If you notice, the rating of this fic is M and that's mostly due to language and perhaps violence later on. Keep the reviews coming if you can, please! I don't know if I should really continue this… but anyways, enjoy

Chapter Three: Friendly conversation

When Hermione had arrived from breakfast she found Harry and Ron already waiting for her with very, very dark looks on their faces. It came as to as surprise to her. As she sat down she could feel their cold gazes. She looked up and saw Malfoy enter the hall a few seconds after she did.

"I see you had an enjoyable night." Said Ron scathingly. "I noticed you and Malfoy walked into the room at the same time."

"What?"

"Have a nice time in the Library?" Harry accused with a deadly tone.

"Excuse me?"

"Perhaps your relationship moved further to Malfoy's bed?" Said Ron, roughly forking whole fried eggs into his mouth.

"What on earth are you two going on about?"

"You said you snogged him last night." Said Ron. Hermione coughed and sputtered her coffee, unfortunately the droplets landed on an unsuspecting Neville who winced slightly. She made a sound that sounded like a snort coalesced with a derisive laugh.

"Well if you were listening you would have realised that I was in fact trying in vain to capture your attention, I seem in the end to have succeeded." She smirked proudly, though halfway through it she was too caught up in her own laughter to hold such an expression. Harry and Ron shared the same look, the one they've shared a thousand times before.

"So Hermione, how was studying with the git?" Asked Harry as he (more calmly than Ron's previous egg action) forked bacon into his mouth.

"Dreadful as expected, he was being an egotistical ferret again, can't expect much from the first night." Hermione took another sip from her coffee and retrieved Re-examining the Runes from her bag. Ron's eyes popped open.

"Oh please do not tell me this is for a bit of light reading." Groaned Ron as he marvelled at the size of that impossibly large book. He often wondered if Hermione had developed muscles from carrying so many books on her back.

"No Ron this is for the decathlon." Said Hermione brusquely she flipped through the pages towards the back of the book. Harry leaned over her shoulder to take a look.

Harry began reading the book and accumulated the voice of a boring narrator from a rejected Documentary. "The Rune of ehwaz, meaning partnership is commonly known for its odd twist of shape on the lower right side of the curve near the vertical stroke perpendicular to the base line. This Rune is often mistranslated as the Rune eihwaz which translates to defence. Though these two are very similar in shape they are distinct in difference as stated the odd twist of shape that distinguishes them both. The two Runes are derived from the old – What the hell! Hermione are you actually reading all this?" Asked Harry. Hermione continued scanning the pages ignoring Harry's comment. She was also acutely aware of Ron's imitation of sleep as Harry read half the paragraph.

"Wait that word…" Said Ron thoughtfully, "Isn't that, that Rune that you got so worked up about on your Owl?"

"Yes Ron it is!" Hermione said hotly, "And I still can't believe I permitted myself to lose focus and make that error. I can't believe I mis -"

"Bloody hell you're high strung!" Ron complained loudly. "It was two years ago! Get over it!"

"I am over it!" Hermione yelled defensively. "Stop poking fun at me! Just because I like to study does not give you license to pester me for the remainder of my life!" Harry edged farther and farther away from the two, it was always wise to run whilst the duration of any one of Hermione's temper tantrums.

"Who said I was poking fun at you? I was just asking - "

"Just shut up"

"No you shut up and calm down."

"I'm as calm as I want to be thank you very much."

"Well not calm enough!"

"Ron shut up and let me read."

"Hermione, why don't you shut up and read."

Harry rolled his eyes at the bickering two and continued eating his breakfast as if all this was a part of the norm.

"I'm trying to but you just won't shut - "

"Why don't you do the world a favour and both shut up." Said a cold voice from behind them. "Your aggravating bickering is deafening, I'm surprised Potter hasn't been driven to insanity. Potter the ridiculous company you keep is astounding." The three looked up to see Draco Malfoy sneering at them all. But before Hermione could even produce the words 'Go away' or before they could exit her mouth he swiftly turned and walked off.

"Git" Harry muttered. Hermione and Ron returned peacefully to their breakfasts, the previous argument was completely forgotten.

Draco walked back towards the Slytherin dungeons to retrieve his books for his upcoming classes. As he entered the Slytherin dungeons he was reminded of his dreams. What were they trying to tell him? Since he collapsed in the Library they were becoming slightly clearer. At any random interval of the day, memories of his dreams were re-appearing. In them he always witnessed two figures they were moving, there was a father and a son it looked like the father was trying teach the son something, perhaps a spell or incantation? Though he really didn't care, all he cared about was how to rid his mind of this nonsense or perhaps at least discover the meaning behind all this.

He reached his dorm and opened his chest and reaching for his books he found an empty vial. It was no ordinary vial. It looked ancient, perhaps an heirloom with the Malfoy crest upon it. His father had given it to him that year as an early present, he told him he must not lose it, whatever the cost or else he'll die. Though Draco didn't know why the hell his father would want to give him an empty vial, given the fact that they had hundreds at the manor. He gave the empty flask one last glance before returning to a padded green compartment inside his chest. Stowing his books into his black, leather book bag he stood and walked back to class.

It was last period during Defence Against the Dark Arts when he was struck with another recollection from his dream. Professor was just mentioning age old curses and curses that needed Potions, sometimes blood to work. Their Professor was also mentioning necromancy…he didn't what could have triggered it…

A boy…two vials…one red…one clear…

In seconds he snapped out of it. The vial, there was a vial, his father had given him a vial that looked freakishly exactly like the one in his dream. His dream and his life were now connected, there was no denying that and he knew it. This whole thing was just so frustrating for him, it was like an intricate jigsaw puzzle with a thousand pieces to fit together, and he just didn't know where to begin. But one thing was resolved when he walked out of that class: he was going to find out everything, he was going to find out what the hell this dream meant.

After classes he went straight down to dinner sparing no time for anything. He was to go to the Library early that day and at least try to find one book that aided him to clarify the meaning behind all of this. As soon as he finished hastily eating he grabbed his books and headed for the Library without saying a word to neither Crabbe nor Goyle, or even Pansy, who looked too bothered with her left fingernails to even care. He approached Madame Pince.

"Excuse me, but where would I find books concerning Clairvoyants and Divination?" He asked her as charmingly as he could.

"Up the back close to where you and Miss Granger are studying for the decathlon." She said curtly, she soon turned her back and walked away. Draco headed towards the back of the Library until he reached a shelf labelled: Divination. Lazily he scanned the dusty spines for anything that could help him in his predicament. He eventually encountered a book entitled: Dream Interpretations, how to know what's coming. Slightly interested, he lifted the book off the shelf and returned to the desk where he was to study with Hermione that night. He leaned back on the chair and opened the book and then scanned the contents. His finger landed on the last chapter: Having the same dream? Wondering what it could tell you? Draco flipped to the page and began reading. Time passed on lazily and it seemed as if Draco had been reading for hours though he knew his time there couldn't of exceeded more than two. Well one thing he knew for sure, this book was a load of drivel that he would not and could not give a damn about. It was a load of ridiculous sayings that made his old Professor Trelawney seem somewhat sane. According to this book, his dream suggested he was about to join the water nymphs and go frolic in the lake naked under the full moon. Like that was ever going to happen. He heard footsteps in his vicinity and checked his watch.

"Take a seat Granger."

Hermione did so promptly and stared curiously at his conspicuous reading material. "What are you reading?"

"A book, I'm quite sure you have some notion as to what that is." He drawled.

"Yes, I know it is a book, but may I inquire the title of this book?" She asked sweetly, obviously he was already testing her patience.

"And may I inquire why you would want to know?" He said back with a similar tone of sweetness, though his slightly more sarcastic and malicious than hers.

"Well it's not everyday you come across your mortal enemy reading a pink book, you see, or perhaps it's a shade of lilac – I don't know – what colour do you think it is?" She smiled sweetly and awaited the look of mortification that was to be bestowed upon his features. And she had received it. Indeed he did look down to the cover of this dastardly book and he immediately gave a look of extreme disgust whilst he quelled the extreme urge to use it as fuel for a roaring fire. She waited patiently until he yielded.

"It's about divination if you must know." He said defensively, "and it's none of your mudblood business."

"Ooh having scary nightmares?"

"Nothing of the sort."

"Taking divination?"

"God no."

"Leisure reading?"

He began to scowl. "Do I look like those Gryffindor chits? What are their names? Do I look like Brown or Patil to you?"

"So why are you reading a pink book entitled -" She craned her neck to see the cover, "- Dream Interpretations?"

"As I said, it's none of your mudblood business."

"You're going to tell me…some day."

"Let us hope that day is the day I die."

Hermione rolled her eyes. She opened her book bag and grabbed her book on Ancient Runes from the night before. As she opened it Malfoy hastily pushed his chair back. "Good lord not that again."

"Don't worry I took all the dust out of it."

"Right, and I'm about to join the nymphs and go frolic naked in the lake under the full moon." He opened his book bag and retrieved another, more sensible looking book.

"What?"

"Never mind mudblood."

"Stop calling me that, I hate it when you do that." She snapped, her mood growing darker and darker.

"I know, it's the fact that I'm a pureblood you see." He stated confidently.

"Incest!" She screeched. He scoffed and raised his nose high in the air.

"My father as you know is a Malfoy, while my mother's maiden name incidentally is Black. Two families, two names: no incest. So don't even attempt to accuse me of such frivolous rubbish."

Hermione remained uncomfortably silent after that. Of course she had seen his genealogy on the Black family tree back at the Headquarters. "What book are you reading?" She snapped. He stopped reading and checked the front cover.

"I can't believe you don't even know the title to -"

"Extension, Standard book of spells grade seven" He interrupted. She nodded.

"Achievements in Charming." She stated. He nodded.

"Then at least we're covering the same subject." He said. "I say we ought to cover Defence Against the Dark Arts next -"

"Of course," said Hermione rolling her eyes. "You want to study the Dark Arts because you're already frolicking with those Death Eaters."

Draco shifted uncomfortably and avoided her gaze. "Shut up Granger."

"Ooh Malfoy has a weakness." She mocked. Draco's expression immediately turned unreadable. He was not about to show her what he was feeling. With a smart girl like her she would find out easily.

"Enlighten me, what weakness is that?" He asked in a very subdued voice, masking his anger towards her. He leaned back on his chair and rested his legs on the table as an act of condescension.

"Confessions of a shady past?" She asked.

"My past is none of your business, Granger."

"On the defensive I see."

"I have every right to be." He said shortly and left it that, evincing that he ended the conversation. As the minutes droned on Hermione felt the need for some conversation though she didn't expect much. In the deafening silence Malfoy's mood seemed to have been lifted as he indulged in different books. Though he was beginning to grow increasingly tiresome. In everything she said or did he searched for any inclination of vulnerability. Though she was very self-assured he still manoeuvred through the loopholes in her speech and struck her down with his insolent tongue and, enjoyed it. But she remained obstinate against him, and it was very tiring.

Quite often they would argue about different facts or opinions but that was to be expected. But when those two hours were up Hermione was never so eager to leave the Library.

"He's so annoying!" Hermione exasperated as she collapsed into one of the squishy chairs by the fire, in the Gryffindor common room.

"Did you expect anything better?" Asked Ron who was viciously scribbling out a Potions essay. Hermione looked ready to throw her entire book bag at him, but decided against it realising that she might knock the poor boy out cold.

"Where's Harry?" She asked suddenly. Ron jabbed the pile of books in front of him with his quill. From what Hermione could see, tufts of black hairs were protruding from the top of the pile. Evidently Harry was just as busy as Ron was even with free periods. Hermione stood from her place at the fire and loomed over their shoulders, examining their essays for any mistakes or miscalculations. With her wand she started to tap any segment of the page she thought considered revising and the words magically rearranged themselves. She did considerably speed up the process of their essay completion.

For the next two weeks the conversation between the two work-partners had been subdued to silence and the two were able to – god forbid - cooperate somewhat productively without actually uttering a word. Though it was glaringly obvious that they still despised each other's presence. There were often times when arguments had erupted over silly miscalculations on the page but it was left to that. Not to mention the number of times they engaged each other in intense glaring matches where neither was claimed victor. At times it took almost all of Hermione's self-control not to lash out or even slap him when his attitude had risen to the surface of his usually cold demeanour. Not that he was the only one that evoked anger, he usually had to restrain himself from yelling 'mudblood' at the top of his lungs whenever she came close to yielding his impatient temper. But of course the both of them revelled and found pleasure in provoking the other, it was the only compensation in having to endure each other's presence. It was their little game.

Slowly Hermione trudged up to the Library feeling exhausted and dishevelled after a hard day's work. It was a scorching hot day full of exams, complicated incantations, spells and not to mention an absolute dreadful double potions. Perhaps it was simply an extremely bad case of 'Monday-itis.' When reaching the Library doors, she exhaled deeply after realising the pain of her splitting headache. Her head was not the only part of her anatomy that ached. The bearing weight of her book bag did not help her disposition either and with every passing step her bag strap seemed to dig deeper and deeper within her aching back.

Tiredly she stomped heavily through the Library towards the very back - it was an agonizing walk. She began to mutter complaints under her breath, and just to make herself feel better she blamed Malfoy for all of it. "Damn Malfoy, had to choose the back … heavy bag … migraine … insufferable…all his fault… damn him for choosing the back -"

"Got something to share there, Granger?" A snide voice entered her head. Hermione kept walking as the object of her blame came to greet her. "Well hello to you too." He remarked sarcastically at her non-existent salutation. She grunted in reply as they reached their destination. He smirked and sat down. "So, how's life treating you?" He asked pleasantly. He was faking his mood to get her annoyed. She merely glared at him and allowed her heavy book bag to drop to the floor. She sighed happily as the weight was emancipated from her shoulder.

"Do you carry a tonne of bricks, or are you that dedicated to being an insufferable know-it-all?" Draco asked her as he eyed her bag, which had been stretched tremendously to its limits, to the point where he honestly thought the seams were going to rip apart any minute.

"Shut up." She snapped. Clearly, she was not in a good mood.

"Looks like if you fit another book in there, you'll be finding yourself in Hogsmeade purchasing a damn trunk to fit all those books you carry."

"I said: shut up!" Hermione huffed while Draco only smirked. "Honestly it was much more beneficial when your mouth was closed. I was only too naïve to hope that it remained that way."

"Don't get your hopes up with me mudbl – Granger." He said snidely. Hermione glared at him as he almost broke one of their ground rules.

"Indeed." She said darkly. Quickly she reached into her bag and pulled out a book and started to take notes from it. She relied on her work to drive her mind away from the devil that sat across the small table in front of her. The first half hour was tediously dull as the sun began to shrink lower and lower into the horizon casting a faint pink glow from the small window on the wall nearest to them. By some coincidence the two yawned, lowered their quills and leaned back into their chairs.

"What's the time mudblood?" Draco asked tiredly. Hermione shot him a glare in the use of the foul name.

"It's only been half an hour… ferret…"

"Shut up mudblood. Don't ever call me that again." He said firmly. It could have been her imagination but Hermione could have sworn she witnessed a faint pink tinge on Malfoy's cheeks.

"Don't ever call me mudblood again." She retorted. He scoffed.

"Whatever." He drawled looking away at the window. The sun had set now, blanketing the entire area in darkness. Through the darkness the moon shone high and bright and streamed delicately through the small window, until it was challenged by the yellow luminescent glow of the burning candles. He sighed and slouched in his chair. "It's a bloody hot night." He commented dryly.

"mmhm" Hermione responded in agreement. Sighing sightly, she lifted her quill and continued taking notes from the text. Draco rolled his eyes, got up and strode to the window. While Hermione scratched away with her quill, Draco unlatched the window and opened it hoping for a cool nightly breeze. Wincing, he received none. He returned to the table and removed his outer Slytherin robe, placed it on the chair and loosened his tie. When he was down to unbuttoning his top shirt button Hermione looked up.

"What are you doing?" She snapped.

"What's it look like I'm doing, Granger?" He asked as he placed his tie on top of his robe.

"Stripping?" She replied with a tone of accusation.

"Don't bet on it Granger. You're not that lucky. In case you didn't hear me, it happens to be a hot night. I believe this is natural behaviour to cool oneself down. Or do you muggles do the opposite and pack it on?" He said as he returned to his seat.

"We muggles aren't that different Malfoy." Hermione replied scathingly. Draco simply looked at her, looking almost ready to laugh.

"Not that different are we?" He mocked.

"Shut up Malfoy, I've heard it all before. But I remain where I stand. Aside from a few differences we are not that different." She continued to scratch a sentence with her quill.

"A few differences?" He chortled.

"Can you just shut up and get back to work?" Hermione said irritably. She dipped her quill into the inkpot, and continued writing.

"No. I will not."

"What?"

"I will take a break." He said smugly as he slouched further into his chair.

"It's barely been half an hour and already you've decided to take a break?" She asked, finally looking up at him.

"Your point…?"

Hermione looked slightly taken aback by his frivolousness and disregard to the seriousness of these study sessions. But when she thought about it, she found there really was no real reason why he shouldn't relax a bit.

"It's just, it's just a little early that's all." She mumbled as she continued to write. He glanced over to her parchment and squinted at her miniscule writing.

"It is called taking notes Granger." He remarked snidely. Hermione looked up to him.

"Yeah, and…?"

"You're writing a bloody essay. What are you going to do next? Hand it in to McGonagall and ever so patiently wait for an 'O'?"

"Well I discovered the need to take down as much information to compensate for your lack of contribution to this whole thing." She stated promptly. Draco looked seriously offended at this and quelled the urge to grab his quill and throw it at her.

"My lack of contribution?" He asked, "My lack of contribution?" He asked again. "Forgive me if I'm mistaken, but who arrives here first? Who remains silent and studies just as hard as you do?" – his voice began to rise – "Who also spends hours in this bloody library doing nothing but reading?"

Hermione did not reply. So he continued to rant on.

"As I thought! Me! So shut up. And while you're at it, stop assuming ridiculous situations that simply grant you the opportunity to flaunt your godforsaken intelligence!" Draco folded his arms and glared at her. Rising to the challenge, Hermione glared back. This was proven to be the longest glaring match yet. Soon enough Hermione's eyes began to water, thus obliging her to the insane need to blink, and when Malfoy was determined, boy that guy could hold an intense gaze. A clap of thunder was heard beyond the horizon and the two shifted their gaze towards the window.

"It's a storm." Hermione commented.

"I'm well aware of that." He stood and moved to close the window.

"Wait, don't." Hermione called.

"And why the hell not?"

"Because if there's a storm cold wind most likely will be blowing through -"

"Yeah and so will torrents of rain." He interrupted. Again he lifted his arm to close it.

"Not necessarily."

Draco sighed in agitation and turned to her. "Fine. Explain."

"Well you don't necessarily know which direction the wind is blowing in so…"

"Right. But it's still a bloody hot night." He complained as he returned to his seat.

And before she knew it, Hermione found herself agreeing with him. "Can't argue with you there."

Draco raised an eyebrow.

"What?" she asked.

"Nothing."

From then on it was apparent that Draco's short-lived 'break' had concluded since he lifted his book and began to read again. Hermione didn't complain, she found comfort in the silence without having to think of a good comeback or scathing remark to stick to him. With a small smile she resumed her work hoping that Malfoy would always remain this mature. Perhaps Dumbledore was right. There probably still was some hope left for the guy. Although, it was a small margin of hope.

Another hour passed and Hermione decided it was time that she paused from her work. Dropping her quill and rubbing her eyes, she relaxed her aching finger muscles. The storm had now reached them and rain fell on the castle grounds in torrents. The fresh smell of wet earth and the humble serenade of raindrops breaking the surface of the once placid lake was enough to lull her to a calming sleep. But she was Hermione Granger, she never fell asleep during her studies. Allowing her eyes to wander, she aimlessly looked about the room for anything to catch her interest. Unconsciously her eyes fell on the handsome blonde situated in front of her. It was then she realised, she had never actually looked at him before. She glared at him numerous times but she had never looked at him. Whenever she cast her eyes upon him he always gave the impression of the snobby rich kid who was too up himself to care about anyone else. But now seeing him in such a state, with his Slytherin robe off and with a few shirt buttons undone, he almost looked … well … normal. She had never really considered the guy normal before and for some reason it was surprising. He was simply the mortal enemy. Hermione sat back in her chair and picked up her book again. He did look pretty okay in a boyish kind of way, although regal and sophisticated all the same.

She suddenly snapped back to reality. And scolded herself for allowing her thoughts to wander. Especially since they were about Malfoy. She shook her head to rid herself of these thoughts and concentrated on the words in front of her. She was reading but she wasn't absorbing any information. So really there was no point. Malfoy was scratching away as he should be with strands of his soft blonde hair falling into his face. She didn't know why but she sat quietly and watched him through her eyelids as she pretended to read. She knew that she would never approve of this collocation, but like the weather, she was steadily becoming acquainted with it.

"Granger, I know I sport impeccably good looks but I think your eyes would be put to more use if you studied the books rather than my face." He said suddenly. Immediately she shifted her gaze.

"Who said I was staring?" She said rather snappishly, turning slightly pink due to embarrassment.

"I didn't." He replied shortly. Ah crap, she thought tiredly, he caught me. "Got you didn't I?" He added after a few moments of her fretful thinking. When she didn't reply in her obvious embarrassment, he smirked.

"Oh for heaven's sake are you a freaking Legilimens?" She muttered in agitation.

"No just occlumens." He stated simply.

"OCCLUMENS?" She gasped. My, that was a surprise indeed. "Really?"

"Are you deaf Granger?"

"I heard you right but, really?" She was having doubts in believing him. She didn't think that he of all people could master something that Harry himself couldn't. She soon figured that he was probably lying to make himself appear bigger and more important than he really was.

"And I'm not lying." He said as if he were verifying her unspoken speculations. Hermione was really leaning towards the idea that he was a Legilimens rather than an occlumens. He seemed to be able to read her mind. Then again this was Malfoy, he probably was lying either way. Although he didn't have that much reason to lie. Hermione chose not to decide whether he spoke truth or not, instead she yawned and asked him of the time.

"Time's up." He said.

"Oh… well see you next time."

The session had ended differently compared to the previous nights. It ended on an almost happy note. It was normal. She wasn't leaving in a huff, or storming away dreaming of the many different ways to maim him. She left almost politely, awkward, but polite.

and that's another chapter over... I really want to shorten these, they're taking forever to write... review!