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Hermione had no more run-ins with Draco until a sleeping draught found its way into her pumpkin juice one morning. Professor Flitwick first noticed that Hermione kept drifting in and out.
"Here's a pass to Madam Pomfrey, Hermione. I know that O.W.L.s are tough and that stress can be overwhelming."
"Well, if you think…"
"Another prefect, Ron, will help you down there."
Ron packed up Hermione's books and half carried her to the infirmary. Madam Pomfrey immediately recognized the signs and gave her another draught to reverse the effects.
"Where am I?" Hermione yawned. She looked around for her books and insisted that at least one be put within her reach.
"Ron, you may go back to class now," Madam Pomfrey instructed. Ron walked slowly and kept looking back at Hermione every few steps. When he reached the exit, Ron gave her a small wave and closed the door behind him.
"Madam Pomfrey, what happened to me?"
"Sleeping draught. Very common that fifth years have them, but normally students are a bit more responsible when they take them."
"I have no need for a sleeping draught. I didn't take any." A strand of hair fell across her face, so Hermione twirled it around her finger.
Professor McGonagall walked into the infirmary. She sat down next to Hermione. "Mr. Weasley told me he was worried. I know that you would never do anything like this."
"I know that I didn't…I…"
"Hermione, do you have any clue who might have done this to you? This is going a little far, even for the Weasleys."
Hermione thought about her quill and Draco's threats months before. "I think it may have been Draco Malfoy, Professor. I think that he was also behind the quill incident."
"Do you have any proof," she said.
"No Professor."
The bell rang.
"Well, if you are fine, I suggest that you return to class."
Hermione gathered her things and made her way to double Transfiguration. The other Gryffindors were pleased to see her. They patted her back as she made her way down the aisle to her chair.
Please come to my office after dinner. Signed, Professor Snape.
Draco crumpled up the paper.
"What does Professor Snape want?" Goyle asked.
"I do not know. Probably wants to commend me on my fine job in Potions today."
But that was not what Professor Snape had in mind. He, Professor McGonagall, and Hermione were sitting in his office waiting for Draco.
"Sit down, Mr. Malfoy." Snape pointed to a chair on Professor McGonagall's right. Hermione sat in the chair to the professor's left.
Professor Snape folded his hands, cleared his throat, and began. "When Professor McGonagall approached me about this situation, I believed you would not stoop so low as to pull pranks to keep Miss Granger out of class. That's when we decided, guilty or no, that you and Miss Granger are going to set an example for the rest of the school."
Draco found it hard to swallow. He ran a hand through his hair. "What might this example be, Professor Snape?" How are you going to make me humiliate myself to appease this Mudblood?
"You and Miss Granger are to form a study group. No, you do not really have to study. In fact, you can fight each other for as long as you want. Minerva and I just want the other students to see you together. You will spend an hour together every night that you do not have Quidditch practice."
"But Professor, I—"
"You are two of the best students in your year, you are both Prefects, and you are both mature, young adults," Professor McGonagall cut in. "This example could gain the attention of the school, the Ministry, and witches and wizards around the world. It is just what Hogwarts needs right now."
"You heard McGonagall, and she's completely right," agreed Professor Snape. "You will start tomorrow. Now go to your common rooms."
Hermione and Draco both jumped up to argue.
"We are the heads of your houses and what we say goes."
The two students were rushed out into an empty hallway.
"Why do I have to work with a Mudblood?" Draco glared at Hermione.
"The Mudblood in question is standing right here, Malfoy. And in case you haven't noticed, this is not exactly what I wanted either. We have to meet. Where?"
Draco tried not to blanch as she returned his glare. Her pursed lips were not as attractive as her smile. "Some place where we will not be seen. I certainly do not want to attract attention. How about outside?"
"Do Slytherins ever go outside? No wonder you're so white that you glow in the dark. Everyone goes outside on nice days."
"What would you suggest Miss Smarty Pants?"
"How about the library, in the back. We have O.W.L.s to study for anyways. People will just think that we are trying to get some peace and quiet while studying."
"Fine, but I'm not going to spend time with Weasel-boy or Potter. Deal?"
"Then I will not put up with Crabbe or Goyle." With her finger pointed at him, she was almost as intimidating as Professor Snape.
"Fine."
"Fine."
"Fine!" Draco turned on his heel and stormed off. This just was not his day.
He got to his common room where many expectant pairs of eyes were waiting for him.
"Snape?" Crabbe and Goyle waited for an explanation.
"Said, 'A job well done,' and sent me on my merry way." Draco stormed to his dorm and sat on his bed. There was no way he could tell anyone that he had to see Granger everyday. Thank the stars that he had Quidditch practice, or he would get no break from her. And the only benefit he could see was getting closer to his ultimate goal of Granger's untimely downfall. He smirked. This would be all too easy now.
Meanwhile, Hermione made her way to Gryffindor tower. Ron and Harry were waiting for her.
"So what happened? Does Malfoy have detention? Are they going to make him polish trophies without magic?"
Hermione shook her head. "No, much worse: we have to spend an hour together every night, except when Malfoy has Quidditch practice." Her eyebrows gathered together, darkening her face. It just hit home that she would lose valuable study time every night.
Harry started to worry. "What about D.A. meetings?"
"I don't know, we'll have to work it in somehow. Probably when Malfoy has practice. That might be to our advantage because Malfoy will be at practice and not roaming the halls." Hermione took out a quill, her signal to the guys that she wanted to start homework.
Harry and Ron nodded. They both gave her small hugs and walked to their dormitory. Hermione pulled out a book and started on Herbology homework.
As long as Malfoy does not try to curse me, I will be fine.
It was their first night together. Other students were whispering and pointing at them. Draco had made a show of walking in and sitting at the same table as Hermione. Hermione was not amused and she took out her books to study. Draco started to levitate a small ball around the room out of boredom.
Face still buried in her book, Hermione said, "I could concentrate better if you weren't playing with that toy."
"Does it bother you, Mudblood?"
"Yes, it does. Would you please study something, make it seem like that's what we're here to do?" After all, you were the one who wanted as little attention as possible.
He brushed through his hair with one hand. "Fine, what are you working on?"
"Potions."
Draco pulled out his books. They both finished their 12-inch parchment at the same time. Draco looked over Hermione's shoulder.
"You have an error in your fifth paragraph."
"You think you're so smart Malfoy," said Hermione while she glanced over the paragraph. She crossed out the error and looked for others.
"Malfoy…would you look over it for me?"
His eyes opened wide. "Why should I?"
"You seem to be an expert," she said tartly.
"Hand it over."
Hermione handed him the parchment. He did not see her blush as he read her work. What am I doing? He's not interested in helping me. But he's being so nice about it.
"Other than that, I see no more mistakes." He glanced over it again to make sure and nodded.
"Truth?"
He looked at Hermione. "Yes, if I wanted to get at you, it would not be through homework that you will probably go through another twenty times. Just not worth the trouble."
Hermione got out more homework. Draco decided it was time to work on his plan.
She felt his eyes on her. She did not know whether to blush or whip out a mirror. What if there was ink on her face? No, then he would be laughing.
"I know you're staring at me, Malfoy, and it's creeping me out."
Draco moved closer to Hermione. "You've caught me…" He moved slowly until their faces were an inch apart. "Now what are you going to do about it?"
Hermione's knee was burning where Draco leaned against her. This rush of feeling was unfamiliar to Hermione, and it made her uneasy. "I…homework…umm…" Hermione jumped to her nearest quill out of Draco's way.
"Time's up. It was nice and all…well, no not really. I am dreading tomorrow. Until then, Mudblood." Draco left the library before she could say a word.
Draco had his chair turned toward the wall. He had the ball from their first meeting and was throwing it against the wall. It made a small thud every time it hit.
"Malfoy, please, I'm trying to concentrate." Hermione had been stuck on the same paragraph for ten minutes.
"You know what I never understood? How do Muggles survive without magic? I mean, everything in my life has magic in it, somehow."
Hermione rolled her eyes, but Draco was not the first wizard to say a thing like that. "It's easy, really. Before electricity, Muggles did everything by hand. The will to survive and to make life better has done a lot for the human race."
"Yeah. I never want to live without magic."
"Magic isn't everything in this world." She set down her quill in frustration.
"What is more important than magic?"
"Love, trust, freedom…things you wouldn't know about."
"What is trust, Granger. Last I heard, trust betrayed Potter's parents. What good did trust ever do him?"
"What Peter Pettigrew did was wrong, but that doesn't mean that we lose faith in everyone we know. One day, Malfoy, I hope you have a little more honor than you do now."
"OK, I'm going to show you just how much honor I have. Name the game and it's on. I swear to play by the rules to prove once and for all that I am your superior, and honorable besides."
Hermione glared and started thinking. She almost put the end of her quill in her mouth but thought better of it.
Draco laughed. "I saw that, Granger. Afraid of a quill? It won't bite."
"You know what you did to my last quill."
Draco smiled more genuinely. "I have to say, it worked didn't it."
"Worked to get rid of the thing."
"You know it put you on edge."
"On the edge of hexing you into oblivion."
Both were smiling and laughing. They did not realize that they were getting closer.
"I didn't think of a task yet." As Hermione got closer she bumped Draco's elbow.
Instantly, they both realized how this must look to the others in the library. Hermione blushed, her skin turning as red as a tomato. She sat up and snuggled back up to her books.
"This doesn't make anything different between us, Mudblood."
"Of course it doesn't."