Dramione the unlikely

The Partnership

Potions class
Hermione POV
The next day

I put my books on the table and opened them up, setting them on the beginning page, set out my cauldron, took out my ingredients, and snapped my head forward, in a perfect position.
I was the first one there, but people begin to file in fast. Soon, all the seats were filled except for one by my side near the wall at the end of the table. Ginny occupied my left, sitting with another girl.
Slughorn began to talk excitedly, and I began to scribble down his words. a few minutes in, Draco Malfoy burst through the door. I didn't know he was coming back. I made a face.
Professor did not look pleased. But he continued to speak.
Draco looked around the Slytherin side of the room and saw no empty seats. Then he drug his gaze to the Gryffindor section and found one, next to me.
He immediately redirected his gaze, standing in the middle of the walkway looking like an idiot. Professor Slughorn paused and so did the scratchy quills.
I looked up. The professor was focused on Draco. "Yes, sir?" Draco said shakily. "Mr.Malfoy, there is a spot open next to Ms.Granger. Sit there, you might learn a thing or two. That is an order, not an option" Professor Slug Horn said sternly.
Draco drug his feet over to me and plopped firm next to me, sulking. I looked sideways at him. He looked much nicer and cleaner without his heavy expression weighing down his features. He was almost pleasant too.
Professor continued and explained we would need partners for this long term project.
He started to point out the students. "Abby and Ginny, Hermione and Draco, Neville and..." But he was cut off by Draco. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN, ME AND THAT MUD BLOOD?!?!?" Draco shouted angrily, turning red.
Alright, he wasn't that pleasant.
But if you really looked at him he wasn't angry. His face was flushed and a smile fought his lips. He looked confused with his new emotions.
I sighed and pulled out a fresh piece of parchment. I dipped my quill in the ink well and turned to Draco. "well since we are partners, I wanted to know if you would like to do you the writing, I mean I will if you decline as I always do, but I suppose you have to do some of he work..." I trailed of as his glare narrowed. "Don't talk to me Mudblood" he mumbled. Then his head snapped up.
"I mean, Granger. I am trying to rid that word from my speech, but don't expect me to be nicer. Or call you Hermione" He said, sitting up straiter and taking out his own parchment.
It was a nice change and he seemed lighter and more like he was in first year. both of his parents were in Azkaban, but that seemed to make him happier. Crabbe and Goyel were not invited to return to Hogwarts, nor was Pansy Parkinson or her gang, so he seemed displaced and awkward, not knowin any of his fellow Slytherins and well as he should.
I took out my cauldron and began to follow the instructions, Draco looking. Over my shoulder since he forgot his book. The new Draco was more pleasant than usual.

3rd person
Draco

He began to note down all that Granger was speaking, though it was fast. He understood her, but her vocabulary was vast and broad. He smiled selfishly at the thought. " I would get much higher marks if I stuck with...." He began to think, but he stopped himself. He screamed inside.
"WHAT WAS I THINKING!!!! GRANGER IS FILTH! MUDDY MUDDY MUDBLOOODY FILTH. THE GREAT DRACO MALFOY WILL NOT ASSOCIATE HIMSELF WITH SUCH! HE IS TO BE A CELEBRATED DEATH EATER LIKE HIS- " but his thoughts halted.
Draco stopped himself. He would not be. He could not have these emotions. The heavy reliance and obedience Towards the Dark Lord and the expecting (but disapproving) gaze of his parents didn't rest on his shoulders and bear into his back. His life no longer dangled on a thin string of expectations, but rested safely in his own hands, as it should.
He squeezed his eyes tight and focused on one thought that he forced to echo in his head and wear itself into his brain. "The dark lord is gone, I am free. The dark lord is gone, I am Free"
He opened them and the heavy feeling in his stomach was gone, but it was replaced with the flutter of butterflies, a sensation he had never felt before.
Granger's voice was a hum that seemed far away as he pondered this feeling. He let it overtake him and wondered what it was.
"Draco!" Hermione shouted, and it pulled him out of his thoughts. "Hmm?" "You were staring off into space! I was explaining that you need to mix the crushed snake fangs in the slug slime to result in the essence that the solution needs. Draco write this down on my parchment and yours" She resumed.
Draco fumbled for his quills and wrote her explanation neatly on both papers. he smiled and looked up. "Here you go Hermi-" Draco slapped a hand over his mouth and his eyes widened.
The words didn't taste sour in his mouth like they should and his voice wasn't bitter! He had meant to spit out the words like poison, but they came out like he was talking to an equal, a friend. (he had never had a friend that both that and an equal). His breath quickened as he realized he had almost called her "Hermione" he didn't even call Crabbe, Goyel, Or Parkinson by their first names.

3rd Person
Hermione

Hermione stared both confused and anxious. She was happy to see Draco didn't call her Mudbloood, muggle-born, or even Granger. He had almost called her Hermione.
That set a smile on her face and a familiar sensation in her head and stomach. A sensation she had felt when Ron smiled at her. But stronger, and different.