Authors Note: This chapter is a bit shorter. It has a little more humor, and a whole lot of drama. Thanks again to Hogwarts for editing! please Read and Review.

"There is no way I can work with Malfoy, Professor!" Hermione told Professor Mcgonagall

"I'm sorry Miss. Granger but I do not have the authority to change your partner, and even if I did, I wouldn't. I don't see the problem with you and Mr. Malfoy working together." Mcgonagall stated.

"I can name an obvious one. He is a Slytherin and I am a Gryffindor. It's as simple as that. We don't get along." Hermione said pleading.

"That is exactly why Dumbledore did it this way. Ms. Granger, have you noticed that all the students in Gryffindor got pared with a Slytherin?" Her head of house looked at her, a somewhat cross expression on her features

"No, I suppose I wasn't paying attention. I had other things on my mind at the time." Hermione said slowly as she took this new information in.

"The Slytherin and Gryffindor houses have been rivals since the beginning of Hogwarts. Dumbledore did this to attempt to bring unity within all four houses. Personally, I think it might make things worse. But I am not about to go and go and question the head master. Now if I am not mistaken, you are supposed to be in Care of Magical Creatures." Mcgonagall said as she shooed Hermione out of her classroom.

Hermione stormed out of Mcgonagall's classroom unsatisfied. This was not happening. It couldn't be. She was supposed to be avoiding Malfoy, not attending classes with him! She was sure of one thing. She would not let Draco Malfoy stop her from making a good grade on this project.

Hermione stepped out of the castle and walked down to Hagrid's hut, where Care of Magical Creatures had already started.

"Sorry that I'm late Hagrid. I had to talk to Professor Mcgonagall." Hermione said apologetically.

"It's alrigh' Hermione. Jes sit down by Malfoy o'er there." Hagrid said as he pointed over to where Draco was sitting. Hermione walked over to Draco, dropped her stuff on the ground and sat down next to him without acknowledgment.

"Like I said before, today yer all goin' ter be pickin' out which animal you want to base yer projects on. You can go as safe as a cat, to as dangerous as a wolf. Whatever yer willing to risk. I have some books 'ere on some animals, but there is probably a wider range in the library. So what are yah waitin' fer? Git ta work!" Hagrid finished as he clapped his hands together.

Hermione shifted on the ground until she was facing Draco.

"Have any suggestions, Granger?" Draco asked as he eyed Hermione.

"Actually, I was thinking we could turn you into a mouse so I can feed you to my cat." Hermione smirked.

"You wouldn't." Draco said in amused tone.

"Under any other circumstances, I would. But I wont, because if I fed you to my cat I wouldn't get a good grade."

"Who said that I'm going to be the one that's being changed into the animal?" Draco asked

"Me" Hermione challenged his superior manor.

"I don't trust you, Granger."

"Oh please Malfoy, this is a grade we're talking about. You could trust me with anything if it involves getting a perfect grade." Hermione said in an annoyed voice.

"And if it didn't involve making a good grade?" Draco asked, a questioning look on his face.

Hermione thought about it for a moment, surprised. "I wouldn't kill you if that's what you're asking." Hermione finally replied though she failed to keep a strait face. A grin burst across her lips.

"You don't do that enough." Draco said as his expression softened.

"Do what?" Hermione said as she looked up at Draco.

"Smile." Draco said softly as he reached across Hermione's books and traced her lips with his thumb. He wondered if she would still taste like honey if he kissed her now. Hermione looked down at the ground to break the contact between her and Draco.

"Stop." Hermione said in barely a whisper.

"Stop what?"

"Touching me." Hermione said as she toyed with the grass.

"Why?" Draco asked as he tucked a strand of hair that had fallen from her bun, behind her ear.

"Because, you make me frightened." Hermione said shakily.

"Me? Make someone like Hermione Granger nervous? I didn't think it was possible." Draco said, his words oozed with sarcasm.

Hermione looked at him and rolled her eyes. "Just keep your hands off of me, Malfoy."

Draco did not answer because he knew he could make no promises. Hermione sighed and opened one of her books.

"I was thinking perhaps could maybe do an Augurey." Hermione said as she flipped through the book.

"A what?" Draco said as he raised his eyebrow.

"It's a fancy name for Irish Phoenix. The potion isn't easy to make. But we don't want to do anything too easy." Hermione said as she found the creature listed in her book. She started to read off the description of the animal.

Draco was studying her face. She looked tired. Her sleepy eyes made her look amiable and more innocent. He could not remember how he ever thought her to be ugly. Her face was exquisite. He was beginning to see Hermione in a whole different light. He did not realize she had stopped reading.

"Malfoy, what are you doing?" Hermione asked as she looked nervously at Draco.

"Just looking." Draco said slowly, a smirk playing on his features.

Hermione cocked an eyebrow and closed her book.

"Anyway, I think you'll make a wonderful bird." Hermione said as she stood up.

"Where are you going?" Draco asked as he followed her up.

"Class is over, Malfoy."

Before she could get any farther he framed her face in his hands.

"Get some sleep." He said lightly as he ran a thumb under her eye. He lowered his head and felt her breath quicken.

"Don't be afraid." Draco whispered.

He pressed his lips gently to hers before she could protest. One taste of her honey-flavored lips made him crazy. He pulled his lips away, not wanting himself to go too far. He rested his brow against hers. Hermione squeezed her eyes shut and took in a deep breath.

"Malfoy…" She whispered. "I'm not ready for you." Her lips were quivering and she though hesitant, she now wanted to press them hard against his again.

He let his hands slide down to the back of her neck.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Hermione." He kissed her forehead and walked away.

"Ginny, he called me by my first name." Hermione said airily as they sat down at the Gryffindor table for lunch.

"Well, that is your name." Ginny said, giggling.

"I know, but he normally calls me Granger, or just insults me to get my attention." Hermione said as she took a sip of her pumpkin juice. "All I want to know is, why me? I mean, haven't him an Pansy been going together?"

"They were last year, but she cheated on him over summer vacation." Ginny stated.

"How do you know?" Hermione asked.

"It's all over school. So naturally, Lavender told me."

Hermione smiled and then sighed. "Still, doesn't he have something against 'mudbloods'?"

"I don't know. Maybe he changed his mind." Ginny said.

Hermione rested her chin in her hands and closed her eyes. "I'm so tired. I don't think I've slept in three days."

"Go to bed." Ginny said as she started to put food on her plate. "If I were you, I would take this project thing for advantage. I mean, today all you had was one class and the rest of the day off."

"That goes both ways. Some days I have class after class, with no break besides lunch." Hermione said. "I would gladly change places with you."

"I thought you adored school work, Hermione."

"I love school. I just don't want to do this project with Malfoy." Hermione said and then rolled her eyes. "I'm not hungry. I'm going to the library to study." Hermione said as she stood up.

"See you later then." Ginny shook her head and smirked. "She's going to loose it before this project is over." Ginny mumbled and continued eating.

Draco walked into the library after dinner to try and get some peace and quiet. He went to sit down at the table in the back, but then he saw Hermione. Her arms were crossed and her head was lying on top of a pile of books. She was asleep. He went over to her table and sat next to her. He softly brushed away the hair that had fallen in her face. "What am I suppose to do about you, Hermione Granger?" Draco whispered and then sighed. He bent down and lightly kissed the corners of her mouth and felt her stir underneath his hand that gently caressed her back. Her eyes opened slightly before closing again.

"Draco?" she said his name groggily.

"Yes."

"I thought you were a butterfly."

"You've been dreaming." Draco said softly as he continued to caress her back.

Hermione did not see why it mattered as long as those long, warm caresses would never stop.

"Mmm. That feels good." Hermione moaned.

He could tell that she was still disoriented in her sleepiness.

"Does it?" Draco asked.

"Mmhmm." His touch brought a tremble to her spine. A more concentrated arousal.

"When I said that you should get some sleep. I didn't mean in the library." Draco said as he trailed a finger down her backbone.

"What? We're in the library?" Hermione asked as she sat up.

"Yes, we are in the library." He said matter-of-factly as he took his hand off of her back.

"Why are you here?" Hermione demanded.

"I came in here to get some peace and quiet."

"Well, can you go and get some peace and quiet away from me." Hermione retorted.

"Your not gong to be able to avoid me forever, Hermione."

"Maybe not forever, but I'm hoping I can hold out until I graduate and I never have to see you again." Hermione shot back as she collected her books and left. She was about to walk out of the library when Ginny ran in and almost knocked Hermione over.

"Ginny, what's the matter?" Hermione asked as she regained her balance.

"Ron… he…" Ginny said, out of breathe.

"Is something wrong with Ron?" Hermione asked in a panic as she pushed Ginny down into a chair.

"No, Ron found out." Ginny said as she stood up again.

"Ron found out what?" Hermione asked anxiously.

"ABOUT ME AND HARRY!" Ginny exclaimed and had everyone in the library looking at her. Hermione pulled Ginny out of the library by her arm.

"Calm down." Hermione said as the door to the library shut behind them.

"Ron is going to strangle Harry! How am I supposed to calm down?" Ginny squealed.

"Come on, we will go calm him down also." Hermione said as they started jogging toward the Gryffindor common room.

Draco got up and left the library. He figured he would skip dinner and go straight to bed. So, Potter and Weaslette are together are they? Draco thought to himself, more amused than anything.

He knew it would happen one day. He saw the way Harry studied Ginny's every last feature. Personally, he thought it was disgusting. Draco stopped that thought. He did the exact same thing to Hermione just a couple of hours ago.

What is happening to me? Hermione was not his usual type of preference, and these thoughts were registering to his brain at an alarmingly quick rate.

And then, For Christ sake, she is a mud-blood! He thought to himself. But for some reason, the mere fact that Hermione was a mud-blood did not bother him the same way it had in previous years. In fact, it did not bother him at all anymore…

Draco took in a sharp breath as he was wrenched against the wall.

"Pansy! What the bloody hell do you think your doing?" Draco yelled.

"Draco, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to cheat on you. Take me back!"

"Get off of me! I'm not in the mood for your shit!" Draco ground his teeth.

"But I love you, Drakey."

"No, you don't! If you loved me you wouldn't have had sex with that Italian boy!" as Draco finished Pansy got on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his.

Hermione sighed and stepped out of the Gryffindor common room. It was a lot of work to calm Ron down. But once everything was explained he was actually quiet. She told him that it was better Ginny was with someone Ron trusted, rather than with someone he did not even know. He was not exactly okay with the idea. But he was not going to fight against it anymore. Hermione ran a hand through her hair. She turned the corner to enter the next hall.

And then saw them.

Draco Malfoy was kissing Pansy Parkinson.