A/N: Whoa. I'm still as shocked as ever. Though the last chapter wasn't really explanatory and informative of the story, you still reviewed and liked it! That goes to show that you guys really love me. Lol. (huggles)

A/N2: Did you notice that I update this story at least one or two days after the earlier installation? Hm, if you did, you're obligated to review twice as before! Lol.

Disclaimer: I love Harry Potter... but I don't own it. Get it?

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Chapter Three

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"Out of reach,

So far,

I never had your heart..."

It was Potions.

The dreaded subject for the two members of the Golden Trio and the rest of the Gryffindors. Harry and Ron sat there, sulking on why they had to attend the said subject. Hermione, being the logical one that she was, told them simply that they had no choice because they always wanted to be an Auror and that came on the requirements. They had groaned in protests.

Hermione giggled at their expressions when they saw Snape with his over-larged cape billowing behind him. His greasy hair still unkempt as before, ruffled more as he ran his oily hands through it. The Gryffindors snickered when he almost tripped over his own feet. He glared at them.

"Well, as you can all see," he snarled when Hermione suddenly put her hands up in the air. "What is it, Miss Granger?"

"Are we going to do a project about Netious potions today, Professor Snape?" Hermione said defiantly.

"Yes," he drawled through gritted teeth. "Now, let me finish before I take away fifty points from Gryffindor."

Hermione shut up as he gave her a firm glare. "As I was saying, as you can see, there would be some changes within the classroom's grounds. Gryffindors will be paired up with Slytherins and likewise therefore I expect this class would be as peaceful still even if the pairings are to be changed."

Both Houses started to protest at the end of the statement, Draco Malfoy's voice is the most audible.

"Have you gone insane, Professor Snape?" He said in utter disbelief. "I wouldn't be caught dead with a lowly Gryffindor."

The Gryffindors glared at him while the Slytherins sneered at them.

"Quite true, Mr. Malfoy," Snape nodded his head. "But unfortunately, Professor Dumbledore had requested that, not I."

Draco growled. "The old git is clearly trying to check our patience," he murmured under his breath.

"Shut it, Malfoy," Hermione hissed as she heard him clearly. "Never speak about Professor Dumbledore that way."

Draco looked quite taken aback but quickly gained his composure. He sneered. "Why, Granger. I never thought that you swung that way about Professor Dumbledore."

She glared at him. "Freaking git."

"Filthy mudblood," he said icily.

"Silence!" Snape's voice boomed all over the dungeon. "I will pair you up with the opposite house whether you like it or not. Now, Longbottom and Bulstrode, Zabini and Lavender, Nott and Patil, Parkinson and Potter," he then stopped for a while as he let the hostile murmurings pass. "Malfoy and Granger."

Malfoy was the first one to stand up, perplexed. "Professor, I demand for a change of partner."

"Yes, Professor," Hermione begged, trying to hide the pleasure she was having amidst the disgust of her classmates. They did not know. They will never know that she fancied the Slytherin. "Surely there would be others?" Though I really hope not.

"You just can't let Hermione be partnered up with him," Ron cried, as he looked at the pair, frowning when he saw Hermione have a small smile on her face, gradually fighting it.

"No," Snape said sternly. "Fifty points from Gryffindor. Sit down and let me finish." He then continued on with the list, every pairs fuming as he did so.

"Now, sit down beside your partners and copy the ingredients as follow." With a gentle flick of his wand, the procedure was written on the board.

Draco glared at Hermione as he took a seat next to her. "Granger," he said as if it were poison in his mouth.

"Malfoy," she said, barely acknowleding his presence as she never lifted her head from the piece of parchment she was writing on.

He frowned at this. "Now, Granger. We need to be civil to each other... even just this once. I know it'll be hard for you but you need to because I need to pass this subject."

"Whatever, Malfoy," she replied nonchalantly, her heart beating faster than normal. She knew that he was just trying to get her attention. No, she can actually feel his need for her attention. He nudged her lightly on the knee as he tried to "get" his quill underneath the table.

Draco grunted when he did not receive any reaction at his groping. He clutched his quill, sat upright, and started to write furiously. How dare she, he thought. Didn't even notice me touch her. Every girl would just die to make me touch them. But why not her? Why not the muggle-born Hermione Granger? Why won't she just bend down from her throne and notice him for once? It was infuriating. This girl was definitely hard to get by... and yet, he was proud of her for it.

He noticed a strand of her bushy locks fell to her face as she scribbled on her parchment. He tried to fight the temptation to just twirl the hair in his fingers and play with it. Oh, how he longed to touch any part of her with her willing consent. She was something that he can't have, and that made him so frustrated. A forbidden fruit, that she was.

She sighed as she finished copying the instructions on the board. She looked at him and was shocked to find him staring at her with a glazed expression on his face. Her cheeks flushed as he still didn't notice her looking at him just the same. He then, as if on cue, sighed making his breath fan across her face. She blushed madly when his eyes widened at their sudden closeness.

"What the..." His voice trailed off when she coughed hard, glancing around the room, seeing the others looking at them curiously.

"Now, Malfoy," she said blankly. "I thought you didn't like to fail this project?"

She then looked pointedly at a piece of parchment under her bag. She took it, wrote something hastily, and gave it to him quickly. He looked adorably confused but opened the note, anyway.

"Malfoy

Stop looking at me like that. It would seem as if you're attracted to me all of a sudden. You wouldn't want people to start talking about it, would you?

Granger."

He looked at her, glaring as she smiled at him sarcastically and wrote down something beside her writing.

"Why, Granger. I never thought that you cared for my reputation. It warms my heart to know that you like me enough to tell me that. Don't worry, mudblood. I wouldn't like someone as filthy as you."

Her brows furrowed, eyes turned to slits, as she again wrote on the parchment with her sleek, neat handwriting. She gave it to him with a loud slap on the table. He opened it with a smirk plastered on his face.

"Sod off, Malfoy."

He chuckled fondly at her. She was such an interesting speciment, indeed. His eyes then glazed over and saw his fellow Slytherins looking at him with brows raised. He glared and scowled at them, scaring them off like he always does when they doubt his actions. They, as expected, coward and did what they were supposed to do.

He then looked at his partner, letting a small smile leave his lips as she tied her wiry hair into a tight bun. She looked absolutely stunning. He sighed when she took more notes from Snape's blabberings.

Although he liked the feeling that he had finally fallen... he just couldn't handle the pressure he'll receive when the others find out. This obsession on Hermione Granger must stop.

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End Note: I feel such a meanie, leaving it like that but I just couldn't fight the temptation. Lol. Anyway, please review. I especially love and crave long reviews. (wink)