AN: I've decided that Tuesdays will be update days! YAY! Also, I plan to get really far ahead of myself next month so that way when school gets crazy in the fall, I'll still be able to update for you. READ and REVIEW! Love you!

This chapter is dedicated to my newborn godson Aries. He was born today and I am geeked!

"Hey, der firs' years! This way! Hey, der Mione! Harry! Ron!" Hagrid's voice carried over the wind. It was starting to rain. Big, fat drops of rain were slowly making everyone soaked. Everyone was scrambling off the train to get to the carriages.

"Hey Hagrid!" we called back to our half-giant friend. I guided the first years in his direction. You could almost smell the fear coming off of the first years at the sight of the groundskeeper. "It's okay," I said soothingly to one little girl. I could see Malfoy helping a little boy with his cloak. I turned to do the same. "Everyone pull your hoods up. You are getting on the boats and it's going to get a little wet. We don't want all of you to end up in the hospital wing on your first night in the castle." I helped a little girl with hair as thick as mine get all of it into a ponytail so she could get her hood on. "Let's go. It'll be alright. The view of the castle this way is worth it. Trust me."

After a few minutes, all the first years were on the row boats prepared to arrive at the castle by the lake. Second years and up rode in carriages. After making a quick sweep of the train, I saw that Malfoy had most of the students squared away and on the carriages. "Granger, are you ready to go?" He asked, standing by our carriage. Nodding, I walked towards him. He stood to the side to let me climb in first and then climbed in his self. "I didn't see Ivory at all."

"Looking for her, were you?" I laughed. "Malfoy, do you have a crush?" I laughed a little harder. "Never knew you were the one to chase."

"Oh, just shut up, Granger!" He sat back and folded his arms.

"Surely, you're not pouting Malfoy. Isn't there some kind of Malfoy bylaw that prohibits that?"

"Granger, just shut up."

"Aww, I might as well just leave you alone because you're starting to sound like a broken record." I quickly started laughing at the look of confusion that sat across his pale features at the Muggle phrase.

The rest of the ride was in silence. When we arrived at the steps to the entrance of the castle, he got out first and then helped me from the carriage. I watched him quickly scan the crowd in front of us for Ivory. Frowning to himself he left to go help the professors usher the students into the Great Hall for the Welcome Back feast. Smiling, I followed suit. Soon, all the students were inside, and Draco and I took our respective seats at the heads of our house's tables. During Dumbledore's speech, I saw him scan the room for Ivory again. I watched him intently. Seeing him turn his gaze on me, I gave him a smirk.

"Yo, Mione!"

I quickly turned to face Ron. "Yes, Ron?"

"What the bloody hell are you staring at him for? He wants Ivory, not you remember?" he said, beginning to fill his plate with the food that had just appeared in front of us.

"Ron!" Ginny and Harry gasped in unison.

I felt myself turn bright red. It was as if I was blushing from my shoulders all the way to my hairline, my entire face was hot. Just because I don't want to date him doesn't mean he has to be an ass! I stood up rocking my chair backwards in the process. Tears threatening to start at any moment now due to my embarrassment, I began to shake with rage. "Ronald, you're an arrogant prat and an insufferable brat! And I'll show you!" With that I ran from the hall.

"Damn it, Ron!" I heard Harry say as I rushed by.

I'll show him, I thought to myself as I ran into the bathroom to do my transformation. Winking at myself as Ivory, I walked back to the entrance of the Great Hall. Shyly, I walked in. Pulling on my uniform skirt and brushing my hair out of my eyes I walked briskly to the Gryffindor table and sat down next to Harry. Aware of the grey eyes that were watching my every move, I began to put food on my plate. "Sorry I'm late you guys."

Ginny giggled. "Girl, you are something else. Truly."

Ron leaned over and whispered. "Look, I'm sorry okay."

"No. I'll prove to you. He wants me. I've just got to test his waters. Make him see things he's overlooked."

"I think you've already started to." Ginny said. "Look at him"

"I don't have to. I already know he's looking at me." I blushed and took a bite of some mashed potatoes. "He told me… No, never mind. I'll just tell you later Ginny. Wouldn't want a certain someone to listen and stuff his foot in his mouth." I glared at Ron. "Again. Meanwhile… Eat." I laughed softly to myself. "I wish we'd made my hair a little longer. I wanted to pull a Lavender and flip my hair and flash him a smile." Ron turned the color of his hair. "I feel so un-Hermione-like. This is kind of fun." I giggled again. Ron looked up at me with round eyes. "Let's run a little test." I looked up at Malfoy slowly only to find him still staring at me. Blushing slightly, I let a small smile play across my face. He looked a little flushed like he wanted to blush but couldn't allow himself to because he was a Malfoy. I laughed.

Dinner ended and I stood up promptly and exited the Great Hall before any of the other students. As I walked past the Slytherin table I made sure to brush up against Malfoy's arm. Without a backwards glance, I walked through the doors. "Ivory! Wait up!" I continued to walk as if I hadn't heard him. "Ivory!" He caught up with me and grabbed my arm.

"Yes, Mal- Draco?" I said as I let him turn me around to face him.

"I didn't see you when we were getting off the train and onto the carriages."

"Oh-" I looked down. Damn! Why didn't I think about this earlier? I should have known he'd ask where I was. Maybe I should just- I grabbed him by his tie and pulled him closer. "So, you were looking for me?"

"Uhh... I mean I…"

"Aww…Malfoy, are you stuttering? Isn't that against some sacred Malfoy bylaw? Isn't it like rule two hundred sixty-eight?"

He looked up at me sharply and a look crossed his face. "You sounded just like Granger when you said that."

Shit. Did I give myself away? "Uhh…"

"You two must be really close…" he said holding me there with his penetrating gaze.

"I've got to go." I started to walk away.

"Ivory!" He caught a hold of my arm and pulled me back to him and pressed me up against the wall. He brushed my bangs out of my face. "Why are you always running?" His touch burned my skin. I shivered. "Baby, are you cold?" He stepped closer to me to where our legs were intertwined.

"Malfoy, I- I can't… I"

"Why are you calling me by my surname?" He lifted my face up by my chin. "Look at me." I hesitated. "Please." I looked up into his eyes and froze. Never had I been this close to Malfoy before. I wonder if anyone has ever been this close to him before. I wonder if anyone has really looked at him, past his arrogance, past his money, his name. His eyes were so intense I felt a part of me fall apart. I wanted to cry and scream all at once. I wonder if anyone has ever been this close to me before. I felt my eyes fill with tears. "What's wrong?" He quickly wrapped his arms around me. I pillowed my head on his chest. "Don't cry." He pulled back and caught my lips with his. He tasted like peppermint and salt from my tears. I felt like a bucket of ice cold water had been poured over my head and a fire lit at my feet.

"Drakie! What are you doing?! Who is she?!" came a shriek from down the hallway.

"Pansy," Draco said only pulling from my lips a fraction. "I hope you can see that I'm kind of in the middle of something so if you wouldn't mind moving the bloody fuck around?"

"B-b-b-but Drakie?" She started again.

I put my face into his chest. I do not want to be here for this. I do not want to be in the middle of whatever this is. Oh, Merlin was he still dating her? What is happening? I can see Pansy trying to look around Draco to get a good look at me.

She gasped. "You're that Mudblood bitch. What did you do Granger? Get a makeover? Cut your hair and use some Muggle shit to change the color?"

I froze. How? But how? Oh, of all people…

In the midst of my confusion about Parkinson figuring out my disguise, I completely missed Malfoy moving toward her, wand raised at lightning speed. "Never talk to her like that again! I mean it Pansy or you and I will have a problem and I don't think you will like it. You hear me?"

I slowly backed away and into the crowd that had gathered. Shit! When I got by Harry and Ron, I ducked behind them.

"What's going on?" Harry asked.

"Don't move!" I quickly changed back into myself. I pulled my robe out of my bag and slipped it back on. "Hold this." I handed my bag to Harry. I came from behind them and pushed my way back through the crowd. "MALFOY!" I said. He whipped around and looked at me a look of confusion on my face. "What do you think you're doing?" I walked up to him and slowly reached out and pushed his wand arm down. "Leave her alone. If she wants to make a spectacle of herself then let her do it. Don't fall into it with her." He nodded and stepped back. "As for you, Pansy, you've lost thirty points for Slytherin and you will serve a week of detention. I will be talking to your Head of House about what your detentions will consist of." I smirked at her. "Next time, think before you react." I stepped back and bumped into Malfoy. He was looking around and then when he couldn't find who he was looking for, he turned and looked at me. I shrugged and slipped off into the crowd once again. Reaching my friends again, I grabbed both boys by their arms and headed towards the tower. "Let's go." I dragged them all the way to the Common Room.

"Hermione!" Harry exclaimed. "What the hell happened back there?"

I quickly re-capped the story. "And then Parkinson busted me out and asked if I had cut and dyed my hair." I put my hair in my hands. "How did she know?"

The boys didn't say anything. Ginny came through the portrait hole at that moment. "Hermione! Damn! I cannot believe what happened out there! You've got to be more careful! You almost got your disguise busted in front of half the school on the first day!"

An owl came to the window. I got up and let him in. He dropped a letter in my hand with the Hogwarts seal on it. I petted the bird on his beak and set him off through the window. I opened the letter.

Miss Granger,

I believe you and I have some things to discuss. How about you stop by my office tomorrow after breakfast? See you then.

Albus Dumbledore

P.S. I love this candy that Muggles have called twizzlers.

"It's from Dumbledore." I said quietly. "I bet he knows about Ivory." Another owl came through the window and dropped a letter in my hand.

Ivory,

Why did you leave so quickly? I didn't even get to say all that I needed to say to you. My deepest apologies for Parkinson's behavior, she's just a nuisance. Please meet tonight at eleven outside the library as I do my patrol rounds. I need to talk to you.

Draco

"That one was from Malfoy." I looked up at the boys. "Do you think he believes Pansy? Is my cover already blown?"