Yep, J.K. Rowling's...
"Wow, my first name. I didn't think he had it in him. I'm amazed, really. And he shook my hand... twice. And actually asking for help... If I didn't know any better, I'd almost think we were getting along for real."
"Granger." And back to the last name.
Hermione sighed, shut the journal, and muttered the password.
"Yes?" she replied, approaching him.
He stood. "Are you finished with your part yet?" he asked.
"Finished last night," she replied.
"Right," he said. "Same here."
Another awkward moment followed.
"Should we compare notes?" she asked.
Malfoy seemed to consider her question for a moment. "Yes," he finally replied. "But I don't know when."
She handed him a few pieces of parchment. "Here are mine," she said briskly. "And yours?" She looked at him expectantly.
"Oh, right," he muttered distractedly, glancing up from the parchment. He fished through his things and handed her a few pieces of his own.
No one spoke for a few moments.
"Looks good," Hermione muttered, not realizing her exact words.
After giving her a slightly suspicious look, Malfoy said, "Yours as well."
Glancing up, Hermione caught his look. "What?" she asked innocently.
Malfoy just shook his head. "Nothing," he replied.
Silence again ensued.
"Are we finished?" Hermione finally asked.
"I suppose so," Malfoy replied.
Hermione turned to leave, then turned back. "Draco," she said quickly.
He raised his eyebrows at her. "Draco?"
She smiled. "That's your name, right?" she replied.
He smirked. "That it is," he said.
An awkward silence followed. Their eyes locked for a moment, then each looked away quickly.
"So," he said finally. "You were saying...?"
"Right," she replied, looking up again. "I was just going to ask if you had anything else to say?"
Draco ran his hands through his hair in thought. "I don't think so," he said after a bit.
"Right then," she said, hesitating a little. "See you later, Draco," she added.
He looked at her in surprise. He hesitated, then replied, "See you later, Hermione."
With that, she left the library.
It had been one of those mornings where they had actually spoken. Hence, they met shortly thereafter in Potions.
"I expect you all have finished locating your ingredients," Snape began in his usual terse fashion, "so today, you'll work on how each of these ingredients might make your potion work. I expect a completed first attempt of your potions by next week. That is all."
Hermione noticed Harry and Ron cower in their chairs at Snape's words. Obviously they hadn't gotten that far quite yet. Draco followed her glance and narrowed his eyes at the pair. Unprepared twits, he thought to himself.
"So," Hermione began, catching Draco's attention. "Our beloved hogroot."
Draco smirked. "I think we both know what that does," he said in a seductive tone.
Hermione turned a bright crimson and pushed her hair behind her ears nervously. "Right," she muttered.
"On to the next one," Draco said, dropping his seduction and leaning over her to read the parchment.
"Pyroglaze," he read. "What is that?"
"It's a well-known but rare catalyst that creates a very quick reaction," Hermione responded.
"And, just for kicks, where do you find it in nature?"
"Well," she replied, "as I said, it's rare. Its only known location is deep within a chain of underwater volcanoes off the coast of Greenland."
Draco shook his head in disbelief. "Hermione the walking textbook," he muttered.
She blushed. "I study," she said, shrugging.
He raised his eyebrows at her. "Right."
"I can't believe it, Gin," Hermione said at lunch. "We're almost getting along."
Ginny nearly spit out her drink. Coughing, she managed, "Amazing."
Hermione laughed at her reaction. "I mean, we're far from friends," she said, "but it's tolerable."
"So did you fall for him?"
Hermione's death glare sent Ginny into a fit of giggles. "I suppose not then," she said.
"Definitely not," Hermione replied shortly.
"Is he cute when he's nice?" the redheaded girl prodded, looking at her mischievously.
"Oh yes, Ginny," Hermione responded sarcastically. "Draco Malfoy is just a complete and utter dream." She punctuated her sentence with her hands under her chin, gazing up at the enchanted ceiling with a dreamy look in her eyes.
Looking down, Hermione happened to glance at Ron in time to see his well-chewed bite fall right out of his open jaw.
The girls looked at one another for a split second before bursting into another round of laughter.
After lunch, Hermione went back to her tree to do some studying.
She was enjoying the way the breeze rippled along the water when she heard footsteps again.
She looked up to find Draco peering around the tree.
"I thought I'd find you here," he said, kneeling beside her.
"What do you need?" she asked politely.
"Nothing in particular," he responded, seating himself on the grass.
Hermione eyed him suspiciously. "Then why come find me?"
"Well," he said, looking out at the lake, "I've been thinking." He was quiet for a moment.
"Yes?"
"Well, we want to do well on this project, right?"
"Of course."
"And hexes are illegal outside of classes, right?"
Hermione paused. "Where's this going, Draco?" she asked.
"We should get along," he said simply.
"Agreed," she said hesitantly. "What else?"
Malfoy finally sighed. "You don't buy it, do you?" It was more of a statement than a question.
"Not really," she replied.
He sighed again. Hesitating, he finally spoke. "So Crabbe and Goyle won't quit hassling me about the Pansy thing," he grumbled. He was silent for a moment. "I figured if I came and found you, I'd at least get some peace about it, all right?"
Hermione didn't speak at first. Then, turning toward the lake, she just said, "Okay, that works."
Draco eyed her suspiciously. "What?"
"That works," she repeated calmly. "If you want peace, I'll give it to you."
"Right," he said slowly.
The pair sat calmly by the lake for near an hour. Neither spoke, but each appeared relaxed and content in the other's company.
Eventually dinner time came. Draco stood slowly, then extended a hand to help her up. She accepted.
They walked to the castle doors, then separated. As Hermione walked away, she heard him say her name.
"Yes?" she responded, turning to him.
"Thanks," he said simply, smiling.
Hermione said nothing, but smiled back before turning away.
A/N: I've had several requests to make chapters longer, and I think that's a bit longer. The problem with chapters in this story, though, is they each cover one day. Some days, not much happens. Anyway, let me know what you think. Thanks!