Chapter 3
The weeks passed quickly and Hermione slowly melted back into her old self. It always took her awhile to get comfortable in her own skin again at Hogwarts.
She arrived at potions and sat next to Harry and Ron by the front of the classroom. Snape began, "We'll be beginning a project that'll last several weeks and you'll complete with a partner. You may choose your partner, but choose wisely. It'll be your own grade that'll suffer if your partner doesn't complete their work."
Hermione turned to ask Harry or Ron to be her partner only to find that they had seemed to partner up with each other already. She sighed. She wasn't very good friends with anyone else in her class. She looked around for someone who didn't have a partner yet but everyone seemed to be paired off already. She guessed she'd be working by herself, which she didn't entirely mind.
But then her eyes caught Malfoy's and she groaned, realizing he didn't seem to have a partner. He seemed to come to the same conclusion because he rolled his eyes. She grabbed her books and made her way to the back of the classroom where Malfoy sat at a desk alone.
She hovered over him for a moment, waiting for him to acknowledge her. He sighed, "Well sit down Granger. We don't have all day."
She placed her books down and pulled out the textbook and paper and began outlining their work. As they began to collected information, Hermione spoke up, "Aren't you Mister Popular? Why didn't you have a partner?"
Malfoy scoffed, "Crabbe and Goyle are complete idiots. They'll tank my grade and I'll end up doing all the work. Same goes for Blaise. He's not quite as stupid, but he messes around and doesn't focus on his work. Pansy would just be hanging on me the entire time. So there's not really anyone I wanted to work with."
Hermione didn't expect him to be so focused on school work. She guessed it made sense though, he was head boy after all. She raised an eyebrow, "But you'll work with me?"
"Don't let it get to your head Granger. It's no secret you're intelligent. You're head girl, at least I know you'll do your part."
She huffs, "Yeah. Well let's just get this over with."
Being the perfectionists they were, they didn't make a ton of progress with their project. She figured they'd work on it later to get it done.
She joined Harry and Ron for a walk outside after class and before dinner.
"I can't believe you have to work with that git," Ron exclaimed.
Hermione shrugged, "Well it's not like either of you wanted to work with me."
"Sorry Mione, it was a habit. We always work together," Harry apologized.
She smiled, "It's okay, really. I'm not upset or anything. It won't be that bad, at least Malfoy gets his work done."
When she returned to the dormitory that night, Blaise and Malfoy were sitting in the common room playing a card game.
"Hey Hermione. Want to join?" Blaise asked.
She hesitated, looking to Malfoy.
Before Malfoy could object, Blaise rolled his eyes, "Come on you two. Sit down Hermione."
Draco sputtered, "She'll ruin all the fun Blaise."
"It's really okay Blaise. I'm just gonna go to sleep." She interrupted.
She turned away but Blaise stopped her, "Hermione. Sit. Play."
She sighed and plopped into a chair. He explained the game to her and offered her a glass of the fire whisky they were drinking.
She glared at Draco, "Isn't that a bit unruly for the head boy to be drinking?"
"Don't be such a goody goody Granger." He snapped.
She shook her head and Blaise shrugged, downing the glass himself.
She wouldn't let herself be intoxicated in the presence of Draco Malfoy of all people. Especially with that stunt he had pulled the first week of school.
After the awkward first rounds of them being in the same room, they both started to loosen up. Malfoy because he was intoxicated and Hermione because the boys were very funny tipsy.
She found herself genuinely laughing for hours with the boys and rather enjoyed playing games with them.
When they called it a night she returned to her room and crawled into her bed. So tired from staying up late, she fell asleep forgetting to turn on her night lights.
