AN: I spent over an hour making a proper schedule for both Hermione and Draco today. I wish I went to Hogwarts.

Disclaimer: JK owns Harry Potter. We all know this.

Friendly Reminder

Albeit the rather strange morning, the day turned out to be perfectly okay. The rain kept crying against the windows, reflecting the moody ceiling in the Great Hall. Charming her umbrella with a warming charm, Hermione made to walk down to Herbology. Most people would find starting of the day out in the garden to be a quite rude schedule plan. However, Hermione found comfort in the nature growing inside the green houses.

The moment she entered the glass-enclosed, long room the earthly smell from the Self-Fertilising shrub hit her nose. The moist air made her clothes feel sticky on her body in mere seconds. Although she was one of the first to arrive Hermione didn't feel the need to join the others that had gathered around the Fanged Geranium plant, which had been last lessons lecture. They seemed to be discussing the different fact they had received about the plant in front of them. Despite her desire to join them, and word-puke all the facts, she took a deep breath and decided to set up her work station instead. Last lesson had only been to learn about the plant, and today they would surely get to actually work with it. Given that she was Hermione, she wanted to be prepared.

A humming noise came from the massive shatter of droplets. It was soothing to listen to.

The door opened and a drenched Malfoy stepped through the door. Hermione quickly stood up almost rushing to help. The young man lifted his head, that was plastered with wet strands of silky blonde hair. A glare like none other stopped her dead in her tracks.

Fine, she thought. If he wants to catch a cold then so be it.

Draco walked straight past Granger and came closer to the others in the advanced Herbology class. As much as he wished to join them he decided not to. He knew they did not like him, and quite obviously still feared him. His day had not exactly started out great, and did not wish to make it worse than it already was. Not that he could see how how it could get much worse than this, though. He cast a quick drying spell, that left him still cold to the bones.

"Good morning children!" A jolly voice echoed through the green house.

Hermione shone with joy at the lovely teacher and sat back down on her decided spot.

"Oh dear, we'll start off by the Fanged Geranium. You can leave your books though, if you want!" Pomona Sprout happily informed Hermione. "So, does anyone remember what we did last class?"

Hermione's hand flew up in the air, as expected.

"Miss Granger" Sprout smiled kindly.

"We went over the NEWTs Flesh-eating plants and trees, including some repetition on the Fanged Geranium."

"Precisely! You see, this year we have changed things a little bit for you lovelies. You're on NEWTs level now, and in the advanced class at that." Sprout took a moment to give her students a serious look. "Mr. Slughorn and me have been working together this year to give you some exceptional opportunities. You will be expected to produce your own Potion, with your potions partner of course."

At this information Hermione turned her whole head to look worriedly at Malfoy. He sighed, and eventually looked down at her. His brows furrowed slightly at the look on her terrified face.

Hermione felt like the earth was spinning much too fast, her vision was getting blurry. Her breathing was rapid, yet she felt like she couldn't catch a breath.

Draco grabbed hold of her arm and leaned down to her level. "Are you okay?" he whispered seriously. He gestured for her to breath in deep when he didn't get a verbal response.

Sprout, whom did not notice Hermione's panic attack, went on with her informational speech. "That is why I reintroduced the Fanged Geranium. As you all well know, this little bugger is used in many kinds of potion, as well as cooking! Learning how to grow and care for it will be essential in your Potions making."

"Do you need to sit down?" Draco asked lowly, getting a bit worried with her lack of air. "Common" he mumbled and guided her, with her weight on his arm, out of the Green House. They stopped right outside, still covered by the roof, and Hermione slanted down the wall to sit on the gravel.

Draco crouched down in front of her, and locked eyes with her. "You need to breath" he stated firmly.

Granger's worried eyes encouraged him to help out. Together he breathed in through his nose, over gesticulating, and out through the mouth. Hermione imitated his actions with him. They repeated the motion till Hermione's panic subsided. Still not having taken theirs eyes off of each other he asked "Are you okay?".

Hermione, whom couldn't exactly respond, given that she was focused on her breathing still, simply closed her eyes and nodded.

Draco sighed with relief and sat down next to her instead. In silence they listened to the loud sounds of nature. When growing up she had gone on many hiking trips, and had found the lovely effect nature had on her. The bark against her fingers, the cool silky feel of grass against her little toes. The smell of water rushing against muddy soil. The winds feel against her jacket, making it rustle quietly. The sound of it grabbing hold of the tree crowns, shaking its leaves.

"Maybe we should walk back inside?" Malfoy's voice broke Hermione's trans and she looked over to her side and met his calm eyes. She nodded.

Malfoy got up quickly and most notably smoothly.

Reaching out a hand to help her get up on her still shaky legs, he was happy she took it without hesitation.

When they quietly walked back into the green house Hermione noticed that Malfoy's back was soaked and felt a bit guilty.

"Now I want you all to focus on" Sprout seemed to be battling with the plants exotic mouth. "-focus on" she managed to bend the mouth open "There! I want you all to focus on the teeth on your plants. Some say the best way to handle this little fellow is through pulling its teeth, however I must disagree. It creates stress in the plants body which makes its body a bit sour. This is obviously not a great combination if you wish to make perfect potions." At this she looked up at her students and gave them her known serious look again. "In cooking one can counter it by adding a bit of sugar, but that's not exactly possible in potions."

Hermione stood next to Malfoy that had put on his dragon-hide gloves and watched as he grabbed hold of their own little plant. His hands were shaking a bit, she noted. It did not seem like anyone had noticed them being gone. Maybe it was because it was not expected. One often took it for granted that they were in all their classes, doing as told. It surprised Hermione a bit.

"You all have your small plants and when you've replanted them you are to keep them alive, and make good use of them. As the collaboration dictates, you will be graded both in Herbology and Potions for the potion you make, given that it touches both subjects. However, I believe it's a bigger part of your potions grade than Herbology, since its more about how you actually care for the plants before adding them! And the more plants you use, the better, especially for your Herbology grade. Us magical folks often tend to forget that we can do things from scratch. But, it is ever so essential for a functioning magical lifestyle!" Sprout went on.

"I'll grab the soil" Hermione mumbled while Draco held on the the snapping plant. She quickly maneuvered around him and eventually it was planted in one of the squares behind the tables. "I wonder if we should put a Self-Fertilising shrub next to it?" Hermione was absorbed in her work, and Malfoy was grateful. It surprised him a bit at how well they worked together. They were in sync in a way he could have only wished for. It shouldn't surprise him as much as it did, considering her being both hardworking and dedicated. However, he had expected her to be a control freak, and demand to do it all on her own, due to her perfectionism. Yet she had given in fast. Very fast, now when he thought about it.

Malfoy suddenly got interrupted in his thoughts when he felt a warmth spreading over him. He stopped digging around the shrub and turned around to see what caused it. Hermione looked back at him with pink cheeks and flaking eyes.

"You were wet." She said matter-of-factly and went on to dig in the dirt next to him.

It took him a few moments to comprehend the situation. He had gotten wet when he was sitting in front of her, yet hadn't been able to move. After all, he didn't want to risk worsening the panic that was spreading in her.

Why had it concerned him? It just hit him now and it made him watch her as she was working through the soil. Why the bloody hell did it bothered me?

"Can you hand me the shovel, the root is determined not to come loose."

Draco felt too perplexed by his inner conversation that he couldn't anything else but stare at the young witch.

When the shovel wasn't handed to her, Hermione looked up. A curl had fallen in her face and she blew on it for it to move. It didn't do much good.

Draco fought the urge to move it out of her face. To stop her annoying movements only.

"The shovel?" Hermione kept pushing, feeling weary in his gaze.

Draco huffed angrily. "You get it yourself." and so he went back to pulling on the other side of the shrub.

Hermione looked at the man, stubbornly ripping the roots, and shook her head. "Fine."

With all her force she shoved the shovel into the soil. Both Malfoy and herself were covered in dirt by now, that a little extra really didn't matter. She started to regret her previous thoughts about having the class in the morning, though. She felt in desperate need of a shower.

"Here, let me." Draco finally bulged after watching her struggle. It wasn't that she wasn't strong. Damn, he had tasted her strength and there was nothing wrong with it, to say the least! However, after spending years in quidditch practice he had a fair share of muscles. He wasn't a beater or a keeper, but a lot of time on the broom had made his muscles strong and lean. Perfect for moment like this. Therefore Draco grabbed the shovel out of her small hands and took over her spot. After some struggle he managed to get it loose and the two could wingardium leviosa the shrub to to hole they had dug next to their Fanged Geranium plant.

Hermione quickly fixated the plant and flattened the soil. "There!"

They both shared a happy look and a nod while standing back and watching their work.

"When does potions start?" Draco asked after a little while, still absorbed with watching their pride and joy.

Hermione looked down at her watch. "We have another half hour before class starts, why?"

He finally looked over to her and crooked an eyebrow that said "really?".

She looked back at him questioningly, missing the seemingly obvious. "What?"

"I need a shower." He looked her over and a smile broke through. "And so do you!"
Hermione couldn't keep the laughter in. "Yeah" she laughed. "I really do." Looking down at her own self she couldn't but laugh even harder. Meanwhile Malfoy went over to Sprout to let her know they were finished with today's assignment.

"Oh, already? Great job! You even planted a fertilizing shrub next to it! I am impressed, not surprised though, given it's you two. 5 points each."

Malfoy bowed slightly, with a small smile still resting on his lips when he turned to Hermione with success in his eyes. He placed his hand at her back and mumbled "Hurry before she changes her mind" and pushed her through the door. Lucky she had packed her books while the two talked.

"Okay, so here's the plan" Malfoy started when they were half way across the grass, heading to the castle. "I'll start by taking a quick shower…"

"Why should you start!" Hermione interrupted "I am a girl. I have long hair. I need more time than you!"

"You are a girl. And you don't only have long hair, but it's also unruly."

Hermione sucked on her cheeks to stop herself from insulting him.

"However, I am a Malfoy, and I can't shower in dirt."

Hermione stopped with a harsh halt, putting her hands on her hips. "Oh, so just cause I'm a muggle-born I'll make the shower dirty if I shower before you?"

Draco took a deep breath. "No" he started slowly. He put his hand back behind her back to get her to start walking. "At the moment, we are both equally dirty. I wish to shower before you so I can walk out of the shower without stepping on your puddles of soil and gravel that your clothes will leave behind on the bathroom floor. Why you do not hang them up and use a quick cleaning spell on them is beyond me, but who am I to argue with you about your strange routines. All I'm asking is to shower first." They were by the castle and he held the giant door open for her. "I really don't like my feet to getting dirty."

Hermione took some time acting like she was contemplating his words, although she was already convinced. "Okay" she said finally. "On one condition."

"Shoot" he encouraged, and walked up beside her. She had to take three steps with his every second one. Both moving quickly through the corridors.

"You let me stir the potion today as well."

"Deal." Draco said before she could even finish the sentence.

Both of them climbed through their common room entrance. "You really need to set higher demands, Granger."

"Why?" she shrugged. "I got what I wanted."

"To stir the potion? You have probably stirred every potion since you started school, given your dumb, excuse me, I mean special friends." He was standing in front of her now. She had made to sit in her new favorite armchair in front of the fireplace.

She pursed her lips at him and grabbed one of her books that were laying on the table. "You don't like getting your feet dirty, I don't like others stirring my potions."

"Fair enough." He nodded courtly at Hermione before she waved him off. "I wont be long" he yelled before shutting the bathroom door behind him.

AN: I couldn't stay away!
Please do give me your thoughts, they keep this story on its feet!

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