Hermione sat between Ginny and Lavender at the Gryffindor table in the great hall. The feast was almost over and the sorting long completed. McGonagall's speech was short but powerful. She had requested a moment of silence for all those who had lost their lives. He also made it very clear that inter house cooperation was a must. She would not tolerate any bickering or hostility between students, especially Gryffindor and Slytherin. Draco sat at his table watching Hermione laugh happily with her friends. She had changed a lot over the years. Her hair was much straighter, her teeth were all aligned and her eyes sparkled in the candlelight. He noticed the youngest Weasly nudge her gesturing in his direction. She looked up at him and smiled.

"You're smiling at him now?" Ginny asked slightly shocked.

"Yes Gin, We are adults now." Hermione said pulling her eyes away from him and back to the girl beside her.

"You know," Pavati mused watching the blonde "Malfoy's not that bad looking." Hermione felt a pang in her stomach. She quickly dismissed it and was about to say something to Ginny when lavender spoke up

"Didn't you say you were becoming friends?" She ask dreamily Hermione looked at her in shock.

"I said he was being nice. Never did I mention friendship."

"Well how about you introduce us to your new friend properly." Pavati asked as she blinked her eyelashes at him. Hermione looked at the three women; they were all watching him dreamily. She looked up at him again to see him smirking and watching her intently. She shook her head before standing up from the table.

"I'm going to the library." She huffed. The girls obvious attraction to him was slightly annoying though she wasn't sure why.

"Mione it's only the first night!" Ginny whined as she drug her attention from Draco to look at her best friend. She smiled when she saw the look in Hermione's eye.

"Good night Ginny, Boys" She said nodding in Harry and Ron's direction. The two had completely ignored her since they stepped foot in the castle. They were relishing in the heroism talk as they relayed war stories with their friends. Ginny shrugged and turned her attention back to Draco. She was however surprised to see him stand and follow Hermione from the room.

Hermione sat in the library; she had gathered multiple books from the shelf and spread them across the table. She had just opened the first one when she heard a snort behind her.

"In the library already granger?" she looked up curiously turning around to face him. He was leaning against a nearby bookshelf watching her.

"It's never too early to start preparing for N.E.W.T's." She lied as she turned around, not one single book pertained to their test. What she didn't expect was for Draco to walk over and pick up one of the books. She closed her eyes as he burst out in laughter.

"Flying? Since when does flying have anything to do with N.E.W.T's?" he looked at the book carefully before his eyes fell on the titles scattered on the table. "Abolishing fears, Basics of flying, facing your fears." He mumbled to himself. "Granger are you afraid of flying?" she shrugged as she chewed on the end of her quill nervously as she looked up at him.

"Possibly."

"You mean Potty and Weasle have never had you on a broom?"

"I never said I hadn't been on a broom Malfoy… I just don't enjoy it." She mumbled. Before she could think he had leaned over her, one hand on the back of her chair the other on the side of the table in front of her. His scent was the first thing to hit her; it made her breath catch in her throat. Damn it why does he smell so intoxicating?

"I could show you how to enjoy it." He whispered. She felt his warm breath ticker her ear and had to fight to keep her composure.

"I'll get on a broom when you beat Harry in quidditch." She said sarcastically.

"Deal." He smirked before standing up and walking toward the door.

"I was joking Malfoy!" She yelled at his retreating back.

"Deals made Granger!" he called over his shoulder as he exited the library. She sat there in shock staring at the closed door before she quickly collected her books and left.

Draco laughed to himself as he entered the Slytherin common room. He had no idea what had possessed him to approach her like that but he was quite satisfied with himself.

"Haven't seen you smirk in a long time Draco, it suits you."

"Oh shut it Blaize." He grumbled leave it to his so called friends to ruin his mood. The last thing he wanted to deal with was the people he knew would bring up the past.

"No need to bite my head off." Blaize Zambini said coldly. Draco sat down on the sofa across from him and closed his eyes. To his surprise and slight delight he was meet with the image Hermione looking at him innocently chewing on the end of her quill.

"Fuck." He muttered putting his head in his hands. As much as he wanted to deny it the girl affected him.

"Girls on the brain?" Blaize asked Draco looked up at him and cocked an eyebrow.

"Obvious?" he ask Blaize laughed

"I've known you since we were seven mate and while you were busy last year I was chasing all the tail I could get. You could say I know a thing or two about girls." He paused "At least four of those Gryffindorks couldn't keep their eyes off you." He noticed how Blaize had skirted around the issue of his involvement in the war, even attempting to make him laugh. "So which one has your knickers in a twist; Weasly, Patel, Brown or Granger?"

"I don't wear knickers Blaize and if I did they wouldn't be in a twist." He sounded firm but his eyes gave him away.

"Whatever you say mate." He laughed as Draco stood and headed for his room for some peace.