Chapter Five:Like an old married couple

Professor Snape entered the dungeons, his robes billowing out behind him. "Turn to page 394," he snarled to the seventh years as he walked down the rows making sure to glare at Harry before he entered his office and did not return for several minutes.

"That was odd," said Harry as he, Ron and Hermione began setting up. Hermione was about to light a fire under her cauldron when Professor Snape returned with a book in his hand. "Ms. Granger, you will join Mr. Malfoy and begin working on the Refinaingo potion for Professor Dumbledore," said Professor Snape as he handed Draco the book he had just retrieved from his office. "You will find instructions on page 411. As for the rest of you I expect that your Draughts of the Living Dead are a navy blue by the end of the class," said Professor Snape who now finally sat down at his desk.

By the time Hermione had gathered her things, Draco had already opened the book to the right page and lit the fire under their cauldron. Hermione sat down and began reading the instructions, it was not the most complicated potion she had ever seen but it required a great amount of teamwork and exact timing. "Shall we begin?" Hermione asked. Draco just nodded and sat there. Hermione huffed but got up and began heading towards the supply cabinet to collect all the necessary ingredients for the the potion. Hermione then set down all the ingredients on the table, she had found all but three. "Wheres the Ashwinder tail powder?" asked Draco examining the ingredients Hermione had brought back. "Obviously not in the supply closet Ferret, just like the Doxy Venom and Hippocampus scales," said Hermione in an annoyed tone. Draco got up and began heading towards the supply cabinet. Bloody git thinks I'm a liar, thought Hermione before she realized that he was in fact walking up to Professor Snape's desk. He briefly spoke with the Potions Master before he walked into Snape's private supply closet. Smirking to himself Draco walked back to their table. "A bit out of your reach Granger," said Draco placing the last three ingredients on the table and returning to his seat. However Hermione simply ignored him and began chopping up Fingleskink leaves. Draco just sat back and watched Hermione labor over the potion. "Malfoy would you stop being a lazy arse, I need your help," said Hermione who was getting very frustrated with Draco. Draco decided to ignore her. "I'm serious Malfoy. You need to stir the potion six times clockwise then seven times counter clockwise three times, while I add the fingleskink leaves every two turns," said Hermione who now had a fire in her eyes. Draco grumbled but got up this time and took a hold of the spoon, however he was careless and stirred the potion one too many times clockwise causing the potion to blow up in both of their faces. Hermione cleaned it up with a few waves of her wand. "Malfoy you git, go back to kindergarten and learn how to count,"

"Oh put a lid on it Granger, I can brew this potion better than you can," said Draco angrily, his face still covered in soot.

"Fine, you can do it all by yourself for all I care," said Hermione crossing her arms.

"I will," said Draco as he began the potion from scratch while Hermione sat glaring at him. Draco attempted to make the potion all by himself, refusing to ask for any help from Hermione, not that she would have given him help anyways. He ended up blowing up the potion yet again once he got to the stirring stage. He and Hermione just continued to bicker for the rest of the class getting absolutely nowhere with the potion. Professor Snape made his final round around the classroom, commenting on how disappointing he was with every bodies potions. "Well, well, well, appears Dumbldore has over estimated your potion making abilities, I expected more from you Draco, and I expect to see both of you back here after to dinner," said Professor Snape as he reached their table.

Draco went straight to the Heads dormitory, he wasn't in the mood for taunts from the other Slytherins, well not that any of them would be brave enough to taunt him but he would be able to tell from the looks they gave him. He quite enjoyed having a kitchenette, having the extra privacy in general really even if he had to share it with Granger. Draco enjoyed a nice quiet, simple and undisturbed supper before he had to return to the dungeons for an evening full of bickering. Professor Snape was quite pleased to be able to dismiss the two heads for their patrol duty. He wasn't sure how many more evenings he could take of their constant bickering.

"It's your fault were gonna have to spend another bloody night brewing this potion, you heard what he said, we have to report to the dungeons every night until it's done, if you would stop being such an arrogant lazy arse and help me, we might be able to finish it," Hermione yelled at Draco as soon as they'd left the dungeons.

"Oh it's all my fault now is it, your the one that got me in this bloody mess,"

"I think you'll find that you're the one that got us into this mess, you started it," said Hermione feeling rather childish.

"You're the one who stole my clothes, I don't see you getting detention for walking around without your school bag,"

Hermione and Draco continued to argue for the rest of the patrol the blame constantly being shifted, until there was finally nothing more to argue about, so they spent the remainder of the patrol in silence. As they reached the portrait they simply went their separate ways too tired for a parting insult.

Hermione did not sleep well, she had had a troubled sleep and had woken up early and rather groggy. She took a quick and refreshing shower using her favorite vanilla scented shampoo. Drying her hair with a simple spell she put it into a messy bun and walked down stairs to the kitchenette. It was as Hermione began eating her pancakes that she came up with a solution for their potions problem; a truce. She hoped that it would last for the week required to brew the potion, she highly doubted it. Hermione was not in the most optimistic mood that morning, but at least now she had a plan.

The morning was very uneventful for Hermione and Draco, they both seemed to be ignoring each other. In transfiguration they reviewed spells they had learned in their previous year such as avifors, then spent the rest of class taking notes on human transfiguration, which they had also touched on last year. The most eventful thing that happened in that class was handing in their essays, Ancient Ruins wasn't any better.

"Enjoying Ancient Ruins?" asked Ron smugly.

"Not as much as you two enjoyed your spare," said Hermione smiling.

"We all know how much you enjoy torturing yourself in the form of homework," said Harry. They all laughed and continued their playful banter, unaware that they were being watched.

Draco shifted his gaze back to Blaise. "Whats up with you man, you've been zoned out all morning," said Blaise.

"I'm trying to figure out a way to get back at her, I will get my revenge, I will have the final prank,"

"Oho this sounds like a prank war, you really can't stand her can you,"

"And you can, no Slytherin in their right mind can, shes the most irritating female Ive ever layed eyes on," said Draco angrily.

"She's not all that bad you know,"

"What? are you crazy Zabini?" Draco exclaimed.

"No. I had to work with her on a project last year and truth be told she isn't all that bad, she's really nice when she's not being an insufferable know it all,"

"I find that hard to believe, it may have escaped your notice but I too have had to work with her, I have to live with her god dammit and she's anything but tolerable," said Draco ending the conversation. They spent the rest of their meal in silence, each deep in thought.

If Draco had any friends these days Blaise would be definitely considered one of them. The two had known each other since infancy but had slowly grown apart, no longer sharing secrets or showing emotion to one another, especially after fifth year. It was the way Draco had been taught. Malfoys do not have friends, only enemies and followers. Blaise had learned to accept Draco's ways and not be offended by them, and eventually began to follow his lead. After all being in Slytherin you never knew who you could trust half the time. The two of them were now on their way to Charms. "Whatever happened to our friendship?" Blaise said all of a sudden.

"What are you talking about Blaise," asked Draco, even though he was pretty sure he knew what he'd meant. Blaise thought for a moment he wasn't quite sure how to word his answer. "I think you know quite well what I mean Draco, we act like friends but over the year we've grown apart so much that we hardly know each other anymore,"

"You know what my fathers like, no friends only enemies and followers," Draco said quoting his father.

"It's not like you're following in his foot steps, you don't have to," but Blaise had been cut off by Draco.

"Have to what, have to listen to him? I wonder how many Crucios that would have earned me and my mother," said Draco angrily. He then had a quick look of panic before his features became guarded and he stormed off. Draco had shared more than he'd meant to, and both of them knew it.

Blaise took his seat beside Draco at the back of the classroom, taking out some parchment, ink and his favorite eagle quill he began writing the date on his paper. Draco slipped him a note in his perfect cursive handwriting.

I thought about what you said and your right. We have grown apart, and you know what screw my father it's time I did things on my own...friends?

p.s. Don't expect any heart to hearts though

Blaise let out a little chuckle. He was actually quite shocked he'd expected to get the cold shoulder all day, and then for Draco to openly admit he was wrong, that was something that didn't happen a lot. He then began his reply. For the rest of the class they passed notes back and forth catching up, and before they knew it, it was just like old times again. It was the first class all week that hadn't gone by at a glacial pace. Before he knew it he was walking into the potions dungeon, he let out a sigh, he was not looking forward to another potions class working with Hermione. "Good luck man," said Blaise before he took a seat a couple rows back. Draco set his stuff down and went to retrieve the ingredients, when he got back he saw Hermione sitting at their table having already lit the fire under their cauldron, yet there was something wrong. She wasn't glaring at him. He reached the table and put the ingredients down.

"Before we start, can I ask you one thing," said Hermione calmly.

"What," he said with a hint of annoyance.

"Truce?"

"What?"

"I said Truce, until we finish this potion, and then I give you full permission to go back to calling me names but until that time we act civil to one another and co operate," said Hermione holding out her hand.

"Alright, will you hand me the fingleskink leaves," said Draco as she reluctantly shook her hand. He noticed an odd tingling in his finger tips but quickly ignored it and began chopping the leaves that Hermione handed him. They worked in silence occasionally asking for the others assistance and got further than either of them had gotten alone. By the end of class they had not one single insult to one another, it was surely a record. Snape dismissed the reminding Hermione and Draco to report back after supper.

When they returned they worked for another hour in silence before the potion once again blew up in their faces, the truce was soon forgotten and they bickered for the rest of the night, until Professor Snape spoke up. "I will ask the two of you to be quiet I am trying to mark these essays but, I am finding it rather dificult when the two of you are going off like an old married couple every five seconds." That seemed to put them in their place disgusted to be referred to as an old married couple, so they resumed their truce.

The last two days of the week inched by. The seventh years found themselves with a mountain of homework for the weekend. Hermione and Draco found themselves in the dungeons Saturday morning with extremely large bags under their eyes, and still a mound of homework waiting for them back at their dormitory. They had finally learned to co operate, their truce still holding strong they were nearly half way through the potion and if they got through the rest of the page of instructions they'd been working on it would be able to sit they entire weekend, ready for them Monday evening. Professor Snape dismissed them at lunch time happy that he would get a break from the two of them. Though they had proven to be working quite well with each ever since he'd told them off, he was not optimistic enough, that he believed it would last till Wednesday.

Madame Pince stalked around the library, constantly shushing everyone in her sight. She had a sharp nose and a rather square face, age had begun to slowly hunch her back and shoulders, pulling the skin ever slightly from her bones. She may have been beautiful once, but that was not the case anymore. Her slight hobble caused the occasional chuckle as she returned to her desk at the front of the library, still surveying everyone like a hawk.

In the back corner of the library Hermione furiously scribbled away at her essays, unnoticed to even Madame Pince, as if she had simply become another piece of furniture. She worked late into the night eventually falling asleep underneath her blanket of heavy books. She awoke with a start as one of her books landed painfully on her foot with a sickening crunch. Hermione gasped in pain, her eyes watering, she slowly took off her shoe and sock and saw that two of her toes were swelling rapidly and had turned purple. She cursed under her breath gathering her things and heading to the hospital wing, limping slightly.

"Good morning Miss Granger, what can I do for you this morning," said Madame Pomfrey.

"I think I broke two of my toes," said Hermione blushing slightly with embarrassment.

"How did you manage that my dear," she asked as the grabbed a potion from the back cabinet.

"I dropped a book on my foot," said Hermione turning redder with embarrassment. Madame Pomfrey chuckled as she handed the potion to Hermione, and motioned for her to sit "Your not the first one to come in here with a book related injury my dear, now remove your shoe and sock please," she said smiling. Hermione, did as told then gulped down the potion as Madame Pomfrey took out her wand and healed her toes. She heard another crack and knew the bones had gone back into place.

"Thank you," said Hermione as she put her sock and shoe on once more and hopped off the bed.

"No problem dear, have a good day,"

"You too," said Hermione as she walked out of the hospital wing and back to her dormitory.

Draco had once more opted for the privacy of the heads dormitory to do his homework. He was up till one before he finished it. Thankful he did not have detention tomorrow so he wouldn't have to delay try outs for the quiditch team any longer, he cast a quick drying spell on his last essay so the ink wouldn't run and then flopped on his bed not even bothering to change. He was out before his head touched the pillow.

The sun was fully shining by the time Draco woke up, casting unwanted rays on his face, he could have easily slept for a couple more hours. Draco glanced at his clock, it was already 10:30. He took his time getting up, stetching and yawning he dragged his feet as he walked to the bathroom. His shower was just the trick to wake him up, the hot water massaged his body. He could have stayed their all day, but he had better things to do, and he didn't want his skin to go all wrinkly like a prune.

He took his time getting dressed and lounged around the common room for a bit before lunch started, he was too lazy to make his own breakfast and he needed to talk strategies with Blaise, there were a lot of people trying out this year. When it was finally time to go down for lunch Draco's stomach gave a particularly loud grumble. I'm going already you stupid stomach.

"Hey man, you missed a pretty good breakfast, the house elves made some excellent french toast," said Blaise as Draco sat down beside him.

"I was catching up on some well needed sleep," said Draco piling food up in his plate.

"I see, well its only four more days,"

"Thats if we don't mess that bloody potion up again, luckily we get today off so it's only three,"

"Even better, are you gonna hold try outs today then?"

"Yup, wanna be assistant captain? You won't believe how many people signed up this year," Said Draco looking slightly over whelmed.

"Sure, does that guarantee me a spot on the team them?"

"Of course not," said Draco jokingly. They both smiled, and then began talking strategies.

"Hey Hermione you're up late," said Harry as she sat down beside him.

"Oh god you wouldn't believe what happened to me this morning," said Hermione a blush creeping back onto her cheeks as she grabbed some pancakes.

"Do tell,"said Ron with his mouth full.

"Ronald you're disgusting,"said Ginny as she smacked her brother on the head.

"I fell asleep at the library,"

"Big suprise there,"

"As I was saying, before Ronald kindly interrupted, I fell asleep at the library and was woken up by one of my books falling painfully on my foot breaking two of my toes," said Hermione going slightly redder. Good god I need to learn how to control my blushing, she thought.

"You broke two of your toes," exclaimed Ginny.

"It's like I said yesterday, Hermione likes torture in the form of homework," said Harry chuckling slightly.

"Hey, I don't enjoy breaking my toes, I'm not a masochist!" Hermione exclaimed.

Ron chuckled but went back to his food, "That's just what you want us to believe," he said with food in his mouth again.

"Ronald how dare you accuse me of such a thing,"

But Ron was now choking from laughing at the look on Hermione's face. Ginny hit him on the back with quite some force sending the offending chunk of sausage out of Ron's air way. It flew several feet before hitting a Hufflepuff in the head.

"Ow Ginny," said Ron rubbing his back rather tenderly.

"Shut up I just saved your life," said Ginny as they all burst into laughter.

Wow, this chapter is finally done! So what did you think? Feel free to leave a review :)