AN: Hi guys! I was so excited, I had to post another one. I'm not sure about updating schedule, I have couple of chapters written in advance, but I'm not promising anything.

Thanks to everybody who favorited and followed my story, you make my day! I hope you'll post a review, so I know what you are thinking!

DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING. I just play with characters.

Chapter One

***DaB***

October 26th, 1994

It was another gloomy Monday morning in Hogwarts. Hermione Granger was currently working with Hannah Abbot on a Herbivicus spell. It was supposed to make the plant grow faster, but Hermione had troubles concentrating on the task before her.

She received a letter that morning at breakfast from Professor Dumbledore, requesting her presence in his cabinet after her Herbology lesson. That meant she would miss out on Care of the Magical Creatures lesson with Hagrid, which in itself, wasn't so bad. If she didn't love that gentle giant, she surely wouldn't have stayed in his class a minute more than necessary.

As the class ended, Professor Sprout looked at her strangely, probably because it was the first time she failed to master a spell. She shook her head, said a quick goodbye to Harry and Ron, and hurried from Greenhouse Three to the castle.

Hermione passed the sign in the entrance hall, that revealed to students that delegations from Durmstang and Beauxbatons will be arriving less than five days from now for the Triwizard Tournament, and made her way up the stairs to Dumbledore's office.

As she reached the ugly stone gargoyle on the third floor, she saw a figure leaning onto the wall next to it.

Draco Malfoy smirked when he saw Hermione Granger make her way towards him, her face an expression of pure disgust.

"Ah, Granger, to what do I owe this displeasure?" he asked, taunting the little witch that stood in front of him.

It was just the way they worked. He would push, and she would fight back. The fighting and the yelling, it was something they have grown accustomed to in the past couple of years. Everybody in the castle knew it – Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy hated each other with a fiery passion, and their encounters always left marks and bruises.

"I could ask you the same question, Ferret. Bullied any first-years to establish your supremacy again?" she bit back at him, internally kicking herself for responding to provocation.

"You know I have peers for that," he smiled eerily. "Why I'm here is not any of your concern. So tell me, Granger, what did you do?"

She decided to ignore him then, because it would only get worse. He would just continue to annoy her – Hermione knew that Malfoy wouldn't stop until he coerced a reaction out of her. So she willed herself not to react.

"Did the Gryffindor's Golden Girl do something bad? Broke a rule? What could it be?" he said. She remained unperturbed, and it made him crazy. Draco knew that she was already fuming inside, but he needed to elicit a reaction out of her, preferably explosive one, so he pushed a little harder.

"Did the little Muggle-born forget to return all the books she'd been reading, trying to catch up with real wizards?"

Her fingers twitched. He almost smiled. Now we're talking.

"Too bad that your blood is a – how should I put it – disadvantage. You may go and read every book in Hogwarts library, and yet you wouldn't even be fit to tie a Pureblood's shoe. Even such a Pureblood like Goyle."

She looked like she was in terrible pain, clenching her fists and keeping her mouth closed in a thin line. Yet she kept her gaze firmly attached to the gargoyle and refused to look at him. I won't let him get to me, he's just a bully. He wants me to react. I won't let him get to me.

Draco wanted her to lose control. He needed something to blow off steam – all the studying, being turned into a ferret by that madman Moody, and everything that was happening at home, it all made him crazy. Not even Daphne could help him, even though she did try, often, and her bed antics were quite a welcome distraction. And still he woke up in the middle of the night, bursting with strange energy that he had no idea how to spend. It did seem though that after every fight with Granger, some part of that energy dwindled. So he needed her to blow up and start hexing him, so he could hex her back and maybe regain some mental peace, if only for a couple of days.

"But I guess even tying up Goyle's shoes beats having to look at the Weasel and Scarhead every day." Draco could see he was getting to her – her whole body tensed as he mentioned two idiots that she was hanging around with. Sensing he was on a good path, his heart beating in anticipation of an outburst, he continued.

"Poor little Granger; why aren't your friends here? Oh, right, I forgot – they only call you when they need you to explain something to them, or do their homework. Nobody cares for you, and why is that?" he paused, preparing for the grand finale.

Hermione closed her eyes and her lips grew even thinner. I won't let him get to me.

"It's because you're a worthless little Mudblood."

She swirled towards him.

"Locomotor Mortis!"

"Protego!" he yelled, easily stopping her curse. Finally. "Titillando!"

The curse hit her before she could put her shield up and she started laughing uncontrollably as her sides were burning with the tickling curse. Malfoy was looking all smug and satisfied with his stupid curse, so she held onto her wand a little tighter.

"Incar... In... Incarcerous!" she managed to say in between laughter. Draco wasn't expecting her to muster the strength for another spell, so he didn't have time to put up a shield before the ropes appeared out of nowhere and wound themselves around his body. His springy ten inches hawthorn wand fell out of his hand as he collapsed, cursing Granger in his mind.

A particularly strong wave of hysterical laughter caused Hermione Granger to fall on her knees, and muscle spasms kicked her dragon-core wand away from her.

Oh, to hell with it! She thought, as she was rolling on the floor, tearing up from all the laughter.

That is how Professor Dumbledore found them five minutes later – Hermione Granger rolling on the floor laughing, Draco Malfoy lying on his back trying to wriggle his way out of the ropes. Had he not been the Headmaster of Hogwarts, he would've taken a picture.

**DaB**

"So, Mister Malfoy, Miss Granger, I believe you both to be alright and well?"

Albus Dumbledore looked at his two students, sitting as far away in his office as the furniture placement allowed them. Hermione Granger giggled uncontrollably every couple of minutes – the aftermath of a spell that would wear off in couple of hours. Draco Malfoy, on the other side, was silently fuming with fury as he massaged his wrists, which bore marks of the rope tied to them.

Both of their wands have been confiscated due to unfortunate events in the corridor, and were now lying on the table in front of Professor Dumbledore.

Before Dumbledore could open his mouth to speak, Draco Malfoy had already started speaking, and Hermione Granger jumped to the opportunity to add her own thoughts on the matter.

"That bloody witch hexed me-"

"You started it you idiot-"

"-I have marks to prove it–"

"-you called me a Mudblood-"

"-and my father will hear about this-"

"-why don't you just run off to your Daddy dearest you ferret-"

"-and then you'll be kicked out of school you pathetic-"

"-stop insulting me or I'll hex you to oblivion-"

"-don't call me a ferret you unworthy-"

"-STUCK-UP GIT-"

"-BLOODY KNOW-IT-ALL-"

"ENOUGH!"

They both shut up as their Headmaster's voice rang through the space. Portraits of former Hogwarts Headmasters and Headmistresses were quiet in their frames, looking shocked as they observed the violent verbal sparring between two students.

Hermione bowed her head down, seething with rage and imagining how satisfactory it would be to punch Malfoy in the face once again. Draco looked straight at the Headmaster, imagining all the curses he could use to put Granger back in her place.

"I will not be hearing another word from you two. If you cannot be civilized towards each other, then it is best not to speak at all. However, I do have a request to make, and I shall hope that you can put your animosity to the side and do as I say." Dumbledore paused, trying to figure out the best way to tell them. Hermione giggled. He ignored it.

"Sometimes, the most unexpected twist of events can bring about consequences that we were not expecting." He turned to Draco. "Mister Malfoy, I know about the advance magic classes with your Godfather."

Draco's eyes widened a little, but other than that, he showed no sign of emotion on his face.

"I wish you to transfer all that knowledge to Miss Granger."

I should have known it wouldn't be easy, he thought to himself when they started shouting simultaneously.

"Are you bloody kidding me? Why would I stoop so low-"

"I don't need Ferret boy here teaching me anything-"

"-tell my family secrets to a lowly Muggleborn-"

"-perfectly capable of mastering spells on my own-"

"-blatantly refuse such a preposterous thing-"

"-git incapable of selflessness-"

The noise was upsetting the portraits and him quite frankly, so he waved his wand and there was immediate silence.

"Mister Malfoy, Miss Granger, I will not repeat myself. You think you can manage a couple of moments of silence to allow me to explain myself, or do I need to start deducting House points?"

Both students wriggled uncomfortably in their chairs. The portraits on the wall huddled closer, interested in an unusual situation that was happening in front of them.

"Very well. Now, I believe I owe you an explanation."

He waved his wand again, removing the spell that prevented them from talking. Draco Malfoy remained impassive in his seat, his face not moving an inch, while Hermione Granger looked at her Headmaster with an incredulous look.

"You see, Mister Malfoy, your Godfather may have already explained some of this to you, but I shall explain again, for Miss Granger's sake." Dumbledore fell silent, contemplating his next words.

What in the name of Merlin is this all about? Hermione was confused and frustrated by the lack of information, and she wished she could put Professor Dumbledore on fast forward, like she did with movies on VCR back home.

"You see, Mister Malfoy, even as a young wizard, showed signs of... unusually powerful magic."

Hermione turned to him, unconvinced, and the stupid git had the audacity to smirk at her. She stopped herself from yelling a string of expletives at him, and focused back on Professor Dumbledore.

Draco on the other hand wondered how Dumbledore came across all these information, which only two people in the entire world knew about.

"As he was growing up, his magical powers became difficult to control. Mister Malfoy's parents were unaware of it, as they both are, to this day, very powerful wizards. Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy just assumed that their son has inherited their undeniably powerful legacy. However, his Godfather recognised these powers as something potentially dangerous because of multiple reasons, the danger of them consuming and destroying young Mister Malfoy being most prominent of them."

Because that would be such a shame.

Malfoy turned to Hermione in that moment and their eyes met. For one strange second, it was as if he knew exactly what she was thinking. She shook her head, getting rid of such an utterly ridiculous thought.

"So, he decided to take matters into his own hands. He started training Mister Malfoy since the age of six, teaching him how to control and use his powers in a way not dangerous to others. Would I be correct to assume that your parents are still unaware of the full extent of your powers, Mister Malfoy?"

Draco looked at Dumbledore and nodded curtly.

"Excuse me Sir, I admit this is very interesting, but what has that all have to do with me?" Hermione asked, feeling more frustrated with every passing breath.

"I was just getting to that part Miss Granger, but I can see you're getting impatient, so I will explain. As you became a student here in Hogwarts I had the pleasure to observe your progress throughout the years. I can say, without false modesty, that you are the brightest witch of your generations and many before, and I have seen many students come and go." Dumbledore smiled at her, and she felt her cheeks burn.

"It was brought to my attention that your skill and power is extremely similar to Mister Malfoy's, but that you are reluctant to show it, or use it in any way. I believe that is why you have issues with casting spells in environments that aren't completely academic."

Hermione blinked once, bewildered that someone noticed. Another giggle escaped her mouth. Dumbledore shrugged apologetically at her, and Malfoy barked a laugh.

"You suck at duelling Granger. Who would have known? Whenever we duel you seem to get along fine."

As the words left his mouth, he knew he let his guard down and made a mistake.

Was that... a compliment?

Hermione turned and looked at him incredulously, and there was a shadow of confusion on his face that was gone almost as quick as it appeared. Dumbledore decided to intervene before tensions could escalate.

"As you both know, duelling is strictly forbidden out of class, and students caught duelling will be severely punished."

He looked at both of them meaningfully. Hermione was too distracted to notice. Draco was very intrigued by the development of situation, so he nodded to the Headmaster to continue.

"Now, Miss Granger, I know you know that my words are true. I am sure that you felt these powers on more than one occasion, yes?"

Hermione cleared her throat before reluctantly speaking.

"Yes, I... sometimes I feel like my magic is different than that of my friends. I just always assumed that it was because I was a Muggle-born."

She could hear Malfoy's voice in her head. A worthless little Mudblood.

"Well, I can honestly say that there was never a case where magic of those whose parents were wizards and of those whose weren't differed. Magic differs from one person to another only by their affinities towards certain subjects. No, you and Mister Malfoy here," he nodded at Draco, who was listening silently, "you both have something in common. So, as of this day forward, I would ask of you to meet once a week for a lesson."

As he saw same angry looks on both the student's faces, he raised his hands.

"Settle down, please. This is non – negotiable. I shall not allow my students to come to any harm by your unrestrained magic, and that applies to you more than all Miss Granger. You need to learn how to control and properly use your magic so that nobody gets hurt. And seeing that Mister Malfoy has had some experience in this particular area, I believe you two can come to a mutual understanding."

"Why can't you teach her?" Draco asked, his voice barely audible.

"Because, Mister Malfoy, this year I shall be extremely busy with the Triwizard Tournament, and I cannot ensure continuous work with Miss Granger. You however have the time and the knowledge to help Miss Granger."

Dumbledore stopped suddenly, and looked the young wizard in the eyes.

"I know you're wondering how I know all this, Draco. Your Godfather told me, when he spotted similarities between you and Miss Granger. He expressed his concern for other students, and I agree with him. He was a bit reluctant when I explained this plan to him, but in the end he gave his full approval. You may ask him as soon as we're finished here."

"And if I refuse?"

Dumbledore resisted the urge to sigh loudly at the grey-eyed Slytherin.

"If either of you refuse, you both will be grounded until the end of the school year. Every afternoon after classes you will be in detention with various Professors. Three weekends a month you will be assisting Professor Hagrid with whatever he needs. Your Hogsmeade privileges will be irreversibly revoked. Neither of you will be in the run for Prefect's position next year."

They both stared at him with mix of shock and disgust. He turned to Hermione first.

"Miss Granger, you shall no longer be able to access the Restricted Section of the Library, unless it is for a school project, with a special permission slip signed by the class Professor and Headmaster. You will have to leave the Library with all the other students – no special treatment at all."

She looked at him like it was the vilest thing anyone could do. Draco smiled wickedly, but then Dumbledore turned to him and he didn't think it so funny anymore.

"Mister Malfoy, seeing as this year Quidditch Cup is cancelled, you shall be suspended from playing the whole next year, and maybe even until you finish school. Even if you do go complaining to the Board, I have my ways of ensuring you would be banned."

He finished his speech and looked at them.

"I ask of you both to act as reasonable adults. It is one day a week for a couple of hours, and it is for both your sakes. I shall give you some time to think; I need your answers until Wednesday. You are dismissed."

They both opened their mouths, arguments about the unfairness of the whole deal ready to flow. However, before either of them had the chance to protest, the doors to the cabinet opened and Professor McGonagall came in.

"Albus, I... I didn't know you had visitors. Hello Miss Granger, Mister Malfoy."

"Hello Professor," Hermione managed to say. Draco remained silent.

"They were just leaving, Minerva, do take a seat. Good day Mister Malfoy, good day Miss Granger."

They took the hint and stood from their chairs.

"Don't forget your wands, and remember, everything we discussed today stays between us."

They took their wands and with a final incredulous look at the Headmaster, a Gryffindor and a Slytherin left the office in silence.

As they cascaded down the staircase, each in their own thoughts, they did not see a bat looming by the window, unusually still and watchful for a night animal.

**DaB**

The gargoyle let them pass, and they found themselves standing in exactly the same spot they hexed each other half an hour ago. The tension was palpable in the air around them, and they turned towards one another at the same time.

"Malfoy, I think we should consider-"

"Granger, I believe we should think-"

They stopped at the same time, unspoken words on their lips. Suddenly, it was like neither of them could find the appropriate response to what they've just heard. So they just stood in silence in the empty corridor, as their eyes locked.

Grey steel and dark bronze collided, and it was like battle of the Giants. Neither would look away, and neither would speak first. They both knew they couldn't stay like that forever, but in those few moments, the Lion and the Serpent could still hate each other with the same passion as before, and the world was in perfect balance.

Black and white. Good and bad. Iron and bronze. Hot and cold. Night and day.

They were two sides of the moon, embodiment of the equilibrium of the universe. They felt the pull simultaneously, and unknowingly they both took a step closer. They did not note the movement of the gargoyle as it turned its head to observe.

Distant laughter pulled them out of the trance, and seeing how close they were, they put some distance in between. Malfoy spoke first.

"I'll be a gentleman and let you say what you wanted to say Granger."

Hermione felt perturbed at his unusually polite behaviour. Her head hurt, she was still giggling occasionally, and her heart beat furiously in her chest. She decided to deal with all of that later – her priority was getting as far away from Draco Malfoy in the shortest amount of time.

"I think... we should think about it. I don't want to lose my library privileges, and I'm sure Quidditch is equally important to you. I suggest we think about it separately, and then meet somewhere tomorrow night to discuss the final decision."

Malfoy nodded.

"I agree. Astronomy tower at dinner. Be there."

And without a second glance he turned away and headed to the dungeons. With another giggle, Hermione made her way to Arithmancy.

**DaB**

With a final sigh, Draco Malfoy rolled off Daphne Greengrass's body and lay on his back, making himself comfortable in his bed.

Daphne was still panting as she put one hand on his bare chest, slowly kissing her way to his mouth. That moment of ecstasy already passed for Draco, so he just looked at her and turned his head when she tried to kiss him on the lips.

"Do you want me to stay?" Daphne asked him, hurt barely present in her high pitched soprano voice.

"No."

She reluctantly pulled away, cursing herself inwardly for developing feelings for a boy as cold as ice. Why she thought it would be different than usual? Maybe because he sought her with such urgency this time, and fucked her with such force that she mistook it for actual feelings. She had been flirting with Theodore Nott for quite some time in hopes of making Draco jealous. Obviously, she stupidly misinterpreted his need for a fuck as a need for her. She quickly dressed herself, and left without a word, holding back tears until she was safely tucked in her own bed, cursing the night when she gave herself to Draco Malfoy only to get her heart broken in return.

Draco was furious. Furious with Severus for not telling him about this idiotic plan before, furious with Dumbledore for coming up with it in the first place, and furious with Granger for, well, fucking existing!

He confronted Severus right after he left Granger giggling in the hallway, and his Godfather told him he would be stupid to refuse Headmaster's offer. He reminded Draco about his issues with insomnia, and bursts of energy that he was feeling more frequently as he was stepping into puberty.

That unexplainable energy was the reason he slept with Daphne for the first time, during their summer break. He was extremely nervous that night, and he thought sex would help him alleviate the tension.

It didn't.

One verbal sparring with Granger satisfied him more than a whole night with Daphne, and that unnerved him and made him even more agitated.

When he asked Severus how it could be possible that a Muggle-born like her possessed the same power as him, the Pureblood heir of House Malfoy, his Godfather briefly looked at him with a strange look that Draco didn't recognize.

"I do not know. Miss Granger does have similar powers to yours, and in the state that she is now, she is a walking danger to every single person in this school. So, if not anything else, you should train her out of your sense for self – preservation. Here is a slip – take it to Professor Vector, because I distinctly recall you should be in class right now."

Draco had been left with more questions than answers after that, and the rest of his classes passed in a blur. When he returned to the Slytherin dungeon, he sought Daphne in the Common Room and dragged her with him to his bedchamber for some release.

It did not help. He was still going crazy with all these thoughts of bronze eyes roaming in his head, making him seriously contemplate breaking the window in the Common Room and offering himself as a snack to the Giant Squid.

**DaB**

Hermione Granger sat in the library, reading the same paragraph in her Numerology and Grammatica for the third time. She sighed and gave up, leaning back in her chair and letting her mind roam over strange things that happened today.

Dumbledore's plan is just plain stupid. Working with Malfoy, it's a nightmare! Although he is an extremely smart person, for an arrogant ferret. That much I can admit. And apparently, he is familiar with these outbursts of magic that I experience so often lately.

Her magic got even crazier as she got her first period. When she bled for the first time this summer, all sorts of crazy things started happening. Things sometimes moved if she concentrated on them hard enough, light bulbs exploded if she was agitated, and if she didn't know better, she would think that even weather somehow reflected her mood swings.

But the weirdest thing was this nervous energy that she had about her. She felt it all the time, and there wasn't anything that she could do to get rid of it. She would wake up in the middle of the night, drenched in sweat and panting. She would run to her window, seeking the solace in the cold night air to calm her pulse and clear her thoughts.

The only thing that seemed to calm her down was her quarrelling with Malfoy. It made sense – if they both had these energy bursts, the only way they could control it was to take it out on each other.

The way he looked at me today, it was as if he understood me and hated me at the same time, and I hated him and understood him right back.

She stopped herself before she started reading more into it than it was. It was time to finish for the night and go to sleep – maybe things would be clearer in the morning.

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