Hey, thanks for reviewing I'm really glad this story is coming along, I'm trying to update at least every other day now.

"Are we all ready?" asked Dumbledore, his voice ringing out loud in his office. Surrounding him in a semi-circle were the Prefects, wands in hand, feathers before them. For the most part, they all looked confident about the task ahead of them, many smirking widely. The students all gave curt nods at Dumbledore's question; unaware they were in quite over their heads. The only two that seemed to notice the difficulty of what lay ahead had their eyes locked on the headmaster. Draco was one of them along with Granger.Draco was stationed directly to Dumbledore's left ,forcefully gripping the wand, and breathing heavily. He broke his gaze with Dumbledore for a moment and looked sideways at Granger. She was biting her lip, trying to steady her uneven breathing as well.

I have to hand it to the Mudblood, if I wasn't on her team, I'd be pretty damn intimidated right now. I'm surprised Potty isn't pissing his robes; especially now that Granger's stomping her feet on the ground like an angry bull.

"Then we will start on the count of three," Albus said. Hermione took a split second to look at Draco next to her, seeing the burn for victory searing his eyes. She had to admit, his rigorous yearn for winning impressed her.

God, Draco looks like hes about to rape that poor feather. I hope he keeps it in his pants until Dumbledore finishes counting or he'll be damn disqualified. Stupid impatient git.

"One," he said slowly, watching as the students stiffened their postures. He could see Harry practically dancing in his spot, his feet tapping wildly.

"Two," he said, this time seeing the wands of the students raise in perfect unison. Hermione used his pause to give Malfoy a final nod. He acknowledged her silent "Good Luck" by returning the gesture.

"Three!" Dumbledore exclaimed with glee. Around him he could hear all of the students' voices in harmony singing 'Wingardium Leviosa!'

Draco couldn't manage to suppress his smirk as he watched his feather levitate with ease. His wrists moved swiftly with his wand, keeping the feather way above the surface of the table in front of him.

So maybe I was wrong, this can't be so difficult. I mean, I can do this all day, its just a bit of wand waving.

Hermione was also levitating her feather next to Draco with the utmost facility, trying hard not to yawn while her graceful hand waved her wand.

Merlin, this is going to be absolutely boring, especially since we can't really talk to much because it may break others concentration. Blimey though, you must really be as thick as Crabbe or Goyle to not be able to levitate a feather for a few minutes.

She smiled in satisfaction, completely unaware that a few minutes would actually turn out to be a few hours as she continued with her wand movements, her feather levitating higher each time. Draco on the other hand, was no longer paying attention to his feather, but to the girl next to him. He saw the smile creep onto her face while she performed her magic, truly being in her element. Watching how happy and at peace Granger was when she did magic almost sickened him.

What's so bloody great about magic anyway? I mean, yeah its useful, but its not so fan-fucking-tastic when you've been around it since you popped out of your mum. Hmm, well I guess that makes sense why Granger thinks it's the coolest thing since Cheese Whiz. She hasn't been around it all her life , it never ceases to damn amaze her. Aha! Thats why she's an unsufferable know it all! Duh, Draco.

Draco shook his head, erasing his thoughts about Granger from his mind quickly as he looked up at his feather which was now entangled with Hermione's. His stomach lurched as an odd sensation swept him. He felt the rush of blood come to his cheeks, feeling certain he was…blushing?

WHAT THE HELL! Why am I blushing? It's bloody dancing feathers! And why do I feel all funny like I've been socked in the chest. Oh no, I hope Granger's not staring at me right now, I probably look like a panicky mess. Whatever, I don't care if she looks at me, it doesn't matter what she thinks….who am I kidding? Shes going to laugh at me about this for the rest of my life if I don't think of a good excuse.

Note to Self: WATCH YOUR DAMN LEVITATING FEATHER NEXT TIME!

"God Professor, it's like an oven in here, could you make it a bit cooler with some spell? Or better yet, can you grab that book over there and fan my face a bit?" Malfoy asked Dumbledore,nervously laughing to himself about how brilliant and ridiculous he was. Next to him, he heard Granger emit an unlady like snort. He whipped his head over to look at her and sneer.

"I know I am funny Granger, but theres no need for you to turn into a farm animal over it," Draco said simply. Hermione turned red as she went back to concentrating on her feather, unable to come up with a retaliation to his insult.

"Now Mr. Malfoy, please refrain from accusing Miss Granger of being an animal, it's not polite. And I am sorry to say that this room is actually at a very pleasant temperature. Could it be you feel hot because you're embarrassed about something?" Dumbledore asked him coyly with a small grin. Draco, caught in the act, couldn't think of something to say back to him and decided to just scowl while returning to look at his feather.

Well Dumbledore can just wheel his ass to the nearest bloody antique shop and slap a price on his smart mouth. Screw it then, If I can't even talk to Dumbledore or Granger without having either one of them piss me off I'll just do this in silence.

Currently, while Malfoy pondered, a Miss Hermione Granger was fuming out of her ears in anger. Her wand movements were no longer graceful, but fast and sharp. Her feather lurched violently in the air. She kept levitating in silence but every few moments she'd let out an annoyed 'huff'.

The ferret thinks he can call me a farm animal now does he? Fucking scum bag. I swear if he lets that blasted feather touch the table before mine does I am going to ring his stupid white neck, so help me Merlin.

Dumbledore sighed as he surveyed the scene before him.Mr. Malfoy and Miss Granger seemed immersed in their own thoughts, obviously regarding the other, and were not speaking to each other while the other students were concentrating hard on their feathers. The lack of talking amongst them led to complete silence in the room, aside from the occasional huffing of Miss Granger, dissapointing the old Headmaster.

"Six bloody hours, Professor!" Hermione gasped as she tried to ignore the painful throbbing in her arm. She winced at the sharp pain that shot up her leg, fighting to keep from collapsing onto the floor. Through teary eyes she could see the concerned faces of the students that had already let their feathers fall peering at her, as well as the figures of the three other students still left standing.

"I do feel your pain Miss Granger, however; this is an endurance test and it will be painful, as you already know," Dumbledore said calmly. Hermione fought a sob as she strained her body so that she could stand in a more comfortable position. She saw the looming feather above her, no longer swaying, but tiredly floating dangerously low above her head.

I can't do this anymore, there's no way I'm going to be able to tough it out much longer, especially with Harry and Draco being left.

She looked at Harry who was positioned directly across from her. Sweat was glistening on his brow as well as his flushed cheeks. Hermione could tell he was in severe pain as well because every once in a while he would wince and curse furiously as he clutched his wand arm. Her other competitor was next to him, a Ravenclaw named Ryan Abelson. He was initially no concern of Hermione's but now she didn't even know if she could beat him although he was violently spazzing.

Oh please god let Draco be able to carry on once I collapse. I've changed my mind, I don't care if he beats me, and I'd rather lose and have him get the clue for both of us then having to die trying.. At least he out of all people seems to be holding up strongly.

Next to Hermione, Draco Malfoy was all but strong. His teeth were grinding together in the attempt of trying to ignore the blinding pain he was feeling in his arm. The blood that normally circulated through his body seemed to have left the right side of him as he fought to stay standing. However, this pain was nothing in comparison to what he was feeling for the small Gryffindor next to him.

I don't think Granger is going to be able to make it out of this one in good enough health for tomorrow if she doesn't quit now. She's practically shaking the room with the trembles her body is having and it's all because of me. If she didn't want beat me so bloody badly she probably would have given up by now. It's not even Potter that she wants to lose, it's me.

"Mr. Abelson, I'm sorry but the game is now over for you," Dumbledore said kindly when he saw Ryan's feather float to the floor and disintegrate. The three competitors didn't notice Ryan falter, giving them a lovely suprise. Harry, Hermione, and Draco's eyes all seemed to spark with new enthusiasm when they saw Ryan take a seat on the couch with the others. Seeing him sitting made Hermione's blood taint with envy for wanting to sit down.

This is it, I can feel it. My body can't deal with this any more. Draco can take it, he sure as hell deserves it.

"Draco, "Hermione managed to choke out right after she emitted a loud yelp of pain. He looked at her with soft eyes, reflecting his hurt into hers. She began to lower her wand in defeat when she felt a hand on her wrist keeping it up. Hermione turned to see Draco being the person attached to the hand, shaking his head visualizing "No."

"You can do this, Granger," he said to her in a low, but powerful voice. She tried to open her mouth in protest but his hand quickly moved from her wrist to her mouth, placing a single finger on her lips.

"It's yours," he whispered, and then dropped his wand. His feather instantly dropped from the air and landed onto the table, bursting into flames. Seeing as he had nothing left to give by standing there anymore, he dropped down to his knees.

I've lost my mind completely. I just touched her wrist and her lips. Her soft and moist lips, oh no Draco. What are you doing to yourself, shes a Mudblood! And she will never be more then one no matter what she does.

Draco closed his eyes for a moment, battling with himself over Granger. One part of him wanted to end their feuding and to make peace, at least for the sake of the competition, but another was clinging tightly onto the beliefs bestowed on him since he was born. He could not however, finish this argument with himself because a loud scream made him open his eyes.

Hermione was standing there panting hard, grabbing her wrist, trying to keep the feather alive with every ounce of strength her body possessed. The scream had most certainly come from her being that all of the Prefects were now inching toward her, wanting to help.

For a fleeting second, Draco Malfoy suddenly gained more hate for Harry Potter then he had ever had in all of his years at Hogwarts. Harry was doing this to Granger, he could have just given up and let his friend who's helped his ass a hundred times against the Dark Lord, but no. He had too much damn pride to let her win a simple contest.

"Are you alright Mr. Potter?" Dumbledore asked with a concerned hint in his voice, breaking up Malfoy's hateful thoughts. Draco looked and saw Harry slowly closing his eyes, lowering himself to the floor. A small cheer broke out within Draco as he saw Harry fall to a most certain defeat. But first, Harry's mouth opened to spit out four words to the tear driven Mudblood.

"I miss you, Hermione," Harry croaked out as his wand fell to his side. He slid to the floor, lying on his back trying to relax himself because it was all over.

"You bloody won!" Draco yelled happily before Dumbledore had a chance to formally congratulate Granger. It didn't seem to faze the old Headmaster as he smiled brightly at the display he was witnessing. Draco stood up and hugged Hermione tightly, ignoring every warning bell going off in his mind. Hermione, so overcome with pain, was virtually unaware of who was hugging her, and why for that matter, as she slid out of Draco's arms into an unconscious heap on the floor.

"Hermione!" Draco shouted, compassion lacing his voice. The eyes of the Prefects around him grew large when they heard her name come tumbling out of his mouth for the first time in seven years. Draco looked back up at them with his mouth open wide.

Oh for the love of Mudbloods, I didn't just say what I think I did…did I?

Note to Self: Yes, you did.

I know it wasn't as funny as the others, but I had to make a lot of it fairly serious, but keep in mind, Draco does not love Hermione. Hes battling over whether he wants to be her friend or not. It will come eventually ...maybe