A/N: Hey everyone. Sorry it has taken me a while to update, I have just completed my Maths Assignment (cheers with relief) and I am assignment free for now… well I get my Science one soon (groans with dread). I messed up in the pervious chapter too. Hermione does her detention with Draco… not that night… sorry! Actually before I get started on this chapter I am going to get some lunch…

DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN THE CHARACTERS BUT I DO OWN THE PLOT OF THIS FIC!

Chapter Six: Friendship

Thursday dawned to be another day; only the weather was cooling for the coming winter leaving the air in the Slytherin chambers with a slight chill. But being a Slytherin, you tended to get used to it, which Draco had. With a stretch the blonde haired young man sat up and blinked a few times as he looked around his room. He had returned from the meeting with Granger late and they were only half done with planning the Halloween dance.

He stood up and dressed in his day uniform of gray pants, socks, black shoes, white long sleeved top, gray v-neck jumper with the Slytherin colours evident on the collar and sleeves, green and silver tie and the cloak with the Slytherin emblem. After dressing and doing his hair and teeth he packed his book bag for that day. Potions was first, just great. Sure he liked potions and everything, but that night him and Granger had detention with Snape. So knowing Snape, he would no doubt be trying to find more excuse's to give Granger and maybe Draco, more detentions- just for the fun of it.

With a sigh, Draco left his room and barged past the not so eager students – Draco knew the whole 'I love school' crap wouldn't last long – down the staircase. He peeked around the corner and groaned to see Pansy strutting around in her extra short skirt and way to tight shirt. Great… so how was he to get out without being noticed. Blaise and him weren't talking, Crabbe and Goyle are drooling over Pansy… sometimes Draco hated being a Slytherin.

"Drakie!" cried Pansy, noticing Draco leaning on the wall contemplating a way to get past Pansy.

Draco groaned muttering, "I wish you would just die for one day."

Pansy skipped over to Draco, tripping at the last moment and falling over in front of him, the goofy smile still on her face as she looked up at him.

"No need to fall for me Pansy," drawled Draco stepping over her and walking to the door to leave.

"Oh wait up will you Draco?" cried Pansy running after him only to have the door slam shut in her face.

Draco smirked as he heard Pansy screaming for him behind the door. He kept on walking at a quick pace to be sure to put enough distance between him and the annoying Slytherin.

He ran up the stairs into the Entrance Hall just as Granger and her sidekicks stepped down the Entrance Hall staircase. Granger glanced his way and nodded, acknowledging his presence. Draco nodded back, before hearing Pansy calling for him. Hurriedly he walked into the Great Hall and walked over to the Slytherin table, sitting in between two guys in sixth year. Pansy ran into the Great Hall, barging into the female Weasley who shoved Pansy away from her in annoyance – Draco knew all about the Weasley temper.

Everyone watched in amusement as Pansy spun around to go off at the person who pushed her. Now this was entertainment.

Draco smirked as Pansy glared at the Weasley girl, listening to what was being said – for once he was hoping the Gryffindor would whoop the Slytherin's butt.

"Keep your filthy hands off me!" screamed Pansy.

The Weasley girl raised her eyebrows and crossed her arms, "Next time watch where you are running then and perhaps no one will have to touch you."

"Excuse me, but every guy here wishes to touch me."

"Right… and that is why Malfoy is always running away from you?"

"Draco isn't running from me!"

The Weasley girl laughed and glanced at Draco, "Then why is he sitting where he is? If we wanted to be near you Parkinson I'm sure he would've at least saved you a seat."

"He did," said Pansy hands on her hips.

"Have a look for yourself."

Pansy turned on her heel and looked at the Slytherin table, searching for Draco who pretended to be interested in his Wizarding Choc Exploding Puffs. Pansy saw Draco and inhaled a deep breath before turning back to the Weasley.

"He wants me to sit on his lap," said Pansy with dignity.

Draco coughed as he choked on a mouthful of his cereal, than cried out, "NO I DON'T!"

Pansy suddenly bust into tears, shredding her all the dignity she had. Wailing loudly, Pansy ran from the hall.

Draco sighed; perhaps Pansy wouldn't annoy him again… hopefully.

!D!

Draco walked into the Potions classroom and sat in the back row, ignoring Pansy's sniffles two rows ahead. He did, however watch Millicent roll her eyes as she soothed Pansy. Across from Draco sat Granger talking to Potter about something serious from the looks on their faces. Draco sighed. He had no one to talk too. Crabbe and Goyle were discussing how many muffins they can fit in there mouths at once, Blaise was glaring at Draco and Granger suspiciously… and well the other Slytherin's were to busy gossiping.

Just as Draco was about to snap at Blaise to quit looking Snape barged in, slamming the door behind him. Immediately his eyes glared at Draco and Granger. Draco just focused on his Potions book, while Granger looked at Snape with the same glare.

"Books out, wands away. No foolish wand waving or note passing. Today's lesson is theory. You are to read chapter's sixteen and seventeen and summarize every paragraph than answer the questions at the end of every chapter. If you do not finish the work this lesson you will be on a weeks detention. Get started now!"

'Well,' thought Draco sighing as he opened his Potions book, 'Snape is pissed.'

Snape stalked around the classroom glaring at everyone he saw not doing their work correctly or just starring at there books. Draco discreetly glanced at Granger to see her tapping her quill of the desk and reading quietly, her foot tapping as if she were listening to music. Suddenly Snape's black robes came into view and stopped right in front of him.

"Mr Malfoy," said Snape making Draco look up, "You have disappointed a lot lately. Now perhaps your should stop looking at Miss Granger and focus on your work."

Draco turned to his book and began reading and heard Snape walk back to the front saying something to Longbottom.

Quickly Draco glanced at Granger to see her smiling a little looking at her book. Draco turned back to his work… okay… he had to concentrate.

!D!

Draco left the Potions classroom quickly at the end of his lesson; thankfully he had finished his work. All lesson for some reason he felt like he had to look at Granger, but with all the will he could muster he had resisted. Whatever was going with him had to stop and soon. If his father found out, Merlin have mercy on him.

Draco hurried up the stairs into the Entrance Hall. Potions had been a double lesson, meaning it was morning break. Draco walked out of the castle heading to the lake, leaving behind the hustle and bustle of the castle.

He sat down by the lake and groaned out loudly, looking at the calm lake and the dark storm cloud coming in slowly. What was wrong with him? He didn't have a crush on Granger… that he was sure, he was sure of. But something about her this year was different. Like she had changed… she wasn't as up tight anymore. She was calmer around him… as if she was giving him a chance to prove he was different… Draco sighed; his mind was swirling with the whole issue. He didn't know what to do but hope it all blew over soon.

"Malfoy. I wouldn't expect you to be out here."

So the girl who was driving him crazy was out here now talking to him. Great. Drive him even more insane.

"Well I couldn't exactly stay inside," he replied as she sat beside him.

Thankfully no one else was outside due to the incoming storm and cool breeze.

"Why is that?"

"Would you stay inside if you had Pansy moping over you?"

Granger looked at him curiously, "Why am I getting the feeling that, that isn't the real reason you are out here?"

Draco sighed but didn't say anything. Instead he looked at Granger frowning, before finally speaking, "Granger… you are different this year."

"You just changed the subject," came her reply.

Draco sighed, "Come on Granger, I being serious. You are different."

Granger sighed, "My name is Hermione. Not Granger."

"Fine… Hermione, why are you different?"

Hermione sighed and looked at the ground, "I knew this was my last year and I wanted it to be a good one. A year that I enjoyed."

Draco just nodded, not knowing whether to believe her or not, "Than how come you came out here?"

"I asked you that first."

"I needed sometime to think. Happy? I told you my reason, now tell me yours."

Hermione sighed again, "If I tell you, promise not to laugh?"

"Promise."

"I was worried about you."

Draco raised his eyebrows, "Worried about me?"

"Well yeah. All lesson you kept on fidgeting and normally you sit there all… grumpy like."

Draco actually smiled for the first time in ages, "All grumpy like."

Hermione smiled, "Yes. You do. So you can talk to me you know. I won't tell anyone."

"It was nothing. I just needed some peace."

Hermione suddenly stood up startling Draco; "I'll leave you to it then. Sorry to disturb you."

Draco jumped up onto his feet and grabbed her hand, "Gr- Hermione I didn't mean you have to leave. I was getting away from the Slytherin's."

"But you said you wanted peace and I was just going to give it to you. Beside's it's going to rain soon."

Draco smiled, "You always have to find a solution to every reason you do something don't you? Look… I know I have been a huge jerk my whole life, especially towards you. And I… don't know why but I really want to get to know you. So… what do you say?"

"You want to try and start a friendship with me?" asked Hermione, slightly smiling at Draco.

Draco nodded.

"What do we have here?" came a drawling voice.

Draco dropped Hermione's hand and both looked to around them till they found the source of who spoke. Blaise walked over to them slowly.

"Falling in love with the mudblood, Malfoy?" smirked Blaise, "Only its just friendship now? Oh how joyful this is! Next you will be trading friendship bracelets."

"Go crawl under a rock Zabini," snapped Draco angrily.

"You know Draco, if your father knew about this, he would murder you."

"My father is nothing anymore Zabini. He is worthless shit."

Blaise laughed coldly, "I'm sure you don't mean that. Your whole family is in the inner circle of Voldemort."

Draco felt Hermione shift uncomfortably beside him.

"Listen Zabini, just get lost alright? Just because I'm not prejudice anymore doesn't mean anything to you."

"Oh but it does dear Draco. You see all these years I have been keeping my eye on you for your father. I have strict orders to go to him if anything that will disgrace the Malfoy name happens."

Draco scowled angrily and felt Hermione step around him and walked over to Blaise, her face an emotion of pure anger.

"And does that make you feel like a big man? Do you feel powerful?" she snarled, "Perhaps Draco has changed, and perhaps he has finally grown up unlike the rest of the purebloods in Slytherin and your parents. Go running off to Lucius like some big macho Slytherin. In the end you are nothing but a pathetic loser with the only destiny laid out for you to be another follower of the lowest scum on this earth."

Blaise didn't know what to say, never had Hermione stood up for herself – excluding the time she slapped Draco. Instead he glared at Draco, than at Hermione and turned on his heel and stormed off back to the castle.

Hermione turned back to Draco holding her forehead. She looked slightly pale, but smiled slightly at Draco who in return looked at her with sincere worry.

"Are you okay?" he asked, "You like you are about to drop dead or something."

"I'm fine. I just stressed myself trying to prove something," was her reply, though Draco somehow knew that was a lie.

"Well, I dare say you did. He didn't know what to do… thankyou."

Hermione shrugged her shoulders. The wind was picking up and the clouds were moving quicker, the smell of rain evident in the air. Draco watched as Hermione inhaled a deep long breath, a small smile on her face.

"I always have liked the smell of rain," she said softly, looking at the clouds longingly, "No other smell can compare to it, you know."

"It does smell nice."

Hermione smiled at Draco, "You think I'm crazy don't you?"

Draco shook his head, "Not at all… only I like the smell of new Quidditch gear… now that is a nice smell."

"What is so good about Quidditch? You guys act like it is the only thing in life that matters."

"Well… it is the reason why some people come to school."

"Is it your reason for coming?"

"That… and other reasons that don't matter."

Draco waited for Hermione to speak and when she was about to she jumped in surprise as rain began to fall.

"We'd better head inside," said Draco and the two of them ran back to the castle the fast falling rain saturating there clothes as bright bolts of lightening crackled in the air above them.

Once in doors people looked at them confused. Well no one could blame them. Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy entering the castle at the same time? Something odd was going on. Either they were secretly dating or were having a long-winded forever going argument.

"Hermione!" came Potter's voice as he ran over to her, worry on his face, "Are you crazy going out there in this weather? You could catch a cold! You know that, that wil-"

"Harry I am fine, honestly," cried Hermione cutting him off with annoyance, "Just… let me live, please. Don't treat me like a child."

Harry nodded, "Sorry. But you should get some dry clothes on."

Hermione nodded and smiled at Draco before leaving with her friend. Draco nodded at her and headed to the Slytherin Chambers to get changed into dry clothes.

!D!

It was 7pm and now Draco was entering Snape's office. Hermione was already there, though she was sniffling meaning she obviously caught a cold from being in the rain… which was weird. They were in it for long, five minutes being the maximum amount. Perhaps she had a weak immune system, who knew?

Draco took a seat as Snape entered, alone this time. Obviously so Hermione didn't get overwhelmed and fainted again.

"Good evening," said the Professor glaring at the two, "Tonight you both shall do your detention. It will be for five hours. Now I know you both normally have patrol to do, but Professor Dumbledore allowed you both to have it off so to speak. Prefects Creevy and Weasley will do it instead. Now you both shall clean the classroom you seventh year's use – restacking shelves, cleaning the floors and desks. I will be back at midnight. If it isn't complete you will both return every night until it is."

With that Snape stood and left. Hermione stood first and used Snape's office entrance into the classroom; Draco quickly followed and looked at the classroom. The desks had crumbs and spilt potions all over them. Draco wrinkled his nose at the foul odor in the air and felt the stickiness under the soles off his shoes.

"Did the 1st years use this classroom last or something?" asked Draco in annoyance.

"I dare say so," sighed Hermione as a mop bucket, mop and other cleaning products appeared in between them, "So… I'll mop and you clean the desks? Than we both can get started on the restacking. What do you say?"

Draco just nodded and grabbed a rag and some potion to use for scrubbing the desks. And soon both were working in a comfortable silence.

A/N: I am trying to take things slow… but I don't want the story to become boring… so anyway… please tell me what you think! Thanks for the reviews!

Bye for now!

Love yas!

Love Coz