All Dressed up to Play

    Draco sat in the dungeon classroom waiting for the class to start. Students were slowly filing into the room, most of which were either averting their gaze from or grinning at the newly made Head Boy, depending upon whether they were wearing red or green, of course. He smirked in response to all of them, finding it all mildly amusing. He glanced briefly at his watch to see how much longer he had to wait when three flushed Gryffindors burst into the classroom. Looking around the room quickly, he noted that he was the only person without a partner and the only other empty table was the one next to him. Lovely. He wasn't in the least bit surprised when the one that sat next to him didn't have black or red hair. He was stuck working with the filthy Mudblood. Well, atleast she had half a brain, unlike the two nitwits she spent all of her time with.

    A sudden swishing brought Professor Snape into the classroom and an end to Draco's train of thought. He snapped quick instructions at the class before waving his hand, allowing the potion ingredients to appear on the board, next to precise directions and sat down behind his desk sorting through the summer assignment that the class had stacked there. Draco was quickly chopping the ginger root they'd need when Hermione's soft voice interrupted him.

"You're doing that too roughly, you'll mutilate the roots."

    Her voice was barely audible and she hadn't even looked up from the measuring she was doing to say it. Draco quickly adjusted the roughness he was using on the roots and showed no other signs of even hearing her. The two worked together in silence, each doing everything from that point on perfectly and, for the first time since he'd discovered she was Head Girl, felt that maybe she did deserve it. Just as the two were finishing up the potion, well ahead of the rest of the class, a sharp knock on the door caused their heads, as well as everyone else's to snap up. Snape rose slowly from his seat and glided to the door looking positively murderous. When he opened it, he shared a few words with the person on the other side before looking over at Draco and Hermione.

"Mr. Malfoy, Miss Granger, the Headmaster wishes to speak with you. I presume you have finished the assignment?"

    The Potions Master's voice was silky and his eyes flashed dangerously as the two of them nodded and prepared a small vial for him. Draco took it up to Snape's desk before he turned and followed Hermione out of the classroom, following the retreating back of Professor McGonagall. As they walked, he eyed Hermione for a few brief moments, uncomfortably aware of all the same changes that Harry had noticed earlier. He quickly masked the strange thoughts that began to blossom in his mind by simply scowling at her when she turned to glare at him. He quickly vowed that that would be the last time he stared at the Mudblood. Or atleast the last time she caught him.

* * *

    Hermione found only disappointment upon entering the potions classroom. While the three available seats were all next to eachother, the third seat was next to Draco Malfoy. Knowing that neither Ron nor Harry would sit next to him, Hermione dutifully took the offending seat and glanced at her friends. Harry was sitting next to her at the other table with Ron staring out into space on his left. He smiled at her and she returned it half-heartedly praying that Snape in the desire to make Harry's class as unpleasant as possible and to split up Harry and Ron would make her switch seats with him. She wasn't so lucky though when the Professor barely even glanced at the class after entering the room. The scowls that he normally reserved for the Gryffindors were directed at everyone and he seemed as though he had every intention of ignoring the class as much as possible.

    After stealing a quick glance at Ron, Hermione went about starting the potion. as she sorted through the steps in her mind, she noticed Draco practically attacking the ginger root. If he wasn't careful, it would be useless and completely ruin their potion. Deciding that she'd rather deal with his attitude than a failure, she corrrected him without even looking up.

"You're doing that too roughly, you'll mutilate the roots."

    He showed no signs of even noticing she'd spoken, but he did however start to repair the damage he had been doing. She continued in silence, with an equally talkative Draco and began to slowly stir the simmering potion. Deciding that stirring didn't require her full attention, Hermione started watching her friends. Harry was doing everything correctly, for the most part, and Ron was fumbling a bit, but they seemed to have it under control. She couldn't help but stare at Ron. It had become a habit of her's. One that she'd had since their second year. He had a bit of glazed expression on his face and she began to wonder what he was thinking about.

    A sharp knock on the door suddenly, brought her back to reality. She looked up and watched the Professor make his way to answer it. He shared a few words with the person on the other side before alerting herself and Draco that Professor Dumbledore needed to speak with them. Draco quickly prepared a small vial of their potion and set it on Snape's desk before the two of them left the room, following McGonagall. They were about halfway to the Headmaster's office when Hermione caught Draco staring at her. She shot him a glare and picked up her step a bit, barely oticing the scowl he sent back at her.