AN: I'd like to thank The Puzzler of Riddles and peace-love-and-writing for their reviews. It helped me with the plot. Thanks again, guys. I appreciate the reviews and your take on the stories.

Draco sat down in his seat for Transfiguration, rested his elbow on the desk, and propped his chin on his open palm. He hadn't lied to Grang- Hermione when he'd said he wanted to turn over a new leaf. He'd grown up with the blood superiority snobbish attitude for so long that he'd believed all of it. But he hadn't always been like that.

When he'd been younger, and his father had been drilling into his mind about blood superiority, Draco had looked through a muggle magazine Lucius had brought for 'teaching material'. He'd spotted an ad to sign up for a penpal by just submitting a small description of yourself and what you wanted in a penpal. At the time, he hadn't really cared, taking his father's teachings seriously. But then he'd wondered about what a real muggle would be like. Were they really as stupid and inferior as his father said? So, he'd written a neutral add and told a house elf to deliver it to the magazine without being seen. To be honest, he hadn't expected a response. I mean, not many actually answer ads, right?

That's why it had been a surprise when he'd received a letter back. Bushy Cat. She hadn't been anything like his father said muggles were like. She had sounded smart and with something to say. Not a bit brainless like his father said. Draco had been curious, so he'd written back. Before he knew it, he had a muggle penpal. He'd kept it a secret from his father and though he had been scared Lucius might find out one day, he had continued to write. Draco had felt like he had a real friend in Bushy Cat. He laughed at her jokes and had never felt he needed to put on a mask to please her.

It had almost killed him to get that letter from her, saying they couldn't write anymore. He'd closed that part of himself off, not wanting to be that vulnerable anymore. Draco had locked that part away and become what his father wanted; a pureblood who was prejudice against muggles and muggleborns. For years, he'd been that person and hadn't really thought much of it. It was just a part to play, right? But the war had come and things had changed. His part had become a pawn and that wasn't him. His identity crisis hadn't been too pleasant, either; when he'd fought with himself over what he was going to do about Dumbledore. He'd been lost, the only thing keeping him going had been the letters. They were now worn and crumpled around the edges with a few stains from where he'd held it, reading the words and wondering what Bushy Cat was doing now.

And now she was here. It was like a wish come true. But Draco didn't know if he could be as open with her as he once was. He wasn't even sure if the part Bushy Cat remembered was still there. He didn't know if Fluffy Bunny had survived all these years and after the war. It was possible that Fluffy Bunny had died long ago. Draco truly didn't know. He didn't know a lot of things now a days.

"You think too hard and your head will explode, Malfoy," Ron said as he sat down at a desk.

Draco blinked slowly, bringing himself back to the present and out of his thoughts. "I'm sure you'd enjoy that, Weasley," he said in a calm voice. Usually, he would have shot a comeback at the redhead, but he just didn't feel like it anymore. It wasn't something that he felt up to.

Ron must have noticed because he said, "What's wrong, Malfoy? Ferret got your tongue?"

Draco bit the inside of his cheek, the pain keeping him in check. Weasley was getting on his nerves with just his annoying voice, but Draco was trying to stay calm and keep his retort in his mouth. Granger- No. Hermione wouldn't be very happy if he insulted her friends right after he'd said he wanted to change. So he kept his mouth shut and stared ahead as the room began to fill up.

He looked around, expecting to see Hermione walk in, but she was no where to be found. Blaise walked in and took the seat next to Draco. "Hey, man," he said. He noticed him being quiet. "You okay? Potions with Granger didn't get you down, did it?"

Draco almost smirked at the caring tone. Ever since Blaise had started dating Pansy, he'd been trying to be more 'sensitive'. Or trying to at least pretend to care. It was quite comical to Draco, who knew that Blaise was full of it. "You know," Draco said. "You might want to work on the tone. I can still hear you not caring."

Blaise chuckled. "It's seems to get Pansy off my back," he said. "I love the girl, but when she's prattling on about something that I can't stand, my 'understanding expression' usually works." He leaned forward, lowered his eyebrows slightly, and gave a slight nod.

Draco snorted. "And that works?" he said. "I'm sorry to tell you, my friend, but Pansy never falls for that. Don't worry, though. If she lets you do that, she likes you."

"You're encouraging," Blaise said. Draco rolled his eyes. "No, really. You should sell anti pep talks. Guaranteed to make you feel worse than you already are."

Draco rolled his eyes again, but with a slight smile on his face. He looked around and noticed that Hermione wasn't there and neither was the professor. The class was to have started ten minute ago and, without the professor's presence, the students milled around desks, talking. A few girls were sitting on the desk tops, their legs crossed so their skirts fell back to reveal even more leg and skin.

At one time, Draco would have been interested, but he'd lost interest lately. Not because he couldn't...you know, get it up, or that he didn't like girls, because he did; but they just didn't capture his attention. He noticed when they were attractive, but that was quickly overlooked or forgotten when they were out of eye sight. It was a drastic change from what he'd been like, but then, everyone was different. For instance, the girl sitting closest to him with the skirt three inches too short, was Mary Shubaker from Hufflepuff and had been the most reserve girl Draco had ever known. Now, she was flirting with Dean Thomas and flipping her long auburn hair over her shoulder.

"Take your seats," McGonagal said, strolling down the aisle with her robes billowing out behind her. Students scrambled to their seats as the professor continued. "I apologize for my lateness. Now, if you will all open your books to Chapter 23. We will be working on human transfiguration. No, we will not be turning people into animals or desks. We will only be learning how to change a person's hair color. Tomorrow we will change the color of someone's eyes."

Draco pulled out his quill and parchment as McGonagal turned to the board. He started taking notes, mostly going on auto pilot. He'd learned this spell a while back, but the note taking was just something to keep his hands occupied. He looked around at everyone else and saw Hermione one desk over and two desks down. She must have come in after the professor.

Draco studied her. Really studied her. Her brown hair had been tamed and was pulled into a wavy ponytail at the back of her neck, a few strands sliding over her shoulder as she bent her head over her parchment. Her hand raced across the paper, scribbling notes like a professional. Draco bet she had good penmanship. Anything sloppy just didn't fit with Hermione's studious character.

Hermione moved the parchment to write on the next section and said something to Weasley, who was trying to talk to her. She shook her head and looked up at the board, her eyes scanning over the next line of notes. Weasley leaned closer to her and she shook her head again, starting to get agitated at the disturbance. Looked like he wasn't going to leave her alone and even Draco knew that she was extremely focused on her studies. Like she had something to prove to everyone. Draco got that. It was hard to change what people thought until you forced them to deal with a change.

He watched her for a while, then turned to the front as McGonagal addressed the class. "Now, we shall break off into groups of three. One person will be the caster, one shall be the one being spelled, and the last one will write down notes. Rotate until everyone has their own notes and has cast their spells. I leave the pairing up to you."

Draco turned to Blaise and his friend nodded. Well, that was one. He just needed someone else. Blaise looked over Draco's shoulder and raised an eyebrow. Draco gave a slightly confused look and then noticed that the room had gotten quiet. He turned around and saw Hermione standing by his desk with her school bag over her shoulder.

"Hermione," he said in greeting. He noticed Blaise's eyes widen slightly.

"Draco," she said. "Mind if I work with you and Blaise?"

Draco looked around her and at Weasley and Potter. The redhead looked angry but at least Potter looked confused. It was interesting that he noticed Potter was very level headed. Rarely did Potter jump to rash decisions. He'd proven that during the war and Draco had respect for him. "Not going to work with Weasley and Potter?" Draco asked. There was not malice or arrogance in his tone. Just curiosity.

Hermione shrugged. "I usually do, but I want to get this spell right. No offense to either of them, but Ron doesn't do much work and Harry sort of goofs off with Ron. Besides, if we're going to be civil to each other, might as well get people familiar with seeing us being polite, right?"

Draco nodded at the logic and said, "Well, pull up a seat. Oh, I owe you a sickle."

"You haven't called 'Granger'," she said, pulling up a piece of bench and sitting down.

"I thought it," he said.

"Does that even count?" Hermione asked, pulling out a fresh sheet of parchment, her quill, and her wand.

"We never came up with rules," Draco said.

"What are you talking about?" Blaise asked, staring at them as if they'd announced they were griffins in disguise. It was understandable. For years, they'd fought with each other like cats and dogs. Now, they're suddenly civil? It was suspicious.

Hermione turned to Blaise and smiled. It was a nice smile. "Draco wanted my help to turn over a new leaf. But it's hard to do that without some incentive. So, we made a deal. It's small. We call each other by our first names and if we call each other 'Granger' or 'Malfoy', we owe each other a sickle."

"Then I say you should count the thoughts," Blaise said. "Anything to get money out of him."

Hermione's lips twitched and then she opened her book. "So, who is going to be the Guinea pig first?"

"Can I change Draco's hair pink?" Blaise asked. He didn't wait for a reply. He pulled out his wand and flicked it as he muttered the incantation, and laughed as Draco's hair turned a shocking hot pink.

Draco's hand went to his hair and he glowered at his friend. Really? How immature could a guy get? He turned to look at Hermione and saw that she held a hand over her mouth to keep from laughing. Her eyes were crinkled slightly as she tried to hide her smile, but she started to giggle softly. It wasn't a mocking laugh or one meant to ridicule. It was a giggle that sounded cheerful and happy. Draco thought it was kind of refreshing.

"Okay," Draco said in a quiet voice. "Change it back before people notice."

"Sorry, mate," Blaise said. "I wasn't paying attention to that part of the class." He didn't even bother hiding his smile.

Draco frowned and said, "Funny. You should be a comedian."

"And my first joke will be about this very situation," Blaise said. "You think I should start now? I mean, the class might enjoy a good joke."

Draco opened his mouth to growl something, but Hermione stepped in. "I'll do it, Draco," she said, lifting her wand. She gently tapped his hair with the tip and spoke the reversing incantation. Draco saw his hair turn back to its original color from the corner of his eye as he stared at her. She stared back with a friendly smile.

"Thanks," Draco murmured.

"You look terrible in pink," she said. "Now, Blaise, I believe you would look fantastic with a new hairdo."

"It's not going to be too ridiculous, is it?" he asked, looking at her wearily.

Hermione raised her wand. She smiled and flicked the tip at him. Draco stared, then burst into laughter. The sound bounced off the walls and cut through the class' noise. Everyone turned to their table, shocked to hear Draco laughing up a hernia. They ended up laughing their asses off and Ron even fell off his chair.

"What?" Blaise said. He conjured a mirror and looked at his reflection. He yelled and looked at Hermione. "I look like some old guy from a painting! Hermione, how could you?"

She smiled and Draco looked at his friend's hair. She'd charmed his hair into a big bump and piled high on his head, the sides curled out, and the color as white as powder. Blaise looked as if he'd just come from a Renaissance lord's salon parlor. In short, he looked like a complete idiot.

Hermione blinked innocently and said, "I'm learning a new spell, Blaise. There are a few kinks that need to be worked out. I'm sure I'll be able to fix it. Maybe."

"Maybe?" Blaise yelped, obviously panicking. "I have a date tonight with Pansy. She'll never go for this. And I am not going to go out of here with this hair. It's bad enough that the class is laughing."

Draco saw Hermione's eyes soften and she undid the spell, returning it to it's short cut and dark color. He slowly calmed himself and waited as McGonagal calmed the class down. "Sorry, Blaise," Hermione said with an apologetic smile. "But you deserved it."

The bell rang and they were dismissed. Blaise stood up, grabbed his things, and turned to Draco. "So not cool that you befriended the smart girl," he said.

"You're just mad that you didn't do it first," Draco said. Blaise looked offended for a second. One second. Then he shrugged and nodded before leaving.

Draco looked at Hermione, who was collecting up her things, and said, "Hey...thanks, Hermione."

She looked up, her school bag on her shoulder and her school robe hung over her arm. She smiled and nodded. "Well, I don't think the pink hair joke would have been any good," she said. "And Blaise sucks at telling jokes."

Draco gave a short laugh and grabbed his things. "Yeah," he said. "Never ask him about the giant and the lake monster. Doesn't end well."

Hermione giggled. "Hermione, you coming?" Ron asked. They both looked over at him. The redhead was impatient; his body language was stiff and his arms were crossed as if defensive about his relationship with Hermione. It was ridiculous to Draco, but he could understand.

"Weasley's getting angry," Draco said.

Hermione nodded and started to go. She took one step, then paused. Turning to him slightly, she said, "You know, I think we should count the thinking part in our deal. If we can't think the name, it'll be hard to actually say them. But, to be fair, it'll start now. Deal?"

Draco smiled at her logic. "Deal," he said. "And...thanks for helping me. With the hair thing and with working with me. I appreciate it."

Hermione smiled and touched his forearm in a caring gesture. "No problem," she said and then joined Weasley at the door. The redhead lowered his head slightly toward her and started talking. Probably ragging on her about working with Draco instead of him. It was fairly predictable, but Draco guessed that there would be a lot of that by the time lunch came around. He looked at his schedule and headed toward is next class.

AN: I hope you enjoyed this chapter. The updates on this and my other stories will be later delayed until I am done with a previous engagement that will last two months. I have not abandoned any of my stories and I just want you to know that.