Disclaimer: If I owned this, I wouldn't be stuck here in the Phillies. I would be back in Dubai under my duvet covers listening to music but as my friends know, that isn't going to happen.

Hey you guys. I know my story is slow moving but I'd rather get in every detail so it's more realistic since in my story, Hermione is still quite naïve. If you want me to speed it up please don't be shy to comment. Any constructive criticism would be helpful.

DURING DINNER

"How was your time with Draco?" Ginny teased.

"Surprisingly, not as bad as I thought it would be." Hermione answered looking up from her book.

"What do you mean NOT BAD!" demanded Harry.

"Yeah, what he said!" chirped in Ron.

Ginny realizing that Hermione was getting very uncomfortable with this topic decided to speak up.

"Did you notice how all the teachers seemed to be tired today? I mean we mostly copied down notes."

"Yup I noticed it too. Believe me. I wonder what's wrong. I mean look, they still look tired now." Hermione stated pointing to the teachers table.

Even Hagrid looked tired. Madame Hooch's eyes were all bloodshot and Professor Flitwick was yawning every other minute or so.

"Why are they all so tired?" Ron questioned bluntly.

"Well if we knew that, Ginny wouldn't have pointed it out would she? Honestly Ronald!" a waspish Hermione responded

"So-rry"

"Good. You should be."

Hermione looked at her watch and stood up.

"Well I have to go. It's my turn to parole."

With that she left.

Hermione decided that she would drop by her dorm to pick up a jumper seeing it was getting quite chilly.

When she got to the common room, she heard voices coming from Draco's room. It sounded like Blaise Zabini's voice. They were using hushed tones so Hermione decided to disregard the two and get out ASAP.

On Parole

Hermione was walking along the corridors and had ended up near the dungeons. It wasn't her favorite place to go but she knew that not only was it one of the main mischief areas but it was also close to the Slytherin's common room.

She stayed alert jumping every so often to the sounds she heard around her.

I had suddenly become deathly quiet. Hermione screamed when she bumped into Blaise's back.

"Keep your hair on Granger." He chuckled.

"What the hell are you doing out so freaking late!" The rather jumpy head girl demanded.

"None of your business." He retorted.

"10 points of Slytherin for being out past curfew." Snapped Hermione after a moment of silence.

Blaise stalked off murmuring to himself. Most probably about Hermione.

She chose not to acknowledge this, looked at her watch and walked out of the dungeon area.

Finally. It's ten. I can go back my room and relax.

She came into the common room, plopped herself on the sofa in front of the fireplace and fell asleep.

a few minutes after Hermione got in

Life at the moment was way too stressful for Draco. Sometimes he just wished that he could get away from it all.

Get away from the pressure of everything. The expectations.

He decided that he would drown his sorrows by having a quick shower.

Draco was about to walk into the bathroom when he spotted Hermione sleeping next to the fire place. His guess was that she had a rough night.

Draco felt the urge to pick her up and lay her in he bed but he knew better.

He settled instead by covering the brunette with a blanket. He was unusually gentle with her. Something a Malfoy would never do.

"Then why was he doing it?" he questioned himself.

He decided to leave her be and headed back to his original destination.

..: Next morning :..

Hermione woke up with a start. She found herself lying on the couch.

She looked at her watch. It read 6:30.

"I must have fallen asleep after I got in." she explained to herself.

The only thing she couldn't understand was why she had a blanket with her. An emblem caught her eye and she realized to whom the blanket belonged to.

"Malfoy."

For some reason this comforted her.

She walked to her room and started to prepare for the day ahead of her.

Hermione was the first, as usual, to get into the bathroom.

Since Draco didn't usually get wake up till about 7:30, she decided that she would have a bath.

The slender girl stepped into the Jacuzzi-like tub and let out a deep contented sigh.

She had performed a simple bubble head charm so that if she was to fall asleep, she wouldn't drown.

She lay there for a while relaxing until a voice came from the foot of the door.

"Well a bubble head charm won't help you into getting guys you know?" Smirked the blonde.

"GET OUT MALFOY!" she screamed.

After he had gotten out Hermione summoned her towel and quickly wrapped it around her. She finished her bath, got dressed and brushed her teeth in record time.

"You know Granger; you should really learn how to lock a door." Draco commented as she walked to her room.

"Yeah, whatever."

Both Hermione and Draco left about the same time. Neither said a word until they had reached the door of the Great Hall.

Hermione broke their silence.

"What time do you want to run our ideas by Dumbledore?"

"Around 7 I guess. That is if it's ok with you."

"Yeah its fine."

"Ok"

"Ok"

Just before Draco left, Hermione grabbed his wrist.

"Yes Ms. Granger?" Draco asked quizzically

"Thanks last night. I mean. You know. For the Blanket."

"No problem."

Hermione could have sworn that Malfoy's lips were creeping up into a smile. He left her there to ponder why both Heads were being so civil to each other again.

She walked back to her usual seat and dished herself a generous portion of bacon.