Chapter Four

To say that Hermione and Malfoy actually had learned to live with each other by November, would've been the overstatement of the year. Sometimes they were civil to each other, but never long enough for them to actually maybe think about liking each other (not like THAT, of course). They still were forced to live with each other, plan meetings, Hogsmeade visits, and now, since it had just dawned on the end of November, the Christmas dance that would take place the last night before winter break on December 17th.

They still had a lot of fights with each other over the littlest things. Draco had gotten over the whole Pansy thing, though he refused to talk to Blaise anymore, but it wasn't like Granger still didn't get on his nerves. Sure, she cooked well, and she had half decent taste in music, though he would never tell her that, but she was the most annoying little brat that ever walked in Hogwarts.

It was an unfortunate truth that he actually didn't have a date to the dance yet. Planning it had given him ample time to think about the fact that because he wasn't going out with Pansy anymore, he didn't actually have a date to the dance. Of course, he could still ask Granger, just to rub it in Weasel's face. (Draco could tell that Weasel was in love with Granger, though she was too thick or maybe too smart to see it. Seriously, he thought, who'd want to kiss Weasel?). The little fact that kept him from doing that though was that he did not want to be forced to dance with her all night long. His stock would plummet.

One day in class changed everything. He and Granger were in Charms, when Professor McGonagall came striding into the classroom. Sitting next to Vincent, Draco saw her whisper something to Flitwick and saw him nod. She motioned to him and Granger to follow her and then walked out of the room. Draco snuck a glance at Granger who looked just as shocked as he was, but did as the teacher bid. Draco laughed to himself. Hermione Granger would never dream of disobeying a teacher.

Without saying a word, Granger and himself followed McGonagall down to her office and then sat, on opposite ends of the desk, as the teacher filed some papers. A minute or so later, McGonagall sat down, folded her hands in her lap, and then looked at them seriously. "I called you two down here to talk to you about something. Another Head duty, as a matter of fact.

"I'm sure you have been actively planning the Christmas dance and so you are well aware of when it is supposed to happen?"

Draco nodded and Granger said. "December 17th. Two and a half weeks from now. Why, Professor?"

"Because as it is the duty of the Heads," she said. "And has been for centuries, you two will have to accompany each other to the Christmas ball."

"WHAT?!" He and Granger exclaimed at the same time.

"You cannot expect me to go with HIM," Granger said angrily. "He's the most arrogant, pompous prick imaginable!"

"What about you?" Draco shouted back. "You filthy Mudblood!"

"Silence!" McGonagall shouted. "Language! Both of you!

"I cannot change the rules," she continued. "Besides, in order to make Head duties more enjoyable, it would be a good thing to learn to get along with each other. This will be a good experience for both of you."

"But, Professor!" Granger cried. "Please don't do this to me!"

"I'm sorry, Ms. Granger," McGonagall answered. "I cannot change the rules."

"But he's a filthy, arrogant, pompous idiot," Granger continued. "Who never fails to insult me whenever possible. I can't stand the sight of him!"

"What about you?" Draco shouted. "You're a know-it-all, goody-goody Mudblood who can't have a little fun!"

McGonagall shook her head and then said. "Follow me."

They glanced at each other and shared an odd look, but followed their professor all the same, as it turned out, back up to their dormitory. She said the password and then walked inside, leading them in. "I don't want to, but I am forced to do this by the way you are talking to each other."

"What are you going to do with us?" Granger asked, looking scared.

"I am forced to leave you with each other to sort out your differences," McGonagall explained. "You two will stay in here until the Christmas ball. I will send up your homework each day and I expect daily reports on the ideas and preparation for the ball.

"Good night."

And without another word, Professor McGonagall left the room. Behind her, Draco heard the click of the lock. He walked over to the door and tried to open it. It was locked. When he took out his wand and tried the Alohemora spell, that didn't work either. He leaned his head against the door and took a deep breath as the truth dawned on him.

He was trapped for seventeen days with Granger.

"It's locked?" Granger whimpered behind him. "No. I can't be stuck in here with you."

Draco wheeled and glared at her. "You think I feel any better about it?"

Without saying a word, she turned on her heel and then collapsed on the couch, sobbing. Draco groaned and then stalked out of the common room and up to his dorm. He didn't want to be with Granger while she was being all girly and sobbing.

Now he had to not only go to the ball with her but live with her for two weeks before that? Could his life get any worse?

~*~*~

Hermione headed up to her dormitory and wished desperately that she had an owl that could send a letter to Harry, Ron, and Ginny. How could she be forced to live with Malfoy AND go to the ball with him all in one day? When was she going to get a dress for the ball? How was she going to survive?

Millions of questions chased themselves around in her head. And then her stomach growled. She decided that she'd best make herself lunch. Malfoy could take care of himself.

A few minutes later, she was in the kitchen, with her head in the fridge, poking around for something to eat. She decided on a roast beef sandwich with provolone cheese. She sliced up some red peppers, sprinkled on some lettuce, and added some condiments. After pouring herself some pumpkin juice, she sat down in the kitchen alone to enjoy her meal. It was better than being with her companion.

All of a sudden, the kitchen door swung open and Malfoy came striding in. "What's for lunch?"

"Make something yourself," Hermione said casually, taking another bite of her sandwich.

"Make me a sandwich or something," Malfoy ignored her. "I'm starving."

"What do I look like? Your house elf?" Hermione snapped. "I'm eating. You have two hands and there's plenty of food in the fridge. Make something yourself."

"I am Draco Malfoy and you will do as I say," Malfoy stood over her. "Now, make me something to eat or I'll hex you!"

"Unfortunately, I am well aware of who you are," Hermione glared at him and then pulled out her wand. "You wouldn't dare hex me!"

"Try me," Malfoy gave her such a cold look, she actually felt herself shiver. She wheeled around and opened up the fridge and then made another sandwich, put it on a plate and then handed it to him. He sat down across from her and balanced himself on only the chair's back two legs. "See. That wasn't so hard."

"Don't expect me to be so generous in the future, Malfoy," Hermione said coldly.

He just smirked and took a bite of his sandwich.

Hermione stood up and walked over to the sink where she put her plate. Without looking at Malfoy, she said. "You're gonna have to start pulling your weight around here."

She felt, rather than heard, Malfoy walk up behind her and put his arms on either side of her. She turned around, stuck her chin up, and stood her ground. "I just want you to understand something, Mudblood. I am in charge here. I am in control. And in order for you to live in peace, you're going to have to what I want when I want you to do it."

"I'm not your servant, Malfoy," Hermione spat. "Now get off of me."

He raised his eyebrow in a casual, but threatening manner. "Make me."

She smirked and then kneed him in the groin. He yelped and stumbled back, doubled over in pain. "Now do you understand?"

"You're gonna pay for that, Mudblood." Although his remark was supposed to sound threatening, it didn't considering the state he was in.

"You can clean up the kitchen," Hermione said sweetly and then left the room.

~*~*~

Later that night, after dinner, Draco walked into the common room where Granger was doing her homework. Earlier in the afternoon, McGonagall had delivered their homework to them and had also given them both notes from their friends, asking where they were.

He sat down in an armchair and simply watched her before deciding to go take a shower instead. When he came back out, she wasn't on the couch anymore. He was wearing only his flannel pajama pants. Since he didn't have to be "in school" for two weeks, he was going to start dressing as he wanted to. He often walked around his manor topless. Granger was just going to have to get used to it.

By the looks of it, there wasn't anyone in the room, except for the fact that that weird Muggle music she had been listening to the other day was on. It wasn't like he was worried about her, but he wanted to know where the enemy was. She still needed to pay for her earlier attack.

"Granger?"

"What do you want, Malfoy?"

Her voice sounded strained but he looked around and suddenly saw her on the ground, doing a variety of crunches. "What are you doing?"

"Ab work," she replied as she did a few more exercises.

Draco raised his eyebrows in a bored manner. "Pathetic."

She glared at him. "Well, unfortunately, Malfoy, some of us are not as, should I say, well endowed as you are."

He smirked. "It's too bad for them... And you, for that matter."

"Why don't you just shut up and go away so I can finish this?" Hermione snapped.

"Make me," He ignored her and sat down in a chair that was across from her, waiting for her reaction to how scantily he was dressed. She watched him and then all of a sudden, sat up too quickly, causing her to hurt her neck.

"Ow," she groaned. "Damn it, Malfoy. What the Hell are you doing?!"

He raised one eyebrow. "Sitting. Do you have a problem with something?"

She continued to rub her neck. "Yeah. I don't want to be around you without your shirt on. Put one on."

He got down on the floor and then surprising himself, and Granger, began massaging her neck. "Let me get one thing straight with you. Since we're not going to be allowed to see the light of day, I might as well make myself comfortable. That means that I will often be seen walking around without my shirt on. You're just going to have to get used to that."

He heard her huff.

Draco continued to use his hands to massage Granger's neck. He felt her head relax as it dropped forward. She groaned in pleasure and Draco had to admit that he liked the sound very much. He was about to lean over and kiss her when he realized what exactly he was doing and stopped. "I'm going to bed."

She looked back at him, slightly shocked. "Good night."

~*~*~

The next morning, Hermione woke up around the same time as she usually did, even though she hadn't set her alarm. After all, it wasn't like she had to actually go to school anymore. She could sleep all day if she wanted, but she had gotten in a rhythm over the past few months, and she knew it would take more than just one night to break it.

She got up, stretched, and then picked out a pair of burgundy velour sweatpants and a lavender peasant top tee shirt and then headed to the bathroom to take a nice, long bath. If she was going to be locked in her room for two and a half weeks, she might as well enjoy it. When she got in the bathroom, she shut the door and ran herself a really hot bath, choosing pink lotus scented bubbles.

Once she was undressed and ensconsed in the water, she began to think that maybe living with Malfoy wouldn't be so bad. She was an optimistic person and she figured since she had already seen some of Malfoy's good side, maybe she could just try and get it out of him more often.

All of a sudden, just as she had settled on that good thought, she heard the door open and all of a sudden, Malfoy was in the room with just his boxers on. "Malfoy!" Hermione screamed. "Get out!"

"Put a blocking charm up," Malfoy yawned lazily and raised one eyebrow at her. "I'm going to take a shower."

"Ugh!" Hermione did just that and then glared at Malfoy who actually had the nerve to laugh. "Fine!" All thoughts of being nice to him, disappeared. "You have to put one up too!"

He smirked. "Fine."

They were both silent for a little while when Hermione finally asked. "How did you sleep?"

"Well," he said, his voice coming from inside the shower. "Not bad. I wish I had slept longer.

"I suppose that'll come later when I'm not used to school schedule anymore."

"Yeah, me too," Hermione agreed and then sighed. She didn't want to be continuously fighting with him. She had to get this out right now. "Draco?"

"What'd you just use my name for?" he asked, sounding alarmed.

"I think that, in order to live with each other in peace," she said rationally. "We have to start calling each other by our actual names and we have to start trying to not yell when we're frustrated. Thats the only way this arrangement is going to work."

He sighed. "You're right, Hermione."

"I like when you call me Hermione," she said.

Even with the blocking spell, she could almost feel him smile.