A/n: Sorry for the wait! I hope you guys like it anyways :) And sorry it's not the most exciting chapter, there will be better stuff but ahead if you stick around for it! Thanks to my beta ashash2009!

anon: Glad to hear it! It's not exactly soon, but tada!

Draco was out of Arithmancy finally, walking with Blaise towards what he considered to be the worst class of the day; Care of Magical Creatures with that oaf. Even worse, it was another class that held only Slytherin's and Gryffindors. Why, oh why, did there have to be so many classes with the Gryffindors?

Blaise was saying something when thick, brown hair caught Draco's attention. Glancing behind him now, he saw Granger racing off in the direction of their dorm. Dammit! He had been enjoying his day (mostly) but now he was wondering how Granger was going to move on with her life if all she did was hide in their dorm. They shared the next class, and he was sure if he told the teacher they had been dealing with Head's work that he would ignore their tardiness. He cursed himself.

"What was that?" Blaise asked, glancing over.

"Nothing," he groaned, stopping his walk. "Tell that oaf I have some Head's business to deal with."

His friend raised a sharp eyebrow, interested. "We both know you don't have any heads business to take care of, so what gives Malfoy?"

Draco frowned. "I just need to go grab Granger," he said quickly, spinning around to pursue the girl before she got too far away.

"Grab her? What does that mean," he called over the crowd, drawing a few looks, but Malfoy was already too far away. The Italian turned away, shaking his head.

'I wonder if he's about to go bother her about that incident in potions?' Blaise thought to himself.

The blond was becoming rather annoyed. Too may fucking underclassmen were blocking his way to Granger. Merlin if he should care so much! This was Granger for fuck's sake, and he barely tolerated the girl! Fine, he pitied her for what happened, but he didn't need to be concerning himself so much.

But dammit, he was concerned. He was beginning to wonder if Hogwarts brightest student would hide away in her dorm until the Headmistress was forced to intervene. Hey, it could happen!

However, he was trudging after her, schoolbag feeling quite a bit heavier. Did the girl have to move so bloody fast? Merlin, she didn't move half as fast the night-

No, don't go there Draco. Those were completely different circumstances, and she was not in the position to move quickly. This is completely different! Don't think about it like that. He shook his head, continuing his trek up to the school.

He spotted Granger up ahead of him as he rounded a corner; the girl running towards her room. He quickly drew his wand and muttered a spell to make her slow down, and silence her because he was positive she would scream. Now she'll think its Weasley again, or that I am going to kill her. Great…

He walked up in front of her and took off both spells, dropping his bag to clutch her shoulders. She looked horrified for a moment until he spoke. "Will you calm down? I'm not going to bloody hurt you Granger!"

She threw his hands away. "Leave me alone Malfoy! I don't want to deal with anyone at the moment." She hugged her bag closer and moved to pass him, but he caught her forearm again.

"Stop this!"

"Stop what?" she asked, relieved that his grip at least wasn't painful.

"This," he snapped, turning to glare at her. "You are running away from Weasley simply because you know you have class with him next."

She frowned, "Hardly."

He smirked, picking up his own bag without releasing her arm, "Great! Then let's go off to class, shall we?"

Her legs suddenly wanted to freeze, but the annoying Slytherin she shared a dorm with just drug her down the hall. "Malfoy, I'm really not feeling well-"

"Bullshit," he snaps, continuing to drag her towards the outside classroom. They were now on the Grand Staircase, receiving strange looks as they passed. "You are simply avoiding Weasley, like I said before, and I won't have it. You will not mope around in our common room, scared, the entire year. It'll really put a damper on the bloody parties I plan to throw."

"Parties?"

"Yes parties," he snapped. They were outside of the castle now, and on their way to Hagrid's class, Malfoy still towing her along. "And those parties will not be stopped simply because you are afraid of everyone finding out. Merlin! If you really want to bother the bloke, why don't you just pretend you're not bothered by him at all? That should get under his skin."

She felt her fear instantly grow. "Are you bloody crazy Malfoy? He would kill me for that if he found me alone!"

The blond shook his head. "Really Granger? And how often have you been alone since 'it' happened? I doubt he could catch you alone for a minute. Now stop worrying so much and walk on your own; I'm not explaining why I had to drag you to class."

Hermione quickly pulled free of his grip and walked beside him, not daring to move away. She would not step away from him until she had a clear path to Harry, completely avoiding Ron. She refused to get close to him under any circumstances.

They quickly reached the class after that, all eyes were drawn to the unlikely pair that walked in together. Gryffindor eyebrows shot up and Slytherin eyes narrowed.

"What's this then?" Hagrid asked, looking at the two very late students.

Draco shrugged a single shoulder, wandering over to Blaise and Daphne Greengrass. Granger thankfully stepped away from him as they passed Potter, and he didn't miss the fact that she scooted away when Weasley tried to grab her. He smirked.

Apparently, Blaise didn't miss Hermione avoiding Weasley either. The Italian had a very high arched eyebrow as Draco slid himself between the pair, resting his arm on the fencepost behind him.

"Interesting how Granger is avoiding Weasley at all costs, don't you think?" Blaise asked as Draco took his seat.

Malfoy nodded, knowing his friend would catch the action, after the stunt in potions. "He isn't very careful, is he?" the Italian continued.

"Hardly. Potter would notice the odd behavior if he weren't so dense."

Blaise chuckled, ignoring whatever the teacher was saying. "Possibly, or he would ignore it entirely."

Hermione was practically leaning on a very uncomfortable Harry. "Is there a problem Hermione," he whispered, so as to not interrupt their favorite teacher, unlike the arrogant Slytherin's next to Malfoy.

Hermione shrugged and tried to smile as she answered her best friend. "Just feeling a bit light headed," was the only lie she could come up with.

"Want me to take you up to the hospital wing," Ron cut in, glaring at her.

She instantly moved away from both of them, bumping into Seamus as she did so. He gave her a strange look before ignoring the girl again. "No, I'm fine Ron," she said quickly, looking down. She would look anywhere if it meant she didn't have to see him.

As Hagrid talked, she found herself unable to focus. Every few seconds her eyes moved to the ginger boy, hoping he hadn't stepped away to stand on her other side. It was happening too frequently, and she soon stopped herself. Merlin, had Malfoy been right? Was she letting Ron control her now? If only through fear?

She vaguely heard Hagrid tell them to pair up and take notes on the strange creatures currently caged, and Hermione apparently heard it a second too late. Ron's strong grip was on her arm suddenly, far too tight, and he was grinning at her.

"Let's be partners," he said, moving his eyebrows at her as his eyes slid up and down her body. Oh god, she could already feel the bile rise in her throat.

"Actually Ron," she said shakingly, glancing around. Harry had already gone off with Seamus, and it appeared everyone had found a partner, except a few Slytherin's who seemed to be arguing amongst themselves. One of those Slytherin's just happened to be Malfoy. "I-I was informed today that the Heads should be partners in all classes! I doubt Hagrid knows yet," she rushed her words, trying to pull free.

"You're lying Hermione," he hissed.

Draco watched the pair from his place beside Daphne, who was complaining to Blaise that she would not work with Crabble, who had found some new friends recently. Draco watched her trying to pull free, and apparently this seemed common enough to the other students, who were paying Ron and Hermione no mind, but Draco knew better.

He didn't really want to cause a scene. Glancing back at the two, he spoke. "I actually think I've found another partner. You can partner with Daphne, Blaise," he continued, nodding to the Italian. He didn't wait to hear their responses, just grabbed his bag, slung it over his shoulder, and walked towards Ron and Hermione, hoping to ruin Weasley's day.

"If you would kindly remove yourself from my partner," Draco spoke evenly; interrupting whatever the boy had been about to snap at Granger, "I'd actually like to get this fucking assignment done."

The ginger's eyes flared, and he couldn't help but smirk, well this could be fun. "Your partner? Hardly Malfoy, you're just going to make her life hell-"

"Like you haven't already," he countered immediately, not missing a beat.

Ron's eyes narrowed, "Excuse me?"

"Don't push it Weasley; I know a hell of a lot more about your illegal activates at the present time than you do mine. It would be a shame really for your pathetic, traitor family to have a son sent to Azkaban as well." Draco had leaned forwards a bit, making sure to get in his face in a menacing manner, so that to onlookers it seemed they were talking about the normal topics.

Ron glared, "Don't threaten me," he said in a low voice.

Draco shrugged, as he grabbing Granger's arm to pull her free. He was surprised when the redhead let go entirely and stalked away. Obviously, he wasn't in the mood for a fight just then, which was fine with the blond who glanced at Granger. She was soothingly rubbing her arm.

"Thanks," she mumbled.

He rolled his eyes. "Don't thank me yet Granger; you have to take all the bloody notes."

The blond was irritated to realize they would be taking notes the rest of class, and leaned back against a tree stump as Granger took the notes for them both. He noticed the Weasel glaring at him from the other side of the pile of cages, seeming to be biting his lip.

Pathetic, I could take that boy in my sleep. Draco smirked, wondering how that would go since he had already kicked Ron's arse once.

About halfway through the rest of the lesson, Granger spoke again, "Malfoy?"

"What?" Draco answered.

She hesitated. "Why?"

He groaned, "Why what Granger? Be specific, I don't have all day to sit here."

There was a pregnant pause before she spoke again, and Draco had begun to think she wouldn't explain at all. "Why did you pull me away from Ron back there?"

"Ah, that. Well it's simple really Granger; you looked ready to run away, and he looked ready to jump you. Not the best situation for class really," He finished with an arrogant shrug, "You could always just say thank you."

She almost laughed. That sounded like Malfoy; demanding the grateful thank you for him assisting in something she hadn't even asked for. "Thanks, I guess. You are a better partner then him, I suppose."

"You suppose? I'm not going to – I'm not ugly," he corrected quickly, making sure he didn't say anything about what happened between the two Gryffindor's. He could just see her rushing off to the castle again, and a bunch of angry Gryffindors getting in his face for upsetting her. Not the kind of morning he wanted.

Hermione nodded. "Thanks," she muttered again.

They didn't talk again the rest of class. She walked up beside Harry towards the castle for lunch, and Draco's eyes were watching the Weasel closely.

A/n: Leave a review if you have something to say!