A/N: The point of views will change fluidly from this point forward. They should be quite self-explanatory, but it may take a few sentences into the person's mind to realize who is speaking. However, as you become more comfortable with my writing style, the characters, and the story, this will change and you will probably recognize the speaker immediately.

Lastly, I want reviews! I won't update until I have at least 10 reviews. It's what keeps me going and I want to hear what ya'll think, any ideas you have, what's confusing or disturbing, and what you think is better left out, etc.

Love,

Ashlee

"I don't particularly care if you don't want to live in the same dorm, Malfoy! Move out, then!" The livid Head Girl yelled at the equally upset, and similarly titled, boy standing across from her.

"You're incorrectly assuming that I would leave and allow you to benefit from the grandeur of our current living circumstances," he replied.

Shaking his head, Albus turned from the fire without bothering to listen to the entirety of the conversation. " So you see, there really is no alternative." The wise Headmaster stated as he took the seat before the small assembly of witches and wizards in front of him. " Although they have the potential to become two of our most valuable assets, this will only be possible if the are able to see through their prejudice."

"The other students? Their parents? What are we to submit to them as an excuse for their absence?" Questioned Minerva, her lips pursed into a tight, thin line.

"When the group next battles against Voldemort--for we know its is only a matter of time--we simply place the pair in such a position that would not make it unlikely for them crucially injured, and make sure that they do not actually come to harm. Replicas of their bodies will then be placed in the hospital wing until our plan is completer. At that time we will switch them and they will awaken, seemingly from a coma," Mad-Eye spoke up.

"Precisely. During the duration of their isolated stay together, Miss Granger and Mr. Malfoy will be staying with our very own, Miss Galena Misokovitch." Dumbledore gestured toward a small witch before continuing. "In a different country, of course. They will live in a small French village, where Galena will presumably be a farming widow;" he finished, looking content.

"It seems you've thought of everything, Albus." Acknowledged a senior member of the Order as a general murmur of agreement went throughout the group.

With that, the plan to create allies from bitter most enemies was officiated and begun The gathered Order looked toward the fire to see the bright seventh year leave the Head Dorm in a huff, tears of embarrassment, fury, and frustration, filling her eyes. The argument was at n impasse--for now.

Severus Snape placed his unusually long, chalky index fingers to his temples; the incessant arguments between Granger and Malfoy were grating his nerves and trying his patience, Under orders from Dumbledore, he had assigned them to be lab partners for the duration of the term. Although it was merely their second day together, the pair had successfully managed to discover sixty-two points on which to disagree--all within the subject of unicorn blood. "Oh, god, I need a better hobby," he murmured to himself as he rose from his seat.

"Mr. Malfoy and Miss Granger! Would you please confine your fighting over menial issues to your living quarters!" A snicker ran throughout the classroom. Hermione glared at Draco and snatched the vial of Mandrake juice from his hands. Shaking his head, Severus returned to his desk.

"I have a proposition for you," His voice whispered in my ear; too silken bode any good. I turned toward him fractionally, grating my teeth as I diced dragon scales.

"And it is?" I questioned, trying to muster a civil tone from somewhere in the deep recesses of my soul.

"Seeing as we don't agree on well, anything, perhaps we could 'divide' the work."

I refuse to do your work for you, Malfoy." A smirk formed on his lips as his eyebrow arched ever so slightly.

"You think I would allow you to be in charged of the entirety of my grade?" He scoffed. I reddened.

"Well, I--"

"What I meant was that you and I might trade of on whom is in control of concocting the potions on lab days." He leaned back in his seat, seeming pleased with himself.

"Fine," I replied, stunned at his civility.

"Good. Of course, you'll be doing the potion today, seeing as you've already begun."

I stared at him in shock and anger--as strongly internal as it was geared in his direction. Of course he would instate his 'plan' he day that we were making what was our most difficult potion up to date. Realizing that I had seen through his pretenses, his smirk became even more pronounced.

To think that for two seconds I thought that he had the potential to be--not the actual qualities of, but--a decent human being! I thought to myself lividly. "Malfoy," I threatened, menace creeping into my tone with more vividty as each syllable passed through my lips.

"Granger," he replied, his tone thick with amusement. Deciding that shock and awe would be the best way to deal with this, I quickly stood up from my seat. A tiny smile twitched on the edges of my lips, but worry lines etched themselves into my forehead nonetheless. Although I could tell that I was having the desired effect on Malfoy--a quick glance revealed his skin to be whiter than usual, his hands clenched into tight fists--I was still worried. Member of the Order and Spy for Dumbledore, or not, Snape was a Slytherin--and he made no secret of his dislike for me. As I watched his eyebrows arch, no doubt wondering, as I was beginning to myself, why on earth I was approaching his desk, all traces of my front faded.

"P--Professor Snape?" Damn stuttering.

"Miss Granger." Honestly, could no one answer my questions with something other than my name?

"It's nothing, sir. Granger--he said even my last name with extremely evident difficulty--was having a bit of trouble with part of the assignment, but I've solved it," he said while turning to me with a glare that I assumed was supposed to communicate that I should agree and drop the issue.

Instead it gave me renewed determination.

"Actually, Professor, my problem does not lie within the potion itself; but the wizard I'm working on it with--or rather, not working on it with," I explained, growing more confident as I went on.

He gestured for me to continue, resting his chin upon steepled fingers. Did I imagine the amused look in his eyes? "You see Malfoy," I glanced over at my lab partner to see his face growing more panicked by the second; making it extremely apparent that he knew quite well how unfair his deal was. "Well, he devised a system of 'sharing' our workload and trading potion off every other lab day, so that our disagreements would no longer interfere with out work."

"It seems to be an efficient system. Did you agree to his proposition?" The potion master requested of me.

"Y-e-s," I admitted reluctantly, stretching the small word to three times its normal size.

"Then what seems to be the problem?"

Malfoy stepped forward as my face blushed scarlet. I'd been foolish to assume that I could win this dispute; Draco may have known that he was unfair, but in a world where there are favorites and the hated, I would lose everything that involved Snape.

"There are no problems Professor. Hermione--using my first name earned him a pair of raised eyebrows from both Snape and myself--is simply unwilling to keep her end of the deal. She no longer wants to complete her potion."

Surprisingly, Snape did not yell, nor did he dock points from either of out houses. "Pack up your things. Neither of you will be completing the potion today." He simply stated, loud enough for all to hear.

There was an audible gasp that filled the room and echoed off of the walls at the hushed silence that followed in fear soon after.

Reconnecting both halves of my jaw and simultaneously turning away for Professor Snape's desk, I quickly saw that the entirety of the seventh year Gryffindor's and Slytherin's were staring at us, while failing to appear as though they were doing just the opposite. My face quickly and thoroughly accomplished the seemingly impossible task of changing to the colors of beet red and stark white at the same time. I hurriedly tucked my jaw to my throat and stalked to my desk.

I was meticulously placing my potions things back where they belonged when a worried voice interrupted my thoughts and paused my task. "What do you suppose he's planning to do?" I looked up to be confronted with something that, no matter how long I racked my brains for, I could never remember seeing; a Malfoy who appeared to be scared of his Head of House. Recovering, I attempted to cover my shock and present him with an intelligent answer.

"I have no idea." I tried to answer in a monotone, but I couldn't quite keep the intrigue out of my voice. "Possibly he wants to ask my advice on what he should do in the matter of asking you out, seeing as you claim straight and all," I added, sarcasm dripping in each syllable that poured from my mouth. To my great surprise, he laughed.

"I see we share the same suspicions."

I couldn't help it, I chuckled in return. I instantly regretted the action when he cocked an eyebrow--surely we weren't getting along? No. We were simply distracting each other from our fear of being Crucioed out of this dimension whenever our master next had the chance. I blushed heavily under his gaze when I realized that it still held mine, and I swiftly averted my eyes.

The bell rang a few seconds later and we, along with the other students, grabbed our schoolbags, pushed our chairs into the ancient oak tables, and made to leave the dank, black dungeon as fast as was humanly possible. However, a few inches from reaching my desired goal--the brightly-lit hallway, which was also filled with fresh air--the familiar voice of Professor Snape called me back to him.

"Miss Granger, I would like you to stay, please."

My eyes darted to Draco Malfoy's retreating form, praying that he would turn back and his eyes would meet mine with comforting sympathy. Instead I found his back, as cold, arrogant, and foreboding as it had always been.

With calculated grace and determination, mixed with fear as well as uncertainty, I turned to face him. Then I walked with carefully measured steps, towards the wizard who held my fate in the palms of his hands, until I was standing face to face with him, closer than I had ever imagined I would be to this man. I lifted my eyes until they locked with his. Rather than finding the usual cold, hateful black though his eyes were a glittering cobalt, filled with an unfamiliar emotion that I couldn't possibly hope to comprehend.

"Hermione," he said, taking a step closer.