I'm just going to keep typing. I've typed 33 pages (front and flip) of loose-leaf paper, and that's the first eight chapters. Here's the next chapter for your reading enjoyment.

Chapter 9

Compatibility

Hermione's POV

We had walked up to the Prefect common room. When we walked inside, I headed up the stairs, the guys on my tail. At my door, they both stopped.

"Guys, nothing in my room is deadly, except for my diary which has more hexes on it than you want to know about. If you touch it, it's your own fault. Come on in." I opened my door and flipped on my stereo. Good Charlotte started playing. Harry started flipping through my CD book, and Malfoy walked across the room and flopped on my bed. I gave him a look, and he smirked at me. I dug through my trunk for a few minutes before I found what I was looking for. I pulled out my laptop and sat on the bed. Malfoy propped himself up and Harry walked over and sat on my other side. It was a Dell, in sapphire blue, and I loved it.

"Mione, how long have you had this?"

"My parents got it for me last summer."

"Cool." I flipped it open and it went through its start up sequence. Malfoy was entranced. I typed in my password and the background popped up. A starry sky over a waterfall with a small pool near the bottom. Two dark figures stood in the pool. Malfoy gave me a look, but I shrugged him off.

"So what do you need to know? I found a way to get the Internet if you want me to." Neither of them said anything, so I opened The Sims. "Know how to play this, Harry?"

"Yeah, Dudley has it. I played it a few times when he wasn't home.

"Good, start a new game and explain to Malfoy what all the different things are." I handed Harry the laptop and climbed over Malfoy and off the bed.

"Wait, where are you going?" Harry looked confused.

"To wake up Ron and make him study for the exam. I told him I'd help him."

"Are you going to bring him back here?"

"Probably not, but if I do, I'll bring lots of aspirin and some coffee." Harry laughed. "I'll be back soon." I headed out the door.

"So, how does this thing work, anyway?" Malfoy's comment followed me down the stairs. I was surprised he was actually interested. I smiled and headed down the stairs.

I found Ron sitting in the Great Hall eating pancakes and discussing Quidditch with Seamus and Dean.

"Aren't you three supposed to be studying?" I asked, getting confused looks from all three. "The Muggle Studies exam is tomorrow." I poured myself a cup of coffee, laughing inside at the stunned silence that greeted my words. I acted like I was ashamed of them. "Don't tell me you all forgot about it." Ron gave me a sheepish grin. "Guys! How are you supposed to pass if you don't study?"

"I don't know, Mione. Muggle Studies just isn't all that interesting." Ron replied.

"You may think that, but you still have to study." Ron gave me another sheepish grin.

"Could you help me study?"

"Me too?" Seamus asked, hopeful.

"Will you actually listen?" They both nodded. "Dean, will you help?" he nodded. "Alright, meet me in the common room in ten minutes.

"Great, thanks, Mione. You won't regret this." Seamus told me with a smile.

"I hope I don't." I grabbed two red coffee mugs and an incriminating green one and muttered a no spill charm on them and filled them, then stood up. "Ten minutes."

"Thanks, Mione. I owe you one." Ron gave me a smile and left. I now had ten minutes to tear Harry and Malfoy off the laptop.

*~*~*

Draco's POV

This game was fascinating. Potter and I had created a 'family.' The characters looked a little like us. Granger and the Weasel had gotten in there too. Now we had finished designing a house and were putting in furniture, and Potter was explaining the purpose of all the appliances as he put them in. He went to 'live' mode. It was really neat, and I wondered how the Muggles had created this thing, but I had the feeling it would take awhile to explain. The door opened and we both jumped.

"Hey guys. I need my laptop. I have another study group to teach." She gave Potter and I each a mug of coffee and sipped out of the one she was holding, which happened to be green.

"Hey Granger, interesting color choice." She looked confused for a second, then looked at the mug in her hand. A small smile spread across her face.

"Yeah, I guess it is. But I still need my laptop. Ron, and Seamus need to study, and Dean offered to help."

"Ron didn't study again?" she shook her head. "Alright, where are we meeting?"

"Gryffindor common room."

"Wait, how am I supposed to study? You said you'd help me too, remember?"

"Well, you're welcome to come along, but I can't guarantee your safety in the Gryffindor common room. You are the head Slytherin git." Our eyes connected and I knew she was serious.

"Maybe we should meet in a more neutral area. The library?" Potter spoke up, probably to keep us from fighting.

"Sounds good." Granger replied and pulled a small bottle out of her trunk. She dumped a pill into her hand and took it with a swig of coffee. She tossed the bottle to Potter and he did the same. He tossed it to me. "Take one and meet us in the library with your books in fifteen minutes. Come on, Harry. We'll need an extra mediator. Close my door on your way out." They disappeared down the stairs. A little shocked, I took one of the pills, Wizard aspirin, and stood up. This promised to be an interesting morning.

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Another chapter. Go me!! This isn't going to be posted yet though. Not until tomorrow (the 7). So I'm ahead. Yay! Leave me a review!!

~K~