Hermione and Draco watched as Snape gave each person a fresh partner. Everyone was confused, more so when Hermione and Draco were left out. Hermione watched them with a sinking heart as each of them in turn drunk the potion they had brewed, wishing she could warn them. She watched them all swallow the potion, and it must have tasted vile for they all made faces. Nothing was immediate. But Snape told them to stay for a few extra minutes – and then it happened.

It was truly amazing. One second they were meters standing apart and the next they were pulled together so there was a meter between them. The look of pure horror and outrage on their faces was actually quite funny, despite the situation. Everyone was fuming and demanded an explanation.

'What sort of sick joke is this, Professor?' demanded Pansy.

'Yeah, what's going on?' cried Ron, who was eyeing Millicent uneasily from the corner of his eye.

A grim, yet distinctively happy smile upon his face, Snape explained about the potion they had previously drunk. 'You each have concocted the contents of one of the most powerful magnets in the world. But with a twist. The magnet inside of you – ' everyone flinched. ' – will react to insults to its other half thus force the pair together more. When no more insults are made, the magnet with eventually wear off, but not while it has insults to feed on. So if you insult your partner too much... you may be getting to close then you rather would.'

Everyone was absolutely flabbergasted.

'So what's the deal with them?' demanded Dean, shattering the horrified silence, pointing at Hermione and Draco.

'Oh, the lovebirds,' said Snape airily and it was Hermione's turn to flinch. 'Since I assume the potion will have no affects on them, meaning I doubt they will insult each other after all they're married, making it pointless, I have brewed another potion for them. It's rather nasty. We'll watch them drink it tomorrow.'

Hermione felt sick. So them drinking this potion was going to become a public spectacle?

Brilliant. Abso-fucking-lutely brilliant.

Knowing Snape, it was bound to be bad and embarrassing.

Hermione went back to the Gryffindor common with all the rest, with a few extras. Yes, the Slytherins. It was actually quite funny, come to think of it. She, Ron and Harry sat down to talk, but Pansy and Millicent were forced to come as well. Looking around the room, she saw that some couples, Parvati and Blaise for instance had already insulted each other so much that they were forced to stand back-to-back the whole time they were so squashed together. To her right, Harry was making a truce with Pansy and Ron and Millicent had yet to utter a word to each other. Which was a good thing, really.

'Hey, it's just for a week,' Hermione said, trying to lighten the mood, which resembled that of a funeral. Everyone sent her jealous, sullen looks and she though it best to scarper.

That night at the common room, after her detention with Snape (cleaning the Potions dungeon with no wand. A classic), Hermione was sitting in front of the cracking fire, thoughtfully watching the dancing flames make shadows on the walls. She was thinking about all her problems – she called this time 'The Thinking Time' where she mused over all her worries and conjured up solutions. It was a nice time for her – one where she could relax, let all the pressure go, be comfortable, do nothing and just think.

Problem One: Salmond. She needed to find out whoever killed that stupid fucking bird or else she'd have to make it up to Draco. Buy him another bird or something like that. Otherwise she'd been on the receiving end of his tempers for quite a while, and she didn't like to admit it, but she rather preferred him being civil to her. If not a bit more than civil. (A/N: If you get the drift)

Problem Two: was one she, unfortunately, had no control over. Her marriage to Draco. Well, she'd move on.

Problem Three: Narcissa, Lucius and those damned rules. Figuring she could put that off for a while since they wouldn't bother her until she left school, she skipped it.

Problem Four: The usual; Snape, homework, struggles and little things. She could forget that for now and focus on Problem One – Salmond.

The noise of feet nearing her disrupted her thoughts.

'What are you doing?' Draco asked coldly, stinging her heart painfully. She didn't let it show.

'Thinking,' was what she merely said, watching him closely as he sat down. 'You?' she looked at his outfit with a raised eyebrow. 'Oh, c'mon, now that's just rubbing it in.'

He looked at his pure black, mourning outfit innocently. 'Hey, you killed my bird. I'm in mourning.'

'I didn't kill it!' she snarled, 'and it was a fucking bird, you don't go in mourning for that!!'

'Whatever. I have some... uh, bad news for you.'

She stiffened. 'What? Did it turn out I've also slaughtered your precious parakeet?'

He chose to ignore her and silently handed her a crisp, white letter.

Dear Draco, it said in neat cursive.

I'm very sorry to say this, but I'll need to take you and your wife out of school. Just for a week. You'll be leaving in a few days, just thought I ought to give you a head start. Urgent business calls you out. Some, uh, well let's say, very important people want to meet your dearest wife. Don't tell her who they are of course, she wouldn't agree, for I think you know of whom I speak. I'm sure you guys are having a lovely time and I do regret breaking that up but it's truly pressing. Get Hermione to pack her best robes. You know why.

Be seeing you soon,

Narcissa. Oh and please do not let her read this letter. Burn it.

Hermione felt the urge to rip the letter up into little shreds. There was a long silence in which both of them stared at each other. 'I'm not going. I refuse to go. You can't make me.'

'You're going,' Draco said sharply. 'Even if that means I have to drag you through the Great Hall kicking and screaming.'

She didn't doubt it. 'And why is it so important? Who am I meeting?'

'Just – just some people,' he said trying to sound carefree.

'Who?'

He shrugged. 'I have no clue.'

Liar.

'We should stay,' she said, trying a different tack. 'I mean, don't you want to find out who killed Salmon – um, Salmond?'

'I already know,' he said, his eyes darkening to a dark grey, deep and dangerous as a well. A skittle of fear went down her spine. Hermione knew the signs of anger and she was half afraid of his. 'It was you.'

'How many times – ' she threw her hands up, truly exasperated. 'You know what? Fine. It was me. There, I admit it. I killed Salmond. Now can we move on?' she instantly regretted saying this – what if he didn't catch the heavy sarcasm in her voice?

His look told her he didn't believe her, and with that Hermione knew he didn't think it was her. She said nothing, however, though she was relieved.

'I'm not going,' she repeated. 'I refuse - '

Draco walked slowly and surely over to her, backing her up against the wall and wrapping his arms around her waist, pressing his body up against hers, all in one smooth motion. The rest of her sentence got lost in her throat.

'Wha – What are you doing?' she whispered, eyes wide, finally finding her voice.

'I'm sorry,' he breathed, kissing her neck. 'Can we just forget the whole Salmond thing?'

'But – but – ' Hermione was baffled. He wears special mourning clothes one minute, the next he wants to just forget it? 'I thought you were m-mad at me – '

'Shut up,' he told her, slightly sharp. Tilting her head back he laid his lips against hers and dipped his tongue into her mouth, giving Hermione another one of the best kisses she'd ever had. It was better, in fact, because she'd missed them so much.

'So you want to forget about Salmond?' she asked brightly, once they'd broken apart.

He cocked his head to one side. 'If you'll come willingly with me back home and meet these, er, people. It's a fair deal. I know you want me back.'

He ran his hand up her side, and on accident a moan escaped her lips. Furious with herself, she blushed deeply, trying to ignore his smirk.

'But I really really don't want to go,' she said, holding back another moan and he did it again. Snapping to reality again, she pulled herself away from him, seeing the only way she could think clearly without him trying to persuade her was away from him. 'These people – they're probably Death Eaters, right? And – And you're going to try and persuade me or something over to the dark side – '

'Don't be ridiculous,' he snapped, a bit too uptight to be entirely plausible. 'Mother and I don't mingle with Death Eaters any longer.'

'That is a downright lie!' Hermione cried. 'You're in the thick of it! You're probably a Death Eater yourself, right Draco? The Malfoys' are probably the most evil family ever! I can't believe I was forced to marry into them...'

His angry face vanished, to be replaced by a false soothing one. 'Hermione, darling, don't be silly, you won't be meeting Death Eaters, that's absurd.' He stepped next to her again, wrapping his arms around her waist again. 'Hermione... I'll never hold a grudge against you again... I'll never insult you...'

'Bullshit,' she shook her head, determined not to be caught in the web he was weaving. 'Absolute bullshit. You really do hate me, you just think you can kiss me and I'll do whatever you say!' she backed away. 'I'm off to bed.' Halfway into their room, she called after him. 'I'm not fucking going, you know!'

Draco watched her go and groaned when the door slammed shut.

Ok, so the method he had been using was a little bit sneaky, granted, but he'd rather have her come willingly then angry and sullen. And he didn't really hate her, I mean, it was a strong word, he just... seriously disliked her at moments. When they kissed, on the other hand, he felt like he would die for her. Even Pansy couldn't compare to one of Hermione's kisses. Even after a few seconds of not kissing her, he already felt himself craving to taste her again.

But it was hard, letting go of the anger for the moment. He still felt infuriated about Salmond, but convinced himself that it wasn't Hermione, though the evidence sat in the wind against him. He'd try and be civil to her and then they'd both find out who the culprit was.

As for him, he thought it was Potter. Just like him to do a mean, sneaky thing like that. And Hermione had probably accidentally let slip the password to him or something like that. No doubt about it, it was Potter in his mind.

Feeling he ought to do something about Hermione, he started towards the room, opening the door, about to say something, but was cut off by a scream.

Hermione had evidently been changing into her pajamas and was only wear a bra and her underwear.

For a long second, they stared at each other, Hermione horrified, Draco riveted, then Hermione gave another strangled scream and fled into the adjoining bathroom.

Draco was smirking to himself. To his ultimate surprise, he had discovered that Hermione did actually have a great body under all that clothing. Why has she been hiding it? He thought to himself. He tried to cast him mind to another subject; he was getting seriously turned on.

Many minutes later, Hermione emerged from the bathroom, blushing a rosy pink. 'I'm – I'm so sorry about that.'

'No problem,' he said, smirking again, sitting on the bed.

Unsuccessfully attempting to hide her strawberry cheeks, Hermione crawled under the covers on the opposite side and started to reach for her thick reading book.

'Hermione – ' he said hastily, stopping her. 'Look, uh, it's only for a week – '

'The same week that our Potions class is stuck together!' she said, a touch shrilly. 'Don't you want to watch that?'

'True, but its not like we won't see them suffering at all – '

'And don't you want to find out who killed Salmond – '

'I already know it was you, you even admitted it, well kind of, I really don't care that much as long as the killer doesn't do it again – '

'And we only just got here!' she finished, pounding the blanket. 'I've barely seen Harry and Ron at all and I've seen too much of your blasted mother, I really am not going to see her again – '

'Don't.' Draco's voice was suddenly a deathly cold. 'Don't talk about her that way. Don't you dare.' His eyes became dangerously deep again, and as cold and piercing as icicles.

Hermione froze; her heart picking up it's pace.

'I'm – I'm sorry,' she managed to whisper, assuming he was referring about her language towards his mother.

'Good,' he took a deep breath, seeming to calm down though his eyes lost none of their iciness, which gave Hermione the impression she was treading on thin ice and it was better to be careful.

As lazily as a cat, Draco got off the bed, locking eyes with hers. It was not pleasant – the coldness sent involuntary shivers down her spine. Abruptly, he broke the gaze, turned and stalked off into the bathroom.

Releasing a breath she had not realized she had been holding, Hermione picked up her book and continued to read.

Minutes later, Draco came out of the bathroom, dressed in just boxers. Hermione respectfully stared hard at her book, but not really reading it, feeling a faint blush creep over her cheeks.

She felt Draco crawl under the covers next to her, and suddenly felt very, very nervous. For no reason. A few pleasant shivers ran up and down her spine.

'Hey, Hermie,' whispered Draco huskily, and her heart pounded.

'Wha – Hermie?! What sort of nickname is that?'

He shrugged. 'Hey, you called me Dray.'

'I was kidding. What?'

'Well... look, it's only a week and I'll make you come anyway...'

'Look, I'd rather not talk about that,' she said stiffly, turning back to her book.

'You're going to have to some time,' he said. 'Look at me.'

With a raised eyebrow, she placed her book down again and looked at him. He smiled at her. Leaning forward swiftly, his hands cupped her face and he proceeded to kiss her again.

When they broke apart Hermione found she was staring into his silver pool orbs, getting lost in them...

'You know,' said Draco, and he voice had changed. It was filled with lust and want, something that made Hermione nervous. Not many men had wanted her like that before... and certainly not Draco of all people. It was weird, but she liked it – against her will.

'You know,' he continued. 'You have to get pregnant with a boy before you turn twenty... why not get some practice now?'

Hermione's mouth fell open and her face heated up again. 'Draco! How – how – '

'How I want to?' her stroked her cheek, pushing her back into the bed. 'You know I want you. I know you want me too.'

'I – I – '

'Quiet,' he whispered, kissing her lips so softly she could barely feel it. It was pure torture, she just wanted to grab those lips with hers, and he knew it. He paused, giving her an evil smile, then she wrapped a hand behind his neck and pulled him towards her. But as his hand fell to her chest and slowly stroked her breast, she abruptly broke the kiss.

'No Draco,' she gasped. 'No, no, not now...'

His expression was cold. 'But don't you want me too?'

'Yes...' she breathed, 'but, but not now...'

He pulled himself off of her but fell on the covers next to her. 'You'll change your mind soon.'

A/N: In response to one thing, the potion Snape is making everyone drink is NOT the same potion as used in I Didn't Know You Cared. It is different in many ways and it's not like the idea of sticking Hermione and Draco together was the most original idea to begin with. Lots of fanfics use that plot. The flames I received were both sad (and in my opinion) unnecessary. If those people don't want to read this anymore because they feel it's the same, just whatever. Anyway, enough from me, please review as always.