Part V

Feeling an insistent, burning stare boring in the back of her robs, Hermione swivelled around to catch Draco Malfoy staring at her rather intensely. Raising an eyebrow at Blaise Zabini, friend of the blonde, silently questioning why Malfoy looked so enraged. The dark Slytherin merely shrugged and shook his head at his friend's odd behaviour.

''What is it 'Mione?'' her messy haired boyfriend whispered into her ear the moment she righted herself.

''It's nothing'' she waved him off easily. He had been rather over-protective and extremely possessive the past few weeks. Strange considering they were still in a fairly large row.

The raven-haired boy turned around and his steady emerald green gaze met Malfoy's blazing pewter grey eyes. The platinum blonde sneered as his eyes turned from possessive and protective to mocking and arrogant. He broke the staring game only to rip off a piece of parchment and scratch something onto the parchment with his quill.

Whispering a quiet spell, the parchment began folding intimately as it flew towards Potter unknown o anyone else in the room. It landed in his lap softly; his movement to pluck it off his robes was almost imperceptible. Scared I'm going to steal your mudblood girlfriend, Potter? She's not worth taunting my hands, much less my blood. It seems not even Granger can stand to have your hands on her person. What a laugh.

Harry grimaced as Hermione caught his attention straying from the book that was perched in front of them. He eyes eventually landed on the slightly crumpled note sitting in his lap. Gingerly snatching it from its comfortable position and read it swiftly, turning to glare malevolently at the Malfoy heir.

''He's not worth it.'' she mumbled under her voice. Harry nodded and turned back to the front. ''He's just being a prat, nothing new.'' She said more to herself than anyone else. She wondered what was with Draco's odd and constantly changing moods and attitudes. A visit to the library never hurt, books always had the answers. If not, she could simply consult Blaise Zabini. Strategies formed quickly in her mind as she continued her essay. She had already edited and polished the essay on uses of ashwinder eggs in potions.

Waiting until the last student exited the Potions dungeon door, Blaise Zabini cautiously approached the brooding Potions Master. Unable to find his usually silky tongue he swallowed rather audibly and opened his mouth. Although, before he could get anything in his Head of house and Professor interrupted his unspoken thoughts.

"Mr Zabini, you seem to be under a false pretence that I don't know of Mr Malfoy's… condition " Severus Snape drawled as he turned to face his third-best student. "In future, do try to conceal your ardent glares at Miss Granger and Mr Potter. Draco may have not noticed, but you'd do well to understand that I am quite observant."

''Professor.'' he nodded one to show he understood. ''He needs a potion. The air around him was crackling.'' He plainly stated, not beating around the bush. ''He can't control the Veela within him.''

The Potions Master merely nodded aloofly and dismissed the student; he retired to his study for a five minute reprieve between his classes.

Making her way to Arithmancy, Hermione noticed that the air about her was crackling. Whipping around, her hair fanning around her like an angel's halo, she spotted Malfoy strutting behind her at a safe distance. She found this weird, that and the fact that he couldn't touch certain females without bodily repelling them from his person. A thought passed through her mindful she banished it as fast as it formed in her mind.

Entering the Arithmancy class room she found that the only three seats that were empty were next to Slytherins. Two seats separated Astoria Greengrass, which was now being taken by her sister Daphne. She noticed Blaise sliding over next to the blonde Slytherin. She made a quick decision to sit directly next to Blaise even if it meant sitting next to the vile Malfoy. That way at least she could have a civil conversation with ONE Slytherin. Her plan was in motion as of the moment Malfoy sat his sorry arse on the chair next to her.

Confidently striding into the room, the Malfoy heir groaned the moment he realised he would have to sit next to the Mudblood and no one to converse with except said Mudblood. This class was going to be painful. As he walked dejected over to the seat he spied Zabini and Granger's head almost touching as they talked in hushed tones. Successfully stamping down the instant need to go and claim what was his-which it definitely not! - he schooled his features to polite indifference.

His front shattered amazingly when Blaise placed a hand on Her-Granger's lower back as they chortled quietly. He couldn't understand why he was feeling these weird things for a lowly mudblood. Ignoring the seeming cosy friends, he tried to focus on the equations and textbook that lay in front of him. His concentration began waning when he spotted his friend's hand squeezed Granger's; he seethed on the inside, wishing for the first time that his friend was dead.

Blaise having made a tenuous friendship with the know-it-all all Gryffindor Princess hazarded a glance in Draco's direction. What he found astonished him; Draco made no effort to hide his exasperation and jealousy. Whispering something in Hermione's ear, he watched and almost laughed. Draco might as well have Avada'd Blaise on the spot. The tension and jealousy hung in the air, a palpable force.

As soon as the bell rang Draco packed his things up hastily and almost ran o the door. All this was done with utmost dignity befitting the Malfoy name, of course. Shuffling to the Slytherin common room in the dungeons he wondered what was wrong with him.

Having a free period, which he thanked Merlin profusely for; he walked tiredly to his private rooms and flopped on the bed gracefully. The covers on the bed made a distinct 'poof' sound as he fell on it, passing out almost instantly. His dreams were again filled with the gorgeous brunette siren. He ensnared his senses and bundled his already emotion-addled thoughts.

This time, waking of his own volition, Draco found out he was inflicted with a raging case of afternoon nap wood.

Long year? No. Long day, was more like it. The longest year known to man and wizard kind, even more so.

Part VI Teaser

Draco's eyes grew wide as his eager owl dropped a familiar looking red envelope onto the table at breakfast on Monday morning. He feared to touch it for it might activate. The innocent elegant female penmanship smirked at him; it had the Black magic signature all over it. Hesitantly fingering it, he face paled further than thought possible as it unravelled itself and two angry female voices issued from it.

DRACO LUCIUS BLACK MALFOY!

HOW DARE YOU NOT TELL US, YOUR LOVING COUSINS, ABOUT EVERYTHING. IT WAS BAD ENOUGH HEARING IT FROM AUNT NARCISSA.

(Aunt Bella refused to hear any of it, unless Rodolphus was up in arms with Uncle Lucius. quite the site.)

YOUR FATHER WILL HEAR ABOUT THIS.

On side note, daddy says to give he's greetings to you. You know how it is.

All our love,

Lyra and Cassie Lestrange.

PS. Sorry if you received this during breakfast, daddy is going to talk to the old cost and transfer us to Hogwarts. Have fun, cousin.