The next morning I woke to the piercing shriek of the alarm. Reluctantly, I rolled out of bed to wake Malfoy. I had figured out the day before that the noise was, in fact, an alarm. The sound had stopped as soon as I woke up. My theory would be confirmed if it stopped once I had woken Malfoy.

I gasped as my feet hit the freezing stone floor. I shivered as a slight breeze rolled in from an open window. Crossing the room I muttered to myself, "I'm such a fucking idiot…an open window in September?"

I pushed my door open and stepped into the dimly lit stairwell. With a few steps and a turn I was in front of Malfoy's door. I opened the heavy wooden door to his room hesitantly, wincing when it let out a small creak. I stepped lightly into the room, approaching his bed slowly. The alarm receded, the volume decreasing slightly as I neared. I stood for a bit, with the ringing in my ears, observing the sleeping boy, blushing as my eyes roamed.

Malfoy looked so peaceful lying asleep. All signs of malice gone from his face, it was blank. Perfect angles comprised his beautiful face, soft lips parted slightly. Dark green sheets entangled his legs, revealing a flawless six pack, smooth and chiseled at the same time.

I shook myself from my perusal, trying to convince myself that he was disgusting. Blushing and laughing at myself, I came to the edge of his bed. Resisting the urge to poke his stomach, as to feel the firmness, I shook his shoulder briskly.

"Malfoy. Wake up. The alarm is going off." He groaned and flipped over, providing me with an amazing view of his perfectly built back. I crossed my arms in annoyance; the alarm was getting louder again.

Despite my protests, and poking, Malfoy kept groaning and rolling. I stomped into his bathroom in a huff. I had never quite mastered the aguamenti spell, so I filled up a conjured pail with ice cold water from the sink. Spilling a bit on the floor, I levitated the pail over to the bed. Slowly and deliberately, I tipped the water onto the sleeping boy. Malfoy shot up spluttering and spitting.

"Looks like the tables have turned." I smirked mercilessly at the dripping wet boy, desperately holding any embarrassing thoughts from entering the forefront of my mind. He turned and glowered at me dangerously. I held my hands up defensively. "Hey! The alarm was going off. I had to wake you up."

"I'll get you for this Potter." He snarled, rolling out of the soaked bed. I couldn't help but notice the way his whole body rippled as he moved. Malfoy pointed a wet finger at me, advancing slowly. "Mark my words."

"Whatever Malfoy. You deserved it. You gave me a bruise yesterday!" I retorted, teasing. I pulled my shorts up a big to reveal a yellowish purple bruise on my upper thigh. His eyes trailed up my extended leg, causing me to blush. His eyes widened as he took in the bruise. I smiled smugly. "We'll call it even, yea?"

I pranced out of the room triumphantly. The castle had grown chilly over the course of the night, and my skin was covered with, previously unnoticed, goose pimples. I popped into my room to slip sweatpants over my shorts quickly before heading downstairs to eat.

….

I sat crossed legged on the sofa reading when a sharp knock came from the portrait. Sighing, I reluctantly put down my book and went to answer it. I pulled the portrait open and smiled at the visitor. Professor McGonagall stood primly just beyond the door frame. I stood aside to let her in.

"Professor!" I leapt forward to enclose her in a hug. She chuckled lightly, patting me awkwardly. I stepped back smiling. I invited her to sit down. "Would you like any tea Professor McGonagall?"

"Yes, thank you." I continued into the kitchen, quickly boiling the water with magic. I brought the tea in shortly after. I popped myself down next to her on the sofa with my own mug. We visited, she asked me about my summer. Then she broached the topic of Malfoy.

"And how has this partnership been going?" McGonagall eyed me carefully, judging my reaction. I gave her a small smile before answering.

"Actually, it's been surprisingly pleasant." I said before pulling a mask of composure on. "Well not pleasant per say, but it's not what I expected at all."

This answer seemed to satisfy her. We talked for a bit longer before she asked me to go get Malfoy. I set my mug on the coffee table and went up the stairs.

I knocked on his door lightly, waiting for permission to come in. When it didn't come, I pushed the door softly.

"Erm…Malfoy? Professor McGonagall is here to talk to us. She'd like you to come down." He looked up surprised from his desk in the corner where he had been writing. He nodded and eyed me, looking slightly bothered. I stood there, completely puzzled, until I started with realization. "I did knock. I just didn't hear you say anything…"

"It's okay Potter. I'm coming now." He stood up, grabbing a large piece of white parchment from the desk, brushing his pants off and followed me down the stairs.

….

"Alright. So I am sure Mr. Malfoy has informed you of your overall mission of the year." McGonagall looked to me for assurance, I nodded. "Good. Well, I came to collect the first month's calendar from you."

I started to panic inside. We didn't have a calendar! Malfoy had never mentioned that! The only time we had talked about Interhouse Unity was when he suggested the open mic night. My mind was racing, frantically trying to come up with an excuse. Anything to keep her piercing gaze from eating my soul.

While I was mentally tearing my hair out, Malfoy calmly conjured a large piece of snow white parchment. On the parchment was an elaborately drawn, and animated, calendar. I stared in awe as a little man danced around spastically on the 7th and a girl sang her heart out every Thursday. I met Malfoy's eyes in wonder. He just smirked and went back to explaining 'our' plan for unity. Prat.

I watched in annoyance as Malfoy was charming, polite, and genuine throughout the whole impromptu meeting. The façade never slipped, he never fumbled. My annoyance slowly morphed into resent as I witnessed my Head of House became completely enamored with my adversary turned colleague, and occasionally looking to me expectantly. But since I had no prior knowledge so such expectations, she was left disappointed.

After an hour or so, McGonagall stood to leave, her tea gone and business done. I walked her to door, my jaw set and glaring at the floor. She gave me one last disappointed glance before passing gracefully through the widened portrait hole. As the portrait swung shut behind her, she caught it swiftly.

"Oh! And don't forget, the students will be here at 7 o'clock!" She reminded us. "I expect to see you downstairs at a quarter 'till."

The professor gave us a rare smile and strode purposefully down the hall, her heels clicking against the stone. As soon as the portrait clicked shut, I rounded on Malfoy.

"Why didn't you tell me we had to make a calendar?" I accused. I stood, hands on my hips, giving him the best glare I could muster. He looked surprised, but that soon faded into something I couldn't place.

"Look, I made the calendar, problem solved." He sighed, tossing a copy of the moving calendar on my desk. My eyes watched him narrowly, warily.

"You can't just assume all of the power Malfoy. We are a team." I gestured between us angrily. His eyes flashed, warning. I took a deep breath before continuing, gathering momentum and volume as I spoke. "You can't keep things like this from me just because you think you are better than me. I don't give a flying fuck what you think of me Malfoy. But unfortunately we are stuck with each other. That means we have to work together. And I'm sorry if that concept is too fucking repulsive for you to handle. But you are going to have to get rid of the stick up your ass and get over it Malfoy."

Malfoy's lips were set in a firm line as he listened to my explosion, hands clenched. I could see his chest rise and fall deeply before he finally responded carefully.

"You seemed upset, alright?" he murmured, relaxing his white knuckles. He tossed a bound book at me, I caught it before it hit the ground. "Here. Take your Head book. You're welcome."

He turned on his heel and stalked up the stairs leaving me speechless.