On her way to Potions class, a hand grasped her wrist. The hand was larger than hers, and the fingers circled her wrist completely. The hand was pale too, and it joined to a long arm, which- in turn- joined to the broad shoulders of Draco Malfoy. His eyes stared, and his lips formed silent words. His hair, usually so perfect, was disorderly and strands of white-blond hung stubbornly in his eyes. His throat moved as he swallowed nervously, and then all his words tumbled from his mouth- too fast for Hermione to catch.

"What?" She asked, tilting her head like a confused dog, and frowning at him. She waited for him to repeat himself.

Shifting uncomfortably, he did, "I didn't mean to not hug you." He said, his words still coming out rushed. She looked into his eyes, stormy grey whirlpools. He swallowed again. "I didn't mean to hug you either, though." Hermione felt even more confused now, what was he trying to say? "What I mean is that I wasn't actually thinking. You kind of surprised me there. I mean, yesterday, you hated me." He widened his eyes to add emphasis. His eyebrows were drawn together, and they were low too- begging her to understand.

"I understand," she said, not sure whether or not she was lying. "I guess you aren't exactly wrong. I did sort of hate you. I don't anymore- and I guess I didn't really know you enough to be justified in hating you… but still… you're right. I shouldn't have hugged you." She smiled at him, but it was a poor attempt, and it didn't reach her eyes. "I won't do it again."

Draco looked somewhat helpless, and in another situation, maybe she would have found that funny, but now… she wanted to escape his grip. He swayed again, looking desperate to get his point across. He groaned, dragging the hand that wasn't holding her wrist through his hair. He was frustrated; he couldn't find the right words to explain. "That isn't what I meant, Hermione. I want us to be friends. I want you to be able to hug me. It was just strange, you know- the first time." He was staring at her, willing her to suddenly smile and nod and say 'Oh, I get you now!'

He realised now, as she stared back at him with an expression as blank as a sheet of parchment- that she wasn't going to break into a smile. In fact, as he watched her expression, her lips formed a hard line and her eyes turned almost cold. She looked- Draco had to admit- like a Slytherin. "Like I said," she said, her voice ice cold like her eyes, "It won't happen again, don't worry."

She snatched her wrist free of his grip before he could stop her, and her dark hair swung lightly behind her as she hurried inside. Draco groaned again, feeling even more frustrated. How had he managed to ruin things in so little time? Surely this was his new personal best.

Draco followed her inside, and saw her sat in the back of the classroom, alone at a two person table. Daisy was on her way to the vacant seat, but Draco beat her to it, so Daisy took a seat next to a Slytherin boy with dark hair.

Hermione was pouting slightly at her parchment. The quill she held was tapping furiously on the table; a nervous habit. Draco sighed, "Why are you so annoyed with me?" He looked at her from under furrowed eyebrows, waiting patiently for her answer.

"I'm not annoyed." She responded- a lie, Draco thought- and her eyes flittered coolly over him and then rested on the blackboard at the front of the class. The new Potions teacher had arrived; a small, stumbling man with a receding hairline and watery blue eyes.

"You're lying," Draco replied, frowning, "I know you're lying."

Hermione scowled, "So what if I am? It's none of your business."

"Actually," Draco argued, grimacing, "It is my business; it is me that you are annoyed with." He sighed, "That means you have to tell me why you're upset."

Hermione's eyes flashed angrily, "I am not upset." She snapped, moving her chair further away from his. "You obviously think a lot of yourself- thinking you could upset me." She scoffed. She was upset. She was embarrassed and had decided to cover up her embarrassment with hostility. It wasn't very Gryffindor of her, but she was starting to wonder if she could even remember the last time she had truly been 'Gryffindor'.

Draco sighed again. "Hermione," his voice startled her. It was low, annoyed, and commanding- commanding her to meet his gaze; anxiously, she did. "I know that you are upset. I'm not an idiot. Please tell me what I did so I can make up for it." He looked angry, but not at her. Hermione watched him for a moment, debating on whether she should just turn around and look at the front again; ignore him. If she was quick, she might even be able to move tables to get away from him. She didn't do that though; she stayed.

"I'm annoyed," Hermione started, looking down at the table again because she didn't want see his cool grey eyes when she made herself completely vulnerable and defenceless to him. She didn't want to see his sympathy, his pity- or worse- his smug arrogance. "I'm annoyed," she repeated, her voice quiet, "Because I thought we were friends. And then I hugged you- like I used to hug Harry and Ron- and you didn't want it. I feel humiliated, because I put myself out there, and you barely acknowledged It." she looked up finally; his eyes were different than she had expected them to be.

His smile was soft and small; his eyes were kind; his features were relaxed and calm. "I'm sorry," he said softly. He tucked some of her hair behind her ear, and then rested that hand gently on her shoulder. "I never meant to humiliate you. To be honest, I felt rather humiliated." His smile was adorable- Hermione hadn't known he could smile like that. She felt rather disadvantaged, up against that angelic smile. "I want to be your friend Hermione."

Hermione looked down again, and the hair he had tucked behind her ear fell forward too. She didn't know what to say.

"Hermione Granger, I ask your permission to be your friend. Please can I be your friend?" he was sort of mocking her, but it wasn't really offensive. It was sweet, funny.

She looked up at him just as his fingers touched her hair again, pulling it back for a second time. "Okay." She agreed.

"Really?" he smiled widely, slouching comfortably in his chair.

She laughed, "Really." She repeated him.

"Miss Granger and Mr Malfoy!" Came the shrill voice of the new Potions professor, "Stop talking, and face the board!" The man looked extremely annoyed, and Hermione channelled her old self for a moment, a blush spreading across the arches of her cheekbones.

Draco's heart stuttered briefly at her appearance; she looked remarkably cute when she blushed. He, shamelessly, felt a longing to make her blush more. He smiled to himself, and turned to face the board. In his peripheral vision, though, he watched her, taking in every second of her pink cheeks and tentative smile.

He smiled, and thought; perhaps I don't want to be her friend after all.