By StarLaughter
Chapter 1"Aghh! Double potions with the Slytherins, don't know why I bother getting out of bed on Monday mornings," moaned Ron, in between large mouthfuls of toast and spoonfuls of cereal.
"Because NEWTS are coming up soon and you can't afford to miss any classes," came Hermione's predictable response. "Do you have to eat so much so fast? It's making me ill." She glanced away with a nauseated expression clearly visible on her face.
"Sorry Hermy."
"Don't-call-me-Hermy," she growled through gritted teeth.
Ron glanced at Harry and they both burst out laughing. "But it's just soâyou."
"Fine, I've always thought Ickle Bitty Ronnikens suits you. Or I could go for Weasel and Potty if you like."
Harry quickly stopped laughing. "Hey don't bring me into this, besides since when have you thought any concept of Malfoy's was a good idea?"
"Yeah OK, just don't call me Hermy, only Gwap can do that, and only because he is a 16 foot giant. Plus he is Hagrid's brother after all.
"Can you believe Hagrid's still been trying to find Gwap a 'lady friend', as he puts it? That's stark raving mad that is!" said Ron, rising from his place at the Gryffindor table.
"Lets not talk about that little 'situation' right now," murmured Harry, "come on we'd better get a move on, or we'll be late, and we don't need to hand Snape a reason to take points off us."
"Like he's ever cared about having a reason before," muttered Ron darkly.
They rounded the corner to find the Gryffindors and Slytherins lined on opposite sides of the dungeon corridor, and quickly joined Seamus, Dean and Neville in a heated discussion about Quidditch.
Seamus was raving about how Bulgaria didn't stand a chance in the next World Cup, even though it was still a year away. Wanting to avoid a discussion about Krum, due to Ron's overreaction and hostility every time his name was mentioned, Hermione wandered a bit closer to the classroom door, only to find someone barring her way.
"Watch it Granger, I'm standing here if you can't see. Maybe you need glasses like your little boyfriend over there." Sneered Draco Malfoy, casting a withering glance in Harry's direction to the raucous laughter of the surrounding Slytherins, including Pansy, who was nearly beside herself with laughter.
"Well you weren't standing there a second ago Malfoy, but then I'd be trying to distance myself from such company as well," she retorted, casting a equally vehement stare at Draco and his companions, her eyes lingering on Pansy in particular, who was currently draping herself off one of his arms.
"You just watch your mouth MudblâAghh! What the hell was that?!" he shouted in surprise, swatting at his neck where a red welt was beginning to appear.
He glanced up at Hermione again, who was about to lash out at him for his slur on her heritage, even if it was incomplete, when she saw his expression change. His normal glacial sneer and distant haughty demeanor melted away, and he appeared to be, well, gaping at her.
Momentarily startled, she faltered.
Suddenly the corridor was plunged into silence, the sounds of a firm step and rustling robes growing louder as Snape swept before the students opening the dungeon door with a large crash.
"Enter, and I want no nonsense or talking."
The class filed silently into the classroom with Harry, Ron and Hermione taking their usual seats at the back of the classroom.
"He seems in an even more unpleasant mood than usual this morning, and he was the one who was late," Harry whispered to his best friends. "I'm sure he'll manage to vent it as usual, on me."
"Just ignore him Harry."
"Hey Ron, Hermione, why's Malfoy staring at us?" They both looked up in surprise at Harry's words.
"Not us, he appears to be staring at you Hermione." Ron's words were filled with loathing.
"Don't be ridiculous Ron, and if he is I'm sure he's just planning something nasty." But whilst everyone was bustling around attempting the potion Snape had set for the class on the blackboard, Hermione felt eyes following her.
Looking up, she saw that Malfoy was indeed staring at her, and judging by the withering looks Pansy was directing first her way, then Draco's, he had been for some time. There was no malevolence in the looks; in fact if she was forced to describe them she'd almost have to say they wereâwell puppy dog looks. Horrified at this revelation, the vial she was holding slipped through her currently lax fingers, smashing loudly on the stone floor.
"10 points from Gryffindor for your clumsiness Miss Granger, you're becoming as bad as Mr. Longbottom," came Snape's vindictive reaction, leaving Hermione fuming at herself, and at the Potions Head, who was glaring at her with cold amusement.
She bent down to clear up the mess. When she stood up again, glancing up from the dungeon floor it was to meet the stare of two intense grey eyes inches from her face.
Letting out a startled scream, she jumped away from her workbench, which currently had a leering Draco Malfoy leaning over it, gazing at her.
"What the hell Malfoy?!"
"Just wanted to propose a partnership for the next Potions assignment, the Professor said we have to get into pairs, and considering you're the only other person with intelligence in the room, I'd say we're made for each other." Hermione couldn't have been more shocked if he had declared he was actually muggle-born and engaged to Dumbledore.
"Wha" She searched his face for any trace of guile or sinister intent, and one glance at the look on Pansy's face convinced her that this was not some ploy they'd cooked up between them.
"Get lost Malfoy," Ron advanced towards the befuddled Hermione to glare threateningly at the gooey-eyed Slytherin.
"Back off Weasel, this is none of your business. Hermione and I were having a conversation here that doesn't involve you."
"What did you just call me?" Hermione interjected, startled.
"Hermione, it is your name isn't it? Although not nearly pretty enough for a girl as beautiful as you." Before either Ron or herself could react, he reached forward and touched a lock of her hair, twirling it around his long, graceful finger. It took a moment for Hermione, who by this time was suffering from severe shock, to jerk backwards, glaring furious at Malfoy.
By this point the whole class had come to a stand still, staring in disbelief at the scene unfolding before them.
Pansy looked like she was going to explode, and if it hadn't been for the restraining arm Crabbe had placed around her shoulders, Hermione was sure there would have been another participant in the bizarre scene over by her workbench.
Noticing the strange state of affairs, Snape approached the group with his trademark scowl fixed firmly in place, but whether this was due to the rather nasty looking welt developing on his neck, or the atrocious actions of his favourite student, was yet to be determined.
"That will be quite enough of that thank you Mr Malfoy." He delivered a scathing look in Draco's direction. The Slytherin was dumbfounded; Snape didn't look like that at anyone except the famous Harry Potter.
"Miss Granger is going to be assisting me with a potion I am concocting. Go partner Miss Parkinson before she chews off Mr Crabb's arm." Sure enough, Pansy could be seen struggling to free herself using any means necessary, including her teeth.
"What special potion? What's going on? Is this all some kind of sick joke!?" Hermione demanded of Draco and Snape, thoroughly fed up by their bizarre behaviour and the cold looks she was receiving from the surrounding Gryffindors.
"Why Miss Granger, such a fiery temper is hardly lady-like. 30 points to Gryffindor!"
"What? How could you take off points when she was only trying to ask a question" Harry trailed off when he processed what he had just heard. Snape had just awarded 30 points to Gryffindor.
"And 15 points off for disrespecting a Professor, Mr Potter", Snape sneered.
In the next instant, Harry appeared to be the furthest thing from Snapes mind as he turned back to Hermione, ran his hand deftly through his greasy hair, looked her up and down, winked, and said "How you doin'?"
Lavender screamed and fainted, Ron looked as if he was about to be sick, and Harry was gaping like Voldemort had just run in and started dancing in a frilly pink tutu.