A/N- Hey everyone. So sorry to make you suffer through the late posting! But don't worry, my ears suffered alongside. My friend Andi yelled at me every single day this week for being such a horrible person in not updating, so, I'm apologizing. :) Hopefully you all enjoy this chapter. Not a lot happens on the romantic side yet, but it will soon so please be patient! It'll come before you know it. And the next chapter (actually it might be the one after that so don't quote me) should be to your likings. Bum bum bum!

Thanks for the reviews! They keep me going! (and smiling) You guys are great. Authors love reviews. And so do I. :)

HBP SPOILERS-----------------------------------------

-so I hope I didn't confuse you all with this fic and the 6th book. I actually thought about this plot line b4 we found out about Draco being a death eater in HBP(surprise, surprise). But aside from that, everything is the same pre-HBP.

Safe to read

So, I used a line from the Breakfast Club (one of the BEST '80s teen movies ever). So you might spot it. And I also think I spelled Wizengmont wrong. (if I did, please don't bite my head off. I was too lazy to search for it in ootp).

Anyways, on with the story:)

Chapter 6- It's only getting worse

"Morning." Hermione called distractedly from the kitchen upon hearing Draco's loud footsteps. She was standing at the counter in the mini kitchen, pouring a cup of coffee while reading the Prophet in her left hand. She didn't look up at him for she was paying close attention to what she was reading and had her arithmacy book spread out in front of her.

Draco jogged down the stairs, putting his robe over his shoulders as he took each step. He stopped when he heard her address him, but then shook his head and continued to process down the stairs.

"Morning" He said back.

Draco walked around the room, picking up the quills and books that he had tossed around the room the day prior.

"Don't forget about that meeting we have with Dumbledore today." He said walking behind her and opening the refrigerator to…that's right…pour a glass of water.

"What time?" she asked off handedly.

"Six."

"I'll remember."

"It's immediately after dinner. Then you have rounds at nine."

"What? Why'd you move me?" Hermione looked over her shoulder into his face seriously; she usually did rounds at eight.

"6th year Hufflepuff prefects had some meeting tonight with a teacher so they asked if they could switch."

"Why didn't you switch with them?"

Draco paused, then looked at her and smirked. "Because I knew you would." He placed the glass on the counter, and then walked into the bathroom.

Hermione followed him with her eyes and exhaled loudly.

This was going to be a great day.

Note the sarcasm.

Hermione finished her drink feeling a little more awake, put the paper down and walked towards the bathroom. It wasn't huge; it was comfortable for two. It had two showers with a tub, two toilets, and one counter with two sinks, a mirror sitting atop it. She walked into the bathroom, and stood next to Draco who had been playing with his hair for the past two minutes. Hermione snorted and grabbed her toothbrush.

"Funny is it?"

"No."

"Didn't think so."

She picked up the toothpaste and started brushing her teeth.

"Not that I can say the same about your hair." He commented simply, still working his fingers through his head.

"At least mine isn't blinding." She said, spitting out her paste.

"Let me point you in the direction of a comb."

"It's in the same isle as that bleached dye, correct?" She grinned.

"Surprised you knew of its whereabouts. Anything of cosmetic precision should seem foreign to you." He smirked.

Hermione was about to retort back heatedly, but then stopped for a moment and thought to herself.

Was this argument for real?

She folded her left arm across her stomach; her right elbow leaning on it and holding the toothbrush in the air. She looked at him in almost a humorously confused manner and said, "Malfoy- don't you think it's funny we're arguing over hair? Something a little more important to the female population, I hadalways assumed. But, don't worry, your secret's safe with me."

Draco almost laughed at her implication since it was so far-fetched. "Gay jokes? That's a little unusual coming from you, Granger."

"So is your hair." She said, and then walked out of the bathroom, leaving an agitated Draco.

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As Hermione walked down to Care of Magical Creatures, without her husband, she thought about how petty their fights were. Sure, they had their serious one's from time to time, but most seemed so trivial... like they only did it to anger the other out of spite.

It was so bloody infuriating. And people say opposites attract…

…or, in their case, try to tear each other apart with verbal disputes hoping the other either dies from realizing her and her kind's sole purpose in the wizarding world is serving 'real wizards like him' and death, or that he turns around from being an asshole to seeing the goodness in actually supporting Harry and Dumbledore than that mindless excuse for a being, and to stop freeloading off of his father's fortune and actually try to get something he could work for, make a profit, and feel self satisfaction afterwards. Most like to call it a job.

But, attraction woks too.

It was getting to be absolutely ridiculous seeing as it was always putting her in a bad mood…and she didn't look like a loving wife if she was always scowling.

And it just. wasn't. fair. It was so much harder for her than him because Draco always scowled.

Come to think of it, she had never seen him actually genuinely smile. Weird. …But, not her problem.

Maybe she'd try some sort of a truce. She wouldn't make it through her hardest year without one. Maybe…

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"Boo!" Pansy said, hitting Draco's shoulder from behind, trying to make him jump. Draco just looked over his left shoulder at her and raised his left eyebrow in irritation and continued walking.

She looked up at him dejectedly, "You could hear me couldn't you?"

"Only…a lot." He responded, and then went outside onto the grounds by the Quidditch pitch.

"Anyway, how's life?"

"It suc—ch a wonderful thing."

"Really?" she asked disbelievingly, noting his tone of voice.

"It's all right. My wife is….in a word…"

"Well, I can think of sever-"

"Complicated."

Pansy wasn't Draco's best friend…hell she wasn't even his friend. But they did grow up together and she was…accustomed to him. She almost knew him as well as Blaise did. And although Draco didn't particularly enjoy her company, he did look out for her.

Sometimes.

Like when she wasn't an aggravating, shrewd-like, conniving little—

Sometimes.

"Where is she?"

"Off somewhere getting an education."

Pansy scoffed, what else do you do at a school? "As opposed to what?"

"Not getting an education…?" Draco looked at her like she was crazy, how much plainer could he put it with her?

Pansy ignored his demeaning explanation; she was used to them. "Oh. Well if you ask me,-"

"Which no one did."

"I suggest-"

"Pansy. Not now. I have to think about some things."

"Divorce?"

"No. About this meting with the Minister that's coming up. If that doesn't go over well, then a trial at the Wizengmont can be expected." He said seriously, looking out onto the pitch.

"Is it about the war?"

"My involvement in the war."

"Which is?"

"Not going to become your new gossip."

"Fine. Good luck with that. See you." Pansy walked off, leaving Draco alone in his thoughts.

Before he even had a moment of silence, Blaise's loud voice was heard from behind him.

"If it isn't the Missus!"

"Oh, I'm sorry Zabini. You know the try-outs were over days ago, I'm sorry you didn't make it but you just have to let it go. Quiddich just isn't you're forte." He shrugged his shoulders helplessly before a smirk crept along his face.

"Aw, and jokes aren't yours." Blaise responded seating himself next to Draco on the ground, who was currently bent over double in laughter, reminiscing of last year.

"That cut deep mate. That really did." Blaise joked, though half serious. He was so embarrassed last year during try-outs. He was deathly sick with the common cold (and it was pretty gross, red nose, red eyes, pale face, looked like shit…), but he refused to not be on the team. So, he snuck out of the hospital bed, tried out, flew horrendously, and was cut. A week later, after being restored to his normal health, he ran to Snape, begging him to allow the Slytherin team to give him another chance, and Draco even went with him. But Snape said no, putting it exactly how Draco imitated him.

"Ah, good times." He said, sitting back up and breathing deeply.

"Don't worry, I'll show you at try-outs. I'll be on that team quicker than you can apologize for laughing your ass off when you should have been tending to my battle wounds."

"Disgusting, Zabini. Never again."

Now it was Blaise's turn to laugh.

"I know you're good. You'll be on the team. And this year we'll be undefeated because I'm captain."

Blaise nodded his head 'yes', trying to not let Draco see the laugher in his face. "I completely agree. Your position as team captain will be the only reason for our victories. Never mind actually playing the game. All we have to do is put you in the middle of the field, and as you stand and look pretty, they'll just hand over the cup. You know, I always thought the beaters were overrated anyways, let alone-"

"I get it, Zabini."

"Good. Though, you got to admit- it'll be a lot of pressure. Not only will the school know our standings but it'll be in the papers too since you're all anyone talks about anymore-speaking of which, how is it going with her?"

"What do you think? Do you even have to ask?"

"I have my assumptions."

"Yeah well they probably don't constitute for much. She's unbelievable. I don't know how this year is going to work. Its fine on the outside looking in…but she's driving me insane. She has to bitch about everything."

"Welcome to marriage."

"And I can't even tell you how many times I wondered what it'd be like if I was on the run and had just left her."

"It wouldn't have been any better. You wouldn't have me anymore!"

"Oh, wow. That'll be enough to keep me waking up every morning." Draco responded dryly.

"No but seriously mate. Think about it. Hard. You actually think it would be better out there?"

"Nah, probably not."

"I knew there was a brain." Blaise said fast, like he was concentrating hard on something and was mad at getting the answer wrong.

"Hey, I only came up with that through process of elimination and deductive reasoning. It's not like I want to be with her."

"Sure Malfoy. Sure."

Draco raised an eyebrow.

"Try a pact."

"A what?"

"A truce. A middle-ground. Call it whatever. Just so you aren't pulling each other's hairs out. And then, I bet you, the public displays won't be so painful for you both."

"Do they look forced?"

"No. Nothing between you and any woman looks fake." He joked.

"Good."

"But, think about it."

"Maybe. I'm more curious to go to this meeting with Dumbledore."

"What time is it?"

"Six."

"No, now."

"No, it's at six."

"I mean, presently, Draco. What the hell is the bloody time?"

"Do I look like a muggle to you?"

"I think we're supposed to be in Hagrid's class."

"Shit." He groaned.

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"And af'er you feed 'em, stroke their left foot 'til they growl at yeh."

"Growl, Hagrid?"

"Don't worry 'arry, it means they like yeh."

"Right."

Hermione smiled comfortingly as she watched Harry walk off towards Hagrid to get all the food they needed for each of their abnormally shaped, greenish, penguin looking creatures.

Ron was sitting, more like cowering, behind Hermione as the two of them, along with the rest of the class, stared at the magical critter from a five-foot distance.

"How do you know if it's safe?" Ron asked.

"I don't. But I highly doubt Hagrid, let alone Hogwarts would let us experiment with creatures that are a hazard to our health."

"Damn, where's Malfoy when you need him?" he asked, ignoring Hermione.

"I'm not sure. Why?"

"Well, I was thinking we could throw him into a pit with them, and if he comes out unharmed, then I would touch them. Though on second thought, I could think up about twelve good reasons why I wouldn't want him to come out in one piece-"

"Ron." Hermione scolded. Ron returned an innocent smile.

"What did you do now?" Harry asked, taking a seat next to them on the grass and distributing the food.

"Oh the usual." Ron replied smiling.

"Thinking of more ways for Malfoy's grand demise?"

"How'd you know?"

"Lucky guess."

"Unfortunately, you're not going to get rid of him that easily." Hermione voiced, sounding upset at the thought...but for all the wrong reasons.

"Don't sound so excited, Hermione. The man is your husband." Harry looked at her skeptically. Ron was half paying attention as usual. He was slowly creeping inch by inch towards the penguins.

"Oh no! I am, Harry. I'm just tired. What I meant was 'unfortunate for you'." Harry narrowed his eyes so she continued, "But you two do need to stop talking about him. If he bothers you, do what I do- ignore him. He's just trying to get a rise out of you."

"Sweet…?"

Oh joy.

Hermione heard his voice behind her; addressing her by…a taste?

She swung her hair over her shoulder as she looked up at him. He smirked right back to her and said, "You couldn't ignore me if you tried." Before squatting down and placing a quick peck on her lips.

She smiled at him faintly, and went back to concentrating on her food.

"Look who decided to show up to class." Ron said.

"Ron, what did I just say not even a moment ago?"

Ron scowled at her, but was submissive and discontinued.

"Wow Weasley, do you do everything my wife says? Is she like your temporary, home-away-from-home mother?"

"Can I talk to you for a minute?" Hermione demanded, more than asked.

"Of course."

Hermione stood up, grabbed Draco's right arm and spun him around forcefully. He almost stumbled but caught himself and continued to pace with her.

"Why do you keep doing this?" she asked in a hushed voiced behind her grinding teeth.

"Doing what?"

"You're not stupid Malfoy, so don't act like it."

"He started it."

"How old are you?"

"Granger you know if he says something I'm going to talk back. It's called conversation."

"That was not a conversation. You're so defensive! Not everything is about you so stop taking it so personal."

Draco opened his mouth to shout back at her, and then realized they were only about ten feet away from the rest of the class. And since Hagrid wasn't talking, nosey heads were subtly turning in their direction, trying to hear their heated discussion. He raised an eyebrow to her in sort of a sly, cunning way. Hermione was still fuming so she wasn't aware of the gesture or anyone around her. Draco reached his arm up and lightly brushed his fingertips across her cheek then down her jaw line.

Hermione harshly slapped his hand away, and instantly regretted it when she heard it go quiet.

Uh oh.

She was outside. And there were people. People who probably weren't expecting Hermione to push away her husband. Yeah, that would be bad. Especially if there were any more Rita Skeeter- wanabees running/flying around Hogwarts with access to a public newspaper.

No that would not look good at all.

Hermione looked at Draco who seemed angered. He wasn't furious, only angry. Probably because he was in acute shock in what she just did. He told her a million times to be careful.

She tried not to panic. She closed her eyes tightly making a minutes decision to kiss him. But what was interesting was that she felt warm lips meet her only halfway, with the same panic, the same anxiety.

He had kissed her at the exact same time she did him.

It was hot.

There was no asking for entrance. There was no slight foreplay on the neck and collarbone. Draco had kissed her with his tongue darted out, and for some reason, Hermione's mouth was instinctively already open.

She started to feel her face flush. She knew her cheeks were red because there was heat radiating off of them. She thought for a moment she was going to die. (Either from high body temperature, or Draco suffocating her with his mouth.) His tongue seemed to be on a mission to touch every part of her possible; if she thought about this, she'd think it was nauseating, but actually doing it was a lot different.

It was bliss. Perfection in a kiss.

Or a bottle….whatever works..

After a good minute, Hermione felt the familiar feeling of cold air touching her lips again, but this time it brought along oxygen for her lungs. That was always a plus.

She opened her eyes and saw Blaise standing next to Draco.

"Sorry to break this up. You two looked very comfortable…but, we're kind of in the middle of class." He explained, darting his eyes over to the students who were all staring at the two intently, not even trying to make it look like they weren't. Few looked like they were going to be sick (e.g.- Harry and Ron), some looked like they thought it was adorable, and a lot just looked hypnotized.

Had these people never seen a snogging session before?

Oh wait. Maybe not during class, or between a husband and wife who were just enemies three months ago.

Yeah okay, maybe she'd look a little hypnotized too.

Hermione looked over at Hagrid and luckily, he was near the edge of the forest, and wasn't paying the least bit attention. If she didn't know any better, she'd think he was humming to himself.

But, unfortunately, someone did.

"Ahem. Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy, please follow me."

Greeeeeeeat, Dumbledore. Of all the days he had to take a walk across the grounds…

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"Please, take a seat."

Hermione and Draco sat down in the two chairs facing his desk. Dumbledore went behind his desk and sat down, resting his chin atop his delicately folded hands, inspecting them over his half-mooned glasses.

"Now, I apologize seeing as I told you this meeting would be after dinner, but it looked like the opportune moment."

"It's fine Headmaster." Hermione answered timidly. She looked at Draco for him to answer, but he sat staring at the old man.

"Well then, there are few things I need to address. First, congratulations on your marriage. I wish you the best future together.

"Thank you." Hermione smiled.

Draco barely nodded his head in gratitude.

"But, about that. Seeing as you two are young and both the heads of our institution, I allowed you your own dorms for your privacy. What you do as a married couple is none of my concern. However, I would appreciate if you kept it restricted to your dorms."

Hermione blushed and soon found the hem of her skirt to be very interesting. She knew exactly what he was talking about. Apparently Draco did too because he smirked. That stupid, bloody smirk.

"So what we were just doing now is a no, correct?" Draco asked.

"That's correct Mr. Malfoy."

Oh, Hermione was going to kill him for being such a smart ass.

"I understand that you are newly married so I'll accept some things. But you are my Head students. I expect you to be role models and set a good example for the underclassmen."

"Yes, sir." Hermione answered. Draco nodded.

"Good. Now that that's settled, next thing. I understand you have a meeting with the Minister, Mr. Malfoy."

"I do."

"Do you have an idea of what he wants to speak with you about?"

"I do."

"Well, if you need any assistance or want to talk, my door is always opened."

Please don't say "I don't", please don't say "I don't"…

Again, he nodded.

"Mrs. Malfoy I know this is a hard time for you as well. I hope you are supportive of your husband through this and I am also here for a visit."

"Thank you, sir."

Hermione looked over to Draco who made a face as to say 'You hear that? Supportive…'

"Lastly, I need to speak with you of Heads business. Now, I know we have the annual Yule Ball, but the option of adding any other event throughout the year is up to you and the rest of the prefects. Run a meeting, take a vote. It is a lot of work but I place full confidence in you both."

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"I still can't believe how rude you were to him." Hermione said, pushing tables together to get ready for their meeting with the prefects. It was only an hour later; classes had just ended and they sent around letters to the prefects, saying the meeting would commence soon.

Draco took his wand out, flicked it, and the table that Hermione was just manually moving flew out from under her and set itself up in the front of the room. She would have fell to the floor, but she quickly put her foot in front of her and balanced herself. Hermione shot a glare towards him, but she didn't know if he even saw it. He kept flicking his wand in a bored manner.

"It's not that hard to believe. Look who he is, look who I am--was. It's not that difficult of a concept."

"Well you could've said something."

"I did. I said…I did." he decided to look past how stupid that had sounded.

"And you nodded. Wow, I bet you really awed Dumbledore with your extensive vocabulary."

"Merlin, you need to shut up. All you do is bitch, nag, and moan...Bitch, nag, and moan. It's like an endless cycle of woman. It must be that time of the month" Draco exclaimed tiredly; he was seated and had his head resting on his fist.

Hermione came up behind him and smacked the back of his head. "You are so inconsiderate!"

"Bitch…"

"Of course you are to me, that's a given. It's been that way for seven years. You'll never stop being a prat to me no matter how much I try. But to Dumbledore? A least he still keeps you in this school, knowing what you were. He's not stupid, Draco. But you just sat there…and you didn't even say thank you! That should be something that comes along with common courtesy.

"Nag…"

"Ugggh! Will you stop that!"

"Not quite what I was looking for, but I'll count it."

"I can't stay here."

"We have a meeting in five minutes."

"Well I'll come back in five minutes."

A knock was heard at the door.

"I thought you said five minutes."

"I rounded."

"You don't even have a watch."

"No shit."

"I hate you."

"Answer the damn door."

"Don't tell me what to do."

Hermione sat there glaring for a moment, then got up and smoothed her skirt, patted her frizzy hair down, and put on a fake smile.

"Hello..." she greeted as the prefects started piling in.

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"No, no, no. If one more of you idiots nominate a Valentine's Day dance, I'm leaving."

Ron's hand shot in the air in a split second.

"Ron, no." Hermione said, already knowing Ron's intentions.

"I thought the Halloween idea was interesting." Said some 5th year Hufflepuff.

"Sorry but you've only been here for like a day. Your vote doesn't count." Pansy said from her seat across the room.

"Pansy, number one, only we have that power to void votes so I'd appreciate it if you'd stop saying things like that. And number two… he's been here for five years, and was selected by Dumbledore which means he has a voice in this. I personally like the costume party idea." Hermione said, smiling nicely at the boy who suggested it.

"No." Draco said in her ear.

"Why not?"

"I'm not dressing up as anything."

Hermione looked at him seriously, then turned to the group of people. "Okay, well the suggestions are up here on the board. Please write your vote on a piece of paper and fold it. Then come up here and place it in this jar."

The prefects started making small talk and wrote on their slips; Hermione turned her attention back to Draco and talked lowly.

"You don't have to participate."

"I do to. I'm Head Boy."

"Well, there's nothing you can do about it if they vote on it. Halloween is right around the corner and these people want a party."

"I can do something about it if you agree. Together we can get rid of the idea."

"Malfoy I don't think it's such a bad idea."

"You're doing this to spite me."

"Wrong. I'm doing this because it's what they want. Why'd you agree to be Head Boy if you weren't going to be the voice of the people?"

"To have the title and power. Why else?" He smirked.

Hermione shook his head at him in disgrace. "I wouldn't expect anything less from you."

"Oh please. Don't act like you didn't work to be an ass-kissing teacher's pet for six years to not have the prestigious title of Head Girl just to look good on all you're pathetic job résumés that you'll only receive because you're married to me."

Hermione was so angry at him from today, hell- from all week, that she just wanted to cry. But she'd be dammed rather than to let him watch her cry so she spat back, "You know what Malfoy, you want to participate? I know the perfect costume for you. Why don't you dress as your father? That way, you don't have to act different or alter your appearance at all. It would be just like going as yourself."

He stared at her, long and hard, her concentration not breaking either. He didn't seem hurt or upset. And most definitely not offended. He showed unadulterated hatred. He was pissed.

Hermione couldn't look at him anymore, he was almost starting to scare her. She blinked, cleared her throat, and addressed the rest of the students in the happiest voice she could muster while Draco turned and walked out the classroom.

"So, did everyone finish their voting?"