A/N Sorry if this chapter is short or not properly spell/grammar/plot checked- I have had a truly awful week but I decided I'd post this now for you (I'm serious about this once a week thing!) and double check it later.

Hope it's not too bad, and the Dramione side of things is going okay, all feedback is extremely welcome! :)

PS I hope the cheesy pick up lines aren't too awful

The next few months passed by uneventfully. Draco was waiting for his father's next order but it seemed that for now his plans had been put on hold. His father's absence and the incident on Valentine's Day had made him bold and he flirted with Hermione openly now. Not too obviously- no one noticed except Blaise, who had told Draco exactly how stupid he thought he was being, but didn't interfere.

Hermione was flustered by Draco's attentions and tried to ignore him where possible. Since Harry spent every spare minute with Pansy she was more alone than ever. The girls in her dorm spent hours giggling about hair and makeup and she couldn't stand a conversation with them.

Because she had no-one to talk to, Hermione spent even more time than usual in the library. In an attempt to distract herself she buried herself in research books trying to find out how Hagrid could have petrified all the students. She knew that Professor Sprout's mandrakes would be ready soon and then they would know for sure what had happened, but it felt good to be doing something. She had read through hundreds of jinxes and potions- she knew Hagrid had lost his wand but Harry said he still used magic illegally so he could have cursed the pupils.

Meanwhile, in class Malfoy had become a complete pain. He was distracting her through all their shared classes. He deliberately bumped into her, spilled things on her, but he also helped her up when she slipped, passed her potions ingredients and he wouldn't stop staring at her. His new favourite pasttime was throwing things at her from where he sat, just a couple of seats behind her. It was History of Magic, so it was hard enough to concentrate as it was. She guessed he was extra bored because Blaise Zabini had disappeared before class and Harry and Pansy were too wrapped up in each other to notice anyone else.

Unable to contain her curiosity she unfolded the latest piece of paper.

Granger,

Do you have a map?

What? Get lost Malfoy. Why on earth would you want a map anyway?

Cos I just got lost in your eyes.

What on earth? Anyway you're sitting behind me, you can't even see my eyes.

Way to ruin my line Granger. By the way, did it hurt?

Will you stop talking nonsense?

You're ruining my lines! You're supposed to ask me did what hurt.

She could hardly believe she was having this conversation. Oh well, she put it down to being bored out of her mind but maybe she could use these notes later... it's not like Draco would want people to know about this. She was trying to rationalise it to herself but deep down she new that she was just secretly enjoying having someone to talk to, and as he was so different from his normal self she could almost pretend it wasn't him. Almost. Besides, it was nice to have some attention once in a while. Although, she'd better not seem too keen, Malfoy might get the wrong idea.

At least try and be original Malfoy.

Your beauty is destroying my wit. Where have you been all my life?

Hiding from you.

That's just mean. Seriously though, I know how to please a woman Granger.

Then leave me alone.

Wait no she didn't really want him to leave her alone did she? She was flustered and ignored all the rest of the notes sent her way.

As soon as the lesson was over Hermione rushed out of class. She escaped to the library, as she had some time until dinner, and absorbed herself in her research. Unfortunately however, even the library wasn't safe for long.

She could just feel him watching her. She looked up and there he was leaning against a bookshelf.

"Hey Granger." She hated that infuriating smirk and the way he just looked at her like he was so bloody superior.

"What's the matter Malfoy? All your friends abandoned you?"

He ignored the snide comment. "Didn't you appreciate our, ah conversation in History of Magic."

"I don't know why you're being like this but I wish you wouldn't!"

"I don't think that's quite true."

It wasn't true but he didn't need to know that. She was really quite enjoying his teasing but she certainly wouldn't admit to that!

He leant down close to her and she felt her heart rushing. "Don't think I've forgotten about our little... adventure in the broom cupboard."

Straightening up he sauntered away, dumping the book he'd picked up off the shelf on her table.

She picked up the book, inwardly fussing over the way he'd dropped it, probably damaging the spine.

He'd left it open on a page showing a picture of a huge snake. Hermione skimmed through the description of the monster, almost by habit, but her breath caught when she saw the word petrified. She sat down to properly read the book, and then another, and another, until she was pretty much an expert on basilisks and almost certain that that was how Hagrid had taken care of his victims. She was eventually kicked out of the library by Madam Pince and made her way back to the dormitory, thinking things through.