(This is first fanfic and I hope you guys enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. The chapters are short, and the storyline isn't brilliant but it is okay for a first attempt I suppose.

I don't own the characters; they belong to JK Rowling and her fabulous imagination. The plotline is mine though, unfortunately.)

Chapter Two

The next day Hermione woke with a start. She sat up suddenly and stared around. The four girls sharing her dormitory room hadn't woken her. Instead they'd gone to breakfast, leaving her here to oversleep. Hermione glanced at her clock. She was late! She jumped out of bed and into the bathroom where she did her teeth, before running back into her bedroom and pulling some fresh school robes on. She performed a quick spell that cleaned her hair and body, then she grabbed her bag and out of the dormitory into the common room. She ran out past the portrait, ignoring the Fat Lady's cries, and to her first lesson of the day; Potions. She ran past the Great Hall, which was silent now that breakfast was over, and down to where the Dungeons were. Hermione had hoped that with a new Potions professor that the lessons would be conducted in a lighter environment, but they hadn't. They were still taking place in the dark, dank dungeons; which just happened to be one of the furthest places away from Gryffindor tower in the whole school. Hermione's feet pounded loudly in the silent corridors, echoing around her. She reached the classroom, bent over to slow her breath and then she knocked on the door, still panting heavily from her run. Lucius Malfoy's voice rang out.

"Come in."

Hermione straightened up and opened the door. Everyone's eyes turned to her, including Harry and Ron's; who were grinning at her. Both the lads had continued doing Potions this year, despite the teacher being another ex-death eater. The two boy's high hopes of being Aurors had driven them to this decision.

Hermione tore her eyes away from theirs and looked at the Potions master. She saw Lucius's face, and he was wearing a stern expression.

"Miss Granger, what are you doing here?" He asked, as the students turned away from Hermione to continue their work. Ron and Harry didn't, but preferred to watch, hoping Hermione would get a telling off for the first time. They were to be disappointed.

"I'm here…" she panted, pausing for breath every few words. "For my lesson….Sir. I'm sorry….that I'm late. I slept in….too long. I'm sorry." She apologised, expecting a detention or possibly several. What happened next was a complete surprise.

"Miss Granger. Please return to your dormitory." Professor Malfoy instructed. "After last night I informed Headmistress McGonagall that you'd tired yourself out, and she granted you the day off to rest. That is why your roommates did not wake you. I'm surprised the Fat Lady let you out, she was under instruction not to." Hermione's eyes widened with realisation; so that had been why the Fat Lady had been calling her name as she'd run out of Gryffindor tower. "Now please," Lucius continued, "Return to your room and sleep. You're getting too stressed out from your approaching NEWTS. You need to relax and sleep. Now go. I do not want to see you until tomorrow's lesson." Hermione opened her mouth to complain about how he'd have to see her at lunchtime and dinnertime in the Great Hall as that was almost unavoidable, but before she could speak Lucius had answered her unasked quarrel. "You are not permitted to come to the Great Hall to eat your lunch or dinner. Food will be sent up to you. This course of action is taking place because it is feared you will try to get to the Library if you leave to go to the Great Hall. Now leave my lesson and return to Gryffindor tower to sleep, or I shall have to issue you a detention." Professor Malfoy threatened.

"Yes sir. Of course I will sir. Thank you sir." Hermione mumbled, before turning and exiting the class swiftly. Her heart was soaring. Lucius Malfoy had done a kind gesture. Something he'd probably never done before in his life. Hermione was filled with hope. Maybe he does feel. She ran back to the Gryffindor tower, glad that she'd be able to get some rest. She had hated waking up this morning. She walked quickly and reached the portrait of the Fat Lady. She told the Fat Lady that password; and she had smiled at Hermione and opened graciously, allowing Hermione to walk inside. Hermione clambered up the stairs, opened the door to her dormitory, dropped her bag onto the floor, kicked off her shoes, walked over to her bed and collapsed on top of it. She fell asleep almost instantaneously; still wearing her school robes.