Hermione woke with a start to the sound of the shower. No doubt Malfoy was there, probably congratulating himself for waking up earlier than me, Hermione thought. Hermione was in a very haughty mood while she was picking out a clean robe and a towel from her bedroom.

Hermione waited impatiently on one of the sofas, tapping her right foot irritably.

Malfoy stepped out the bathroom twenty minutes later, running a hand through his wet hair. He had the nerve to look surprised to find her sitting there, waiting for him to get out of the shower.

"Why do you take so long?" Hermione complained. Malfoy gave her an icy look.

"That's none of your business, Mudblood."

Hermione slammed the door of the bathroom.

"Hey Hermione!" Harry greeted her warmly as Hermione entered the Gryfindor table. Hermione glanced at the amazing bouncing ferret from the Slytherin table.

"That ferret takes so damn long in the shower," Hermione mumbled, nettled.

Ron sputtered his cereal out. "You actually have to share a bedroom with him?"

"-and plan the balls, and discuss which prefects should have patrolling shifts, and a whole bunch of other things." Hermione finished matter a factly.

Ron gaped at her for a minute and returned to his cereal hastily. Something was certainly wrong with her best friend, she could sense it.

Hermione looked at Harry for an explanation but Harry merely smirked. Hermione returned to her breakfast with an amused expression on her face.

Hermione dreaded her classes today, although this was something that she would never admit to Harry or Ron.

They knew that she hated the Potions teacher, but they never knew it affected the way she felt about Potions. They never knew how she felt about Ron either…

Hermione was called to a rude awakening of reality by the sound of Professor McGonagall's voice.

"Miss Granger, after breakfast please meet me at my office. Accompanying Mr. Malfoy. Yes, Granger, you'd have to go tell him," she added cautiously with a smile. Hermione sighed. It was a nightmare just approaching the Slytherin Tables.

Ron was shoveling down his cereal with haste as Hermione approached the Gryfindor table once again. "Ron what is wrong with you today?" Hermione demanded. Ron glanced up at Hermione and said hastily, "Uh- I – er-well- I…"

Harry finished the sentence for him. "He has to meet Snape for extra homework."

Hermione stared. "Ron this is the first day! What do you mean 'extra homework'?"

Ron looked hopelessly at Harry and Harry finally added, "He got in trouble this morning."

Hermione wouldn't give up, though. She wanted to know the whole story. "What happened now, Ronald?"

Harry answered once again. "You know Snape. He just looks for excuses to get people in a desperate situation."

Hermione looked at Harry sternly. "Ron could talk for himself you know!"

Harry shrugged. "His mouth was too full. You get mad when he talks with his mouth full."

Hermione shrugged in turn. Then she said to her two best friends miserably, "Great, now I have to go accompany the ferret to Professor McGonagall's office."

Ron finally spoke up. "I really feel bad Hermione. That's no good for your digestion."

Hermione smiled and said, "You couldn't have said truer words."

Harry was acting very peculiar indeed. He was looking from Ron to Hermione with a smug look on his face.

Hermione approached the Slytherin table with great gloom. She passed through students bearing green scarves and green badges and turned to a silver eyed someone.

"Malfoy we have to go to McGonagall's office." She said dully. Malfoy looked politely curious. Parkinson looked livid at this sudden act in Draco. Hermione rolled her eyes. "Don't play that act with me." She said irritably.

Draco smirked and said "The Mudbloods feisty."

Zabini Blaise said, "Yeah, guess you turned her down last night."

Hermione gagged. Blaise said seriously, "Well we all know the goody-two-shoes just needs you at the head meeting. You could never get her to ask you out. Ever."

Malfoy looked indignant while Hermione looked triumphant. Hermione held out her hand while Zabini took it and said "now we get the picture, buddy."

Zabini laughed his usual bark and said, "You don't want to keep old lady McGonagall waiting."

Malfoy lazily got up from the table while smirking his devilishly charming smirk and said, "I can get you to date me any time I want."

Once again, Hermione gagged. Malfoy contented himself with a "whatever".

Meanwhile, back at the Gryfindor table, Ron was livid.

"She looked like she was having a good time with those jerks!" He complained furiously to the boy who lived.

Harry shook his head. "I know what you mean, mate."

Ron was thoughtful. "Do you think she likes me?"

Harry looked at him. Harry was always completely honest with his best friends and right now was no exception. "I truly think she does."

Ron beamed.

Hermione walked the rest of the way to the office with Malfoy in silence. This was quite an accomplishment, because Malfoy and Hermione never missed an opportunity to make fun of each other.

McGonagall appeared at the doorway waiting for them, looking half-stern, half-cautious.

"Miss Granger. Mister Malfoy." She gestured to two chairs facing her desk.

The two heads sat without complaint and politely waited for McGonagall to tell them what was so important.

"Well, as traditionally, the heads plan the balls." Hermione looked gloomy.

"Well, we are planning to do a masked ball." Hermione sat up straighter. She loved masked balls. They were mysterious and romantic.

Malfoy looked bored. He conjured a book called Ways To Tell You're Old and Boring Teacher That You Really Don't Care About What She Says Without Losing Your Head Position.

Fortunately, McGonagall didn't notice the title of the book. Nevertheless, she cried furiously, "Mr. Malfoy put that away this instant!"

Malfoy put the book into his left pocket. Hermione looked just as furious as McGonagall. Malfoy gave Hermione a look that clearly said you really are a teacher's pet, aren't you?

Hermione rolled her eyes.

McGonagall said, "Just to cut this meeting short, you will get a list of supplies you will need to purchase from Hogsmeade on the table of your dormitory."

Malfoy rolled his eyes and said "okay."

Hermione proceeded out of the hallway after Malfoy, lost in thought.

I think Ron likes me. I really think he does. But why do I act so snotty and just the same to him? Ugh, I am unbearable sometimes. But this is RON we are talking about. RON. My best friend. This wouldn't be easy. Ugh this is going to be unbearable, planning a bloody ball with him. Oh well. Whatever. Never mind.

(A/n I was listening to "Smells like Teen Spirit" when I wrote the last line. He he. How do you like my story so far? It gets better, trust me!)

Oh yeah, I forgot to say that I'm a disclaimer. As usual.