I do not own Harry Potter - this is just an idea that I got after reading quite a few stories like it. I understand that it's an overdone cliche, but I happen to like putting my own spins on cliches. I would appreciate reviews.

Also, this is the Harry Potter universe for this story: Voldemort has been destroyed, and only a select few people have died (obviously not the people in the story). Draco and his mother were found to be not guilty. Narcissa had helped during the war, and since Draco was forced to do what he did under blackmail for the safety of his family, he was let go. The other Slytherins were pretty much the same, or else they were neutral. No one but their fathers really wanted to help the Dark Lord, and it is a sensitive subject for all the Hogwarts students, Slytherin or not.

"Ron!" Hermione hissed under her breath. "That's not the right way to say it."

Ron glared at Hermione. "Hermione, it's a spell to attract rocks."

"Inanimate objects." Hermione corrected. "You're only using rocks for the experiment."

Ron rolled his eyes. "Whatever."

Hermione turned back to Neville and smiled. Neville smiled back and promptly dropped his wand.

"Here, I'll get it for you." Hermione offered, standing up.

"Thanks." Neville sighed.

Hermione chased the stick of wood around the classroom. She snatched it up and returned to Neville, slightly breathless, when Draco Malfoy pushed past her.

"Hey! Watch it, Granger." He snapped.

"You're the one who bumped into me, Malfoy." Hermione snarled back.

She moved away – or she would have, anyway. As soon as she reached Neville, her eyes widened suddenly and she barely had time to squeal before she rocketed backward into Malfoy. The two of them tumbled into the ground.

"God, Granger, if you're that desperate to have me, just say something." Malfoy groaned.

"Shut up." Hermione retorted. She could feel her face flushing as everyone's eyes were drawn to them. She stood up and walked away.

Once again, however, as soon as she got close to her desk, she practically flew backward. Malfoy let out a grunt as he was pinned to the ground.

"Mr. Malfoy! Miss Granger!" Snape snapped.

Hermione bit back a sigh. Of all the teachers, Snape had to be the one substituting.

"I don't understand, Professor." Hermione began nervously. "We can't move more than twenty feet apart!"

"That's enough." Snape growled. "Everyone, sit down. Miss Granger, Mr. Malfoy, stand up."

The pair got to their feet, and Snape turned to the class.

"What spell were you working on today, Mr. Longbottom?"

"A spell to create a magnetic attraction between inanimate objects, Professor." Neville whispered.

"Now, Potter," Snape glowered. "See if you can answer this – how are the spells specifically supposed to be cast?"

"Uh –" Harry blinked.

Snape sighed impatiently. "I mean, Potter, what are you supposed to focus and point the wand at?"

"The inanimate objects." Harry replied slowly.

"Now tell me, class, exactly how many of you were pointing the wand at the rocks when you spoke the spell?"

Everyone looked at each other nervously in confusion. Who would be that stupid?

Everyone except Ron, whose face was slowly getting redder and redder.

"Weasley." Snape sighed. "I should have known."

"Ron?" Hermione asked, hoping what Snape was insinuating wasn't true.

"I didn't mean to!" Ron burst out. "I just heard something behind me, so I turned around to see."

"And kept saying the spell as you did it?" Malfoy roared. "Are you crazy? This spell isn't supposed to be done on humans!"

"Dumbledore will be able to fix it." Ron replied confidently. "Besides, it was just a mistake."

Malfoy swore under his breath, and for once, Hermione was inclined to agree with him.

"Weasley, since you created this mess, you can go and call Professor McGonagall and Headmaster Dumbledore." Snape ordered. "The rest of you, get out. You're dismissed."

"What about us?" Malfoy asked.

"You two need to stay." Snape answered. "Now, get out!"

The class filed out quickly, and silence fell in the room. Ten or so minutes later, Professor McGonagall and Dumbledore enter the room.

"What's going on in here?" McGonagall demanded. "Ronald Weasley came flying through my door crying about Miss Granger and Mr. Malfoy getting stuck together."

"We're not stuck together, exactly." Hermione mumbled sheepishly. "We just can't move further than twenty feet apart."

Snape quickly explained the situation, and Dumbledore turned to them calmly. "Can I have a bit of a demonstration?"

Hermione began moving to the door. As she moved, she started to take note of any observations as well. Once she moved further away than five feet, a strong sensation of being pulled appeared in her gut. She winced – it was uncomfortable, although not yet painful. Each step became harder and harder, as though she was swimming through molasses. Finally, at the door, twenty feet away from Draco Malfoy, the pulling turned into a sharp snap. Her body paused for a second, and she gasped, before she flew backward.

This time, Malfoy was ready, and as she came, he caught her so they both managed to remain upright.

"That's very interesting." Dumbledore mused. "Mr. Malfoy, would you mind heading toward the door this time?"

Malfoy nodded tersely and moved toward the door. He had no trouble, unlike Hermione. She was fighting the feeling to follow him, if only to ease the tension in her gut. As soon as he reached the twenty feet mark, Hermione was crashing into him.

"How very strange…no matter who is moving away, Miss Granger is always the one who goes flying. This reaction never happens in inanimate objects, even if the spell is cast incorrectly. It seems as though Mr. Malfoy is the dominant force." Dumbledore muttered. He turned to the other teachers. "When Professor Flitwick returns, we need to have a staff meeting."

"Until then, we need to sort out what to do with Hermione and Draco." Professor McGonagall reminded the Headmaster.

"Oh yes, of course." Dumbledore turned to them. "I'm afraid there's nothing we can do for now. I expect the two of you to treat this unexpected dilemma with the utmost maturity and responsibility, although I'm positive that I have nothing to worry about from either of you. Never fear, we shall figure out a way to separate you two. Until then, we shall have to make do with what you have."

"The two of you already share most classes." McGonagall remembered. "So that's not much of an issue. By tonight, I'm sure I can have a room ready that will be able to suit all your needs. If you come to my office before curfew, I can take you there. Unfortunately, for now, you'll have to choose where you want to stay. We will leave it up to you two, but you need to decide where you to eat. Of course, I don't need to tell you that rules are rules, no matter what the situation. I don't want to see either of you engaging in activities that are unacceptable for school."

"Of course not, Professor!" Hermione gasped, sounding aghast at the thought. "I will do my best to remain patient throughout this. Thank you very much for all your help."

"What help?" Malfoy muttered under his breath.

Dumbledore nodded. "Go down to dinner now, and figure out your new arrangements."

Together, Hermione and Malfoy stepped out of the room. As soon as they were out of earshot, Malfoy turned to Hermione.

"All right, we're going to have to set some rules." Hermione began.

"I'll begin. We're going to sit at the Slytherin table for meals, understand?"

"Absolutely not!" Hermione snapped. "I deserve some say in what I'm going to be doing too, you know. Why don't we switch off? If we eat at your table, we eat at mine for breakfast?"

"No." Malfoy said flatly.

"What in the world makes you think that I'll do what you say?" Hermione snarled.

"I'm the dominant force, Granger." Malfoy gloated. "That means that I'm stronger than you are, and I can pull you along."

"That won't stop me from hexing you." Hermione warned.

Malfoy scoffed. "Go right ahead – just remember, it's not just me you're confining to the infirmary for the night. You'd be stuck there too."

Hermione glared at him, realizing he was right. "I'll tell Professor McGonagall!"

"I will do my best to remain patient throughout this." Malfoy mocked. "Real patient, complaining ten minutes after leaving the classroom. Besides, how are you going to get to her?"

Hermione growled at him. "I don't care, Malfoy, I refuse to be bullied into submission! I will find a way to make sure I'm not stuck with your stupid Slytherins!"

"You'll still be around Potty and Weasel if it bothers you that much." Malfoy pointed out. "You have classes with them, don't you?"

"That's not the point." Hermione whined.

"Then?" Malfoy raised an eyebrow.

"I don't want to be around Slytherins all day. You'll all hex me, and tease me, and drive me up the wall!" Hermione complained. "Besides, being in hostile area for so long is exhausting."

"They won't say anything to you if you're with me." Malfoy promised. "Now can we go? I'm starving."

"I don't want to eat at that table." Hermione whined some more. She knew she was fighting a losing battle, but she also never underestimated her power of annoying Malfoy. "It's embarrassing. The whole hall will be looking at us."

"The whole world probably knows what happened in Charms by know." Malfoy snapped. "Fine. Just walk part of the way so I don't have to drag you."

"We'll sit at the Gryffindor table?' Hermione asked in shock.

Malfoy didn't answer, moving forward purposefully. Hermione had to scramble to keep up with him, but her mood brightened considerably. She was a little surprised that he had given up so easily, but she didn't want to look a gift horse in the mouth.

Malfoy walked through the doors of the Great Hall, and strode toward the Slytherin table. Hermione frowned, halting. The Gryffindors who had all been in her class frowned, waiting for her to waltz over to them. They had all assumed that Dumbledore had been able to fix the problem.

"Malfoy." Hermione hissed. "You said we could sit the Gryffindor table!"

Malfoy smirked at her. "I said no such thing"

Before Hermione could open her mouth to yell at him, or explain everything to her House mates, the spell kicked in.

Hermione shrieked slightly and hurtled forward. Malfoy caught her just before she slammed into him and used the momentum to seat her on the Slytherin table bench, next to Blaise Zabini, who merely raised an eyebrow.

The entire hall fell silent, waiting to see what Hermione Granger's reaction would be.

She opened her mouth, furious.

"Students!" McGonagall barked. Everyone's attention snapped to their teacher. Dumbledore thanked her and took the stand.

"As I'm sure you're all aware, there was an incident in the Charms class this morning. Two students, Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy, were unfortunately affected by this incident, as they cannot move further than twenty feet away from each other. We are working hard to come up with a solution to this problem, but until a counter-spell can be created or discovered, we all must adjust to the situation. I ask that you all please refrain from ostracizing these students, and try to understand if any special circumstances pop up that require assistance. Please, be helpful, kind, and considerate Hogwarts students."

Everyone politely clapped, and Hermione glared out at the hall. She gave her friends a hopeless look and slumped down. She was sitting so she was facing the hall, and she didn't turn around.

Malfoy slid into the seat next to her.

"You can make me sit here, but you can't make me eat." Hermione hissed at him.

He shrugged. "Suit yourself."