A/N: This chapter was much fun to write. I look forward to your thoughts. Enjoy!

Hermione stood before Malfoy, flask in hand, wondering why the hell she had not hexed the Head boy into oblivion. Her stomach churned at the presence of the foreign liquid as she anticipated the adverse affects. Malfoy just stood there, arms crossed, acting the part of a haughty prat for which he would certainly win acclaim for by the student body.

"How you feeling Granger?" he asked cockily.

"Fine!" she snapped, ignoring the pangs of discomfort that tickled her nerve endings.

"How do I even know you drank it?"

"Take a look at your empty flask, you idiot!" she shoved it in his face.

He merely shrugged. "Your look of contempt is reassuring enough."

"Are you going to tell me what it is then?" she yelled.

"Let it be a little test for you. While we patrol, you can ask me questions to which I will answer only yes or no."

"Malfoy! This is ridiculous. What if I suffer from an allergic reaction or a severe side effect?"

"There are side effects, just not sure about all of them," he said, lifting a finger to his chin in mock reflection. Hermione was beginning to panic. What had she done? She was certain Malfoy could smell the fear seeping from her pores as she inwardly retreated in disdain. Her skin was beginning to perspire, her breath shortening.

"Malfoy, this is serious. I better go to the infirmary, I don't feel so good," she wavered.

"That is not an option, I'm afraid. You will probably be expelled for it," he stated frankly. "Feeling scared?" he piped snidely.

"Fuck you Malfoy!"

"You drank it Granger! I can't control your impulsive behaviour! Besides, your eyes are still focused aren't they? How many fingers?" he held up two with derision.

"Let's see how you like this impulse," Hermione marched over to him and did the only thing she could think of that would bring her a smidgen of release. She slapped him. The look of shock on his face was enough to momentarily bring a smile of satisfaction to fruition. His stone eyes narrowed into violent slits as he grabbed her offending hand tightly around the wrist, and led her to the portrait hole without saying a word. Hermione, too stunned for words, tried to pull away but his grip only tightened as she stammered to keep up with his determined lanky pace.

"Let me go!" she yelled.

"I don't think so, Granger. We have patrols to attend to." He pulled her through the portrait hole, eliciting a cry of discomfort from Hermione, as she was yanked out of the head digs, much to the disapproval of the knight in the portrait as he watched their interactions.

Hermione, distressed, and not to mention wandless for the first time in the presence of Malfoy, was not in a happy place. "Malfoy, I can't believe I am saying this, but will you please let go of my wrist!"

He abruptly stopped, causing Hermione to walk into his solid back, her head hitting his shoulder. "Ouch!" Malfoy turned to face her with his scornful, inflamed cheeked glare. He let go of his grip on her and she automatically began rubbing her wrist, trying to each the pressure of the reddened area.

"How do you suppose I patrol without a wand or my school robes Malfoy?" she snapped.

"Ever the model student," he mocked. "Forget that you have taken an illicit substance?"

Hermione looked around, ensuring they were not within reach of prying ears. She narrowed her eyes, recalling only moments ago her act of stupor.

"Funny how you suddenly aren't feeling unwell, isn't it Granger?"

It was true. Hermione felt nothing, other than a rather heightened sensory awareness. She was wide awake and ready to attack the swine. Malfoy was now leering at her knowingly as he leaned against an adjacent wall.

"Well off you go then. We can't have you disarmed and dangerous."

"Fuck you, Malfoy!" She had never been so brazen with her use of language but she felt undeniably antagonistic and in control. She turned and walked back to the common room to collect her wand and robes.

Malfoy had not moved from his designated spot. Leaning casually against the wall, looking rather pensive, yet his eyes maintained a calculated alertness. The contrast was unnerving. He turned sharply to face her as she approached.

"I thought you were making yourself all pretty for me. Took long enough!" Hermione could not help but snort at his remark as she placed her wand between her knees while she put on her robes. He regarded her with amusement. Finally looking the part of Head Girl, Hermione grabbed her wand and looked over at Malfoy expectantly.

"Well? What are you waiting for?"

He shrugged dramatically. "I just never thought I'd see you with a stick between your legs."

"Wow, Malfoy, you are hilarious!"

"I get that a lot." He stood upright and closed in on her. "Now, Granger, let's clear up one thing incase you have forgotten. Never touch me again!"

"Perhaps you should lead by example so I will learn quicker?" she retorted. She was rather enjoying her new found callousness. She started walking down the hallway to the staircases. They would start on the ground floor and work their way up. She could hear Malfoy keeping pace effortlessly beside her.

"My, my, Granger has grown balls. I didn't realize the potion could cause physiological side effects. It must be your bad blood."

"Too bad, you really would have benefited from that particular side effect. Having Blaise do all your dirty work while you reap the benefits is so typical." The next thing she knew, Hermione found herself against the cold blue stone wall, the movement was so swift she was startled to find herself staring into the determined stone eyes of the culprit.

"Ah, Ah, Ah, Malfoy, your rule, remember?" she reminded him with alarming confidence despite her feeble position. "Or, do you suffer from memory loss?" she tilted her head with spurious concern.

"Don't make presumptions you can't back up," he spat.

"I am feeling rather backed up now, if you don't mind me pointing that out." She stared back at him with challenging eyes. He regarded her silently, his face inches from her, his hands on her shoulders. She swiftly lifted her wand and jabbed it right in his gut.

Malfoy merely flinched in response. "Granger, it's not a sword, I would expect you to perhaps cast a hex on me rather than attempt to stab me with its blunt end."

"Thanks for the heads up Malfoy." She cast a wordless charm that had them twirling around so that Malfoy was now leaning against the wall, locked into position by the spell emanating from her wand. He had the audacity to smile.

"Like it rough eh, Granger? It's no wonder Thomas couldn't get a clue." She merely pushed the wand into his gut with a little more fervor, causing him to wince slightly yet still maintain his indifference.

"Hitting below the belt Malfoy? Is this all getting a bit too much for you? I mean, being forced up against a wall by the Head girl is rather damaging to your ego, is it not?" She could not believe what was coming out of her mouth. It was so…so malicious. His face instantly blanked and she thought she caught a glimpse of concern pass through his eyes.

Malfoy effortlessly pushed off the wall and gently moved her aside as he took her wand, grabbing her hand and leading her into a nearby classroom. Hermione was stumped by his concerned demeanor. Once inside, he led her to the teacher's desk.

"Sit."

"What?"

"Sit. Down."

"Why should I?" He didn't bother to respond, and instead lifted her up and sat her on the desk so that she was now at eye level with the upright prat. Too stunned for words, Hermione remained silent as he placed her wand down on the desk next to her, and then grabbed his own, muttering a spell she could not make out.

Hermione crossed her arms defiantly; impatient with his strange behaviour. He was oblivious to her glowering as he moved his wand over her.

"Is it just me or is it suddenly really warm in here?" She moved to take off her robes letting it fall against the desk as she sat on the length of it. It did not ease her body heat. She unzipped her jacket throwing it to the side in a flustered state. Malfoy was still concentrating on something as she looked down at her hands which were glowing red.

"What the hell?" she lifted her hands to inspect them closely, to establish that it was not the light that was playing tricks on her. No, they were definitely glowing. Hermione was beginning to perspire. She needed to get rid of more clothing. She moved to remove her tank top.

"Stop!" She looked at Malfoy who had finally seemed to register that she was in the process of removing the offending articles.

"Turn around then! I am fucking hot and need to cool down!" she snapped as she lifted her top up over her head, exposing her in all her glory. In her haste, Hermione had not put on a bra. She did not seem phased, just relieved to do anything to aid her desire to cool down.

"Shit, Granger!" Malfoy had spun around with his back to her. She could hear him swearing under his breath. She did not register his reaction as she slid off the desk and began to unbutton her jeans.

It did little to appease her state of flux or the redness of her glowing skin. She slid them off and kicked them aside, relieved at the greater surface area that could attract coolness. She signed in relief.

"Granger?" She had forgotten that Malfoy was still there. His voice was strained.

"What is it?" She snapped at the offending back. She was too hot to think or respond to anyone.

"You need to cast a cooling charm on yourself."

"What?" Hermione was unable to register what he was saying as she was rather pre-occupied with the fact that her temperature was well above normal range and the red glow surrounding her had deepened to a burgundy shade.

"Grab your wand on the desk and cast a cooling charm. NOW!" She reacted to his thundering demand and reached for her wand.

"Which one?" She was beginning to panic.

"A freezing one – Glacio." The urgency in his voice snapped her into action as she waved her wand over her head and cast the spell. The relief was instant as she felt a great wave of pressure lifting off her, and the perspiration on her skin evaporated. In any other scenario, this particular charm would have left her chattering her teeth, and the fact that she felt better for it was rather disconcerting. She looked at her hands, the glow had gone.

"Has the red glow gone?"

"Uh, yeah." Hermione said distractedly, as she registered that the only attire on her self was a pair of knickers. The realisation that Malfoy had seen her bare breasts made her cheeks burn with deep embarrasement. She turned and grabbed her robes, draping them over her and wrapping it tightly around her waist, holding it in place. "Uh, you can turn around now," she almost whispered.

Hermione could see Malfoy's shoulders stiffen as he debated whether to turn or not. Finally, he did, avoiding her gaze, and sat on a nearby desk in relief.

"I have never seen that happen," he finally blurted.

"You mean, that was a side effect?" He nodded. She clutched at her robes tightly for security.

"How did you know?"

He finally looked up at her. "I knew something was up from the way you reacted when I mentioned Thomas."

"Oh." She recalled her retorts. How did she have the nerve? "Well, I think I deserve to know what nearly killed me, Malfoy." He sat quietly.

"Malfoy!" she snapped.

"Look, Granger, I can't tell you the name but it's a rather unique potion in that it does whatever you want it to. It is like a placebo effect. I'm sure you've heard of that term," he offered reluctantly, his eyes focused on the wall behind her.

"Riiight, I'm supposed to believe that, am I?" Hermione thought it was an insult. "And, since when do you know what a placebo effect is?"

Malfoy's eyes immediately averted back to her, narrowing. "Granger, I don't have to explain myself to you. Take it or leave it." Hermione immediately raised her wand and locked the door with an advanced spell that she had picked up from her private library. There was no way Malfoy was getting out of this so easily.

"What was that for?"

"We are not leaving until I am properly debriefed!"

"Debriefed? This is not a secret operation, Granger, get over it!" he thundered. He stood up off the desk and went over to the door, trying to unlock it with a string of ordinary spells.

"I'd stop trying Malfoy, only I know the unlocking spell." Hermione sat back up on the desk, still clutching her robes around her as her clothes were still scattered about. The situation was too disturbing. Locked in a room at will with Malfoy, having undressed in front of him, and now only covered by her school robes. She needed answers!

"Well? I don't want to be here all night Malfoy!"

"Granger, I have nothing else to say." He slid back against the door, sitting down with his knees bent, arms hanging over them and his head slumped over. That insufferable prat! Hermione would have to goad it out of him.

"Ok then, explain how it affected me if you don't want to talk about its chemical properties or general effects." He looked up at her, sitting on the desk a good distance from him.

"Fine. You panicked at the start thinking it was going to cause some physiological response, and it did. Right?"

She nodded, "You certainly helped with that!" Malfoy smirked, shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly. "Typical," Hermione muttered.

"Then in the hallway you were feeling rather alert and overconfident. I almost thought you were a Slytherin."

"That is also your fault. Why would I ever want to act like a Slytherin!" Hermione snapped.

"Granger, you loved it." It was her turn to smirk.

"Well, if you didn't drag me out into the hallway so violently, I wouldn't have felt the need to retaliate."

"You forget that I was retaliating against you, Granger. You slapped me!"

"Call it keeping up with old traditions," she shrugged.

"Careful, it's still in your system. You can re-activate it at any time over the next few hours so don't get carried away and incinerate yourself while I'm still locked in here with you. I don't what you stripping again."

Hermione looked down, feeling the uncontrollable rush of blood to her cheeks. "I warned you to turn around, Malfoy!"

"Didn't give me much opportunity to act all chivalrous, now did you?"

"That would not be a character trait I would use to describe you."

"You're so funny, Granger, I could say the same about you. I never thought I would label you as quite the exhibitionist."

"You keep talking about it like you don't want to forget it, Malfoy!" That made him shut up. He glared at her as he combed his fingers through his hair in irritation.

"Not like I haven't seen a naked woman before, Granger. Don't be too worried."

"Can we change the topic?"

"It's a bit hard to when your clothes are strewn all over the place!"

"Fine! Turn around so I can get changed."

"How about letting me out?"

"No! I haven't finished with you."

Malfoy raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"Oh, shut it! Turn around!" she demanded. Surprisingly, Malfoy stood up and walked to the back corner of the room, facing the wall as he leaned against the side. Hermione quickly put on her jeans, with her robes still wrapped around her, then in lightning speed, pulled on her tank top as the robes fell to the floor. She grabbed her jacket, zipping it up before putting her robes on once again.

"Ok, I'm done."

Malfoy turned around. "I don't know which took less time. You taking it off, or putting it back on."

"Leave it, Malfoy." He actually chuckled at this point rendering her speechless at the exchange. It had been the second time she had heard him laugh at their interactions. "Well, don't you have more explaining to do?"

"Well, Granger. Since when do you react to my taunts by pushing me against a wall and jabbing your wand into me?"

"You pushed me against a wall!"

"Exactly. The potion made you mimic me as a means to defend yourself. Usually, you are more inclined to throw a few smart remarks at me and slam doors in my face. Does it seem strange that you weren't fazed that I had backed you up against a wall?"

Hermione reflected for a moment. Yes, it was rather uncharacteristic of her. She had been initially frightened enough at the way he had dragged her out of the common room but that feeling had been quickly quashed.

"What triggers the reaction?"

"Any heightened emotional response, or a conscious desire for what you want to happen." Well, that explained it. Stupid Malfoy!

"You knew this and still provoked me?"

"Granger, you forget that I also took the potion. In my defense, one usually has an emotional response to being slapped!" he barked defiantly.

"Fine." Hermione harrumphed. "Is there anything I can do to minimize the effects?"

"Granger, does the word placebo mean anything to you?" he quipped. She narrowed her eyes at his sarcasm.

"You throw that word at me one more time and I will hex you!"

"Granger, for your sake, control yourself," he drawled, walking over to the door. "Now, open this damn door so we can get patrols over with. This evening has been eventful enough and I have spent enough time hanging out with you against my will."

Hermione waved her wand to unlock the door, and slid down off the desk walking over to Malfoy. He pushed down the door handle and moved to open the door.

"Just one more question," she interrupted looking up at him questioningly.

"What now?"

"What do you seem to rely on it?" He turned to regard her momentarily, his fair hair falling over his thoughtful gaze.

He hesitated for a moment before retorting, "None of you business, Granger. I have kept my end of the bargain so keep your mouth shut about it. As far as I'm concerned, this never happened." With that he opened the door and strolled out leaving her behind to catch up. To think that even after all that had taken place this evening, they still had patrols to get through. What fun! Hermione made a mental note not to engage in actively re-arranging the schedule again.

Patrolling with Malfoy had proved enough trouble already.

Well, at least she had managed to find out his password – Hungarian Horntail. Hermione smiled mischievously as she walked out of the classroom to meet the disgruntled head boy who had seen her naked.

A/N: The amount of swine jokes going around is justifiable grounds for my mention of it. :p Has Hermione learnt her lesson not to meddle in Slytherin affairs? How affected is Draco at seeing the head girl naked? We shall see...