A/N: Hi everyone! Firstly, a very big thank you for all those who are reading this story. This is my first Fanfiction I wrote so if this is really bad/horrible, please forgive me, I'll try my best! Critics, reviews or suggestions are welcome! ^^

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter! Please don't sue me.

Chapter 1: Camping Out

She grunted.

"MALFOY!" Hermione shouted, adjusting her volume so that it was loud enough for her roommate to hear, but not too loud for everyone to hear.

No answer.

"DRACO LUCIUS MALFOY, you open this damn door this freakin' minute!" Hermione shrieked, losing all her patience with that spoilt brat.

She pounded hard at the portrait door, earning glares from the portrait lady and other portraits who were trying their best to sleep above all her screams.

Still, there was no answer but Hermione knew he was not sleeping because she could hear feet shuffling about in the room. Hermione continued to grumble under her breath. She stomped to and fro in front of the portrait door and flung her arms wildly, making the portrait lady dizzy and irritated with her.

It was very late in the night and Hermione had been screaming at Draco to open the door for her for half an hour already. She was feeling very tired, cold and in a really bad mood. Hermione wanted to finish her homework badly.

"Stupid irritating git..." Hermione kept cursing Malfoy and sometimes, she grumbled about Professor Dumbledore. Yes, she did like the wise, warm professor but really, putting her and Malfoy as roommates was a bit too much.

No. In fact, it was a disaster set in motion.

Hermione recalled that fateful day in the Great Hall, when she was about to be bestowed with this curse ...

/FLASHBACK/

"Silence," Professor McGonagall called out, tapping her glass cup with the tip of a spoon.

Professor Dumbledore nodded at her and stood up from his seat. He walked up to the announcing stand and announced, "Good afternoon students. Just today, in the morning, we discussed an issue that we have noticed and have come to a decision. We are really sorry for this late notice but we have to inform you that all students of Slytherin will be paired up with the students of Gryffindor as we have noticed that their rivalry is the fiercest, unlike the relatively friendly rivalry between Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. We will arrange the pairings and presumably by dinner, we will announce who your partner is. A pair would consist of the same gender as you are going to share the same room so do not worry too much. And of course, do not fret, the common rooms are still available to you all. You are allowed to visit your respective common room during your free time in the day to catch up with your friends but I'm afraid that you are not allowed to spend the night there just because you are not pleased with your arranged partner. Unless you have a valid reason and have received permission to stay in your house common room for the night, all the students have to be back in their rooms by curfew. Once again, we are truly sorry for this short notice. That is all, students, have a great meal." The headmaster smiled kindly and returned to his seat with all the other staffs of Hogwarts.

Everyone gasped in shock and there were many small talks going on.

"What is going on?" someone whispered.

"I don't know... Gryffindor and Slytherin have been enemies for so long, how are they able to get along? It just sound so impossible!" someone else answered.

The Ravenclaw and the Hufflepuff students had no questions about the new plan as they had no part in it so they just continued eating their lunch, as well as carry on with their conversations.

Upon hearing this news, some of the Slytherin students were quite disgusted, especially the purebloods, especially Draco Malfoy. They talked among themselves, adding insults of the Gryffindor occasionally into their conversations. The purebloods despised people who are of lower blood status than them, especially muggleborns, whom they love to call them the term "mudbloods" and will never want to get along with them or stay in the same room as them or even breathe the same air as them.

However, at the Gryffindor table, Hermione Granger was relatively calm and actually, rather happy about this. No, it is not that she does not like her house neither does she like the Slytherins but she had been supporting inter-house unity so she does not mind mixing with the Slytherins. As long as she is not paired up with the irritating, arrogant ferret, in other words, Draco Malfoy. Fortunately, Professor Dumbledore will be putting students of the same gender in a pair.

"Is there any nice Slytherins girls? I don't really think so... I really hope that I don't get Parkinson. I'll be sent to St Mungo's after a few minutes with her..." Hermione sighed, poking her food about in her plate. Nonetheless, she was still happy that she will never be put together with that git. Dumbledore wouldn't put a girl with a boy, right? She should be safe ...

"Bloody Hell! You heard that Harry?! We might get paired up with that bloody ferret!" Ron cursed, turning to his friend.

Harry just sighed. "I really hope that we are not so unlucky. Good for you Hermione, you get to escape the possibilty that you might get paired up with him," Harry said as he noticed Hermione's small smile.

"Good luck guys."

Later in the day, during dinner, the pairings were announced. Some were alright with it, but most students were madly objecting.

Almost everyone were paired up, except the Golden Trio of Gryffindor and Draco Malfoy with his two friends: Crabbe and Goyle of Slytherin. Ron, Harry and Hermione groaned, one of them had to pair up with the irritating prat, Draco Malfoy .

"Mr. Potter will be partnering with Mr. Crabbe and please, do be nice to each other." Albus Dumbledore said with the usual twinkle in his eyes.

Harry grunted and complained under his breath.

"At least you didn't get that ferret Malfoy, look happier," Ron whispered to Harry, getting worried that he would be pairing with that prat.

"As if it is any better," Harry looked towards the Slytherin table and glared at Crabbe.

However, Crabbe was looking quite happy about the new pairing as he got the chance to taunt Harry Potter, the boy-who-just-won't-die, every time when they are in their shared room. He was quite excited and looked forward to this new arrangement.

Draco and Crabbe grinned wickedly and high-fived each other, a mischievous glint in their eyes.

"Won't they ever learn to grow up?" Hermione muttered, frustrated with their childish behaviour as she buried her head in her hands.

Professor Dumbledore continued, "Mr. Weasley with Mr. Goyle ..."

Ron grinned. Goyle wouldn't be that bad as Malfoy! Wait ... speaking of Malfoy ...

Ron and Harry's eyes widened in realiastion. Turning to their female friend, they exclaimed, "Hermione! Does that mean that you will be staying with Mal- "

" ... and lastly, Miss. Granger with Mr. Mal- "

"Foy," they finished flatly, staring at each other.

" - Please do not hex each other, I expect you to take care of each other." He looked at Hermione and Draco, and smiled.

'Take care of each other? Impossible.' Harry thought while Hermione and Draco each had their outbursts.

"What!?" Hermione and Draco shouted in disbelief, standing up and punching their fists on the wooden table.

"I cannot be paired up with such an ignorant prat!" Hermione shrieked.

"I cannot be paired up with a filthy little mudblood!" Draco said in disgust.

Hermione rolled her eyes. 'He's such a baby.'

"Professor, you said that we will be paired up with students of the same gender and I know that Malfoy looks like a girl, especially to me -" Hermione stared at Draco. "And us too!" Harry and Ron laughed, cutting in but stopped abruptly after receiving a glare from Hermione.

"I don't look like a girl, you pathetic mudblood!" Draco snarled at Hermione, then turning back to Dumbledore, "Have you lost your mind, Professor? Change this pairing before my father hears about this! He will most certainly not be pleased. That, I can assure you! Furthermore, I absolutely refuse to stay in the same room as the filthy mudblood or worse, get along with her!" Draco shouted, pointing at Hermione, cold grey eyes narrowing at her.

Ron and Harry was watching them fight when out of the blue, a worrying thought popped into Harry's mind. Without further ado, Harry interrupted them.

"But Professor!" Harry objected, "Hermione is girl, Malfoy is a boy and they are enemies! Is it really alright for them to stay together? Something might happen!" he reasoned worriedly, imagining scenes in which Hermione or Draco were lying on the floor of their common room, dead. Malfoy might kill Hermione in her sleep when she was defenseless or - or they get into a fight and Hermione kills Malfoy accidentally, or - or ... Harry shook his head to get rid of the disturbing images in his mind.

"Maybe Granger will pounce on me in the night," Draco mocked, earning laughters from the Slytherins and glares from the Gryffindors.

Hermione's mouth hung open as she stared at him in disbelief. Why was he so - so arrogant? For a moment, Hermione was rendered speechless by his ego.

"You stupid, arrogant, little, bouncing ferret!"

Many laughed at this while Draco glared at her vehemently.

Pansy finally snapped out of her scary imagination of Draco and Granger, gasped and piped in, "Professor, that might happen! You cannot let my precious Draco stay in the same room as that irritating, disgusting, little mudblood! What will she do to him?" Pansy Parkinson glared at Hermione before smiling sweetly at her precious Draco and holding his arm. He looked away from her, annoyed. Pansy was getting too clingy ... and Draco hated girls with this personality.

Hermione rolled her eyes at the pair and said, "Yes, please switch me to another partner. I am quite certain that we'll kill each other very, very soon," She glared at Draco and added, "and stop threatening to complain everything to your father, all you can do is whine! You're such a child - no, baby! Malfoy, grow up," She shook her head disapprovingly and playfully while Ron and Harry laughed silently.

Draco's pale face turned slightly red with anger, fists clenched by his side." I am not!" he growled through clenched teeth.

"Yes you are!"

"NO!"

"YES!"

"I am not! This is the last time I'm telling you Granger, I. AM. NOT!"

"Yes. You. Are!"

"That is ENOUGH!" Professor Mcgonagall yelled and for a while there was silence.

Draco Malfoy breathed heavily, he hated people who dared to insult him, especially when it is from people who are of a lower blood status than he is. His hand clenched tightly onto his wand. He hasn't drew it out yet. He was still debating whether to hex Granger right there and then. Unfortunately, Potter was still here, Weasel too, along with Dumbledore and McGonagall. His hands shook with fury but he slowly released the wand.

"I am not and shut up Granger!" Draco started, his voice low, soft and dangerous with barely suppressed anger, "You have no right to talk to me that way, mudblood!" Draco said the word slowly, emphasizing it, then he went on, snapping at Dumbledore "I cannot stand being in the same room as her, she is so talkative, she will talk me to death!" He smirked as he looked at Hermione's shocked expression and crossed his arms, flinging Pansy's arm away. Pansy pouted at him and crossed her arms playfully, acting angry at Draco when he ignored her.

"What?! Speak for yourself Malfoy! You are as bad a chatterbox as me, in fact worse! 'Least I talk about important things, all you talk about, is YOURSELF! So you should shut up first!"

"You admit that you are talkative, huh? And why should I be the one to shut up first?"

"Then why should I?" Hermione retorted.

"Granger," Draco spat.

"Malfoy," Hermione smiled at him sarcastically.

Draco was about to continue their argument when Professor Dumbledore finally interrupted.

"Now calm down, students. We do not want to have a fight in front of everyone here, do we? Miss Granger, the reason why you are paired up with Mr Malfoy is that because there is not enough girls and there are already a trio of students when there is supposed to be a pair as the number of students in both houses are not the same. I'm truly sorry, but nothing can be done about this. My mind is made up and I trust the both of you, being responsible and top students, to understand and make the best out of this. Now that this is settled, please do return to your rooms now as it's getting late. And before I forget, 20 points from both Slytherin and Gryffindor." Professor Dumbledore held up a hand when Hermione opened her mouth to argue further. Draco saw that and smirked at her.

Hermione huffed and crossed her arms over her chest angrily before following everyone out of the Great Hall led by Professor McGonagall. "Stupid irritating ferret..." She grumbled under her breath.

/END OF FLASHBACK/

Hermione groaned and sank to the ground, pulling her legs towards her and wrapping her hands around her legs. Revisiting all that happened earlier gave her a pounding headache. She laid her forehead on her kneecaps and her back leaning against the stone wall, then, turned and glared at the portrait door.

Hermione was angry, at Harry for getting Crabbe. Angry, at Ron for laughing with Harry about it as they walked away. Angry, at Malfoy for locking her out. Angry at the portrait lady for not allowing her to enter their COMMON room.

Hermione was worried, that Mrs Norris will spot her and report back to Filch about Hermione, losing points for Gryffindor. Hermione groaned again, cupping her hands to her face.

But this whole disaster had happened when Hermione had been in the corridor outside the common room saying her last good-byes to an apologetic Harry and sniggering Ron for a SINGLE minute, while Draco had selected a password and went in without telling her what was it.

When Hermione had finished and wished them both goodnight, she had asked the portrait lady for the chosen password but she had refused to reveal it to her, saying that she could be lying about how Draco and her was supposed to share the common room. Hermione soon got irritatingly exasperated and frustrated at the same time and started to argue with her.

And now, she was furious. As if she wasn't upset enough at the arrangements made by the professors, she argued with Malfoy, which always stressed and tired her out, it dampened her mood even further. And though, Harry and Ron, well, at least Harry, tried their best cheering her up, it didn't really work. After that, when she wanted a good rest and have a nice, warm bath after finishing her homework, she found out the idiot, ferret had already locked her out of their common room and she had to get into a furious row with the lady in the portrait.

"Sometimes, the muggle world is much better than the wizarding world because there will be no portraits to argue or talk back to you!" Hermione snapped furiously, glaring at the lady who was now sleeping peacefully. To Hermione's frustration, she didn't even stir.

To add on to her misery, the weather was freezing cold outside and she did not have a blanket or a cloak to keep her warm. Longing for the warmth of a cheerful fire, she sighed, exhausted, 'Could my day get any worse?'

She had stopped yelling, however. After screaming Malfoy's name for the millionth time and still getting no answer, Hermione's voice became hoarse, her throat dry, and realised that Draco will never come out to open the door for her. So she grunted and laid onto the ground just outside the door on her stomach and with elbows propped up, she started doing her homework lest she may never complete it in time.

"Lumos," Hermione said and placed her wand in front of her homework when it was starting to get dark. She looked around constantly, looking out for Mrs Norris and a few late-sleeping, wandering Professors.

A few hours later, Hermione was too tired and she put her things away to sleep on the cold stone ground, using her bookbag as her pillow. Yes, Hermione Jean Granger, smartest witch of her year, the brain of the Golden Trio is sleeping on the cold, stone, dirty ground of the corridor just outside her OWN room, locked out by her arch enemy since First Year.

Hermione laid on the ground on her back, stared at the ceiling, her hands clasped together on her stomach. She thought of everything that happened today and sighed. It was going to be a long and tedious year.

Hermione lips turned very blue and her body temperature was constantly dropping, and fast. It didn't help that it was having a thunderstorm now, of all times too. She began to continuously curse Malfoy, that git, in her head.

Hermione pulled her cloak tighter, and curled up into a ball to keep her legs warm. She had her arms wrapped around her, hoping that would reduce heat loss. She started to shiver hard.

~Meanwhile~

All along, Draco could hear Hermione calling him angrily from outside this warm and cozy room. He smirked and ignored her. "This is what you get for insulting me, Granger." Draco sneered and smirked wickedly as he imagined Granger's pathetic state outside.

When he had first entered, he had started up a merry fire at the fireplace, effectively driving away the cold coming from a thunderstorm outside, then, he began wandering about the room and was surprised to find that it was rather spacious, though, definitely not as spacious as his room in Malfoy Manor.

"Mr Malfoy, since you and Miss Granger are the only pair which consists of different gender, a separate room for the two of you is definitely a need. The other students will only have a room with two beds and a shared table but your room will be much more different than the rest. I believe that you will find out soon, go to your room now." Professor Dumbledore had told him that before he left.

The room was not overly huge, just spacious. The whole room consists of a common room and a library on the first level, Draco and Hermione's bedroom on the second floor together with the bathroom.

The floor of the common room is covered with soft ruby-red coloured carpet. In the center of the room is a sofa which is green on one end and red on the other. The colour of the paint on the walls is a mixture of emerald green and rich, ruby-red. At each end of the sofa, is an armchair facing each other, one green and sliver, another red and gold. Surrounded by the sofa and the armchairs is a coffee table in the centre. Right in front of the room was the fireplace. The right side of the room had a door that says 'Library' written embedded on the wood in gold lettering. Draco ignored it. He had never enjoyed reading. He presumed that it was there for Granger. Two corners of the room, on the left, were two staircases leading up to their dorms. Draco's room was on the left corner while Hermione's room was on the right. The bathroom, on the same level as the dormitories, is smack in the middle of the two dorms.

Draco entered his bedroom and was not surprised. He had half-expected it to look like his Slytherin dormitory, just that it had only one bed and a few extra furniture. At the corner of his bedroom is a bed, and of course, it has Slytherin colours. Beside his bed is a small table with two drawers. At the far left of his bed, touching the wall is a relatively long table for him to study. There was a few pieces of parchment and a quill already set on the table for him.

Hermione's bedroom is about the same, except for the colours.

Draco went to take a bath and did not bother examining it in detail after gathering his clothes. When he returned, he grabbed his homework for the day and spent a few hours on it.

He was relatively smart, but still not as smart as Hermione, so he finished it quite fast. What Hermione and Draco didn't know was that they have started and finished their homework at the same time.

Feeling satisfied with his essays though now, extremely tired, Draco went to bed straight away, having no thoughts about letting poor Hermione into the room.

"What is this bed made of? It's so hard! I have to write to father soon and complain about everything here ..." he grumbled.

He tossed and turned in his bed repeatedly and the constant rumble of thunder that came in intervals irritated him. Draco kept sneezing throughout the entire night, possibly from the cold or maybe, from Hermione's constant cursing...

A/N: How was it? Bad? Horrible? I'm really sorry if this is not what you expected. Nonetheless, I hope that this is acceptable! Like I said, reviews are all welcome!

P.s. If my story gets worser or if you find my story similar to other author's story, do P.M me the title of the story and I'll read it. If it is really similar, I'll try to change my story so that it becomes different. Thank you and please forgive me!