A/N: I think this will be a short story, possibly only five chapters? There is an end goal, and that's been partially written already.
Review and favorite and follow, it makes my writer-self very happy!
*.*.*.*.*
After class, Harry and Hermione walk to the Great Hall for lunch. Hermione has a weird feeling in her stomach, likely caused by the events in Transfiguration, and wants to skip lunch for today. She could escape go the library for a few minutes without Harry, since that boy never misses a meal. She catches a glimpse of pale blond hair and she glances that way — he's watching her. It's not as unnerving as when Krum does it — in fact, a clumsy smile graces her lips.
"Harry, I'm not very hungry. I think I'm going to skip."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, it's fine. I'll probably just eat dinner early."
He doesn't put up a fight and walks into the hall alone, likely to sit with Neville and listen to him discuss his latest favorite plant.
Hermione looks back in the direction of Draco, and she notes he's also alone. He approaches her, nose crinkled. It's a new look for him.
"How'd you get rid of Potter?" He asks.
"He never skips a meal. How'd you get rid of Crabbe and Goyle?"
"They never skip a meal."
Despite herself, she lets out a giggle. He smirks. She stifles the rest of the laugh, finding it odd it even escaped in the first place.
"How do you want to do this?"
A group of Slytherins pass by them, heading for lunch.
"Well, I'm sure your know-it-all-self has some idea of how a project works."
"Sure, but your ego could get in the way."
"Oh please, Granger, you exaggerate."
"It could eclipse the sun."
"Now don't be so rude."
"Like it offends you."
"Perhaps not, but I find your aggression refreshing," he remarks, tilting his head to — admire? — acknowledge her good comebacks.
"Why's that?"
"Usually Weasley or Potter interfere, fight your battles for you, and I know you're no damsel."
She's strangely flattered by his comment.
"I'll meet you in the library then, while everyone else is in tomorrow's Divination class."
"You're going to skip class?" She's almost shocked, and the disapproval seeps through her voice.
"No Granger, I don't take Divination anymore. It's a dreadful and dimwitted class."
"That's why I stopped taking it, too … I suppose it's odd we think the same thing."
"No I suppose not." His answer surprises her, and he can see it on her face. Her eyebrows raise a minuscule amount and her lips part for a soft exhale, the ferocity in her words leaving with the breath.
"Bye then," he adds after a moment, but he makes no move to leave.
"Goodbye" comes her delayed response and her legs slowly move away from him, no doubt on their way to the library. She looks over her shoulder once more to see him smirk and turn in the direction of the Slytherin dorms.
That smirk will be the death of her.
*.*.*.*.*
On the day of the First Task, Harry and Hermione sit together in the Great Hall for breakfast. Harry has food on his plate, but he isn't touching it. He has his heads in his hands, and he's staring at his feet, likely contemplating the repercussions of resigning from the competition.
"Harry, it's going to be alright. We've been preparing for weeks."
"What if the dragon gets me before I have the chance to get my broom?"
To be fair, Hermione doesn't have an answer for that. She bites her lip and fiddles with her fork. He sighs and pushes himself up from the table to walk away.
"Harry …" She tries to get him to stay, but he leaves the Great Hall quickly. She exhales slowly and goes back to her toast.
"What's with him?" Fred, or possibly George, asks.
"What do you think?" Hermione rolls her eyes. "I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact that he's about to fight a dragon."
"Easy Hermione, I'm only jokin'," Fred assures her.
"Hermione, why is Malfoy lookin' at you?" Neville asks, nodding over to the Slytherin Table.
She stares at Neville and then slowly looks over her shoulder to see that he is correct — Draco is staring, again. He is doing that a lot recently. When he realizes that Hermione and quite a few other Gryffindors are staring back, he looks away hurriedly.
"What's he doin' that for?" George, or maybe Fred, asks.
"He and Hermione got partnered for a project in Transfiguration on Monday," Seamus, who has a big 'HP' written on both his cheeks, supplies.
"Ouch," the twins say together.
"It's really okay," Hermione grumbles. "We're both smart people, we can figure out how to work together."
"Are you sure about that 'Mione?" Little Ginny asks.
"We're the smartest two in the class, of course I'm sure."
"I meant about you two being able to get along."
"Oh … well, we'll have to."
"Well if he says something really horrible, Fred and I'll show him," George nods.
"That's unnecessary, but thank you, I think."
In all honesty, they had met in the library two days prior, and nothing had gone wrong. They said their hello's and got to work finding books on the topic and taking notes. It was a successful two hours, where no arguments took place and no mean-spirited comments were flung around.
It's probably worth mentioning that they sat at different tables.
But she's right about them being the smartest of the 4th Years, possibly the whole school. She thinks that's why Draco is always irritated by her existence. The fact that a Muggleborn is smarter than him, even if it's only by a few marks, would likely infuriate his father too.
He's a bit of a spoiled brat, and he should probably readjust his attitude towards Muggleborns, and he could change the way he treats people, but other than those three major flaws, he could be a good bloke.
She supposes.