A/n- So, I've been planning and it seems that this story is going to be 20 chapters, maybe 21 if you feel we need an epilogue.

Disclaimer: HA! Yeah right.

Summary: Takes place a little over a week from the last chapter.


Jackknifed


"Oiy, Hermione, I thought you got rid of that thing." Ron pointed at her school bag over his goblet of orange juice one morning.

Hermione blinked stupidly at him for a few seconds.

Ron made another motion to her shoulder.

Hermione realized with a slow moving horror he was talking about the blue ribbon tied her bags' strap. She made an effort to stifle an eye roll.

"You still on about that?" Harry murmured as he forked a pancake.

"Well, she's had it since she skipped class that Tuesday." Ron grinned at her. Hermione noted how much joy he got out of teasing her. "Souvenir from your little escapades?" He raised an eyebrow. Hermione choked into her drink.

"I told you a million times; I was in the Common Room sleeping, Ron."

The boy pulled a pout.

"Honestly Hermione, can't you find anything better to do when cutting class besides sleeping or doing more homework?"

Hermione shrugged, not looking at him.

"Don't start, Ron." Harry gave a deep sigh, looking haggard.

"Well, I wouldn't if Hermione-"

"Ron-"

"Don't 'Ron' me, Harry- Oiy, Hermione, where you going?"

By the time the boys had pulled themselves out of their little row, she was already up from the table and walking past them.

"I'm going to Potions early."

"Early? What for?"

"I-" Hermione turned a slight shade of pink. "I forgot to finish the homework from last night." It was disturbing how many Gryffindors turned to stare at her with the same look of blank horror. "What?"

Ron just started laughing, but Harry grew quiet.

"You all right, Hermione?" His green eyes held hers for a few moments, his brows creased together. Hermione grinned at him.

"Yeah." She said, utter softness lacing her voice. "Yeah, I am. Thanks. I'll see you two in a bit."

With that she turned and continued down the long table to the Entrance Hall., all the while feeling guilty. She really hadn't finished her essay for class. She had been up until nearly midnight with Malfoy at the Owlry playing wizard chess.

He always won, the prat.

Nearly to the door Hermione strode when a group of Slytherin boys swooped around the corner, led by Draco.

Hermione tried to sidestep them but Draco's shoulder came into contact with hers and she was momentarily thrown off balance.

She caught his gaze and saw it was a calculated fury, directed solely at her.

After a pause their shoulders disconnected and Hermione shuffled her feet back so she wouldn't fall.

Gazing after him she heard Ron and Harry stand up sharply, cutlery clanging onto their plates. Both looked murderously at Malfoy who was completely ignoring them, going to sit at his table.

Only for a fraction of a second did he acknowledge Hermione, eyes darting to meet hers, a soft stare through his blue eyes reaching her.

It was almost like a silent apology.

Almost.

"We'll come with you, Hermione." Harry said soothingly as they walked up to her. Ron tossed another glare at Malfoy.

"Thanks."

The trio started to walk out of the Great Hall and Hermione felt a thrill of excitement.

Looking down she saw her ribbon tied into a neat little bow.

Malfoy.

She smiled.

.o.o.o.o.

It was a friendship drawn out of necessity. They both needed it. Hermione for the flippant company and Draco for the intelligent companionship.

She told this to Malfoy that evening, sitting upon the Owlry steps, watching him read.

At this Draco flung his head back in a harsh laugh.

"Whatever makes you feel better, Granger."

Hermione smiled, shoving her hair behind her ear, scrunching up her knees upon which her homework rested.

They had been sitting there for a good forty minutes, opposite each other, both nearly ignoring the other. Hermione had, for the first half an hour, been working, but damn it all if she could figure this out.

Most of the time everything just clicked for her.

This, apparently, was not one of those times.

"This is utter rubbish, I won't do it! Sodding Arrhythmicy."

Malfoy gave a low whistle, looking up from his book. "Finally something Granger can't figure out?" He cocked his head to the side to watch her toss a glare in his general direction.

"It's obviously a trick question or something."

"Let me see."

Hermione gave a laugh.

"I can't figure it out. What makes you think you can?"

Malfoy placed his book down on the Owlry steps. Standing slightly, bent at the knees, he moved around to sit next to Hermione who had grabbed the parchment and the school book, placing it once again in her lap.

Malfoy leaned over, his green and silver robes pooled at his feet, the cloth moving against itself, creating a silky sound.

Hermione flinched for a moment at Draco's sudden movement as he leaned across the space between them.

He stopped for a moment when she shied away.

His eyes lingered on hers, a questioning gaze.

But Hermione said nothing. Instead she relaxed, her shoulders becoming less tense. Moving, she turned her knees to Malfoy, displaying her homework.

As Draco leaned over, taking her quill, a tendril of his golden hair fluttered by her shoulder, his bowed head making his bangs brush forward.

As he read her paper, Hermione tried to suppress the slight panic that was swimming around her stomach.

He was so close to her now.

Just how much space had been lost between them in the last few weeks?

She could hear him breathing; he was so close, leaning over her shoulder.

Not thinking, Hermione reached up with her hand and fingered the lock of silver hair that lay against her robes. It shone brilliantly; a starlight coverlet.

Draco made a noise as he found her mistake and corrected it with the quill, eyes focused so hard on the paper, his mind calculating and recalculating the problem.

As he moved, Hermione breathed in a fraction.

She could smell him.

Hermione wrapped his hair around her little finger, intrigued by the way it was feather soft and not like course straw as she always had imagined.

He smelled like the almond wood that burned within the Common Room hearths. As if the gray smoke had reached up and mingled permanently with him, sheathing his eyes in the same dusky silver.

"There." He said, as if he was proud of himself, sitting back up.

Hermione hadn't let go of his hair yet.

"Ouch!"

Her hand swiftly retracted, a few gold strands laced in between her fingers.

"God, Granger." He drawled. "Trying to scalp me?"

"Sorry." Hermione blushed, truly meaning it. She looked down at her parchment. "God! It's correct! How did you figure this out? Already do the homework?"

Malfoy shook his head.

"Haven't started and probably won't."

Hermione looked incredulous.

"You have a lot of potential."

"If only I'd apply myself." He finished sarcastically, giving her a tiny smile.

"Mmm." Hermione mused, rolling her eyes, still resigning herself to the fact that she did not want to do any more work. It seemed that Malfoy thought the same. As he moved back to his original seat he did not pick up his book again.

"Restless?" He inquired.

Hermione didn't know whether. to say yes, that meaning he was poor company, or no, that meaning he was good company.

She simply shrugged.

"Possibly we could talk about something?"

Draco nodded.

"What about?" He bit his lip, running his hand through his hair.

"Anything." Hermione said, slightly breathless.

"Anything?"

Hermione should have known, by then, after being friends with Harry and Ron, to never under any circumstances ask a boy to talk about whatever he wants.

The conversation will always stray to quiddich.

But, after Hermione transcended the initial dread at the thought of being given another intilectual flying lesson, she found herself taking a liking to Malfoy's conversation.

He didn't speak of the sport the way Harry or Ron did.

Instead of recounting his quiddich splendors, Draco related the finer aspects of the sport.

Instead of the brutality of the Bludgers, he spoke of the soaring feeling he felt as he kicked off the pitch.

Instead of his pride, he spoke of his love.

It was emotional, not materialistic.

Hermione was entranced.

"Am I-" Draco paused, a hand in the air, paused mid flight as he demonstrated a particularly impressive broom move with his palm. He quirked his eyebrow. "Am I boring you?"

Hermione laughed, shaking her head, chin resting on her upturned hand.

"I'm captivated."

Malfoy continued, after giving her a disbelieving look and Hermione grinned as she noted a faint crimson blush creep into the pale boy's cheeks.

.o.o.o.o.

"Do you trust me, Granger?" Malfoy asked as she made to descended the Owlry steps an hour later. He called to her from his sitting position.

He had noted her flinch earlier, not to mention her jumpy nature when he was close.

He didn't blame her in the slightest.

Hermione laughed.

"I wouldn't trust you as far as I could throw you, Malfoy."

He grinned at her.

"Perhaps, in time, you could be persuaded."

His voice became as soft and as deadly as falling ash.

Hermione bit her lip.

"Do you trust me then, Draco?"

He didn't answer.

"Goodnight." She quipped.

"Goodnight, Granger." He uttered as she departed.


Sorry it took so long!!! Hope you enjoyed!!!

Next one coming soon!

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