Part of the United-Meant To Be (Gryffindor/Slytherin) Fuh-Q Fest. Response to the scenarios #46 Hermione tutors a Slytherin in a subject and #47 A one night stand between two enemies.

Author's Notes: As always, dedicated to Lacey, my oh-so-cool-and-wonderful Beta.

Hermione's eyes fluttered open, revealing to her an unfamiliar setting. She was in a bedroom, but it wasn't hers.

Startled she sat up, snatching at the sheets as they slid down, green silk on naked flesh. It was then that she heard the soft breathing beside her and remembered what had happened.

"You can't be serious!"

Hermione stared in shock at the Headmaster, certain she must have misheard what he had said.

"I most certainly am, Ms. Granger."

"I can't work with her!" said the other person in the room.

"And why not?"

"Well, since Mr. Malfoy doesn't seem to have any reason to object, I suggest the two of you make some arrangements." And with that, Albus Dumbledore exited the room, leaving two very horrified students behind him.

Hermione eyed Malfoy warily, as he did the same to her. Both realized that they had been outmanoeuvred, and there was no way of getting out of it.

"Fine, we might as well get this over with. I'll meet you in the library at, say, seven o'clock?"

"Who said you got to choose the time, Granger?"

"Well, since I am the one going out of my way to help you out, I think you owe me that much."

"Ha! I don't owe you anything. We both know neither of us is doing this by choice."

"Whatever. Just be there."

With on last glare at the boy, Hermione turned, dreading tonight when she would begin to tutor Draco Malfoy in History of Magic.

Draco sat at the Slytherin table in the Great Hall, dreading his upcoming tutoring session. It was bad enough that the stupid mudblood always got higher marks than him, but now she would be tutoring him? If his father ever heard about this, Draco didn't even want to consider what the consequences would be.

Seven o'clock seemed to come much too fast, as if time itself was conspiring against him to make his life miserable. Draco started to walk towards the library slowly, not caring that he would be late. He was half hoping for some disaster to strike and save him from this night. Even a hex from Potter would have been welcomed, but none came. Draco arrived safe and sound at the library, 7 minutes after 7.

"You're late," said Granger, not even bothering to look up from the textbook placed on the table in front of her.

"Really," Draco replied, voice thick with sarcasm.

"Yes, really. But anyways, you're here now. Sit down."

"You think you can order me around, Granger?"

Finally her head lifted, her eyes glaring ice at him. "Yes I do, Malfoy. Because I'm going to help you pass this class and have a shot at becoming Head Boy next year. Now, SIT!"

With a scowl he obeyed, slumping down on the seat across from him. "Fine, let's just get this torture over with."

"Fine by me, I have better things to do then spend tonight with you."

Draco laughed. "Like what? Hanging around with Potter and Weasel while they talk about Quidditch?"

"What I do with my personal time is none of your concern, Malfoy. What you should be worried about is that fact that you seem incapable of scoring higher than Acceptable in History of Magic."

"Yeah, because you know, knowing old stuff is just SO important."

"Knowledge of the past is essential for the future. If you don't know what happened before, how can you possibly predict what outcome any of your actions will have?"

Draco glanced over at Granger, meeting her gaze. Her eyes held none of the expected mockery, only honest certainty. Draco looked away.

"Well, that may be, but how does anyone expect me to learn about that stuff, with Binns' droning?"

Granger suddenly laughed, a surprisingly beautiful sound. "You're not actually supposed to pay attention to Binns."

"What?"

"To actually understand History of Magic, you have to totally ignore Professor Binns. It's much easier to learn the material by reading the textbook, at your own pace. Take notes on the important information, memorize key dates, and you're set."

"Hmm. I never really thought about doing that. I've always been able to get by just by paying attention in class."

"Usually a good strategy, but not with Binns. With him it seems to more you listen, the worse you do."

"But, on the plus side, you do get to catch up on sleep."

Granger laughed again, and Draco could feel a smile appearing on his face. Suddenly they locked gazes and he remembered himself again. He was in Slytherin, she was a Gryffindor. He was pureblood to her mudblood. They were supposed to be enemies. They shouldn't be having a good time together.

Silently Draco turned back to his books, keeping discussion to a minimum and trying to not enjoy each Granger's company.

The weeks passed by and Hermione continued the tutoring sessions. And his marks were steadily increasing. She was very proud of herself, and of Draco. He had just scored Outstanding on his latest essay, and Hermione knew that tonight was the time to let him go off on his own.

She would have thought the end of her roles as tutor would be happy, but instead she could feel a weight in the pit of her stomach, a dread that she could not dispel. No matter how much she hated to admit it, she had begun to look forward to these times, and to enjoy Draco's company.

She had arrived at the library ten minutes early, setting up the books as usual. And then she sat, waiting for the last tutoring session to begin.

Draco watched as the clock struck seven. The tension of dread in his body had not abetted all day. After that last test, he had been so excited, until he realized that he no longer needed a tutor. He had a feeling that tonight Hermione would finally end the sessions, thus severing the only tie they had between them. Despite himself, those times had become the highlight of his day. Well, one of the highlights at least.
The minute hand went round and round seven times, before he finally decided that it would be better spend this night with his tutor than to miss the last session all together.

Hermione sat next to Draco, looking over the latest History of Magic test and examining the answers, looking for areas to improve on, of which there weren't many. Draco had almost aced the test. The only person to out-score him was Hermione herself.

It had gone unsaid, but Hermione knew that he realized this was the end of the tutoring. He didn't need it anymore. His marks had far exceeded her original plan and it was very likely he would be Head Boy the following year.

They had finished looking at another page, so she reached up to turn the paper over to see the end of the test. At the same moment Draco went to do the same thing, ending up with his hand covering hers. The touch was so unexpected Hermione almost jerked her hand back. But instead she fought against instinct and looked over at Draco, gazing into his eyes and enjoying the feel of his fingers upon her.

Draco's eyes opened as he felt unexpected movement on his bed. He was greeted by the sight of Hermione's naked back and memories of the previous night flooded back to him. He continued to watch as Hermione gathered her clothes and dressed.

It was only as she was about to leave that she turned back towards him and saw that Draco was awake. She stood still for a moment, watching Draco as he watched her. In her eyes he could see his own feelings, a mess of crashing emotions, and the uncertainty about what would happen next.