Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot, everything else belongs to J.K. Rowling.
Hermione awoke the next morning to the smell of coffee and bacon. She rolled over rubbing her eyes and started to sit up. She got a sharp pain in her head and laid back down. She glanced over toward the kitchen area and saw Draco there pouring a cup of coffee. She groaned and put her hands up to rub her head. She felt like there were a million cornish pixies dancing around in her head wearing high heels.
Draco heard the movement from the couch. He turned around and half-smiled when he saw Hermione gripping her head. "Good morning. I made some coffee and got the kitchens to send up some breakfast. I didn't want to wake you to go down to the Great Hall. How are you feeling this morning, aside from the massive headache."
"I feel horrible, and please stop screaming. I'm right here." Hermione sat up and tried to ignore the pounding in her head. She started to feel a little nauseous. She gripped her stomach and took a couple deep breaths to calm herself.
"I wasn't yelling, it just seems that way because you have a hangover." He brought her a cup of coffee and a plate of food. "Here drink this it will help a little, though I'm afraid it won't take care of it completely. There isn't really a spell that I can use to help you out. Since they look at hangovers as self-inflicted sickness, they think that the person should deal with the pain. Here, at least try to eat a little. Classes start in an hour."
"I can't even stand looking at the food. I don't think that I'll be drinking again for a long time. Thank you for the coffee and everything. I'll try to eat something." She took a small drink of the coffee and felt her stomach do a couple flip flops. She glanced at the plate, and decided that a nice slice of toast wouldn't hurt. She picked one up and took a small nibble.
"Listen, I'm going to go get in the shower and get ready for classes. Just try to eat something. I'm sorry that I took you drinking. Next time maybe we'll just stick to the butterbeer."
"Next time?" Hermione couldn't believe that he was being so nice about it. She figured that he would laugh at her intolerance for alcohol. She looked up at him and saw him half-smiling. She was surprised not to see his usual signature smirk. "Since when did you become so nice?"
"I can go back to being mean if you prefer. I just feel bad because it's my fault that you got drunk last night."
"It's not your fault Draco. I'm a big girl, I could have said no. I wanted to try something different, and now I know that drinking isn't for me." She smiled up at him and took another drink of her coffee. It really did seem to make her feel a little better. "Go get ready, don't be late for classes on my account."
"I won't be late, and neither will you. Eat your breakfast and get ready. How would it look if the head boy and girl were late for their first day of classes? Which class do we have first anyways?"
"Advanced Charms with Flitwick.. Then our only other class today is Diplomacy with Turner. I can't wait to start that class. It's going to be our most important class for a job with the Ministry." Hermione finished her coffee and her second piece of toast. "Well I'm going to go get ready. We only have a half hour to make it to Flitwick's now."
"See you there."
"Yeah, see you there."
Hermione walked into the Charms classroom to find Draco already there. She was about to walk over to a seat next to a hufflepuff girl that she recognized when Professor Flitwick directed her to the seat next to Draco. "Please sit next to Mr. Malfoy. He will be your partner this term, Miss Granger."
Hermione gave Draco a fake scowl and threw herself into the seat next to him. She turned and gave him a half smile. "If we're going to be working together Malfoy, you better not sluff off this term. I won't have a bloody ferret like you messing up my high marks."
"Listen Granger, I'm not happy about having to work with the Gryffindor know-it-all either, and I would prefer if you didn't address me unless necessary. I don't associate with people who I find inferior." He then flashed her a softened version of his normal smirk.
Flitwick stepped up onto his pile of books and cleared his throat to get the classes attention, and then commenced with the lesson.
They didn't spend the first day reviewing as they had in the past, they jumped right into new charms, and left the class with a great deal of homework.
Hermione couldn't wait to get to her common room to get started on the three rolls of parchment that was due next week. She was happy that her next class wasn't until after lunch, giving her plenty of time to get some work done before heading to the Great Hall. She reached the portrait of Professor Binns, said the password, and walked through dropping her bag on the floor in front of the couch and pulling out her quill and parchment. She glanced up when she heard the portrait swing open.
"Don't tell me you intend to spend the day in here doing your homework for next week. We have loads of time to get it done. You really are a workaholic, you know that don't you?" Draco couldn't suppress the smile that was threatening to appear.
Hermione glanced up at him and was about to protest when she saw that he was actually smiling. "I figured that it was best to just get started on it and get it over with. Besides, all of my friends have classes right now. Harry and Ron are in their classes for auror training, and Ginny is only in her sixth year, so she has classes all day long."
"Ah...I see. Feeling any better?"
"Yes actually I think that the coffee and breakfast this morning really helped. Thanks again for that."
"No problem. Don't even mention it. So what do you and Potty and the Weasel usually do for fun?"
"Harry, Ron, and I usually sit around and talk, or they play wizard's chess and Ginny and I watch. Why?"
"I was just trying to picture what little Miss Hermione does for fun besides homework. Do you honestly enjoy sitting around and watching those two dumb gits play chess? Sounds like loads of fun."
"No, if you must know it is not the most fun thing in the world to do, but I'm sure it beats terrorizing people with the two big oafs that you call friends. I just enjoy spending time with my friends. When I'm not with them, I'm either listening to music, or reading. Is that ok with you, your highness?"
"Whoa! Take it easy. I didn't mean it like that. I just was trying to figure out why you are always sitting around with your nose in a book. I know that you know how to have fun, the tattoos, and the piercing proves that. I just think that people would enjoy being around you more if you lightened up and enjoyed yourself once in a while."
"Gee thanks for the advice. Like you have so many friends yourself. People are only nice to you because of what you are, not who you are."
"Never mind, that's the last time that I try to help you Granger. So much for this friendship of ours. I honestly wasn't trying to be an arse, but apparently that's all that I'll ever be to you." Draco turned and was getting ready to storm off to his room.
"Draco...wait. I'm sorry. I know that you really are trying. I guess I'm just still not feeling all that well. My head is starting to hurt again. I know that you are just trying to help, it's just that I think that I am a fun person to be around. I may not play quidditch, party, and get drunk, but I still know how to have fun. When I'm not at Hogwarts I hang out with a lot of friends and we go clubbing."
"Clubbing?"
"Yeah, you know, it's where you go and listen to music and dance and stuff. It's really fun."
"I know what clubbing is, I just can't picture you dancing at a club. I'm impressed."
"I love to dance actually. I can't wait until our first ball. Dumbledore said something about meeting with him tomorrow to plan it or something. I hope that it's soon."
"It's probably going to be either Halloween or Christmas time. I know that we'll be having the Yule Ball for sure. Wait...how come I didn't know about this meeting?"
"Dumbledore told me to let you know, and this was the first chance that I got. It's tomorrow after lunch. I think that he said something about October, so I'm guessing it's a Halloween Ball. We're in charge of music and decorations."
"Oh ok. Well, I don't know about you, but I'm going to go outside and enjoy this nice day. Chances are it will be getting cold soon, and I want to enjoy the weather while it lasts. Are you going to stay in here and do your homework, or do you want to come outside?"
"Do you really think it's a good idea for us to go outside together? We're supposed to hate each other."
"We can say that we were told to brainstorm ideas for the upcoming ball. Besides the grounds are huge, what are the odds that we'll see anyone if we go off somewhere. Most people hang by the lake or the greenhouses, we'll just go somewhere else. Come on what do you say?"
"Ok. I'll bring some parchment and a quill, so that it looks like we're actually going to be working on the dance. Only for a while though, I really want to get to work on this essay. I hate falling behind."
"Don't worry, I'll bring you back before you turn into a pumpkin."
"Ok, you lead the way, and remember to act mad. We're not supposed to want to spend time together."
They made it out to the edge of the woods without too many odd glances. They made sure to voice their disgust for each other loudly enough so that people would think they were upset about being forced to spend time together. Draco plopped down on the far end of the forest outskirts, making sure they were a safe distance from Hagrid's hut.
Hermione sat her self down, and looked up at the sky. There wasn't a cloud in sight. She loved days like this. She leaned back on her hands and just enjoyed the feel of the warm breeze. "So what exactly are we doing out here?"
"Just getting you away from studying for a while. What do you want to do?"
"Fly."
"Sorry I didn't bring my broom. Besides I thought that you hated flying. I remember how scared you were first year when we were taking our first flying lessons. It was bloody hilarious."
"I don't mind flying anymore. After flying around on a hippogriff, flying on a broom is much nicer. I like the way that it help make everything seem so simple. You can forget about everything when you are up on a broom."
"So...why don't you try out for the quidditch team, or something?"
"I just like leisure flying, not flying for sport. When I'm on a broom I don't want to have to concentrate on anything."
"Do you own a broom?"
"No, but Harry lets me ride his Firebolt when we are at the Weasley's during the summer."
"Give me a minute, I'll be right back." Draco got up and ran across the grounds towards the broom shed. He was back moments later with his Thunder Bolt. "Well come on show me how good you can fly." He handed the broom to Hermione.
"I'm not the best at flying, I can go in a straight line, and raise and lower a little bit. I'm kind of shaky on turns. I never said I was a good flier, just that I like to fly. Are you sure you want me on your new broomstick? I might end up flying into the whomping willow or something."
"Hmmm...good point. Fine...hop on." He threw one leg over the broom and waited for Hermione to join him.
"Draco I don't think that's a good idea. We'll be seen."
"Have a little faith Hermione, I was going to fly us up over the forest, no one will even notice. Or do you just not trust me?"
"I'm not sure. I think I trust you, but it's risky. We could get caught."
"Last chance, get on, or don't, I'm going flying."
"Fine, but be careful, and only fly over the forest." She swung her leg over the broom behind Draco, and placed her hands nervously on his sides for support.
Draco turned and looked at her, and saw that her face was a light shade of pink. She wouldn't look directly in his eyes. He fought back the urge to smirk, and gave her a reassuring smile instead. "You're going to want to hold on a little tighter than that, this is much faster than the Firebolt that you're used to."
"Um... no thanks, I'm fine, just go."
"Ok, but I warned you." Draco kicked off hard, and they went soaring into the air. Hermione instantly had to wrap her arms tighter around Draco's waist to avoid falling off. Draco smiled to himself. "See I told you, you were going to want to hold on tighter." He leaned forward and the broom sped up even more. He started doing all sorts of twists and turns and swooping in and out of the trees. Hermione held on even tighter and couldn't help but laugh.
"This is so much fun, I'm used to just going as slow as possible in as straight a line as possible." As she said this Draco pulled up on the broom so that they went even higher. They could see the whole grounds from where they were. Hermione looked down at Hagrid's hut and saw too figures walking towards it. She would recognize that red hair anywhere, it was definitely Ron. Which could only mean that the other figure was Harry. "Draco, that's Harry and Ron, hurry, we need to go down in the trees, we can't let them see us. I hope they haven't already noticed. How would I explain this?"
"Relax, they won't be able to tell who it is anyways." He started flying lower down towards the tops of the trees, just in case.
"Maybe we should go back and land. We should probably head in anyways. We don't want it to look suspicious. I feel like just vegging out and taking a nap. All of this excitement really makes me just want to relax."
"What about your homework?"
"I have all week to do it."
"What? I can't believe my ears. You aren't going to worry about your homework tonight. I must be rubbing off on you."
"Haha very funny." They touched down back where they had left Hermione's quill and the parchment. Hermione gathered her stuff and they started to head towards the castle.
"I'm going to run my broom back to the sheds, don't let me catch you up there doing your homework when I get back. Just relax a little."
"I will. Later." Hermione started to walk away towards the castle, when she heard people calling her name. She turned to see Harry and Ron running towards her from Hagrid's hut. 'Oh no, they just saw me with Draco. This can't be good.' "Hey guys. How's Hagrid?"
"Fine. What were you doing with the ferret?" Ron asked as they caught up to her.
"Dumbledore wanted us to brainstorm ideas for the upcoming ball." She tried to make it sound like she was really annoyed at having to spend time with Draco.
"He needed his broom to plan a ball?" Harry gave her a skeptical look. "What did you guys decide? Are we going to get a muggle band again, or go with a wizarding band?"
"I don't know why he had his broom. We haven't really decided on the music yet, we were brainstorming other things." Hermione hoped that they would just get bored with the ball and stop asking her so many questions.
"Lets see what you've got and I'll tell you if it's good." Ron pulled the parchment from her hands and looked at it. He looked up at her confused. "'Mione, this parchment is blank."
"Yeah well, we couldn't agree on a thing. He's so stubborn."
"Ok, if you say so." Ron gave her back the parchment and him and Harry exchanged a look.
"What is that look for? Don't you trust me? Like I would honestly be hanging out with Dra...Malfoy if I wasn't forced." Hermione knew that she had made a mistake. She could feel her face turning red, she tried with all her might to make it stop.
"Oh it's Draco now is it. Something is not right with you 'Mione. You hardly ever see us, you seem to get along with Malfoy at lunch, and now we find you outside with him, with a blank bit of parchment, and we see him walking away carrying a broom. You claim that you were brainstorming for the ball, and you have nothing written down. Something's not right, now are you going to tell us, or not?" Hermione had never seen Harry so mad at her before. She didn't know what she could say to make him understand.
"Listen, McGonagall has asked that we try to become friends and call a truce. She feels that it will set a good example for the rest of the school. That's why Dumbledore had us share a common room. We're trying to put our differences aside. Otherwise this year is going to be hell. He's apologized for the way he treated me. He was only like that because it's what was expected of him. With his father gone, he doesn't have to pretend to hate all muggle-borns. I'm giving him a shot at my friendship. He really does seem to have changed a lot. He even looked out for me when I was sick last night and this morning."
"We're talking about Malfoy 'Mione. He didn't just change overnight. How can you just forgive everything that he's done to you, to us, for the past six years. Are you sure that you are not under the Imperius curse or something. You aren't making any sense. I think you should go see Madam Pomfrey, you're even more mental than normal." Ron's face was redder than his hair, and you could practically see steam coming out of his ears. He looked at Hermione, and got an even angrier look on his face. "You may want to stop at your dorm and brush your hair, it looks a little wind-whipped, perhaps from your little rendezvous with Malfoy. Flying usually does mess up your hair. Why don't you just go back to your common room with your new best friend, the amazing, bouncing ferret?"
Tears started pouring out of Hermione's eyes. "I didn't think that making new friends would be such a big problem for you guys. I know that he's Malfoy, and I know what he's treated us like, but he's really changed. He's been very nice to me this year. If you guys are too jealous to handle that, then maybe I will go to my room and hang out with my new friend. At least he doesn't tell me who I'm allowed to talk to." She turned and ran into the castle and didn't stop until she reached the portrait hole and stepped inside.
Hope you enjoyed it. I'll try to update again today if possible. Please review.