Desrosiers: SOOO sorry for the lack of updates, but I've had quite a series of unfortunate events. One: I've been uber busy with school. Two: We got hit by a hurricane and lost power for 4 days. And three: My laptop was infected with a virus and had to be taken to be repaired. Things are all good now though, so on with the story! I've written the 7th chapter already, but I wrote it at my friend's house, so I'm awaiting her email. I will post it soon though, I hope this was worth the wait!

A Smirk is Worth a Thousand Words - Chapter 6: Help From a Stranger

Hermione awoke to the faint tapping on her window.

She groggily raised her head from her pillow and rubbed her eyes. She yawned as she shoved off her covers and slid out of her warm bed onto the cold floor. Taking a look at the clock, she realized that classes started in 10 minutes, and she had potions first.

Her eyes went wide as she shot to the window and let in the owl that had been tapping on it for 5 minutes. The owl dropped a letter on her bed and flew back out the window, hooting happily as it flew into the cold breeze.

Hermione sped to the bathroom and came out 6 minutes later, disregarding the letter and adjusting her school tie. She took one quick look in the mirror, and shot out of the girl's dorm and out of the common room.

"Argh! Come on..!" Hermione ran down the hallway and sped around the corner. She skidded to a halt in front of Draco to avoid knocking him over (which didn't seem like such a bad thing as she thought about it). He appeared to be carrying some sort of green substance in a vial.

"Oh, the mudb—I mean...hey Hermione.." Draco ran a hand through his hair. "Late?"

Hermione snorted. "Why else would I be out here? Move, Malfoy. I'm already going to get a million points off Gryffindor for being late." She shoved past him and carried on down to the dungeons.

"Wait!" Draco ran after her. "I could...you know, save you a detention..?"

Hermione raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean...?"

"I was sent to get this...Erm.." Draco swished the green stuff around in the vial, "..crap, and I could say I needed help looking for it.."

"You think you're so clever, huh? Snape wouldn't even buy that." Hermione shoved past him once again, and opened the door to the dungeons.

Draco stood in the middle of the dark hallway with a look of utter disgust on his face. "Fine." He spat, even though he knew Hermione couldn't hear him.

He entered potions himself to find Snape yelling at Hermione for her tardiness.

"I'm sorry, Professor." Hermione said through gritted teeth. "I woke up late."

Ron and Harry exchanged glances of disbelief.

"Is that so? Is Miss Granger loosing the knack for study?" Snape's lips curled into a devious grin of achievement. "10 points from Gryffindor, and detention. Take a seat, Granger." Snape swished his cloak and turned back to his potions cabinet.

"Sir, erm..she was..she was helping me." Draco appeared in the doorway, as Hermione's jaw dropped. 'I didn't actually think he'd go through with it...' Hermione thought.

Ron's jaw nearly hit the floor, as Harry choked on the pumpkin juice he had snuck up from breakfast.

"Mr. Malfoy..." Snape accepted the vial from Draco's hands and set it on his desk. "What's this you say?"

"...Erm...I'm the reason..she's..she's late." Draco loosened the neck of his robes and looked at Hermione. She was gripping the end of her desk so hard her knuckles were white. "I met her in the hall...and I asked, erm, I mean, told her to help me find this..this...stuff."

Snape's look of achievement turned into a glare. "Excuse me?"

"She helped me. Cancel her detention, or my father will hear about it." Draco's voice quivered.

Snape's mouth opened as if to say something, but he closed it quickly.

"Very well, Mr. Malfoy." Snape said through gritted teeth. "Granger, detention cancelled, thought the points deducted will remain the same."

Hermione stared at Draco, before looking down and taking notes on what was on the board.

Draco heaved a sigh of relief before taking a seat himself.

Hermione looked up from her notes to see Draco's eyes fixed on her. "Can I help you?" Hermione whispered slyly.

Draco blushed and turned back to face the board. He couldn't believe he was doing this.

Hermione tucked a strand of her messy hair behind her ear. What on earth was going on with him lately? 'First he lends me his cloak, and then he gets me out of detention with his head of house. What on earth?' she thought. As much as Hermione hated him, she had to admit, this was nice.

After what seemed like forever, Potions finally came to an end. Hermione picked up her books, and stuffed them in her bag. Then she remembered – Malfoy's cloak.

Hermione headed over to the door. "Malfoy!"

Draco spun around to see Hermione's red face. "Granger?"

"Um..thanks for that. And..your cloak." She took the neatly folded cloak out of her bag and handed it back to Malfoy, who took it and wrapped it around himself.

"You're...erm..welcome." Draco forced a smile, or perhaps it was real; Hermione couldn't tell.

Hermione brushed past him and left the classroom.

Snape emerged from behind his desk and gave Draco a look that could kill. "Explain yourself."

Draco stuttered. "I..I was just repaying her for an essay I made her write for one..one of my classes. And...and for her helping me in the hallway." Draco's knees trembled as he turned and jogged out the door. He face-palmed as soon as he left the room. 'Why did I say that?'

Snape's mouth opened slightly as he stared at the spot where Draco had been previously standing. He glided to his desk in one swift motion, and took out a piece of parchment, and a quill.

He dipped the quill in the ink well next to him, and began to write:

"Dear Lucius..."