"Alright, let's get started." Hermione said rather loudly, attempting to get the attention of the Slytherin boys. Draco had basically read her mind and they'd decided to use all the subjects available to them. He was at 75 percent by now. She was getting overly nervous. Glancing at Pansy, she frowned, thinking of how she was supposed to be able to get rid of the annoying pug-faced girl if Draco won the bet. Likewise, she was attempting to think of things she could do to get her way and win the bet. She could seriously use those flying lessons.

"What first?" Amelia, a Hufflepuff muggle-born asked excitedly.

"Firstly, we've got a questionnaire for you." Draco answered, passing out a paper to each of the students. "Just about your personal beliefs."

"Please don't take into account what our project intends to say. Just what you feel." Hermione added, just to clarify.

"Need to have the last word, Granger?" Draco questioned smugly.

"No!" She snapped.

"Ah. Eighty percent." He grinned, winking at her. She scowled in return.

After the students had answered the questions, Hermione collected them, heading over to the folders she had brought.

"And now, you'll tidy them up." Draco whispered in her ear so the others couldn't see or hear, just before she began to even out the ends of the paper and make a neat stack. She glared at him, even though his proximity to her made her feel nervous. "Eighty five."

She whirled around to face him, about to tell him off, when he added, "Wouldn't want to look bad as Head Girl in front of these students would you?" She put her hand to her wand, before rolling her eyes as he added another five percent.

After that, the work with the students went rather poorly. Hermione couldn't focus, afraid that Draco would add another five percent and have her practically ruined. He just needed two more assumptions to be correct. Honestly, she worried what they would be, more than she worried about dealing with Pansy at that point.

By the time the meeting was over, Draco was feeling sufficiently proud of himself, and the fact that the purebloods generally did better - except the idiots like Crabbe and Goyle, he noted. Then again, they'd never needed to be smart. They cheated off people right and left in order to retain grades high enough to move on. That thought also made him smile. Even the stupid pureblood had wit enough to cheat. He contemplated mentioning this to Hermione in an attempt to win more points, but was nervous about her catching on and beating him to it.

That last thought made him stop in his tracks as he was gathering the quills the students had left behind, while Hermione put together her folders. She hadn't even tried to win points today. Did she think she'd lost? That took all the fun out of it, didn't it? He frowned as he picked up another quill. He couldn't figure why she wasn't attempting to give it back to him. As he looked at her, she brushed a curl out of her face and picked up her folders. She looked as she always did - studious, solemn, and pretty. He startled himself, ducking his head a bit in confusion. When did he start thinking that? Probably fourth year, at the Ball. He just hadn't allowed himself to register the idea. He picked up the last quill and walked over to her.

"No witty comments for me today, Granger?" He attempted to tease her. He had a feeling, however, he failed.

"Not in the mood, actually." She replied cooly, not making eye contact.

"Tired of losing?" He added, feeling the need to keep up his cold demeanor.

"Something like that." She shrugged, opening the door for them to leave.

"What's with you, Granger? You take the fun out of everything. Did you know that?" He snapped, stepping in her way.

"Leave me be, Malfoy. Let me deal with this on my own, alright?" She practically begged.

"Deal with what, exactly?"

"I don't want to talk about it." She replied harshly, finally meeting his gaze with a dark glower. That's when Draco realized.

"You're mad that the purebloods are doing better, aren't you?" He asked, amazed. She stomped past him as he added his extra five points.

"I don't know why I put up with you!" She cried as she continued to walk away.

Draco hastened after her, saying, "I can't help your being attracted to my good looks, Granger." He had been teasing, of course, but the blush that lit her cheeks made him stare, aghast, as he caught her arm and turned her to face him. He was extremely tempted to just add his extra points and win. However, her embarrassment made it seem less worth it. Especially at the price she would pay for the five percent to be added. For once, he felt guilt, amazement, and admiration at once. Guilt for embarrassing her, amazement at her practically announcing her feelings, and admiration at her ability to care for someone like him. Well, if she did care. Maybe she just found him good looking? It wouldn't be surprising, he thought fleetingly.

"Just say it, Malfoy. Say you've won." She hissed, attempting to tug her arm out of his grasp. He held on tight, however.

"Granger.. Hermione, I'm sorry. We don't have to count that." He replied quietly.

She stared at him, wide-eyed. He'd just apologized? The world must be ending, collapsing on top of her. Malfoy had just found out that she found him attractive - at least he hadn't guessed that she actually cared for him (or so she hoped, anyway) - and he'd apologized, in under a minute.

"My Gryffindor stubbornness makes that impossible. I can't just cheat, Malfoy." She murmured, looking away.

"Hermione, I really didn't mean it, you know. I was just teasing."

"What makes you think I feel you're attractive?" She asked, pulling her arm out of his grip and walking away.

He stared after her, confused. He'd just won. Or had he? And what were her feelings on the matter exactly? He raced after her, into their dormitory.