This is a new story I came up with while thinking of The Taming of the Shrew. This story is loosely based on the play. Let me know what you guys think!

The Taming of the Bookworm

Chapter One

Hermione slept all through Lavender's horrid screech and the rustling of sheets. But the thump of a body hitting the carpeted floor finally awoke her from a wonderful dream about the boy she loved.

"How dare you, Parvati?! When you knew-you knew I liked him!"

"Oh stuff it, Brown," grumbled an irate and very masculine voice.

Not this again, Hermione complained. The mornings usually began this way ever since Lavender had made the fatal error of going after Dean Thomas. Parvati was a woman scorned. And as they said in the Muggle world "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned".

Hermione sat up in bed to watch the day's events unfold. She blinked a few times in surprise when she saw a half-naked Blaise Zabini. The olive-skinned Slytherin was bent over, most likely looking for his discarded shirt.

"And-wait!" Lavender pulled back the covers of Parvati's bed to see the other Patil twin snoring away soundly in Blaise's oversized uniform.

Blaise looked up to see the source of Lavender's anger. "Thanks, Brown." He slid his shirt off Padma, leaving her in bra and panties. The Slytherin then turned to Parvati, completely ignoring the wide-eyed Hermione and fuming Lavender. He whispered something in Parvati's ears, making her go red and smile widely.

And just like that Blaise Zabini slipped out of the girls' dormitory.

Hermione glanced at the bickering Lavender and Parvati; the two didn't seem to notice her and she was relieved. It had been embarrassing, to say the least, to watch what had transpired.

Oh well, this doesn't concern me. And for that Hermione was grateful. She frowned, though, as she thought of the dream she'd so rudely been awakened from. The bushy-haired Gryffindor sighed, there was always tonight.

By the time Hermione had finished dressing and brushing her thick hair, Lavender and Parvati were still screaming at each other, but Padma was nowhere in sight. And the two were still at it when Hermione brushed past them and went down to the common room. There were a few bleary-eyed second-years sitting by the fire.

Today was the first day of classes and Hermione was excited to see what new materials they would be learning this year. It was her final year at Hogwarts and she wanted to make it the best year she had. Harry and Ron met her on the way down to the Great Hall for breakfast. The two yawned heavily and glared at her testily for her enthusiastic greeting.

Hermione rolled her eyes; it was just like her friends to be upset about the start of classes. They clearly didn't know the joy of learning. She'd hoped over the years she could sway their opinion on education, but they rarely listened.

"Heff you gobben your schebule yef?" Ron's question was directed to Hermione.

"Honestly, Ron. Swallow your food and then talk," she reprimanded.

Ron hastily swallowed then repeated, "Have you gotten your schedule yet?"

Hermione smiled triumphantly. "Of course."

"She would be the one to be so happy about classes," Ron muttered to Harry, who nodded in return.

"Hey Harry," Ginny pecked Harry on the cheek and squeezed in, between her brother and Ron. "Hermione, Ron."

"Ready for classes?" Hermione asked in way of greeting.

"I don't think I ever will be. Anyways on to more important things. Is it true that Blaise Zabini was caught in bed with the Patil twins?"

Hermione wasn't surprised that the news had travelled so fast. After all it had involved Hogwarts' two biggest gossips. "Yeah, but I don't see how you consider that more important than-," she was rudely interrupted by Ginny's outraged gasp.

"Lavender had the HUGEST crush on Zabini. Oh, she must have been furious!"

"Yes, well, she was. But I still don't see how that-," this time it was Ron.

"I thought she fancied that Ravenclaw bloke."

"No, that was last week. Honestly, Ron how far behind are you?"

Hermione stopped bothering. It was pointless. Harry gave her a sympathetic smile, noticing her exasperated sighs. "So, how's 'Spew' going?"

"It's S.P.E.W. And it's not going too well. I haven't been able to find many members. I was thinking whether or not at the next Quidditch game if you could, you know, advertise S.P.E.W."

Harry quickly answered, before Hermione could get ahead of herself. "Actually, I don't know if I can do that. Maybe you should try asking the commentators. Though I doubt that would be of any help. You know how forgetful Luna is."

Hermione tried not to let her disappointment show too much. "I see. Well I guess it's worth a shot." She wasn't too keen in speaking with the highly unusual Luna Lovegood. The two had never really got along that well.

It was difficult locating the ditzy blonde in the Great Hall, but Hermione managed to snag her when she was passing by.

"Oh hello, Hermione. Did you hear about the Blibbering Humdinger? Dad said that it was a matter of time before someone caught sight of them."

"Er, right." Hermione bit back a scathing remark. It wouldn't do well to insult someone you were about to ask a favor from. "Anyways, I was wondering if you could endorse S.P.E.W. during the first Quidditch match."

"Did you know that house-elves are actually distantly related to goblins?"

"I'll keep that in mind."

"How many members have you got so far?"

"Well, there's . . . quite a few. But I haven't had the chance to invite more students to the cause. And I was hoping if you could assist me."

"I'd love to."

Hermione wondered if Luna would consider joining S.P.E.W. So before she could second guess herself, Hermione asked her.

"That seems interesting. Two sickles for entry?"

Hermione nodded, extraordinarily pleased that she now had five other members in the organization besides herself. "Harry is our secretary and Ron is the treasurer."

"Weasel-secretary? I don't know if that's such a good idea, Granger. How do you know Weasel won't be tempted to steal your paltry donations? Or is he a part of the creatures you're protecting?"

Hermione would know that mocking drawl anywhere. It just had to be-"Malfoy."

"The one and only. But use it sparingly. Don't want you to tarnish my family's good name."

"Good," Hermione scoffed. "The only thing 'good' about your family is that . . . wait, I have nothing."

Draco scowled and opened his mouth to say something when Blaise Zabini called him. He left without another glance.

"Poor Malfoy," Luna sighed.

"Why?"

"Oh, didn't you know? Draco Malfoy frequently has Wrackspurts floating into his ears."

Hermione managed a smile at the strange blonde's observations. "So he does."

After Luna Lovegood's initiation into S.P.E.W. Hermione felt much better and immersed herself into her schoolwork. Later on while she was sitting down to lunch with Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Neville, an interesting and dreadful piece of information was brought to Hermione's attention.

"Have you noticed," Harry began, "Malfoy has been in every one of your classes?"

Hermione widened her brown eyes. "Really? That's strange. Now that I think about it you're right, Harry. But how do you know?"

"I heard Malfoy go over his schedule with Crabbe and Goyle. I had a feeling that I'd heard that same schedule repeated by you earlier in the day. And what do you know? The two of you have the same exact schedule!"

"A whole year of Malfoy! Hermione, I think you should change your classes."

"Even if I could change my schedule, Ron, I wouldn't. Just because Malfoy happens to have my exact schedule doesn't mean I have to change mine."

Ginny beamed in encouragement at Hermione. "She's right, Ron. It would be like she was admitting defeat."

Hermione didn't know what winning or losing had to do with a schedule but she nodded in agreement nonetheless. But she couldn't help a feeling of apprehension sink into the pit of her stomach as she eyed Malfoy sitting at the far end of the Slytherin table. A whole year of Draco Malfoy, would she survive?

Hermione seems a bit different from my other stories, mainly because I wanted her to stick closely to the actual Harry Potter series. And because her character will fit perfectly into the plot of the story. A review a day keep the writer's block away! Remember that.