New Acquaintances

Chapter Two

The next morning, Draco awoke to a searing headache. He got up, rubbing his temples, and walked groggily out to the Common Room, where he found Hermione. She was sprawled out on the couch with her head in a book.

"Hi, Hermione," he yawned.

She looked up wide-eyed, "Oh, it's just you. Don't DO that to me! I hate--Wait a minute. You didn't just call me Hermione, did you?" He opened his mouth to tell her that he had, but she went on, "No, no, no. Of course you didn't. I'm just tired is all. Sorry, I'm really not--"

He cleared his throat and she shut her mouth. He nodded, "Yes, I did call you Hermione. Sorry, slip of the tongue, really." He smiled half-heartedly at her, turned on his heel, and strode back into his room.

Hermione gaped at his retreating back until his door shut behind him. She took a deep breath and cleared her head, looking up at the clock. It read 8:30. "Oh, Merlin!" she exclaimed as she jumped up and bounded into her room, about to be late to her first class.

Draco sauntered out, looking gorgeous, just when Hermione exited her own room. "What's the rush?" he asked. She blushed slightly and shrugged before rushing out the tapestry.

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In History of Magic, Harry and Ron were struggling to keep their eyes open. Hermione looked questioningly at them. Ron took out a scrap of parchment and wrote a short note. He passed it to her and then dropped his head on the desk.

Bad night. I'm rooming with GOYLE, of all people, and Harry's got Crabbe. They snore like those Muggle machines that cut grass! Must sleep now...

Hermione winced and shook her head in his direction before going back to taking notes on what Professor Binns was talking about in monotone. Harry and Ron were snoring lightly on their desk, but Binns was oblivious. Hermione bit her lip and did something she had never done in any class. She wrote a note to Harry.

Harry, you're rooming with Crabbe? Is there anyone else in your room? You know, you and Ron are always welcome in the Head Boy's and Girl's Common Room. I hope things get better!

She glanced at the Professor and quickly threw it at Harry's head. He sat up with a start and unfolded the note. He shrugged and dropped back onto his desk. Finally, the class was dismissed. Hermione joined Harry and Ron on the way to the Great Hall for lunch. When they reached the doors, there was a large group just standing there. The trio pushed their way through and gasped. There were now eight tables in the Hall. They each had large, glittering words above them. Hermione looked around quickly, assessing the situation.

She hurriedly directed Harry and Ron over to a table labeled Year Seven before walking slowly over to the table with Prefects, Head Boy, and Head Girl floating above it. She sat in the throne-like chair labeled Head Girl while staring sadly over at Harry and Ron. Slowly, the Hall quieted down as students figured out their tables and sat down. Malfoy ambled over just before Dumbledore stood up, signifying that all should be quiet.

"Students! As you have undoubtedly noticed, the House tables have been replaced." Crabbe and Goyle looked around stupidly and gasped loudly as Dumbledore went on, "You will now sit with your Year-mates. Don't distress, it is for the better. Enjoy your lunch."

The Hall was silent throughout the meal as the students absorbed the finality of what Dumbledore had said. When she was finished, she got up to leave. Draco jumped up, as well, and followed her out. They walked to the Common Room without talking. When Hermione had picked up her Afternoon books and was just leaving the common Room, Draco yelled out, "Goodbye, Hermione!" She hid her mortified expression and waved over her shoulder as she rushed out the portrait hole.

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After a week of tension between Draco and Hermione, it was finally the weekend. Hermione, Harry, and Ron left breakfast happily, looking forward to a day spent at the lake with some of their fellow House-mates.

"I'll see you guys by the Lake in an hour! I have to have a shower!" Hermione said after breakfast at their separate tables.

"OK, 'Mione, but make sure you hurry!"

She smiled and left the Hall on the way to her Common Room. She went through the portrait hole and burst into her and Draco's private bathroom. She stopped abruptly before turning and running out as quickly as she could because Draco was sprawled out in the tub with cucumbers over his eyes. She felt a deep crimson blush start up her neck and when he exited the bathroom a few minutes later, she couldn't look at him.

"I-I'm sorry..." she said timidly, "I- uh..."

"Don't worry about it!" he replied with a warm smile, "Hermione, I don't care. I'm over it and it's been less than five minutes." He chuckled to himself as he strolled into his room and shut the door, leaving Hermione with her mouth hanging open.

When Draco came back out ten minutes later, Hermione was still sitting there with her mouth wide open. He shook his head and walked over to where she was seated. He reached out and tenderly shut her mouth for her. She looked up into his face with a half-smile on her lips.

"Draco, now that I've seen you naked and all, how about we hang out later on. I have a feeling it would make both of us feel a bit more comfortable with the situation at hand." She winked and said, "See you at lunch!" before getting up and going into the bathroom to shower.

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"'An hour', huh? 'Mione, that was more like two hours!"

"Sorry, Ron. Draco and I had a bit of conversation. This is going to sound really weird, but I think he's getting to be nicer! Either that or he's been nice and we just haven't paid any attention..." She plopped down between Lavender and Harry and smiled mischievously, "Anyway, I'm sure none of you missed me all that much! I have eyes, and I can see that you and Harry have lipstick all over your faces and that Lavender and Parvati have contented looks all over theirs. I'm not stupid! You guys were snogging yourselves senseless! I'm surprised you even noticed it had been two hours."

"Whatever you say, 'Mione," the lovebirds chortled in unison. They spent the rest of the morning talking, laughing, and playing childish Muggle games like tag. At 12:15, they made their way to the Great Hall and parted to eat lunch. Draco and Hermione picked up an awkward, polite conversation, but by the end of lunch they had found things in common and were sharing funny stories of their times at Hogwarts.

When they finally looked away from each other, they saw that the Hall was mostly empty. They got up and walked over to the Seventh Year table, where Ron and Harry and some Slytherins were still talking.

"Hi guys! Want to come to the library with us? We're going to work on our Transfiguration essay together!"

Harry and Ron looked stunned and Harry stuttered out, "Ummm....uh......no thanks, 'Mione...We're hanging out with Lav' and 'Vati...See you later....I guess...."

Draco and Hermione walked out , talking merrily, oblivious to the evil stares they were getting from Slytherins and Gryffindors alike.

I wonder why he's being so nice? Hermione thought as they talked, I mean, it's wonderful and all, but...I've never thought of him as the kind of person who would just be nice to me like this!!! I guess I'm wrong...

Meanwhile, Draco was thinking about something much more serious, Merlin I can NOT be falling for a Mudblood! It will disgrace the Malfoy name! Father will most surely beat me. No, I'm not falling in love. She's just being friendly to me. No one's ever done that for me before. That MUST be it...

Once they reached the Library, they studied for about an hour before Draco got bored and coaxed Hermione to go out to the Lake with him.

"It'll be fun, Hermione! I promise we'll work on this later."

She agreed to go after a few minutes and they very nearly skipped outside to the Lake. As the pair walked down the path, Ron and Harry gave them seething looks. Hermione waved to her friends but walked right past them to a bench a few meters away from where they were sitting. She and Draco sat down close together and continued the discussion they had been having a few moments before.

A minute or two later, Ron walked towards them, glowering with his fury. He stopped a bit away and composed himself, putting a sweet look on his face. He tapped Hermione on the shoulder and said, "Uh, 'Mione? Could you come over here for a second? Harry and I need your help with some-er-History of Magic homework."

Hermione looked up, dazed, and replied' "Um....uh, sure!" She turned back to Draco, "Sorry. I'll be right back." She stood up and followed Ron to where Harry, Parvati, and Lavender were sitting.

Harry looked up at Hermione and patted the ground next to him. She looked back at Draco and got down on her knees.

"'Mione, we're worried about you. We think you've gone mental!" exclaimed Ron.

"What? Why?" she replied, confused.

"WHY?! 'Mione, you've been hanging out with DRACO MALFOY all afternoon! You COULD have been with us, but you chose HIM! WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM?!"

"Ron, if I knew any better, I'd say you were jealous. Get over it."

"FINE! Go hang out with that-that FERRET for all I care!"

"FINE! MAYBE I WILL!"

Hermione stalked off in disgust. She smiled sweetly at draco, looked back at Ron, then leaned down and whispered in his ear. He smiled then nodded enthusiastically.

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As Hermione walked away from Ron, she formulated a plan in her head. She reached Draco and whispered it to him. His eyes lit up as she said, "So I'm doing this to make Ron and Harry mad. It's what they deserve and it could very well keep them off my back for a while!"

He nodded and said, "Well, of course I'll help you get Weasel and his friend Pothead! What are friends for?"

He stood up and they walked off towards the castle, intent on their Common Room. As they passed Harry and Ron, Hermione said, quite loudly, "The password this week is Animagus, right?" She smiled smugly and hugged Draco's arm. Meanwhile, the boys were gaping openly and green jealousy was creeping into their minds as red rage crept onto their faces.

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Once they reached the Common Room, Hermione turned to Draco and said, "You're truly comfortable with this, right?"

"Of course, 'Mione. May I call you that?"

"Yes. Now come on let's hurry. They should be along at any moment!"

"OK, 'Mione...If you really want to piss them off..." He stepped a bit closer.