Story: Hermione and Draco that aren't really what who we thought they were - they've both been putting on acts for years. Somewhere in-between these acts they manage to find a relationship. Based very loosely on Gainax's Kareshi Kanojyo no Jijyo.

Rating: PG.

Readers: I would really appreciate reviews. To flamers, I would like it if you could leave a constructive critique telling me what you didn't like, and suggestions as to how I could improve it.

Disclaimer: This is a non-profit story. The characters and terms relating to Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling and other associates (Bloomsbury, Raincoast, WB etc.) Kareshi Kanojyo no Jijyo is owned by Gainax.

-------------------------

Her View

"The funniest part was when the frog jumped out at him and he totally freaked!"

"No way, it was definitely the mini-story when they bury him alive with the girl to respect her last wish!"

Well isn't this weird? My horribly unanticipated so called date with 'wanker' is going fine. Scratch that. It's going better than fine. I'm actually having fun! I thought that within two seconds of meeting his pale pointed face, I would've taken my bag, wrap the strap around his throat and see the interesting colour changes of his face as he slowly suffocated. Still, I still wonder about his sudden attitude change… vice-versa for that matter. I hadn't gotten to ask as we went straight into the theatre when we met up, and the movie is making for a good conversation at the moment.

Inevitably though, that'll fade away and I'm going to get my answers. Who knows, maybe I'll end up getting something out of him that'll make for good blackmail… with that thought in mind, I closed the topic of conversation with a, "Well, the whole movie was funny I guess. I really liked it." Hopefully the git isn't dumb enough to not get the idea.

Let the blackmail begin.

His View

Wow. The only word I can think of at the moment to describe what I'm going through. Here I am on a date or rendezvous or whatever with Hermione Granger and it's going decently. Did I say decently? Scratch that, because ladies and gentlemen, it's going terrific! I honestly thought she agreed to come on this 'date' to interrogate my behaviour or to just stand me up and have some good laughs with Potter and Weasley via owl. When she did come, I thought she was either going for the interrogation route or beat me senseless with her messenger bag.

The one thing I wonder about though, is her behaviour. It's rather odd, that she'd be so welcoming to me after my years of ridicule towards her. I'd ask, but the movie is making for good conversation.

"Well, the whole movie was funny I guess. I really liked it." Hermione said.

At that point, all I could do was agree and with that, it looks like the time for asking Hermione my questions has arrived. I asked her quickly if she wanted to eat, she agreed and we went to a little pasta bar just down the street.

Their Questions

Despite the two's desperation to get their questions answered, they tried to hold it off. Nervously, they talked about the food, ordered and ate in a lapse of oddly comfortable silence commenting now and then on how good the food was.

Hermione, being oh-so-curious and not to mention the idea of possibly blackmailing Draco couldn't bear it anymore. Quickly taking another bite of her lasagna, she blurted out, "Malfoy, why are being so nice to me?"

Draco looked a bit taken aback by her sudden outburst but quickly restored his graceful composition. "Firstly, before I answer your question Hermione, I must ask you to call me by first name. I call you Hermione for friendly reasons and would rather appreciate you doing the same."

"Yes Master Draco. Now do answer my question." Hermione replied in a joking matter, but on the inside, she was seething. Hermione hated being talked to like a child.

Draco smiled and laughed lightly before answering her question.

"To answer your question, Mistress Hermione (he said this in a joking manner back at Hermione), it's rather obvious to us without McGonagall's notice that we're the Head Boy and Girl. I just thought it would be a good time for us to get to know each other better as we both have to set standards for the students as well as prefects. We may even have to work together quite a bit. I thought it would be good for you and I to get to know each other better and put aside our differences. As you know, the War is still going on strong. I merely decided to put apart my prejudice towards bloodline and experience new things and meet more people. Now your question applies to you to Hermione. I must say I was more than surprised to see your friendly reaction to me too. Care to explain this?"

Hermione could only gape for a second at his thorough answer.

"I can only agree with you Mal-Draco. Although I must admit that I wasn't thinking as far as the Second War. I wanted the summer off to just forget about everything and live a bit in the muggle world… sorry, I'm babbling… but yes, I only thought of being friendly as a sort of getting the air cleared between us."

For a second, Hermione thought a pained look flashed on Draco's face before he smiled.

"Well then, now that everything's cleared, I think we can be actually friends. Don't you think so Hermione?"

"I would like that Draco." Hermione smiled, Draco smiled, and a friendship was born.

…well at least to one of them.

…

His View

As we left the restaurant, I couldn't help but be saddened and be happy at the same time. I was happy that Hermione now considered me as a friend, but at the same time, I was saddened when she told me that she was only on friendly terms with me because of our position as Heads. What if we weren't Heads? Would she have just turned me on that day at the park? To think about it, as I've been spending time with her, there's something weird about her. She seems to be a little unnatural in her actions. As if she's just pretending to be nice. The ones I've seen countless times at social gathering where one would just be polite to another as they only have a few hours with each other anyway. Of course, it's most likely my imagination. This is Hermione Granger. She's the Gryffindor who's loyal and brave, the one who risks herself in Potions class to help out Longbottom, the girl that would give people a chance at being her friend… like me.

I looked at her automatically. Yes, I could just be imagining it. She looked so innocent, as if she would never even hurt a fly, as if she'd rather use her wit to capture it then release it from the house so it could continue her life. I looked at her hair, still it's dark brown, but now it had a sleek look just like at the Yule Ball in our Fourth Year, but it hung in loose curls. But even when she left it bushy, I still found her beautiful. Her eyes a brown colour, were light enough to compliment to match the hair perfectly and dark enough to give her a mysterious appeal. In plain muggle clothing, she dressed in a manner that showed off the curves without revealing anything. Her enigmatic personality, her cleverness and intelligence put everything together. If it wasn't for the traditional bias of the rest of the Malfoy family, I would've gone and tried to make her mine the second I got the chance to.

Her View

After the heated conversation, everything flowed through quickly. Being the cool, composed me, I was able to smile at his request to become friends. I must admit though, it was a lot less disgusting than I thought it would be.

Malfoy's not too bad I guess, he's very composed, calm, and surprisingly friendly. He had that look that clearly said that he takes care of himself – the look that doesn't ruin my image. His platinum blonde hair now lacked the length and the amount of gel that made him look conceited. It was now kept short with just enough gel to keep his hair looking neat. His fringe would sometimes fall over his eyes but in a graceful manner, in such a way that Harry nor could Ron pull off if he spent hours in front of a mirror. His pale grey eyes seemed to have darkened to a stony-grey which would give him a look as if he could see everything about you. He still walked in that familiar graceful manner that I've come to notice over the years at Hogwarts, and unlike most wizards, Draco could definitely dress himself properly in muggle clothing. If I didn't know that he was wizard, I would've mistaken him for a socialite that belonged on the cover of GQ magazine. But then again, he's still the big fat prat that bullied me for six years. if it wasn't for the fact that, I would've gladly have become his friend.

The one thing that I'm a little let down on was that I couldn't get my blackmail! Argh… even though the thought was disgusting I was hoping his answer towards his attitude change was something… like oh maybe, that he was madly in love with me. Oh, I could just imagine yelling that I was lying all along, and make him do my homework and wait on me hand and foot for the first semester or I'd tell Harry, Ron and the other Weasleys' who would gladly take it as a reason to beat him to a bloody pulp. I don't know about you, but having a rich snob of a worst enemy turn into your personal slave sounds like a great deal to me.

At the moment, he's walking me home and he's asked me what sort of books I liked.

"Well, that's a hard choice. I like everything, but recently I've come to like:

Comics that have a more serious turn like how Maus tells the story of a Jewish married couple during World War II. I loved how the symbol of the cats and mice intertwines with a real event… I never thought it was possible. Unfortunately, I've only read the first book. (Acutally, my favorite comics is the Archie series.)

Novels with a subtle sense of humour yet tells a tale of an endearing story like Nicholas Sparks' 'A Walk to Remember. (Georgia Nicholson is more my kind of funny.)"

Good aren't I? Well after a decade, I should be very good. Surprisingly, Draco has read some muggle books, and that he might have some books I'd like. I expertly nodded politely and said I'd like it. When we arrived at my house, we said our goodbyes and how we'd like to do it again sometime. You know what? Not me. I can be polite and all that junk when I want to, he'll be dropping those books off sometime, I carry the charade on and we're both happy.

How wrong I was.

The next morning, my parents were off at work, my sisters were out to go somewhere. The house was quiet, just as I liked. I stretched out on the sofa in my tattered red jogging suit, my hair back to it's bushiness and still uncombed from when I woke up, I was preparing my day of 'happily doing nothing'.

The doorbell rang, and I assumed it to be my sisters coming back for an umbrella as it was cloudy outside. They always stood on the right side of the door, and I decided to give them a little scare – take the long umbrella with the point and make as if I was going to stab them with it right when I opened the door.

Giggling at my rather stupid soon-to-be joke, I picked up the umbrella, charged to the door and opened it. Instead of my sisters on the right side, a person stood smack in the middle of the door and my umbrella hit him square in the stomach. My running caused him to fall over on his back, and when I gained my composure, I stared into the eyes on none other than Draco Malfoy himself!!

He stared at me in shock. His mouth in a O-shape for what seemed to be forever and finally, he picked up a book at his side. Maus II.

"uhh… here. I You mentioned you haven't read the second installment. Listen, I must've caught you at a bad time Hermione… must've woken you up or something and I apologize if that's the case. I think I'll be leaving now."

Draco just walked out of my gate. I stood there in shock for a second. Then I realized how I looked and ran back into the house lest one of the neighbours saw me in my 'natural' state. All I could hope for was that Draco wasn't faking this all as I was, that he wasn't like me at all or I'd be the one who'll be getting blackmailed.

Talk about irony.