Hello all! Here is another chapter for you! I hope you enjoy this one!

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Chapter 4

Hermione's day continued to be one of an anomaly. The fates had to been having a laugh at her expense. It was the first day of classes, and in her potions class, Severus Snape decided it was time to switch things up. He had decided a new seating arrangement was in order. Though, the witch suspected the Headmaster was behind this. But for now, her potions partner wasn't either of her three boys, but instead, Draco Malfoy. Though, seeing as to how the events as of late, it was not surprising for her to be paired up with the blonde wizard. However, that doesn't mean Hermione was happy about it. In fact, it only seemed to annoy her. "Granger," the blonde teen greeted, civilly, with a head nod as he approached the witch's station.

"Malfoy," Hermione greeted in kind as the wizard settled into his new seat next to her. "Let's just get this over with as painless as possible."

The blonde wizard simply smirked. "What's wrong, Granger? You don't want to work with someone with an actual intelligence rather than those dunderheads you call friends?" Draco Malfoy's smirk widened as he watched the witch's face morph into anger. She made to yell, but she was cut off by his chuckling. "Relax, Granger. You know it's true. They lack the brains to do anything that requires any ounce of thinking."

Hermione fumed, though, she remained quiet. She didn't want to admit it, but it was true. While Harry was passing, barely, on his own, Ron required a step by step instruction.

"But, before you argue for your friends' honor, why don't we agree to be civil? We are going to be lab partners for the entirety of the school year."

The light brown haired witch sighed. "Fine, but you speak negative of Harry or Ron, or even speak a syllable of that disgusting moniker, I'll—"

"Yes, Granger, I know. You'll punch me again if I say…" Hermione raised her eyebrow, waiting for the boy to say it. "That word, again," Draco finished with a chuckle. "And don't worry about your little friends. I won't speak of them unless its necessary."

"Good. Now, let's just get started on these potions." The witch spoke with finality as she watched a stick of chalk float and write Snape's potion class assignment for the day. Three rudimentary potions for the first class of the year. It was doable to get done, especially for two of the smartest students at Hogwarts. As Draco gathered all of the necessary ingredients while she set up the equipment, Hermione couldn't help but already think about the blonde's weird behavior. Before this present year, Malfoy took as many opportunities as he could to sneer at her and bully, but now, he was being civil; nice even. It was odd for her. They had been enemies, and now they were acting as if they had been on good terms for years.

After everything was set for them to work on their assignment, Hermione had set out her open book for a reminder for she, and she was sure that Draco, had memorized the recipes. Halfway through their first potion, the curly haired witch looked up. The pair had been working silently, but efficiently. However, the remnants of a bickering argument sudden grew into a shouting match. Ronald Weasley and Gregory Goyle were blaming each other, loudly, as they failed to get passed the first three steps of their first potion. Hermione was listening, silently. The boys couldn't stop insulting each other long enough, that they hadn't been paying attention to their potion as it was turning a sickly green glob that was now overflowing from their cauldron.

Hermione heard a chuckle come from her right when her potions' partner, too, looked up at the commotion. Both laughed, but neither spoke as they continued on with their potion. Well, at least, until Draco spoke up after they had finished their first potion: murtlap essence. "So, what's the name of your new familiar?"

The hazel eyed witch paused as she crushed the first ingredient for the next potion. Though, the pause was only momentary for the she remembered the stare they shared in the Great Hall earlier that morning. "Her name is Elara," came her simple reply.

"She's a gift, right?" The toe headed boy asked, curious. Draco didn't have to ask; he already knew the answer. The way she blushed as she read the note and the look of pure adoration for the owl, gave it away.

One look at the oddly smug boy, Hermione just sighed. "Yes, she is."

"What's her name?"

Hermione snapped her head over to look at the smirking boy.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Hermione replied as she returned her focus back to the cauldron, turning the potion thrice times, counterclockwise.

"I think you do know what I'm talking about," came his simple reply.

Sighing, "And what makes you think it's a 'her'?"

Draco chuckled softly, "I just know things. And I'm very observant." The wizard paused, waiting for some sort of a reply. Though, the witch remained silent. The blonde boy, however, could see the faint raise of an eyebrow. "I have never seen you so much as look interested in any wizards. And anyone with eyes and a brain could see Weasel's obvious interest in you, yet you don't reciprocate. In fact, you seem a little disgusted at any attempt at his pathetic flirting. And then there was Krum. He liked you. I mean, really liked you, but, you treated him as a friend. So, I just made an estimated guess." He sent the witch a smug smirk.

Hermione simply hummed, but, otherwise didn't say anything in return.

"Hmmm, no answer. So, let me take a guess—" Draco began.

"When did we, all of a sudden, become such good friends and tell each other our secrets?" Hermione softly hissed at the boy. But, he could tell there wasn't any true malicious intent, but rather, it was as if it was a scared animal backed up into a corner and lashing out to keep a guarded distance between them and the others.

"Granger, I mean no offense. I just thought since we were talking and working rather well with each other, then this would be a good addition to our conversation." Draco resigned. He went back to silently working on his part of the potion. But, his work was interrupted for it was this time that she spoke up.

"I've never talked about anything pertaining to…this…with any other person. Ron and Harry…well…they never really cared to ask me about much really, aside from homework and Quidditch."

The blonde wizard listened, silently, as the witch spoke. Now, he understood the lashing out. She had never had a person she could truly divulge her inner most thoughts and emotions. Her supposed best friends were supposed to fill that position, but it seemed as though they had neglected their duties as her friends. How could he expect her to trust a stranger, well former bully with her personal life when she couldn't even trust her best friends. However, he did hope to spark some sort of friendship with the witch. Draco felt she needed it. During the summer, he had talked to his mother and aunt about her; about what he had observed over the last five years of the isolated witch. And as seeing how their first real conversation is going at the moment, he knew they and himself had been right. So, they had encouraged him into forming a friendship with the girl. And the sisters felt that wasn't only going to help Hermione, but himself as well.

"Harry would ask every once in a while—trivial things, really—but Ron, the only time he ever cared about my 'love life' was when I rejected his request to go to the Yule Ball. He thought I was just making up a fake date, called me sad, and he was livid when I showed up with Victor." Draco raised an eyebrow at the mention of the Bulgarian's name. "Oh, don't give me that look, we were only friends, neither of us were interested in that way."

"Oh, I believe you," Draco chuckled. "I'm still holding true to my earlier statement. I just find amusement in the Weasel's jealousy and possessiveness over you."

Hermione scoffed at the comment.

"You don't believe me, you'll see. Weaselbee will show his true intentions and feelings for you soon."

Hermione internally internally thought about his retort, however, she also chose not to correct Malfoy on his distasteful nickname for Ronald. "Now, if I may ask again, what is her name, or shall I guess it?

"Guess all you like, I highly doubt you will get it." Draco sent her a smirk in response. "How about this, I'll give you three chances, if you get it wrong all three times, you give up this frivolous venture to figure out their name."

"Deal," Draco said simply.

Hermione raised an eyebrow at the confident teen boy, signaling for him to make his guesses. "Hmmm…well it can't be little Red. She doesn't have enough money to afford such a beautiful owl and she's straighter than I am." The witch scowled, causing to chuckle. "So, my first guess would be…Looney—"

"Don't call her that. And no, it's not her. Though, she is a good friend."

Draco laughed at the girl's defense of her friend. "Alright, let me think. Hmmm…maybe someone from my house. Well, it can't be Bullstrode." Hermione glared at the toe headed wizard. "You'd rather kill her rather than date her. What about…Daphne Greengrass?"

Hermione's eyes widened comedically. She barely kept her laugh to herself for fear of being heard throughout the entire class. And she definitely didn't want that. "Oh, Merlin's no. I could never be with her. She is intelligent and admittedly good looking, but that girl is too vain."

Draco smirked further. "Alright then…my last guess would be…" He waited until Hermione dropped the final ingredient into the cauldron for their last potion. "Beckett Blackwood." She froze as the small blast exploded in the cauldron, indicating its perfect completion. She slowly turned her head to look at the knowing smirking face of Draco Malfoy.

How the fuck did he know that?! Hermione internally shouted.

"How…?" Hermione asked slowly.

"I have my ways of knowing…little witch." Draco knew of his cousin's certain moniker that she had reserved for the light brown-haired witch. Hermione just stood wide-eyed, staring at the boy, slack-jawed. So, he knew…this whole time…but...

"You know? How?" Hermione asked. However, before she could get her answer, she straightened up as Snape approached their station to assess their three potions.

Upon inspection, their professor gave his final judgment. "Perfect work. O's, the both of you. Put your samples into your vials, place them on the desk, and then you may leave class early." Draco and Hermione perked up at their grade as well as the fact that they get to leave early. After doing the last few tasks asked of them, they grabbed their belongings and left, while the rest of the class had another hour left to finish.

Once outside, Hermione turned towards Draco. "Alright, Malfoy, you still haven't answered my question."

"Well, Granger, we Blacks discuss everything," Draco smirked cryptically. And then left the very confused witch.

Thank you for reading!