If you've read this story before the month of August 2011 read this note

A/N: I've changed this chapter because of one teeny mistake I made, about when Professor Slughorn would need the feathers. Just a teeny detail. Ok continue reading and enjoy!

Chapter One—Jobberknolls

Harry, Hermione and Ron made their way past the Quidditch pitch and down the steps leading to Hagrid's hut. It was a beautiful Monday afternoon, and the trio was glad they had Care of Magical Creatures, so they could spend it outside. "I wonder what Hagrid's bringing in this afternoon?" Hermione asked. Harry shrugged, but Ron replied, "I hope it's not those Blast-Ended skrewts again. Nightmare, those bloody creatures are." Harry and Hermione laughed, and went to the usual spot where they had their classes.

Unfortunately, they were dismayed when they saw not Hagrid, but Professor Grubbly-Plank standing before the group of sixth years. "Welcome to Care of Magical Creatures, year five. To kick off this term, we'll start with—oh, what Miss Granger?" All eyes averted to Hermione, who had her hand up in the air. "Where's Hagrid, Professor?"

"Professor Hagrid is away, by Professor Dumbledore's orders. Confidential orders even I don't know, Miss Granger," she added, as Hermione's mouth opened again to ask the question. Malfoy and his friends, who were hanging away from the group, whispered loudly, "Glad that big oaf's out of the picture." The Slytherins cackled. Harry retorted, "Shove off, Malfoy," and Ron and Hermione gave Malfoy's posse angry looks. The Hufflepuffs shushed them.

"As I was saying," Professor Grubbly-Plank continued loudly, "to start this term, we'll start with discussing these creatures…" And with that, she uncovered a large piece of cloth from a cage behind her back. The cage, which was quite huge, held strange-looking birds. They were very, very tiny, about the size of a pebble. They were greyish, with blue speckles all over them. They opened their beaks, but did not make a sound. There must've been at least thirty in the cage, and still they did not occupy all the space. "Does anybody know what these creatures are?"

"Those are Jobberknolls, Professor," Hermione answered. Professor Grubbly-Plank nodded, and awarded Gryffindor with five points. "Care to tell the class what Jobberknolls are, Miss Granger?"

"Jobberknolls are tiny birds from America and Northern Europe. They don't make noises, unless they're about to die, and they let out a long scream of everything they've ever heard. Their feathers are useful, and are ingredients in Truth Serums and Memory Potions." Professor Grubbly-Plank grinned. "Excellent, Miss Granger. Take five more points to Gryffindor! The last part of Miss Granger's answer is important. We're growing these Jobberknolls for Professor Slughorn. He's had a shortage of Jobberknoll feathers, and he plans on teaching his class to brew Truth Serums and Memory Potions in a few months, probably by December or January. By then these Jobberknolls—'' she gestured to the cage "—would've been fully grown."

"So we're supposed to raise them, Professor?" Dean Thomas asked. Professor Grubbly-Plank nodded. "Right, Mr Thomas. As this term's assignment, I will pair you lot up. A pair will take two Jobberknolls each and for the next month, you will be raising the Jobberknolls like they are your own children." This statement got a groan from the Slytherins. "And this project will earn you not only grades from me, but also extra credit from Professor Slughorn. Now take note, these Jobberknolls are extremely fragile. They need proper care and pampering, and a lot of attention. You wouldn't have to worry about food, though, they only eat insects."

Professor Grubbly-Plank paired up the class, which consisted of mostly Gryffindors and Slytherins, but there was a fair amount of Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs. She took out a roll of parchment from her cloak and read off names from the class list.

"…Boot and Patil…no, not Padma. Miss Patil from Gryffindor, Mr Boot. Longbottom and Bones, Potter and Padma Patil, Weasley and Abbott, Finch-Fletchley and Parkinson…"

"A Hufflepuff!" Pansy gasped, a look of disgust on her face. Professor Grubbly-Plank continued until she reached the bottom of the list. "…Nott and Brocklehurst and last but not the least, Malfoy and Granger. Now choose your Jobber—''

"A FILTHY MUDBLOOD! That's not fair! I get paired with a Mudblood? I'd rather have the great big oaf back to teach than let a Mudblood near me!" Draco Malfoy complained, his face red with fury. He pointed a finger at Grubbly-Plank. "You change that pairing! Anyone but that Mudblood. I'll have you fired, woman, my father is a school governor and he shall hear about this."

"Mr Malfoy, your language! Watch your tongue, Mr Malfoy, or you will get a month's worth of detentions! School governors have no right to sack teachers, and I do not care about who your father is. The pairing is final, and you will just have to work out with whatever issues you have with Miss Granger."

Meanwhile, amidst Malfoy's shouting, Hermione simply turned beet red. Her two best friends, on either side of her, had looks of surprise on their faces. "Malfoy? You can't simply work with Malfoy. He hates you, and you loathe him!" Ron said. Hermione looked at Ron. "Thank you for stating the obvious, Ronald." Harry stared at Hermione. "So what's your plan, then? This is worth a grade, Hermione, and I know you won't let Malfoy ruin your chances of getting top marks," he stated. Hermione nodded. "I—I'll…We'll just have to work it out. Malfoy and I. He could be, and is, a prick but he still cares about his grades. At least, Lucius Malfoy the school governor does."

The pairs walked up to each other and as Professor Grubbly-Plank instructed, took two Jobberknolls, one person each. Malfoy and Hermione stood within five feet of each other, and took their Jobberknolls last. The tiny birds had tags on them. Hermione's had a blue one, and Malfoy's had a pink. "If you would like, you could name your Jobberknolls and write them on the tags provided. Remember, this project is worth forty percent of your final term marks. Do not mess it up. And I shall know if you have not been cooperating with your project partners. The tags have more than one purpose," Professor Grubbly-Plank said. "Class dismissed!" She waved her hand and the students walked away, back up to the castle, in pairs. Harry was whisked away by Padma to talk about how they were going to work together, and Ron walked with Hannah to choose names. Hermione decided to wait for Draco, but he chose to walk along with his friends.

Hermione contended herself with observing the little creature in her hands. The Jobberknoll had soft feathers—at the moment. Its beak was short and stubby, and its eyes were grey-blue—like its feathers. She stroked the fine feathers and muttered, "What shall we—I call you, little Jobberknoll?" Then, from behind her, a familiar voice said, "I think you should call him Scorpius." Hermione turned around and almost lost her balance on the steps when she was face-to-face with Malfoy. Malfoy was scowling.

"What?" Hermione huffed.

"I said, I think you—pardon, we—should call him" Malfoy gestured to the Jobberknoll in Hermione's hands—"Scorpius."

"I meant, what do you want? I reckon you wouldn't want to be near me, since I'm a Mudblood."

Malfoy shrugged. "We have to work together to get a good grade. My father would go ballistic if he found out I was failing Care Of Magical Creatures, even though the big oaf taught it. Well, not now, so he would go even madder," Malfoy reasoned. Hermione nodded slowly. Well, that was good. At least Malfoy wasn't being difficult with the we-have-to-work-together-to-get-a-good-grade. They walked up the steps in silence—most of the students were in the castle already.

"Where're your friends? Wouldn't they be disgusted when they saw you walking with a Mudblood?"

"Dear Lord, Granger, don't make this difficult! It's a bloody project, they'll cope. And who knows where Crabbe and Goyle are, probably using the birds as Bludgers on first years."

There was another moment or two of silence. Then Hermione said, "Scorpius is a terrible name for a cute little bird." Malfoy looked shock. "For your information, Granger, I've had that name picked out for my future son, if I ever had one. And it's a wonderful name. Unusual, and powerful-sounding."

Hermione looked at Malfoy weirdly. "Fine, you name the bird Scorpius. I get to name the other one." Malfoy shrugged. "That's fair." He held out the bird he was gently clutching with his left hand. It was sleeping. Hermione took it and gave him the one she held, now named Scorpius. Once they finished climbing the steps, Malfoy took out a quill and scribbled the name on the tag. After a long time of pondering, Hermione said, "Rose. I'll name her Rose. Can I borrow your quill?"

Malfoy gave her his quill. "Sounds like a common name, Granger." He scrunched up his nose in disgust. Hermione carefully scribbled Rose on the pink tag and retorted, "It's a lovely name. Rose is my favourite flower." She beamed at the Jobberknoll. Then the bell rang for the next class. Hermione hurried off to Ancient Runes without bidding Malfoy good-bye.

"My quill, Granger!" he called after her.

But Hermione was already out of earshot.