Chapter 1: Dumbledore's Assignment

AN: Okay this is the first chapter.. duh. Anyways, I will hopefully be finishing this within the next 24-48 hours. It should be 5-10 chapters... Enjoy!

Hermione's POV:
As I make my way to the Great Hall for dinner I look around, wondering why it was so quiet. Today was the day the students left to go home for the holiday's. Hogwarts already seemed to miss the inhabitants that gave it life. The portraits mumbling was dulled, and the ghosts were quiet. The castle creaked in loneliness. Just like me, lonely. Harry and Ron are off doing something or other. Something that doesn't include me. So I'm left to walk the halls in silence, making my way to get something to eat.

The hall that usually holds four tables, one for each of the houses, instead holds one large round table. The table looks ancient but well built, possibly surviving with the assistance of magic. Maybe it is the table of legend, the one which King Arthur and his knights sat at. It seemed that the table was intended to promote unity, because as I enter the room I notice that people are sitting Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, Gryffindor, and then Slytherin. Nobody looked very happy with their seating arrangements. At one part of the table I see Cho Chang morosely picking at her food sitting next to Parkinson. They couldn't possibly have chosen these seats, so how do I know where I should sit. The second I step closer to the table my name lights up in a name tag. I'm assigned to sit next to Hannah Abbott. The Slytherin side is left empty.

"Hello Hannah." I say as I take my seat, "How're you?"

"Oh hi Hermione, It was alright." she replies looking up at me. "I wonder why we were assigned seats?"

"Me too. Oh well you know McGonnagall. She's following in Dumbledore's footsteps with the whole house unity thing." I say and then laugh quietly. She chuckles too and then freezes as she looks over my shoulder. Puzzled, I turn too to look where she's staring. It's Draco Malfoy. Headed straight for us.

"Lucky us." I whisper to her. She nods her head without meeting my eyes. She quickly gets distracted though, when Padma Patil sits down next to her.

"Malfoy," I nod, and turn back to my plate. It's still empty, but so is the table. How am I supposed to eat?

"Roasted chicken, mashed potato and gravy," I hear Malfoy mutter. His plate slowly fills up with his order.

"Beans on toast please." I am pleased to see that my request is met. My meal arrives to perfection. "Thank you," I whisper.

"You know the elves can't hear you Granger." His low voice says straight into my ear.

"I like to think they can feel it." And it's true. I always say thank you, just in case they do hear me say it, or can just tell.

He shakes his head, and gives the hint of something that could be a smile. If it wasn't Draco Malfoy, the blonde ferret, I would definitely have suspected it was a smile.

We eat the rest of our meals in silence. On my left Hannah and Padma are engrossed in conversation while from my side you could only hear the scrapes of forks scratching plates.

The food disappeared as a clap echoes through the hall. All of the students who have stayed for Christmas look up to the front where McGonnagall is standing. Her stern and commanding presence is the focus of everybody's attention.

"Hello everyone. I trust you all had a delicious dinner. Now before you eat your dessert there is somebody who would like to have a few words." At her words everyone looks around, wondering who could possibly be the person she was referring to. A portrait is summoned and placed almost exactly where the Headmistress was standing. It's Albus Dumbledore.

"Welcome students. It's a pleasure to see you all. I hope you like the current seating arrangements. Now onto more important matters. This morning an old friend of mine contacted me for help. He needs a group of older students willing to go and assist him with various odd jobs. I of course volunteered the seventh and eighth year students." At that a groan echoes through the hall. "Since I know all of you will be most willing to help an old man in need."

"What will we get out of it?" All heads turn to the person who yelled it out, Theodore Nott.

"Absolutely nothing. Christmas is the time of giving you see. Anyways this will start tomorrow. At breakfast tomorrow morning you need to sit in the seats you were assigned upon entering this evening. They will be your team. You will be given two jobs for the day and portkeyed to the location. When your jobs for the day have been completed you will have five minutes to meet the rest of your group and portkey back to Hogwarts. Are we clear? Right now happy christmas."

The former headmaster's portrait vanished and dessert appeared on the table. For a few seconds everyone was sitting in silence trying to digest the information they were just told. Suddenly the entire hall sprung into life, everybody talking. "What do you think we will have to do?- Who do you think we will work for? Etc"

"That blasted man. He's done it again. I just wanted a relaxing Christmas but instead I get this. The injustice." Malfoy's eyes blazed as he ranted to himself quickly and quietly.

I was struck with surprise. I would have to be in a group with Draco Malfoy, the evil Slytherin, the bully, the ferret for an undetermined length of time. Now while we have been getting along pretty well since the new year started, (we were avoiding each other) this strained civil relationship would not continue with us having to interact with each other. Daily.

Time seemed blur as I sat there and thought about what was going to happen. I was snapped out of it long after the dessert disappeared. I did not notice the stormy grey eyes watching me, appraising the situation. Instead I sat there and thought, tried to piece together the mystery. When I did finally snap out of it I noticed Malfoy's hand on my arm shaking me from my thoughts.

"Time to go Granger." I focused in on his face. "I guess we will be seeing a lot more of each other then." With that he pushed out his chair and stepped back from the table. "Night."

I dazedly walked up to the common room. I strode through the semi-deserted space that was usually so full bursting with people and noise. I went through the motions of preparing for bed without being properly aware of my actions. The only thought echoing through my mind was I am going to be seeing a lot more of Draco Malfoy. The problem was I couldn't tell how I felt about that.

AN: So that was the first chapter. What do you guys think? Yeah.. Please review :)