Dramione and the Half Blood Prince.

8. Charms

"What you smiling about?" Katie chimed as she walked into the girls dormitory.

"KATIE!" Hermione ran up and smothered her in a snake like embrace "You're back!"

"Yeah" Katie coughed "But I won't be for long if I can't breathe!" she laughed as Hermione let go with a very concerned look on her face.

"Do you remember anything?" Pavarti asked with a very worried tone.

"...no... I- I can't remember anything" Katie's smile dropped at the memory – or lack there upon.

"It's okay, it doesn't matter" Hermione butted in rubbing Katie's left arm.

"No, people have a right to know. I just... I can't give them the information they want... and it really bugs me" Katie's eyes glistened with moisture as Hermione grabbed either side of her face and placed a friendly kiss on her forehead.

"So," Katie started inhaled and wiped her face with the back of her hands before placing them on either of Hermione's arms "Why are you positively glowing?" she sniffed.

"I- I'm not glowing" Hermione giggled "I'm just normal".

"No you're not!" She tapped Hermione's noes "I know someone who's loved up anywhere" she half smiled playfully. It looked odd with the contrasting wetness of her eyes but Hermione tried to ignore that.

"I'm not 'loved up'" Hermione turned to walk back to her bed laughing.

"Well, say what you want... But sooner or later you're going to say their name in your sleep" she winked sitting down with her.

Hermione's eyes widened in shock... what if she actually found out?!

"See, told you" Katie laughed as she leant back on her bed. "God these are so much more comfortable than in the hospital wing... although the gossip there was rife!"

***

"Right, new pairings based on your mock results! You will be partnered with people of the same rough ability as you!" professor Flitwick started in a very jolly tone "Potter and Zabini, Weasley and Bones, Malfoy and Granger, Patel and Patel – no surprise there, Bell and Thompson, Vivieros and Canty-" the professor carried on with his list but Hermione had already gone to find her charms partner, he wasn't that hard to find though considering his unique coloured hair.

"You know," Draco started once they had reached their corner of the room "I'm liking these parings and seating plans" he said as they bowed low to each other preparing to duel. "Although Granger, go easy on me yeah?" he winked.

"You wish" Hermione countered, sass pouring out of her every orifice.

"Well then" They drew their wands to their faces and flicked them down again "Better get st-"

"STUPDIFY!" Hermione threw at him as he shot backwards and into the pillows set out around each pair, he jumped up athletically.

"That was rude" he half smiled again.

"My middle name" Hermione grinned but their flirting was interrupted by a howl coming from a mass of curly hair that was flying across the room, closely followed by Vivieros running after him with her hands cupped over her mouth "I'm sorry Casey! I'm so, so sorry!"

"Oh dear" Draco mouthed to Hermione, "Canty is not going to be happy at dinner" he smiled as he hopped back up and barged Vivieros out the way with a face like thunder.

He snapped round and fired a series of offensive charms at the hopeless Hufflepuff "Protificus Totalus! Levicorpus! Stupdify!"

"For god's sakes Canty!" Thompson was rushing over to Vivieros who was now sprawled out across the floor frozen into a desperately pleading position, she had blood dripping from her head. "Why do you feel the need!?" The brunette witch fired at the Slytherin who was standing smugly with a sneer plastered on his face by the fire. "Finete!"