Disclaimer: Not mine. Never has been. Never will be. Isn't that sad?

A/N: After time has passed in a story, there's usually a break in between. Since I've been seemingly unsuccessful in finding one that works, I'm just going to put the first word of a new section in bold. Get it? Well, you'll figure it out…

Professor McGonagall stood up from her spot at the long table. Almost as if it were a natural instinct, everyone turned to look at her, even before she'd raised a spoon to tap on the glass in front of her.

"Professor Dumbledore as an announcement," she announced loudly before sitting back down.

They all watched as Professor Dumbledore stood up. Actually, quite a few Gryffindors watched as Neville watched Dumbledore and therefore spilt stew all down his robes. So, really only most people, most certainly all the Ravenclaws, Hufflepuffs, and well, actually, not all of the Slytherins, (but that's to be expected) were watching as their old headmaster stood up. He had the air of one with a very important announcement.

And it was very important, but I'm sure you'd just like me to get on with it.

"As a new type of class, the seventh years will be participating in muggle activities once a week. Whether it is going to a drive-in, ordering fast food," several people wrinkled their noses at the mention of this, Draco Malfoy included, "or amusement parks. It will be entertaining; we are not sending you to study. You may, however, have to write a short report of your doings in the muggle world after each trip." A collective groan rose from the seventh years, but it was mostly for effect. This was a very interesting way of studying muggles, and they were (almost) always open to new (easier) ways of learning.

Professor Dumbledore was still standing, however, so the groaning ended quickly.

"Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger, could I see you please? Right now, it won't take a moment," added Professor Dumbledore, and then, to the rest of the school, "Please, continue with your meal."

Hermione reached the large table before Malfoy, but only just. "Yes Headmaster?"

He peered down his half-moon spectacles at her, the strange twinkle in his eye. "Wait a moment, Miss Granger. I'm sure Mister Malfoy will appreciate knowing this information." Hermione nodded, and smirked as Malfoy walked up, remembering the day before.

"Now. Mister Malfoy, Miss Granger. As you have been eating your meals together every Friday, and most of these trips will be held on Fridays, I've decided that wherever you go, or whatever you do in the muggle world, it will be together." Both of the seventeen-year olds were standing, limp, with their mouths hanging open.

"Professor…." Hermione began.

"People will talk," Malfoy finished, "Very loudly, in fact."

Dumbledore was smiling faintly, the twinkle even brighter. Hermione felt a faint surge of hate towards the old man before sighing and accepting her fate. "Yes Headmaster."

Malfoy didn't accept, but he didn't say no either. He simply walked back to his table, grumbling. Hermione smirked again. Maybe it would be amusing. After all, a pureblood Malfoy in muggle England?

Harry and Ron had been pestering her the entire night, and it was just for homework. Hermione sighed again, probably her tenth or eleventh deep sigh of the evening, at least in regard to the boys.

Not once had they asked what Professor Dumbledore had wanted her for, and she felt that this time, it was, perhaps, important enough to tell them.

Hermione sighed again, before speaking. "Harry," he turned, "Ron," he too, turned to look at her, quill still hovering above his paper. "I'm going on a date with Malfoy."

The quill stopped hovering. In fact, Ron stopped sitting as well. Or being conscious.

While she and Harry tried to revive Ron, she thought of a better way to tell them. There had been, of course, that option before, but the look on Ron's face…

"All right," Hermione began once both boys were looking at her intently. "That's not quite what I meant." Ron sighed, and Hermione smiled. "You both now that I've had to have one meal with him every Friday?" They nodded, looking grim. "Well, Professor Dumbledore has decided, since most of these outings will be held on Fridays, that Malfoy and I should spend our time in the muggle world-" The three of them grimaced all at once at the next word-"together."

"Oh," was the faint response.

"Yes, well, I thought you might be interested," she replied calmly, giving Ron a small smirk. "I'll see you tomorrow." And with that, Hermione doesn't come back into this story until the next chapter.

Ron sat stiffly on his bed, facing Harry. "We can't let this happen."

"Um….Why not? I mean, it's not like it's Hermione's decision to," he looked disgusted, but continued "Go out with him. Besides, it's more like a partnering for a project."

"At the movies?"

"Maybe she'll have a good time. They have been eating together…" Harry suggested feebly, but he could tell by the look on Ron's face it was the wrong thing to say.

"So? Do you think they are going out?" Ron seemed a little more than hysterical at that point. "Maybe that's why she seemed so calm! I can't believe it! Sneaking around like that, going behind our backs…"

Harry interrupted. "Ron, you're over-reacting. As much as we hate Malfoy, he seems to have matured, at least a little."

"Right, now he's taking them out on dates as opposed to taking them out with-"

"RON! Would you please calm down? Besides, Hermione's a big girl now."

"Yeah, unlike Malfoy…" Ron said, trying to lighten the mood. Harry grinned as Ron laughed, and all was well in the world. (For the most part.)

Draco Malfoy was brooding. It was not something he was prone to doing, yet Hermione needed to be taught a lesson. She was lucky the soup had really just been broth, or he might have had to do something drastic….

Anyways, publicly humiliating her seemed like his best bet at the moment. The question was how to humiliate her?

"Blaise!" He called loudly, and a sturdy, good-looking boy stalked up into the dorm.

"What?"

"I need your help."

Blaise raised one eyebrow, looking thoughtful. "Conditions?"

"You know Granger, right? Well…."

A/N: Not as long as I would have liked, but I want the first "Muggle studies" expedition to be one full chapter. The general idea for the muggle thing is movies, and practically anything a teenager might do for fun, or on a date. (Which could be classified as the same thing, I suppose. But you never know.) Please review, sorry if I took too long to update….