Author's Note: I'm so late! Sorry I apologize I've been swamped with summer work, but that's no excuse! Review if you want, everything is appreciated.

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, only this plot is mine.

"Whoa," they all breathed in unison. The Headmistress moved aside and watched with great pride as the students nearly toppled over each other in their mesmerized stupor. Draco walked over to the corner of the room that was practically screaming 'SLYTHERIN' with its darker furnishings and dark leather arm chair. He made himself comfy as he watched Boot run his hands over his bronze writing desk in the bluer corner of the room, right across from him. To his left, Hannah was leaning over a yellow bean bag chair while playing with the leaves of one of the many plants that were surrounding her. And to his right, Granger was already perched in a plush armchair and watching her House Painting.

"We tried our best to give you all a little piece of your House in your common room so that you wouldn't feel too far from home," McGonagall said, "there's your little kitchenette over there, she pointed to the furthest corner, between Hannah and Terry. There were also six doors -their bedrooms and two bathrooms- spread evenly around the common room.

"I'll leave you four now to acquaint yourself with your new home," McGonagall said softly as she backed out of the room. Hermione, however, didn't notice that McGonagall left, she was too busy watching Ginny usher Gryffindor students into their respective dorms. The portrait showed the common room finally empty, and Hermione watched as Ginny wrapped herself in a spare throw and curled up in front of the fire, most likely waiting for her friend to get back. Hermione frowned, turning away from the portrait and sliding down in her armchair, she finally took time to admire their new housing wing. Boris did tell her that this was a new addition, but she felt that even with magic, this seemed pretty far fetched to do within the two months McGonagall had, especially with all of the repairs that had to be done. Hermione decided that she would look into the 'Heads House' a bit more, specifically after she had more sleep. She made her way to the kitchenette and put a pot on the stove to boil. Behind her, Boot and Malfoy were having a rather stilted conversation about Potions, and Hannah was starting to doze off on the bean bag chairs.

"Would you guys like tea?" Hermione asked when the boys' conversation started to get too tense for her liking. She took out three cups before they answered and pulled a box of Earl Grey from the cupboards.

"Er- yes please," Malfoy answered.

"Yes, that'd be lovely," Boot answered, relieved that there was an interruption in the impending argument.

"How do you take it?" she asked them.

"With 2 sugars and milk,"

"Black,"

Hermione smirked, she should've pegged Draco as one to take his tea black, straight-forward with no sugar coating. Funny, she thought, I take mine the same way. She filled the cups and with a flick of her wand, the cups flew to their owners, she made her way back to her armchair and settled in. A quick glance at the Gryffindor portrait showed her that Ginny had resigned for the night and was no longer in the common room. The three teens sipped their tea in silence while the fourth slept on.

"Well, I think I'll call it a day now," Boot announced ten minutes later as he got up from his seat and sent his cup over to the sink.

"Should I wake Hannah up? Or…" he started, but Hermione silenced him with a shake of her head.

"Leave her, I'll send her to bed in a bit," she said.

"Right, well g'night Hermione, uh Malfoy," he said with a nod. Draco nodded in reply, while Hermione bid Boot goodnight.

"Well, I should be getting to bed too," Hermione said after Boot's door closed, "you know since we start tomorrow and all, wouldn't want to start off the term exhausted," she added feebly, to fill the sufficiently awkward silence. Draco nodded in acknowledgement, but didn't say anything in response. Hermione walked over to the other girl and shook her lightly to wake her, once she got her up she walked her to the door that had a badger carved onto it. Hermione opened the door and was taken back a bit by the overall golden aura of the room. She watched as Hannah sleepily made her way over to her bed and fell onto her stomach on the plush yellow bedcovers without taking off her shoes.

"Goodnight Hannah," Hermione whispered while rolling her eyes and shaking her head. Draco was still in his armchair, staring intently at the fire, when Hermione closed Hannah's door. She made her way to the door with a lion carved onto it, and was just about to open the door when she was stopped by Draco's voice.

"Hey Granger," he said, "Seeing as we're going to be around each other a lot, I was thinking we should put our past aside,"

"Yeah, you're right. How could we expect to unite the school, if we're always fighting ourselves," she replied slowly.

"Yes, exactly. Well goodnight then," he said, standing up and walking to his door. He gave her a slight nod before disappearing behind his door.

"Goodnight Malfoy" Hermione whispered to herself, feeling perplexed by the day's events. Opening her own door, she found her room to be just like her old dorm, except there was only one bed instead of four. At least, under her covers and behind her closed canopy, she felt truly at home.

"Morning," Terry greeted Hermione as she walked out of the bathroom in her bathrobe.

"Good morning, you're up pretty early," she noted, genuinely surprised that he was awake.

"Yes, well the early bird gets the worm," he said. Hermione nodded good-humoredly, she then took notice that he was sitting on his arm chair as if he was waiting for the bathroom.

"What's wrong with the other bathroom?" she asked as he made his way to the one she had previously occupied.

"Uh, nothing… why?" he asked looking confused.

"Oh, well I was just wondering because you're using this one and not that one, I mean not that it's a big deal," she trailed off when Terry started laughing a bit.

"Malfoy is using it," he chuckled, "He was up right after you I suppose, snagged it before I could,"

"Oh, right okay. Sorry I'm just surprised is all, back in Gryffindor I was the only one up this early," she confessed.

"I guess we're all just early risers, well except for Hannah," he said glancing towards her door, "I'll see you later Hermione," he said waving slightly and stepping into the bathroom. Hermione decided that she had had enough awkward moments with everyone since yesterday, and quickly got dressed and made her way to Gryffindor house before he could make an appearance.

"Ginerva Weasley, wake up right now! You're Head Girl, you have to be up and make sure no one needs your help," Hermione grumbled as she shook her sleeping friend. Ginny rolled over onto her back and looked at the clock on her bedside table before groaning and pulling her blanket over her head.

"Seriously Hermione? It's bloody six in the morning! I have a whole hour and a half before breakfast even starts," she complained, her voice slightly muffled from under the blanket.

"Yes, well if I didn't wake you now, you'd most likely be sleeping still by the time breakfast was half over. Besides, don't you want to know where I slept last night." At that Ginny threw the blanket off of her head and sat up immediately.

"Hermione Granger, you slag," Ginny started off playfully, "What did you sneak off to Ravenclaw tower with Boot after your meeting with McGonagall?"

"Shhh! Don't say that Ginny," Hermione said blushing profusely as she clamped her hand down over her friend's mouth, "That didn't happen. Now if you want to know, you have to promise to be quiet, until after I've explained everything." Ginny started nodding enthusiastically right away, seeing that she would be compliant, Hermione removed her hand.

"Okay… well to start off, you know how the founders have always had their differences right?" she started. Ginny nodded again, albeit this time a lot slower. With that, the entire situation in regards to inter-house unity spilled from Hermione's mouth. She told Ginny about McGonagall's observations, the turmoil, her new housing wing, and even her weird truce with Malfoy from last night.

"Well that effectively killed thirty minutes," Ginny said glancing at the clock.

"Is that all you have to say? After everything I just said?"

"No, but that's all I can think to say right now. It's a lot to process, but if there's anyone in this school that can get everyone to be all chummy with each other, it sure is you Mi,"

"Yeah right, I can barely get Harry and Ron to be all chummy after they have a falling out. It's something people have to decide for themselves. You can't force people to befriend each other,"

"True, but maybe you could get people to realize the need for change. On another note, how long do you think your truce with Malfoy will last?" Ginny asked cheekily.

"I don't know Gin, he seems to be serious. I mean you saw how he didn't react when Ron insulted him at the train station. He seems to actually want to move past everything,"

"Yes, well he's still Malfoy, and I don't know how safe it is that you're living with him now,"

"Oh please," Hermione laughed, "What is he going to do? Hex me with Hannah and Terry there? Besides, I've already made the conscious decision to never be alone with him. And I'm a big girl, I can hold my own,"

"Ha, well wait 'til Harry and Ron hear this, they'll be in shambles!" Ginny grinned.

"Well actually I wasn't planning on telling them," at her friend's unsure glance she said, "Look if we tell them they'll drive themselves bonkers with worry, for no reason. They'll tell me to back out of my agreement and Ron would show up to punch Malfoy's face in, even though he hasn't done anything. You know them Gin…" she said.

"Yeah, but Hermione, they're your best friends…"

"Look, I wasn't even supposed to say anything to you yet," she lied desperate to get her friend's concession, "For the time being, can you just keep this to yourself?"

"If you want me to," Hermione nodded yes, "Okay well, I'm going to shower and get ready for the day, I'll meet you in the dining hall." Ginny said ending their conversation. Her attitude slightly annoyed Hermione, it's not as if she had to share everything about her life with the boys, they surely didn't with her. Hermione picked up her bag and made her way to the dining hall, forty five minutes early. As soon as she sat down, her timecard appeared in front of her. On her schedule for today was Newt's level Defense Against the Dark Arts and Arithmancy, along with Advanced Potions. She wondered who the DADA teacher would be this year, and what they would even study seeing as everyone knew all there was to know in terms of defending themselves against Dark Arts.

"Well whoever it is, and whatever we do, they can't be worse than who we've had in the past," she muttered to herself as she tucked her timecard in her bag. She pulled out her Arithmancy textbook and began taking notes while she waited for breakfast to start.