CHAPTER 2
The Potions Project"Granger, wake up! You're gonna make us late for our meeting with MgGonagall" said Malfoy as he shook Hermione. Hermione woke up, and upon seeing Malfoy she half- shouted, "Malfoy, how the hell did you get in here?!? I thought the rooms were protected"
"I'll explain later. Right now, we're almost late for our meeting with McGonagall. "Oh my gosh, I totally forgot!" exclaimed Hermione as she got out of bed. Malfoy went out of her room and when he was out Hermione showered and changed. When she went down, Malfoy was taken aback at what he saw. "I never knew she was so beautiful....... wait a minute! Did I just call Mudblood Granger beautiful?!?" he thought and mentally slapped himself.
While they were walking towards the Great Hall for breakfast, Hermione asked Malfoy, "If there was a protective charm around our rooms, how did you get in? You're not a person whom I trust". Malfoy grinned and said to her, "It was easy. I cast a spell so the charm could be decieved". "Why do I have this nagging feeling that Dumbledore made the charm to easy to penetrate intentionally?" Hermione mutterd to herself. "What was that?" asked Draco curiously. " Nothing" Hermione replied.
When they were just a few feet from the Great Hall Hermione said, "You'd better go first. It won't look good if we go together". "Right" said Draco as he walked to the Great Hall.
Fifteen minutes later, Hermione walked in and went to the Gryffindor Table. After a few bites of toast, she excused herself, explaining that she had to go meet with Professor McGonagall. "Alright Hermione. See you at Potions" Harry said.
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After the meeting, she hurriedly went to the dungeons, Where Potions was being held. When she arrived, she was going to explain to Professor Snape but he cut her off. "Miss Granger, you are five minutes late therefore I will take five points from Gryffindor. Take your seat". She sat next to Harry.
Snape said, " There will be a project about your own choice of potion. You will be left alone, no format will be give. I expect you to find the right format or else I will not recognize your work. Deadline is three weeks from now. You will be working by partners, whom I will assign. Now let's see...........".
He read a list then said, "Brown and Zabini, Patil and Bullstrode, Potter and Crabbe, Weasley and Goyle, Malfoy and Granger......." He nastily smiled, seeing that everyone didnt like their partners. Hermione was in shock whereas Draco just smirked. Great, he thought, another chance of deliberately infuriating the know- it- all mudblood again.
Before she could stop herself, Hermione shouted, " Professor, you have absolutely no right to do this! Me and Malfoy are enemies. we don't even talk, how do you expect us to work together?". "Now right to do it, Miss Granger. Need I remind you, I am your teacher meaning I have every right to do so. And for that sudden outburst, I will take 15 points from Gryffindor. Now take your seat before I make it 50." Snape said coldly.
After class, everyone, particularly Hermione, was fuming. Suddenly she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned and saw Malfoy. She put her hands on her hips and said, "What do you want?". "I just wanted to tell you to meet me in the common room at six o' clock for us to get a head start. The sooner we finish this project, the better" he said coolly and left.
When it was around six, Malfoy came into the common room, expecting to see Hermione waiting. He was surprised to see that it was empty. So Draco just took a book and sat down to read.
When it was around 6: 30, the door opened and Hermione got in. Malfoy put down his book and said angrily, "Where on earth have you been Granger? You're thirty minutes late. How dare you keep me waiting here? But, I suppose a mudblood like you doesn't care about the time".
Hermione was fuming for being called a mudblood, but she said calmly, "For your information, I was helping a couple of First Years who got lost. Let's just do this project before starting another stupid argument".
They were halfway through researching for their potion, which was a Calming Potion, when suddenly, Hermione stood up, saying, " I have to get another book in my room. I'll be back in a couple of minutes.
After a few minutes, Hermione appeared, carrying a book. as she walked to their work table, she didn't notice that part of the rug was clumped up. She tripped and would have fallen if not for Draco, who, with his seeker reflexes, caught her just in time.
Hermione looked into his eyes, feeling secured by the strong arms around her. But she snapped out of her reverie and said, "Thanks, but you can let go of me now". "Oh, sorry" Malfoy said as he let her go.
"Well, we'd best leave it here for today. It's getting late and I'm tired" Hermione said, gathering up her thing and mounting up the stairs. "Well goodnight, Hermione" Malfoy said. Hermione said goodnight then went inside her room.
That night, all Hermione could dream about was Draco's arms around her and she couldn't help but wish that she could feel his strong, securing, arms around her once more.