Author's note: Ok i don't own the characters or settings or spells etc (really wish i did but i don't) they belong to JK Rowling.

Ok so this story is about a real-life style challenge that the 6th years get put up to...and it really changes their lifes forever. Shows how much one year can do to you.

dedicated to gemmy who is my best mate and reads my fanfics for me :D

6th year for Hogwarts students would usually be a fairly uneventful year. As there are no exams it's supposed to be a bit of a break before all the hard work of finishing in 7th year. But not this year…All 6th year students will be undergoing a challenge set by Professor McGonagall to prepare them for what is waiting when they leave school. They must learn to live completely on their own; cook, wash, clean, sleep outside of Hogwarts in properties specially set up for them in Hogsmede. And they must do so with someone who they would never normally spend any time with…

--

The hall's atmosphere was a jittery one, mixed with fear and excitement. No one really thought this was real yet. They were all thinking that they would go to the house and settle down, and then spend a few days there before returning to the comfort of Hogwarts. Hermione sensed it wasn't going to be like that at all. She settled herself between Harry and Ron, silently praying to be paired with one of them, although knowing her luck it was unlikely.

"Silence 6th years!" Professor McGonagall's voice rang sharply across the Great Hall. "I will read out the list of partners in alphabetical order from the girl's side. You will then collect your things from the entrance hall and load them into your carriage. You will not, I repeat, will not dispute the pairings with me or you will be sent home to study from your house for the remainder of the year." Hermione gripped onto both Harry and Ron's hands tightly and listened to the names being called, letting them echo limply around her head and taking nothing in. Then she felt Harry's hand tighten around hers ever so slightly as the Professor called, "Miss Cho Chang will be paired with Mr Ronald Weasley."

Ron's jaw dropped several inches. He glanced rather apologetically at Harry who gave a non-committal shrug and grunt. Then he cleared his throat somewhat awkwardly and jerked his head in the direction of the door. Cho was twirling her hair round her finger rather manically and followed him and a brisk walk, looking a shade paler than she had a few moments ago. Harry and Hermione remained clinging to each other's hands; each silently hoping while the next few names were called.

"Miss Hermione Granger will be sharing with Mr Draco Malfoy." A sort of eerie silence fell across the room. In which Hermione refused to let go of Harry's hand, or indeed even to stand up until Harry gave her a forceful jab in the back. She daren't meet eyes with Draco; something in side her just refused to let her look up. He seemed nonplussed just picking up his trunk and walking from the room without a backward glance. Hermione however took a long time over getting her things together and saying good-bye to a few of her girl friends. She took long enough to hear Harry's name called out…next to that of Luna Lovegood.

Luna just smiled rather dazedly and followed a relieved looking Harry from the room. Hermione was stung with jealousy; Harry had got to partner with a friend, even if she was a strange one.

Arrival: Ron and Cho

The carriage ride was carried out in an awkward silence sat next to each other on the seat but being very careful not to touch. It was early evening as they arrived outside their house in the centre of Hogsmede. The village around them was still fairly busy with shoppers and Cho delicately detached herself from the carriage feeling extremely self-conscious. She felt spaced out, not entirely in control. Ron cleared his throat and then scuffed his trainers on the pavement.

"Shall we- er- go in?" She suggested hesitantly and he nodded. She picked up her trunk and clung to the handle with clammy fingers as Ron opened the door and held it for her.

They had stepped into a long, narrow and dimly lit corridor and Cho hurried through it, afraid that if they lingered too long she might try to run back out of the front door. Through a door on their left she glimpsed a homely looking living room with an adjacent room that Cho presumed must be the kitchen. She climbed the carpeted stairs just a few steps behind Ron, torn between wanting to stay close because she was scared and wanting to stay apart because she barely knew him. Upstairs was small. It had a single, though not tiny, bathroom, one study room with a desk and an empty bookcase and a large bedroom at the front of the house.

"Looks like we have to share." Ron stated the obvious in a dumbstruck kind of voice.

"Yea." Silence. "There are two beds though." More silence. "Well I'll take the one by the window, if you don't mind?" Cho raised her eyebrows, implying she would need a response.

"Oh yea. Sure. Whatever you like."

Arrival: Harry and Luna

Harry and Luna had sat opposite each other smiling a little nervously. Now they stood in front of their allotted house Harry knew that had not been nerves at all, not compared to what he felt now. They were right at the very beginning of Hogsmede village so Hogwarts was still in sight. It made him extremely homesick. Looking braver than he felt Harry held the door for Luna and when she didn't cross the threshold he gave her a gentle nudge. They had stepped straight into a large living room and Luna immediately set her trunk down and gazed around contentedly, apparently not wanting to venture any further into the house. Harry however felt he had to calm his shot nerves and strode to the end of the room to peer into the kitchen. In the fading light he could just see a long thin garden; Harry shuddered, he felt a million miles from Hogwarts right now. He walked back into the living room and found Luna and her trunk missing. For one wild moment he thought she'd freaked out and runaway, then he came back to his senses and realised she must be upstairs. He dragged his trunk up to follow her. There was a large modern bathroom at the back of the upstairs landing and a bedroom at the front. Harry was hugely relieved to find two separate beds at separate ends of the room. He sat down, his head whirling with the unreality of the whole situation.

"Harry are you ok?"

"Wha-? Oh yeah I'm fine. Just feel a little shell shocked."

"Would you like a cup of tea? There's this wonderful herbal infusion that me and daddy just love…"

"Er…No that's ok Luna. I think I'll just go to bed." Harry knew all about Luna and her father's crazy recipes and had no real desire to get food poisoning this early on in the year. She smiled and nodded distractedly before floating out of the room. Harry breathed a sigh of relief. This year certainly wasn't going to be easy.

Arrival: Hermione and Draco

Hermione was shaking head to toe. She had been staring out of the window for what felt like eternity when they finally arrived at their new 'house'. It was on the very outskirts of Hogsmede, as far away from school as Hermione had ever been during term time. Draco walked straight into the tall crooked looking building, letting the door swing back in Hermione's face without a thought. She swore under her breath but said nothing, not wanting to be left alone outside. The place had the run-down and homely air of the Weasley's house and Hermione found it comforting. On the ground floor was a small kitchen, over looking a rather wild garden, attaching to a diner/study. The second floor contained an enormous bedroom and a bathroom and then there was a small spiral staircase to the third floor, which consisted of only one room. It was a circular library come living room. Hermione even let herself smile slightly. She already loved this house.

Coming back downstairs Hermione cut into the bedroom to claim her bed. Draco was lying on his reading some book that looked truly evil just from the cover.

"God this place is a dump." He muttered,

"Oh suit yourself I find it rather charming." Hermione retorted quicker than she had meant to, ruffling through her case for an interesting book.

"Shut up mudblood!" He spat the word viciously, yet careless to its affect as he didn't even look up from his book. Hermione turned red instantly and tears began to well. She slammed from the room and ran up to the attic library. If I have to live up here for a whole year I will, better than putting up with that pig. She thought, and began to cry helplessly; not even caring if Draco could hear her.