Disclaimer: Do you think I would be doing this if I owned anything at all?

Summary: A group of eight students are stuck in a dorm for the summer holidays, courtesy of Dumbledore. Insanity ensues. Not HBP compatible. Takes place at the end of sixth year, summer before seventh.

Chapter One: This Is How It Begins

Hermione was tingling all the way down to her toes. There were five minutes left 'til her sixth year at Hogwarts was over. Harry grabbed her right hand and Ron held her left for dear life. The tingling feeling she felt seemed to flow into them as well. Ron shared a grin with his two best friends.

Four minutes. Across the cluttered classroom sat Draco Malfoy, squashed between Crabbe and Goyle yet just as excited at the prospect of summer as the Gryffindors. Pansy was giggling nervously with Millicent Bulstrode and Draco shared a trembling glance with Blaise Zabini.

Three minutes. Ginny stared at the clock and began counting down the seconds from 180. 179…178…177…176…

Two minutes. Albus Dumbledore sat at his desk, thinking of, not only the seventh years he was about to lose, but also about the incoming first years. He also reflected on his experiment, which was about to commence, if the teachers had done their jobs correctly.

One minute. Minerva McGonogal broke into tears as she looked at her Advanced Transfiguration class, full of seventh years she wasn't likely to see again. 'Til the reunions, of course.

The entire school began a countdown.

5…

4…

3…

2…

1…

Screaming, laughing, and cheering students erupted from within Hogwarts and headed towards summer – and freedom.

All save eight students who were, mysteriously, missing.

-l-l-l-

As soon as Draco Malfoy, Blaise Zabini, Pansy Parkinson, Millicent Bulstrode, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, and Ginny Weasley had touched their bags, they had been transported to a dormitory.

They saw their trunks in front of them. They saw each other. They saw confusion. And they saw the Headmaster, Dumbledore.

Hermione was the first to regain her composure. "Headmaster, what is going on?" Dumbledore smiled. Good, he thought, all the teachers did their jobs. Before answering, Dumbledore looked the teenagers over.

"You lot will be spending the summer here, at Hogwarts Castle," Dumbledore said, grinning. Before Hermione could ask, he answered, "I have your parents' permission. Anywho, this is an experiment to promote inter-house relationships between Slytherin and Gryffindor because your two houses have the most problems with one another. I can only hope your two houses will work through you issues, without harming each other, please and thank you."

"But…" Harry trailed off. Her couldn't begin to articulate an answer to Dumbledore's explanation.

"You see your trunks – I presume your eyes are in working order? You will stay in this dorm at all times this summer. We have charmed a pool to hang from the building and have created an indoor Quidditch pitch. Your families sent us every piece of clothing you owned as well and it is now being brought up to this dorm by the elves. Any questions?" Dumbledore asked. Hermione was so stunned she forgot to lecture her Headmaster on the importance of elfin rights and ask him, once again, to join her organization, S.P.E.W.

"Who will be chaperoning us?" Pansy wanted to know.

"Why, I will of course! I'll be spending the holiday on campus and I'll check on you now and again to see how it's coming along," Dumbledore laughed.

Draco groaned inwardly. So this was what he had to look forward to this summer? Clingy Pansy, Mudblood, Scarface, Weasel-Bee Male, and Weasel-Bee Female? He didn't mind Millicent and got on quite well with Blaise. The other six…

Draco was sure he was going to go mad.

"Well, since there're no more questions I suppose you'll want to settle in. Girls up the staircase to the right, boys to the left. Good day." And Dumbledore was gone.

-l-l-l-

Once all the girls had settled into their dorms, they decided to check out the pool and indoor Quidditch pitch (Ginny). They all rolled their eyes as they heard the boys arguing their dorm. The four girls returned to the common room and discussed their current predicament.

"What I don't understand is why he chose me," Ginny said. "I mean, you're all sixth years-"

"Seventh," the other 3 girls corrected.

"Seventh years and I'm a sixth year. Why?"

"You're mature for your age," Millicent said matter-of-factly. "That's got to be Dumble-Dweeb's reason."

Hermione nodded, agreeing with Millicent. "It's the only logical reason he would do it."

The fire crackled as the girls continued on to another, more interesting topic.

The boys, currently, were fighting.

Over beds.

"I'm the richest! I get first choice!" Draco exclaimed. "And I choose the window-bed!"

"Oh no you don't, Ferret-Face! I want that bed and I'll fight you for it!" Ron yelled back.

OK, so it was just Draco and Ron that were fighting. Harry and Blaise had chosen two beds, two normal and not window-beds, and kept from arguing with one another. They watched Ron and Draco with bored expressions.

Blaise heard a loud, girly laugh from downstairs in the common room and felt a strong pang of jealousy. The girls were getting on just fine – buggered be he – why couldn't the boys?

Egos, Blaise answered himself, damnable egos.

"Tell you what, Weasel-Bee, I'll pay you from the bed. Merlin knows your mum could use the extra money, as could the rest of your family. 1000 galleons," Draco drawled. Ron looked enraged further and looked as though he was ready to launch himself at Draco when he heard the offer.

Surprising everyone, Ron kept fairly calm, his anger betrayed by his red face. "Keep your damn money. Take the bed. I don't care anymore."

Harry stood and put a hand to Ron's forehead, checking for a fever. Ron had none and Harry shook his head in confusion. Draco smirked triumphantly and moved his trunk to the foot of the window-bed, proud of his win over Weasley. Ron, looking put out, flopped down onto the last empty bed.

Merlin help them.

-l-l-l-

(A/N: This is my first fanfic EVER so please don't be too harsh with me. I'm looking for constructive criticism wherever possible and I hope you liked it!

Toodle-Loo!)