Draco woke up the next morning and couldn't help but grin. Today was the day Hermione would meet her fate. Would Draco have to talk? Or would she agree to his request? He hummed on his way to the Great Hall and stopped. He was humming! If there was ever a time for Draco to be a humorous guy, these past two days would've been a good time to start. He practically skipped into the Great Hall and smirked at the Gryffindor table. Hermione was already there, holding hands with Ron, but that was hardly where her attention was. She grimaced as Draco gave her a knowing look and she prayed to Merlin that he wasn't going to ask her something sexual.

Draco sat beside Crabbe and Goyle in his typical seat and growled at anyone who dared ask why he was so cheerful. He focused on his bowl of cereal in an attempt to keep from smiling at the petrified look on Hermione's face. She couldn't eat, she was so nervous, and he hoped she wouldn't back out of her promise. He did need her help, which didn't please him, but it would also prove to be torture for her.

"Wha's wron'?" Harry looked at her as he shoveled food into his mouth, bits of eggs spraying about.

"Oops… sorry about that, Seamus."

Seamus looked disgusted as he flicked eggs off of his robes. Hermione only shook her head and continued to stare at Draco. She really honestly hoped he wasn't thinking of something sexual... a thought that he provoked as he winked at her from across the hall. Ron looked at her and squeezed her hand. She didn't tell anyone, not even her boyfriend or her best friend, about the promise she made to Draco. She didn't want them to get involved and ultimately screw up the deal. No, being Head Girl was too important. A nagging voice in her head asked her why that was more important than her boyfriend, but she pushed it to the back, and continued to push around her food.

Draco got up from the table, giving Hermione a purposeful look and then smirking.

"I've uh… I've forgotten something… I'll see you guys in Herbology."

Hermione rushed from the table before either one of the boys could say anything. She stopped outside of the big doors and looked for where Draco had gone. He was leaning up against a column in a dark corner looking particularly cocky that morning. Filled with apprehension, she walked over to him, her face betraying her fear.

"Don't worry Granger, its not going to be sexual." She calmed down significantly.

"Here's the problem: McGonagall pulled me aside the other day to notify me that I am now SECOND in line for the position of Head Boy. Now, I can't have that... I want to be Head Boy almost as much as you'd like to be Head Girl. The one thing that's holding me back is my Transfiguration grade. I just can't quite seem to get the hang of it this year, and I could really use someone's help… someone who excels in transfiguration, someone near - or at - the top of their class. Catching you and Ron... enjoying yourselves..."

He left a pause here and grinned as he could see Hermione's blush, even in the shadows. "...and your promise... well it was clear that all I need is to bring my grade up. Ironic, isn't it? We both need each other for the position of Head Boy and Girl."

He smirked again. "Are you going to keep to your promise, Granger?"

Hermione's thoughts swam as Draco's had before. She had made a promise, and she was thankful that he hadn't asked her for anything sexual. How would she do that to Ron? How would she explain if they were caught? But this request didn't seem unreasonable. The silence was tense as she continued to think. Why was that all he wanted? Couldn't he think of something absolutely horrible, something to torture her? She tried to think of any problems that could result.

"But Harry's in first for Head Boy!"

Draco nodded. "That's right. I'm asking you to work against Potter to help me."

He hoped she would do it. He really DID want to be Head Boy, for whatever reason. Maybe he thought it would be the only good thing he would ever get, or maybe he thought it would be the first step to power. Even Draco wasn't sure. Then the look on Hermione's face intensified.

"Malfoy, if you were Head Boy... and I was Head Girl... we'd share a dorm..."

Draco grinned suggestively. "I know, the thought of having to be around me all hours of the day would be hard for you...I mean, how are you going to resist?"

She scoffed at him. He got up from the column and took a step towards the dungeons. "However, I still need to know: are you going to give me what I need? Or should I go find Professor Snape?"