Thanks guys so much for bearing with me! I have a plan for this story now so I should be updating faster here's a longer chapter for the meantime.

Chapter 12

Hermione POV

Hermione groaned flopping back onto bed. That had to have been the worst study session of her life- and that's including the time she tried to tutor Neville in potions. They'd only spent an hour in that library and yet she'd never felt so extraordinarily, emotionally drained. Checking her watch, Hermione realized she'd have to go down to dinner soon. She pulled a pillow over her head seriously considering skipping dinner. With the way her luck was going this year she'd probably choke to death on a pea or something.

Before she could dwell too far on that unpleasant thought however someone knocked on her door. Grumbling out a "come in", Hermione lifted the pillow off her face to see who was interrupting her solitude of self pity.

"Hello Ginny." Ginny crossed the room and sat at the edge of Hermione's bed.

"Hi there" she smiled. But it wasn't a nice smile. It was a: I'm-going-to drag-all-your-secrets-out-of-you-slowly-and-painfully smile. Hermione did her best to look pathetic hoping Ginny would take pity on her. No such luck.

"So that was interesting before in the common room." She started.

"Was it?" Hermione asked playing naive. Ginny smirked at her in a very Slytherin way. It immediately made her uncomfortable.

"What do you want to know?"

Flashback

As they'd entered the library, Hermione immediately headed towards her favourite seat in the library. It was automatic. She'd studied there for almost a decade. It wasn't till she arrived at said desk that she realized how Draco could take it. After all, Hermione had always chosen this table because it was in a secluded section of the library allowing her privacy and quiet to study in peace. However, knowing Draco, well the new Draco, he would read far too much into the privacy and probably come up with some rubbish like that she wanted to be alone with him. And indeed when she glanced in his direction he had an eyebrow raised and his mouth twitched like he was fighting a grin. Playing ignorant, Hermione sat down on one side of the desk and indicated for Draco to sit down opposite for her. He did so wordlessly for which she was grateful. Hermione pulled a piece of the spare parchment that was always on the desks and a quill and scribbled the heading 'Ancient Runes Essay'.

"Right" She said, ready to begin. She couldn't help feeling excited. Homework always had that effect on her. Draco still said nothing, just watched her with those alluring eyes. 'Stop it Hermione!' She thought angrily shaking her head. Just then she felt a foot slip up the inside of her leg. Gasping in surprise she immediately drew her feet back, crossing them under her chair. Draco smiled coyly. Stretching his arms above his head and lengthening his body, consequently moving his feet forward till they touched Hermione's. Hermione hurriedly shuffled back her chair determined to get out of his reach. Dam my luck! He's like the tallest guy in the school!

So it continued for a good 40 minutes. Hermione would be in the middle of explaining something or making a suggestion or even just pausing to think and the snake would find some way to slither his feet up her trembling leg. It was very flustering for poor Hermione.

End of Flashback

"O.M.M!" Ginny exclaimed as Hermione concluded her traumatic story to date. "I knew something was going on! I knew it! They so both want you!" Hermione paled looking like she wanted to die.

"I don't know what to do!" she cried. Ginny shook her head exasperated.

"Do you have any idea how many girls in this school would kill for this attention?" she asked. Well, no. In fact Hermione couldn't imagine why anyone would wish this upon themselves.

Flashback

Draco still hadn't said anything. Anything! He just nodded, grunted and slipped his feet up and down. She was indisputably perplexed. Finally she exploded.

"STOP DOING THAT!" She screeched after he had gotten a little higher than before. He raised an eyebrow but still said nothing. Jumping to her feet she resisted the urge to slap him. "And why aren't you speaking?"

"Because," Draco started leaning casually back in his chair, "you made me promise 'not to say anything that's not to do with the essay'." Hermione fumed. Not because he was wrong, quite the opposite. 1stly because she hated being quoted, 2nd because he was right and 3rd because he knew he was right. So she settled with a scowl.

"Whatever." She grumbled sitting back down. "You may speak freely." Draco grinned and groaning Hermione realized he'd been pushing her to her breakdown so that'd she'd say exactly that. Tricky little ferret.

End of flashback

"Come on Mione." Ginny sang cheerfully dragging a distressed Hermione to her feet. "Let's go down to dinner."

Way beyond begging or caring Hermione trudged after her friend. They were almost to the door when Ginny turned back around quickly causing Hermione to crash straight into her. Catching her balance Ginny righted a now toppling Hermione. She was deceptively strong, Ginny. She had a tiny frame but you can bet it was all muscle. Must be the quiditch Hermione thought.

"What is it?" She asked tiredly. Ginny looked at her like she was an idiot.

"You can't go down like this!" Ginny cried gesturing at her. Hermione instinctively looked down at her clothes for the problem.

"No not just your robes! Your hair, your makeup, your whole look!" She said impatiently. "Come on!" she added waving away Hermione's weak protests. Pushing her back down on the bed Ginny immediately got to work.

"Now you don't want to look like your trying for their attention." She began. "Just a bit of lip gloss, some mascara, some blush, some eyeliner, a new outfit and redo your do." Hermione felt her head spinning.

Ginny worked so fast you'd think someone had pressed a fast forward button on her forehead. Hermione figured she wanted to get down to dinner as quickly as possible. She threw Hermione her pair of skinny jeans, a well fitting, pretty but casual top and a pair of earrings. She recast the softening charm on Hermione's hair and pulled it into a loose bun with a few curls framing her face. She finished by quickly reapplying Hermione's makeup and handed her a pair of pumps. Ginny took a step back to admire her work.

"My work here is done." She grinned mischievously. "At least for tonight." Hermione rolled her eyes and tried for a second time to leave for dinner. This time they made it down to the hall without Ginny calling a makeover. Hermione took a deep breath before walking in. It's not like you're in a ball gown or anything. And they don't know Ginny knows all She comforted herself.

They walked in together side by side which made Hermione feel slightly better. That was until she saw 2 long tables replacing the multiple ones that had been in place for lunch. Oh Merlin.

Hermione glanced at the long table to her left. The Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff banners hung over it and the students of said houses were seated randomly along it. To her right the rest of the students were seated. She could see Harry and Ron sitting together about halfway down the table. Next to Harry was Draco and opposite Ron was Blaise. Ginny eagerly made her way over to them and sat down next to Blaise leaving Hermione alone. Hermione grimaced. To sit near her friends (which she would of course if nothing else to avoid suspicion), she would either have to sit next to Draco or opposite him. She slowly sat down next to Ginny who had already helped herself to everything within reach. Big appetites clearly ran in the Weasley family, though thankfully Ginny had also developed manners unlike Ron who was currently stuffing his face with as much food as would fit. Hermione shook her head at his disgusting behaviour and instead looked ahead. Of course she'd forgotten that it would not be a fellow Gryffindor opposite her but the sly prince of Slytherin himself.

To be continued…

O.M.M= Oh my Merlin

Okay I'm too tired to write anything else. I'll continue in the morning. In the meantime, enjoy!