A/N: Well, that was quite a massive break I took. Things have gotten pretty hectic, not to mention the battery of tests I'm going to have to endure&study for. The next Chapter's here though, hope you like it. :)

Chapter 11

Hermione walked into the Great Hall for breakfast on Monday. Classes were finally going to start and she felt like she desperately needed the normalcy of her studies to get herself back in perspective. She realized that it was kind of pitiful, even for her, to get excited at the thought of taking notes and staring at a Professor's face for long periods of time. After all, it was her last year at Hogwarts. Reluctant as she might have been to continue from where she'd left off, now she only wanted to make the most of the last one year of her magical education. Her prized book bag was slung on one shoulder, the familiar weight of her books provided an unmatched comfort, her Head Girl status had rendered her practically indestructible and she had friends who loved and looked out for her.

With this newfound perspective, she made her way to the Gryffindor table. Harry, Ron and Neville were already sitting; Neville waved at her, smiling hugely. She grinned back, strangely relieved to find out that no matter how dismal things might get, one Neville Longbottom would forever retain his disarming smile.

She sat next to the empty seat by Ron. "Morning, guys!" She greeted and started filling her plate with food.

They all replied with the same fervor, with the exception of Ron who only responded with a grunt.

"Are you alright?" She asked him. "Or isn't the newest addition to Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes out of your system yet?"

He glared at her, but she just smiled innocently.

"He caught Harry snogging Ginny in the common room a while ago." Neville supplied.

Her eyes bulged at this new development.

"You kissed?!" She exclaimed, looking at Harry.

Harry was blushing, and she could've sworn it was one of the only handful of times she'd seen him doing so.

"Yeah well, it wasn't really like that. She was talking and I was staring and she…well—it just sort of happened."

There was a loud clank as Ron dropped his spoon. "I'm trying to eat here, so if you guys could just drop it, it'll be great."

"You should drop that long face. It's about time you got to know about it. You should be happy for them." She said.

He gave her an annoyed look. "I didn't say anything. My sister can snog whoever she likes, quit bugging me!"

"Really?" Harry looked uncertainly at his best friend.

"Yes, really." Ron picked up his spoon and dug into his breakfast with a renewed sincerity, steadfastly ignoring them all.

Well, that was to be expected. Ron would take some of his special time to get used to the idea, it was his own fault for being clueless. As far as she was concerned, she could sense a feeling of contentment flowing through her. Her mind stated: 'Well, there you have it.' as she'd always hoped from the bottom of her heart that Ginny's more than half a decade of unrequited feelings would end up coinciding with Harry's covert, hesitant ones.

She couldn't help but think though, that the timing was quite off. Harry had spent almost the whole summer at the Burrow; a cosy, enclosed setting plenty reasonable enough for them to open up to each other and get a real move on. And last she'd known, Ginny had something going on with Robbie Ackerman and Harry had been pining from a distance.

But choosing not to mull over it for long, she quickly passed it off as a development out of her comprehension, owing to her own lack of experience with such things.

She reached over to pat Harry's arm in congratulation and cast a look around the hall for Ginny. She didn't spot her. Instead her gaze landed on the Slytherin table, one shiny blond head in particular who was watching her with a strange, uncanny sort of expression. She raised her eyebrows, as if to say 'what?' when he suddenly snapped out of it and sneered at her. She resisted the urge to pluck the knife from her plate and send it sailing towards his face. Trust him to kill her buzz so early in the day. Her irritation must have shown on her face because he chuckled and finally looked away, joining in with his housemates' conversation.

She now took the opportunity to study him. He had a thin, sharp angled face with a subtle ruggedness to it that lent him an overall handsome profile. His forehead was high, brows sat arched and prominent, nose pointy straight. His lips were a pale pink, even from the distance she could appreciate their fine contouring. His eyes, for all their grey and colourless appearance, were sharp, intense. As he grinned at his friends' antics, she had to blink in order to believe what she was seeing. Yes, Draco Malfoy did have one faint dimple on a single cheek, and he also had the prettiest smile she had seen on a boy. In fact, she didn't remember seeing any muggle boy quite like him.

She could feel herself growing warm as she suddenly recalled the tantalizing image of his pale, hard chest and a well-defined torso that disappeared beneath a green comforter, arranged in sharp contrast to his skin. She blinked, and blinked again, willing the image to go away but it was stuck behind her retinas. She usually recited the twelve uses of Dragon's blood in her mind whenever it decided to go down the forbidden path but now she couldn't remember why she wouldn't even want to go there.

Her treacherous thoughts were somewhat thankfully interrupted by the sight of ten one-and-a-half inch nails attached to spidery, manicured fingers belonging to one Pansy Parkinson, as she delicately massaged the shoulders of her-what, boyfriend? She could never deduce the strange pureblood dynamic they had. She lingered behind him and leaned down to whisper something in his ear, locking eyes with Hermione as she did so. Was that supposed to mean something to her? Malfoy nodded absentmindedly and brushed her hands away.

She glanced down to hide a smile.

"Well, look what we have here…DADA for the next two hours. With the Slytherins. I almost can't believe there was a time I used to look forward to this lesson." Harry said.

"That's funny 'cause I can't remember ever looking forward to school." Ron stated grumpily.

"You guys are behaving awfully immature for someone who turned seventeen not some time ago." She continued, lowering her voice, "We've got bigger things to focus on. Keep your head straight."

"A fat lot of good that will do. We've got no leads, no clues, no knowledge and to top it off, no Dumbledore. We're running blind. Let's pretend for argument's sake that he does decide to make an appearance, what then? We drop midway out of school and go off to fight a bloody war?"

"You sound like a petulant child." She snapped, knowing that he was behaving this way to only get at Harry, but had no real idea about what he was saying. "We fight when the Order needs us to. We signed up for this long before we even got to know about Voldemort's little objects."

"Hermione, Ron's right. I…I wouldn't be able to bear it if I let something happen to you. You're my best friends, practically my whole life. Whatever Dumbledore wants us to do, it's got to be me."

"I'm sorry, Harry but this is not really up for discussion. Nor is this the time to decide.. You're six years too late, to be honest. We're in this together, just like we have always been. Aren't we, Ron?" She elbowed him.

But she needn't have bothered as Ron had already stood up, gathering his things.

"I'll see you later in class." He said, and made his way out without a backward glance.

Harry looked at the direction he'd gone in and sighed tiredly. "I've ruined it, haven't I?"

She shook her head in a decided manner.

"Harry, he's just surprised at this turn of events, but he needs some time before he warms up to the idea of you and Ginny together. We had all been expecting it but Ron...well, you know what he's like."

"But that's not it, isn't it?" Harry looked at his hands. "He knows I'm putting her in danger by letting this happen. I'm only adding her life to the equation."

She smiled.

"If you ask me, you're going to be infusing a lot of life inside yourself and Ginny in the next few days. I'm sort of looking forward to it; I'd been quite getting sick of you moping around all the time. Voldemort's rise doesn't equal to a full stop over the rest of our lives. You've just got to enjoy it while you can."

"I'm not sure she actually wants that."

She looked up at him, surprised.

"Ginny? She has wanted it for as long as I can remember."

He shook his head uncertainly but did not elaborate.

"Well, let's get going before the Headmaster decides to make an example of us." He said.

"You're right, Pansy. Now shut up."

He repeated for the third time. She'd been pestering him since breakfast about 'those dim-witted Gryffindors' and 'that ugly bitch' who he assumed was intended for the current Head Girl. Yeah, that was all good and fine but Merlin, any more of that and his ears were going to start bleeding!

She was currently situated next to him in a seat inside the classroom and he was now regretting agreeing to her casual request to sit by him. He usually asked either of Crabbe and Goyle to sit beside him, but they'd been too thick to get into this class and he was now stuck with...Pansy. He knew for a fact that she was no airhead. For fuck's sake, when the rest of the girls had just begun preening in front of the mirrors, she had come to realise the kind of social standing she could effortlessly earn by fixing herself semi-permanently beside him. That ought to count for something. The Parkinsons were far from being well-known. Whatever small fortune they'd amassed in their time, it was all thanks to their international elf trade which was a fast dwindling business in itself.

But sometimes she metamorphosed into this complete and utter wench who bitched about anything and everything under the sun. And he was sick of it.

She pouted at his admonition and began doodling on her parchment. Snakes. How original.

Potter entered the room closely followed by Granger. What was with them, anyway? Around Potter she was all sunshine and smiles while she chose to be an uptight know-it-all around everyone else?

The new Headmaster chose this moment to sweep inside the class room. He cast a lazy look around at their faces and smirked evilly.

"Every Gyffindor sits next to a Slytherin." He barked. "Come on. Switch partners before I make you!"

With a collective screeching noise of a dozen seats moving against the floor, everyone hurried forward to sit with the best possible alternative.

He remained exactly where he was and flicked his head at Pansy to get a move on. She pursed her lips and stormed away to take a seat beside Dean Thomas who was eyeing her speculatively.

"I don't think so Miss Patil." Snape interrupted.

Parvati Patil froze in the action of trying to slip in casually beside him and stared at the Professor's face.

"Miss Granger, take your things and move next to Draco. Rather fitting, in my opinion, for both the Heads to work together and contribute effectively to the class."

What the hell.

Granger stood up mechanically to gather her stuff and plopped down next to him, looking stiffly forward.

Inexplicably irritated by her demeanor, he raised his hand.

"What do you recommend we do, Professor, in case one's partner is simply too incompetent to handle advanced magical concepts because of, say..poor heritage? Would that be an incentive enough for one to find a partner of their own liking?" He punctuated this by moving as far as he could on the seat.

Snape stared at him. Beside himself he could feel Granger going very still. He glanced at Potter who was all but frothing at the mouth.

"You are well experienced in handling incompetent partners, Mr. Malfoy, heritage aside." He cringed inwardly at his godfather's change of address. "In any case, you can work alone when the situation arises." He turned away to face the blackboard.

Beside him, Granger still continued to ignore him, but he thought he saw a her cheek lifting slightly.

"Think yourself too clever, do you? I'll have you crying by the time this lesson's over." He had no idea about what was making him act this way. He figured he wanted to see just how far he could push her before she cracked.

Her only reply was placing a fresh sheet of parchment on her desk and smoothing it with her palm.

"What, if anyone would care to enlighten us, is the correct incantation for the Amputation curse?" Snape asked.

Granger raised her hand slowly, hesitantly. Her under-confidence must have amounted as something akin to a rare opportunity in Snape's eyes, as he miraculously nodded at her to go ahead.

"Its Apscido." She stated, without a sign of hesitance in her voice. The cunning witch! She had finally learnt to fool Snape!

Snape looked like he wanted to bare his teeth at her, but he had turned around again to write "Apscido" in bold on the blackboard. Followed by "Inscisio", "Lacerus", and "Admordeo."

"Today we learn about the not-so-widely known spell that is capable of healing nearly all kinds of severing curses inflicted on the body, Dark or otherwise. Not only does it incorporate inconsequential cuts and bleeding wounds, it can be successfully used to counter the darkest Amputation curse."

"There exist, however, a few potions that are used presently to counteract these curses, but given as they require a considerable time to brew, it shall do well for you to learn a practical healing spell. One that is of my own invention. The incantation is Vulnera Sanentur."

He cast a slow look around at them, eyes boring into their skulls as he expected them to be greatly impressed by this piece of information. But everyone, beside himself obviously, was busy writing this down as they had deduced from this that they would not find anything inside the books.

"The words sound plain enough, the trick, however, is to master your mind while you utter the spell. The sight of a simple cut can cause the bravest of souls to cringe in revulsion." He looked pointedly at the Gryffindors assembled. "That is what you must seek to control. Slightest hint of disgust in your mind and the spell shall remain ineffective and futile. There needs to be an earnest desire within your heart to heal a damaged body, you see. Therefore, you should repeat it several times to ensure that the flow of magic remains steady and directed."

"You're now free to practice it in pairs, though I hardly expect any of you to master it in a single hour. You can use the curses that have been listed upon the board without causing bloodshed, I'm sure you know how to accomplish that after six years of education in Charms. Do not use the Amputation curse, for obvious reasons."

He looked at the girl beside beside him as she took her usual immaculate notes. Pointing his own wand towards her desk, he muttered an inconspicuous "Imitor", and hastily covered the magical copy of her notes with a fresh sheet of parchment.

She finally looked at him, her face as blank as a chalkboard.

"Shall I try first?"

He smirked, "By all means."

He settled back in the seat to watch the show. She vaguely gestured towards his left hand. He shrugged. She cleared her throat and wavered for a moment or two, before she roughly grabbed his hand and pulled it towards herself, clasping it firmly in her own. Taking a deep breath, she pointed her wand at his index finger.

All of a sudden, it wasn't funny anymore. "Whoa, wait!" He snatched his hand back. "You're going to cut my finger!"

"No."

"You're going to make it bleed!"

"Oh heaven forbid if I waste a single drop of your precious pure blood." She rolled her eyes. "I'm just going to make a simple cut. It won't hurt more than a pinprick and its not going to bleed."

She pulled his hand again, but he snatched it back.

"I don't believe you."

She cocked her head to the side. "Are you scared, Malfoy? If you don't know how to make a cut without making it bleed, all you have to do is ask."

He gritted his teeth.

She drew his hand towards her for a final time. "Watch closely. You can simulate any spell or curse and diminish its action by using the Phantomiser Charm. Inscisio Phantasma." She traced a small line over the tip of his index finger using her wand and he watched as a thin cut appeared in its wake. A few seconds later, a drop of deep red blood had spouted from it, but it remained confined to its boundary. He brushed his thumb over the small drop, but it didn't smudge. It was merely an illusion!

"Now, here's the tough part." She took a deep, steadying breath, "Vulnera Sanentur."

Nothing happened.

There was a loud scream from behind as they turned to look at the source of the commotion.

Lavender Brown had apparently fainted at the sight of her partner's profusely bleeding finger.

"Did I not specifically instruct you imbeciles that there should be NO blood?" Snape thundered from his desk."There's some Dittany in the cupboard. Help yourself before the cut scars permanently. Weasley! Take Miss Brown to the Hospital Wing."

Draco looked down to see that she was still holding his wrist, clutching it in a vice grip.

"Granger."

She focused back on their entwined hands, but contrary to what he had expected, did not drop it.

"Vulnera Sanentur." She repeated.

He felt a tingling sensation spread over his entire palm, but the cut did not seal itself.

"Say it a few more times." He was surprised at the soft quality of his voice. She looked up to meet his eyes, and drew back a fraction, probably startled by their close proximity.

"Vulnera Sanentur. Vulnera Sanentur. Vulnera Sanentur. Vuln-"

"Look." He stopped her mid-chant. The edges off the cut had gradually begun to merge together. They watched as the skin slowly healed itself, all trace of the phantom blood gone like it had never been there.

"Merlin, that's-!" He halted midway as he glanced at her ecstatic expression. "..clearly not very impressive. That wasn't even a real cut."

He took in the subtle change in her expression. Her eyes turned from their back-lit luminosity into a dull, faded shimmer and she looked down at her lap. She dropped his hand and crossed her arms in resignation.

"Why don't you give it a try now?"

He raised his eyebrows. "And dabble in your filthy blood? It could be packed with all sorts of muggle borne germs." He shuddered. "No thanks."

She stood up in a flash, the bell ringing just in time to signal the end of the class.

"I hate to break it out to you, Malfoy," she seethed. "But your insults are really losing their touch. Oh, and guess what?" She leaned forward a bit.

"I saw you copying my notes. I should have expected nothing less from a Slytherin."

Before he could even make sense of what she had said, she was bolting out of the classroom.

A/N: Draco's being a flaming git here but he'll straighten his act soon!

I've experimented a bit with Latin in this chapter, so for any students of Latin out there *sheepish grin* I'm sorry! :P

Hope you liked it... please review. :)