Note: Set during 7th year. Hermione and Anthony from Hufflepuff are Head Students and live in that imaginary dorm everyone sets up for the Head Students ;)

And to my reviewers, I'm so glad you decided to comment! I was going to wait, but I already knew what I was going to write, so.. here you go! :)

Toonikles47 - I ended it that way because I already knew what I wanted to say. If I kept going, wouldn't it have just been a ridiculously long chapter? Consider your dare accepted ;)

The next morning, Anthony found Hermione pacing the Heads' common room.

"Hey, Hermione. What's going on?" He asked, thinking she might have for once forgotten something. She didn't reply for a minute or so, continuing to pace, so he stepped into her path and held a hand out to catch her arm. "Hermione?"

"What?" She gasped, blinking and meeting his eyes finally. "I'm fine. Just anxious."

"About what..?" He raised an eyebrow. He didn't remember any tests being assigned today.

"Let's just say I'm trying to plan something special for someone." She shrugged it off, hoping he'd drop it. Luckily he smiled, told her how nice she was for doing that, and said he'd see her later - it was nearly breakfast time. The sent her flying around the room even faster. He gave her a funny look before heading out. Not two minutes later there was a knock on her doorway.

She took a deep breath, picked up her bag and headed to the portrait. Swinging it open, she didn't see anyone. Her spirits fell. She must have imagined it. She frowned and made her way out the door and took a right as the portrait shut behind her.

"And where exactly are you going, then?" A smug, familiar voice questioned from behind her. She spun around to find Malfoy leaning on his hand against the wall, his bag hanging off his shoulder. Sadly, he looked very good standing there.

"Didn't think you showed up." She shrugged, trying not to look embarrassed. "This was your idea, you know. You could've been easier to find, instead of hiding behind the portrait."

"Most sensible people look both ways when they hear a knock and nobody shows up." He smirked. Before she could put in a rebuttal, however, he held a hand up, saying, "And I know you are quite intelligent, Granger. Thus I can assume you're terrified about today."

She sighed and rested against the wall next to him, leaning her back against it. He made no move to get away from her which made her slightly hopeful that they could pull off his plan. The way they were standing, she realized, could look like a guy trying to comfort a friend. She was less than a foot away from him as he looked down on her, actually looking sorry for her.

"Malfoy, what are you supposed to tell the Slytherins? The Gryffindors won't care what I do. They know better than to even mutter about me. But your Slytherin friends don't seem to be afraid of anything. Especially not either of us." She practically pouted.

"Don't worry about them. If I say you're one of us, they'll agree, deal with it, or get hurt." He smiled. She was shocked. He actually, genuinely smiled! And what was worse - she liked it. He looked absolutely fantastic when he smiled. She couldn't help giving him a weak half-smile in return.

"Come on, then," He added, pushing off from the wall. "We'll miss breakfast."

"Right.." She nodded, following him down the corridor towards the great hall. "So, for day one, we're just becoming friends, is that right?"

"Why bother asking, Granger? We both know you took notes." He teased. She scowled at him. "Now, now, Miss Gryffindor. What friend acts like that towards another?" He asked, but immediately regretted it. She stopped short, looking thoroughly put out. "Forget the weasel, alright? He's not worth worrying about.." She didn't respond. Instead, she shook her head and began heading towards the Great Hall again. "If you walk in there practically crying, he'll treat you worse, you know."

She paused long enough for him to catch up to her and put a hand on her arm. They both jumped. The spark of electricity that floated from his hand to her arm was undeniable. Perhaps he'd collected some electrons or whatever and transferred them to her, like students enjoyed doing on cold, dry days in the common room where there was nothing but static-y surfaces to attack others with. (I rather doubt it.)

"Gra- Hermione, listen. Don't let him see that you're upset with him. Pretend nothing is wrong. Just that we're becoming friends. If he asks questions, pretend you're trying to trick me into falling for you. He won't even dare to think that you're really tricking him." Draco said almost kindly.

Hermione stood there in shock for a moment. He'd used her first name. And in her head she had called him Draco. She was in trouble. She was actually wanting to become friends with this guy. She just nodded numbly and let him lead her into the Entrance Hall.

"How do you want to do this, then?" She asked. "Laughing, talking, what?"

"I have an idea. Just go along with it, alright?" He asked. "Trust me."

Without waiting for her response - probably out of fear that she wouldn't go with his last statement - he began walking towards the door to the Great Hall. She hurried her steps to catch up to him.

"Well, then, Hermione. It was wonderful to get to spend time with you this morning." He said too loudly.

"Who talks like that?" She hissed quietly, keeping her teeth together so she could fake a smile.

"I do." He grinned. Taking her hand, he lifted the back of it to his mouth and gave her skin a closed-mouth kiss. She blushed furiously, as he'd planned. He had a feeling she hadn't had much of a romantic time with guys in the past. Of course she would react that way naturally. He looked up at her, keeping a firm hold on her hand as she tried to pull away.

Hermione had to admit, he looked completely handsome glancing up at her while he kissed her hand. She blinked at him in awe. She certainly hadn't seen that coming.

"Mr. Propriety are we?" Blaise sniggered as he passed.

"Shut up or you die." Malfoy snapped in return. Blaise just shrugged and winked at Hermione as he passed. Sending a glare after his best friend, Malfoy turned back to her after a moment. "Sorry about him. He thinks he can get away with anything because he's my best friend."

Hermione shrugged. "No worries." She said breathlessly.

"You alright?" He asked, following her eyes, as she was no longer looking at him. Ronald was as red as a tomato, and standing up from the Gyrffindor table. Harry and Ginny looked furious as well, but partially embarrassed at the Weasel's reaction. "I guess not. Come on, then." He urged, pulling her by the hand he still clasped towards the Slytherin table.

Pansy stood up, aghast. "What in Merlin's name..?"

"I'll hurt you, Pans. Calm down." Malfoy threatened seriously. She frowned and sat down. Ron looked ready to kill now, too.

Taking her bag and setting it in his usual spot, he gestured for Hermione to sit down. She gaped at him before she finally gave in at his imploring look.

"Malfoy! What do you think you're doing?" Ron shouted furiously, having followed them over to the table. The Slytherins all sneered at him. Malfoy had made an executive decision, and gotten Granger to sit at the table. That was it, then. Most of the Slytherins feared him. Those who didn't, he'd make them agree sooner or later. Thus, Granger would be welcomes when Malfoy was around. Maybe even otherwise.

"My new friend is sitting at our table." He shrugged nonchalantly. The entire Great Hall froze. It was like they all thought there was some impending apocalypse or something. "Yes. We're friends. Can't you deal with it? If not, please feel free to come discuss it with me. Otherwise, leave us be."

"You can't be friends with her. She hates you." Ron growled.

"Obviously not." Malfoy laughed. "This just shows you for being so cruel to her. You proved how worthless you were. Get over yourself."

The Great Hall was filled with either laughter or grunts of appreciation