Draco swept his hair back in frustration before approaching the girl. He could feel the sneeky Zabini watching him, from a secluded section of the corridor.
"Granger," he drawled. "I wish to speak to you."
Hermione sighed exaperatedly. First it was that Zacharius idiot. And now it's Malfoy?
"What makes you think that I am going to grant you that 'wish'?" Hermione mused coldly "That I would give you the opportunity to lash out me, insulting my friends and whatever the damn hell it is you always do?"
"Well I won't do so now. I need a word is all, it won't take long." Draco sneered, trying not to let his anger override him and spit the words and insults he longed to spit. Maintaining compure and not retaliating proved excruciating indeed. However, he was managing, and so he gave himself a pat on the back.
"So what's holding you?" Hermione challenged. "Say it already. My time is of worth you know."
"Look," Draco said, fidgeting with his marble he had charmed to grant him tactfulness located inside his pocket. "I've been noticing your strive to divert Professor Snape's attention towards you in order to answer his questions is proving to be unsuccessful. He always chooses me to answer them instead, me being top of Potions and all…"
'He is quite full of himself, that one' Hermione thought, while wondering where he was taking this… 'Always has been, always will be'
"And it strikes me as unnerving," He continued "You see, for me to be the best, I have to compete with the best! I am quite competition free and all… so I want you to attempt answering Snape's stuff. I would hardly classify anyone else in that class as a 'best' so I have no choice but to concede you as one. Now, me knowing Snape as much as I do, what with him always being at our house and all, can give you a few pointers as to get him to permit you to answer his questions: firstly, look indifferent and possibly uncertain when raising your hand. Don't look in the slightest bit disappointed if he doesn't call on you, if anything, seem relieved."
Hermione put two and two together as to what he was saying.
"Oh. So… me being a Gryffindor, Snape would give his right arm to humiliate me. And what a better way than to do it than by making him assume I'd look stupid when answering one of his questions? Yes it makes sense. If I didn't dislike you so strongly, Malfoy, I would actually thank you! On second thought I do not want to stoop to your level so… thanks."
Malfoy nodded curtly, waiting for the important part of the plan to trigger.
"I highly presume that there's more in this sudden generosity for you than merely appearing as the best," Hermione said, narrowing her eyes suspicously at him. "Why did you do what you just did, truthfully?"
Malfoy smiled inwardly. The moment he'd hoped for.
"I see why no reason not to. If you think I wouldn't do it just because I supposedly despise you then let me tell you this: I don't care. At least not any more. I have a life, seriously. I, Draco Malfoy, admit that these past few years I've been insulting you I was a carefree bored freak. Now, I don't mind you. So long as you and your pals don't get on my bad side, any more, I've put the past behind me."
"Anna Anderson could claim that she was Anastasia all she wanted," Hermione answered stiffly, taken aback and skeptical at the Slytherin's sudden change in atitude. "But people observed and analyzed her, using judgement and not merely taking her word for it. And what do you know… she turned out to be a Polish Factory worker after all that talk!"
Ok. That he had not expected. Damn that girl for not being gullible enough to believe him!
"Seriously, whatever." Draco said turning away and hoping it was effective enough. "Do me a favor though!"
He turned around and bore his gray eyes into her chocolate brown ones.
"Apologize to Weasley for me, for my taunting his wealth all along. I am now in the same boat as him and so I see the error of my ways. Unfortunately though, I had to see them the hard way."
He turned around and away from the completely shocked expression on Hermione's face. Being the pensive nerd she was, she would probably recall this moment for quite a while, thus slightly obsessing over him.
Perfect.