Chap 2.—Working Patience

The next morning Draco went down to the common room and found Hermione dressed in her robes and ready to begin the day. She was studying her schedule, frowning. Draco assumed they had some of the same classes together, as usual. He grabbed his off the table, and he was right, he had most classes with the Gryffindors.

"Aren't you going to breakfast?" He asked.

"Yeah, but not now. In case you haven't noticed, it's like 7:00." She responded, not looking up.

"What?" He yelped. When he woke up he thought it was later. "When did you get up?" He asked her.

"Like, 6, I couldn't sleep." She said and walked out of the common room and down to breakfast. She sat at the Gryffindor table and waited for Harry and Ron to come. Ginny came in and sat down with a girl Hermione never saw before. She was pretty, with light brown eyes and perfectly straight brown hair with some highlights.

"Hermione, this is Ali, she transferred from Durmstrang." Ginny said.

"Hey, I'm Hermione. Are you in sixth year?" She asked.

Ali nodded, "Yeah, I love it here, it's so cool and much better than Durmstrang, but I'm in Slytherin, Ginny just wanted me to meet you. We ran into each other, literally, yesterday, that's how we met." She smiled.

"I'm in seventh year, oh and those two are Harry and Ron." She said, pointing two the two who walked into the Great Hall, half-asleep. They sat down next to Hermione and began shoving down their breakfast, not noticing Ali. Hermione elbowed them and they looked up.

"Guys, this is Ali, she's sixteen." Hermione introduced. Ali smiled at them.

"Hey." Harry and Ron said at the same time. Hermione and Ginny just rolled their eyes.

"I better go, I don't want to get in trouble." Ali said and got up.

"Bye!" Everyone said. Ali waved and walked to the Slytherin table. She sat across from Draco.

"Hi, I'm Ali. Sixteen, but I am in 2 seventh year classes." She said, smiling at him.

"Draco, seventeen." He said.

"Can you show me to potions, I'm with seventh years there." She asked.

"Sure." Draco responded. After eating they got up and Ali ran over to Hermione and Ginny.

"Gin, my first class is with seventh years so I won't see you till Transfiguration!" She cried.

"Oh, it's okay. Hermione can show you to class." She said.

"Oh actually—." Ali began.

"—That would be my job, Granger." Malfoy cut it.

"Your job?" Hermione repeated.

"Isn't that what I just said?" Draco replied.

"Do you guys know each other?" Ali asked.

"Yeah, we've met." Hermione said, her fists clenched.

"'Mione, calm down." Harry said.

"Harry, I can handle this okay!" She snapped and rolled her eyes. Draco walked out and and Ali ran to catch up.

"Bye, Ginny!" She called. Ginny waved and went to her own class.

Hermione followed Harry and Ron to Potions and entered the dungeon.

"I will be pairing you up into pairs to work on this potion. Potter and Kent. Malfoy and Granger, Weasley and Clark...." The professor droned on. Ron walked over to Ali and set up. Hermione sighed and walked to Draco, not saying anything. They made it through without speaking.

Hermione sighed again, "Look, Malfoy, as long as we are forced to be together at certain times in the day, can we just cool it?" She asked.

"Fine, I'll take your offer but I doubt you'll stay true to your word." Draco agreed.

"Me? What about you? It'll kill you to not be able to call me mudblood." She replied, coldly. Draco laughed and turned in a vial of their potion.

Hermione walked out with Harry and Ron and went to their next class, after saying good-bye to Ali, who was a very sweet girl.

Author's note: PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE review!!!! Sorry if you think it's too short, I'll work hard to make them longer!