Turning of the Tides

A/N: Back with another one, thank you all for your lovely reviews!

Chapter ten: Definition of the word, "Cute"

Hermione was surprised to have slept throughout the night—given the problems she had.

She woke up that morning and late, at that fact. Practically falling off the bed as she scrambled, she muttered a quick tempus. She muttered it too quick that she nearly said, "Hemps"

"Tempus." She muttered. It was 7:30. Not only had she missed transfigurations again but she's about to be late for potions!

"F—k." She cursed as she fumbled through the room for her clothes and belongings.

"GOOD!" She sighed in relief as she finally gathered her things and changed her clothes.

Soon after scrambling all over the room, Hermione quickly made her way to the common room to check for any other students.

"Surprise, surprise…" A proverbial voice said in a mocking tone.

"Blackheart." Hermione said scathingly.

"Granger." Ceri raised a brow.

Hermione tried desperately to pass through her but Ceri's slender arms blocked her way.

"What do you want?!" Hermione snapped.

"Why the sudden change in schedules, Granger? Draco was waiting for you. Seems like you had a little 'date' arranged today? Luckily I was there to play with him." Ceri smirked.

Hermione paused for a while and her eyes widened. She had completely forgotten about her arrangement with Draco! But they weren't supposed to have the meeting so early in the morning… right?

Hermione groaned and said, "I'm late. Excuse me."

"Slept in because of your pitiful crying, Granger?" Ceri went on.

"I never said anything about crying. Now if you will excuse me." Hermione tried to stay away from the topic.

"I heard your whimpers, Mudblood. Stop lying."

"I am not. Please get out of the way or I'll be rash." Hermione spat.

"Really? What can you do?" She continued the taunt.

Hermione's temper was something that shouldn't be tested with. Oh yes, she can be rash. Very rash, for that matter.

Especially with a wand.

Hermione pulled out her wand swiftly from her hidden pocket and pointed it directly at Ceri's cheek.

"Or I'll make that pretty face of yours something to be disgusted at." Hermione hissed.

Suddenly, Malfoy came in the common room with his hands inside his pockets and was smirking.

"Hmm… What's going on here, ladies?"

"Oh Draco, help me. She said she was going to kill me." Ceri moaned.

"I said nothing about killing you. You're not even worth going to Azkaban for. Hermione gasped in shock.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa… Granger, Put the wand down, please. Some people may get hurt. And we won't want that, would we?" He smirked at Ceri.

"And to think she's Head Girl…"

"Ugh. I have no time for this. I'm late for class." Hermione retrieved her wand and stuffed it inside her concealed pocket.

Malfoy followed her outside the common room, leaving Ceri completely alone. Of course, Hermione didn't notice that he was following her.

"Granger." He was now behind her.

"Malfoy!" She spun around, looking completely shocked.

"I'm not a ghost. Don't look so scared." He huffed.

She quickly composed herself and cleared her throat.

"Malfoy."

"What brings you… behind me?" She furrowed her eyebrows.

"Well, I wanted…"

"You wanted to know how she's feeling? That's so nice of you, Draco."

"I'm not nice. I'm merely… being civil. It's part of our deal, after all."

"I wanted to know where you were this morning. I do recall a meeting… but it seems that you've decided to ditch me." He changed his sentence.

"I thought you wanted to know how she was doing?"

"Bloody leave me and my actions alone."

"You've seriously got some damage to work with."

"And… Iwantedtoknowhowyouweredoing." Draco said in one breathing.

"What?" She cocked her head to the side in confusion.

"I wanted to know how you were doing." He said slowly.

"Oh… I'm fine, thank you for asking." She smiled at him.

"And I'm sorry about the meeting. I slept in." She blushed ferociously at the fact that she was late for the excuse of sleeping in.

He chuckled and replied, "Sleeping in? Doesn't sound like a Granger to me."

"Yeah well, I'm merely human. Not some superhuman." She smiled heartily.

Draco was stunned by her statement.

I'm merely human, not some superhuman.

He grinned at her with gusto and chuckled even more.

"What's so funny?"

"You." He laughed.

"Me? What's so funny about me?" She scowled.

"You just said it. That you're merely human. It's unlikely for you to say such an avowal."

"Really now. Do tell." She smirked, now her hip cocked to the side.

"It's weird. I don't know why but it feels like we're acting strangely or saying such odd things at that." He shrugged.

She raised her eyebrows and pondered on this for a moment, but let it go within a split second.

"Well, I'd love to chat about my humanisms, but I must be going. I'm about to be late for potions." She nodded curtly.

"Potions? But it's a Saturday." He scratched the back of his neck.

"Fuck!" She cursed loudly.

"Language, Granger." He smirked.

"Agh! So that's why Blackheart wasn't in class. It's a SATURDAY!" She smacked her head with her palm hard, and groaned.

"Acting human doesn't suit you, please stop it."

"It was a harmless mistake." She shrugged and leaned lazily on the wall.

"Shall we head back to the common room and discuss our future plans there?" He straightened up.

Future plans? She thought.

"I mean the plans for the Ball." He added.

"Oh of course." She chuckled nervously and made a beeline to the common room.

Both of them arrived in the common room and thankfully, Ceri was nowhere in sight.

They took a seat at opposite sides of the couch.

"How about using muggle songs for a change?" She asked him cautiously.

"Not a bad idea." He shrugged.

"Really? But I thought you hated muggles." She said in aghast.

"I said I hated muggles, not their music." He frowned.

"Oh yes. Well, any suggestions?" She started.

"It would be good for a masquerade." For once, Draco Malfoy has said something that Hermione Granger actually agrees completely on.

"That's a brilliant idea!" She chirped.

"Yes, and we can have those muggle fireworks as the ending event for the night." Draco pondered for more ideas.

"Yes, and we can have an old English theme for the ball." Hermione was getting actually getting excited.

"That would do well, and we can also decorate the whole place with Gold and Silver. These stand as our House colors." She added.

He took out his wand and started swishing into thin air.

She looked at him and tilted her head to the right.

He noticed Hermione staring and said, "We have to jot down notes, now do we?"

She slapped herself mentally and said, "Oh yes, I forgot."

She accio'd her quills and parchments then started scribbling. Draco stared at her funnily and wondered: Why didn't she just use her wand for convenience?

She looked at Malfoy and caught him staring then she chuckled. "Not all things are to be done through convenience."

Draco did not want this topic to go any further so he left it at that and started thinking of new ideas to go through with this Yule ball.

"I'm out of ideas." Hermione sighed in exasperation.

"Me too." Draco groaned after a few hours of non stop scribbling.

"Where's everyone? I didn't see Dean or Fa. I only saw Blackheart."

"Probably at hogsmeade." Draco shrugged.

Hermione nodded and stood silent for a while. She recalled the events last night and frowned as she pictured herself in her room crying her heart out. But then the image of Draco embracing her like she was no mudblood came in and a wide smile came across her face.

She knew she had to thank him somehow, and a simple thank you wouldn't do.

The smile to herself faced Draco and he was taken aback by her sudden change in expression.

"What's up?" He asked her.

"Do you…" She started but stopped in the middle of her sentence.

What if he declines and says something awful?

"Do I?" He repeated.

"Um." She blushed and asked,

"WouldyouliketogotoHogsmeade? ImeanasameregestureofgratitudeIthoughtitwouldbebestifIrepaidyouproperlyalthoughitwouldbeunderstandableifyousaynoandIwouldn'tfeelbadifyousaidso." She panted hard as she finished her sentence.

Believe it or not, she said this in one breathing.

Draco chuckled at her purple face as she tried desperately to retrieve the loss of breath.

"Are you asking me out?" He laughed.

"NO! Not OUT, out. Just you know a bite to eat as a thank you for last night. I'm obstinate to let such a thing pass, you see. So it's a must for me to repay you through any way possible." She said matter-of-factly.

He stared at her for a moment but she said,

"Oh I'm sorry, you must be afraid of what the others would think so it's fine." She smiled.

"Me? Afraid? They wouldn't lay a finger into my business. Have you forgotten that I am the Draco Malfoy?" He smirked.

"I take that as an approval then." She nodded and grinned at him cheekily.

"Oh. And this is a lunch between two colleagues, alright? Nothing more." She said with a smirk.

"So don't get any ideas." She added.

"Me? Getting ideas with you? Please, Granger, don't flatter me with such ignorance." He grinned impishly.

"Right then, I'll be changing." Hermione trotted away to her room.

(Draco's P.O.V.)

"Damn that Granger has a nice arse." Evan's voice rang.

"What the bloody hell? You should really meet the other ladies I know. Then you'll see nice bums." Okay, okay. So she does, but please, I didn't need to know that!

"You do know that these 'friends' of yours use bum lifting charms to make themselves good, right?" Bum lifting? Blimey, I wonder if Pansy uses bum lifting charms? AHAHAH! This is just priceless. Maybe I could use it on Potter's bum and over do it. I wonder what'll happen…

"You're not too sure about that, are you? And what if Granger uses that ghastly charm as well?" Serves you right. You're not even bloody sure what you're talking about.

"I'm pretty sure that she doesn't, Draco. Besides, didn't you notice the bad sex you've been encountering lately?" Hey, I know about that. Stop rubbing that in.

"Yeah." There, nice and simple.

"That means you've subconsciously got your mind on something else. Perhaps someone you want to shag…" And who might that be?

"And it so happens that I am fully aware of how your subconscious mind works." Really? Good for you.

"This also means that I hear everything you're thinking about. Even that last statement." Crap.

"Yes, utter crap indeed."Bloody Evan, leave my thoughts alone!

"I can't. Sorry." And now you're laughing?

"Yes, I am." ARGH!

"Wouldn't you like to know who that lucky girl you or rather I want to shag?" Who, who, who?

"I'm ready!" Granger suddenly appeared before me. She wore a black and red striped shirt and black trousers. In her hand was a black jumper and her boots were obviously for the snow.

"Her." WHAT THE FUCK!?

"Evan?! EVAN?! TALK TO ME BLOODY HELL!" Crap. Utter crap.

"Not even gonna bring a coat?" She asked me.

I started staring at her from head to toe. Who knew she of all people can dress?

"Oh. Um. Accio coat." I called out and there it was, my expensive coat flying towards me.

"Off we go then!" She smiled cheerily.

"Damn, Granger, for a person who just cried over her ex-boyfriend last night, you seem to be rather merry." I raised my eyebrows at her.

"Yeah well, it'd be a shame to ruin the mood, right?" She shrugged.

"Ask her if she wears lip gloss or lip stick." Evan said briskly.

What the hell!? I'd sound bloody gay!

"Just do it."

"Do you wear lip gloss or lip stick?" I finally acquiesced.

"None. I don't really like make up." Now she's looking at me as if she wants to say, 'are-you-gay?'

"Why?" She asked.

"Just asking." I shrugged.

Way to play it cool, Malfoy.

"Shall we go then?" I changed subjects.

"Oh yeah, we better do." She smiled. Her lips so pink and full.

She led the way, and soon we found ourselves at the gate of Hogwarts where the carriages were.

"To Hogsmeade please." Herm-Granger had spoken.

"There you go again." Shut up.

We reached Hogsmeade in complete silence. Neither one of us dared utter a word.

"Three broomsticks?" I suggested and she easily complied.

We entered the shack to see dozens of Hogwarts students packing the place. And a lot of eyes were staring into us. Naturally, I wouldn't mind. But Granger—well, let us just say that she was frightened to the bones.

"Keep your cool. Tell them that we're here for our planning." I whispered to her.

Suddenly, a ghastly looking old lady asked us where we wanted to sit. As you would expect, neither of us wanted to be near the Hogwarts students nor did we want to be alone. So in the end, we sat at the far left corner of the room.

We still felt a lot of eyes staring at us and Granger wasn't getting any better so I started a casual conversation.

"So how are things with Zabini?" Not that I liked the topic, but I had to muster something that she would be comfortable talking about.

"Um, it's fine. Why ask?" She replied.

"Just wondering." I rolled my eyes.

I didn't really want this conversation to go any further, so I quickly changed the topic to the Ball topic. There. Something both of us would be comfortable with.

"So, have you gotten a date for the ball?"

"Um. No, I plan to not go with one." Why so bashful? Hahah! Is it the fact that no one would take you?

"And you?" She asked me.

"I'd take anyone, really." I chuckled.

"Pansy most probably." I merely shrugged, not caring who I would choose among the many die hard girls who would kill just to get my attention. Nonetheless, we cannot help that, right? I am Draco Malfoy after all.

"I see." She smiled.

Once again, the ghastly looking fat lady showed up before us, asking for our orders.

"What would yeh like fer today, young couple." Couple?! BLOODY WOMAN YOU ARE BLIND!

"Sorry, we're classmates, not a couple." I said courteously.

"Oh. Sorry, dear. It did seem like you are." The lady apologized.

"But-" I tried to argue but Granger cut in saying,

"We'll have two butterbeers and put extra butter on mine please." Okay, stop it with the glare, Granger.

I rolled my eyes once again and huffed. Immediately, the lady left to probably get our orders.

Granger was fidgeting a lot, and this was displeasing to my eyes.

"Stop that." I ordered.

"Don't tell me what to do. I'll fidget whenever I want to." What the?! Why does she keep on being so quarrelsome?! It's so annoying!

"Which is why I like her even hotter." SHUT UP!

"No retaliation? How un Malfoy-like."

"Shut up. I'm talking to…" Bloody Merlin…

"Talking to whom?"

"Myself." I find myself utterly mad now.

Her-Granger just stared at me. Right, the look that I was just looking for. The you-are-completely-out-of-your-wits look.

"I find that cut-I mean… um. Cuuuuuuuriously annoying." Cute? Was she about to say cute?

"I knew it. You like me." THERE! My ego is growing once again.

"LIKE YOU!?" She stood up from her chair and was pushed back, making loud screechy noises against the floor.

"Keep it down." I said for there were many eyes that were looking at us.

She pulled her chair back once again, and sat down furiously.

"Like you?! Who would like you?!" She whispered angrily.

"I was kidding. Ever heard of a 'joke' ?" She should seriously get a massage to lessen that tense in her.

"I'd love to do it for her." WOULD YOU SHUT UP?!

"Neverrr…" Right. Snicker all you want. Psh. Is this the curse of Draco Malfoy?

"Ugh." Granger pouted and started to gaze out the window.

(Normal P.O.V.)

Hermione looked out the window and saw Blaise by the door accompanied by a blonde haired girl. Blaise looked around and suddenly met eyes with Hermione, and after a few split seconds, his eyes landed on Draco and his eyebrows rose.

He made his way with the blonde beside him towards the direction of Hermione. He had a grin plastered onto his face.

As they reached their table, Blaise said, "Fancy meeting you here."

"Blaise, what a surprise!" Hermione grinned.

"Zabini." Draco glared.

"Malfoy." Blaise returned the glare.

Not wanting to heat up the tension, Hermione started, "So who is this pretty lady? A new girl, perhaps?" She said this with a grin.

"Oh no, this is Titania Syliannas a student from Beauxbatons. She's visiting here on a field trip." Blaise introduced Titania, and she smiled at both Draco and Hermione.

"Titania, this is Hermione Granger, the troubled girl I have been mentioning to you about, and Draco Malfoy." Blaise said casually with a hint of bitterness as he mentioned Draco's name.

"Hello, Titania." Hermione shook her hand gracefully.

"Draco Malfoy." Draco introduced himself and merely smiled at her.

"Draco Malfoy? Son of… Lucius Malfoy?" Titania spoke, her French accent flowing.

"Yes, indeed." He nodded his head curtly.

"Our fathers are good friends, did you know?" Titania spoke in interest.

Hermione and Blaise merely smiled.

"Indeed I do. Actually, your father has been over a few times lately." He said nonchalantly.

"It has been great meeting you, Mister Malfoy." She smiled.

"Call me Draco." He winked at her. Blaise now felt uneasy.

Titania blushed and said abruptly, "Well, we must be going. We were merely going to get our butterbeers to go and go around."

With that, they bade goodbye. Of course, Blaise and Draco merely glared at each other.

"You need not flirt with her, you know." Hermione teased.

"It's my nature. It comes naturally." Draco smirked.

The grisly lady from a while ago came in again and gave their orders.

"Two butterbeers for the couple and extra butter for the lady. That is all? That will be three galleons." The lady grinned toothily, the gap between her incisors visible.

"Here." Draco had paid.

"No, no, please let me." Hermione insisted.

"It's fine, here." Draco signaled for the lady to take the money and go away.

"HEY! I said I would pay!" Hermione whined.

Draco rolled his eyes at her and acted as if he did not mind her at all.

"Look at me when I'm talking to you!" Hermione pursed her lips in anger and crossed her arms across her chest.

Draco looked at her then smiled. "Happy?" He teased.

"HMPF!" She stuck her nose in the air then a few seconds after that; she stuck her tongue out like a child.

"You're cute when you act like that." Evan's voice had once again taken over his peaceful mind.

"You're cure when you act like that." Draco said unconsciously.

"Sorry?" She was taken back. Did he just call her cute?

"No, no. I meant. Cute, I meant, small and ugly. You know! The other meaning of cute." He managed to think of an excuse. What was Evan thinking making him say that?!

"HEY! I AM NOT SMALL! NOR UGLY!" She growled.

"Well face it, because that is the definition of the word, "cute", by Draco Malfoy." He snickered.

Author's note: Quite sorry for the delay! Graduation is coming. xD