Poor Draco Malfoy was getting tired of the accusations everyone was bestowing upon him. Since school was now in progress, the hallways were empty, short of the ghosts hovering around every corner in Draco's opinion. The Bloody Barron had congratulated him three times already, and he hadn't even gotten to the hospital wing yet. Contrary to popular belief, Draco wasn't as worried about his father finding out about this as that all the publicity. Draco wanted to be known for something a little more honorable than this… Finally! The Hospital Wing doors were in his view and his paced quickened.

"Yes, I understand, Mr. Hardy, but she's such a smart girl! You can't send her off to St. Mungos just yet… give us a little more time to see what memory we can spare before you send her into a straight jacket!" Madam Pomfrey was begging as Draco slipped in the Hospital doors and looked around for his wand.

"I can assure you, Miss Pomfrey, that Ms. Granger will be safe at St. Mungos." A man in business looking robes stated. He was wearing thick black glasses with horned rims. Granger was sitting on a bed in between them, watching their disputes back and forth like a ping-pong match. Draco smirked as he noticed she hadn't paid the least bit of attention to him as he snuck in. "She's of no condition to stay here." The man ran a look over several papers. "According to you, she cannot speak? I'm sorry, but that alone is reason enough to"

"-She can speak." Draco interrupted lethargically, searching the table next to Granger for his wand. He might as well have kept his mouth shut he soon realized; Madam Pomfrey's mouth hung open in shock. "Have you seen my wand?"

"Mr. Malfoy! What are you doing in here? I thought we gave you the rest of the day off!" Madam Pomfrey sighed. "Oh, you'll get her all worked up again!" She pointed to Hermione, who had a large grin pasted on her face. "It took us ten minutes to calm her down since you left!"

"What do you mean she can speak?" The man in the business robes asked, ignoring Pomfrey's exclaim. "Are you telling me this girl is capable of an intelligent conversation?"

"Well – intelligent isn't the word I would have chosen." Draco smirked. "Who are you?" Madam Pomfrey shoved Draco's wand in his hands. It seemed she had hold of it the whole time.

"Never you mind, Mr. Malfoy. – Get out of here. I've got better things to deal with at the moment." Madam Pomfrey tried to shoo Draco out, but the man wouldn't have any of it.

"I'm Tim Hardy. – I'm representing St. Mungos… Who are you?" The man offered a hand out to Draco. Draco looked down and decided the man's hand wasn't dirty, and as there was no dirt under his fingernails, he shookHardy's hand.

"I'm Draco Malfoy. My father's Lucius Malfoy. – Maybe you've heard of him?" Draco loved to flaunt around his father's name.

"Oh – yes, yes. Very honorable man." Tim Hardy said in a hurry. "What do you mean Ms. Granger can talk?"

"Simple." Draco shrugged. "She talked to me. – Repeated lots of things I said. – Of course, there's no reason why you don't take her to St. Mungos right now—"

"Oh, no, no, no, no, no." The man shook his head. "If Ms. Granger is capable of any verbal vocabulary, I want to see it right now. – Show me."

"I… I cant." Draco protested. "It only happens when other people aren't around. – Now, if you'll excuse me I want to"

"Mr. Malfoy! Why didn't you say any word of this to us before?" Madam Pomfrey scolded at once.

"I didn't think it was that important." Draco shrugged. Secretly, he told himself 'I WANT Granger as far away from me as possible.'

"Well of course its important!" Madam Pomfrey shrieked. "You were the one to save her after all!"

"This is the young lad you said saved her?" Mr. Hardy questioned. "Interesting… very interesting… Madam, if I might have a word with you in your office?" Pomfrey gave out an exasperated sigh and nodded.

"You – Mr. Malfoy. Not a TOE out of this Hospital wing until you have informed me of EVERYTHING Ms. Granger as uttered out of her mouth!" And with that she led Mr. Hardy into her office, closing the door with a heaving bang. Draco rolled his eyes and looked to Granger. She was now dressed in Hogwarts school clothes and her hair was in need of brushing.

"Damn you, Granger. YOU'RE the one who needs to be in Hell, not me." With her deep chocolate eyes she followed Draco with her eyes as he moved left. Draco took notice of this and walked back to the center of the room. 'Hmm, a game?' He lay his book bag down and mumbled a few swear words under his breath. Then an intrigued look fell over his face. He took a step to the right. Her eyes monitored. To the left he got the same effect. Draco smirked. "You're about as smart as a hippogriff – bloody chicken… two more minutes and I swear I could have lost my arm!" He clutched his arm in recalling pain. "And all because your good for nothing Potter had to make a damn parade of himself." He decided to have a little more fun with the game and continued to walk back and forth, left to right, and front to back. Granger, no matter which way he would turn, would follow him with her gaze. "What, are you waiting for an invitation to dance or something?" He sneered. Hermione's head titled to the side.

"Dance?" She asked, her soft eyes confused and bewildered.

"Yes, dance. It's a sort of motion you make with your body… where two people get so close you can almost taste their lips on your skin… their body touching yours just right, the way you can feel yourself get hotter and hotter…" He raised an eyebrow and savored the thought. " - And NO, I didn't just ask you to dance. I was being sarcastic." His eyes shot back open and stared down at the small girl. "Would you quit staring at me?" He snapped. Hermione's cheeks turned pink and she looked to the floor. Draco's anger was starting to get the best of him. He hastily strolled over to her and got on his knees, taking his giant hands and grabbing her wrists. "Why the Hell wont you talk to them!" He asked, shouting almost. "All because of you my life is going to give ME Hell! And quit staring! I mean it!" He jerked her wrists so that she leaned in closer to him. "Pansy Parkinson dumped me because of you! If you don't stop becoming taken with me I'llI'll… Well, I'll do something ghastly, don't you worry!"

"Ghastly?" Hermione repeated.

"Yes, ghastly." Draco nodded, fed up with her. "As ghastly as your face!" He let go of her wrists and stood up. "I don't really care what they want of me at the moment. I don't want to be here… and Madam Pomfrey doesn't really have that much control, now does she?" He smirked to himself. "No, I suppose she doesn't…"

"Ghastly…" Hermione was repeating to herself. "Ghastly…"

"Yes, that's what you are." Draco said incomprehensively, not really paying attention to her. "I'll just say Professor Snape called me down to his class or something… good as anything to get out of this right mess I'm in. What were you doing in the bathroom anyways?" He asked, looking over at Granger. She didn't answer him. All she did was twiddle with her tie nervously, weaving it in between her fingers. Her eyes now refused to look into his. Draco raised an eyebrow and clicked his tongue, putting his hands in his pockets. "Now Collin Creevy says I'm his hero. Shit. – And everyone thinks that you and I are together?" He snorted a laugh. "Now that's rich. – You'd probably be a good shag, you can't remember what happened to youcourse, that would be taking advantage of you, now wouldn't it?" He smirked. "No, if I took advantage of a muggle born I'd be contaminated with your germs." There was a long pause before someone sauntered in the room, her black hair now pulled back in a tight bun.

"Ah, there you are Draco." It was none other than Pansy Parkinson, smiling as she saw Draco in the Hospital wing. "I should have figured you'd be in here with the Mudblood."

"Look, Pansy, I-I didn't want to be in here; I had to get my wan" Draco was silenced with Pansy's fingers to his lips. His heart began to race and his stomach turned, as if there were dragons in there.

"Shh…" Pansy grinned. "I know you were just doing it to get back at me for kissing Blaise Zambini yesterday after you asked me for a date." Draco's eyes went wide.

"You what?" 'Bitch.' Draco thought. 'Sexy bitch…'

"And I completely understand. – That's what I like about you, Draco." Pansy wrapped her arms around his neck. "You take risks." She dipped her tongue out and touched his lips, sending a shiver down his spine. "You're so sexy…" She shoved him back on a near bed and began to smother Draco with deep kisses, whether his consent was in it or not. And of course Draco, being his normal self, wasn't one to complain. Pansy straddled him and smiled over to Hermione. "Sorry, dear. I don't do performances." She then grabbed the curtains around the bed and enclosed her and Draco inside.

"Pansy…" Draco whispered as she began to nibble on his neck. "That was sort of…"

"I know. Perfect, right?" She giggled, looking him in the eyes. "I love everything about you, Draco Malfoy."

"Yeah, but you don't love me, do you?" He sneered. "You whore, you were in it to get my friend! That's why you spent so much bloody time with me." He was now starting to put the pieces together. With a hasty push he shoved her off of him and sent her toppling over on the other side of the bed, hair askew and all. "You really ARE a Slytherin, aren't you?"

"Now sweetheart, there's no use in worrying about minor details." Pansy began to realize the flaw in her plan. "I just thought—"

"Yes, well you fooled around with the wrong Malfoy." Draco smirked, standing up. "My Father is two miles into Wiltshire. Go look him up for a free ride." With that he straightened out his tie and was just about to open up the curtains when an evil idea popped into his head. He smirked and raised a finger to his lips to tell Pansy to be silent, before whispering, "Oh, Pansy… yesss, like that…" He tried to hold back the snickers of laughter about to erupt from him as he heard a shift on the bed across from his. Apparently Granger didn't like what might have been going on in the bed shrouded from her view. Pansy raised an eyebrow questionably but Draco only shook his head to tell her 'say a word and die.' "Mmm… yessss, do that again…. Wow… you're MUCH better than any BOOKWORM could be… oohhhh…" He doubled over in silent laughter as Hermione Granger snatched open the curtains and glared at him. Draco fell back on the bed and began to howl with laughter. "Aha! I knew she—ha, knew more than we thought!" He said between chuckles and guffaws.

"Draco!" Hermione said adamantly, stomping her foot.

"She talked!" Pansy shrieked, becoming horrified and falling off the bed with a toppling "AHHHHH! – Ouch, my bum."

"I told you dolts she could." Draco smirked happily to himself. "What's the matter Granger? Jealous already? – Wow, really I never expected YOU as one of my loyal fan girls."

"S-She actually talked!" Pansy said amazed. With a heave she stood herself up and ran over to Granger's side, examining her as if she were a unicorn or some wild beast. "I thought she had nothing left in her…"

"Where'd you hear that?" Draco questioned, raising an eyebrow. Pansy looked up at him for a moment before hastily investigating Hermione again.

"O-Oh, just around. – That Creevy boy and things." She muttered.

"Right." Draco whispered. Pansy pulled out her wand and poked Hermione in the shoulder with it. Hermione jumped in alarm and grabbed her wand, before throwing it clear across the room.

"She threw my wand!" Pansy inhaled furiously. "How dare she!"

"She probably didn't like you poking her like some sort of dog." Someone chuckled behind them. All three turned around to see Mr. Hardy with a notepad and pen. "She did speak, and what an amazing accomplishment at that. She knew that you might have been doing adult things and – her mind is VERY advanced for someone who had their memory modified! There may be hope yet!" Draco was just about to open his mouth but snapped it shut. So what? This would give him more hero time, perhaps.

"With all due respect," Pansy said exasperated, "One word isn't going to change the fact that she's a mudblood!"

"MS. PARKINSON!" An angry Madam Pomfrey bellowed from her office. "I WILL NOT TOLERATE SUCH BEHAVIOR IN MY INFIRMARY! TWENTY POINTS FROM SLYTHERIN!"

"Way to go, Pans." Draco whispered under his breath.

"But Ms. Parkinson and Mr. Malfoy got Ms. Granger to say a word, my dear Poppy!" Mr. Hardy said happily. "This means Ms. Granger will NOT have to go to St. Mungos at this pace! She's already caught on to human vocabulary!" Madam Pomfrey clapped her hands in happy surprise.

"Oh, is that true! Fantastic! –Must inform Dumbledore – Lots to do… Oh this is fantastic! Hogwarts star pupil WILL see classes again!" Madam Pomfrey did a small jig before bounding out of the hospital doors and down the hall on her way to tell Dumbledore of the auspicious news.

"I never said any of that." Mr. Hardy said with a shrug. "Oh well." He gathered up his files with a flick of his wand and smirked. "My job here is done. – Now all I have to do is call in to the little lady and tell her I'm all 'booked up' – with porno flicks." He stepped out of the vacant lighting and into the shadows before making his way over to the doors. "Nice doing business with you kids." And with that he was out the doors. Draco flipped the guy off and gave him a well howdy do goodbye.

"Mother fucking bastard. Now I have to baby-sit!" Draco shouted after the man. Hermione possessively, almost instinctively, grabbed Draco's arm as Pansy began to make her way over to him. Pansy glared and took Draco's other arm.

"You think you're SO smart, don't you Granger?" She hissed. "Just because you can speak doesn't mean you're intelligent."

"Ouch, and the winner of the bitchiest attitude goes to…" Draco smirked.

"Oh shut up." Pansy growled. "I'm not letting some two timing bookworm know it all Gryffindor take my man away."

"Erm, Pansy? I was never your man to begin with." Draco sighed. "You were USING ME."

"That's BESIDES the point."

"Riiiiiight." Draco nodded. "Well, as lovely as it is having a mudblood and a whore on my arm, I need to clear my name in the name of all that's good and – and… well, I don't know the rest of that saying but I'm sure it has something to do with sex or something!"

"Ghastly." Hermione said suddenly, pointing to Pansy. Pansy didn't get the connection, but Draco did. He snorted a laugh and nodded.

"That's right Granger. Ghastly."

"Did she just call me GHASTLY?" Pansy repeated.

"Yeah she did." Draco laughed. "Come on you two. Get off. – I'm going to the prefects bathroom."

"You should have gone this morning." Pansy sneered.

"Woman, don't make mecalm, Draco. Calm." Draco told himself, rubbing his temples. "I need to check out the crime scene of Granger's rape and"

"RAPE?" Pansy echoed. "Nobody told me ANYTHING about a RAPE."

"Well what DID YOU HEAR?" Draco said astonished. "Merlin, the whole school is starting rumors without even knowing the facts."

"I just heard that you saved Ms. Mudblood from dying in a bathroom and cuddled with her all night." Pansy shrugged. "Collin Creevy said you were spooning with her."

"I WAS NOT!"

"Well," Pansy smirked, "Lets ask Granger. Maybe…she'll know? – Granger. Did Malfoy spoon with you last night?" She looked to Hermione for an answer, but was given none. Just the piercing glare of a love struck girl who was jealous. "Answer me, Godammit."

"Pansy, she isn't going to answer you – she only talks to me." Draco rolled his eyes. "Now come on, the both of you. Granger – I need YOU to help me out, think you could do that?" Hermione only cocked her head to the side. "Greaaaaaaaat. Dumb and dumber." He nudged to Pansy.

"Excuse me! What, what?" Pansy asked shocked.

"Ah, go stick a fork in yourself, Pansy. I'm done with your shit." Draco smirked and outstretched his hand to check the time on his wristwatch. "Shouldn't you be in double potions by now?"

"So what if I skipped?" Pansy asked.

"You thought you'd get laid by me." Draco pointed out. "Or was it Granger you were coming to see?" He asked sarcastically.

"Ha Ha." Pansy rolled her eyes. "Lets just get your name cleared already."

"Thank Merlin."

"Merlin?" Hermione asked.

"She doesn't even know who MERLIN is? – To think!" Pansy cried. "Its amazing this girl was going to be valedictorian!"

"I bet you I could teach her." Draco smirked, raising an 'I'm always right' eyebrow.

"Teach? YOU? Teach her WHAT? How to belch God Save The Queen?" Pansy roared in laughter.

"Everything." Draco said grouchily. "I bet you I could teach her everything there was to being a wizard."

"You mean witch."

"I mean whatever the hell I mean." Draco grumbled. "But yeah- I could teach her."

"Riiiight, when that day comes, Draco Malfoy, I'll wear a pink tutu in front of the whole school."

"Can I have that in writing?"

"You serious?"

"When am I not?"

"Fine! YOU'RE ON!"

"FINE!"

"FINE!"

"FINE!"

"FINE!"

"FINE!"

"Ok."

"Right."

"To the Prefects Bathroom?"

"Er…sure. – Come on Granger."