Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. Other citations will be made where necessary.

Chapter 3

The next morning was… tough.

Hermione woke up in an unusually dark room, with a slightly greenish light coming through the little slit in the heavy curtains covering the windows. She sighed heavily as she immediately realized where she was. Wasn't hard to guess, really.

She heard Pansy snoring loudly behind her curtains and rolled her eyes. It could have actually been funny, if it wasn't so sad. Poor, stupid, pug-faced cow.

Hermione decided to get up before Pansy so she would not have to suffer her presence first thing in the morning. She got out of her bed and tiptoed to the bathroom, when something caught her eye through the window. She frowned and first wanted to just ignore it, thinking she must have imagined it, but curiosity got the best of her and she walked over to the window, drawing the thick fabric away. When she saw what was behind that curtain, she let out a wild shriek and recoiled (too fast) from the window, stumbling, as a result, on her feet and falling flat on her arse.

Her shriek clearly woke up her roommate who sat up abruptly, eyes wide and swiftly jumped out of her bed, drawing her curtain, only to reveal her disheveled self wearing a way too tight, sickeningly pink tank top and matching panties, with wand in her hand. When she spotted the pop-eyed Hermione sprawled on the floor, who looked no better then her right now, she visibly relaxed. Her relaxed expression, however, quickly formed into a frown and finally a very annoyed look.

"What the hell, Granger?" she shouted, placing her hands on her hips.

"I… there's this… the window-" she stammered, still panicked, pointing to the window.

Pansy's eyes narrowed and shook her head. "What are you-..." she begun, walking over to the window and roughly pulling the curtain aside. Hermione watched her rolling her eyes and going back to her bad, yawning lazily.

"It's just the Giant Squid, Granger. This was not a good reason to wake me up like that"

"The… Giant Squid?"

Parkinson huffed in annoyance. "Yes, Granger, the Giant bloody Squid. We're under the lake, remember? I thought you were supposed to know that, seeing as you always seem to know everything," she snapped.

Hermione blinked and begun to relax, getting to her feet. Of course, they were under the lake, how could she forget that?

"Of course I know that, I just forgot about it as I'm not used to seeing giant, freaky cephalopods sliding across my windows first thing in the morning!" she snapped back indignantly, crossing her arms.

"Well, then I guess you should get used it, shouldn't you?" Pansy yelled, waving her hands. Then she frowned, "And… cephalopods?" she shook her head with a grimace.

Hermione sighed in irritation and strode off angrily to the bathroom, slamming the door behind her, receiving an angry "PMSing bitch!" through the door.

She managed to calm down her nerves after taking a shower and brushing her teeth.

That was until Parkinson started slamming her fists at the door, demanding that Hermione opened it. Hermione, however, purposely took extra time in the shower just for the heck of it.

Finally, she decided to get out of the bathroom so she wouldn't be late to breakfast.

"Okay, Parkinson you can-" she started in a sweet tone, but was cut midsentence.

"Finally!" snapped Pansy and stormed into the bathroom, pushing Hermione on her way there and slamming the door shut in her face.

Hermione sighed and stepped over to her dresser to get ready for the day. She took out her new uniform and changed.

Well, that certainly was not something she would've imagined to happen.

Her, Hermione Granger, a proud Gryffindor, wearing silver-green Slytherin robes. It made her feel… defeated, humiliated, oppressed. It felt like someone was stumping ruthlessly on her Gryffindor pride. What was Dumbledore thinking when he assigned them to this? What respect would it make them gain towards their rival House? Ron was right, more chances it'll cause more hate towards each other.

With just a few minutes left until breakfast, Hermione did some last touches on her now somewhat decent hair and fixed her robes. With a last glance at the mirror, she threw her school bag over her shoulder and stepped out of the room with her head held high.

Too high, apparently.

She wasn't used to the climbing Slytherin staircase, so she found herself slipping a few good steps down, shrieking loudly all the way. When she almost reached the end of the staircase, she managed to stop her wild ride by clutching awkwardly to the stair-rails. Her heart was pounding violently in her chest as she stood there a few more seconds, trying to catch her breath.

"Thought lions were considered graceful," said a mocking voice. Hermione closed her eyes, took a deep breath and lifted her head to face Malfoy. She straightened out and flipped her hair over her shoulder, grumbling a "Shut up" in his direction, as she went down the few remaining steps and headed towards the exit Wall. Draco chuckled and followed her.

They were walking down the corridor that led to the Great Hall, when Draco broke the silence.

"So," he started. "I suppose we should discuss the following two weeks. Just so there'll be no misunderstandings, you know?"

"Yeah," Hermione nodded. "Yes, we should."

"Alright. I guess the sitting arrangements are settled, since the goon is watching us. Now…"
"Dumbledore is not a 'goon'. He's the wisest…" she started defending her Headmaster, but was cut shortly before she managed to make her point.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever, Granger," he waved his hand impatiently at her, receiving a glare. "Anyway, what about classes?"

"Same. I bet the teachers know about this… They might even be Dumbledore's source."

He nodded. "Right. Well, I suppose that should do it? Sharing a seat during meals and classes?"
"Well…" she looked uncertain. "Dumbledore clearly told us 'not to leave each other's side'…"

He sighed loudly.
"Look Granger, I understand your eagerness to spend loads of time with me, but seriously you have to give me some space," he smirked. She narrowed her eyes and felt herself exploding, and this time – she was going to shut him up.

"Draco Malfoy! For your information, I'm not enjoying this any more than you do! I don't know why Dumbledore assigned us to this when, in fact, I would rather serve a month of detentions with Snape than have to suffer your blasted company for two bloody weeks! So I suggest you to keep your little side-remarks and opinions to yourself and work your way to my good side, if you want to make it through the next week alive!" she finished in a threatening tone.

Draco gaped at her. Then, when he realized she was finished, he hurriedly regained his composure and much to Hermione's annoyance, merely sneered at her and continued walking.

He was a bit taken aback by her emotional speech, but he wouldn't let it show. Besides, he was going through exactly the same thing and was finding the idea of spending two weeks in the close company of Potter's Mudblood friend anything but pleasant. And sure he couldn't blame her for feeling the same way and dreading these two weeks as much as him, because, well… he wasn't exactly a gift either, and honestly, if it was anybody else, he was going to feel sorry for them for the way they would have to spend these fourteen days. However, as it wasn't just anybody, but Granger, he felt anything but sorry and was determined to have as much fun with it as he only could… at least until next Sunday.

Breakfast has been a relatively quite event.

Hermione and Draco sat by each other's side, not talking, only focusing on their plates. By now, everybody already knew about what they had to do, so no one dared to speak or even look funny at Draco, fearing he might be in a rather foul mood. They were however, shamelessly sending Hermione their best Death Glares and scowls. Hermione found herself doing a poor job of ignoring this collective expression of 'affection' and was squirming in her seat through the whole meal. The first day of Torture just begun, and she was already feeling nauseous.

She never felt so unwanted and out of place in her entire life, so lonely and so… homesick, like she did that morning. Well… maybe only at the beginning of her first year when she heard Ron and Harry laugh at her being a stuck up know-it-all. Only now, rather than being eager to go back to her parents like she did five years ago, she missed her friends terribly and wished she could go back to her House where she belonged, to Gryffindor.

Hermione didn't know what had suddenly made her feel so insecure again. After all, she wasn't expecting anything else from the Slytherins. She knew they would be less than happy about her stopgap stay in their House – they had all the reasons to, really.

She wasn't just an outsider who simply didn't belong to their House – she was as an unwanted of a guest there as one could be. First, she was a Gryffindor and a damn good one at that. Second, she was Harry Potter's closest friend, and at last, she was a Muggle-born. A… Mudblood, as they would like to call her.

She got distracted from her thoughts when Malfoy finally finished his breakfast, picked up his bag and stood up.

"Potions," he drawled and headed towards the Entrance Hall. Hermione swiftly grabbed her bag and in a hurry to get away from her Slytherin well-wishers, obediently followed behind.

'Like a bloody puppy,' she thought bitterly.

They walked to the Potions' classroom in silence. Neither of them felt like breaking it. When they finally reached the classroom, Draco leaned casually against the wall with his hands in his pockets. Hermione just stood by the opposite wall, trying to look anywhere but at Malfoy and feeling very uncomfortable.

Draco noticed this. He noticed how flushed she was during breakfast and how she was squirming uncomfortably in her seat under the glares of his Housemates. He noticed how she didn't object to following him behind and how in fact, she didn't even say a word since her outburst at the corridor. And he noticed how uncomfortable she looked now.

Again, couldn't blame her. His Housemates were anything but friendly to guests, he could tell now that if not him – they would sure give her hell this week.

Hmph. Well, good for her.

They heard the rest of the students approaching the classroom and Hermione barely audibly sighed in relief. She beamed at Harry and Ron who returned the smile and fastened their pace to give her a hug. Harry reached her first and picked her up in a bear hug, making her giggle. "Hey!" she grinned. Ron too gave her a tight hug and the three immediately started talking animatedly.

Malfoy rolled his eyes at the reunion.

Barely a minute later, Snape arrived and let them inside the classroom rewarding each Gryffindor with his usual glare.

Hermione went to the front of the classroom, expecting Malfoy to follow her this time, when she heard someone calling her name. She turned around and saw Ron waving his hand at her, calling for her attention and motioning to the seat beside him. Oh how she wanted to leap to his offer and seat with him, along with all of her other Housemates and friends. Instead, she had to smile apologetically at him and shake her head, showing him the Serpent on her cloak and then motioning to the Slytherins' side of the classroom.

He frowned for a second, but then understood and nodded slowly. Hermione sighed and went to her seat, already accompanied by Malfoy. She took out her books and waited for the Snape's instructions for the lesson.

"During today's lesson, you will be brewing the Wit-Sharpening Potion," drawled the professor. "Now… who can tell me what the properties of said Potion are?"

Naturally, Hermione's hand shot up in the air.

"Sure you want to do that?" asked Malfoy barely above a whisper. Hermione frowned and gave him a confused look.

"Ms. Granger."

"Presumably, the Wit-Sharpening Potion makes the person think more clearly. The main ingredients of this Potion are Scarab Tree, cut up Ginger root and Armadillo Bile. This Potion is perfect to use before exams," she finished with a smug smile.

"Is that your secret then, Granger? Been consuming it on regular basis ever since the start of school?" said a cocky voice. A few chuckles came from the Slytherins at Malfoy's oh-so-witty comment. Hermione felt the blood rushing to her cheeks.

Snape waited patiently until the laughter died down and the room went silent before he spoke again.

"That is correct Ms. Granger. Five points to Slytherin."

"…"

There were a few gasps and muttering coming from the Gryffindors, but it quickly died down as Snape was not as patient with them as he was with his own students.

Hermione saw Malfoy smirking at her smugly from the corner of her eye.

Great. Bloody brilliant.

What was she going to do now? Was she not to answer questions in class so she wouldn't accidently earn points for her rival House? But how could she not to? It was practically in her nature, her oldest habit that she developed ever since Muggle School.

'Well Hermione, you are just going to have to try hard enough not to raise your hand. In this pace, by the end of the week you will easily earn at least fifty points to that slimy House!' she thought furiously.

"You will be working in pairs, with the person that sits next to you," Snape continued. "By the end of the lesson, you will bottle the completed Potion and hand it to me for grading. The instructions are on the board. Get to work."

There was an immediate shuffling sound through the students as they begun preparing their ingredients, along with some murmurs as some of them stated discussing their work or simply chatting.

"In silence," snapped the Potions' Master.

Malfoy had been a right, lazy prat, expecting her to do all the work. Normally, she wouldn't mind working on her own, she even liked it better that way. However, this Potion was too complicated for one person to handle on their own and she needed Malfoy's help- err… cooperation. Yeah, that would be the right word.

He finally agreed to cooperate with her after she explained to him that is not only her grade, but his as well, since it is an assignment that meant to be done in pairs. This cooperation however was actively accompanied by constant bragging about his "Superior Malfoy skills in Potions brewing", which according to Malfoy, was also the reason he always had such high grades in Potions. Hermione merely scoffed at that, asking him if he was sure that it wasn't thanks to the "Superior Malfoy skills in bribery". Malfoy glared. She smirked, feeling very pleased with herself and that was the end of it.

Until Transfiguration.

Naturally, they shared a seat and so naturally, they argued. A lot.

At least this time, their desk was right next to Harry and Ron's, so she had back up from them. As a result of that fighting, both of the Houses lost ten points, but Hermione foolishly managed to gain them back for Slytherin after her brilliant performance of the new spell they were learning.

The rest of the day passed in a similar fashion.

They shared a seat during all the silent, uncomfortable meals and all the nerve-wrecking classes. Hermione did her best at controlling her hand from rising at each question the teachers asked and she felt pleased with herself when she succeeded. Well, as pleased as she could get from being silent and not answering questions. She also tried harder to ignore the Hufflepuffishly-kind Slytherins during lunch and dinner, which she found easier to do when Malfoy was acting more at ease with his friends and Housemates. At least when he was acting that way, they had one sin less to blame her for, meaning Malfoy's crappy mood.

After classes were finally over, instead of going to the common room she decided to gather her books and study materials and do her homework by the lake, in the company of her best friends. She really missed them today, and for once, she actually didn't mind the noise they were making and didn't complain about them distracting her from her work.

She needed this. This light, cheery mood they were all in, this easily flowing conversation, these jokes and the laughter… She needed a break.

Meanwhile in the Slytherin common room, Draco was having a break of his own. He was sitting in front of the fireplace with his best buddy, Zabini, sipping on some stolen- um… borrowed Butterbeer. They were laughing loudly at some joke Zabini told, receiving some annoyed glares from a few fourth years' who were trying to study. When they calmed down, Zabini decided to ask him how he coped with Granger today. Draco sighed and finally after taking another sip of Butterbeer, answered.

"Well, today wasn't so bad, really." He noticed Blaise arching his brows. "I mean, if you don't count the many awkward silences and the fights. And the arguments. …and my crappy mood through the whole day. Oh and the-"

He caught the soft thudding on the window right before Blaise's booming laughter he was clearly trying to hold all this time finally erupted and cut him midsentence. Draco sighed and walked over to the window to let the owl who was caring a letter in.

"Okay, so today was bad," he admitted to Blaise who was still chuckling.

"And it's only the first day, mate," Zabini smiled. Draco rolled his eyes and then noticed the owl was still standing on the desk next to him, with her leg stretched out, looking at him impatiently. He frowned and untied the piece of parchment from its leg.

Zabini watched Draco's frown get deeper as he read the letter and finally, the letter getting crumpled in his now tight fists. "Draco? What is it?" he asked.

Malfoy only handed him the crumpled ball and flumped angrily on the couch, filling his glass with more alcohol. Blaise frowned and straightened the parchment to read the massage written in a tiny, narrow script:

"Mr. Malfoy,

I must inform you that it has come to my attention that you and Ms. Granger have failed to complete your given assignment to the fullest these last two days. I expect the two of you to mend your behavior as soon as possible, as it is my last warning to you. If you don't, I shall have no choice but to apply the appropriate measures.

My best wishes,

Professor A.D."

"What the hell?" exclaimed Blaise. "What does he mean, 'have failed to complete your assignment to the fullest'? I saw you, you two were together the whole day in classes and everything…"

Draco sighed in irritation. That old, bastard of a coot.

"Yeah, Blaise, we were together the whole day. Were, right up until now," he explained.

"You mean…"

"I mean, that he was being very literal when he told us to 'not leave each other's side." And that Granger was right.

Oh, joy.

"So what are going to do?" asked Zabini, tossing the letter aside.

Draco sighed again. He seemed to be doing that a lot lately.

"Now I'm going to find Granger and spend some quality time with her. Until bloody curfew, I guess." Zabini nodded. "Today was bad, Blaise. And it just got worse."