This year is going to be different. Harry thought. Malfoy isn't going to get away with another death-eater plan. I'm going to watch him like a hawk. One toe out of line and I'll kill him. Wonder if I can make it look like an accident. He doesn't deserve to be back at school.

"Harry, you're brooding" Hermione stated. She was already dressed in her school robes with her Head pin glinting in the light. She had grown up beautifully over the summer. Her hair was flowing and had a bit of summer highlights, her face has lost the baby-fat and her body was long and lean. She was quit pretty and would probably have all the boys drooling, if she weren't such a stick in the mud.

"So what if I am? This is our last year. After this, we won't be students any more, Hogwarts won't be our home, and who knows what's going to happen with Voldemort." Harry Replied

No one flinched anymore at the sound of that name.

"Harry…" Hermione started.

"Don't you have a Head's meeting to attend?"

Hermione sighed, "I'll see you later then. But don't think this is over." She stood and left the cabin.

She was intent on taking control of this situation with Malfoy. When she arrived in the Head's cabin, she found it empty. Good, she thought, I can get a head start and show that I'm the one in power. Malfoy will be like my assistant…

Just then the door slid open, "Good you're already here. Let's get started. We're supposed to set a schedule for Hogesmeade weekends and plan a school dance. We'll also need to set up rotations for patrolling the hallways after curfew and… are you listening? We need to get this done!"

Hermione was speechless… not once did he insulted her, granted he didn't complimented her either, but she would take what she could get. Still, "We're supposed to be partners in this. Don't tell me what to do!"

"We need to come to an understanding, Granger. You hate Slytherins and I'm not Gryffindors biggest fan either. I suggest when we come across someone in the others house that needs punishing, we'll send them to the other person. Also, you are correct, we need to work together. I won't insult you and you show me the same consideration. Just because we're not friends, doesn't mean we have to remain enemies."

"No" she replied. "If I see someone breaking the rules, I will punish them. But you should send the Gryffindors to me, I don't trust your judgement. As for the rest, agreed."

Draco shook his head, "If you can't trust my judgement, then I can't trust yours. You give as good as you get, Granger. "

Hermione pursed her lips and her eyebrows drew down, "Now, see here, Ferret…"
Draco held up his hand. "Don't misunderstand me. I'm just suggesting we show each other an equal amount of respect. We are wearing the same badge."

"Except I got mine based on my OWN merit."

Narrowing his eyes, his voice took on a dangerous tone, "Are you suggesting I didn't?"

"That's exactly what I'm suggesting"

"Must be nice up there on your high horse."
"Excuse me!"

"No. We'll split the duties, then. You can set the Hogesmeade weekends and I'll schedule the patrols. We'll figure the rest out later. Goodbye, Granger" With that he walked out leaving a spluttering Hermione in his wake.

She sat there fuming for ten minutes before a crying Ginny Weasely ran in. "Hermion *hick* eee…, you won't *sniff* you won't believe it."

"Ginny, calm down, what's wrong?"

"Oh, Hermione, HARRY BROKE UP WITH MEEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee." Ginny broke down in big hitching sobs.

"No! He loves you! Why would he do that?"

"He.. he said… it… was… for my own good. He said… he said that I would be… in too much danger."

"See, it's just temporary. "
"No… how could he? He didn't ditch you or Ron, no, he ditched ME. He can't trust me to take care of myself! I won't forgive him for this!"

"No, Ginny, just wait, it'll work out."

Ginny just cried in response.

Soon, the train pulled up to the school. Everyone disembarked and rode up to the castle entrance. It was time for the feast!

As everyone poured into the Great Hall, they all noticed something odd. Professor McGonagall was not sitting in the Headmistress spot. Instead, the chair stood empty.

"Students, students, please sit down." Professor McGonagall motioned everyone to settle down. "We have a few announcements to make before the sorting and the feast. First and foremost, I would like to introduce our Headmaster, someone whom most of you will remember, Albus Dumbledore!"

The silence that took the hall was near deafening. Suddenly, through the doors, the ghost of Dumbledore flew. "Ah, welcome back, students! My, but you all look so wonderful this year." As he floated up to his chair.

Harry's jaw dropped, Ron grinned like the Cheshire cat, Hermione's eyes grew to a dangerous size, and Draco Malfoy fainted.

"Shh… be quiet, don't you wake my patient!"

*Groan* Draco's head felt two sizes too small. "What happened?"

"Well, Mr. Malfoy, seems you had a bit of a shock. Now, there isn't anything to worry about. As you can see, I make a wonderful ghost!"

Draco's eyes flew open, "Dumbledore!"

"Indeed, that was my name in life and I rather like it, so I suppose I'll keep it."

"But… sir, what's going to happen to me?"

"Why, nothing! You didn't kill me. You may have made a few mistakes, granted, but forgive and forget!" Dumbledore clapped his hands together, his ghostly eyes were twinkling like mad. "We've made arrangements for the heads to remain within their own houses this year. It seems the best solution for everyone. We wouldn't want your peers to miss out on anything."

Draco got the feeling Dumbledore knew about his plan but he didn't want to confirm it, least he accidently give himself away.

"Alright, then I suppose I'll just head up to my dorm… uh, sir."

"Rightly, so! Have a good night, Mr. Malfoy."

As Draco made his way back to his dorm, his thoughts were moving a mile a minute. He didn't know what to do, so he figured, for the time being, he'd just do nothing. As he approached the Slytherin entrance, he realized, he didn't know the password. He hazards a few guesses before the door swung open. Pansy was standing there, holding the door, "Come in Draco, we've been waiting for you." Her voice was flat, her face blank. Draco began to feel nervous.

"What's going on? " Draco questioned, his eyes taking in the fact that every Slytherin was in the common room, none of whom were smiling.

"We've made a decision. While you were… out, we discussed the 'plan' with the entire house. A vote was taken and finalized. Draco, "she took a deep breath,"we stand united." Everyone began smiling, "Draco, we're all in!" Everyone began clapping and hollering. It sounded like they had just won the house cup, everyone was cheering. Kids began shaking Draco's hand and thanking him. They knew it was only temporary, but for the first time, they felt they had a choice. Never in a million years, had Draco thought this would happen.

A few hours later, everyone could be found passed out on the common room floor after a long, hard night of celebrating despite that tomorrow was the first day of classes. Everyone, that is, except Draco, who was still in shock over the whole day. He couldn't sleep.

The library, he thought, now that I'm a head I don't have a curfew and I can finally see what they're hiding in the restricted section.

He slipped out of the dorm, careful to make sure the portrait didn't fully close (he still didn't know the password) and made his way down the corridor.

"map aedificium edificium Hogwarts" Draco called out in a clear voice, his wand swished to the side and up, then he touched the point to the bit of parchment he found on Madame Pince's desk. Before his own eyes, a map of the school spiraled out of his wand, with little dots making up the students and professors. On this map, he could see everything, every hallway, every hiding place, even the entrance to the kitchens!

This is it, he thought, this must be the best day of my life. How could they hide such a book with these wonderful spells!

Draco had found the book after only 15 minutes of looking. "Unfortunately Forgotten Useful Spells" He slipped the small book inside his robes along with the newly formed map. He yawned and decided it was time to turn in for the night. Tomorrow, he smiled to himself, tomorrow will be an even better day.

Next Chapter - The First Day of School - Of maps, breakfasts, and timetables.

Author's note: Thanks for the reviews! I've been thinking about writing this for awhile now. Hope you like what's coming up. So far, I have one vote for Hermione, any others?

Please review.