The next few weeks had been pretty busy. They were so focused with studying for their final exams and Hermione and Penelope went to student council meetings, a few pep rallies and other school events a lot after classes that they no longer have much time to hang out with the guys. She hardly sees Draco these days, too, except during the classes they share but he would sit so far away from her and would not even glance in her direction. She can't help being annoyed at him once again, also disappointed because she swore they were making progress in their relationship and then he does this. She cannot read him and that's very irritating for her. They kissed, for Pete's sake! She thought it meant something to him! So why is he ignoring her presence again? It feels like they are back to zero and she's getting annoyed with herself, too, for entertaining feelings such as this for Malfoy when she should have known better.

She wants to stop herself from thinking too much about him.

But it also crossed her mind that with the final exams coming up for this term, Draco cannot afford any distractions. The Ministry has been tracking his progress and grades over the months, and one false move from him would send his ass to Azkaban and Draco very well knows that. And she knows how scared he is even though he doesn't talk about it with her. All she knows is it's putting so much pressure on Draco, not to mention hostility that he often takes out on her and their friends. The Ministry official who introduced himself as Draco's "guardian" to the school would drop by twice a month to talk to his teachers, maybe hoping for some bad news, Hermione thinks. But Draco's records have been solid clean which means he is doing well with his school works and he seems to be adjusting well with the school. The Ministry official would be taken aback by this, to which he'll be clarifying, "We're talking about Draco Malfoy, right?" To which the school personells would respond, "Yes, he's an intelligent boy and very handsome, too." So the Ministry official would have no choice but to jot down these information on his record, and he'll be back again after a few weeks to hear the same comments.

Draco is doing well, but Hermione can't help being frustrated over Draco ignoring her and making the past few weeks seem like nothing at all to him. She doesn't know what to do.

Draco hasn't been showing up in their group study the past 2 weeks and today isn't an exemption. She has been so used to his presence and she couldn't take it anymore so he subtly asked Jimmy, since he's the only one among them who can get to Draco, for some reasons.

"He has new friends." Jimmy said, bitterly.

"What do you mean new friends?" Hermione pried.

"He went to the basketball try-outs last week and he made the team. He's been on practice every afternoon since. Doesn't even wanna hangout with me anymore." He said, glumly. His face looks like they'd been arguing, too. Or maybe he also feels ignored by him, pretty much like how she feels.

"He joined the basketball team? Are you sure?" Clark piped in, interested.

"No, he joined the cheerleading team." Jimmy said, sarcastically, rolling his eyes.

"Don't be rude!" Penelope said, annoyed.

Hermione can't help but be amused at this new information. Sure, she'd seen Draco at the gym watching them practice and he's also been to a few games and she thought it's only because he's a guy and he likes sports- wizarding or otherwise, but she didn't expect him to actually join the school's basketball team.

Who would've thought?

"It'll be good for him." Penelope said, matter-of-factly. "I mean he looks athletic. A bit pale but you've seen those muscles."

Hermione blushed. She doesn't want to think about Draco's muscles. Not here. Not now.

But she was surprised and she feels the need to talk to him now more than ever.

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Weekend came so fast, which means exam days are fast approaching, too. They sat huddled on a corner table of a coffee shop Saturday evening, poring on books and reading each other's class notes. Around 7 o'clock Draco walked in and stared at them, as if he just stumbled into them and didn't actually text Jimmy on their current whereabouts. He needed to study, too, and lately he's been slacking a bit on his studying because of basketball practice taking too much of his time, and he needs the group.

His heart did a somersault when he saw Hermione, though, and he tried to keep a straight face even though suddenly his knees feel like Jell-O and he wanted to sit beside her so he could smell her hair. He knows he's been hostile towards her lately, and he could see the disappointment on her face whenever he walks the opposite direction when he sees her approaching. He just doesn't know how to handle his growing feelings towards the girl yet, and there are so many things happening in his life right now that he can't help feeling overwhelmed. But while he can still ignore her, he decided he would. But Salazar, whenever she smiles at him it sends his heart jumping on his stomach. And she is so beautiful, he thought. I hate her so much.

"Hi." Hermione said when he plopped down on the seat opposite her. He nodded his head at her. He pulled out his textbooks from his backpack and started reading quietly. If he didn't want to interact with them he wouldn't be here tonight, Hermione thought, so she started talking to him.

"I heard you joined the basketball team." She said, casually.

Draco looked at her. "Yeah, so?"

"Nothing. We just thought it's nice. And explains so much why you're MIA from the group lately."

Draco sighed. "It's just getting so ridiculous watching them get thrashed all the time when there is something I can do. Like you said, I go to this school, too."

Hermione beamed at him. Penelope stopped writing on her notebook and turned to him, impressed.

"Noble." She said. "And can you also convince Jimmy to please contribute something to this school? All he does is litter the place and fart in hallways."

Jimmy snorted. "You wish, woman."

"So when's your first inter-school game?" Clark asked.

"In two weeks." Draco mumbled, nonchalantly.

"We'll be there!" Penelope said.

"With a video camera!" Jimmy added, like Draco is a toddler who just learned how to crawl and he needs to document the milestone.

"You people stay away from my game!" Draco snapped, his lips twitching into a half smile.

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The game was something the school haven't seen in years, or even decade. Draco is indeed their team's saving grace. He was swift on his feet, his lean and muscular body glistening with sweat, his face so focused…and happy. Jimmy stood next to their school's cheerleaders, with TEAM DRACO printed on his T-shirt in bold letters, and he was cheering louder than all of them. Draco can't help but laugh when he saw him. This idiot, he thought.

This was his first game, and the first time the audience saw him inside the court so people didn't expect much from him yet until they actually saw him play. When he steals the ball or does a three point shot the crowd goes wild. He was good and good looking so he stole the crowd's heart instantly. It was the school's first win this year and at the end of it their coach was pulling Draco into a bear hug. Draco managed a glare but his heart wasn't much into it. He was in a good mood to actually start being his usual terrible self. So he let them have this moment.

Jimmy was hugging him, too, when he walked to their seats on the bleachers after the game.

"They are too embarrassed to wear this." Jimmy said, gesturing to the huge TEAM DRACO on his shirt.

Penelope rolled her eyes. "Jimmy, you're an idiot, do you know that?"

"Yeah, you've said that to me five times today already, you rude lady." He shot back.

They congratulated him and Draco told them the team's having a victory party later and when Hermione asked why he's not with his teammates he said he's too exhausted to party. The group waited for him to finish showering, though, and they all went to a restaurant to celebrate. Draco didn't decline. He doesn't look exhausted to Hermione. Maybe he just used that excuse because he'd rather celebrate the victory with his friends than teammates. Hermione smiles at the thought of this.

Hey, guys! How are you? Hope you like this chapter. Tell me what you think! xoxo