Disclaimer: I own none of the characters that belong to the wonderful J.K. Rowling, nor do I own anything else owned by her, Warner Bros., or the other people who may have jumped onto the Harry Potter bandwagon. I'm not making any money here!

Thanks to my betas, winnett and beautifulrain! You guys rock!

Chapter One: The "Horrible" News

The train squealed loudly as it pulled into Hogsmeade Station on a stormy September 1st. Harry crumpled up the wrapper of his Pumpkin Pasty and put it in his pocket. He stood and stretched, reaching up toward the ceiling, arching his back. He felt content and happy getting ready to trundle up to the school to enjoy his final welcoming feast. It was rare for Harry to feel happy these days, and so he savored the emotion.

Neville Longbottom stood up too, stretching as Harry had. Harry had been sharing a compartment with Neville, Ginny Weasley, and Luna Lovegood. Ginny rose from her seat and began to pick up the discarded candy coverings that littered the compartment floor. Luna seemed to be counting the raindrops that rested on the window.

"3,366," she said dreamily, "that's a good sign."

Harry raised his eyebrows at her and decided to refrain from asking exactly why 3,366 raindrops on a window were a good sign. Instead he looked out of the window and up at the brilliant silhouette of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

"Here we are," Neville said in a voice that reflected the way Harry felt.

"Yep," Harry said, turning away from the scene before him. He pulled his cloak from one of the racks above the seats and put it on, following Ginny and Neville who had already filed out into the student-packed corridor. Luna had begun to recount the raindrops, just in case she had missed a few. Harry shook his head at her.

Once out into the passage he stood on tiptoe to see if he could spot his two best friends. Ron could be easily seen; his red head towered above the first years he was ushering out of the door. Hermione could barely be spotted next to him. An unseasonably chilly wind whipped past Harry as he neared the cold outside, and he pulled his cloak tighter around himself.

Ron patted him on the back as he slipped past. "Alright Harry?" he asked loudly over the chatter of hundreds of eager (and terrified) children. Harry smiled warmly at Ron and shook his hand in a joking manner.

"We'll meet you inside, Harry," Hermione said when someone further back yelled "HURRY UP!" Harry let go of Ron's hand and smiled at his friends once again.

"Okay, see you guys then," he said going out into the freezing cold. The wind blew his hood off and his hair immediately became drenched. He ran to catch up with Ginny and Neville; Luna was obviously still on the train.

The three climbed up into one of the Thestral drawn carriages and waited for the rest of the students to clamor off of the steam engine. Luna was the last to descend the few steps off the train and after she finally climbed into the carriage with the other three, they were off. Harry shook his head like a dog, splashing water all over his friends.

"Harry!" Ginny exclaimed, wiping her face with the hem of Harry's robes.

Harry grinned. "Sorry," he said.

Luna looked at him happily. "That was refreshing," she said in a distant voice. Harry stared at her bemusedly.

He couldn't help but beam when they rolled up to the grand front entry of the castle. This was his final year at Hogwarts, his home. He'd had so many wonderful times, and some not-too-great ones, but he loved the place just the same.

The carriage stopped in front of the steps with a slight jerk and Harry and Neville opened the door for Ginny and Luna. The four of them strode with the crowd towards the welcoming doors of the entrance hall.

Once inside, Ron and Hermione, who had just finished routing the first years towards the boats they would travel on across the lake, greeted them. Their prefect badges gleamed brightly; signs of authority pinned on their robes.

Ron grinned as Harry approached them and said, "Well, have a good look around, because we're never going to see this again."

Hermione raised an eyebrow at him. "Yes, we will," she said. "We still have all year."

Ron shook his head. "I know that! I meant that this is the last time we'll see the school on September 1st, the beginning of the school year."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Oh, and the way you said it made it seem so obvious."

Ron's ears turned pink and Harry, sensing an argument, immediately moved over toward Ginny. Ron and Hermione had been arguing over the littlest things since the end of the previous year. Harry figured that Hermione was getting tired of waiting for Ron to ask her out.

Ginny shook her head at Ron and Hermione and exchanged an exasperated glace with Harry. She marched over to the arguing friends and stood between them. "Honestly, you two," she said, "you're beginning to scare poor Harry." Here she threw him a grin.

"Oh, ha, ha," he said, grinning too.

Ginny turned her attention to Hermione, who was still looking rather cross. "I don't know why you're looking so sulky," she said, wiggling her eyebrows, "you are about to be picked for Head Girl."

Hermione blushed, her anger very suddenly forgotten. "Oh- well- there isn't really any way to know that for sure…" but her face revealed that she indeed expected to be chosen, though.

"Oh come off it, Hermione," Harry said, picking up on the cheering attempt that Ginny employed. "You know full well that your name will be called as soon as they decide to announce the Heads."

Hermione smiled at Harry embarrassedly, but then a look of puzzlement appeared on her face. "I wonder why the staff has waited to announce the Heads at the feast. Usually the people who were chosen find out in their letters, don't they?"

Harry nodded, turning to Ron. "Ron, didn't Percy get his Head Boy badge in the post?" he asked.

"Yeah, and he showed it off the entire summer," said Ron, his anger forgotten too. That was another thing about Ron and Hermione's arguments; they stopped as quickly as they started. Harry turned back towards his brunette friend and shrugged.

"I've no idea why they've waited this year," he said.

"Perhaps they hadn't chosen yet when the letters went out," said Ginny matter-of-factly.

Harry shook his head. "How hard could it be to pick two people to be Head Students?" Ginny shrugged this time. Hermione opened her mouth to speak but closed it again when the large doors to the Great Hall swung open toward them.

Professor McGonagall stepped out, looking as stern as usual.

"You may all make your way into the Great Hall now!" she boomed over the packed entrance hall. "Take your seats and await the first years' arrival." There was an immediate hustle and bustle after her words. All of the students began trying to make their way through the oak doors.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione took their seats once inside and began to chat animatedly. Harry turned to Seamus Finnegan to discuss this year's Quidditch teams. Harry had been made captain.

Within a few moments the chatter in the Hall died out and the first years filed in through the side chamber door, which Harry could remember as if it were yesterday. He watched their terrified little faces whisper and stare. The stool and Sorting Hat were placed in the middle of the room and the first years were brought up to it.

It sang its song (which was different, once again), and then the long list of parchment clutched in Professor McGonagall's hands was unrolled. She began to call off names:

"Agie, Heather…"

"Devon, Murry…"

"Gwyhald, Joan..."

"Jucksta, Timothy…"

The list went on and on, but Harry was pleased to see that Gryffindor was granted quite a few promising new students. He watched as a nasty looking little boy was sorted into Slytherin.

Slytherin, if only that lot weren't there. Harry looked over at the long table filled with smirking and scowling faces. His eyes came to rest upon the king, or at least the prince, of all things evil. Malfoy looked bored and tired of sitting there as he leaned over carelessly to whisper something into Blaise Zabini's ear.

The two laughed loudly, not bothering to quiet down, even during the sorting. Harry narrowed his eyes with distaste.

Thank God he hadn't had to face him yet. His mood would certainly be ruined- it was already worsening from just staring at the ferret.

He disliked Malfoy more than any other person on the planet, except for Voldemort. He had heartlessly taunted Harry the year before about Sirius, even when it had been so fresh in his mind, and he reminded him of Malfoy Sr., who had been one of the main people involved in Sirius's death. Malfoy had been, and still was, angry with Harry for getting his father thrown into jail. He never missed the chance to try and initiate a fight; Harry wasn't quick to back down either.

Thinking back to last year, Harry had lost count of the many times that their wands had been pointed at one another. They'd had so many rows that people figured they'd broken a record of some sort, and all of that wasn't even counting the multiple brawls that Malfoy and Ron had gotten into.

Oh, if only Harry could strangle Malfoy right now, without anyone noticing. The idiot would collapse into his pumpkin juice and his stupid voice would never have to be heard again.

At that moment Malfoy looked up and noticed Harry staring at him. He flashed a white smile and raised his fingers to form a rude gesture. Harry glared at him but looked away, not wanting to ruin the feast.

Once the sorting was over, Dumbledore stood and said a few words of welcome.

"Hello and welcome, new and old students alike." His eyes twinkled. "I do hope that you enjoy our feast, and I also hope that you do not choke on any chicken bones… Please, if you will…" he waved a long arm and the tables were filled with food.

Harry laughed, eyeing a drumstick; he was certain it posed no danger and quickly dug into it.

Hermione looked anxious. "I thought he might have announced the Heads," she said a bit disappointedly.

"Oh don't get your knickers in a twist," said Ron, but he said it with a friendly smile. "He's waiting until the end; you know that's when he makes his real speech."

Hermione nodded. "I know," she said. "I'm just so curious." Ginny, Ron and Harry chuckled, amused as Hermione got stressed over school- as usual.

They ate the rest of their meal cheerfully, enjoying talk of sports, summer trips and other things. The thoughts of Malfoy were swept from Harry's mind as he reminisced and laughed with friends.

All too soon the feast was coming to a close and Harry didn't think he could swallow another bite. He felt stuffed and drowsy, and was glad that Hermione was about to be put in the best mood, quite possibly, that she would ever be in.

He watched as the food vanished from the tables and Dumbledore once again rose to his feat. The old man smiled and looked fondly around at his pupils.

"Hello, hello, children," he said in a bounding way, and then he paused and looked fondly around at his pupils. "But some of you aren't children anymore, are you? Some of you will be forever leaving our castle walls this year, and I can only hope that our halls of learning have provided you with more knowledge than boredom." He smiled widely at that. "Hogwarts, I have a very important announcement to make that directly concerns our older students."

Hermione literally shook from excitement.

"This year's Heads took a particularly long time to decide. In fact they were only chosen two days ago… This means that there were many excellent candidates from which to choose. The two that have been chosen are surely the best for the occupation and I believe that they will do a phenomenal job of leading their fellow students." He took a moment to look around again, and oddly his eyes came to rest on Harry.

"The Head Boys are…" he took a long pause, "Harry Potter and…" Hermione beamed at Harry.

"You did it!" she whispered breathlessly to Harry, practically bouncing up and down. Ron slapped Harry on the back. Harry couldn't believe it. Had he heard correctly?

Dumbledore cleared his throat to signal that he wished to speak again. The chatter (and cheering from the Gryffindors) that had broken out upon Harry's name being announced was suddenly no more.

His blue eyes sparkled in an almost mischievous sort of way as he readied himself for his next statement.

"… And Draco Malfoy."

Harry's eyes widened with bewilderment. What the hell? Hadn't he just been chosen for Head Boy?

He looked to Hermione, but she was merely staring at Dumbledore, mouth slightly agape, her eyes filled with no emotion except utter confusion.

Everyone else seemed confused as well and Dumbledore, not surprisingly, offered no explanation. He simply beamed.

"Well, boys," he said happily, "come up here and get your badges."

Harry glanced across the hall at Malfoy who looked just as befuddled as he was, then down once again at Ron and Hermione who were both still apparently in shock.

"Boys?" Dumbledore asked still smiling.

Harry didn't know what else to do. He stumbled out of his seat and began to make his way up to the head table, feeling very much like he had when The Goblet of Fire had spit out his name.

Malfoy walked slowly up with Harry. When Harry reached his destination he stared blankly at Dumbledore, who pinned a shiny badge bearing the Hogwarts coat of arms to his chest. Then he watched as he pinned an identical badge to Malfoy's chest.

"Congratulations," Dumbledore said quietly to Harry and Malfoy. "Your room isn't ready yet so you can both stay in your old dorm rooms tonight-"

He was cut off by Malfoy's sharp words. "What's going on?" Malfoy asked, "why have Potter and I both been chosen for Head Boy?" His eyes flashed angrily.

"I'll explain all of that tomorrow," Dumbledore said to the fuming blond. "It's much too late tonight."

Malfoy opened his mouth furiously but Dumbledore stopped him from saying anything when he boomed out to the rest of the school, "How about a nice big round of applause for our two Heads, Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy."

Silence echoed in the Hall until the staff started clapping, slowly joined by the rest of the students.

Harry didn't say anything as Dumbledore briefly went over the basic rules for the first years and then dismissed the students.

"Come see me tomorrow after your classes, I'll be in my office and we can all discuss your rules and responsibilities. The password into my office is Ice Lolly. Oh and your password, Harry, is Aconite, and yours, Draco, is Absolute Power."

Malfoy let out a low hiss. "Professor," he said in a tone resembling Snape's, "Potter and I are not in the same house, now we both know each other's passwords."

Dumbledore stared at Malfoy, an amused look upon his aged face. "I'm aware of this, Mr. Malfoy," he said with the same smile that had not once left him. "You both will learn all of the house passwords; after all you're the Head Boys, not prefects. It's your duties to look after all of Hogwarts' students- not just those of your own houses." Malfoy clamped his mouth shut, glaring

"Now both of you get on up to bed, it's getting late. And don't forget to meet me tomorrow." With that Dumbledore sent Harry and Malfoy out of the Hall with the rest of the students.

Harry walked with Malfoy to the doors of the Great Hall, standing rather far away from him. They stayed walking together until Malfoy came to the staircase he had to descend. He turned to Harry and threw him the nastiest look he probably could before heading out of sight.

Harry was still far too shocked to be angry. He couldn't even begin to comprehend his situation.

Why were there two Head Boys? Why was he one of them? And had it been just him or had Dumbledore said that his and Malfoy's room wasn't ready yet? What on earth did that mean? His thoughts traveled to Hermione who had likely already made her way to the common room. She was probably devastated and maybe even crying. Harry felt horrible for her and himself.

It was just his luck that he would get stuck in a room with Malfoy his last year at school. Who had ever heard of the Heads sharing a room anyway? Harry never remembered anyone sharing rooms.

As he continued to make his way up to Gryffindor Tower he couldn't help but think that his year might not be as good as he had hoped.

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