Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, that honor belongs to Ms. J.K. Rowling

Chapter One: l'amour a nié

Hermione sat in her compartment on the Hogwarts Express bound for her seventh and final year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She was sitting there, staring out the window, completely ignoring her three best friends, Harry Potter and Ron and Ginny Weasley (two of whom were currently embroiled in a game of Wizards' Chess while the third watched), and contemplating what this year would bring for her. She was Head Girl and the brightest witch in the school, if not all of Britain. Her thoughts then shifted to the Head Boy. The letter she had received failed to mention who he was and she was a bit disappointed that it wasn't Harry or Ron. "Oh well, it will probably be Ernie or Justin" she told herself. She also uttered a silent prayer that it wouldn't be Draco Malfoy, the boy who had made her first six years at Hogwarts a living hell. His merciless teasing and name calling had driven her to the breaking point many times, though she wouldn't dare show it. Hermione was one of those girls that didn't show weakness, if anything, it only fueled her determination. She was suddenly pulled from her reverie when she heard Ginny, her female best friend calling her name and waving her hand in her face.

"Earth to 'Mione, anybody in there?" said Ginny.

"O, sorry Gin, just thinking about who head boy is gunna be. It's been driving me mad since I got my badge a few weeks ago." was her reply.

Ron who had just demolished Harry's bishop piece with his knight now entered the conversation. "Don't worry 'Mione, it'll drolly be someone from Hufflepuff like Ernie. We know Dumbledore wouldn't appoint a Slytherin as Head Boy after the Great War. He knows there's way too much bad blood between us two houses."

"Yeah 'Mione, Ron's right, Dumbledore wouldn't torture you like that…I mean you do have to share a common room with the Head Boy don't you?" said Harry.

All Hermione could do was agree with her best friends and hope for the best.

About a half hour later it was time for Hermione to go to the Heads' compartment and await instructions on how to assist in getting the students off the train…as well as meet the Head Boy. "Alright guys, wish me luck, I've gotta go meet the Head Boy." she said as she stood from her seat to the left of Ron and across from Ginny.

Three replies came from her friends:

"Good luck" from Harry

"Knock him dead" and a wink from Ginny and…

"You're still gunna help me with my homework even after you move out of Gryffindor tower right?" from Ron.

Hermione left the compartment with a smile on her face at Ron's last comment. 'Honestly Ronald, what would you do without me' she thought as she made her way to the front of the train.

She made it to the Heads' compartment and opened the door, what she saw made her jaw drop to the floor.

There was Draco Malfoy smirking at her as if Christmas had come early this year.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't the little know it all mudblood . And look, she's Head Girl too." he drawled. "Well as expected I am head boy" he continued indicating the shiny silver badge on his white dress shirt.

Hermione couldn't help but snicker at his comment.

"What? You find that funny mudblood?"

"No, but I do find it amusing that if your ego got any more inflated you wouldn't need a broom when you played quidditch" Hermione retorted.

Their brewing argument was interrupted by a large eagle owl flew through the open window of the compartment and landed on the table in the middle. It dropped a letter into Hermione's hands and flew away.

Hermione was about to open it when Malfoy stole it from her and ripped it open.

"HEY! WHAT'D YOU DO THAT FOR!"

"Calm down Granger, I'll read it to you"

Hermione made a grab for the letter but seeing as how Malfoy had a good seven inches on her all he had to do was hold it up before she could reach it. His sudden motion caused Hermione to fall onto Malfoy and forced her to grab at his chest to keep her from falling completely.

'Damn all that quidditch practice has done him good, and oh that scent…WAIT NO! I can't be thinking like that, he's the enemy.'

"Get off me Granger, show some dignity." said Malfoy, interrupting her thoughts.

Hermione let go of him immediately and sat on down with a light blush on her cheeks while Malfoy proceeded to read the letter (with a victorious smirk on his face)

Dear Miss Granger and Mr. Malfoy,

Congratulations, you two have been chosen as Head Boy and Girl. This is an honor not to be taken lightly. You will be in charge of planning several major events this school year. Events such as, the Yule ball, Hogsmeade visits as well as any other special events that may come up.

You will be in charge of setting up a patrol schedule with the prefects and making sure they fulfill their duties. You two will also be required to perform the final rounds of the night from 12:00-12:30 am every night. No exceptions! You will also be in charge of moderating the weekly prefect meetings in your common room each Friday night.

Now, to answer a question I'm sure you both wish to ask. 'Why are you being forced to work with someone you despise with every ounce of your being?' The answer is that as Heads you are expected to set an example to the other students. Professor Dumbledore and I both feel that in this time of crisis in the Wizarding world the sight of two bitter rivals working together in harmony would encourage unity between all the houses. And make no mistake, the headmaster and I both expect that you will set a model example for the students. Learn to put aside your differences for the greater good of the school.

Finally the matter of your living arrangements, as you probably know, you get your own private dorm. You will have to share a common room and a bathroom but you will have separate bedrooms. Your dorm is located in the northwest wing of the castle behind the portrait of the 'Two Lovers' your password is: l'amour a nié. It is unchangeable so please do not go spreading it around the school so that whoever wishes to may enter.

That is all; please assist with getting the students off the train then report to the Great Hall for the Welcome Feast.

Cordially, Minerva McGonagal Deputy Headmistress

"Hmm, l'amour a nié, doesn't that mean 'love denied' in French?" asked Hermione, trying to make small talk and follow professor McGonagal's instructions to put their differences aside.

"Yup" was all Malfoy said in return?

The rest of the train ride went peacefully with Hermione reading a book and Malfoy looking out the window. They arrived at Hogwarts and helped clear the train. They then boarded their own personal carriage to go up to the castle. The feast was uneventful as usual and Hermione remained silent while her friends pestered her with endless questions about Malfoy being Head Boy. Finally she couldn't take it anymore and excused herself saying she had a headache. She just wanted to go to her new room, take a nice warm bath…to get the intoxicating scent of a certain blonde Slytherin off of her…'whoa whoa whoa, why am I thinking like this, he's a Malfoy…spawn of Lucious Malfoy. I can't think he smells like a God…even if he does…O GOD I HAVE TO STOP THINKING LIKE THIS!'

A/N: Alrighty, that's the first chapter. The next one will be Hermione and Malfoy getting acquainted with their new living space and each other. Don't worry; it won't be as detailed as this one was.

Warning: This isn't gunna be one of those fics where they fall in love overnight. That may take a while, but they won't totally hate each other either.

Read and Review please…if I don't get any reviews (good or bad) I'll abandon this story and go with one of my other ideas. And no flames plz...just constructive critisism (im new to writing fanfics)