A/N: Hella long chapter for hella cool readers.

Disclaimer: You know the deal, only the plot and Breccan are mine.

Draco arrived to McGonagall's office second, after Hannah, and took the seat furthest from her. Terry followed shortly after, and took the seat next to the Hufflepuff, leaving the Hermione with the only vacant seat, between the two boys. Draco sensed her discomfort, and relished in it. His smirk grew as she continued to squirm in her seat, and try to lean as far away from him as she could. The Headmistress entered soon after Hermione did, and Draco laughed to himself as she visibly relaxed.

"Good evening, my Deputy Heads of House," she addressed them as she sat behind her desk, giving them all a good once over from behind her cat-eye spectacles.

"Good evening, Professor," they murmured back in unison.

"I am eager to hear your wonderful ideas that will promote inter-house unity! Oh, who would like to share first?" she asked, her gaze landed on Hermione first, but she then shifted her attention to Hannah, and smiled.

"We'll start with Miss. Abbott, and then work our way down the row," she then nodded towards Hannah, "If you will."

"I was thinking, that maybe, we could, possibly, have students working on service projects. Like in areas of the castle that need repairing, or even in Hogsmeade. And it could be mandatory to do at least one project per term, and you have to sign up for a project that you'll do, but the catch will be that there can't be more than two members of a House working on a project. That way we'll be helping the school, and community, but we'll all be working together without feeling as though it's forced," Hannah concluded.

"Without feeling like it's forced? Hannah, your idea is forcing students to rebuild the castle," Terry exclaimed.

"But you sign up for the project you'll do, so you won't necessarily have to build parts of the castle, you can simply help Professor Sprout re-pot the Mandrakes," she replied.

"I'll pass," Terry said, looking utterly repulsed.

"Well, I think it's a brilliant idea, Hannah," Draco piped in. He watched with great satisfaction as three heads spun around to gape at him.

"I agree with Mr. Malfoy, it is indeed brilliant. Miss. Abbott, in order to get your idea started, I'd like for you to compile a list of projects we can have students work on around the school. I'll send word down to Hogsmeade to see what needs to be helped with down there. Get that list to me by the end of next week," Hannah beamed and nodded ferociously. Turning to Terry, McGonagall said, "Would you mind enlightening us with what your idea is?"

"Sure thing, Professor, personally, I think the problem in Hogwarts is lack of exposure. The only thing you know during first year, is your House, and all of the stereotypes of the other Houses. The only time you're ever exposed to other Houses is when you're opposing them in quidditch, or competing with them in class for House points. I think during dinner, we should be able to sit anywhere in the Great Hall. So the four of us would start that movement by sitting with one another, say Monday, and you could make an announcement, Professor. I also think the younger students should no longer be able to rely on their House members for tutoring, we'll force them to branch out, and they could get assigned tutors from other Houses. Also I think more Hogsmeade trips are called for-" McGonagall stopped him by arching one of her eyebrows, "It was worth a try," Terry murmured blushing.

"Your last statement was pushing it Mr. Boot, but other than that, I think that what you've proposed was wonderful. Truly intuitive, I hadn't thought about exposure being a contributing factor in unity. Well done, Mr. Boot, well done. Now, Miss. Granger." Hermione gulped.

She hadn't expected Terry and Hannah to have such profitable ideas. In fact, she might as well not even be there, because her suggestion was so trivial in comparison. Maybe she could lie and say that she had the same idea as them, but it would be so obvious that she wouldn't have. Hannah took such a Hufflepuff approach with her idea, "helping the community and school," Hermione rolled her eyes at the thought. And Terry's thinking had been so analytical, Ravenclaw through and through. But, she was just as bright as Terry, why hadn't she thought of something similar? Way to go Hermione, she thought.

"My idea doesn't require as much work as Hannah's, and didn't include as much thought as Terry's, but I did think a lot about it. I was thinking we could have a ball, one like the Yule Ball, and everyone has to take someone from a different House," Hermione saw Terry's face light up next to her, "I just remembered how much fun it was, and not everyone went with someone from their House-"

"Or someone from their school," Malfoy interjected.

"But it brought everyone together, even if it was for only one night on the dancefloor," Hermione concluded, but before McGonagall could offer any commentary, Draco piped up.

"It's interesting that Granger should propose something that happened during the Triwizard Tournament, because my idea is of that essence as well," he paused, but only slightly, "I propose that we have a Hogwarts exclusive "Tournament." Each of us Deputy Heads, are the already predetermined "champions," and we have to have three other teammates. We get to choose, the only catch being that they're from the other three Houses. That way the whole school is brought together watching the teams compete, but there won't be any House rivalry problems going on, because each team will consist of members from each House. We can have four tasks, two per term, and everyone participating will have to be 17 or older," Draco finished smiling, and then he added, "Oh, and since there will be a halfway point in between the tasks, around the holidays, that's when we can have Granger's ball," he finished, replacing the smile with a smirk.

Granger was undeniably angry, he could tell by her rigid stance, and the clenching of her jaw. Her fists were also balled up in her lap, and to bother her even more, he placed his hand on the closest fist, and crooned "What do you think, Granger?" She yanked her hand away, and because her motion reminded him so much of a small child's, he started to laugh. To say that everybody present was startled is an understatement. Here, in McGonagall's office, Draco Malfoy was laughing, hearty, good-humored laughter. Hermione forgot for a second why she was angry and watched him incredulously. Terry was too busy fuming about the way Draco had touched Hermione's hand to be really paying attention, and Hannah decided she preferred laughing Draco, who didn't seem to make too much sense, more than sane, yet sulky Draco.

"Mr. Malfoy," McGonagall said slightly aggravated. He quickly came to, and apologized. The Headmistress shook her head, but continued, "Wonderful," she said.

"Excuse me?" Hermione questioned.

"His idea is wonderful, Miss. Granger, and I love how it incorporates your dance during the holidays. Well thought out, Mr. Malfoy. Of course, I'll have to send out some owls for all of the credentials, as well as, get in touch with a few people to think up tasks, and act as judges, but it's doable. All of your ideas are doable, we will have another meeting next Friday to finalize everything. Thank you all very much, you are dismissed," she grinned at them all. Terry was the first out, most likely on his way to Ravenclaw tower to catch up with Corner and Goldstein. Hannah bid the Headmistress goodnight, and made her way to her House as well. Hermione remained seated, however, and Draco promptly left as well, she assumed to the dungeons.

"Professor, you can't possibly think Malfoy's tournament is a good idea,"

"I don't think it's a good idea, I think it's a wonderful one. It might just be the most effective at that," McGonagall started writing on a scroll, and was surprised to see Hermione still seated in front of her when she looked up, "Miss. Granger, you are dismissed."

"Goodnight, Professor," she uttered after she stood.

"Goodnight, Miss. Granger. And do try giving Mr. Malfoy a chance, he has matured a great deal," McGonagall called out to her before the door of her office closed. Hermione paused slightly, nodded, and then exited.

When she finally made it back to the Heads' House, Draco was seated in his armchair reading, his feet propped up on the table, a cup of tea by his side.

"What are you doing here?" she demanded surprised.

"This is my common room, is it not?" he answered, not taking his eyes away from his book.

"Why aren't you in your other common room?" she asked crossing her arms, and standing in front of him. He sighed, and folded down the corner of the page he was reading. He placed his book on the corner table, stood up, and met Hermione's glare head on.

"I could ask you the same question," he sneered.

"What exactly are you playing at, Malfoy?" she asked while taking a step back, "And why did you... touch me earlier?"

"I'm not "playing" at anything. I think you're just peeved that my idea was a lot better than yours. A ball? Honestly, Granger? And you're supposed to be the brightest witch of our age? Parkinson would've come up with the same thing," he answered disparagingly. "And, I touched you," he started slowly, closing in on her, "because I knew it would bother you." He took one of her curls and twisted it around his forefinger while smirking at her. Hermione yanked her head away, and ran to her dormitory door.

"Stay the hell away from me, Malfoy," she growled before slamming her door shut.

"Sleep tight, Granger," he jeered. He settled back into his seat, but found that he couldn't continue to read, he was playing a dangerous game with her, and he didn't know how to stop it.

Once in her room, Hermione cast several locking and repelling charms on her door, not that she thought Malfoy would be crazy enough to try and enter. Although, she couldn't predict anything he would do at this point, he was acting barmy! He had touched her three times this week, first her face, then her hand, and now her hair. The touches were far too intimate for her liking and also, just alarming, especially seeing as just last year, Malfoy would much rather cut off his hand than to touch her. Whatever game he was playing at, Hermione wanted no part of, and at the same time, she wanted to knock him off balance too, beat him at his own game.

She noticed a white envelope on her floor, her name was written on it in a familiar messy scrawl. She quickly picked it up and opened it.

Hiya Hermione! Haven't heard from you in a while… How's Hogwarts? Hope all is well! Auror training is demanding, but nothing your boys can't handle. Let me know when the first Hogsmeade weekend is, so we can stop in. And write back when you can. Love you, miss you!

-Harry

(P.S) Ron says he's sorry and he misses you!

Hermione rolled her eyes. If Ronald was sorry he could've written to her himself. She pulled out some parchment of her own, and a quill, to write her response.

Harry. It's lovely to hear from you, and I can only imagine how taxing Auror training is, I bet it's enough to make you miss Wood's quidditch practices. School is wonderful, I'm the Deputy Head of Gryffindor (I'll explain more in greater detail when we meet in person). There haven't been any announcements regarding Hogsmeade weekends yet, but I'll let you know. I miss you too, be safe.

Lots of love, Hermione

(P.S) If Ronald was sorry, he would apologize for himself.

Satisfied with the letter, and her lie about school being wonderful, Hermione put it in an envelope and sealed it. She would bring it to the owlery tomorrow morning. She changed into her pajamas, and curled up in her bed with Crookshanks. She fell asleep while thinking of ways to get back at Malfoy.