A/N: So many reviews already?? This is amazing! Thanks!! I'm not used to this kind of feedback...this, after all, is my FIRST fanfic.

Vbabe11: I get what you're saying...more things are going to happen in the story... (Coz it's going to be a whole year of activities with the ministry's new anti-voldemort program...)

Anon11: I know what you mean...you can't just fall in love just like that...

Thanks to everyone else who reviewed!! (Sorry I can't answer any more, I have limited time on the net and I want to get this chapter done)

Chapter 8: The Defense Program

Disclaimer: I don't own HP...awww

Hermione woke up early the next morning only to find herself staring at Draco Malfoy's face. He had smooth skin with a fair complexion, platinum blonde hair...every girl's dream.

But why is he so unbearable?

"Ahh," thought Hermione, "That is one thing I can never answer"

She got up and took a quick shower. She got back into the common room wearing a pink shirt over white capris. Draco was impatiently waiting for her.

"About time you got out of the shower," Draco smirked.

"Get used to it", she shot back

Draco ignored her and got into the bathroom for a quick shower too. When he got out, Hermione was on one of the couches reading a book.

"Time to go"

"Hold on"

"Fine"

Hermione quickly put on her robes and went to the door. Draco was looking a bit nervous.

"Of course," she thought, "He doesn't want to be seen by the Slytherins"

"Ready?" she asked him.

"No" he said truthfully, "but will we ever be?"

"I guess not", she smiled.

Draco smiled back, and they walked out of the common room.

Neither of them noticed, but Hermione's pendant glowed unusually bright as they walked to their first class, DADA.

"Get in, get in" Tonks said. She had purple hair today

"I like your hair Professor Tonks", Lavender Brown said.

"Thank you Miss Brown"

"Hello Tonks,"

Hermione and Draco just entered the classroom, except it didn't look much like one.

It looked like an obstacle course; something like the one Professor Lupin gave them for finals in their third year, but it looked like the forbidden forest. There were vines and there were marshes and swamps, branches scattered all over the place, and even tall trees.

"Partners today" Tonks said

They sat with their partners on a small opening. There were only a few of them, only about 4 pairs.

"Like we have a choice" Draco thought.

"This is part of the ministry's defense program. You will have to get through a series of obstacles every week. There are certain conditions for each course; forests, snow, chambers..."

"The ministry will be monitoring your progress, and if you're not doing well, you will be trained separately. If you're not even trying to do well, or just fooling around, you will be held back from entering seventh year"

"Okay class," Tonks said, "You will have to get through this forest. You'll encounter a series of obstacles and creatures. There will be some blue flames along the way. If you see one, you'll know you're on the right path. At the end of the course will be a row of silver flags. Please pick one up before you get out of it"

"Potter, Harry?"

"Hey Tonks"

"Bulstrode, Millicent?"

"Here"

"Okay, you go first"

Hermione, Draco And some other sixth years watched as Harry and Millicent went into the dark entrance of the obstacle course, and waited for about 10 minutes before they got out emerged, Millicent clutching a small silver flag.

The flag had a number 10 on it. Tonks pointed this out to the class.

"The number tells how long it took you in the course, in this case, its ten minutes"

Harry and Millicent had a few scratches so Tonks let them out to go to the Hospital Wing. Harry grinned at Hermione as he walked out. Hermione grinned back.

Lavender and Blaise were next. They exited the obstacle course with a number 12 on the flag. Blaise was bleeding badly, and he had to go to the Hospital Wing. He gave Draco a small smile as Lavender escorted him to the Hospital Wing. Draco rolled his eyes and mouthed, "Later"

Dean and Pansy Parkinson were next. When they got out, Pansy was on the verge of tears. As Tonks was trying to calm her down, Draco noticed that Dean was holding a flag with a number 19 on it.

"Okay, lastly, we have Malfoy, Draco and Granger, Hermione. Under the special circumstances, I'd say you be careful and try to stay within the limit, or else you'll keep on tripping"

Hermione gave her a smile and Draco nodded. Hermione and Draco walked through the dark entrance.

Draco found it difficult to fight off a hinkypunk. He was stared into the lantern, and he would've followed it to the marsh if Hermione hadn't taken his hand and pulled him towards the small blue flame glowing near a tree.

Hermione, once again, couldn't get rid of the boggart that kept took on the shape of McGonagall. Hermione was about to cry when the boggart-McGonagall was saying "you're expelled"

"It's just a boggart," he said irritably

Hermione gave him a look. She was still crying, and Draco didn't know what to do.

"It's okay", he said slowly, "Remember, if we don't get through this, you'll really be expelled"

"Okay", Hermione said between sobs.

They had to get through a few more obstacles and they followed the blue flames until they found themselves in front of a wall of crawling vines. The vines were literally crawling, they were slowly moving, so the gaps kept on changing.

They looked up to see the flags waving at the top.

"we have to climb"

"But they're moving"

"Granger, don't tell me you're scared"

"I'm not"

"Then let's go and climb it then"

Hermione hesitated for a while then she took hold of a vine. Draco smiled. He started climbing. They were more than halfway when Hermione gave a small scream.

"God, Hermione" Draco said before looking at her, then he himself gasped when he saw that she was hanging only by one hand.

"Help"

"Here, reach for my hand"

"I can't"

"Hurry up Granger, we're nearly there"

"And we wont get—there—if you—don't--"

Hermione was slipping. Draco had to do something. He climbed down a bit so that Draco was beside her, and he edged towards her, and pulled her up. They climbed with ease to the top, and Draco took a flag. As they walked out, a number 9 started to form on the silvery surface of the flag.

"Draco," Hermione started to say

"What?"

"Thanks"

Draco nodded. He looked at Hermione's pendant. It was bright red. Hermione held it and smiled as Draco gave the flag to Tonks.

"Good work, good work...you're bleeding, Mr. Malfoy"

Malfoy looked down. His knee must've gone against the vine when he climbed down to help Hermione.

Later at lunch, Harry and Ron caught up with Hermione and Draco.

"'Mione, why are you with—with, him?"

"Are you together?"

"Hermione?"

"Harry..."

Hermione didn't know what to do. She looked at Draco who gave her a blank look. He didn't know what to say either.