It's all J.K. Rowling's. Except hogroot. I could be wrong, but I don't think she ever had an ingredient called hogroot...
"I suppose it's been a few weeks since I've written anything. Well, not much has happened, really. Malfoy was a little strange right after everything with Pansy, but he eventually snapped out of it. We almost get along, in that professional, these are our marks way. I, of course, study more than him, but I suppose that's to be expected. I have always done that. In some ways I suppose the whole Pansy thing made this unspoken tolerance for one another. Weird, I know, but it happened. As for the love potion, we just basically ignore what exactly it is we're making. I suppose we'll just deal with that later..."
"Granger."
Hermione sighed. As usual. She closed the journal and muttered the password.
"Yes, Malfoy?" she responded, not entirely curtly.
"How's your research going?" he asked in a noncommittal fashion.
"It's fine," she responded. "And yours?"
"Fine as well."
An awkward moment of silence passed.
"So," Hermione started. Malfoy looked at her. She became slightly awkward under his gaze, but said, "Is your part at all close to being finished?"
He looked almost relieved at her question. "Yeah," he responded. "I just need to figure out where to find one more ingredient in nature, and then I'm good."
"That's good," she commented politely.
"And yours?"
"I'm at about the same place you are. One more ingredient."
"Nice," he responded, becoming slightly awkward after realizing it was an almost friendly response.
Another awkward moment passed.
"Well," she said finally. "I should go study."
"Right," he responded. "And me as well."
With that, they separated.
Hermione went back to her favorite tree by the lake. The wind was perfect as usual, and she smiled pleasantly as she opened her books.
Ever since Pansy and Blaise had made it official, she didn't have to worry about going back to her tree anymore. There was the occasional student, but that was nothing compared to what she had witnessed with those two...
As if on cue, Hermione heard footsteps. She sighed softly and hoped the person would leave soon.
"Granger?" she heard from behind the tree. Her sigh was more apparent as she stood.
"Yes, Malfoy?" she replied, peering around the tree.
Not having realized how close he was, they found themselves a few inches from one another. Her eyes went wide; his narrowed. Each immediately took a large step back.
Then, as if nothing happened, Malfoy calmly ran a hand through his hair. "I need your help, Granger," he muttered.
Hermione simply blinked at him, not quite comprehending. "You... what?" she said finally.
"Oh, come off it," he snapped. "It's about the project."
Immediately offended at his tone, Hermione glared. Then, through gritted teeth, she responded, "What."
"Look, I don't know how to find hogroot in nature, okay?" He shuffled his feet in a nervous fashion, and Hermione realized how different of a look it was for him.
"And you'd like my help?" she prodded, enjoying this moment a little too much.
"Yes," he responded gruffly. "You're one of those studying, researching types. Can you just help me look for it?"
Hermione considered his question. This would mean working... together... with Malfoy. At the same time, they did share the marks for the presentation...
"Okay, Malfoy," she responded hesitantly. "But you're going to have to actually do the work with me."
Looking at the ground for a moment longer, Malfoy sighed a defeated, yet short, sigh. Then, he stuck his hand out to Hermione. "Agreed," he said.
Hermione blinked again, looking at his hand, then him.
"I won't bite," he said.
Still slightly suspicious, Hermione put her hand out to meet his.
"Agreed," Hermione said slowly.
They shook.
Then, without further comment, they made their way to the library.
Hermione had to give Malfoy credit. Information on hogroot really was that difficult to find. After an hour or so, Malfoy felt his stomach grumble.
"You mean to tell me I shook hands with a Mudblood for this?" he muttered.
Hermione stopped perusing the bookshelf immediately, whipped around, and glared. "Yes, Malfoy," she responded coldly. "You touched a Mudblood. And oh, look!" She feigned surprise, pushing his arm slightly. "You lived!"
"Granger, what's with you?" he demanded.
"Gee, I don't know, Malfoy," she responded. "Maybe it's because they stuck me with the Ferret to do a semester-long project and the pressure's starting to get to me?"
Malfoy's eyes went a cold, steely blue.
"And maybe it's also because I'm trying to help said Ferret and all he wants to do is make a big deal about how he touched a bloody Mudblood when it was his bloody idea!" Hermione seemed to have forgotten they were in a library. The librarian glared over in warning.
Malfoy's eyes, though still cold, went wide at her screaming. She looked fit to kill, just like she did at the beginning of the project. Malfoy realized, at that moment, that he really did need her help.
Sighing and hating himself for it, he released his defense. "I suppose if I keep going with this one, I'm going to get myself slapped again, eh, Granger?" he said in a defeated tone.
Hiding her small smile at his tone, Hermione nodded. "That's about right," she said.
He sighed. "Fine," he said finally. "Truce?"
Again, he extended his hand to hers.
"And you're sure you won't die at this encounter as well?" Hermione asked wryly.
"I'm sticking my hand out there, aren't I?" Malfoy snapped.
Finally, Hermione extended hers as well.
"Very well, Malfoy," she said as they shook hands. Their hands paused for a moment, mid-shake. "Truce."
Each looked at the other in a slightly suspicious manner, but the truce stood nonetheless.
"Oh, look!" Hermione said excitedly, looking at the book shelf and squeezing his hand.
Not having realized she was even still touching him, she went bright red and released him immediately.
"This is exactly the book I was looking for!" she exclaimed quickly, removing the book and brandishing it in front of him.
"Aphrodisiacs in Nature," he read, trying to suppress his smile. He looked at her quizzically.
"Well, it's a love potion, isn't it?" she responded, too excited to snap at him. Opening the book, she found the index. "It's here!" she shouted, pointing to the reference.
The librarian glared.
"Hermione, ssh!" Malfoy snapped.
Hermione? She looked at him curiously. "Hermione?" she repeated.
"Well, it's your bloody name, isn't it?" he snapped.
Hermione laughed softly. "Yes," she responded. "That it is."
A/N: Hey all, sorry this one took so long. Personal life just went a little crazy for a few days. Anyway, please let me know what you think. Thanks!