Well, hope you all survived the site being offline! It gave me a chance to write this chapter, hope you enjoy. (I'm going to say it-please review :) )
~All JK's
"Well, it seems that this activity garnered mixed results." Professor McGonagall proclaimed as she pierced the class with her stern gaze. "However, mixed is more than I could have hoped for at this stage of the game, so we shall call this activity a success."
Draco snuck a glance at Hermione and shook his head. She sat rigidly on the edge of her seat the way she always did when a teacher spoke, as though she was trying to soak up every ounce of information they were providing, no matter how extraneous it might be. It struck Draco that it didn't annoy him as much as it once would have.
"Today I will be giving you your first homework assignment," McGonagall continued.
Hermione edged forward even further on her seat, looking as though her entire body was focused on McGonagall's words.
"Your first major project for this course will be to spend some time with your partner outside of class. It strikes me as though part of the reason for the nastiness exchanged is due to peer pressure. I can't help thinking that if some of you were removed from this type of environment, you might be more cordial. Therefore, this weekend you must meet with your partner and plan an activity that you will do with them at some time during the next couple of weeks."
"I have to take Granger on a date!?" Malfoy called out in shock.
"You're the only one who's mentioned a date Mr. Malfoy," McGonagall replied, eyes twinkling.
A few people in the class snickered, and Malfoy hunched forward, cheeks flaming.
"Class dismissed!" McGonagall said.
"Malfoy—" Hermione said tentatively.
"Save it Granger!" he snapped. He'd already made enough of a fool of himself. This was exactly what he had feared. Grabbing his bag, he stormed out of the class, leaving behind a confused and distraught Hermione.
Xxxxx
The following morning, Draco decided to take advantage of his desire for solidarity by getting a head start on his rapidly growing pile of homework in the library. He should have known that she'd be there.
"Malfoy!" she called out in a stage whisper. He almost laughed out loud, of course she'd never dream of shouting in the library. Or even talking at normal volume, he thought in exasperation, as she whispered "Malfoy!" again.
"What do you want Granger?" he snapped, still feeling the sting of the incident in yesterday's class.
"Well first off, you shouldn't keep taking out your anger on me, I wasn't involved in what happened yesterday." She began assertively.
"No, but you were the cause!" he replied hotly.
"Oh for heaven's sake!" she cried, looking up at the ceiling as though searching for help. "Grow up!"
Before he could help himself, Draco found himself saying, "Did I just get Hermione Granger to yell in the library?"
Looking at him closely, Hermione smiled, recognizing his attempt at humor as what it was—an apology. Luckily, she didn't push her luck and accepted it. Malfoys didn't do direct apologies.
"So, do you think we could talk about our…outing?" she asked carefully.
Looking at her eager, open face, Draco's expression softened somewhat and he said, "Sure, Granger."
Relief flooded her face and she shot him a small smile. She then abruptly snapped into what Draco and Blaise referred to as her "crazy schoolgirl mode." "So! What do you want to do?" she asked fervently.
"Umm…I hadn't really thought about it," Draco said honestly, bracing himself for her wrath. Granger was scary when it came to schoolwork.
Hermione sighed in exasperation, before taking a deep breath and saying, "I had an idea."
"Of course you did," Draco muttered."
Ignoring the jibe, Hermione steeled herself for his reaction and whispered, "We…we could go into the muggle world."
Draco burst into sincere laughter. "Good one Granger!"
Hermione just looked at him, waiting for him to realize just how serious she was. When he did clue in, his jaw dropped and he simply looked at her as though she had sprouted a second head.
"Look, just hear me out," Hermione begged. When he didn't respond, she seized her chance. "I think that this would be both good for exposing you to not only me, but to the muggle world as well. It would kill two birds with one stone so to speak. And you need 'adjusting' to both. As far as myself, I think it would be good for me to have to guide you through the experience. Plus to be honest, it's probably safest to put us in an environment where we can't use magic!" She grinned.
Even though it went against everything he had ever known or been taught, Draco found himself surrendering to the increasingly complex witch before him.
"Fantastic!" Hermione exclaimed.
Draco said nothing, he was feeling a bit weak.
"I'll let you know what we'll be doing once we find out the date of our…expedition. I promise that you'll enjoy yourself!" Draco sincerely doubted that, but thought it best not to argue, especially when she was going to be the only thing standing between himself and God knows how many muggles. Draco cringed inwardly at the very thought.
"Anyway, I have to run, see you later Draco!" she started to walk off at a brisk pace before she was stopped by his voice calling out, "Hey Granger!" she whirled around so quickly that she swore she almost gave herself whiplash. "Yes?" she asked, inwardly cursing herself for the breathy tone she had unconsciously adapted.
"Did you just call me Draco?"
With a start, Hermione realized that she had.
"Yes Malfoy, I suppose I did."
Draco's expression was unreadable. "Alright." He said simply, before he pulled out his potions book and began copying his notes, leaving a very flustered Hermione to watch him for a moment, before walking off in a daze.
xxxxx
"So Ron," Daphne contorted her voice to sound breathy. Placing her hand on his arm, she continued, "What do you want to do for our assignment?" She looked up at him through her lashes.
Ron however, did not look back, seeing as he couldn't tear his gaze from her hand on his arm. She squeezed it in what she hoped was a seductive manner.
"Um," he gulped. "Whatever you want to do is fine."
"Shall we go on the next Hogsmeade trip together then?" Daphne asked, removing her hand.
"That sounds fine," Ron replied distractedly, his gaze following her hand which was now twirling a lock of her hair.
Daphne had never been the greatest at flirting, but it was all too easy with Ron, he fell for the littlest things. At this rate, the Hogsmeade trip wouldn't be the next step in her plan to get Ron to ask her out, they'd be dating already!
xxxxx
"I'm not going anywhere with that pug-faced bitch!" Ginny complained to her boyfriend.
"Come on Gin, you have to," Harry tried to reason with her, wincing as she turned her furious gaze on him.
"But Harry, it's PANSY!" Harry winced again, this time in sympathy. "Oh well, at least you hate your partner too," Ginny attempted to console herself. Harry winced a third time, honestly it was beginning to look as though he had a twitch.
"Um hon, about that…" Harry began timidly.
"Harry James Potter you don't mean to tell me that you are beginning to like BLAISE ZABINI!?" Ginny screeched, sounding remarkably like her mother.
"Well…."
"How could you? What's to like?" Ginny asked, utterly confused. "Get along, sure, but LIKE?" That's a whole other story."
"Well to start he's hilarious, and not nearly as stuck up as he tries to appear. And he treats me like an equal, neither below nor above him. He doesn't treat me like a celebrity or like someone he despises. Quite frankly, he's a pretty cool guy," Harry sad in a rush, bracing himself for the fit he was sure to come. But Ginny just shook her head, completely dumbfounded.
"My God Harry, next you'll be telling me that Hermione's beginning to like Malfoy!"
xxxxx
She had called him Draco. How could she have called him Draco? Hermione had not only surprised him, but had caught herself completely off guard as well. What had she been thinking?
To be completely honest, she had been thinking about how he had actually agreed to go into the muggle world with her, and of the trust he must subconsciously have in her to agree and how excited that made her feel. She told herself that she was beginning to feel protective of and caring towards him as she did with any being who was hurt or vulnerable. Hermione had always had that protective instinct. And Draco was incredibly hurt, and whether or not he liked to admit it, vulnerable because of it. The raising his family had given him and the events of the year before had forced him to lock away the good side of himself. But slowly, Hermione was beginning to chip away at his cold exterior and expose the goodness inside him. She was doing it to help him, as she would with anyone in a desperate situation such as his. That's what she told herself anyway.
The truth however, whether or not she would admit it to herself, was that in those instances where Draco had exposed his kinder, warmer side, Hermione had really liked the person he became. So much so, that one could almost claim she had developed a crush on him.
I've started to write Hermione and Draco's 'excursion' and I'm super pumped. I'm looking for suggestions for Harry/Blaise and Ginny/Pansy though, if you have one, please post it in the reviews or pm me, that'd be great. Thanks!