I hoped he would die. Maybe a bus would magically drive through the Great Hall and tragically kill only Potter. Or maybe one could just fall from the ceiling and smash his arrogant face. Either way, I wasn't really picky about the specifics. He really didn't deserve to live though as long as he continued to pollute the world merely by existing. Tonight's entertainment for the feast was being provided by a few Slytherins, who had been bewitched to perform the ballet routine from Swan Lake. They were all dressed in ridiculous costumes, all boys, all dancing with flawless technique. The students and even some of the professors found the display quite amusing. I however was only focused on planning Potters demise. I figured that if I acted quickly enough, under the present circumstances, no one would notice Potter smashed by a bus… It was bad enough that Potters new head boy status meant nothing to him but a way to get out of trouble, but the fact that Snape was the prima ballerina just about sent me over the edge.

Oh good Lord! One of the Slytherins just started serenading Professor McGonagall. She did not look too happy about it…

Potter and his goons were laughing themselves stupid and I became more enraged when Katie, Michael and Brad joined in. This was going to stop now.

Before I could even get up, Professor McGonagall descended from the teachers table and stopped the madness. There was a general tone of sadness as the humiliated Slytherins returned to their seats, still in costume. The costumes would not come off. The boys were probably going to have to go to the Hospital Wing to get them removed. The marauders were still laughing without shame. The Great Halls attention was now focused on them; they were the only students who had not yet managed to gain their composure. McGonagall approached them with fire in her eyes; I hoped that there was still a chance for Potter to be taken out.

"I assume asking you boys if you are responsible for this would be a waste of my time?" She hissed.

"I assume that you already know the answer to that question anyway Professor," Potter replied with a smirk.

"We will talk about this as soon as the feast is over. The four of you will meet me in my office promptly after you are released from the Great Hall. Am I understood?"

Potter nodded coolly in response, and I glared at the side of his head. He turned and winked at me and I felt my blood boil. I forced my hands into tight fists so I would not curse him into oblivion and glowered at the table in front of me.

"Miss Evans?" Professor McGonagall was now standing in front of me. I looked up but kept my fists held tight. "Miss Evans, Professor Dumbledore would like to see you in his office after the feast."

"Of course Professor," I said looking back down at the table.

The rest of the feast went by in a blur. Soon everyone was rushing out of the Hall, anxious to get to their rooms and get settled. I took a different route, heading for the Professors office even though I knew he would not be there for awhile yet. His office was peaceful to me and his phoenix was soothing to be around. Right now, I needed all the soothing I could get.

No matter how I looked at it, I could not see how both Potter and I would make it through this year alive. He represented everything about the male race that I could not stand. There was nothing about him that I could stand! Honestly, what Dumbledore was thinking I would never know. This was going to be a horrible year all because of Potter. And I really couldn't deal with this right now! I had N.E. this year for crying out loud! And it was obvious that Potter wouldn't be taking his head boy responsibilities seriously so that meant twice the amount of work for me. I mean really, anyone would have been better than Potter!

I sighed and flopped down into a squishy chair by the fire with my head in my hands. I don't know how long I sat there like that, but I jumped out of my skin when the door suddenly opened and Professor Dumbledore strolled in.

"Sorry to have kept you waiting Miss Evans," he said smiling down at me over his spectacles.

"Not at all Professor," I said quickly getting to me feet, "what was it that you wanted to see me about?"

He didn't respond at first, but took his seat behind his large desk and gestured for me to sit down in front of it. I did, still trying to gage his intentions by his expression. He looked happy and almost amused, like he was laughing inside at some secret joke that I wasn't in on.

"Miss Evans, I'm sure you know that one of my main goals as Headmaster is unity."

I nodded, still not sure where he was headed.

"It pains me to see such divergence between the houses, but alas, this conflict existed long before I attended Hogwarts."

"Yes Professor it is definitely something that we as students need to strive for." He smiled again, and there was that impression that he had an inside joke with himself.

"Miss Evans, if I feel this strongly about unity between the houses, how strongly do you think I feel about inner house unity?"

And there it was. I had totally fallen for his trap, took the bait, hook line and sinker. Apparently I would know what Professor Dumbledore was thinking when he assigned Potter as head boy.

He smiled slightly; he was probably amused by the look of utter horror that was now on my face. "Miss Evans, you have to understand that everything I do, I do it with the intentions of improving my students. Be it mentally, physically, or emotionally, my hope is that every student who leaves this school will be prepared for the real world. You need more than just magic to make it out there."

"So driving me to murder is your idea of preparing me…" I asked. "Professor?"

He smiled gently. The smile was too knowing, like he once again knew something that I didn't. "Miss Evans, it would make me very happy if Mr. Potter and you would work out your differences and learn to get along." I wasn't fooled, this wasn't a request. This was an order and I knew that he meant it.

"Professor I don't think you fully understand the situation that you are…"

"I understand it a lot more than you think Miss Evans," he said cutting me off.

I was silent for a minute, like an angry kid facing punishment with no escape route. "So what exactly does this mean for me?"

"Right now? Miss Evans it simply means that you make an attempt to get along with Mr. Potter."

Sure it did… "Professor, what if Mr. Potter," I said, spitting his name out with distain, "does not cooperate with this?"

"I think he will Miss Evans. I know that, due to Mr. Potter's juvenile practices'; you have a hard time not fighting with him but just remember to try."

I smiled, with great effort, and stood to leave.

I had my hand on the door knob when he said, "Oh and Miss Evans?"

I turned slowly, afraid he had more terms to my life sentence.

"I will know if you do not make an attempt. Have a nice evening."

I grumbled miserably to myself all the way back to the common room. This was going to be the worst year of my life! Get along with Potter?! Ha! It'd be a cold day in hell! I didn't want to disappoint Professor Dumbledore, but he had to know that this was a lost cause. Potter and I could never get along; it was against our genetic programming! Or something… Either way, there was no way in the world that this was EVER going to work.

"Evans!"

Lord no. Not now. I couldn't take this! Wasn't my arrogant ass quota filled for the day? I stubbornly walked on, denying the inevitable I guess.

"Wait up Evans!" Hell no Potter! I sped up.

"Come on Evans! I have to talk to you about some of our head duties!" Agh! Of course he mentions the only thing that would make me talk to him. I didn't stop though, let him catch me. He did.

"Gees Evans!" He said grabbing my shoulder and spinning me to face him. I threw his hand of my shoulder and gave him a smoldering glare. His hand jumped to his hair. I hated it when he did that!

"What?!" I demanded.

"Touchy, honestly it was just a harmless little prank and that never really…"

"What the hell do you want Potter!?" I demanded again.

"Just letting you know, the password for the common room is going to be changed every week for optimal security. We'll have weekly meetings to discuss the new passwords, detentions, problem students, etc."
"Are you planning on telling me something I don't know?" All of this had been covered in the train ride to Hogwarts.

"I'm getting there! So impatient… The first meeting is tomorrow, right now the password is Peppermint."

"Yes thank you Potter, I knew that already too." Lie, but he didn't have to know that.

"Right, you were meeting with the Headmaster…" he mused.

That set me off, remembering my stupid orders. I turned and started walking again hoping he would disappear.

"Evans! Wait up dang it!" He grabbed me again, spinning me to face him.

"WHat?!"

"I missed you Evans," he said smirking, his stupid hand running through his stupid hair again.

"Stuff it Potter and stop following me." I pushed him lightly and started off again.

"We live in the same common room," he said falling into step with me.

"So?"

"So will you go out with me?" He asked, I could hear the arrogance in his voice.

My hands clenched into tight fists again, although they ached to be wrapped around his neck.

"Go to hell Potter."

"Nah, I'd rather stay with you if you don't mind."

"Actually I do…a lot." He ignored me, walking along looking blissful. Agh.

Finally we were at the common room door. I barked "Peppermint" at the Fat Lady without penitence and she huffed and emitted us. I quickly made my way to the stairs, trying to get away from Potter as fast as was possible.

"Goodnight Evans!" he called to my back. "See you bright and early!"

"What are you talking about?" I asked without turning around.

"The meeting? It's at seven remember?"

Right. Of course I didn't remember, I didn't know. "Yeah, that."

"Dream of me Evans!" he yelled as I climbed the stairs.

"Only if I'm having a nightmare!"