Hi there! Thanks for all the reviews guys. Once again I'll remind you: I'll keep writing if you keep reviewing. Next chapter will be up soonish... I'm not sure how fast I want to move the story along so I'd appreciate comments on that. Oh the pressures of a first story. I might do a one shot Dramione on the side to take the pressure off this one... Anyway, onwards and upwards!

Chapter 5

"Oh Merlin." Draco groaned leaning back against the wall.

"Oh Merlin." Hermione sighed tilting her head back against the edge of the bath.

-Later that morning-

"Whoa Drake!" Blaise's face became a mask of fake shock. "I know I said the beauty sleep wasn't doing anything for you but there's no reason to wear makeup." Draco scowled angrily at him as he joined him outside potions. He was well aware his face was an odd colour thanks to first the freezing cold, then boiling hot shower he'd taken. Having needed to er relieve himself he then turned up the heat to boiling point resulting in him now blending in nicely with the furniture in the Gryffindor common room. He threw Blaise a withering look not appreciating the reminder.

"Look Blaise. Can we just move away from my face for one day?" He growled. Blaise chuckled but said nothing. A few moments later Granger and the rest of the golden trio arrived. Draco tried in vain not to stare at her which Blaise noticed with glee.

"Come on mate! Pull yourself together. It's not like you've seen her naked!" 2 hours a go Draco would have laughed. Now, he wanted to die.

"That's not funny." Draco snapped realizing immediately that he should've laughed it off. Blaise's eyes widened and for the first time Draco thought he looked genuinely surprised.

"No." He whispered. He looked like Christmas had come early. "You haven't. What? When? Where? Why didn't you say? This is huge! Does she look as good out of clothes as in them?" Draco, growing increasingly redder, grabbed Blaise and dragged him away from prying ears.

"Listen." He hissed shoving Blaise up against the wall and prodding him in the chest. "You will not mention this to Granger; in fact, you will absolutely not mention this to anyone. You will not bring this up again. You will forget about this or I will hex you to oblivion! Do you understand?"

"Will you forget about it?" Blaise inquired. He didn't seem at all frightened by what was obviously a threat. In fact he seemed even more cocky than usual. Draco stepped back and rubbed his forehead.

"I don't think I can." He whispered at last.

"Well," Blaise started pushing Draco a few feet back from him and straightening up. "Firstly, do not threaten me Mr Malfoy. Remember I am head boy now. Second, I do not believe for a moment that you could beat me in a duel. And third," he lowered his voice. "Can you at least answer the last question?" Draco groaned.

"Use your imagination." He said at last joining the mob of students now following professor Snape into the dungeons.

"Oh I will." Blaise winked following him.

I can't believe I almost broke down in front of Malfoy! Hermione mentally groaned. She was sure he was somehow going to use this against her. And how much had he seen?

"Oh Merlin," Hermione murmured under her breathe as she and her friends drew closer to potions.

"You okay Mione?" Harry asked quietly. Hermione nodded but said nothing as they rounded the last corner. And there he was, looking rather red in fact. Like he'd been under boiling, hot water or something. Odd

Malfoy seemed to be avoiding eye contact though Hermione was sure she saw him sneak a glance at her a couple of times. He looks embarrassed. And so he should! The insolence of the git! Don't you dare blush Hermione! But she did. Clearing her throat nervously she leaned against a wall further away from Malfoy and tossed her hair so it covered her rosy face. It was an anxious few minutes but after what felt forever Snape appeared sweeping past the gathering of 7th years into the dungeons, black robes billowing out behind him.

"So what do you think?" Blaise enquired over the cauldron. They had been attempting to brew a rather difficult healing potion for the last 1 hour.

"I don't think it's supposed to be this colour." Draco said flatly keeping his eyes fixed on the concoction that had turned a rather ugly shade of green.

"You're avoiding my question."

"It says on the board that it should be a lilac colour by now." Draco continued. He was indeed avoiding both Blaise's question and the eye contact he sought.

"Don't you think it's a good idea?" Blaise persisted.

"Maybe we should try stirring it in anti-clockwise direction instead."

"Draco!" Draco finally looked up. Blaise looked just as he sounded; positive and enthusiastic.

"I think it's unnecessary."

"Well I think it'll be great."Blaise declared. Draco sighed.

"Granger won't like it." He argued. "And you'll need to get to support it if you want a hope in hell of actually getting McGonagall's consent."

"Oh she'll come round." Blaise said dismissively glancing over at her table. Draco glanced over as well. She was peering into her own cauldron, hair pulled loosely back into a bun, a confused expression on her face.

"If you say so." He replied dryly turning back to his potion.

Potions, was every bit as horrible as it used to be much to Hermione's disappointment. She'd had high hopes that after the war Snape would let up a bit but this proved to be fruitless. He was just as cold and condescending to the Golden trio (Harry in particular) as he used to be and Ron seemed especially angered by it.

"That sly snake! And after you saved his life and everything Harry, gave the testament that saved his stinky backside from being thrown into Azkaban and this is how he repays you? I'm gonna get him, I swear I will!" Ron hollered. And he did so for the 30 minutes that it'd taken to walk up the steps, drop off their books, enter the Great Hall and serve themselves lunch. They'd been sitting here for 10 minutes and even the food was not enough to deter him. It was a disgusting talent of Ron's to eat and talk at the same time and there was simply no stopping the boy once he was on a roll. Harry sighed and Hermione shot him a sympathetic look.

"Ron, for the 100th time, what did you expect?" He asked. Merlin he sounded tired. The war had really aged him. "Did you really think the war would end Snapes lifelong hate for all things Gryffindor just like that? That he'd dress in red and gold, sing Carols and hand out Berty Botts to first years?" Ginny giggled at the image, and even Ron cracked a smile.

"Besides," Harry continued. "We saved Malfoy's, Crabbe's and Goyle's lives too but it hardly made us all best buddies did it?" Ron snorted at the idea but Hermione became immediately alert at the mention of Malfoy. Ginny's –of course- noticed and eyed Hermione suspiciously. Hermione tried to appear fascinated by what Harry was saying but Ginny's eyes were as astute and intimidating as Mad-eye Moody's and it took all Hermione's self restraint not to run out of the hall, screaming.

"You guys just have double potions?" Fred and George asked lightly sitting down on either side of the table. Their presence was met with a glare from half the table who had still not forgiven them, and a resentful but resigned look from the other half who were getting there.

"Yeh, we did." Harry said at last looking down at his untouched meal. Hermione knew how sick he was of wars and fighting and felt another pang of sympathy for him. Fred and George gave him a sad smile knowing how hard this was for him.

"We're sorry about this Harry especially to you." Fred said. "Yeh we really didn't for it to turn out like this honest." George added.

"I know you didn't." Harry told smiling dejectedly. Ginny rubbed his arm and murmured soothing words in his ears. As sad as she felt for Harry Hermione was glad Ginny was distracted. Now if only she could distract herself…

Malfoy and Blaise had just walked into the Great Hall and Hermione couldn't take her eyes off them. Don't be so anxious Hermione. After the way Draco acted this morning I doubt he'll be spreading rumours. Wait, did I just call him Draco? Gah! Shaking her head she turned back to her food.

At the end of the day Draco and Blaise made their way back to Gryffindor tower.

"Well that was a very successful day if I so myself." Blaise declared. Draco considered calling a teacher. Was he mad? Today had been one of the most stressful, horrible, agonizing, embarrassing days of his life. Blaise, oblivious to Draco's incredulous stare, continued.

"I got all the timetables handed out -without your help I might add,"

"You obviously didn't need it."

"I got 15 points in Ancient Runes"

"I do recall"

"Lunch was great"

"If you weren't too disgusted by your friends to eat it."

"We didn't get any homework in charms."

"No, I got detention instead."

"Millicent tried to make out with me."

"That's a positive?"

"And I have come up with a most fabulous idea!"

"Which won't be approved."

"And yet, I wasn't the one who saw Granger naked."

Draco almost fell off the stairwell. He whipped his around to check for any close witnesses.

"I- I told you to forget that."

Blaise turned to him a teasing smile on his face.

"I do recall."

Draco shoved him aside playfully and they continued up the stairs.

What's that cheeky Blaise up to? Review to find out!