Hermione, Harry and Ron had all made their way to their seats at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall. The year had just begun, and as always, an elaborate welcome feast would surely ensue. Hermione was looking forward to this year. She had received a letter from Professor McGonagall over the summer informing her of her long-awaited title as Head Girl this upcoming year. She was extremely excited, and the only thing she was truly nervous about was sharing a tower with whomever was deemed Head Boy. She figured while this was a prestigious title, she knew things would get awkward, sharing a tower and common room with a single boy. She could only hope the title would be given to someone who had the same values, morals, trustworthiness and kindness as she had.

"Aren't you worried about sharing a room with a guy, Hermione?" Ron questioned, his mouth stuffed with turkey. "I mean, it's awesome you're Head Girl and all, but if I hear about whoever the bloke is who's made Head Boy coming anywhere near you, I'll tear him to bits."

"Ronald, of course I'm a bit nervous. Mainly just about privacy. But honestly, I doubt anything terrible will happen." Hermione replied, a bit annoyed, but however glad Ron was concerned about her protection involving her new living arrangements.

"Besides," she continued, "the only real thing we're sharing is the common room. We have separate bedrooms, you know, and washrooms and such. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go speak to McGonagall. She wanted to talk to me about our duties and privileges. I'll let you know who the Head Boy is later." With that Hermione took up her notebook and quill and started for the Transfiguration classroom. "Oh and Ronald. You really should slow down with the eating. You're going to choke!"

As soon as she walked in the door, she saw the back of a head of a boy with white-blonde hair, sitting in a chair infront of Professor McGonagall.

Her heart sank.

NO.

It couldn't be...could it? She searched her mind for anyone, ANYONE who had white-blonde hair in her year. Shit. Please tell me that's not who I think it is.

"Ah, Miss Granger, how nice of you to join us. Please, have a seat. I was just telling Mr. Malfoy some of your duties as Head Boy and Girl."

Damn it!

Hermione tried to hold back a grimace as she slowly approached the remaining seat beside Draco Malfoy and sat, almost regretfully, down. As she glanced beside her at Malfoy, he caught her eye and had a devious smile on his face. She wanted to die, right there. Curl up under McGonagall's desk, never to be seen again.

Professor McGonagall finished up informing them of what was expected of them this year, and the certain privileges they had under their titles. As soon as she dismissed them, Hermione quickly stood up and headed for the door. When she began walking back down the hallway, up to the tower, Malfoy cut her off. "Hey Mudblood. Gonna have some fun this year, eh? Bet you can't wait to live with me," he said wish a devilish grin.

Hermione frowned.

"Malfoy, I'd much rather it have been any other boy in the entire school sitting in that chair as opposed to you. But quite frankly, we might as well just make the best of the year, alright? Don't bother me. I won't bother you. Things will work out fine."

Hermione managed to push past him only for a moment before he had jumped in her way once more.

"Fine by me, mudblood. As long as the light from the common room doesn't keep me up all night from the annoyingly incessant studying you have planned for yourself, things between us will go just fine."

"Good! Now will you please quit preventing me from getting to my room, I'd like to catch up on some reading and go to sleep." With that, she swerved around him and strolled back up the hallway.

Malfoy called after her with a laugh, "Granger, how is it that you already have to catch up on anything? It's only the first night back! Positively ridiculous..." And his voice trailed off.

Hermione made it up to their new dormitory with success, and with no more added interruptions from Malfoy.

The common room was absolutely amazing. It was extravagantly cozy and elegant yet had all your simple needs at the same time. Hermione gazed at the bookshelf that lined one of the walls and sighed, hugging herself with a smile. She was going to love it here. As long as Malfoy didn't pester her too much.

She selected a book she'd only read once or twice on the shelf and headed off to her room with it. Her bedroom held the biggest bed she had ever seen, and it looked extremely comfortable. She lit a few candles on the nightstand, plopped down on the bed to read a few chapters of her book for the next couple hours, all the while waiting to hear stirring from the common room, indicating Malfoy had finally come in for the night. When she had gotten too sleepy to keep her eyes open any longer, and he still hadn't arrived in the room, she fell asleep.

----

She was the first one awake in the morning. To her disgust there was only one bathroom in the place. She made sure to get her clothes before heading into the bathroom to draw herself a bubble bath, so she wouldn't die of embarrassment if Malfoy ever saw her in a towel.

The bath felt wonderfully relaxing. She soaked herself in the tub for nearly 30 minutes, all the while hoping Malfoy wouldn't start banging around the common room, disturbing her.

Just as she was about to get out of the tub, she heard the door handle turn.

"OH MY GOD!" Hermione screamed as Malfoy stood at the door, his mouth agape and speechless. "Get out! Get the hell out at once!"

She tried to cover herself the best to her ability, but sure that Malfoy saw at least something from the encounter.

"Alright, alright! Good lord, I'm sorry! I didn't hear a shower running so I thought the room was free!" He shouted at her, turning his head away, although he was smiling.

After regaining her composure after nearly dying of embarrassment, Hermione got out and dried herself off. She put her clothes on and quietly made her way back into the common room to find Malfoy reading a book on the sofa.

"Some people do take baths, you know." She stated as she crossed her arms in front of her chest, as if she were still naked.

Malfoy eyed her up and down as well with a grin. "Ha, well you could have locked the door, let alone shut it, you know."

Hermione was quiet for a moment. "Um, well, I should probably um, go find Harry and Ron."

"Alright," he said, peering up at her from his book, still laughing to himself.

She awkwardly turned away blushing, wondering just how much he had seen. She hoped not as much as she thought he had.

Oh god, Draco Malfoy saw you naked. Naked! So stupid Hermione, why didn't you shut the door?

A multitude of thoughts crossed through her mind as she grabbed her wand and headed out through the portrait hole to find Ron and Harry, hoping they wouldn't suspect anything.