When the train finally halted, the students eagerly poured out of the exits, many awaiting the grand feast that was waiting for them.
"Welcome!" Albus Dumbledore announced, as the students filed in and took their seats at their House tables. He waited a moment for the students to quiet down before continuing. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts. I would like to remind all students that the forest on the edge of the grounds is off limits," he said, nodding at each of the house tables in turn.
"And also," he continued, "no magic may be used in between classes. With that being said, let the feast begin!" He took his seat at the head table, as the plates in front of the students began to fill with an assortment of food.
"Hermione, are you okay?" Harry asked for the third time. He was beginning to think that something really was wrong, as Hermione kept on going silent and staring into space during he and Ron's conversations. Occasionally she would stop with her fork halfway to her mouth, pause for a moment and then keep eating.
"What?" Hermione said, snapping back into reality.
"I asked if you were okay. You keep going off into your own world." Harry told her. On the other side of the compartment, Ron nodded his head in agreement.
"I'm fine," she said. "I'm just thinking."
"About…?" Ron started.
"Nothing important. I just have a lot on my plate this year, now that I'm Head girl." Hermione couldn't hide her smile as she said this. "I'll have to organize school functions, sort out patrol hours for the prefects, and on top of that, its N.E.W.T.s year."
"Come on, 'Mione, it's the first night," Ron complained. "Are you going to start in on us already?"
"Those tests are vital, Ron. They'll decide what jobs you can have and which universities you will be accepted into. And if you don't do well on those tests-"
"You won't do well after school," Harry and Ron mocked in unison. "We know."
Hermione let out a 'humph' of annoyance, excused herself, and began to look around for Professor McGonagall. She finally spotted her by the Slytherin table, beckoning Draco Malfoy over to her.
"Oh good, Miss. Granger," McGonagall said when Hermione walked over to her. "Mr. Malfoy is here as well; I was planning on showing the two of you to your dorm. Follow me."
She led the pair out of the Great hall and up the Grand staircase. They turned down a hall and attached to the wall on the end, was a large portrait. Two people, a boy and a girl, lay in the shadow of a large tree, the girl lightly snoozing on the boys shoulder. The portrait boy looked up, and when he did it was like looking at a mirror image of Draco Malfoy, except this boy wore a casual light blue shirt and jeans instead of black school robes.
The portrait Draco tapped his sleeping counterpart, who lifted her own head to peer at the visitors. It was a mirror image of Hermione.
"I would like you to meet yourselves," McGonagall said with a slight smile. "You will be allowed to choose a password if you wish, but for now, your names are the only password these two know. If you would like to change it, both of you need to be present. You may give out the password to those that you wish to, but I warn you to do this in caution. Other than that, you will be in charge of planning school dances, and you will also need to patrol the halls once a week from eleven to one o' clock. You will assign prefects to patrol on the days you don't. Any questions?"
Draco and Hermione shook their heads. "Good, then I bid you both a good night." The professor turned and left.
"Draco Malfoy," Draco said loudly towards the portrait.
"Yes sir," the Portrait Hermione said with a wink. She curtsied, and the portrait swung open. The real Hermione and Draco stepped through.
The inside was beautiful. The walls were covered in a deep red, with a gold band around the top. The carpet was dark green, which contrasted brilliantly with the silver/gray sofas. Squishy gold pillows adorned the couches, and a large, gray stone fireplace was set into one of the walls. There was a tall door that Hermione supposed led to the main bathroom; next to that there was a tall staircase up to the bedrooms. Hermione started up these, and ventured into the door on the right, hoping it was the right one.
The walls were a delicate periwinkle in color, with a white trim around the top and base. A beautiful four-poster bed stood at one end; a large wooden armoire at the other. A fluffy white down comforter lay atop the enormous bed, and many equally fluffy pillows sat at the head. A large window adorned with long, flowing silk curtains led out to a small balcony that overlooked the quidditch field and the mountainous terrain behind it. It was the most beautiful room Hermione had ever seen, and it was all hers.
She walked back into the room to unpack, but she found that her things had already been unpacked and hung in the armoire. A small nightstand by her bed hosted a small lamp, a shelf and a drawer. Everything was exactly as she had hoped, perfect.
As if on cue, a knock sounded on the door. "Coming," Hermione called as she crossed the room.
"Evening Granger," Draco said when she opened the door.
"What do you want, Malfoy?" Hermione retorted. "I'm busy."
"And I intend to leave as soon as possible. I just thought we should set some… ground rules. Since we'll be living together and all."
"Fine. First, you never come in my room without my permission," Hermione said.
"Same for me. Second, I am allowed to bring whoever I want into the Dorm, whenever I want."
"No. I'm not being forced to listen to whatever you may be doing on the other side of that wall," Hermione said. "I'm willing to compromise though, they can stay until eleven. But, I don't want to have to deal with your group of Slytherins every time I walk out of my room."
"Fine, they'll be nice to you, I promise." Hermione rolled her eyes at this.
"Be nice to me? They've never said a remotely civil thing in their lives about me, and you're promising nice?"
"I'll tell them to be at least… civil towards you when they are here."
Hermione frowned at him. "Why would you do that?"
Draco looked at her curiously. "Listen Granger, we are going to have to share this dorm whether we like it or not, so why wouldn't I ask them to be civil?"
"Because you are the 'Great Draco Malfoy, King of the Slytherins and biggest ass on the face of this planet."
"Why thank you." Hermione burst out laughing.
"What the hell are you on?" she asked giggling.
"Nothing. Third-"
"We haven't established the second yet," Hermione cut in. "You can have your friends here sometimes, and I agree to be civil to them, so long as they are civil to me."
"Fair enough, but that goes for pothead and the weasel as well," Draco added.
"Agreed. And last, you have to agree to be civil to me in the future, just like you are being now." There was a long pause.
"Fine," Draco finally said. He held out his hand and Hermione shook it.
"That's settled then." He left the doorway, and Hermione closed it behind him.
That was weird, she thought. Why isn't he livid at the situation?
She shook her head as she lay down on her bed. She snuggled beneath the covers and fell asleep. It had been a long day.
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Alright, that was the second installment of my story. I would love it if you all would review, just so I know who is reading and if you all like the new version.
Other than that, Id like to thank the few that did review, and expect the next chapter in a couple of days!
Hugs,
Emma
