Chapter 10:The Ever Pending Truce

"Hogwarts, heads common room," Hermione said clearly as she stepped into the green flames. She had one more glance of her mothers worn face, before she spun out of the grate. Hermione had never particularly liked flooing, she didn't like the lack of control. She stumbled onto the rug, getting ash all over the place. Even though she hadn't mastered it yet, she had to admit it was more efficient than the train. She looked around the room and sighed, for the first time she rather be at home than at Hogwarts. She stood there not quite sure what to do with herself, sure she needed to catch up on homework, but she didn't even know what she missed. Dusting herself off she decided that the best plan of action was to unpack, get a cup of tea and for once in her life not worry about homework, she could catch up on monday. "I deserve a break," Hermione thought to herself.

"Granger," said Draco slightly surprised as he entered the common room, "you're back,"

"What great observation skills you have Malfoy," said Hermione agitated by his presence.

"I'm sorry but have I done anything to offend you?"

"Not recently, but if we delve a little further into the past..well then you'd need a lot of parchment for that list,"

"I will not deny what I have done in the past, but I thought we had a truce Granger,"

"Do you really expect me to believe that you'll honor it? Ive been gone for a week I'm surprised you even remember it!"

"It may surprise you Granger but I do generally keep my word,"

"And the word of a slytherin is sooo reliable,"

"Where is this coming from exactly Granger,"

"Not that you'd care but Ive had a rather stressful week and I do not need to be insulted right now. What I need is a cup of tea and a bubble bath!"

"Need I remind you that I have still yet to insult you and I will not stand in your way, Ive already got someone covering head duties for you tonight anyways,"

"What?"

"Yeah, Ive been covering for you all week! Ive had to plan this stupid ball by myself and get all your assignments, so don't thank me or anything,"

"Oh, I'm sorry Malfoy. I didn't know, thank you," said Hermione blushing at her insensitivity. Though Draco appeared to be keeping it cool on the outside, he was absolutely furious. "so she's had some family problems, that doesn't mean she can come back and bitch at me and call me untrustworthy oh I'll show her! I'll be the perfect gentleman. A Malfoy's word is law!" Draco thought to himself.

"It's all right I'm sure you've been through a lot in the past week,"

"Thank you for understanding, sorry that I blew up at you," said Hermione sincerely.

"Just before you go you've got a smudge right there," said Draco as he wiped some ash of Hermione's chin with his thumb. This action shocked both of them and they quickly stepped away from one another.

"We'll I'm gonna go take a bath," said Hermione blushing slightly as she hurried off.

"what the hell was that man?" Draco thought to himself.

Hermione settled into her bubble bath trying to clear her mind, but the harder she tried more thoughts kept popping up in her head. But no matter what she did she couldn't get her dad or Draco out of her head. The two competed for her attention for the rest of her bath, causing even more turmoil in her already troubled mind, she felt guilty for not worry about her dad, but then she also felt guilty for how she had treated Draco, and then she thought about when he touched her and what had it meant?

She waited until she was sure Draco had left for head duties before she went down to the kitchenette to make some tea. But she found not even this could calm her mind, so she headed up to her room to get her last resort: a book, and brought it downstairs to the common room. The exhaustion of the past week allowed her to read only two chapters before she was out cold in a deep sleep. This time however she was not awakened by the sickening crack of her toes braking but by a soft poke from the head boy. She groaned and turned the other way causing the book on her lap to fall. Lucky for Draco his reflexes enabled him to catch the book before he too received book related injuries. "Come on Granger get up you don't want to sleep on the couch,"Hermione groaned again but got up anyways. "Thanks Malfoy," she said as she trudged up the stairs.

"Your welcome," he whispered to himself. He then looked at the book in his hands. "Pride and Prejudice, what an odd title," he said but cracked the book open and started reading anyways. "This is such a strangely worded book, only Granger would pick something like this, but I must admit the plot is sort of entertaining..though why everyone is obsessed with this bingley character, he's hardly rich and hasn't got any sort of skill," Draco thought to himself getting only a few chapters ahead of Hermione then he too fell asleep.

"And you told me not fall asleep on the couch," said Hermione as she shook Draco "and what were you doing reading my book, huh?" Draco blearily opened his eyes and was disorientated for a few seconds before he realized Hermione was talking to him. "What," he asked groggily.

"I said what were you doing reading my book?"

"Is it such a crime? It was the only one down here, I didn't think you'd care so much jeesh, and what kind of muggle story is that the characters all talk so oddly," said Draco as he sat up and stretched.

"That's because it was written in the late 1700s. It's a classic,"

"and that Darcy character whats up with him?"

"I dunno but he seems to remind me of someone I know,"

"why'd you wake me up anyways,"

"I thought you needed time to beautify yourself,"

"oh your gonna pay for that," said Draco as wapped Hermione in the face with a pillow from the couch.

"oooof" said Hermione as she staggered back slightly dazed. She then grabbed a pillow and flung it at him with surprisingly good aim. Draco too took one to the face, then chucked the pillow back at Hermione, who just barely caught it before it hit her face and whipped it back at Draco. He dodged this time and was already chucking another pillow at her. "Is that all you've got Granger?"

"Not in a long shot Malfoy," said Hermione as she sent a silent tickling curse at him. Draco burst into laughter as he felt like ten people were tickling him at once. "Th..thats..not f..fare. Gr..an..ger!" said Draco in between laughs. She released the curse and said "I wouldn't expect anything less from a Slytherin."

"So you play the Slytherin card again,"

"You don't deny it then,"

"I don't," said Draco as he cast a silent tickling curse on Hermione.

"H..How..or. rrigin..al Malfoy," Hermione said in between laughter.

"It worked so effectively I didn't see the need to improvise," said Draco. Hermione struggled to keep from laughing but it was just too hard she was stuck like this until the curse was lifted. She however was ready and struck him with another pillow without a second thought. It was Draco's turn to stagger back, but he had no pillows with in reach, and now that he thought of it neither was his wand. "Dammit"

"Do you admit defeat?"

"Never,"

Hermione then hit him with another tickling curse.

"Now?"

"Nev..nev.. Never"

"Are you sure?"

Draco chose to simply nod.

"Then have fun taking a shower," she said as she got up to leave. Hermione was met by Blaise at the portrait.

"Feeling alright Hermione?"

"Better," she said her cheeks still glowing from laughter "I think Malfoy needs your help though," as she held the portrait open for him. He looked at her questioningly and then entered leaving her to walk to the great hall.

Hermione received a very warm reception at the Gryffindor table. She had to admit, it was good to be among her friends again. Ginny watched her closely to see if Hermione was acting or if she was truly smiling through out breakfast. She was glad to see Hermione for the most part wasn't acting. "So Malfoys not giving you a hard time is he?"

"Quite the opposite Gin, he's kept to the truce so far, it's kinda strange,"

"Well you tell me the minute he starts going back to his regular self and I'll straighten him up,"

"I think I can handle him myself," said Hermione "I did quite well this morning, he's not gonna be too happy with me for leaving him like that."

"So are you ready for classes,"

"I'm fine Gin, I know last week I was distraught but I was more in shock than anything, my dad's recovering wonderfully, I have nothing to worry about,"

"Thats good to hear, do you know who did it?"

"Haven't a clue, why?"

"Well I hate to bring it up but you shouldn't rule out death eaters,"

"Ive already thought of the possibility Gin, but wouldn't they have finished him off?"

"You would think so,"

"Hermione, is that a feather in your hair?"

"Damn her, I try and be nice and look at wear it gets me!"

"What the hell did you guys do in here?"

"Are you even listening to me Zabini?"

"Yes, but seriously what happened in here?"

"Pillow fight..."

"You had a pillow fight with Hermione Granger, hah thats too funny,"

"You saw that state she left me in,"

"Like you wouldn't do that to her,"

"I sure as hell would now!"

"I only have to guess who started it,"

"Well your right but thats besides the point, last night she went all crazy on me, saying that my word was a joke, now thats offensive,"

"Look at who were talking about mate,"

"Oh so take her side,"

"I'm just saying she has good reasons not to trust you,"

"And now I have good reasons not to trust her, I even woke her up so she wouldn't end up sleeping on the couch all night and this is how she repays me,"

"I didn't say shes right, but hell that girls got spirit,"

"Oh she won't get away with this,"

"yah remember the last time you said that you ended up in Dumbledore's office in your boxers," said Blaise chuckling.

"Now Ms. Granger you will work with Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Zabini on this potion as I doubt Weasley or Potter will be able to catch you up. Having said that do try not to kill each other," snarled professor Snape.

"Yes professor," said Hermione as she picked up her stuff and joined Draco and Blaise at their table.

"Have a pleasant breakfast?" said Draco in a slightly mocking voice.

"Why yes I did, so kind of you to ask Malfoy, but my breakfast will get us no further in the potion making," said Hermione as Blaise snickered.

"Whats sooo funny Zabini?" asked Draco

"Oh nothing, you are the master of small talk, I certaintley must observe your skill if I wish to be such a master myself," said Blaise sarcastically. But Draco could not reply as professor Snape was breathing down his neck. The group quickly gathered their things and got to work. Blaise now understood professor Snape's pain, after one class of Hermione and Draco's bickering. "soo much for the truce," he thought.

However when Hermione entered Transfiguration she barely sat down in her regular seat when she was once again forced to sit with Draco.

"Let me be the mature one, I am sorry for the way I treated you in potions and I would like to reinstate the truce," Hermione whispered.

"You are forgiven but my patience is running thin Granger,"

Hermione knew better than to reply, so she took out her parchment and ink and began taking notes. As most of the class was taken up by notes it was much less painful than potions. The truce once again in place they partnered peacefully for the rest of the day. They were unaware that someone was watching their progress very carefully with a smile and twinkle in his eye.

"How can you be sure it's Granger and Malfoy Dumbledore, I really must question your judgment in this matter,"

"My judgment has been questioned many times, especially in trusting you Severus, but I do believe I am right in this matter,"

"You have nothing to go on, there have been many sworn enemies that have gone through the school, why these too?"

"You forget Severus that though red and green are opposite on the color wheel they are complimentary to one another, your forget the cliche of opposites attract, even beyond this matter is prophecy itself,"

"No names are mentioned Dumbledore, no specifics, and you know first hand that prophecies can be misinterpreted, we see what our minds want us to see not what was intended,"

"Give them time Severus,"

"We could give them all the time in the world and they would still be at each others throats,"

"Have faith Severus,"

"Why will you not listen to me sir? Granger doesn't even have a twin,"

"The word twin can be applied in many different ways, not all twins are blood relations,"

"But Dumbledore,"

"No buts Severus, I have listened the prophecy many times, I am sure of it's meaning,"

"I think you have listened to it too many times, you over analyze it's meaning,"

"Quite the contrary, when was the last time you heard the whole prophecy Severus?"

"Maybe five years,"

"Then I think it is time for you to listen to it again,"

Wow this chapter has a lot of dialogue! What did you think? Like it? Hate it? Leave me a review please :)