Five o'clock. Divination classroom.

DM

She reread the note once more, just in case it really was all in her imagination. Five o'clock. Divination classroom. DM.

So Malfoy wanted to work on Herbology with her again, did he? Well wasn't that just too bad; there was no way she was showing up. He could wait there all his life but she wasn't going near him again.

That damn arrogant stupid bastard! His smirk made her sick, his hair made her squirm. Everything about him repelled her. He thought he ruled the world and everyone in it. Need good grades do you Malfoy? Suck it up, Hermione Granger will not be helping you today or any other day.

Clearly, Hermione was still rather upset by what had happened earlier that day. Her pride was hurt, she was embarrassed, and she was confused. Confused, because of that jolt of excitement she felt upon seeing Malfoy in the hallway. It was probably just because he was the only thing going on at the moment; everything else was pretty boring compared to working with a Slytherin.

It was ten to five, and Hermione was determined not to show up to Malfoy's meeting point. After the things he said to her, he dared to send her a note that didn't include an apology! The nerve of some people.

As the clock chimed at five o'clock Hermione was feeling an irrational sense of fear and nerves. It wasn't often she rebelled in this way...not that this was particularly rebellious, but she knew she was making someone angry and that was something new to her.

She took her stuff and went to the dormitories to sit on her bed, knowing that there was no way he could reach her there, even if he did manage to enter the common room.

The clock ticked the minutes away, until it was nearly half past five. This is when Lavender Brown swung open the dormitory door and stood staring at Hermione, hands on her hips.

"I just got sent here all the way from the great hall while I was in the middle of desert to tell you that that Malfoy git wants a word with you. Also, because I had to walk up about twenty flights of stairs, I'm copying your transfiguration essay."

This was all said at high speed, interrupted by gasps of air or a hand gesture.

"Dra-Malfoy asked for me? Where is he?" She could feel her stomach churning, though she didn't feel afraid.

"Oh no no- his majesty Malfoy didn't ask me personally. One of his thug guards held my plate above my head until I said I would come get you. He's where he said he would be apparently."

Hermione rushed up and grabbed her books. Then she put them down again as a second thought popped into her mind.

"Right then, I have to go but sorry about the plate thing!"

She hurried out the door, once again at war with her emotions. Was she nervous, angry, or excited? God knows. All three, probably.

Still wearing her old jeans, a University of Florida t-shirt and a cardigan, she sped towards the divination corridor. The ladder into the room was down, and she took a deep breath before starting to climb.

She didn't look up until she had hauled herself up and into a standing position. When she looked around, she saw the vaguely familiar cushions and armchairs, but it all looked slightly different from her memory due to the fact that the curtains had been opened and a bright light shone onto the wood floorboards below. In a corner, sat at a table with two round pouffes, was Malfoy. He sat back in his chair and was fiddling with his pen. His eyes widened then narrowed very quickly as he saw her approach from the shadows.

He didn't move, except for his eyes, which followed her as she came closer to the table, trying to make the least noise possible. She was no longer angry or afraid, just curious. Curious about how someone could sit so quiet and stare so fixedly one minute, then smirk and command the room like a king the next.

Hermione crossed her arms and tried to look fierce as she stood opposite him. His eyes didn't move from her face.

"You can't be that rude to me and then send me a note telling me to help you with your project. I'm not here to please you; what you said was cruel, and I-I want an apology."

She gave herself an inner high five. Her voice had hardly shaken!

She took a deep breath and waited for an answer.

Through clenched teeth and curled lips, Malfoy said "I owe you nothing. You're not here to 'help' me, I can think for myself, smartarse."

She blinked. Well, she asked herself, what did she expect? This was Malfoy. Egocentric, bad tempered and rude. She turned on her heel and walked back towards the trapdoor. She was done.

He watched her walk away, desperate not to notice the way her hips swung the tiniest bit when she walked, how she looked in that t-shirt, the way her hair bounced as she took each step. "Damnit!" He muttered, then he bit his tongue and squished up his face in frustration. He had not meant to say those things to her. He had not meant to be so mean.