Hermione could think of a million other places she'd rather be whilst watching Malfoy answer monotonously to Shaklebolt's simplistic questions. She knew it was rather pointless to sit here and supervise such a pathetic excuse of a human being but she couldn't help but wonder- was he really as bad as everyone made him out to be? She had trouble deciding whether his good looks were a blessing or a curse comparative to his repulsive personality and his superficial beliefs. Looking at him, across the table…his platinum white hair (more ruffled now that it normally is)…she saw a different light in him. He looked shattered. The life he had set out for him was probably something he has been dreading since his childhood.

Malfoy's face crinkled as he scrunched his nose apparently disproving the question Shaklebolt asked him. "You honestly think that I will be comfortable in any situation involving a Weasel and a Scarhead?" he inquired, who seemed quite offended by the tall man's suggestion.

"It's a war, Mr. Malfoy," Shaklebolt insisted. The older man looked like he was having an awfully stressful morning and the young fellow before him only seemed to make it worse. "This will get difficult. However, I think it is best that you stay here for reasons that are obvious."

"Yeah, right. My father-

"Your father is one of the leads with You-Know-Who and I highly doubt that looking for the handsome young Malfoy is more important than finding the Boy Who Lived," said Shaklebolt.

"Ha! Even on your side, Harry still wins!" Hermione laughed loudly- her chest heaving vertically with a beautiful smile on her freckled face.

Malfoy shot her a deadly look, daunting enough to kill a kindergarten classroom. But Hermione took none of it as she continued to chuckle softly and ignore his angry glances.

"Shut your mouth, Granger," he said defensively. He turned to Shaklebolt and tried to resist the urge to punch him in the face. The next words he said seemed to be very sincere and genuinely threatening: "My family will find me. And let me tell you, they don't handle situations like these lightly."

"Whatever Malfoy-

Shaklebolt held his hand up to stop Hermione from speaking. He turned to Malfoy and tilted his head as if he was slightly confused about his defense. Though the predicament seemed obvious here, Hermione wondered whether Shaklebolt was going to be fair and peaceful or end the situation violently. And though she wouldn't admit it out loud, she hoped it wasn't the latter. She was hardly a fan of violence even if it involved a revolting Slytherin prince.

"You aren't trying to run away like I suspected- a young teenager like you would," the older official said instead. "I'm guessing you already know that it is nearly impossible for you to leave under the circumstances of having armed Aurors, witches, wizards around you….while you have, say…nothing?"

Malfoy huffed in response.

"Staying here is the only option. Hermione will watch over you." Shaklebolt turned to the pretty brunette and smiled at her. "Won't you, Hermione?"

"Uh…I was going to ask you about that," she started, a little hesitant on whether or not to inform him about Harry and Ron's plan in front of Malfoy. "Ron told me about the plan and-

"You can't be a part of it." Shaklebolt said solidly.

Hermione looked baffled. Though Shaklebolt was no father to her, he was one of the heads in the Order. He held a strong, prominent title and he was in charge of many missions and meetings to keep the resistance in check. She did not want to test her limits by pushing him to put her on the mission. Harry and Ron have done a few without her, and though some have been successful, it still hurt. She did not like the distance and time she had when they were gone and it felt like there was a hole in her chest- and every time her friends left, it got bigger. Bigger enough for her to feel empty and lifeless. She hated those times. She had to find a way to go with them.

"But the boys need-

"No 'buts', Hermione," the older wizard interrupted firmly. "You have to watch over Mr. Malfoy over here. None of the others are as mature enough for this position."

She couldn't fight her frown as she lowered her head and accepted the proposition ahead of her. He must have noticed how much it upset her and tried to add some comfort.

Shaklebolt laid a hand over her shoulder gently and smiled, "You have been on several missions lately. This is a great time to find some rest and be productive. You will do a lot of help, Hermione."

With that the man turned to Malfoy and nodded over at him. "You're lucky we are not keepin' you in cells. If you listen to her, your captivity won't be as much of a discomfort." Shaklebolt turned and walked out without giving the other man another glance.

Malfoy huffed again and then surprising, turned to smirk at Hermione. "So I guess your little boyfriends will have to find another replacement for the next mission. Awh, isn't that heartbreaking?"

Hermione shifted her head to look at him directly in the eye. Though it hurt to know that what Malfoy said was true, she still didn't want him to get to her.

"Funny," she replied sarcastically. "I would think you'd be crying by now,"

Malfoy simply stared at her, confused and waiting for her to continue.

"Aren't you missing your mummy? Need some more house elves to get you some ice creweam?" She pouted her lips, attempting and failing to act like a sad child. She continued to laugh at his baffled expression and smiled to herself. Her pride was overcoming her but she could not help but love the annoyed appearance on his face. There were a few perks to getting the Ferret riled up.

The blond suddenly turned a darker shade and threatened boldly, "Don't you ever talk about my mother that way."

He reached up to grab her by the wrists and pull her down from the table. Ignoring her fidgets and futile attempts to get rid of him, he kept her arms firmly on the wooden table and pushed his fingernails harder into her wrists. There were obviously going to be bruises and prints the next day. Her hands were now tightly locked in front of her and he leaned forward to sneer at her face. "You should watch yourself, Mudblood."

Hermione bobbed her head forward, directly hitting him with her forehead. Malfoy yelled as he released her and touched the sensitive and now painful spot on his nose.

Before he could do anything else, Hermione pulled out her wand and shouted, "Ascendio!"

Malfoy's entire body suddenly flew into the air with a poised leap. He screamed loudly as Hermione winced, hoping that their dispute would not cause any attention. Evidently gravity gave Malfoy a horrid pain on his back and shoulders as he landed with a graceless plunk onto the floor.

"You little bitch," he moaned, rubbing his shoulders as he tried to get up.

"Immobulus!" she yelled, pointing her wand directly at Malfoy's chest. The blond stayed still, and directly in tact-the spell worked perfectly. The little slime actually attempted to manipulate and threaten her! How could he! She was huffing with anger as she stood in front of him. "You arsehole! I had to give up certain duties for my friends to watch over you! You are a pathetic, waste-

"Let me up, Granger!" he shouted back. He glared at her furiously, and was probably planning different ways to kill her in the back of his head.

"No!" she continued. "I will not tolerate anything vile you have to say! And don't you dare touch me again you, piece of crap! Never in my life have I hated someone so much before! You are a complete-

"Granger, I am going to kill-

"Waste-

"In your sleep-

"Always slimy-

"Fucking bitch-

Then suddenly, a tall, quite awkward-looking man walked in to halt the argument. "Ho-oh! What's going on in here?" Terry Boot asked, looking more concerned at Hermione.

Ugh, Hermione thought. She didn't want to be around him and the fact that he was constantly around her only seemed to make matters worse.

"Your little bitchy girlfriend here-

Though Malfoy was still on the ground, he still had the audacity to talk back and provoke the pretty little witch with a wand. Hermione could only sneer at him. Arsehole.

"Shut up, Ferret." Hermione said and quickly cast a Silencio on him. She mentally hit herself in the head for not casting it before and having to listen to his annoying voice.

Terry walked over to her and smiled. "You always seem to know how to handle things." He laid his hand on her arm and tilted his head as if she was just an adorable little girl. "You sure you're alright?"

Hermione should feel flattered for Terry's concern, but she suddenly found him to be a drag and thought his presence was only just vexing her. "I'm fine, Terry," she replied and faked a small smile. "I can handle him."

"I know, it's just I worry-

"Yeah, but it's fine," she said. "You should go back to Dean and Seamus, they're getting ready for another mission and might need you as a backup in case anything happens." She knew she was coming off a bit rude and rushed but she honestly didn't care. She didn't want him to feel for her and knowing that he does only make her want to crawl in her bed and cry.

Terry frowned as he caught on. "Oh, okay. Well, I'll see you at dinner then." And with that he walked off and back to the other room.

Hermione turned to the blond behind her and was thankful that she kept the silencing spell on him. She smiled as she levitated and guided him over to his secluded room. Although Malfoy's expression showed that he was laughing, most likely about her relationship with Terry and the awkward conversation they had a few moments ago, she was glad she could not hear it. As she laid him over to his bed, she removed the spells from his body. Before he could run up and grab her, she locked the door behind her and cast a few blocking charms onto the room.

Hermione released a heavy sigh and said to herself, "You can do this, Hermione."

Draco was violently banging on the door moments after Granger locked it. The little bitch, he thought. Granger has always been so infuriating but he did not imagine her to be this revolting. He was getting sick of dealing with her shit and all the crap she has given him. The Order and her lot thought they could keep him here? Bloody idiots.

They young blond reluctantly propped onto the cheap, pasty looking bed next to him and pondered on his thoughts.

There has to be a way to get out of here, he reflected. It took a relative amount of time (not that he had things to do), but he finally devised a plan. And it was awfully brilliant.

A/N: i think it's been a year since i updated and i am so very sorry. i actually took a very long break from fanfiction for a while and i just came across my stories a couple days ago. i felt like i should continue as much as i could.

i am so sorry about this chapter. i know it's kinda crappy and stuff. i had to reread the chapters again to remember what the heck was going on, haha. tbh, i'm just winging this story as i go and hopefully it gets some where. i have ideas of how this story is going to play out but bare with me because some might be a bit weird or whatever and i'm still deciding if i want to add these "ideas" into the story. i'm sorry that this is also a sort of filler chapter and i'm probably going to have more of these because i want a developing relationship for draco and hermione. don't expect them to get lovey dovey very soon because i think it's going to be a while. but i loveeeee it when they fight! (i can't be the only one, right?). i hate fluffy stories and i'm hoping i dont make this into one (ahh being new at this and trying to write it nicely is very difficult).

also, thANK YOU FOR READING THIS ILKE WOW I CANTLKJSLD CONTAIN MY EXCITEMENT LIKE PPL READ LTKSDKGHSDLK THIS LIKE LHGKLJ WHTATT?!