Thank you for the support, guys. I realize I've actually been gone for far too long. I wasn't planning being away for so long. It all sort of settled down a while ago, but I've been soo busy with school work, and have had some minor depression to get through. An essay a week! What is the psychology department thinking?! No wonder I have no life anymore. Anyway, this chapter is not so long as I'm sort of having to wok up to writing long ones again.

"You're moving in a bit quick aren't you, Dra?" Blaise leaned in across the table and murmured to Draco. "We've only been back two days and you've already got her pressed against a wall."

The other Slytherins tittered. "I gave you all year, I don't want you to rush things."

Draco sneered, his lip curling. "How about we shorten the time, make this interesting bet even more interesting." The surrounding Slytherin louts leaned in closely over the common room table. "Christmas." He said. "I bet I can do it by Christmas."

Blaise laughed hollowly. "You're on. Again."

"And if I do it." Draco smirked. "You've got to run through Hogsmeade, completely naked." Blaise's jaw dropped. "Too chicken?" Draco asked.

"Fine." Blaise grumbled.

It was lunchtime when Hermione heard the news. "There's a bet amongst the Slytherins." Ron announced through a mouthful of shepherd's pie. Hermione raised her eyebrows, inviting him to elaborate. "Don't know what the stakes for Malfoy are, but I heard it involves Zabini running butt naked through Hogsmeade if Malfoy does it."

Hermione nearly choked on her pumpkin juice. "Zabini naked?"

"You interested?" Harry accused, his fork half way to his mouth.

Hermione shrugged, swiftly averting her eyes. "I'm not saying I like him as a person, that's just disgusting, but I'm a girl, and his body is certainly…" She trailed off as Ron and Harry both snorted.

"So how's Lavender?" Hermione asked above the noise. It had the desired effect, and Ron instantly fell silent. His gaze fell to his pie, and he remained silent for the rest of the meal.

"Hey, Granger." Hermione grudgingly swung around and faced Draco. It'd been nearly a week since they had last spoken, and the time leading up till the Christmas holidays seemed to be creeping forward suspiciously quickly in Draco's opinion.

"What?" She asked, jaw clenched, unwilling to give him anything to that he could play off.

Draco was unsurprised by her reaction. He himself had not quite planned "what" yet. He stood before her, and allowed himself a quick darting look up and down her body before thinking of an answer.

She crossed her arms across her chest, and he felt his cheeks redden slightly. "I just, um, wondered how you are. How you're enjoying term so far?" He felt his toes curl at just the feel of his lips sounding those jovial words.

Hermione narrowed her eyes at him, everything about her body language screamed suspicion, and it nearly ripped a grin from Draco's lips. They weren't really so different.

He now saw that both of them mistrusted everything without solid proof of its honesty. Both cared beyond reason about anything that passed that test. And probably most important, in Draco's opinion at least, both were damn attractive.

"It's fine." She replied stiffly.

"Listen, I know we got off to a somewhat questionable start this year."

"This year?" She cut in, eyebrows raised.

"Ok." He admitted. "Not just this year, but, well, I'm trying to make an effort here, surely you can see that?"

She tensed, and he wondered if maybe that had been too blatant. "Yes." She murmured. "I've noticed. I just thought this was some new tactic you were trying out." She tried to move around his, but he darted right in front of her once more, blocking her path. He saw the alarm in her face, and tried at a sheepish grin. It felt unfamiliar and uncomfortable on his lips.

"Malfoy, I need to get to my common room."

"Then let me walk with you." Draco insisted.

"I really don't think…"

"What harm will it do?"

Hermione sighed helplessly, and flung her bag at him. He caught it with some bewilderment. "If you're going to insist on coming, you're going to have to make yourself useful."

The bag was unnaturally heavy, and Draco could understand why she'd been keen to take any chance she could to get rid of it. Even the weight of her bag added to the weight of his, did not really bother Draco, who lifted it with ease, and slung it over his shoulder.

Hermione stretched her arms out wide, and rolled her shoulder's back with relief. Draco couldn't help but glance over at her chest. Not bad at all.

They walked in silence up the first flight of stairs. The silence wasn't exactly comfortable, but neither really felt that conversation was necessary. Hermione strolled along, still happy to be free of the weight of the bag that had been holding approximately an eighth of the library inside it.

Draco on the other hand, was desperately wracking his brains for something clever and inviting he could say when they parted ways. It was difficult. Before this year he'd have sworn otherwise, but he really did not know Hermione Granger very well at all. He had no idea what her interests were, besides books, and saving the world.

"I think I can manage from here." Hermione said, holding out her arms to take her bag. Draco handed it to her, and she turned and walked up the third flight of stairs. The moment was gone.

Hermione pushed open the portrait of the Fat Lady to see Ron and Harry sat over a chessboard by the fire. She walked over to them, and managed to create a loud enough noise by dropping her bag to make them both jump.

"Something really quite peculiar just happened." She told them. Flopping down in one of the armchairs.

"Oh really?" Asked Ron sarcastically, still red around the ears from his embarrassment at having jumped so high at Hermione's bag hitting the ground.

"Go on, Hermione." Harry urged, kicking Ron's ankles.

Hermione chuckled. "Well, it's this whole business with Malfoy." She began.

"This whole "I am reformed and want to know you" thing he has going on with you at the minute?" Ron asked.

"That's it. I just… I don't know if I should be taking this seriously or not."

Harry sat back in his chair, gazing into the fire thoughtfully. "How do you mean"

"I don't know." She admitted. "I don't know whether this is what Dumbledore was warning me against. This odd behavior, from the Slytherins…"

"That's got to be it!" Ron exclaimed, sitting up straight, eyes wide with excitement. "He must be plotting something!"

"That's just it though. I'm not sure he is." Hermione sighed, causing Ron's excitement to ebb a little. "I mean, what great plan could come of him just talking to me a little? Maybe he just genuinely wants to have a go at being a good guy for a change."

"I think you're being a bit naïve about this, Hermione." Harry's eyes pierced her almost painfully, and she felt herself wince involuntarily.

She heaved a sigh. "Maybe you're right, but I see no harm in at least giving him a shot, and you're both here to look out for me?"

"I think you're making a big mistake." Ron muttered, hunched down in his chair, the firelight reflecting across his flaming hair.

"But we're always here for you." Harry smiled at her, and leant forward to take her fingers in his. "It's your decision. If you think he's trustworthy then, even though I can't say I approve, you should try trusting him."

God, things I do for you lot. I know it's not very long, nowhere near as long as you all deserve. Give me a few days and I'll write you a really long chapter. This is just to let you know I'm BACK! There may also be a "e He" missing from somewhere... I found it randomly placed and can't find where it's come from!

Please review!

JustADoll

xxx