I love seeing all the views this story has had so far! It's like an all natural happiness maker which makes me just want to write more and more. I am going to try to update on an every other day basis too. That way you can kind of expect the updates. Please remember to comment, review, favorite and follow. I hope you like this next chapter. We get to see how Hermione starts off her year at Hogwarts.

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter

I am so excited!

'Another great year of Hogwarts is ahead of me,' I thought as I bounded down the hall to my first class. Double potions was always a class I dreaded because of Snape and how he would never call on me or let me share my input. But this year, everything would be different. We have a new potions master!

Professor Horace Slughorn.

I am very excited that we don't have that snake as a professor for potions anymore. What a relief. I am interested in seeing how he will fare in Defense Against the Dark Arts though.

I am also hoping to be a part of the Slug Club. Only the students with the best grades and honors get into his inner circle. Being in the club also means that I could go to different social gatherings and dinners where we could talk about academics. That was right up my alley.

I just made myself giddy.

I stepped into the new classroom and was amazed to actually see the sun. I was very early for class but I did not care. I wanted to make sure I had everything prepared. I went to the front of the room and sat down at one of the desks. I made sure to pull out my new potions book and look over what we were going to learn.

I flipped through a few pages, then my mind started wandering. I sat there at the desk thinking of how this year may turn out.

Dumbledore told us about how dark forces are trying to come into Hogwarts. This was the first thought that popped into my mind.

Do I believe it?

Yes.

When have we ever had a quiet year at Hogwarts where nothing has happened?

I know that the wards are strong but who knows if they are strong enough to keep out you-know-who, or even a Death Eater? However, I know that with the headmaster around everyone should be safe. He was the wisest wizard alive. He knew everything. And the best part was, you-know-who was afraid of him.

On to the next thought: What about me and Ron?

That was a good question.

We made some strides over the summer and I thought we would continue to grow closer, but since we have gotten on the train to go back to Hogwarts, he has barely said a word to me. Its all very confusing with him. Oh well, if it was meant to happen it will, but I'm not going to push it on him. He might change his mind if I become one of those crazed girlfriends that hang all over him.

As I was in my thoughts, I heard the door to the classroom creek open. I turned around to watch as Malfoy strolled in. He smiled at me and looked away. He found a seat at a desk in the corner. I watched him put his head in his hands and sigh.

Did he really just smile at me?

Weird.

I was waiting for a mean comment about how it was no surprise that I was early or being a know it all like usual, but none came.

I looked over at him again and saw him breathing deeply. I did not know why I felt the need to comfort him or ask him if he was okay. However, I decided against it because if I tried, I know I would end up getting a snide remark. Or maybe not. Who knows.

A few more students entered the room so I went back to thinking more about the year ahead and before I knew it class had started.

Neville took the seat next to mine. I was surprised he was even in this class. After all the hiccups and explosions he had last year, I can't believe Snape gave him a grade high enough to be in NEWT level potions. No matter though. Good for him.

Slughorn called all of us to the front of the room to show us the potions that he had completed. I stood up last so I could get a closer spot to the potions. As I got to the my spot, I turned to see that Malfoy stood next to me.

Again, weird.

I decided to let it go.

"So, can anyone tell me what these potions are?" Slughorn asked from the side of his desk.

I quickly raised my hand.

"Ah, yes, um…miss?" he was stuttering so I helped him.

"Granger, sir."

When I was just about to start explaining the potions at the front, Harry and Ron busted through the doors. Slughorn quickly turned around and welcomed the boys in.

I gave them a confused glance knowing that they were supposed to have a free period at the moment and told me they were going to hang around in the courtyard. Harry gave me a look back that said we would talk about it later.

Whatever.

Slughorn motioned them over to the cabinet to retrieve some used books then turned back to me so I could explain the potions.

I looked into each cauldron and recognized them by color and smell. I finished explaining and he commended me. I walked back to my place. I heard one of the boys in the room say something about a know it all and I knew it was a comment about me. I held my head down and closed my eyes.

The comments always hurt, horribly.

All I wanted to do was learn and I get put down for it every time. I held my book closer to me as I held in my frustration. I let my thoughts subside quickly, not wanting them to undo me completely.

Harry and Ron then stepped over to the crowd of students at the front and when they did so, Ron ended up stepping onto my toe which caused me to jump.

I didn't realize just how close Malfoy was standing next to me and I ended up running into him, making him stumble backwards. At this, I lost my balance and started falling until I felt a pair of strong arms around me, keeping me steady.

However, I dropped my book.

I looked up into Malfoy's grey eyes and saw a look of concern.

Shocked, I quickly righted myself and glared at Ron. He responded with a shrug of his shoulders and a not so sincerely sounding "Sorry, Mione."

I folded my arms around myself and looked over at Slughorn. Then I felt something poke me in the side.

'Merlin, what now?' I thought to myself. I looked over at Malfoy. He had his hand held out to me with my book. I looked up at him and gave him a small smile to thank him. He handed the book over and at that, we were dismissed to our stations.

Our assignment today was the draught of living death.

This should be easy!

I looked over the instructions multiple times before I starred, so I was fairly confident I could do this.

Wow, was I wrong.

By the end of the lesson I was so disgruntled, disheveled and just plain upset with myself that I did not make my potion correct.

Thank Merlin this is just a trial but my question is, how did Harry end up making it perfectly?

He never was good at potions. He hated the subject. I would grill him later about how he made his potion but for now, I applauded him on a job well done. He was awarded a vial of liquid luck for his efforts and knowing him, he would use it stupidly.

As we're packing up Slughorn stopped us.

"Just to let all of you know, I will be pairing you off into groups of two for our first research project that I will give you the whole semester to finish. I will get more into that tomorrow, though, now off you go."

We all made our way out of the door when he was finished. Malfoy and I were the last ones to exit and at the door he politely waved me ahead of him.

"Thank you," I said quietly so only he could hear, and headed towards the stairs to the tower.

Something's wrong with Draco.

Why was he being so nice to me?

Maybe it was because of the comment that was made in class?

One more time, weird…

I shook my thoughts of him out of my head and followed Harry to the common room.

"So how did you end up making a potion so perfect?" I asked him.

He looked at me and his eyes went wide.

I knew he was hiding something when he said, "I just followed the directions in the book, just like you."

Now I really knew that he was lying through his teeth.

"I followed the directions to a tee and my potion melted my stirring rod."

He smiled at this and I could feel my heart rate increase.

I was getting mad.

"Let me see that book of yours. I want to compare the recipes."

I held up my hand and he took a step back. I looked at him, confused.

" I got to get to quiddich practice. I'll show it to you later, Mione"

I stared at him and disbelief as he walked up the stairs to his room. I looked at Ron who just shrugged it off and followed Harry to get changed for practice.

What is going on with the boys today? Malfoy is being nice, we'll kind of. Harry is being secretive, and Ron still has not talked to me yet, well, once in potions but that doesn't count.

I decided it was pointless to stay here and dwell on the guy's behavior, so instead I grabbed my things and went to the library.

When I got there I collected every book I could on potions and living death that I could find and gathered a multitude of information.

I found many ingredient variations and different strategies to use while doing the potion as well. I ended up putting everything I found together and created a recipe of my own that would make, in my eyes are perfect batch of living death. All I needed now were the ingredients and I knew right where to get them.

"You mind if I sit? Everywhere else is taken."

I looked up to see Malfoy standing at my side.

"Yea, no problem," I responded.

He sat down across from me and opened up his potions book. I stayed quiet for a moment to see if he would try to strike up a conversation and he did.

"Was your potion as bad as everyone else's today?"

I looked up and met his eyes. They were soft, full of wonder, and why the hell am I thinking about Malfoy this way?

Snap out of it Hermione!

"Yes, actually. Mine was awful. However I looked up some information on it and devised a recipe of my own to try."

I handed him my notes and he took them. I could tell he was reading them over carefully.

"How did you come up with this?" he asked.

I then explained how I looked up variations and theories on the potion and devised the recipe off of that.

He seemed to be impressed.

I was surprised though. After all these years, who knew it was so easy to talk to Malfoy? I could actually carry on an intelligent conversation with him without having to explain everything.

"I'm surprised. Hopefully we will be paired together for that project that the Slug will give us tomorrow. We could make a great team."

I think my brain just melted.

WHAT?

I can feel it leaking out of my ears.

THE…

It's running down my neck.

FUCK!

Shit. Say something, he's looking at you like your brain really is leaking out of your ears.

"Um…yea. That would be…nice." I sound like an idiot. What am I saying? Just smile and try not to be awkward.

"Cool, well I'm going to dinner. Can I walk you to the hall?" he asked politely.

I'm dead.

I died and I'm in some weird fantasy world I swear.

What do I say?

What do I think?

I'm so dumbfounded.

"Thank you, I would appreciate that."

STUPID! STUPID! STUPID! What are you doing? This is the person you are supposed to hate! The boys would murder you if they found out you talked to him let alone have him walk you to dinner.

I gathered up my stuff as Malfoy waited patiently. I put everything in my bag and threw it over my shoulder. I gave him a nod and he escorted me out of the library.

We were silent as we made our way down the stairs and through the corridors to the Great Hall. It was not weird though, not awkward, just different. Almost nice in a strange sort of way.

At the entry way, we parted ways and went to enjoy our meals at opposite ends of the room. This is one thing I am definitely not going to tell Ginny about.

After dinner, I waited until nightfall came around until I left the common room. I stepped out of the portrait hole and quietly made my way to Snape's not so secret storeroom.

As I turned down the final hallway I heard voices. I quickly slipped into an alcove near a suit of armor and placed a concealment charm on myself.

The voices continued to get closer and I could hear they were both male.

"Just stay away from me I need to do this by myself."

Just by listening to the first voice, I knew that the person was in a lot of distress and had been crying.

"You are going to fail if you don't let me help you."

"I don't want your help. I don't need your help. I just need to be alone."

Finally I realized that it was Snape talking but I could not depict the other voice. I continued to stay in my spot as I heard the dragon hide boots click down the hall.

When there was silence, again I got up and made my way to the supply closet. A quick Alohomora opened the lock and I entered. After grabbing what I needed for the drought of living death, I left and made my way back to the Gryffindor tower. Around one of the corners I heard a whimper.

I looked around.

No one was there.

I ended up following the sound to one of the boys lavatories. I stopped outside the door. Listening in, I heard water running then it stopped. After a moment I heard banging on the door like someone had punched it open and it slammed shut. I did not hear crying after that but I heard footsteps.

When I realized they were coming closer I decided to hide. I crouched behind the closest pillar and I saw Malfoy come out of the bathroom completely disheveled with blood on his knuckles.

Thanks again for reading. See you soon!