It was a crisp fall day, Hermione watched the leaves fall from the trees around her. This year was going to be different, she could feel it in the air. Her, Ron, Harry, Luna, Neville, and Ginny had just boarded their carriage up to Hogwarts and she found herself feeling optimistic about this year. This was her second year as a prefect and Dumbledore had changed some things around. They now had Prefect Dorms along with the Prefect's Bathroom. She knew that the Prefects could change every year but her position had held and she was ecstatic. Ron's had not unfortunately and Hermione tired not to let her mind wander to the possibility of she and Ron sharing a dorm. Shaking her head slightly, she turned to Ginny and they began talking animatedly about the promises this year held. Ginny was seeing Dean Thomas and Hermione loved hearing of her friends love life. Seeing as her own was nonexistent she had been living vicariously through her flirtatious friend.
Once they arrived, the group made their way to the Great Hall. All of the old familiar faces were there and she felt her previous rush of excitement again. After Dumbledore's depressing speech, the Gryffindors tucked into their dinners. Everyone was catching up on the summers goings on. A few kids began to talk about The Dark Lords return but quieted when they saw how close Harry was sitting. Hermione saw her friends jaw clench and she grabbed his hand under the table, giving it a thoughtful squeeze.
Harry looked up at her as he gave her hand a squeeze back ,"It's fine, Mione. I'm fine," His voice was tense but she could see he was indeed okay.
She felt Ron's eyes before she looked up at him, he was staring at the pair of them with a slightly accusatory look and Hermione bristled. Why did he always think something was going on between she and Harry? Harry was her brother and that was final. Hermione shot him a look that sent Ron's eyes back to his plate of food. Harry had already had a rough encounter with Malfoy before they came in. Harry had been late to dinner because of it and it had cost him a broken nose, which Luna had promptly fixed. Since his name had passed through her mind, Hermione's eyes fell to the Slytherin in question. She could spot Malfoy's pale blonde hair anywhere. He was looking very sullen, brooding silently as his friends all laughed around him. Hermione was puzzled, despite herself, this was very unlike Malfoy. Every other year you would find him poking fun at everyone just like his house mates. Why was she so concerned? To take her mind off of her questions, she gossiped with Ginny until they were dismissed.
As her friends made their way to their respective dorms, Hermione went to Dumbledore's office. The Prefects would meet with him first and then they would be taken to their new dorms. If she was correct, their was only one prefect from each house this year. It was a much more selective process than usual but that was just fine by her. Hermione passed through the open office door and found she was not the first one there for once.
"Luna! You're a prefect this year?," Hermione said as she caught sight of her friend. Maybe she would room with Luna?
"Yes, indeed I am. I'm quite perplexed as to why but Dumbledore must have his reasons," As she finished she smiled fondly at the aged man in front of them.
Hermione received a nod from the wizard and she took her seat. "We're just waiting for the men now, ladies," Dumbledore murmured, seemingly lost in thought.
Hermione was wondering who the Hufflepuff and Slytherin representatives would be just as they walked through the door. Justin Finch-Fletchley and Draco Malfoy took their respective seats. Justin eyed Hermione appreciatively and gave her a small wave. Malfoy simply looked at her then away, disinterested.
"Okay now that you are all here, I'd like to congratulate you on being this years Hogwarts Prefects," Dumbledore said fondly ,"This year, I'm hoping you all will help keep the peace in the castle and keep everything under control. As it was stated in your letters, this year you have your own dorms. One of the dorms is in the right corridor of the third floor and the other is placed in the left corridor on the same floor. Most people would expect me to put the girls with each other and vice versa for the gentleman. However, I'm doing something different," Hermione's daydream of rooming with Luna vanished and she felt herself freeze, No. She held her breath as the man in front of them continued ,"The room pairings will be: Mr. Finch-Fletchley and Ms. Lovegood, Mr. Malfoy and Ms. Granger. Any problems?"
"Several!," Hermione said in a shrilly voice ,"Professor, may I ask why on Earth I have been placed where I am?"
"Yes, I'm wondering that as well," Draco said, the room announcements had taken him out of his mood and he looked just as concerned as Hermione.
Dumbledore surprised them both by smiling knowingly at the pair ,"I have my reasons. The rooms will not be changed so both of you should forget that idea as well," Hermione's face fell and Malfoy ran a frustrated hand through his pale locks ,"Now, I shall escort you to your rooms. Let us go,"
Hermione barely felt her legs as she followed the gray haired man and she did not dare a glance at Malfoy. As Dumbledore dropped Luna and Justin off at their respective dorm, Hermione vowed to try and be as mature as possible in this situation even though she knew how terrible her temper was when it came to him. Dumbledore bid them goodnight and gave them that look again, leaving them to decide on a password for their entrance. Their portrait was of a duel, ironically.
"You're the smart one Granger, use that Gryffindor brain," Draco drawled out. Shivering despite herself, Hermione racked her brain for an appropriate password.
"Pasties," She muttered and the swordsmen bowed to them as the portrait swung open.
The unlikely pair stepped through the portrait right into their own common room. It was quite cozy, a large couch, love seat, and arm chair set with blankets on each in a mixture of green, silver, gold, and red. She saw Draco give a disgusted look at the gold and red quilt out of the corner of her eye and she rolled her eyes and took a walk around the room. Hermione spotted a bookshelf and beelined for it.
"Don't roll your eyes, Granger," She whipped her head around at him and gave him a peeved look ,"I miss nothing, Granger. Oh look who went straight for the books, what a surprise," He sneered.
"Oh, don't be such a prat," She huffed, already exasperated by him. "Not two minutes in a room-"
"Don't start with me, Mudblood, I've had a rough night," He smirked when he saw her freeze where she was.
Hermione saw red. She had her wand out so fast that even Malfoy looked stunned ,"Alright, I thought we would have to do this. Listen here ferret boy, let's lay down some rules for this year. You will not call me that name as long as we are living in the same space, do you understand me? Living with you will be unberable, I don't need you being a prejudiced, spoiled brat along with it. Do I make myself clear, Malfoy?" She said his name with such disgust. She saw something glint in his eye and she could not understand what it was.
"Crystal fucking clear, Granger," He said with another trademark smirk ,"You certainly have gotten brave haven't you? Forever a Gryffindor,"
"My right hook wasn't brave enough for you, Malfoy?" It was her turn to smirk as she saw him remember their incident third year.
"Point for you, congratulations. Let's all clap for, Granger," He clapped mockingly but Hermione could tell she had won this one.
"Don't be such a sore loser, Malfoy," She said sarcastically," It's not pure of you," She laughed haughtily at her own blood status jab and she began to saunter to her room when she felt him grab her arm.
He spun her around so fast it made her head spin. His grip on her wrist was tight and his face was too close for her liking ,"Look whose making jokes now. You think because you're Gryffindor's Golden Girl every one will ignore that you're muggle-born," He spat out the word like it left a foul taste in his mouth ,"They can build you up all they want, Granger, but you aren't as perfect as they make you out to be. You may be intelligent but your blood is still as filthy as the mud in the black lake-"
Hermione didn't let him finnish his rude sentence, Draco may have had her left arm pinned but he had forgotten about her right. She pulled her fist back and snapped it forward, sufficiently punching him in the mouth. He released her left arm, backing away while wiping the blood trickling from his split lip.
"You had better learn to watch your damn mouth Draco or you're going to be visiting the Infirmary every night," Her words held just as much hatred as his had ,"What, just because I don't put myself on a damn pedestal for the world to kiss my feet, I'm not worthy of your respect? Not all of us follow our daddy's around in hopes of being the next great Death Eater. Letting mommy fold your suits in neat little squares so you can strut around school and look down your nose at people-"
"Don't you dare talk about my mother," He snarled
"I'll do whatever I like Draco and I will talk about whoever I damn well please. You want to disrespect me, fine, but I can and will do it right back. I will show you as much respect as you show me so I think we're even," She growled her words at him.
She held her ground as he stalked over to her, looming his tall frame over her small one. He glared at her and she glared right back. They held their stares, waiting for the other to falter, but Hermione held strong.
Draco broke the silence ,"Well looky here, the Lioness has finally grown some balls. You want respect? Well, look somewhere else for it. I openly dislike you and the nitwits you call friends. Scarhead and the Weasel aren't going to help you once you're behind these walls, Granger so I hope your new found courage holds through. I do like a challenge."
She did not understand the last part but before she could retort he brushed past her and into his own room, slamming the door hard enough to make the walls shake. Hermione went into her room and slammed the door even harder. She let out a big breath as she threw herself on her bed. this was only the first night of the year and she was already thinking of hexes to throw at that prestigious blonde head. And what had he meant about 'liking a challenge'? She didn't understand it but she knew she didn't like it. Was he devising some sort of plan to mess with her? Maybe saying that was the plan and it was indeed messing with her head. Hermione tried to rid herself of Malfoy by taking a shower. Her plan was almost soiled when she entered the bathroom that he also had a door adjoining his bedroom to the bathroom. She shed her robes and took a look in the mirror, she really had grown up. Her body wasn't stick thin but she wasn't voluptuous by any means. She was slender but with curves in the right places. Hermione was also blessed in the bosom area and he hair was less frizzy. She climbed into the shower and let the warm spray wash away all traces of the Slytherin Prince from her mind.
Once she thought she was clean and exhausted she wrapped herself in a towel and bent down to pick up her clothing when she heard a scuffle behind the opposite door. As soon as she had heard the sound, Malfoy burst through the door. He stood there, taking in Hermione's attire. She saw him staring and she couldn't help but smirk, Draco Malfoy was checking out a muggle born. She purposely bent over slowly to grab her last piece of clothing from the floor and she saw his eyes spark.
"My apologies, I must have taken too long. Good night Malfoy," She said in an innocent voice, while turning on her heel and walking out of the bathroom with a little swing to her hips.
Point one for Hermione.