.