Chapter One "Revelations"

Hermione Granger stepped off the train breathless. It was her 7th year at Hogwarts. Excitement encroached her, as if being forced into her very pores by magic. And yet, she knew that deep in her heart no magic could create this feeling. She saw her best friend, Harry Potter. "Harry! I'm so sorry I couldn't find you. I was in the Head Girl compartment. I'M HEAD GIRL!" Hermione cried. Muscular, handsome Harry swept Hermione off her feet, swinging her around. "Great news!" He smiled. "Oy, Harry. Did you forget about us?" Ginny and Ron Weasley said happily as they jogged towards Harry and Hermione. They broke away, blushing madly. "Hey Ron. Ginny, you look great!" Hermione said. "Hermione, you're-you're- beautiful!" exclaimed Ginny. True, Hermione had filled out gaining breasts and womanly curves. Her hair had gradually grown less bushy. It fell to the small of her back and had become sun streaked wavy. They started off towards the horseless carriages when Professor Minerva McGonagall stopped them. "Hermione, you're to come in a special carriage for the head boy and girl. There you will meet the head boy. I daresay you will be-surprised. As you know, Head boy and Girl are to live together in a special chamber, and will take most classes together. Also, due to shortages, you must share a bathroom." McGonagall led her to an ornate carriage plated with gold. As Hermione climbed in, a figure emerged from the shadows. Hermione gasped when she realized whom the Head Boy was-Draco Malfoy! "Oh, no." Hermione whispered. She forced a smile. "Hello, Malfoy." Hermione said cordially. "Hi, Granger." Draco answered. Hermione was puzzled. "Hi Granger? That's it? No Filthy Mudblood, or sneering?" She said icily. "That's right Granger. No need to waste my breath on you." With that Draco turned and stared towards the castle. As the Carriage pulled up towards Hogwarts, McGonagall strode up to the door, and opened it with a slight flourish. "You will not attend the feast, but you shall eat in your rooms and become- acquainted with each other." McGonagall said stiffly. She marched ahead, and Malfoy followed, leaving Hermione to walk with no one but her thoughts. Hermione walked along an icy path when she came upon a piece of paper someone must have dropped. Dear Draco Malfoy,

We are so very sorry to inform you that your mothers' (Mrs. Narcissa Echo- Malfoy) life has been so tragically cut short due to her ongoing battle with Rhympik. Due to the fact that your father is in Azkaban, we will need you to recommend a relative to take care of the burial issues. All we need is a signature saying we may put dear Narcissa into the family mausoleum.
Our Sympathy,
Johanna Tinker, Serious Diseases, The Bones Family Ward.

Hermione read the letter with horror. She heard footsteps and quickly put her hands behind her back. "Hurry up Granger. McGonagall doesn't have all day." He turned and walked ahead. Hermione stuffed the letter in her pocket and ran to catch up with Malfoy. "Look, Draco, if we're going to be head boy and girl, we're going to need to be...well, friendly. We're both 18 now. We're adults. We can learn to be civilized. Draco turned to Hermione. He opened his mouth to say something, but stopped. "I agree, Granger-I mean, Hermione."

Chapter Two "Candlelight for Two"

McGonagall showed them up a flight of stairs, to the right. She opened a pair of knotty oak doors to reveal one of the most beautiful rooms she had ever seen. The ceiling was enchanted, like the Great Hall, to show the sky. Two huge oak four-poster beds stood side by side. They had silky green curtains. The silk sheets were maroon. To the delight of Hermione, there were two French doors that led to a gracefully beautiful balcony. But the best part was that it was constructed entirely of glass. Malfoy walked quickly across the plush, thick carpet to the bathroom. A whirlpool tub was situated in the middle of what seemed to be the rainforest. Tropical plants and trees created a canopy, and a slight mist hung over the heart shaped tub. Next to it was a regular shower. It was also made entirely of glass. "There's only one bathroom." Malfoy piped up after McGonagall left them. "So?" Hermione said blissfully. She thrust out her arms and spun around wildly, collapsing into a fit of giggles. Malfoy stared, half-amused half- disgusted. Then he saw a folded up piece of paper fall from the pocket of her jeans. She's not so bad when she's not in those frumpy robes. And her hair isn't a wild lion's mane anymore. Malfoy thought. He cringed. No! She's a Mudblood! He walked over to a now subdued Hermione and picked up the paper. Her large brown eyes followed his hand as he elevated it to his eyes. "What's this?" He said in a surprisingly soothing voice. Hermione shrugged. "I'm not sure. I found it on the ground. I thought it might be someone's class list or something. But I'm not one to snoop. I was going to give it to Dumbledore." She lied through her teeth. "Oh. So you didn't read this letter?" His eyes narrowed at her. "Nope." Hermione shook her head. Suddenly, with a crack and long mahogany table appeared on the balcony. It was laden with all sorts of foods from the feast. Two candles stood in the middle-one green, one maroon. They both looked at each other, thinking the same thing: We have to eat together? As if he read her mind, Malfoy said, "I think so. We better eat before it disappears." He walked and sat down at one end of the table. Hermione sat at the other. A small crystal ball acted like a camera in the Great Hall, showing sweeping shots of their teachers, and friends. As Malfoy quietly ate a roast beef sub (made by SandWitch-quality sandwiches since 1887) Hermione sort of pushed around the leaves in her salad. "Don't you eat?" Malfoy asked finally. He had noticed Hermione had lost quite a bit of weight. She shrugged. "Not hungry." Was her monotonous answer. She pushed back her chair and ran inside.

Malfoy, what is with you and making girls cry? Said a voice in his head. He walked slowly inside to see Hermione sitting on his bed, tears lingering in her eyes. "That's my bed." He said awkwardly. She glared at him. "But you can stay there." He said quickly. Malfoy watched as their dinner table vanished. He walked into the bathroom, opting for a shower rather then a swim in the rainforest.

Meanwhile, Hermione heard a knock on the door. When she opened it, there was a cool jug of pumpkin juice. Feeling thirsty, Hermione grabbed it and took a drink. All of a sudden everything became blurry, and Hermione felt like she had to puke. She ran into the bathroom and leaned on the sink, unaware of a stark naked Malfoy in the shower 8 feet away from her.

As for Malfoy himself, he was thinking. About Hermione. She had changed. Gone was the bossy, frumpy know-it-all. Here was the sweet, misunderstood, beautiful girl. How could he think like this? All of those years spent teasing her, tormenting her-gone? All those feelings of disgust and resent-vansished? How could that be? You know why said the voice. The ugly tormenting voice. Because she's like your mother. That's why you ridiculed her in the first place! Malfoy nodded, remembering his mother. Before she had died her hair blond and gotten blue contacts (before she married your father said the voice) Narcissa had lovely brown hair and chocolate-y eyes. He had seen pictures. Hermione stumbled towards the tub, head spinning. She felt a sharp, stinging pain, and felt something icy cold surround her. Then everything was black.

Malfoy was jolted out of his stupor by a splash. He turned off the water and grabbed a towel. He stepped out of the shower and looked around. Nothing. Except- Malfoy sprinted towards the tub. "Hermione!" He yelled. Her body was facedown in the bubbling, frigid water. Malfoy dragged her out of the water....