Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters. Just borrowing them from the wonderful JK Rowling.

Thank you all for the great reviews. I really appreciate them. Sorry it's taken me a few days to update, been busy with the holiday.

Chapter 3:

Meetings

She was in a daze.

Draco Friggin Malfoy. This had to be a mistake. There was no way she was destined to spend her life with him. NO WAY!

Harry sat across from her on the floor of the Griffyndor common room. Not quite sure what to say. Yeah he got off pretty easy, he was destined to spend the rest of his life with, well an enemy. Ron had gotten mated with Parkinson. Which Harry secretly knew wasn't that big of a deal for her. She has had her eye on him for a few years now.

But Hermione and Malfoy? He was at a loss for words to make her feel better. There was nothing anyone could really say at this point. He was worried what this would mean. He knew Hermione could live like a muggle, but would she be willing to give up magic?

"Oi Harry, did you catch Malfoy sprinting out of Potions. Must have been horrible who he got matched with. Or maybe the Ministry knows he's gay and matched him with Zabini." This from Seamus who was just approaching his classmates. He laughed at his own joke.

Harry chuckled slightly, and turned to Hermione. Silently asking for her permission to tell Seamus the horrifying news.

She just nodded in response.

"Um, Seamus, it's not quite that." Harry wasn't really sure he could put it into words. "I know who Malfoy got mated with, and it's not really all that funny. You see, well, he and Hermione were matched."

All the laughter and smiles in the common room stopped. They all turned to Hermione and stared.

A few moments after everyone recovered, they began talking at once. Simultaneously asking questions.

Hating to be the center of attention, and not really knowing just what to say yet. Hermione fled the common room.

Quickly making her way to the Astronomy Tower. Which was usually vacant this time of day.


It wasn't until after she had sat, crying for several minutes that she realized she wasn't alone. Figuring it was Harry that had followed her, she just said, "I'm fine. Really. Go back to the common room. Just need time to think."

"Well, you see, I haven't been to 'my' common room at all since Potions. I've had to have time to think on my own."

Shocked by the voice coming from the corner of the room. There hiding in the shadows was none other than her mate, so to speak, Draco Malfoy.

"Shite! I didn't know it was you. I thought Harry had followed me." Hermione said quickly in responce.

Malfoy just smirked, but it looked like it pained him to do so, and then said, "Sorry I'm not who you were expecting Granger. But you sort of invaded my thinking spot."

"Well, SOOOOO sorry. I'll leave then. Would hate to think I invaded any part of your space." She said in defense. She always felt defensive around him.

He smirked for real this time. Maybe a good row was what they needed.

"Well you are, so you can go now. And don't forget we are supposed to be meeting to arrange the schedules for patrol. We still have duties to attend." He said with all the haughtiness of a Pureblood.

"You needn't remind me of what I have to do Malfoy!" She retorted. "I know my duties. Just be sure you show up to help. I will not be carrying the load of both Heads just because you like to shirk your duties."

With that she got up and left. Making her way to her only place she knew she wouldn't be bothered with her thoughts, the Library.


Oh, he was insufferable! She thought to herself. Him and his Holier-then-thou attitude. Geez, the nerve.

This train of thought was getting her no where fast. "Ok, Hermione, just calm down. You must get ahold of you anger or you will be turning in your wand faster then you ever thought you would." She was talking to herself now.

Overhearing her talking to herself, and deciding maybe she needed cheering up, Luna Lovegood, stopped Hermione on her path to the Library.

In her quite soft and wistful voice Luna spoke to her, "Hermione, you seem upset. Would you like to talk about it? I'm a good listener, and I don't tend to spread gossip."

Hermione, hadn't seen her so when Luna spoke she was surprised. "Oh Luna, I'm sorry I was in my own little world. What was it you said?"

"Oh, just that you seemed upset, and if you wanted to talk I would listen. And that I wouldn't spread rumors about whatever it was you discussed with me." Luna replied.

Hermoine looked at Luna for a few moments, as if she was deciding if she wanted to talk about it or not. She knew she couldn't talk to Ron, he was to busy wallowing in his own self-pity, and Harry was not much for conversation as he wasn't sure what to say to her. She decided who better than to talk to her then Luna.

"Yes, thank you Luna. You see well, maybe we could go somewhere else, I mean it's not very private here in the hallway." Hermione says.

Luna understood immediately, and suggested, "Well how about going down by the lake. It's usually pretty deserted about this time. And I've always found the water lapping on the bank soothes the tension a little."

So, off the girls went, neither speaking until they reached their destination.

Getting where they were headed, Luna sat on the root of a large tree while Hermione paced. Luna just sat patiently waiting for Hermoine to begin. She really was a great listener.

Finally after about twenty minutes of pacing, and grumbling to herself, Hermione spoke to Luna.

"Well you see Luna, my problem is this. I got matched to Draco 'bloody' Malfoy. I'm not sure what to do, and I cannot see how this will possibly go well at all. I mean all we have ever done is fight. Usually with him initiating it by calling me some horrible name in reference to my blood line. And he's utterly insufferable. He's a horrible git, who's selfish, and mean, and well --- He's just -- I mean he's --UGH! he's horrible!" With that Hermione plopped herself down on the hard ground. She started picking the grass they sat upon with vengence.

Luna spoke softly as usual, "Hermoine, I understand you problem. You don't know how he is feeling, or if you even care." Hermoine just snorted at Luna's revelation.

Luna just continued," You have been constant enemies since your first year, and you don't understand why you were matched. But ask yourself these questions. Why would the two of you be matched if you weren't compatible? That's what it's suppose to do right? Match those witches and wizards who are the most compatible. And if you think about it Draco is quite intelligent. Who better to match wits with you then him? He isn't horrible to those whom he's close with, maybe if you spent some time together you could come to like each other. And in all honesty, I know you spend to much time arguing with him to realize it, but Malfoy isn't horrible to look at. Yes, I know you have always had feelings for Ron. Please do not think about turning in your wand already. Magic only matched you with who's best for you in every way."

Hermione sat quietly listening to everything Luna was throwing at her. And she had to admit parts of it were true. Malfoy was almost as intelligent as she. She sometimes enjoyed the witty arguements. Stimulated her brain some to think of quick retorts to insults he threw at her. Hadn't they agreed to try to be civil? Wasn't he the one who suggested it in the first place? And he wasn't horrible to look at. She was right about that. In fact since he had stopped slicking his hair back, she had fought the urge to touch it, and see if it was a soft and silky as it seemed. ---- Her thoughts continued, until she came to the one that was really bothering her most.

"Luna that is really great advice, and I thank you for it, but there is still something I think Malfoy will have a great problem with. I was muggle born. I'm not a pureblood. That's all that has ever mattered to him and his family. What will his mother say?" Hermione spoke her biggest fear in this whole situation. And surprisingly felt slightly better.

Luna smiled, "Maybe you should talk to him, when he has had time to think about this as well. Aren't you supposed to be meeting with him today to arrange Prefect schedules? You will have to speak to each other then. Feel him out, and then go from there."

Hermione groaned, she wasn't ready to breach this subject with him.

"Well you are right, and unfortunately that meeting is scheduled in about fifteen minutes so I really must be going. Thank you for your help and advice Luna. I'm not sure who else I could have spoken to about this and gotten such sound knowledge." Hermoine was inwardly dreading her meeting.

Luna smiled at her encouragingly. "Your very welcome Hermione. And your right I must be going to. My Potions class starts shortly and I really am quite anxious to see who I'm matched with."

Hermione then realized Harry hadn't told anyone. This did make her smile. She knew Luna harbored feelings for Harry but didn't voice then in fear of rejection.

"No need to worry Luna. I'm sure the wizard you get matched with will be quite to your liking. I mean, I've already gotten matched with the biggest git in Hogwarts." Hermione laughed. She liked knowing that Luna would be very happy with her match.

Luna laughed as well.


Sitting at a table in the library were she had been told, by letter given to her on her way back in the castle, to meet Malfoy.

It simply read:

Granger,

We never decided on where to meet for the scheduling duties.

I decided why not your favorite place, the Library.

Table in the back near the entrance to the 'Restricted Section' should work.

See you there shortly.

DM

That was it, no harsh words. No biting comments. Although she really hated be ordered about. But he wasn't really ordering either she decided. He was actually right. They hadn't agreed on a place to meet.

She was roused from her thoughts with the approach of Malfoy.

"Well Granger let's get this over with. The quicker we get this done, the better of we are." He said bitingly.

She had already pulled the chart she had made from her bag, along with the schedules she had collecte from half the prefects.

She looked at him with guarded eyes, "Well did you bring the rest of the schedules? I gathered my half."

He looked up absently, "Oh, yeah. Sorry I wasn't thinking. " He pulled them from his bag.

Hermione was pleasantly surprised to see that they were just as crisp and wrinkle free as the ones she had collected. She had never payed attention to Draco's organization and decided to learn as much about him as possible without actually asking. What better way then observation.

"Yes well then, let's get started." Hermione said.

"Yes, lets." Draco replied.

They sat together like that for close to an hour and a half. Working diligently on the schedule. When they were finished. Draco actually paid her a compliment.

"Well Granger, I must say, the idea of a chart has certainly helped. We would probably be sitting here trying to rearrange this thing for a few more hours if you hadn't come up with this." He said it so nonchalantly, she almost missed it.

She glanced at him from the corner of her eye, then thought better of looking at him at all and decided to stare at the shelf across from them before she replied, "Well yes, um -- thanks. I just assumed it would make it easier for us to make changes. With Quidditch practices coming round in the next couple of weeks, and so many of the Prefects being players, we would need an organized method of doing so."

Draco smiled absently,"Yes, your right. I supposed we should get this to McGonagall. She will be needing to make copies, and getting it to everyone before our meeting with the Prefects tomorrow afternoon. Easier to explain duties and all. Knowing who will patrol when and where."

"Um - yes, your quite right. Thank you for helping. And I wanted to apologize for the comment about you shirking duties. That was wrong of me, and I shouldn't have said it. I was upset and you riled me like normal." Hermione apologized. She felt she could say something nice after the compliment he had just paid her.

Draco sat back in mock shock, "Are you actually apologizing Granger?" When she started to speak he cut her off. "Now, now. I wasn't being rude. I was teasing you. You do know how to joke don't you Granger?"

She blushed. "Yes Malfoy, I know how to joke. I do it all the time. It's just not something I would expect you to do."

"Well seeing as how we are going to be married, I figured we might as well try to be more than just civil." This was the first time either of them had broached the subject of their 'Betrothel'.

Hermoine didn't quite know what to say in response. But it seemed she need not speak, because he continued.

"I see it like this. If we weren't compatible your name would never have shown up on my parchment, and I yours. You are, as they say, the smartest witch of your age. And who better to match wits with me then someone such as yourself? Your quick retorts to my biting insults over the years have actually intrigued me. Hence why I continued to do it. It wasn't because I truly disliked you. More so because no one else I insult has as quick and smart-ass retorts to said comments."

Slightly surprised by where this conversation was going. Hermione decided to give one of those retorts, "Well it's not like you exactly keep the most intelligent company Malfoy. Crabbe and Goyle aren't exactly close to the top of our class." She smiled to let him know she was joking.

He chuckled softly, which also caught Hermoine off guard. She had heard him do it before, from across the room, never because of something she had said though. He also caught her look of surprise, and replaced his smiling face with the no-emotion-showing mask he usually wore.

"Yes, well you could say the same for yourself Granger, Weaslbey and Scarhead aren't exactly the smartest in the bunch either. You aren't known as the 'Brains' of the Golden Trio for naught." Malfoy retorted and smirked at his comment.

She was secretly tired of being labeled. She just wanted to be Hermione. Not part of the Golden Trio. Not Harry Potter's other best friend. Not the War Heroine. She just wanted to be Hermione.

Now she was irritated, but decided not to take it out on Draco. He couldn't know the labels bothered her, and she wasn't about to let him know.

She decided to end this conversation and what better way then to escape do deliver their work to the Head Mistress.

"Again, I will thank you for your help today. I best be getting this schedule to Professor McGonagall. I will see you later. And when she passes out copies, she said she would let them all know where and when to meet us for the meeting tomorrow." She started to turn away, having gathered her things while talking.

"One more thing Granger- ," He paused while waiting for her to turn to him.

When she turned around to ask him what he wanted, he was standing right there in her face. So close she could smell the mint of his toothpaste. Nearly inches from her face.

"What -- um what was it you-- umm-- HUh?" She couldn't remember why she turned around now. His nearness was making her brain cloudy. She kept looking from his eyes to his lips. They looked so soft.

Draco seemed a little bemuddled himself,"Um- what?" He had never realized how much Granger had changed over the years. Never really paying much attention to her, just throwing a biting comment her way here and there.

She chuckled softly, and for some reason it stirred Draco's emotions. "One more thing Granger--- What were you going to say."

He sighed. What was it he was going to say? "Well, um, the thought has seemed to have left me. I'll remember later and let you know."

She nodded in responce. Not quite sure what to say, and not really wanting to turn away yet. What was wrong with her. This is Draco Malfoy! And here she is standing in the middle of the Library staring at his mouth.

She shook her head. Clearing it slightly of the cloudiness. She started to turn away again when Draco grabbed her arm and spun her around.

He pulled her close, and then he did it.

He kissed her.

It wasn't a harsh, hard kiss. But a soft, tender one. Hermione felt herself lean into it. Malfoy stood their his hands on her shoulders and began to massage, slowly making circles with his thumbs, and making a slow trail to her neck.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer to her. Deeping the kiss, and then they were interrupted.

"Ahem"

They broke apart, jumping away from each other like they were touching something that had burned them.

The Head Mistress stood behind them. Slightly scowling, but Hermione could tell she was trying not to smile.

"If you two have finished with the schedule for Patrols, I would like to have it so I can make copies." She didn't sound nearly as cross as she was trying to seem.

"Oh! Yes Professor, please forgive me. I was on my way to give it to you when um-- well thats no matter. Here you go." Hermione was flustered. Embaressed the Head Mistress had caught them snogging in the back of the Library.

The Professor smiled at her. Accepted the parchment and said, "Well thank you both for all of your - um - hardwork on this. Please don't let me keep you from your studies."

With that she turned away, and just when Hermione started to relax, she turned back to them, "Oh, one last thing. You are both Heads, and even though I am happy to see that you have decided to - well- get along. And inter-house unity is a wonderful thing, but please refrain from -uh any - well extraciricular activities in such public places. You do have an example to set, and reputations to uphold."

She left both Hermione and Draco staring in her wake dumbfounded.

Had they just been told by their Head Mistress that it was okay to snog, just so long as they didn't do it where everyone could see? Seriously?

Okay, thats it for this chapter. Please review. Trying to make them a little longer. I myself get a little irritated with short chapters. =) Happy Reading!