Disclaimer: I in no way own the Harry Potter characters.

Author's Note: Thank you so much for your continued support! I seriously love it every time I get notified that someone has favorited or followed this story. I have some news! I just launched a blog, here is the link, where I post info about my fics. Go check it out! Also, be proud at how fast I was with updating this time! The next chapter might be a little late (I am behind on editing and didn't realize I won't be home on the day it is supposed to go up.) Thanks and enjoy!

His Sixth, His First

Chapter Five: Forgotten Essay

It had been over two weeks and Malfoy was still not talking to Teddy and Blaise. He thought he would go insane if he couldn't find someone to talk to. It was potions class again, and Malfoy and Hermione were working in silence. Hmm, I wonder if Hermione would talk to me. She may be a mudblood, but she is someone I could have an intelligent conversation with. Malfoy groaned; he was getting so lonely he was talking to himself about talking to someone. "Err, Granger, what did you think of the quidditch game on Saturday?" Malfoy asked.

Hermione looked up in shock. What the hell is he doing? Did he have some sort of stroke? Is he making small talk? What the hell? Malfoy winced. She looked him up and down before bewilderedly answered, "Uh, I am not really a quidditch fan, but I thought Harry was fantastic." She watched Draco scowl at her best friend's name.
"Fine, what would you like to talk about?" Malfoy resigned.
"W-what?" Hermione stammered.
"You heard me. I am bloody bored. Just talk dammit!" exclaimed Malfoy.
"Um, well, okay, I feel the teachers have been running us ragged before break starts. I know it is still a ways away, but they have been really pushing the homework, or maybe it is just sixth year, or maybe it is just me. I don't really know," Hermione rambled. She was still confused as to why Malfoy was attempting to have a civil conversation with her. Maybe it wasn't a bad thing; after all, he could be knocking down prejudices.
"I've noticed too. McGonagall just gave us that two-foot essay, and it is already due tomorrow," said Malfoy. Hermione's eyes widened.

"Shit," she breathed. Malfoy started to laugh at her. Did Hermione Granger just cuss?
"Fucking shit," she muttered. Oh my gosh, yes she did. Oh, this is too good to be true. Malfoy was laughing hard. "I forgot about the essay," she said astonished. Malfoy laughed harder.
"You, Hermione Granger, forgot an essay? And cussed?" he managed to say between snorts. Hermione scowled.
"I know it is uncharacteristic of-" Hermione began.
"It is unheard of more like!" he howled. Snape turned in their direction.
"Might I ask what is going on over here," Snape implored. Malfoy stopped laughing, and Hermione turned to glare at Malfoy.
"Nothing at all, Professor," Hermione stated. Snape narrowed his eyes and then whirled away to stand over Neville's shoulder. Malfoy continued to snicker much to Hermione's displeasure. For the rest of the class, they kept silent, not including the occasional laugh from Malfoy, until Snape had dismissed them.
Draco was thinking about his conversation with Hermione during potions class. Maybe, just maybe, Granger is okay. Maybe, I can look past her blood. No, that is impossible. She is beneath me. That doesn't mean I don't care for her. I simply can't control it. As long as I don't act on it. He was at an impasse. He loved her but knew he couldn't. It was difficult. Every day he tried to hate her, but his heart wouldn't let him.
He made his way to the Room of Requirement to work on the vanishing cabinet. He had begun to spend almost all of his time there. He hardly ate or slept, and he was losing his mind. Sleeping there was better than having to go back to his dormitory with Teddy and Blaise. Malfoy had just read an interesting book and thought it had something to help with the cabinet.

Hermione Granger was currently sprinting down the corridors. How could I have possibly forgotten McGonagall's essay? She ran into a group of third years and stopped to apologize and pick up their stuff. "Oh...my...goodness, I am… so sorry," she panted. As soon as they were on their way, Hermione continued running toward the library. She bolted up a flight of steps, hopping a trick stair with ease. She was practically flying to the library. That is until she flew into a certain Prince of Slytherin.
"Shitting Salazar!" he blurted as their head collided. They both fell to the ground clutching their throbbing skulls. Hermione groaned in pain. Of all the people I could have run into, she thought. She peeled her hands from her head to see if it was bleeding; it was. She crawled over to Malfoy and squinted down to inspect him. He was hunched over and blood was bleeding profusely from his forehead. He looked up at her, and his eyes widened in fear.
"Get away you filthy mudblood!" he shrieked, "Your blood it is, I mean it's…"
"Just like yours, shocked?" she chuckled bitterly. Malfoy's eyes widened. He didn't know what he was expecting. He knew she wouldn't have actual mud, but he thought it would be noticeable. Hermione muttered an easy healing spell and cleaned up her head. She rummaged in her bag and found a clean cloth to wipe the blood off. Then she bent forward and attempted to examine Malfoy's injury further. He scooted back until he was against the wall.
"Is that really necessary?" she asked.
"I will just go visit the hospital wing," Draco stated.
"I can fix it right now though, really. Just move your hands," she instructed. Draco thought about it for a long while. If he went to see Madame Pomfrey, she would certainly question his current state. Begrudgingly he slowly lowered his hands. Hermione leaned in and Malfoy could see leftover specks of blood like freckles dotting her cheeks. He took a breath and accidentally inhaled some of her toxic scent. She smelled like toothpaste and books. His features began to relax as she worked her magic.
Soon, he was all fixed and cleaned up. He pushed her off and got up to his feet. He stumbled but quickly regained his balance. She stood as well frowning at his sudden movements. "Move out of my way, mudblood, and don't ever touch me again or you will rue the day you were born!" he proclaimed menacingly.
Hermione scowled and quickly replied, "At least my father is proud of me. Yours has to live with the disappointment of your constant failure to a mudblood." Malfoy came close, his eyes flashing dangerously.
"Don't talk about my father," he said.
"I will talk about him if I bloody well please."
Malfoy growled and stomped away. So much for being polite earlier, she thought. She gathered her stuff and silently walked into the library to work on her essay for McGonagall.

It was two o'clock in the morning and Hermione woke with a start in a hidden corner in the library. Madam Pince must not have noticed her here. She looked around and realized that she had fallen asleep, working on her essay. She hurriedly packed up her things and snuck out; if she stayed any later to finish, she would probably either be caught by Filch or fall asleep again. "Muffliato," she whispered to quiet her steps. Hermione was exhausted and her neck hurt from sleeping in that uncomfortable position.
She reached the portrait hole and muttered, "Baubles." The Fat Lady murmured a little and swung open. Hermione crept inside and stopped to see Harry sitting on the couch by himself. She stopped in her tracks with surprise. "H-Harry, w-what are you doing awake?" she stammered.
"I was waiting for you," Harry had a concerned look on his face, "I was worried. I heard about your fight with Malfoy and wanted to make sure he hadn't hurt you. Ron and I went to the hospital wing, but you weren't there. We asked around, but no one had seen you. Where were you?" Harry came over and embraced her in a hug.
"I was in the library. I forgot McGonagall's essay," she admitted. Harry began to laugh.
"You? You forgot an essay?" he chuckled softly. Hermione began to laugh too. It was a little unheard of. The pair laughed and separated but remained close. "Well, I am going to head up to bed," said Harry.
"Me too."
"Goodnight, 'Mione," Harry called as he went up the stairs to bed. After a minute, Hermione went up to her bed and snuggled down under the covers. She noticed Lavender's bed was empty. Hermione rolled her eyes and made a face. Typical, she must be with Ron. Hermione drifted off to sleep dreaming of finished transfiguration essays.

Draco Malfoy couldn't sleep. This mission was tearing him apart. He slid out of bed and grabbed his cloak and wand. Without a sound, he left the dormitory and common room and ventured out into the halls. As a prefect, there wouldn't be as many repercussions for being out so late, but if Filch caught him, Malfoy could still get a few days of detention. He slinked through the corridors and wandered into the library. He walked up the rows of books, mindlessly inspecting each shelf.
Suddenly, he heard a little noise. He jumped and pointed his wand toward it. He could make out the silhouette of something in a dark corner. He inched forward and heard the sound again. "Lumos," he breathed. His wand cast a ghostly light over the area. Malfoy let out a gasp, it was Hermione Granger. He came right up to the slumbering Gryffindor and realized she was snoring. He began to chuckle softly and saw her unfinished essay lying in front of her. She must have fallen asleep before she had finished it.
He carefully picked up her essay and began to read it. Not surprisingly, it was very good and thorough. He pulled out a chair and sat down across from Hermione. He saw her quill and ink off to the side. He grabbed it and began to write. He finished up her essay. He used a spell to help replicate her handwriting and continued her major themes to the end. Satisfied, he looked down at his work. He looked up and smiled at how blissfully peaceful she looked. She let out and particularly loud snore, and he returned everything to its original location. He silently got up and crept behind a shelf.
"Nox," he whispered, putting out the light. He mumbled a spell to wake her. He saw her jolt awake, and he snuck out before she could catch him. He walked back to bed. His eyes began to droop, and he yawned. He vaguely remembered saying the password and entering his dormitory before he clambered in bed and fell fast asleep.

Author's Note: I hope you enjoyed that! As always, review, follow, and favorite! Thanks!