A/N: I hope this brings you much amusement...hehehe! Thanks for your reviews! :p

To say that Hermione Granger was baffled was an understatement. Ever since the most eventful night of patrolling school corridors, which involved illegal substance consumption, violent displays of emotional reaction, offensive language and, nudity, not a single word had been exchanged between the Head boy and girl. That was one week ago.

The duo avoided each other like a double negative charge, except in the company of others. That was where things remained positive, in that they kept up with traditions. The first incident was a few days later when Hermione was making her way to the Great Hall for dinner, only to turn down the main hall at the same time as Malfoy and his goons. He looked at her threateningly, as if to say, 'I hope you're keeping mum on the potion situation,' before allowing Crabbe and Goyle to embark on the usual group tirade at mocking and mimicking the Head girl's enthusiastic classroom antics and reprimanding demeanor. In her defense, she awarded them each with detention. The powers that be were still in place, until they knocked her to the floor as they pushed in front of her to get through the doorway.

Malfoy had not even snickered as one would expect.

Potions was even worse. It appeared that Zabini had suddenly adopted the short tempered, angst ridden, don't look me in the eye sensitivity that had Hermione shaking her head in bewilderment. He would not even respond to Malfoy. Hermione guessed it was related to their extra curricular activities. It didn't bother her so much that he wouldn't look her in the eye when speaking to her, or that he constantly huffed when someone would interrupt them to ask Hermione something, it was more that he seemed rather edgy around her, especially when Malfoy was nearby.

That afternoon, Hermione reluctantly entered the potions classroom to find Dean sitting in her seat. That whole issue had not yet been resolved either.

"Hi Hermione, you got a few minutes to talk before class?" Hermione shrugged. She really hadn't given him much thought with all her other pre-occupations involving Slytherins. She walked over and sat down in Zabini's seat.

Dean looked nervous. "Uhm, so we're still friends right?"

"Yeah," she replied slightly amused by his approach. He seemed to relax a little.

"Cool, uhm, I mean, great," he stammered. "I just thought you wanted nothing to do with me since you never came back with an answer from the other week." Hermione recalled their conversation, something about him still liking her?

"I've just been busy, that's all. But, I think we should just be friends." She could tell his was disappointed. "For now, I mean," she added for no real reason. He nodded.

"So, a bunch of us are having an exploding snap night tonight in the Gryffindor common room, you should come along," he offered. Hermione smiled, she needed a break from the head digs, she had spent too much time there lately, following Malfoy, and avoiding Dean. It was a relief to be on speaking terms with him again.

"Count me in. Who else is playing?"

"We've got a big group together. Mostly seventh years."

"Sounds like it will be rather eventful," Hermione laughed.

Like a scene replayed, the classroom door swung open marking the entrance of the Head boy and Hermione's enigmatic potions partner.

"What do we have here? A lover's reunion?" Malfoy disrupted. "Tsk, tsk Granger, I didn't think you were so forgiving." Despite the snide remark, Hermione was somewhat relieved that he had finally spoken, albeit not directly at her.

"Shove off Malfoy," Dean retorted, feeling a little uncomfortable in front of the one guy who knew about what had transpired with Hermione.

"I recall I was doing the shoving, Dean. Now get out of my sight." Dean stood up defiantly. Hermione cringed at what could unfold.

"Hermione and I have sorted it out, no need for your input, Malfoy," he stated sternly.

"Sorted what out?" Zabini interrupted, thoroughly perplexed.

"Nothing!" Hermione shot, a little too hurriedly. Zabini turned to Malfoy expectantly for an answer.

"Malfoy, what are you talking about?"

"Dean and I had a little run in recently. Nothing worth discussing," he flippantly dismissed, looking to Hermione quickly before turning to sit in his seat. That was the end of that pending altercation.

Hermione signed in relief and stood up to sit in her seat. Dean gave her a reassuring nod and moved away to his designated spot while Zabini sat, confused and annoyed that Malfoy had not divulged details to his best friend. Hermione, meanwhile, wondered why Malfoy had not taken the opportunity to create a scene, and was rather thankful that he had not told anyone about what had happened with Dean, much to her surprise. Perhaps that signaled that he had not mentioned the other night and the incident with that potion.

No such luck. "So, Granger, I hear you had a little trip last week." Zabini said quietly. She turned to him wide eyed.

"What?"

"Don't play dumb, you know what I'm talking about," he whispered, looking over at Malfoy who was absorbed in some last minute work to make sure he wasn't listening. Hermione fidgeted in her chair. "Do you have a class after this?" he asked.

"No, why?"

"I want to show you something." Hermione was indeed confounded by the sudden invite.

"What?"

"I can't talk about it here. Meet me on the fourth floor. You know where."

The class had not even commenced and Hermione was on edge. All lesson she rushed through the task and kept shooting questioning looks to Zabini hoping he would divulge details. The olive toned prat would not so much as stare her in the eye. As for Malfoy, Hermione sent death stares to his offending back just to ease her infuriation that he had told others about what had happened. She wondered who else knew. Yet, the Head boy, throughout the class did not speak a word to his house mate or to anyone else for that matter.

He was completely distracted by something.

Hermione stood outside the unused classroom on the fourth floor housing the extra curricular interests of the Slytherin rat pack. She guessed Malfoy had the charm activated which would notify him of her presence. It was the first time since that night, and she hoped he would not ask questions as per their agreement for her sampling the potion in the first place. She was a little unnerved at being alone with Zabini, he was just acting too strange around her lately.

The interruption of footsteps echoing through the hallways signaled his arrival as he turned the corner.

"Hey," she said hesitantly. He nodded as he approached the doorway where she was standing. "Uh, Blaise," she stated, feeling the need to address him by his first name, "Are you sure you want me to see whatever it is you have in there?" He smirked, whispering an incantation to remove whatever wards they had set up.

"Don't fret, Granger, it's not as bad as you think." The door unlocked and he gestured for her to enter. She did so, warily. The room was empty, save for a collection of dusty tables.

"Uh, what exactly am I supposed to be looking at?" she asked.

"Before I show you anything, Hermione, you need to swear that you won't tell anyone, especially Malfoy." Hermione, stunned at his address, and request, turned to face him.

"Why are you showing me this? What's up with you and Malfoy, anyway?"

"No more questions." Hermione signed. "You Slytherins and your secrets!" she muttered exasperatedly.

"What other secrets?" he questioned. He was a cunning one. She figured he knew most of the details of the other night, except for the finer points, like her nakedness, or at least she hoped. She cringed at the recollection. Ugh!

"Malfoy would not explain why he was taking this potion. It took a bit of effort for him to even tell me what it did. And, that was after I nearly fried to death!" she exclaimed disgruntled. She found it rather strange to be talking about Malfoy with his best friend, in an abandoned classroom, which housed their group project.

"Probably a good thing you don't know, Granger." He had averted back to surname addresses. Hermione's curiosity only grew at that comment.

"Well, it sounds like he uses it often. If the side effects I experienced are anything to go by, shouldn't he be worried about long term effects?" Zabini smirked.

"Concerned about Malfoy's well being are we, Granger?"

"No! It just seems stupid."

"Not everyone is like you Hermione. People don't always think everything through." He was back to his use of first names.

"Who says I do?" She recalled her situation with Dean, and her reckless potion drinking.

"True, but most of the time you have everything under control," he asserted.

Hermione frowned at his observation. "That is hardly the case," she said dryly. He moved forward to the other side of the room without saying a word. No point arguing with him. He waved his wand to reveal an elaborate set up of cauldrons, ingredients, flasks and preparation utensils. Hermione was secretly impressed.

"Why did you really want to show me this Zabini?" He still had his back to her.

"Malfoy should have told you everything after what happened to you. You suffered a really bad side effect, none of us knew about it. Luckily, I was able to establish that it was that particular batch. Malfoy hasn't been the same since he took it though. I'm worried it's another type of side effect."

Hermione was quiet for a moment. "And, you think I can help? Why? What makes you think I want to?" The last was not true; her mind was reeling with inquiry.

"If it's going to be anyone, it has to be you."

"That still doesn't answer why?"

He turned to face her, looking flustered. His eyes had darkened and his expression mirrored that which Dean had shown that night in the common room. She stiffened with unease.

"Because. You're the most capable. And, you are great at potions, and I like your company."

What? Hermione was flabbergasted. "Uhm, thanks." That familiar feeling of a flushed face crept up on her. She fidgeted with her hands. He seemed un-fazed by his comment, his bold azure eyes focused intently on her.

"So, err, where to from here?" she stammered. Inside she was scolding herself for acting so ridiculous.

"Maybe if I tell you about it, you can help research it. We kinda overlooked that part before making it."

"Figures. I need a name."

"Etat d'esprit. It's of French origin. Draco took it from one of his dad's books."

"What a git." Zabini smirked. Hermione thought for a moment. "As Head girl, I have duty here to report any illegal activity. Malfoy informed me that this was an illegal potion."

"It's only illegal because of the dutch courage effect one can desire which could lead to disaster. Anyway, I thought you two had an agreement not to talk to any teachers about this?"

"We have an arrangement of sorts, but it's unrelated." Zabini's expression turned to a scowl. Hermione was of course on a bargaining rampage. "Unless…"

"I thought it might lead to this. Fine, I'll tell you why Draco is taking the potion." Hermione was treading muddy waters entering into more agreements with Slytherins. It was a nasty chain reaction that could potentially lead to disaster if the other, or anyone else, found out.

"Fine." Her inquiring mind had triumphed. Zabini smiled. He seemed rather pleased with himself.

"Great. Do you want to try some of the properly brewed batch?"

"No way!" Zabini laughed. It was a hearty chortle; one that Hermione could take a liking to hearing. "Well it is only polite to offer," he shrugged.

"Whatever," she retorted, half smiling. "So why does Malfoy take the potion?"

"To keep up with his studies. Too many extra curricular activities." Hermione instantly thought back to the time she had seen him in the common room, scratching away with his quill to parchment so intensely that he was dripping ink all over the place.

"Yeah, right! What kind of extra curricular duties would have him neglecting his school work?"

"Do you really want to know?" He raised an eyebrow at her skeptically. Of course she did. It couldn't be that absurd.

"Yes."

"I can't believe I agreed to tell you this but some of the guys have a sort of competition going." Hermione crossed her arms impatiently signaling for him to continue. "Well, it's kind of personal, but we are, well I was, challenging each other when it comes to the opposite sex." Hermione was confused. "You know," he goaded her to guess but she just stared back blankly. "Hooking up with girls, Granger," he finished.

Hermione's eyes widened in disgust, "That is just disgusting." He seemed unfazed by her expression. "And ridiculous." She laughed out loud. The fact that Malfoy needed a potion to keep up with his hectic lifestyle was just too much.

"Well, you wouldn't say so if the knew how much was at stake."

"It sounds like an ego trip to me."

"The winner is guaranteed a spot in the next tryouts for the quidditch team, Puddlemere United." Hermione almost choked on her own saliva before laughing out loud. It was always about quidditch.

"So does that mean you're out of the running?" she joked.

"Depends."

"On what?"

"On where I rank at the end of the year." Hermione did not want to hear that. She shut her eyes in an attempt to rid herself of that bit of information.

Zabini just smirked. "That was a joke!" he added before laughing. "I have decided I want to pursue another career direction, so I don't really care about keeping tally. Besides, am a bit over hooking up with girls for that reason." He shrugged. Hermione could not help but feel a little awkward. It was weird discussing this with him.

"So why Paddlemere United?" she changed the subject.

"It's only the best."

"Of course," she muttered. "And what better way to prove your worthiness for such an opportunity," she retorted. "You Slytherins are unbelievable." Although, she didn't doubt that any other bunch of boys would not hesitate to challenge each other in the same way. She had not even considered whether or not girls would.

"Slytherins aren't the only one's involved, Granger," he replied curtly.

"What?" she furrowed her brow, puzzled.

"Forget it. It's not important." She could see his unease at mentioning too much. "Besides, this potion is an ancillary issue to that so it's irrelevant." Hermione was still processing his previous comment.

"What do you mean Slytherins aren't the only ones competing?"

"I mean exactly that!"

"Well, are you going to elaborate?"

"No."

"Then, you can kiss this whole idea of me assisting you with research goodbye!" she stated frankly.

"Granger, I have kept my end of the deal. You really don't want to know, anyway," he resigned, leaning against a dusty table. Hermione was not going to falter.

"Try me."

"Ask your boyfriend."

"I don't have one!"

"Well, who's come the closest?" he tilted his head condescendingly. Hermione pursed her lips together in realisation.

A/N: How will Hermione handle this bit of news? Is "research" with Zabini code word for something else? Poor distracted Malfoy, all he ever wanted was to play quidditch. LOL! How will Hermione handle his secret and help his nasty habit? :p