The next evening Hermoine sorted out the stuff she needed and got into the Common Room.

To her surprise and approval, Draco was sitting on the table, already writing.

"Oh my god," she grinned, "he's on time and writing. I must be dreaming."

He looked up and smirked. "Good evening, Miss Granger. You're 2 minutes late."

Hermoine threw her books, papers and notes on the table. "2 minutes looking for this."

She sat down and turned serious. "This does not mean I like you, Blondie, or that we will get cosy making this assignment."

Draco smiled. "I didn't except anything else, Granger."

"First we should make notes on all the different Love and Desire-Potions." Hermoine said, sounding a little demanding.

"You are pretty bossy, you know that?" Draco said, ready for another yelling.

"And you are pretty arrogant." Hermoine responded calmly.

And that was the end of the discussion. They worked in silence, and all you can hear where their quills scraping over their paper.

At 9.30 Draco yawned. "Now, it's offically boring," he said, "I've been writing for 2,5 hours and I've never done that before in my life."

"For everything there's a first." Hermoine reacted.

She stretched her muscles and started organizing their notes.

Draco saw that her hair was messy, because she had the habit to go through it with her hand while studying and she had blushes on her cheeks. He tried not to pay attention to it.

"Hey Blondie," She suddenly asked, "whatever happened to 'filthy little mudblood'?"

Draco's expression froze for a moment and then he said simply with a cold undertone: "It got old along the road, nothing more."

Hermoine looked at him and immediately saw he was lying. She shrugged.

"I'm tired." Hermoine said, rubbing her eyes. "Then you should sleep." Draco replied dryly.

"You're smarter than you look, you knew that?" Hermoine responded with a chuckle.

Draco smirked. "Watch it, Bookwurm."

The next evening Draco was in their Common Room when Hermoine got out of her bedroom.

She tried to sneak out so that Draco couldn't make a sneering comment.

She saw Draco sitting in front of the fire, his hair wasn't as gelled as usual and fell tousled around his face. She liked it a little, but was still repelled by him, of course.

'You're wasting your good looks on Potty and Weaselby, Granger." He said out of the blue, turning his head towards her, putting down his book.

Hermoine muttered: "Shit."

She touched the straps of her black dress she wore in embarassement, she had hoped he wouldn't see her. However, he didn't sneer at all. He had just called her pretty.

A part of her felt flattered, since so few boys had ever called her good-looking. However, this was still Malfoy.

"You know what?" She said smiling. "I'm flattered that you said I look good but it doesn't change the fact that I really don't care. See you tomorrow."

"Tomorrownight we'll start testing the Desire-Drops, Granger." He said, his eyes provoking. "I already got all the potions from Snape for you."

Hermoine felt her stomach shrink, but showed no emotion whatsoever.

"Fine." She simply said. "but I swear, I'll lock myself up in my room and tie myself down, before I get the urge to get an inch closer to you than I am now."