(AN:) Read author note at end! Disclaimer: Own nothing but Cole and plot!

The herd of Gryffindors eventually split up as they walked through the halls to their respective muggle studies. Cole headed in the direction of the quiditch field with more than half of the boys for muggle sports. All the girls departed for muggle dance. Hermione, Draco, and Albus and about a dozen of other Gryfindors were all walking to the castle's east fields for their defense lessons. They approached the large group of sixth years, one of the few classes they had with all four houses. Unfortunately for Hermione and Draco, defense seemed to be the popular class for Slytherins. Lucid and his cronies were on the outer half of the group not paying any attention to the professor. Draco scowled at the prospect of having to be in another of his grandfather's classes.

The professor was of middle age and stature. He had a slightly receding hairline and his dull black eyes lingered among the students faces. Albus leaned over to whisper in Hermione's ear.

"This is Professor Stabile he used to be coach of the Wilkshire Wombats before the team came in the last ten quiditich spots three years in a row."

Hermione nodded lodging the random fact in her mind.

"Today we will be continuing our unit on archery. You will be shooting at a target from fifty yards and I expect..." the professor's voice drawled on and Hermione unconsciously fazed out. Something had caught her eye. In fact a lot of things had caught her eye. No one was paying attention to the professor except the Gryfindors. To Hermione's dismay the class was watching her. Not Draco but her. Most of them tried to hide their glances but some just openly stared, talking in low voices to their friends. Suddently Hermione felt uncomfortable. She felt like a bug under a microscope being poked and slowly examined. Hermione softly elbowed Draco in the rib, thank God he had sat beside her, and spoke in a hurried whisper.

"Draco, why are they all staring at me."

He looked around affirming her question. " It's probably just because we are new." He looked up again this time shooting icy glares to all the wondering eyes. Most of them immediately turned away, shaken by his blazing glare.

Only one ignored him, Lucid. He too had been watching Hermione but his eyes shifted to Draco matching his piercing gaze. A silent battle roared between them each daring the other to look away. A shiver ran down Draco's spine as he recognized the cold fury behind Lucid's silvery eyes. He had seen it every time he looked at himself in a mirror. They were the same, Draco and his grandfather. Yet so different. Draco did not wish to mercilessly kill. He did not want to bring honor to his name with the torture of helpless muggles. He did not wish to be ruled by the bigoted beliefs his family held. All in all this was what he secretly yearned for: he did not wish to become slave to the Dark Lord.

To Draco's horror a knowing smirk appeared on Lucid's face. Draco could feel the bead of sweat run down his forehead as he immediately cleared his mind, blocking his thoughts. That had been close, if Lucid was able to peer into his mind who knows what he could have seen...what he could know. The chatter of the students had gotten louder around him. Lucid tore his eyes away from the silent battle to watch the form of a woman running toward the group.

She was to old to be a student. She did not wear a uniform rather an emerald green and black robe. Her auburn hair was pulled back into a tight bun. Coming to a stop before the group her light brown eyes she scanned the crowd of students.

"You! Hermione Austin." she said pointing a pale finger at the girl, "you must have been mistaken, you are in the wrong muggle studies."

Hermione stood up but did not move from her spot, " I believe I am exactly were I am supposed to be. I requested Headmaster Black that I wanted to be in defense."

"Defense! Nonsense, you should be in dance with all the other young ladies."

Hermione crossed her arms, "I am perfectly fine where I am. thank you."

The professor was beginning to get annoyed, "Stop this silliness girl. Defense is for boys! It would be trivial for you-a young witch- to carry on with such things. Come to dance. You can be taught about dignity, grace and beauty." her voice took on an airy tone.

"I have just as much right to learn defense as anyone! I apologize but I will have to decline your offer." Hermione stood firm.

"This is absurd!," the professor's face had a slight tint of pink to it, "Look around you, it would be most improper."

Hermione looked around and for the first time realizing why everyone was looking at her. She was the only girl in the class. She was probably the only girl taking muggle studies outside of the professor's precious dance. Something clicked in her mind that she was not going to give it up, she would show the professor and everyone she could do just as well as the others.

"I am staying." this was Hermione's final answer and the professor knew it.

"Fine then." she had clinched fists behind her back. "but do not come groveling to me when you are put in your place." with that she turned around and left, the dancers grace in her angry steps.

Professor Stabile decided to act like nothing out of the ordinary had happened and continued on in his dull monotone. As for the students they had erupted in an excited chatter. Astonished someone had spoken to a professor like that.

Hermione sat back down the professor's biased remarks still running through her mind. 'Stupid Butthead" she said to low for anyone to hear. At least that is what she thought.

Draco gave something between a snort and a cough "Good one, that's putting her in her place."

"Well you heard her! Going on and on about how improper and silly it was to be here," she made a disgusted face.

Draco sighed not really wanting to get into witches rights, "You have to remember what year it is and where she is coming from..."

Albus turned around and interrupting their conversation, " You really shouldn't have done that. That was Professor Nocks, the Head of Gryffindor house."

Hermione paled, "Oh no." she groaned.

Draco smirked, "Good going. Angering the Gryffindor head, that would be ten points on the Slytherin scale.

Hermione shot him a "look", "Shut up!"

He stuck out his tongue and she was suddenly struck by the new playful Draco. He was different away from Hogwarts, their hogwarts, and she liked this Draco. She smiled at him.

He cocked his head to the side, "What?"

"Oh nothing." she was still smiling when she turned back to the professor.

Draco shrugged.

Albus was watching the two exchange. He inwardly smiled.

"All right you should know what to do. Pick your bows and begin practice." the sleepy-eyed professor finished his tedious speech.

Hermione approached the barrel containing the bows. She picked one of the smaller ones with a dark wood she couldn't quite place. Grabbing a satchel of arrows she fell into line between Albus and Draco. Taking out and arrow and fixing it like she had once seen on an old western movie and took aim. To say her first shot was dismal was an understatement, the wobbly arrow had left the string and landed like a rock twenty yards away. Slightly embarrassed she peered around to make sure no one had seen the pathetic attempt.

Hermione let out a breath at the sight of everyone focused on their own arrows but was a little suspicious of Draco who's lips were slightly upturned as he strung his next arrow. His lips. Oh his lips were the perfect shape, full and luscious. They were slightly parted as he concentrated on his aim. How she wished she could just trace them with her finger...

Oh Hermione stop! she shook her head violently turning back to concentrating on the moving targets fifty yards away. She had something to prove and staring at Malfoy, Draco, she reminded herself wasn't helping anything.

Half an hour passed and Hermione had shot three dozen arrows only to watch them magically return to her satchel. It wasn't that she was bad on the contrary she was quite good for a first timer but she still lacked behind the rest of the group who had studied archery for half a semester. Draco and Albus were shooting very well hitting their targets almost every turn. How Draco knew muggle archery she would never know. She again strung her bow.

Albus had been watching Hermione out of the corner of his eye seeing her silent struggle. He had watched her technique and had pen pointed her exact problem. A devious plan suddenly struck him. His eyes darted between Hermione and Draco. Perhaps I could...hmmm.

Albus laid down his bow and approached Hermione. After her last shot she turned to him.

"What?" she questioned a little annoyed that the stupid bow wasn't working right.

"I think I see what your problem is. Your stance is all wrong. You must put you left leg forward and lean a little to the...here let me show you." he had said this slightly louder seeing Draco in his peripheral vision.

He stood behind Hermione placing his feet behind hers. "Now, what you want to do is..."

"Albus what do you think you are doing? You are showing her all wrong. Here let me do it." Draco dropped his bow and approached the two. So it had gotten his attention. Truthfully Draco and been watching Hermione long before Albus had offered his help.

"Well if you insist." Albus moved out of the way. He walked back to his bow, silently chuckling to himself.

Draco stood behind Hermione placing his feet behind hers. She leaned against his stomach as he placed his hands upon hers. She felt awkward and excited at the same time, his body heat mingling with hers. Her scent of peaches and cream was intoxicating to him. He spoke softly into her ear.

"You must take the arrow and gently pull it back by the string..."he did this as he whispered.

"Yeah."

"make sure you don't go to fast. Take your time to take aim. Watch your target." she could feel his warm breath on her neck.

"and when you've done all this...you let go." he took his hands away. She held the bow steady and let go. The arrow shot straight and true, squarely hitting the moving target. Hermione let out a squeal of delight and Draco grinned in her triumph. She looked up to him, caramel fading into silvery-blue.

"Thank you, Draco."

For the first time in his life Draco's stomach flipped and his knees threatened to give away. He looked down into her eyes so full of innocence and emotion wanting her for himself, for her goodness to redeem him. He wanted to take her in his arms and ravish her with kisses. His whole body ached and his mind reeled just to be near her. He did not like this feeling, not being in control of himself, but strangely he didn't want it to stop. But he couldn't have her. She would hate him if she knew what a monster he really was.

He stepped away, scared of what he would do if he didn't. "You're welcome Hermione." he said in an even tone masking his emotions.

He broke their gaze returning to his own place. She watched him back away feeling more alone than she had before.

Draco started shooting again seemingly unfazed. Hermione took up another arrow again hitting the target.

(AN:)This is either a really good chapter or a really bad chapter. There is such a fine line, kind of like between genius and insanity. Hummmm.... Like if you review I'll be a genius and update tomorrow but if you don't I'll go insane and smash the hard drive on my computer. So then where would our young lovers be? You hold the fate of Hermione and Draco in the palm of your hands. Review, not to review. Live forever in the land of wildflowers and bunnies or death to Draco. I think we all know the right choice here.