"Hermione where are all of your roommates?" I questioned as I walked into her room.

"I told them to go stay with their Ravenclaw friend for the night," she said excitedly.

"And how did you manage to do that?"

"I might have offered to do their potions essays," she replied shyly.

"Hermione! That's a lot of work."

"It's okay, Y/n, once I finish mine it will be much easier to write three more."

I shook my head, a silence washing over us as I walked around and scoped out her room decor.

We then talked for hours and hours about random events including childhood stories, our goals in life, and our love lives.

"Hermione who interests you?" I ask, grinning at her.

"Well — er — I did like someone, but that ended a couple days ago. He didn't seem interested. I guess I find Cormac McLaggen fascinating." She nervously chuckled.

"Hermione, you should talk to him!"

"I'm not so sure about that."

"Ok, but if you ever need help, I can hook you up," I confirmed.

"And how will you do that?" she asked, curious.

"Because I'm a Slytherin, it's easy to walk to to people and ask what they think of you," I replied shortly.

After lying there for a little longer, it was already three in the morning. We decided it was time to go to sleep. I located myself on the bottom of Hermione's bed with my head near her feet, and my feet near her head. Once I got situated I fell asleep quickly at once, as did Hermione.

"No! No! Please, stop!" I screamed.

"Y/n! Y/n! Wake up!" I heard someone yell from afar.

I jerked awake and Hermione was standing there over me with a horrific expression displayed on her face.

I began hyperventilating and gasping for air violently. Hermione sat there with her arms wrapped around me and I took deep breaths as she instructed.

"I'm so sorry Hermione, I didn't mean to scare you," I said, feeling like a burden to her much-needed sleep.

"Don't you dare apologize. This isn't your fault. And frankly, I'd like to help you," she said kindly.

"There's nothing you can do, it's been happening since I was nine."

"Harry has nightmares as well and they seem to ease when you are around someone who you enjoy spending them with or like, as you feel comfortable around them," she informed me.

"So, who does Harry stay with?" I asked.

"Well he hasn't really found anyone to completely ease him, but Ron and I think that he likes Cho Chang, so if we could somehow get them together than his nightmares might ease down. But Harry is much too awkward to make any moves himself so I'm most definitely not betting on his nightmares stopping any time soon."

"So I just have to stay with Ron?" I asked bluntly.

"Oh — yes I suppose," Hermione said uncomfortably.

"Brilliant, what time is it?" I asked, visibly changing the subject.

"It's almost time for breakfast." She sighed an exasperating sigh.

"I suppose we should get ready then."

We said our goodbyes and I headed back to my dorm, remembering that I had detention with Draco tonight. It seemed like the days became worse the more I thought about them. I groaned in the dungeons as I passed by the common room, looking like a poor, homeless lady in sweats with matted hair. I looked at the ground as I walked past people who were staring. The dorm was awaiting my arrival so I walked in welcomely.

Classes were as boring as usual and they flew by extremely quickly, to my pleasure. Soon enough, it was lunch time. I was walking towards the Gryffindor table to sit with the trio until I heard a deep voice nervously calling my name. I looked around confused until I saw Blaise waving at me and inviting me to sit with him and Draco. I looked over at Ron and sent an apologetic smile while swiftly turning my heel and walking to my house table.

As awkward as it was, I proceeded to sit next to Blaise and across from Draco. They started conversing the moment I sat down.

"Hey Y/n, I'm really sorry that we haven't been speaking but I do want to hang out again like we used to," Blaise pleaded.

"Oh. Sure, yeah," I said, still shocked at their sudden decision to let me sit with them.

He looked relieved. "Now that we are friends again, can you do me a favor?" Blaise asked while glancing at Draco who seemed tense.

"It depends... what is it?" I questioned.

"Well, we need you to put in a good word for Draco," Blaise stated.

"To whom, may I ask?"

"Well — this might come as a shock — but — er — Hermione," Blaise finally stated.

I sat with my mouth agape and then bursted out laughing. "I'm sorry, I must've heard you wrong. Did you say Hermione?" I asked, tearing up from laughter.

They nodded and kept looking to each other than to me, waiting for me to elaborate or agree to help.

"Phew, that was a good one guys," I said while the laughter slowly died out and I wiped my joyful tears away.

"We are being serious," Draco finally stated, obviously becoming agitated at my reaction.

"Wait. You guys aren't joking?" I said, suddenly becoming more genuine due to the irritation spreading across both of their faces.

"Of course not! What's so funny anyways?" Draco whisper-shouted.

I scoffed. "Boys, do you really think Hermione Granger is going to go for Draco Malfoy. Maybe in your dreams."

That's why we need you to help us!" Blaise said while waving his hands in the air to emphasize the importance of the plan.

"Guys, you realize that Hermione is the smartest girl in 3rd year. She would never go for a prick like Malfoy. In all honestly, nobody would. Do you not recall throwing a rat on me yesterday?" I asked, still holding a grudge.

"Listen, we can only do this with your help. Draco can compete with her in class and make her notice him," Blaise begged.

"Ok, that's not a terrible plan. But what do I get in return?"

"Well — er — maybe Draco will be nice to you for a day?" Blaise negotiated uncertainly.

"Whatever. But I'm only doing this for you Blaise. I don't know why you started hanging out with this git anyways."

"You might want to look at who you are calling a git," Draco cockily said.

"I'm looking right at him and I don't see the problem," I retorted before I stalked off to the Gryffindor table, only informing the group that I have made up with Blaise and nothing more.

Lunch ended shortly after and I headed to History of Magic with Ernie Macmillan, who had become my new class friend. We worked on a paper as partners and when the bell rang, we said goodbye and evacuated the classroom as if it were on fire.

After History of Magic was Charms with Blaise. I entered the room and sat next to him, this time smiling. We talked and caught each other up until Professor Flitwick softly coughed which came out as more of a squeak, but also ended up quieting the class down to soft whispers.

We practiced an array of spells, wand motions, and pronunciation.

Many Muggles say that 'time flies when your having fun' which was a great representation of this class. Blaise and I practiced spells on each other which bonded us back to our iconic friendship and brought immense laughter to fill up our deprived lungs.

When class ended we sighed and trudged off to the library to do the homework that we were assigned throughout the day. Hours on end passed and our hands grew tired of inking up the parchment on the tables.

"Oh crap I'm going to be late, Blaise!" I shuffled to pack up all my belongings and sprinted out of the door.

"Have fun in detention!" Blaise called out but immediately got scolded by the librarian, Madam Pince.

As I ran down the hall I made it to the transfiguration classroom with three minutes to spare. I was about to knock but I heard McGonagall and Snape prattling from behind the door.

"You owe me five galleons," McGonagall's voice growled from behind the closed door.

"Not quite, Minvera," Snape replied shortly.

"What are you doing?" Draco whispered right on my neck, making me shiver.

"Why don't you listen?"

He put his ear up to the door, mimicking my actions, and quieted down.

"Severus, you saw the two in the Great Hall chatting and you have also seen them holding hands. I will say once more that you owe me five galleons," McGonagall demanded.

"I have seen some of that... yes. But you have yet to mentioned her conversing with Malfoy earlier, and must I mentioned it didn't look like quite the usual argument that they tend to have," Snape said calmly.

"Well we will see when they arrive detention."

A small pause took place and I turned to face Draco. He grabbed my arm and hauled me into the small broom closet next to the transfiguration classroom.

"Ouch get off of me," I said rubbing my arm where he yanked. He covered my mouth with his bare hand and I could feel his icy rings against my lips. His body was so crammed up against to mine and I could feel his lungs contracting against me. I ripped his hand off of mine and turned around to face the door, rather than him.

"Shh," he whispered.

I kept quiet and we stood in silence until footsteps passed the broom cupboard. He reached over, grazing my hip and grabbed the door knob. Furthermore, he opened the door and I immediately walked over to the transfiguration classroom door and knocked, trying to avoid the odd feeling that was lingering in my stomach.

"Good afternoon Professor," I greeted as McGonagall opened the door.

"Good afternoon. Come in dear, you as well Draco," she said motioning for both of us to take a seat.

I sat in the back row to the right, my usual seat in class, while Draco decided to sit next to me in his usual seat as well. I rolled my eyes and he nudged me. I refrained from slapping him and having a reoccurring scene of what took place earlier this school year.

"You probably know why you are here today. Although you will not be writing lines but rather cleaning up the bookshelf in which the rat had been chucked. Pick the books up without magic please," McGonagall said sternly.

We stood up and walked over to the bookshelf and started picking up the books.

"You guys may talk, the silence is eerie,"

McGonagall practically requested while rummaging through a pile of essays on her desk.

"What makes you like Hermione?" I directly asked Draco, in more of a whisper.

"That's none of your business, L/n," Draco stated unkindly.

"Oh it's not? I guess I don't need to help you out then." I smirked.

"Fine — I like her smile."

"What about it and why?" I interrogated.

Draco scoffed but began, "she always had big teeth that stood out and it reminded me of her in general. She is the smartest in our year, which makes her stand out. When she smiles, it means that she is happy which makes me happy as well."

"How sweet," I teased softly hitting him with a 6th year transfiguration guidebook.

"If you tell anyone I won't be afraid to hex you, by the way. What about you?" Draco asked while picking up a first year transfiguration book and placing it on the shelf.

"What about me?" I questioned, confused. I ignored the creaking door and the once-crinkling papers now silent.

"What do you see in that Weaslebee that makes you so happy?" he questioned, no longer picking up books but staring at the full shelf and refusing to make eye contact with me.

"Well he is funny, protective, and sarcastic," I said turning away from Draco and picking up another fallen book off of the floor.

"His looks on the other hand..." Draco began.

"Says you, Malfoy!" I shouted, annoyed, turning to see if McGonagall saw my outburst only to observe an empty chair.

"Oh c'mon. You don't find me attractive?" Draco questioned, picking up some straggling books once more.

"Of course not," I said, feeling my face slightly heat up. I shook it off immediately and attempted place a book on the top shelf.

"Need some help?" Draco chuckled at the sight: me on my tip-toes, arms outstretched, and the book hardly grazing the shelf where I intended it to go.

"No I don't need your help," I stubbornly replied.

I sighed after a few seconds and threw the book at Draco as an attempt to say that I did need his help. He caught it firmly and placed it on the top shelf.

That was the last book on the floor. I turned around to tell McGonagall that we were done and saw her whispering with Snape near the door looking as though they were watching us the entire time.

"Professor we have finished," I said politely while wondering when Snape entered the room.

"Of course, dear. You two run along," she said shortly, going back to whispering with Snape.

I left the room as Draco followed my lead back to the Slytherin common room.

"So they made a bet," Draco said, strutting up to my side as we walked.

"I suppose," I replied shortly.

"Y/n..." Draco stopped in his tracks and turned to me, staring into my eyes with his own; stone-cold, mischievous, and grey.

"Hm?" I halted as well.

I was now the one refusing eye contact. The portraits on the wall seemed very interesting as I avoided Draco and his stiff body in front of me.

"You realize they were betting on us."

"Yes, I did realize that. And if you haven't yet noticed, I have a boyfriend."

"But don't you think it's funny, L/n?"

"What's funny?" I asked staring down at my feet.

"That anyone could ever imagine us together. As if I would ever get with anyone like you. For Snape to even think for one moment that would ever happen is atrocious."

I finally looked up at Draco and snapped, "Yeah, because it would be so awful to be with me!"

I walked away from Draco's frozen body and didn't bother seeing if he had anything else to say. My blood boiled with as I walked away but my thoughts were overbearing me.

I swallowed down the feeling, walked into the common room, flashed a scowl at those who glanced at me, and headed to my dorm. I laid in bed for hours wondering why Malfoy had the power to ruin my night.