Author's Note

Thanks for the reviews!

Hermione was confused. "I don't know why you're staring. You're the beauty. I'm just the beast?" What was that supposed to mean. Was it a compliment? It couldn't be. It was insulting himself. She decided not to bother the matter as they both returned to their books.

Soon enough, the train pulled into Hogsmeade Station.

The two separated without another word, heading off in their own directions.

"Hermione! I'm quidditch captain!" Ginny Weasley yelped in her ear as they found seats in the great hall.

"That's great Gin." Hermione said smiling at her excitement. It was a relief that Ginny had taken Hermione's side even though her brother cheated on her and that they were still friends.

"And no surprise there." She said eyeing her badge.. "You're head girl!"

Hermione smiled as they went through the sorting then the headmistress speech and introduction of teachers, then the feast.

"Granger. Give this to the Gryffindor prefects will you? I still need to stop at the Hufflepuff table." Drawled Draco Malfoy as he dropped to pieces of parchment in front of her before walking off. To her surprise, he had planned and well coordinated the prefect schedules. She checked it several times, finding no error and actually finding instead a well thought out schedule. She handed one to Ginny and instructed the Gryffindor prefect about every single thing. She then stalked off to find Dean Thomas one of the Gryffindor students from her year.

"Before you all head off." Minerva McGonagall called out. "Due to the war the previous year, the returning seventh years will now be classified as eighth years. You will have your own dormitories and have separate classes as well and since there aren't a large number of you, you will share classes with various members of other houses."McGonagall said before everyone separated.

Hermione called a few last minute instructions to Dean a little put out that she hadn't been able to finish. She bustled off to help straggling first years. To her utmost surprise, Malfoy was actually assisting her and was helping a few first year Hufflepuffs. Maybe he was changed. But she couldn't let her guard down.

She finally finished as she found her way to the head dormitories.

"Down the corridor and you'll see some stairs leading to the dungeons." Malfoy said to a few lost Slytherins. They rushed off and Malfoy rubbed his forehead, finding Hermione behind him at the entrance to the dorm.

"Er...what shall our password be?" Hermione asked nodding at the portrait of the snake and lion oddly resembling Slytherin and Gryffindor.

"What do you want it to be?" He asked tiredly.

Hermione was taken aback and didn't respond. Her mind went blank for a split second.

"How about beauty and the beast?" Malfoy asked leaning against the wall. Hermione couldn't help but notice how handsome he looked. And how mature and strong.

"Why that?" She asked furrowing her brows.

"Why not?" He asked a little impatiently.

"But...why? What's the reasoning?"

"Codswallop! Do you have a problem with the name?" Malfoy sighed.

"Well no-"

"Is it inappropriate or disrespectful in any other way?" He asked closing his eyes before reopening them.

"No but-"

"Then why not?" He asked knowing he finally got her.

"Alright then." She muttered as Malfoy told the snake and lion the password. He opened the door and offered Hermione in first. Her mind went blank once more before she muttered her thanks and walked in. The room was a wonderful blend of red and green. Yellow and silver. It compromised everything she loved with the things he must have loved which was not that different from hers.

The common room consisted of a large fireplace, a coffee table and a soft couch. There were two desks and one shared bathroom. Her dorm was to the left and his the right. Hermione as amazed as she observed the dorm.

"Well….goodnight." She said awkwardly to him as she reached her door.

"Granger?" He asked a little uncertainly.

"Yes?" She asked curious.

"I'm sorry," He said shyly. "For everything." And to top it all off he was blushing and had his hands wrung in front of him.

Hermione bit her lip. Did he really mean it? Or was this to get her to let her guard down?

"I know it's hard to believe. But I'm different. I'm no death eater and if one day, you'll listen….I'll explain. I never was. And maybe we don't have to be enemies." He added before walking to his room and shutting the door.

Hermione woke up feeling refreshed and excited for the first day of classes. She was out the door within moments. She one of the first down at breakfast. She picked up her timetable and observed it excitedly. She was doing many subjects this year and was already tingling with the thought of N.E.W.T.S. It was the beginning of the year, she was aware, but this was N.E.W.T.S! This was no laughing matter. She propped up her potions book and began reading as she ate. Potions was her first lesson and was eager to see what they would be learning.

As people began coming for the breakfast rush, the owls came in with the mail.

A letter dropped onto her lap.

Hermione,

I'm really sorry! I've apologized repeatedly and I don't know what more I can do. Please forgive me. There's only you.

Ron.W

Disgusted, Hermione crumpled up the letter and stuffed it into her robes.

"My prat of a brother again?" Ginny asked apologetically as she sat next to Hermione.

She nodded glumly as she continued reading. Something hard whacked her on the head and a newspaper fell onto her lap. She looked up as Pansy Parkinson marched off snickering. Hermione scowled as she picked up the news article. Ginny reading over her shoulder. Their mouths fell open. There was a large photo of Ron and some veela making out by the Chudley Cannons quidditch pitch. As if we didn't know he was the keeper for the team, here was a veela swallowing his lips. I bit back a gag as I left the paper there and left early for class.

"Hermione!" Ginny called as she glared at the paper.

But Hermione was out the door. He dared to apologize when there was evidence he clearly didn't give a damn.

Se left for potions, tears threatening to spill from her eyes. Great first day of school.

She hugged her books to her chest as she neared the potions class. Slughorn was still the professor. And she intended on keeping up her good impression.

As she reached the top of the staircase there came a loud voice and fits of laughter.

"Read the newspaper lately mudblood?" Marcus Flint sneered from behind her. Hermione dried her tears and turned to glare at them.

"Are you beginning to lose additional points for Slytherin?" She asked sternly.

He pouted. "Read the article huh?" He said as the other Slytherin's cackled. "Well, smart Weasley. Mudbloods aren't nearly good enough for purebloods. Sometimes it just takes a little...push." He smiled evilly and before she could react she was flying down the staircase and fell with a thud on her back at the bottom.

"I'm aware that you escaped Voldemort's punishment, but I intend to continue it all year." Flint smirked picking Hermione up by the collar of her robes. She struggled not to cry or cause attention as her hand searched for her wand.

"20 points." Hermione growled. "Let me go." She hissed kicking him in the shin. He didn't flinch.

"Let's see how loud a mudblood can scream…." Flint said cocking his head. There was a whir of movement and Hermione fell to the floor and Flint was torn away from her. She opened her eyes to see Draco Malfoy wrestling Flint, his fellow pureblood and Slytherin.

"Malfoy! Flint! Detention. 20 points each!" McGonagall barked as she led them to her office.

Hermione sat forgotten against the wall. Students were shuffling to their classes as she stood shakily to head to potions. One thing she was clear about. Draco Malfoy had just saved her.

She took notes in class, answered questions and brewed the best potion. But none of it made her feel better. She was the reason, Malfoy was in detention. She was never going to hear the end of this one.

The rest of the day past in a manner she never thought her first day back would be. She was already piled down with homework from her classes. What with N.E.W.T's the teachers had all stressed the importance for it and the necessity to do well which she wholly agreed with.

"Beauty and the beast." She whispered to the snake and lion as she walked in and collapsed on the couch. She had down her patrols through the halls after her dinner. She tiredly drew out her homework to begin. It was already 10. And as far as she was concerned, Malfoy wasn't home. And it was likely her fault. Guilt pounded her ears. He had tackled his fellow pureblood and Slytherin not to mention his quidditch teammate. But why? Why would Draco Malfoy do something like that? They were enemies and it had always been that way. But what had he said last night? "...And maybe we don't have to be enemies." He had said. Did he mean it? Well, what he had done today definitely proved it.

She finished her homework without much trouble around 11:30. Malfoy still wasn't back yet. She decided to wait up to at least thank him. And maybe...dare she say...she might be slightly worried. Slightly.

She grew anxious as 12:30 rolled around and she was about to go check the halls when the door swung open and Malfoy dragged himself in.

"Malfoy?" She asked as she rushed over to shut the door. To her astonishment, Malfoy lay there with a large gash pooling from his chest. His face had small cuts and he was wincing in pain.

"What happened?" She gasped as she helped him to the couch.

He coughed as he took deep breaths. "Flint." He muttered as he fell onto the couch.

"I'm so sorry." She said horrified. "It's my fault." She said grabbing her wand. "Vulnera Sanentur" She muttered. She wasn't sure if it was sectumsempra spell used but it seemed to do the trick. "I'm sorry." She said again.

He hadn't said anything. He still didn't say anything.

"Tergeo." She muttered watching the blood scabs disappear. "I'm sorry." She said again.

His eyes were closed and he was still breathing heavily. "Granger, if you say that one more time, I might have to silence you. Victim's do need rest." He said in a scratchy voice.

She blushed. "Sorry." She said again before noticing the word she had said.

"Granger…" He warned coughing.

She kept silent as she used the scourgify spell to clean him.

"Why are you helping me?" He asked opening his eyes as she worked in silence.

"You helped me." She said simply. "Why did you help me?" She asked with an afterthought.

He sighed. "I told you. I'm different. And I told you that I was never that person."

So he might have meant it, he might not have. She healed him into the early morning before leaving for her own bed.

"Goodnight Granger." He mumbled.

"Goodnight Malfoy."

She woke up groggily and had noticed she missed breakfast. By her bedside table there lay a tray of food.

Thanks for healing me, Granger.

D.M.

She wolfed down the food before realizing something. Malfoy had been in her room. That gave her a sweet sensation running through her veins. Friends. They were not enemies. She saw that now.

Hermione ran to transfiguration in fear of being late.

"Head girls don't typically go running down the halls." Drawled Malfoy coming from the opposite side.

"I slept in okay?" She mumbled. "And, I never got to thank you yesterday. So, thanks. For helping me." She said blushing.

He studied her for a few moments before walking up to her. She looked up to meet his grey eyes that penetrated and challenged hers. He was so close. She could see his features clearly.

Strong face. Grey eyes still the only visible difference from their last encounter. Soft lips. furrowed brow. Adam's apple bobbing. Jaw set.

"We're not enemies Granger." He said before walking into transfiguration.

Hermione spent her day, rushing from class to class. She had signed up for so many, that the homework was reaching an alarming amount.

"That's how you get worry lines." Malfoy said when Hermione reached the common room late at night.

"I didn't know you cared." She muttered dropping her bag and sitting at her desk. His hands were suddenly on either side of the desk and his breath was coming in soft intervals on her neck.

"I thought we discussed this." He said in a deep voice. She sighed and stood to turn and face him.

"How can I trust you?" She asked softly.

"I helped you yesterday." He said suggestively.

"That was yesterday!" She said exasperated. "What about tomorrow? The day after? You've hated me and my kind ever since we met. How can I be sure you mean this?" She asked finally speaking the truth.

"You don't. But if you keep hiding in your own world, away from others and you keep shutting those outside of you who might just be your friend….you're never going to know what could've been." He said staring into her eyes.

She gulped. He was right. Since the break up with Ron, she'd been distant with everyone she cared about. She had shut down everything good that came near her in fear of another mistake that would backfire in her face. But why did it take Draco Malfoy of all people to show her that? Why him?

"I guess you're right. I'm so-" She said before he cut her off.

"Remember what we discussed about that word?" He asked her smirking slightly.

She smiled. "Fine. I apologize." She said before going into her room smiling.

The next few day was just as busy as the first two. She and the rest of the 8th year's alike were drowning in their work.

In fact, on the fourth night she collapsed on the couch beside Malfoy and complained. "This is too much." She gasped rubbing her eyes.

"Welcome to the 8th year of Hogwarts Head girl." He said smirking as he dipped his quill into ink.

She sighed. They had been talking on a more civilized manner and she had been growing accustomed to him not being her….enemy.

"Come on. We'll work together." He said pulling out her work and spreading out his own. She eyed his work and to her amazement, all his sums and answers were correct! They were answered with detail and evidence.

"Amazed that my brain is filled with more than taunts?" He chuckled at the expression on her face.

"A tad bit." She smiled as she took out her quill and they worked together.

Working with Malfoy, was different than working with Ron or Harry. In a good way. For one, he actually helped her was not copying off her. By the completion of their work, they had actually begun a good debate of the Goblin Rebellion of 1818.

"There is no way that Sir Tirbinnoff was a good general!" Hermione persisted.

"He was too! Just because he made a mistake and sent a troop to the east, when the enemy was attacking from the west, does not mean he's terrible!" Malfoy argued.

"Then how come they lost the war?" Hermione asked.

"Because he was fighting for the wrong reasons." Malfoy said looking at her. She knew that was himself speaking personally too.

"I don't think you're a bad person." Hermione said quickly.

"I do." He said before packing up his stuff and heading off to bed.

Hermione felt terrible for ruining the first real intellectual conversation she had had with a student.

She couldn't focus during her classes when she thought of his sad expression that was pleading that she had never said that.

She sighed as she walked off to her last class of the day.

She walked into arithmancy and took her seat at the front of the class.

Professor Vector walked and waved at the blackboard as the answers to last night appeared.

"Take up your work, no talking." She said strictly as she sat down shuffling yesterday's tests.

After we were done, she stood at the front of the class and surveyed us.

"Everyone here passed so you may relax. Passed with finesse….well only two of you managed to do so. Everyone else passed around the 50's or 60's." Vector said warily. "This was an old version of an N.E.W.T. test and this is how you would have done. Congratulations to Ms. Granger and Mr. Malfoy for passing with O's." She said as the class clapped politely as she returned everyone's tests.

From the front of the class, Hermione could overhear Professor Vector congratulating Malfoy.

"I told you that if you only applied yourself, you could do wonderful things." She said handing him his test. Hermione smiled to herself. She would surely tease him with that one. A few I told you so's. But then she remembered that she had accidently offended him yesterday and was determined to make it up to him. And she knew exactly how.

She sat in the library, collecting a few books for light reading. She looked out the window and spotted the Slytherin quidditch team flying around. Their training was definitely intense from what she could see. Flint was blowing on his whistle every so often as the chasers ran a drill. The beaters were swinging their bats hard with each whistle as they aimed the bludger towards the cartoon Gryffindors in the air.

Her eyes automatically sought out Malfoy, was trying to catch the snitch that Flint was controlling with his wand. His face was determined and a little annoyed. Which was understandable. Flint was making the snitch impossible to catch. In reality, the snitch would have been caught already by Malfoy had Flint been realistic. And Hermione thought she was constantly exhausted. Malfoy had all his classes, Head duties, quidditch and all the detentions he served.

Hermione took pity on him and the injustice that Flint was giving him so she raised her wand and fought Flint for control of the snitch.

Flint looked angry as the snitch slowed down considerably and the snitch circled in lazy, average circles rather than at lightning speed, zig-zagged.

Malfoy finally caught it and came down. Flint blew his whistle hard signalling the end of practice. He flew down and looked around. His eyes landed on Hermione in the window smriking.

Malfoy turned to see what Flint was glaring at and he smiled. He turned to Flint and slapped him on the shoulder before heading off to the changerooms.

Flint growled before stomping off the pitch.

Hermione felt no remorse that night as she and Malfoy did their homework together in silence.

They weren't talking still awkward from last night.

"Thank you for bringing the snitch to average terms." Malfoy said as they packed up their stuff.

"He was being a git and well….we're not enemies anymore." Hermione said slowly looking for his reaction.

He smiled brightly and the tension disappeared immediately.

She debated whether or not to tell him the thing that might get him to forgive her for last night since the quidditch stunt already did the trick.

"Malfoy?" She asked slowly.

He turned to face her. "Granger?" He asked uncertainly.

She took a deep breath. She wanted the truth. She wanted to know who this person was that was getting her out of her shell. And he had been there since school began. But did she want to know the truth? He had offered to tell her. But did she want to know? Would it scare her away? Would this ruin an otherwise civil and normal relationship?

"Malfoy?" She asked again nervously.

"Granger?" He asked patiently.

"I'm listening. And I want you to explain." She said looking up at him.

Author's Note

The last line is answering the suggestion he made when he apologized.

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