I dropped my bags to the floor, breathless. I couldn't help but bend over, hands on my knees. I took a few very deep breaths and tried to relax myself. My muscles were so tense, just from walking up the Grand Staircase. I supposed it was because it had been so long since I had been here – more than a year, what with being on the run, destroying the Horcruxes and Harry killing Voldemort and all.

"Hello dear, did you run all the way up here, or are you terribly unfit?" I jumped and looked up. The young woman in the portrait I had stopped in front of was peering at me kindly through small square glasses, her blonde hair loose and flowing around her rather curvaceous figure.

"The latter, I think. I'm hoping to change that." I told her, feeling too tired to argue with her. "Are you the Portrait to the Head's Dorms?" I asked, standing up slowly, as not to put too much weight on my strained right calf.

"You found me. Are you Hermione Granger, the Head Girl?"

I nodded, and picked up my trunk and bag. She swung open and whispered to me as I stepped through the doorway, "The password is Kneazle, for next time."

I heard the Portrait swing shut as I stepped over the threshold and into a Common Room similar to the Gryffindor Common Room, except it was smaller, with a higher ceiling and it seemed to stick out of the side of the castle, like it was in one of the many turrets. One doorway led off each side of the Common Room. I left my bags in a pile and headed over to one of the doorways. Surprisingly, you had to go up a set of stairs to get to the Dormitory. I decided not to go up because I didn't know which Dorm was mine, and I'd decided I'd like to meet the new Head Boy first who apparently had not arrived yet. It was so peaceful and relaxing in here. I could hear birds chirping outside, and aside from that, the room was silent. I sat down in a cushy armchair next to the fire, and let myself sink into the sun-warmed cushions. Unfortunately for me, the silence did not last long, and a smooth, low voice sounded from behind me.

"Ah, Good Evening Granger."

Oh no. No no no. Please let it not be who I think it is. I squeezed my eyes shut for a second and then whipped around to glare at the Portrait-hole, whence the voice came. A tall, strapping young man with white- blonde hair and piercing blue-grey eyes stood there, his handsome features twisted into his trademark smirk.

"So you're the new Head Boy." I stated, looked him up and down quickly. He seemed to have filled out since the last time we had both been at the school, and he was more muscly. He looked good; even I had to admit that.

"I am indeed, Granger." Malfoy said. He nodded to the Dorm on the left, and gestured to the space around it. "Right, well this is my Room, and my side of the Common Room. You may not enter unless you have my explicit permission. I don't want a mudblood stinking up the place, so don't come down here unless you need to."

I raised my eyebrows at him. So he thought he could just waltz in here and lay down the rules? No way was I going to let him walk all over me. "I won't come over to your side if you don't come over to mine, agreed?"

Malfoy considered this for a moment, and then nodded.

"And also," I continued, standing up and folding my arms across my chest, "When I have friends in here, you will make yourself scarce unless absolutely necessary. I'll do the same when you have friends here."

"Fine, fine, whatever. I've had enough of your nonsense, so I'm going to bed." Malfoy turned on his heel and headed up the stairs, his trunk banging heavily on the stone stairs behind him.

I was a bit taken aback, to say the least. Not only had he agreed to my terms and conditions, he hadn't scorned them once. I unfolded my arms and decided to follow his example. I grabbed my trunk and bag and went up the stairs. I was immediately surprised. The room was round, like the Common Room, with a double four poster bed already made up with Gryffindor bedding and Gryffindor hangings. The room was pretty, with a lot of light. There was one more doorway going off to the left, which I assumed was a bathroom. I dropped my bags and smiled. How great would it be when Harry, Ron and Ginny could come and visit! It would be so much quieter in here, and we could actually have a proper conversation without the entire Gryffindor Common Room trying to listen in. On that happy thought I bounced off to the bathroom and took a long shower, even taking the time to blow dry my hair and file my nails afterwards. I went to bed that night feeling better than I had in weeks, despite the small nagging feeling at the back of my head, reminding me I would have to deal with Malfoy tomorrow. I ignored it and fell into a dreamless sleep.