A/N: thanks so much for the reviews! keep 'em coming...and don't hesitate to make any suggestions! and in chapter 2, it says that they are seventh years...they aren't...I just made a mistake...they are in sixth. Sorry for the spells too. I'm not original when it comes to spells

Chapter 4: Transfiguration

Disclaimer: I don't own HP...I don't own a lot of other things too... (Insert sad face here)

Hermione, Harry and Ron left the potions class looking a little disappointed.

"The ministry is crazy," said Ron

"They are," Harry agreed

"I can't believe I was paired up with Malfoy", Hermione said, "There's definitely been a mistake"

"But there isn't--"

"The ministry obviously doesn't know--"

"It doesn't matter," Harry said, "You heard what Snape said—no objecting and asking questions"

"Even if the Ministry does have good reasons...with the aims and all... of all people..."

Hermione's voice trailed off as she saw Professor McGonagall looking at them sternly from the doorway of the Transfiguration classroom.

"Get inside, get inside," she said firmly. She turned to face Hermione. "I trust you have been informed of the new program, Miss Granger?"

"Yes professor, but isn't there any way that I can change partners?"

"No. The ministry has its reasons, and Dumbledore agrees with the pairings...he approved all of them"

"But—"

"Miss Granger, please don't ask questions, just get inside"

Hermione got inside hesitantly. Draco was already sitting at the back row. Hermione wanted a front seat, but seeing as she had no other choice, she sat down beside Malfoy as Harry and Ron sat with their own partners.

Hermione looked at Malfoy and Malfoy looked back. He smirked, and Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Mud—"

"Quit it Malfoy," Hermione said coolly, "I suggest that you listen to McGonagall, for once"

"I listen," said Malfoy, not taking his eyes of Hermione, "How else would I get high marks?"

"Cheat?" suggested Hermione. She was getting tired of Malfoy bragging all the time.

"No. I listen, Granger. I don't just suck up"

Hermione was about to answer when McGonagall looked closer at the back row.

"Granger, Malfoy... demonstrate the spell I just taught the class"

"Well—"

"In front", said McGonagall, pointing to where she was standing.

Hermione and Draco walked gingerly to the front of the class and turned to see the rest of their year sniggering and staring at them. Hermione looked at the board. Advanced Switching Spells, it read. She had read about them, and knew the incantation, but she hadn't mastered them yet.

"What do you say?" Draco whispered desperately.

"Transfusium", Hermione whispered back, "swish and flick and concentrate on what you want to switch it with"

"You first, Mister Malfoy" said McGonagall, "No foolishness"

"Transfusium," said Malfoy clearly, focusing on the cushion, and how he wanted to switch it with McGonagall's hat, which was lying on the professor's desk.

Nothing happened.

"Well Mr. Malfoy, I suggest you listen next time. The wand movement is flick once, not swish and flick"

Hermione looked up. Of course! She had mixed the switching spell up with the transformation spell. They almost had the same properties—except for the wand movement. Draco scowled and looked angrily at Hermione, who was being called by Professor McGonagall to perform the spell. She did it perfectly. Draco realized that Hermione told him swish and flick on purpose, so he'd make a fool out of himself. How stupid of him to listen to a mudblood.

Draco and Hermione took their seats at the back row. Again, Draco didn't dare talk, because McGonagall was watching them closer than ever. They spent the rest of the lesson practicing the spell.

The sixth years filed out of their classroom quietly, and Hermione turned to look for Harry and Ron only to see Malfoy glaring at her.

"It's your entire fault Granger!" said Malfoy, "You told me the wrong wand movement on purpose"

"I didn't—"

"You will pay"

Hermione ignored this, but Malfoy suddenly shouted, "Stupefy!"

Hermione was thrown back. Fortunately, the spell wasn't that powerful, so she got up again easily.

"Fernunculus!" Hermione shouted back, and Malfoy was covered with boils in an instant. But that didn't stop him from yelling "Reducio!" and hitting Hermione on her left arm, making it shrink.

By that time, many people had started to watch. Nobody, however, stepped forward and tried to help. Harry and Ron weren't there; they thought that Hermione had gone already, and they headed to Care of Magical Creatures. Blaise wasn't sure what to do, so he just stayed put. He was having too much fun anyway.

"Diff—", Hermione started to point her wand at Draco's robes to make them split.

"Stop it, this instant"

McGonagall came between the two.

"You will go to the Hospital Wing t be treated and you will report to Dumbledore's office right after that", McGonagall said, shaking her head in disappointment, "I expected better from both of you"

"It's your fault", Draco mumbled to Hermione, as McGonagall left.

"Damn it Malfoy. I didn't tell you the wrong wand movement on purpose, and I tried to tell you, but you wouldn't listen", Hermione said coldly.

Malfoy looked at Hermione but didn't say anything. She was right. She tried to tell him, but he wouldn't listen. He didn't want to admit that he was wrong in thinking she did it one purpose. Hermione hated him, but she was too 'proper' to do that.

But one thing was for sure; Hermione and Draco dreaded whatever punishment they would receive.