A/N: I apologise for not updating for several months but I decided, after watching Deathly Hallows: Part 2, that I needed to continue with the story. I also apologise if there are any punctuational or grammatical errors as this has not been betaed.
Disclaimer: I do NOT own any of the characters.
Pinch yourself. Isn't that the way to go? You pinch yourself and you realise that it doesn't hurt hence, it's all one horrible nightmare. Go on Hermione...but wait, what happens if it's not a nightmare? What if this is reality? Only one way to find out.
Hermione pinched her arm and to her dismay she could feel the throbbing pain running down her arm.
So it's not a dream. This is going to be hell. Passing Malfoy in the corridors between classes was already torture but sharing a common room? Someone kill me now.
You shouldn't lie to yourself.
Wait, what? I'm not.
Oh come on, Hermione. Deep down you know it's every female Hogwarts student's dream.
But it's Malfoy though.
So? Doesn't change the fact that you think he's good-looking.
Well I guess he's quite fit. It'll be chaotic though. I have no idea what the professors were thinking. This is a disaster!
Hermione found herself in front of the door leading to the Great Hall. Ignoring the worried looks printed upon her two best friends' faces, she sighed and slouched down onto the bench. After several awkward seconds she looked up and met their stares of confusion. Harry was the first to break the silence.
"Hermione, are you alright?"
She forced a smile which ended up looking like a grimace. "Just fine"
"Umm okay then" he said awkwardly and averted his attention to the food in front of him.
Ron piped up. "Hey 'mione, Harry and I have been thinking. If Malfoy really is a death eater he would brag it out to that posse of his. I think it's time for Polyjuice Potion."
Hermione continued to eat slowly and briefly lifted her head to look Ron in the eye. "It didn't work out in 2nd year. There's no chance this time either. "
"Why do you say that?"
She tried to fight back tears as it slowly sank into her. She was going to have to share a dorm with Malfoy.
Her voice trembled. I'm never going to be ready for this. She sighed deeply and stared at the edge of the table.
"I'msharingadormwithhim", a smile crept on to her face. "There I said it."
Ron stared at her in confusion and Harry looked up from his plate. Ron's eyebrows scrunched up together. "What?"
"I know! How ridiculous is it? I mean honestly, what were the professors thinking? Everyone's had suspicions on Professor Dumbledore 'losing his marbles' except me. I've always respected him and his wise decisions but this is completely mental."
"Hermio-"
"No Ron. Look, I appreciate the comfort but right now is not the right time. I have to figure this out. This can't be happening. I thought this year was finally going to be a less stressful year. Everything was going so well until he told me of the bad news."
"Hermion-"
Hermione raised her hand to interrupt Harry.
"Harry, please, not you too. This predicament is going to ruin my year. Heck, even my whole entire life." She stood up and slammed her hands on the table which in turn drew the attention of all the happy Gryffindors and even some curious Hufflepuffs on the next table. She ran her fingers through her hair. "Right, I'm fixing this. I'm not going to surrender without a fi-..."
"HERMIONE!" A strong hand pushed Hermione's shoulder down, sitting her back down on the bench. "Bloody hell. Okay listen, we have no idea what you're rambling on about and what exactly the problem is." Ron gushed.
"Umm..."Her voice trembled as her eyes darted around the room trying to locate him. Her attention shifted back to Ron when she saw Malfoy conversing with Blaise Zabini.
"Okay. So, before I tell you both I need you to know that I had absolutely no choice in it and it was mandatory."
"Hermione, just tell us." Harry said calmly, which was contrasting to Ron who had turned red and looked to be slowly panicking.
"I'm forced to share a dorm with Malfoy. It's part of a new program for prefects which will encourage unity between houses and in hope, get rid of the rivalry."
Ron froze mid-bite and dropped his spoon which clanged against the metal plate. If Hermione hadn't known better she would of thought that he had been Petrificus Totalus-ed.
"Oh well... that's fantastic Hermione. No, maybe fantastic isn't the right word to use but it's an advantage."
Hermione stared at Harry as if he had suddenly sprouted horns from his head and was skipping around the Great Hall singing about Nargles. She nearly laughed at the image that produced in her head. She shook it off in disbelief.
"I don't think you got the message, Harry. I'm sharing a dorm with Malfoy. MALFOY."
Ron flinched at the name. This didn't go unnoticed by Hermione who replied saying that it wasn't like she was mentioning Voldemort. In returned, Ron flinched again.
Harry slowly smiled and Hermione swore she could see a hint of sparkles in his eyes. "We don't need to sneak around anymore. You can be our frontman, Hermione, well frontwoman" He quickly added on when Hermione glared at him.
Ron seemed to finally break off from his initial shock. "I guess I can agree with Harry but promise us, Hermione, that if he was to lay one finger on you that you'll tell us straight away. I can't trust him or any Slytherin for that matter."
"Wait, so you're just okay with this all? Nothing? No arguments? No persuading? Nothing at all?"
Harry pressed his lips together. "Well there's nothing we can do, is there?"
Hermione looked away defeated. A part of her had wanted to stir up an argument just so she could vent out her frustrations and stress but another part of her was glad that they hadn't taken it as bad as she predicted.
She placed her hands on the table and pushed herself off the bench. "Well I guess that's everything I needed to talk about. If any of you need me I'll be at the library."
While swiftly walking away she hadn't realised that a pair of cold, grey eyes followed her every movement.
