It was the second day of my third year today and I was enjoying my breakfast. It was delicious. At the table Draco was telling everyone a story about a little boy who was afraid of Dementors. He never said the boy's name but we all knew who the "mop haired, glasses wearing, oik" he was talking about was. Every Slytherin was laughing. And even though I didn't have anything against Harry the way that Draco was telling the story made me giggle too.

Soon Hermione Harry and Ron passed by on the way to their own table. I waved to her and she waved back. Ron and Harry gave each other a look when we did. I couldn't tell if it was because of me and Hermione or because of Draco who was now fanning himself with his hand. Still, I couldn't help but crack a smile.

"Hey, Potter!" Pansy screamed suddenly. "Potter! The Dementors are coming, Potter! Woooooooooo!" She was really getting desperate to make Draco happy. Well he was so at least she was doing a good job of it. Sometimes I wondered if she even had any other interests besides him.

After a few more bites and a little more of Draco's story the class schedules were passed out. Draco and I had almost the exact same schedule. I had decided last minute to take Study of Ancient Runes so he couldn't have copied me even if he'd wanted to. Pansy on the other hand had the exact same schedule as he did. "Shocker" I whispered to Daphne sarcastically as we looked over our courses. My first class was Arithmancy, nine o'clock. Draco kept up his act till the very end of the meal.

"Oh would you stop teasing him already" I told Draco as he pretended to have another fainting fit when Harry walked passed.

"Were you scared too?" Pansy said with mocking sympathy.

"No, but someone in my compartment was." I gave Draco a look. He retorted with an angry one, warning me not to go on. I didn't. "Well anyway I'm off to Arithmancy. Don't want to be late."

I made my way out of the Great Hall and rushed to my first class. It was all the way up in the seventh floor and I didn't want to be late. I was sure Draco would be fine with Pansy either way. I had asked the head of our house, Professor Snape, where the class would be last year so that I wouldn't get lost. If I hadn't done that it would've probably taken me twice as long to find the classroom. When I arrived there were only had a handful of students already there. At the front of the class was Hermione.

"Hi" I greeted and sat next to her.

"Hey" Hermione replied. "So you wanted to take Arithmancy too?"

"Yeah it seemed like fun. It sounds like it's going to be challenging but why just take all easy classes, right?" I shrugged and she smiled.

"Exactly! So much better than Divinations. I'm assuming, of course" she added quickly before looking down. Her answer was a little weird but then again so was her being here. I was a surprised to even see her as I had just seen Harry and Ron going to another part of the castle.

"Why aren't you taking classes with Ron and Harry?" I asked curious

"I am" she said solely

"But-"

"I worked it out with Professor McGonagall." She turned to her textbooks ending the conversation. I was still curious but I could tell by her tone she didn't want me to go on. I shrugged to myself and turned to my bag to get my class things out.

"And you? Why aren't you with Malfoy?" She sounded sour when she said his name but I didn't blame her, he had been teasing her best friend just a few minutes ago.

"He's still having breakfast, I think, but he's in this class. I'm sure he can find someone to sit by."

As if on cue, Draco strutted in with Pansy; Crabbe and Goyle trailing behind. He made a face at the Gryffindor and sat on the table on the other side of me. Pansy took her place next to him and the two other Slytherins sat behind them. I wasn't sure how Crabbe and Goyle would manage to get through this class considering how hard people said it was. But they wanted to be with their friends and they'd probably ask for my help if they needed it.

Class started and I could already tell that it was going to be challenging. The lesson was very analytical and complicated which made one have to concentrate but it was well structured so it wasn't too hard to follow. Our professor began by explaining how simple equations could help determine not only the future but a person's strengths and weaknesses. We would be learning the difference between the Agrippan and Chaldean methods along with different historical versions. I found her words very intriguing and began to jot down some brief notes.

Professor Vector spent most of the time talking and briefly explaining what we would be learning during the year. Since she stopped saying things I could take notes on, my mind began to wonder. It wasn't as if what she was saying wasn't interesting but I just couldn't concentrate very long on anything. I looked next to me at the two very different scenes. To my left Hermione was leaning in, listening with excitement at what was to come. To my right Draco was leaning back, his head hanging off the back of the chair and face filled with boredom. A giggle slipped from my lips at the difference between them. Draco turned his head to me, still leaning back, and raised an eyebrow.

"Is there something funny with my teaching?" Professor Vector said from her place at the blackboard. She crossed her arms waiting for my answer.

"No not at all Professor"

"Well I don't suppose you'd like to tell the rest of the class what was so funny." She was a strict teacher and I was sure she didn't like people goofing off in class. It was understandable though. I had heard a lot of things about her and had seen her acting nicely towards other teachers. Since her behavior was a little like Draco's I used him as an example of how to talk to her. I started with a smile

"Well first of all, I apologize for interrupting; I didn't mean to do that. Secondly, I wasn't laughing at you lesson Professor I was happy to see that Hermione here is so excited. I think it's nice that she is taking this class seriously, as it deserves to be. Unlike Divination this class has actual structure and logical pattern. Just thought it was nice that someone shows the right amount of appreciation for your lesson." Out of the corner of my eye I saw Draco grinned. Professor Vector looked happy herself.

"Very well, I suppose that you didn't mean to disrupt the class. Let's proceed shall we?" She continued with her lesson until class ended. I had actually meant what I said to our professor. It was nice and I did like this class very much. I had left out the fact that Draco looked like he was about to fall asleep, though; for the benefit of us all.

As soon as class ended, Hermione rushed out of the room. She said a quick goodbye to me and vanished through the doorway. I gathered my things and saw Pansy making her way out of the room too. It was weird that she wasn't with Draco but I didn't put much thought into it. Crabbe and Goyle walked out after her, both looking exhausted and basically brain dead. This class must've been too much for them after all. Once I had all my stuff put away I said goodbye to Professor Vector and walked to the exit. Draco waited for me by the door.

"I'm impressed," he said when I joined him.

"At what?" I asked knowing full well what he was talking about. We walked through the door and began heading towards the stairs

"You're getting better, fooling even professors now. You've played nice for so long but even with the lack of practice... Not bad." He gave me an approving nod.

"I wasn't lying" I defended but smiled at his version of a compliment.

"You don't have to lie to manipulate someone." He smirked. I stuck out tongue and walked a little faster. He laughed as we made our way into our next class