"What are you laughing at, Granger?" Malfoy was irritated. He wasn't used to waiting and he found he had a short supply of patience.

"I was just thinking that this was the longest we've gone without trying to inflict bodily harm on each other. Are you sure you're feeling well?"

He was so relieved that she seemed to be on the verge of agreeing that he decided to go against his nature and go along with her teasing.

"Hmm, I could always correct that." He made a move as if he was going to attack her but she just swatted his arm away, laughing.

"Stop fooling around, Malfoy. We need to work together if we're going to come up with an idea."

"Maybe I do have a fever," he said, placing his hand to his forehead in a dramatic gesture, "At least that's the excuse I'm going to use if anyone walks in here and sees us not killing each other."

Hermione's eyes bugged out and she shot out of her seat like a cannon.

"That's it! Malfoy you're bloody brilliant!"

"I am? I mean I am." He corrected himself but Hermione wasn't paying attention. She had begun to pace around the room.

"What are you doing, Granger?"

"What does it look like I'm doing? I'm pacing to help me think. Now there are some definite things that we could incorporate…hmmm, but is it too easy?" she lapsed into silence and finally Draco couldn't stand it.

"Bloody hell, Granger. What are you talking about?"

"Our proposal. It's perfect."

"And what's so perfect about it?" he asked, annoyed that he wasn't on the same page as she was.

"Us."

His eyes widened and he took an involuntary step back.

"There is no 'us', Granger."

"Oh sod off Malfoy. You really do think you're God's gift, don't you?"

"And who says I'm not?" he replied in an offended tone.

"Whatever. We need to work out the details of this plan."

"What plan?"

She sighed. Apparently she was the only one the lightbulb had come on for.

"Don't you get it, Malfoy? The plan is for you and me to act civil towards each other."

He took another step back and she nearly laughed out loud at his horrified expression.

"What?!"

Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Can you think of something better? It's perfect. We act all truce-like in front of everyone and make a show of inter-house camaraderie and bam! We have the points and the extra credit."

The horrified look left his face to be replaced by a thoughtful expression.

"I don't know, Granger."

"Can you think of two less likely people to pair up for this assignment besides of course you and Harry or Ron? No one will be able to believe that we've called a truce."

He shuddered at the mention of Harry and Ron.

"What are Potter and Weasley doing for their project, anyway?"

When she told him he announced that maybe he would just go along with that idea. It sounded better than calling a cease-fire with Hermione, no matter how temporary.

"Okay," she said, seemingly unaffected. "I must admit I'm surprised you would say that."

He narrowed his eyes at her, completely suspicious.

"Why is that?"

"Oh." She shrugged her shoulders. "I just never thought you'd go along with an idea Harry and Ron thought up. Especially since everyone knows about it already there's no way for you to take credit. I guess it just doesn't seem like you to not do something you thought of."

Damn her. She was right, of course. How had he failed to appreciate that aspect of his announcement? He searched for a way to make Hermione as uncomfortable with this whole truce idea as he was. He smiled slyly as it occurred to him.

"You're right, Granger."

She didn't like the look on his face and was immediately wary.

"About what, specifically?"

"No one will be able to believe we've called a truce. Unless…" he trailed off, baiting her.

"Unless what?" she asked, annoyance evident in her tone.

"Well we can't just do this halfway. To make an impact sometimes you have to be willing to go to extremes. Are you sure you can do that?"

She tensed up at the challenging question.

"Of course I can. What did you have in mind?"

"You would have to publicly apologize for smacking me third year." He said with a triumphant grin. Her mouth dropped open but she quickly clamped it shut as her mind whirred.

"Fine. But only if you publicly apologize for calling me a mudblood. And after that you have to shake hands with me to show there are no hard feelings." She retorted with a grin of her own.

The smile left his face as realized that this meant war. Now they were both set on making a suggestion the other wasn't willing to consent to.

"You have to sit by me in any class we have together to demonstrate our newfound loyalty to this project…if not each other." He announced with a challenging gaze.

"We study together at the same table in the library three times a week." She stated without missing a beat.

"We eat dinner together the nights we don't study together." He declared with a smirk.

She paused, trying to think of something to wipe that condescending grin off his face. Her smile caused his to disappear before her words did.

"We go to the Unity Ball together."

Damn her. She was quick. The thought of going to the ball together galled him but he couldn't cave in. The expression on her face clearly told him she thought she had won. He struggled to find another condition that would place him on top. The light went on for him and he smiled at her. A smile that terrified her.

"We walk into the dance holding hands."

"Good god, Malfoy! Everyone's going to think we're a couple if we do that! Why don't we increase all the speculation by leaps and bounds before then and just live together?!"

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Disclaimer: The I Ching wasn't much more helpful in my quest to obtain rights to the characters, darn it all.

Author's note: Hi there! Thanks for reading! You're terrific.