Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of its characters.

CHAPTER 2 PART 1

"Stop…stop" Hermione murmured. Someone was shining a bright light in her eyes. She squeezed her eyes shut but it didn't work. Who was doing that? She sat up in her bed and covered her eyes with her hand, then slowly opened them in the darkness created by her palm.

"Oh." Hermione said to herself. No one was shining light into her eyes; it was just the sun streaming into the window. She yawned and smacked her lips. What time was it? She looked over at the wind-up clock on the wall.

"Shit!" she exclaimed, scrambling out of bed. She was late for class. She scooped up her things and began to dress, before realizing she was still wearing her pajamas. She ripped them off and got dressed (for real this time). She combed her hair with her fingers and picked up her books. Her stomach grumbled loudly, but she ignored it. She ran down into the empty common room and out into the hall. She had never been late like this before.

Hermione reached McGonagall's classroom and quickly composed herself. She opened the door slowly and walked in quietly. The whole class turned to look at her. She remembered her partnership and made her way to her seat next to Malfoy. He raised his eyebrows at her as she sat down. She returned it with a scowl.

"Nice of you to join us, Miss Granger" Professor McGonagall said, a slight annoyance in her voice. Hermione blushed in embarrassment.

"Mr. Malfoy said you were in charge of the first part of the written report that was due today. I assume you have it…" McGonagall continued, looming over Hermione. Hermione felt as if her bottom had fallen off. She had completely forgotten about the assignment. She didn't have it. The whole class was staring at her, and she felt like crawling into a hole. She had never seen how intimidating the professor could be until now. She suddenly realized her mouth was hanging open like an idiot goldfish and she shut it quickly.

"I…I…" she stammered, trying to come up with an excuse. "I don't have it…" Nice excuse, she thought.

"So what you're saying is that you were late for class, unprepared and without your assignment?" McGonagall raised an eyebrow.

"Hermione nodded.

"You leave me no choice but to give you detention, Miss Granger"

And then something happened. Something that caught Hermione so off guard that she regained her goldfish look.

Draco cleared his throat. "Professor McGonagall. I actually just remembered I was supposed to do that part of the assignment. I completely forgot about it, too." He said calmly.

Professor McGonagall nodded. "I see. Well, Miss Granger. I'll take away your detention. But please don't be late again. And Mr. Malfoy, you must turn the assignment in before today is over or you will get a zero. I will deduct five points from your grade."

***

Draco and Hermione didn't speak for the rest of the class. Hermione would occasionally look at him, her brows furrowed. He didn't return the gaze. He had just taken the blame for a mudblood. In the middle of class, nonetheless. He would get a whole lot of grief from the Slytherins today.

After class Hermione quickly darted away, probably eager to tell her posse about his "nice" act. He grumbled to himself as he headed off to the Room of Requirements to continue with his business.

***

Hermione was excited to tell Harry and Ron what had happened. She headed to the common room, but stopped herself. She didn't know why, but she felt that she shouldn't tell them just yet. Instead she headed to the library, hoping some reading would clear her head. She was frazzled. What was happening? Malfoy being… nice? Was Voldemort just going to come into Hogwarts and apologize for his actions? There was no way this was normal. It had to be part of something that Malfoy had up his sleeve.

She was so lost in her thoughts, she didn't see where she was going. She suddenly collided with something… or someone.

"Woah, Hermione!" Ron laughed. Ron and Harry stood in front of her, holding some books. Ron had a book about Quidditch and Harry had some things about objects of black magic. Harry saw her looking at the books and nodded.

"I'm doing some more research. You know, trying to figure out what Malfoy's been up to."

Hermione considered telling them about Malfoy, but again she decided against it. Harry would probably confront Malfoy about it, or do something stupid. Ron would just be… Ron.

***

Draco waited patiently in the bustling hallway for his prey. He was leaned against the stone wall, watching people pass by, scrutinizing the crowd for her. A few Slytherins passed by, looked at him and snickered.

"Fantastic" Draco muttered. The word of his heroic act for that mudblood was spreading. He drew his fingers through his air and smirked when he saw her.

"Granger" he said, blocking her path.

Hermione put her hands on her hips. "What?" she asked, looking at him suspiciously.

"You never thanked me for keeping you out of trouble this morning"

"I don't need help. I was doing fine." Hermione said indignantly.

"Ah. I see. Yeah, I guess you're right. That stuttering and turning red thing you had there was really working out for you." Draco smiled.

Hermione sighed exasperatedly and walked around him.

"Since when is it not okay for two classmates to help each other?" Draco called out after her, laughing, but she ignored him.

Draco chuckled to himself as he walked to his next class.