Snape insisted on Hermione and Malfoy continuing as lab partners in potions class. As they worked- well, as Hermione worked- Hermione felt his eyes studying her. She was growing more and more agitated by the moment. Finally, she hissed, "stop it."

"Stop what?" Malfoy glowered, tired of her badgering and constant nagging to help with the potion-making.

"Staring, it's creepy."

"I am not staring," Malfoy protested.

"You are too, you have been all class and I don't care for it

"Why would I want to stare at you? Merlin, it looks like you haven't brushed your hair since the damn Yule ball!"

"I don't care why Malfoy, just stop.

"I AM NOT-"

"Mr. Malfoy, Miss Granger, I hope you have a good reason for disturbing my class," Snape interrupted, coming up from behind Malfoy, causing the wizard to nearly jump out of his skin.

"Professor," Hermione spoke, "I've simply been trying to do the assignment and Malfoy's been mucking around!"

Snape sighed, "Miss Granger do you ever take responsibility for anything?"

"I tried-" Hermione tried to protest, but Snape cut her off.

"Detention, for the both of you, maybe you can get your bickering out then and we can actually have some peace in the next class."

"But Professor!" Hermione gasped, but Snape had already turned and walked away to yell at another student.

Hermione showed up early to Filch's office for detention, and Malfoy showed up late. Filch had shoved cleaning supplies at the pair with a grumble, "spotless by the time I come back. And no talking! I won't have you enjoying yourselves on my time." Draco rolled his eyes, spending time with Granger could hardly be described as fun. "Disgusting children," Filch grumbled, "too energetic. Only thing you lot are good for is manual labor," then Filch left and locked them in his office.

Hermione took a broom and began sweeping, but Malfoy only laughed derisively and cast a simple 'scourgify'. The floor and furniture glistened, but the papers on Filch's desk became damp and the ink ran down the pages.

Hermione's jaw clenched in irritation, and she merely turned to look at Draco with unsurprised disappointment.

"Oh don't act so superior, cleaning this dump would take hours by hand. We're wizards, not house elves," Draco said defensively.

"Hush! We're meant to be quiet," Hermione snapped, casting a hot air charm on the papers which solved the wetness problem but not the ruined ink.

"Oh come on, there's no one here," Draco said, as if he were explaining to a child.

"That's not the point. It's detention. When will you learn that your actions have consequences? Can you even manage to be quiet for a few minutes?"

"I'm sure I could, but why would I want to?" Malfoy said, pride and amusement in his voice.

"You just love the sound of your own voice don't you?"

"Well it is a rather charming sound I admit," Malfoy said with a smirk, "but it's really more for your benefit than my own."

"How could it possibly be to my benefit?" Hermione asked, her lip curling with disgust but her face flushing at the unwelcome memory of her dream.

"I imagine your life is rather dull, always following the rules and doing whatever Potter orders you to," Draco spat, "I'm at least entertaining, unlike those two dimwits you hang round who couldn't hope to intellectually challenge a toddler."

"You confuse irritating with entertaining Malfoy," Hermione rolled her eyes.

"If I annoy you so much, why don't you just cast a silencing charm," Draco grumbled.

"What?" Hermione asked sharply.

"Nothing, nevermind it."

Hermione narrowed her eyes. She wasn't sure why, but Malfoy's comment unnerved her. She felt a tingle of a memory in the back of her mind, but as hard as she tried she couldn't grasp it. Perhaps it was some half-forgotten dream. Still, it bothered her.

"Entertain me then Malfoy, do some actual work for once in your life," Hermione said, motioning to the cleaning supplies, "I thought Slytherins were supposed to be determined, driven. I've never seen you work hard for anything other than being an absolute twat."

Draco's eyebrows rose, "Such language!" he grinned, "naughty little witch, maybe you belong in detention."

Hermione's face flushed with rage, "don't call me that! And I do not belong here, this is all your fault because you can't manage to go one minute without mucking up my life!"

"Oh please, as if I care one bit about your life. You're the one who keeps getting in my way."

"Me?" Hermione shouted, "you're the one who jumped into the lake after me! You're the one who wouldn't stop bothering me at the Yule ball when all I wanted was to be alone!"

"You should be thanking me for that!" Malfoy yelled, "I gave you the push you needed to get off your sorry arse and go back."

Hermione narrowed her eyes, "You did no such thing," she said haughtily.

"Of course I did, don't you remem-" Draco stopped suddenly, realizing what had happened. She had forgotten going back to the dance. She had forgotten walking back in with confidence. She had forgotten dancing with Vicktor. She had forgotten the way everyone watched them with envy, not envious of her, but envious of Vicktor for being the one to get to be with her. She had forgotten whatever the two had done after they left the ball. The last thought made Draco feel a sort of sick joy, but it was nothing compared to the guilt he felt about the rest of her memories. Though most would not believe it and he denied it even to himself, Draco was familiar with the feeling of guilt. Fortunately, he was also familiar with pushing those feelings away.

"Oh right," Draco laughed, "you didn't go back, just accepted defeat like a sweet little Hufflepuff. No, you're right, you're not a naughty little witch. You're just a pathetic bitch."

Hermione leaped across the room, pushing Draco down and landing on top of him. She crushed his wrist underneath her knee, causing him to drop his wand. Her own wand sat forgotten in her robe pocket. Hermione drew back a fist, and swung. He scrunched his eyes closed and drew in a sharp breath. She stopped just in front of Draco's nose. She remembered the last time she had punched Malfoy, and all the good that had done. Draco opened his eyes, confused when he didn't feel Hermione's fist hit his face.

Hermione sighed, lowering her fist. Draco felt her knee digging into his wrist, and her weight on his stomach, but dared not say anything and simply stared up at her conflicted face, waiting.

Finally, Hermione lifted her brown eyes to meet Draco's piercing blue ones. His widened as he saw sadness and defeat in hers. Hermione rolled off of him gently. She sat on the floor beside him. Draco sat up, and rubbed his tender wrist. They sat side by side, avoiding looking at each other, until Filch returned and began yelling at them about the ruined papers.