A/N: Has it take me a lifetime to write one single measly crappy chapter? Yes. Is anyone still reading this? No.

This chapter is the shortest one ever and it doesn't progress at all but I just wanted to get something out since I feel extremely bad for this delay. I'm surprised that there were still reviews coming in…..

I found it really hard to drag myself back into this fandom this time, is that bad? LOL

Soul Mates

Chapter Eight: A Change of Heart?

Big headlines like "The young Mr & Mrs Malfoys are busy making preparations for their new baby." and ones like "A New Malfoy is About to be Born!"etc. complete with the cheesy picture of Hermione feeding Draco a cookie.

As the whole of Hogwarts was in uproar over this new insight in the young couple's lives, the two Heads was still in a somewhat slight state of shock at the scene before them. Even the teachers could be seen whispering amongst themselves and bombarding poor Madame Pomfrey with questions.

How did this happen? How had their interview turned out so horribly wrong? Why was this happening?!?

"I wonder who it was that agreed to this interview." Draco said in between gritted teeth.

"Well.. well, I didn't know they would change the whole story and blow things way out of proportion! I seriously thought it would benefit us and just help us finish this deal with Dumbledore so we can head our ways sooner! It's not like I wanted to do a stupid interview!" Hermione huffed out.

"…You're willing to do things that you don't like just so you can get away from me sooner?" he asked softly with a passive face, but his eyes betrayed his loneliness.

With that, he walked away into the direction of the Slytherin table, leaving Hermione to stand in the middle of the doorway in confusion.

Draco took the seat in the lifeguard tower. He hadn't said a word to Hermione for the rest of the day after their conversation in the great hall. He sat in his lifeguard seat, wearing a lifeguard shirt with a lifeguard whistle and leaned back with a straw hat covering his face.

Normally, being a teenage boy and sitting in the seat with the best view, you'd expect him to be alert and checking out all the pretty girls in bikinis. But, that was exactly the opposite of what Draco was doing. Instead of keeping his eyes open, he was on the verge of falling asleep. Why wasn't he staying alert? Because the students that Dumbledore had assured would love this idea apparently decided not to show up!

Hermione was currently diligently flipping through the many pages in The Book of Yoga Spells. She had thought that in case some of the students weren't interested in swimming, they could do some yoga instead. So she has spent the better part of her afternoon looking up spells on how to conjure yoga mats and other materials that would be necessary. She was also able to find some interesting spells that were quite useful for yoga that she had of course not been able to learn during her yoga lessons in the muggle world back at home a few summers back.

However, to her disappointment, all that research proved to be worthless for no one showed up! She sighed resignedly and put down her book. She looked up to see what Draco was doing. Other than ignoring her.

"Draco."

No response.
"Malfoy!" she tried again

Still no response.

"Why is it, you think, that no ones here?" by this time, Hermione had given up trying to get an answer from him, so she just continued talking.

"Would it be because people don't like swimming? Hm.. I know! It's because of YOU! It's because Draco's here. And everyone knows that no one can stand Draco, so since its not mandatory to come here, they decide that they don't need to force themselves to acquaint with you more than necessary!"

"It's not because of me." He drawled thoroughly annoyed by this time. "It's because no one even knows that this class existed! And if those girls know that I'll be the lifeguard here, they'll come here to faint right and left just so I'll go rescue them and give them a chance to feel me up since I'll only be dressed in my swim trunks."

"Acting like the stuck up brat that you are isn't really helping the situation, is it?" she shouted up towards him and rolled her eyes, "Well? What are you going to do about, Draco? We can't just let it continue like this!"

The lifeguard just merely adjusted his hat and shifted in his seat.

"Are you listening to me?! We have to work together to solve this problem! And all you do is just sit there and ignore me! What is up with you?!" her eyes were blazing as she stood up abruptly from her yoga mat to stalk in the direction of the lifeguard tower.

"Oh.. so now you care? What is up with me? I'll tell you what's up with me. It's because I have to be stuck with a stupid know-it-all all the time, that's what!"

"How can someone be a know-it-all and be stupid, huh, Draco?"

Draco leaned back in his seat and continued to ignore her again.

"Argh! Get down her this instance, Draco Malfoy!" Picking up the nearest rolled up yoga mat in hand, Hermione tried to hurl it in Draco's direction but it didn't even reach him. Getting another one, she changed her tactics and combined her throw with a jump.

While this time, the mat did strike his tower; it caused Hermione to lose her balance on the wet patch and began to fall backwards into the pool. Hearing her alarmed yelp, Draco raised his head to face the direction of the noise.

"Careful!" he yelled, hopping off the tower to dive into the pool.

Time seemed to stop for them and their fall into the pool together seemed to act out in slow motion. It was at that moment that Hermione felt a slight tug at her heart. It wasn't exactly unpleasant, nor was it describable. If it were to occur again, she knew she wouldn't mind.