The three of them went to breakfast together the following morning and joined the teachers at their table. This felt wholly unnatural to Hermione who could see the pupils watching them with interest. It was such a different view from up here and Hermione felt like she was an imposter. Surely she couldn't be adult enough to sit with the professors? How ridiculous! She didn't feel any older than some of the 6th and 7th year students.

Professor McGonagall waited until after everyone had finished eating before standing up and introducing the trainees. She also mentioned that Draco would also be joining them, which was met with a whisper going round the room. When the students had gone to first class, Professor McGonagall handed them all a robe to wear. Hermione looked at it nervously, knowing it would change how she looked and make her feel far more like a professor than a student. Hermione, Michael and Amber then went a walk around the grounds before heading back to their rooms. As soon as they entered, they could hear movement from the fourth bedroom and Hermione felt her stomach tighten. He was here.

Amber was particularly excited at Draco's arrival. She knocked on his door and then without waiting for an answer she marched in. Hermione watched her with horror knowing how Draco would react to such an intrusion. She was surprised a few seconds later when they both emerged from his room, smiling and chatting. She then remembered that Amber was young, attractive and intelligent and realized that would explain Draco's reaction.

Draco looked up suddenly and spotted Michael and Hermione who were both staring at him. Hermione held her breath, waiting for a reaction but Michael stepped forward and offered Draco his hand.

"Hi, Malfoy," Michael said in his easy going way. Draco stared at his hand for a moment then looked up at him. Without a word he took Michael's hand and shook it and Hermione knew she must have been staring. Not only had Draco's reaction surprised her but she couldn't help but notice how he looked. He'd been good looking by the time they had left school but obviously Hermione had never admitted that. She couldn't get past his awful personality which made him ugly to her. That was four years ago and Draco was no longer a boy. He was tall but not overly so, he was dressed in casual clothes but he wore them with a certain style, the same way he had always managed to make the school uniform look stylish. He had a man's physique now, broad at the shoulder, narrow at the waist and his clothes only accentuated his lean but muscular body. As if that wasn't enough the head that was perched on this gorgeous body was also striking. His white blonde hair was just slightly more golden making his still pale skin appear to have more colour. He was wearing it longer on the top and his fringe fell almost into his eyes. His cheeks had a slight colour and his skin was smooth and blemish free. But it was his eyes that made Hermione unable to tear her gaze from him. Dark grey but sparkling in a way she had never seen them do when he was at Hogwarts. In short, he was totally gorgeous from head to toe and Hermione could just imagine the reaction he must be used to from females. Amber was demonstrating that reaction right now because she was gazing at him longingly and not very discreetly giving him the once over with her eyes.

Nevertheless, his total gorgeous appearance didn't change the fact that this was Draco Malfoy she was staring at. Obnoxious, ignorant, bigoted, shallow, hateful...Hermione stopped her train of thought before she let herself get carried away. She had to try and tolerate him, as hard as it was going to be. She looked up and realized that everyone was looking at her as she was the only one who hadn't yet spoken to Draco. She couldn't bring herself to speak to him so she nodded. Those eyes surveyed her not bothering to disguise the fact he was making an in depth assessment of her appearance. He nodded back at her and for a second she thought he was actually going to be civil to her, until he spoke.

"Granger - I should have known you'd be here," he made this sound like something unpleasant and she narrowed her eyes at him and sighed loudly. She waved her hand at him in a dismissive way and then turned her back to him and started to walk to her room when his smooth, deep voice stopped her. "I notice you and Corner have got your hands on the best rooms. I can't stay in that one..." he indicated his room with his hand, "so one of you will have to swap with me."

Hermione turned back in an instant and she heard Michael chuckle. "You are kidding aren't you, Malfoy? Just who the hell do you think you are?"

Draco turned his cool eyes to Michael and smirked. "You know who I am, Corner. I'm not used to slumming it."

Michael chuckled again, not in the least bit intimidated. They weren't at school any longer and Draco's attitude just made him laugh. "It's hardly slumming it! And even if it was, that's your tough luck for arriving last. So better lower your standards hadn't you?"

Draco turned to Hermione, who was now facing him with her hands on her hips. "Fine, Granger you'll have to swap with me then."

Hermione took a breath before speaking, determined to deal with this in an adult manner that didn't involve screaming at him or hitting with a hex. She noticed Amber's face out the corner of her eye, she was watching them, her eyes wide with surprise.

"That doesn't even deserve an answer, Malfoy. You know damn well I won't be moving rooms so drop it." She stepped closer to him. "Let's start as we mean to go on, shall we? We're no longer school children, we're supposed to be adults and I fully intend to act like one. So if you are going to try and continually wind me up for the whole time we are here, expect to be ignored. I won't be arguing with you, answering you back or threatening to hex you because I'm no longer 16 years old!" Draco raised his eyebrows at her but didn't reply so she continued, her voice low, "but I'm warning you now, Malfoy. If you annoy me enough my potion making skills have really come on...I won't think twice about a drop of something nasty being added to your drink!" She turned away from him and she heard someone laughing. She turned to Michael, thinking he was laughing at the way she had threatened Malfoy but he was just staring at Draco, looking slightly amused. She realized it was Draco laughing and stared at him in amazement. He was bent over slightly, laughing loudly.

"Funny, you're still funny," Draco managed to say between chuckles.

"I fail to see what's amusing," Hermione said coldly.

"You're so easy to wind up. Light the fuse and off you go! As if I would expect you to swap rooms with me! You always did have an evil temper, Granger and too much to say for yourself," Draco nodded his head at her, "no wonder Potter was always trying to go into battle with Voldemort, after spending his entire adolescence having you in his ear, he probably had a death wish!"

Hermione heard Michael chuckle quietly and she glared at him. He put his hands up defensively. "Hey don't start on me! That was pretty funny," Michael defended himself.

Hermione looked from one to the other of the boys and sighed loudly. "Well I'm glad I'm providing you both with such amusement. Thanks for the moral support, Michael!" She gave them both one final glare and walked off annoyed.

Hope you liked it, I am trying to strike a balance with Draco as I want him to still have his bite but as they are now adults he wouldn't act like he did at school...let me know what you think by reviewing...x