A/N: Finally going somewhere in this story! Please review and thanks to my luvly beta freakyella.

2nd November:

15th November was a date Hermione both longed for and dreaded for. It was almost two weeks left before she was going to The Aradia Institute. The first month in school had been a real hectic month for her as Head Girl, with new routines to remember. But after all, routines were a good thing according to her. She had already got used to her new room and enjoyed it more day by day. The jealous looks her friends gave were also something she enjoyed. Her mum had always said that if you work really hard, you will always get a reward. And Hermione certainly had. The room was really to die for. Ginny had almost fainted the first time she came to visit.

Even though she had her own desk, she still preferred to do her homework in the library. It was something with libraries that she couldn't resist. Especially the Hogwarts library, it was so old! It contained books from different centuries. You could find all the information you needed and she had only been disappointed in finding facts once. And that said a lot about a library.

Another thing that the library had provided her with, except knowledge was a friendship with Blaise. They often studied together at a table, sometimes Malfoy joined them. But mostly it was just the two of them. They didn't talk much during the time the studied, but she found it comfortable that way. She had started to like him almost as much as she liked Harry and Ron. Sure, he could behave like a git sometimes and drive her nuts, but he was also very kind and amusing.

Her friendship with Blaise had lead to an acceptance between her and Malfoy. And that acceptance took her back to the present and the library, where she just now sat with a studying Malfoy next to her. Without Blaise. She had been really surprised, but a little bit flattered when he had asked her if he may join her at her table though all the other tables were occupied. She had given him permission to sit down and there had been no exchange of words since. If someone had told her two months ago that she would sit quietly in the library and study with Malfoy, she would have laughed at them for even suggesting such a thing. But here she was. She shot a glance at Malfoy who seemed to be concentrating hard on the essay he was writing. Since he seemed busy, she greeted the moment to observe him a bit closer. She really understood why all the girls in school liked him. She had to admit that he was very attractive with his platinum blond hair and grey eyes. She continued her close viewing of him and suddenly heard him speak.

"Seeing something you like Granger" She heard him say and looked up from his pink lips to his grey eyes. She blushed against her will and the smirk in this face grew bigger.

"Don't flatter yourself, your ego is already big enough" she said trying to force away the blood in her chins.

At those words, he gave her an irritated look and returned to his essay again.

Merlin, Granger really was good at ruining nice moments. Yes, he had to admit that this had been a nice moment. Studying with Granger was something he enjoyed. He had gotten used to it thanks to Blaise. He though that the thing he liked with studying with her was that she didn't talk. She was quiet and he liked to watch her sometimes when she didn't notice. She always looked so peaceful and for some wicked reason, it made him peaceful as well. That was the reason that he'd asked her if he could join her at her table when the others were occupied. He had thought that she would decline but she had surprised him and said that he may join her.

When he was going to take a little break, he looked up and saw her stare at him, and he couldn't resist asking if she liked what she saw. She had started to blush and he could feel the smirk on his lips. Then she'd been very rude to him, and much to his own surprise he had not argued against her. A couple of minutes later he was just about to start speaking to her again, when the Weasley girl came up to them. "Hey 'Mione, can I si… "She abruptly stopped mid-sentence. "Malfoy what are you doing here?

"Well, I am studying, what does it look like Weaslette?

"Err, but why do you sit with Hermione?"

"Because it was either Granger or Zakarias Smith, and I rather sit with someone intelligent" He looked at Granger, and when he saw her surprised look, he realized he'd just given her a compliment. Fuck. He knew that she was smart and pretty, but it was never something he would admit. Wait, did he just think that she was pretty? Oh Merlin, he forced himself not to blush. "As much as I would love your company Weasley" he said in a sarcastic voice "I got to go and prepare myself for the exchange program meeting" he excused himself. Mother had, after all, raised him to be a gentleman. So he picked up his belongings and quickly left the library before he would give compliments to anyone else. Compliments were, after all, not something Malfoys' did.

An hour later, Hermione and 19 other students from all the four houses sat in a classroom where an awkward silence reigned. The meeting was just about to start, they only waited for Dumbledore. After another three more awkward minutes, the doors opened and their Head Master joined them. "Shall we begin?" he asked professor McGonagall.

"I think we should" She said with her strict voice. "The crowd is yours Albus" she said. "Thank you Minerva. There were many that were interested in this program and you are the 20 lucky students that will get the opportunity to go to Sweden. There are, of course some things we need to talk about" Dumbledore continued. "Firstly, what you need to bring is your schoolbooks, and some clothes. While you are there, you will dress in their school uniform and not your Hogwarts uniforms. You should bring your books since they have the same books" Yes, Mr Smith, Dumledore said when Zakarias Smith raised his hand.

"Professor, why do they have the same books as us, they speak Swedish and how exactly can we join the Aradia students to class when they speak Swedish in class?" Smith asked. She silently agreed on his question and listened carefully to old wizards answer.

"If you had been listening carefully Mr Smith, you'd know that it's not only Swedish students at the school. There are also students from Norway, Denmark and Iceland. Since they all speak different languages, they speak English so that everyone will understand properly. While you are there…" Dumbledore continued to speak like Zakarias Smith hadn't interrupted him… "You will behave suitably and study hard. You will obey the Heads from both schools. And while you are there, try to make some new friends, that is after all, what this exchange is all about. Lastly, another important thing, when you arrive, a mentor has been picked for you. This mentor is going to give you a tour around the castle and is the person you will ask your questions too. There are 3 houses in Aradia. You will be temporarily sorted into the same house as your mentor. That was all the information you needed. Now off to bed!"

When she walked quietly with Blaise towards their accommodations, she couldn't help thinking that this exchange thing certainly sounded better and better.