A/N: I got the least response for the last chapter.

Please let me know what was wrong with it.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Harry Potter

...

Hermione just came out of the shower. She definitely had a long tiring day. Rearranging things in her new room was quite hard than it seemed. By the time she was finished, Draco was already done arranging and showering. He then left the room. They didn't say a word to each other after the discussion of their deal. Hermione sat on the bed and sighed.

What has my life come to? Everything has changed. I am engaged to Malfoy!

She heard a knock at the door. She steadily walked towards the door. She opened the door and saw Harry standing outside, "Hermione, It's time for dinner. Let's go, shall we?"

"Sure. Let's go. I am starving" Hermione came out of her room.

"How were things with Malfoy?"

"Surprisingly civil. He proposed me a deal that we we abide by the Marriage Law and fulfill all the requirements. After that if I wish he will set me free of the matrimonial bond. I accepted it"

Harry raised his eyebrow "He must be determined to restore his family name and image. What do you think, Mione?"

"I agree with you but I can sense that he is changed, Harry." She paused, "He is really calm and composed. His approach towards the law was much rational and logical than mine."

Harry nodded. "I told you. He is not evil. That's why he could not kill Dumbledore and he helped us escaping the Manor"

"I know that Harry. I was talking about other thing. He seems so broken and fragile from inside. If you look in to him carefully you can sense it."

"He has suffered like us because of the war. He has reason to be like this," He said.

Hermione nodded at him. They were almost near to the entrance of the Great Hall. "What about Parkinson?"

"She still has her attitude. But we didn't kill each other, that's a relief. We actually had a civil conversation"

"Good for you, Harry"

"By the way Malfoy came to our room looking damn serious and asked Parkinson to go with him. I thought by the look you two had a war or something"

Hermione shrugged. "It might have something to do with Zabini, I think"

"It could be," He nodded.

...

They reached the Great Hall and saw that there were new arrangements for the sixth and seventh year students. There were several tables at a corner with a quarter number on each. Harry and Hermione found the table assigned for their quarter members. Each chair had a name on it. It was designed according to the pairs.

All the other members of their quarter were on the table. Hermione sat on her chair beside Draco. Harry sat beside Pansy who was sitting next to Draco. Daphne sat on the other side of Hermione. Draco remained his usual self, didn't show anything to acknowledge her presence.

She started taking food on her plate. Ron said, "Oi! Where have you two been? Ginny and I waited for you in the common room."

"Arranging things and stuff took quite a while" Harry replied.

Hermione smiled "I think your hunger took over you and so you dragged Ginny here, huh?"

"Obviously" Ginny smirked.

"Hey, I have done a lot of work today, okay? I had my whole things arranged. You can ask, Greengrass," Ron defended.

"Yeah he actually did," Daphne said. "Unlike you Blaise, Weasley at least tried to wait. You just left me without asking."

Blaise put up his both hands up. "In my defense, Daphne, I went to see Theo. I thought you might have left with Draco and Pansy. That's why, I didn't return to fetch you"

Pansy looked at Daphne. "Never mind, Daphne. Blaise is always like that. Never cares about others feelings. It is your fault that you expected that from him," She sarcastically smiled.

"Pansy, I get it, okay? I got your point. I have apologized many times and I did everything I could to make it up to you. Then, why all these now?" Blaise said calmly but anger covered all his face.

"Your apology doesn't undo the things you have done! You can't just turn back everything like it was before with a simple fucking sorry," Pansy snapped.

"Then, what would you have me do?" Blaise was interrupted by Draco. "Blaise, stop it. You too, Pansy" He said in a dangerously cold voice.

Both Pansy and Blaise stopped arguing. Draco Malfoy had quite an influence over his housemates, Hermione noted. The rest of the dinner went in silence. The Gryffindors observed the whole incident but didn't utter a single word.

...

The Slytherins left the table first. After they left, Ginny sighed. "What's wrong with these two?" She said.

"No idea. Harry, do you know anything? Did you find out anything from Parkinson?" Ron replied.

Harry shrugged. "I don't know anything. Parkinson has not become my buddy buds to share everything with me"

Hermione said, "I am really curious about this. Parkinson seems to be really pissed off."

"Me too. I tried to push Zabini to tell me but he didn't," Ginny said. "I know for sure this thing disturbs him a lot, whatever it is."

...

The Gryffindors went back to their quarter. They sat in the common room and chatted. Hermione was feeling very sleepy. She stood up and wished her friends good night. She climbed up the stairs and walked towards her room. When she reached the door, she heard voices coming from her room. She stood near the door and listened.

"Draco I can't promise you anything," Pansy said. "I can't control myself when I remember what he did"

"I know Pansy. But you can't keep doing this in public every time," Draco replied. "I don't like this, not specially in front of those Gryffindors."

"He betrayed me Draco. He broke my heart and left me fend off the enemies myself. It can't be resolved so easily," she snapped.

"You know, what happened to Astoria because of me. It can't be mended either." Draco sadly said.

"Draco! Stop blaming Astoria's death on you" Pansy said. "You could not have done anything. She took the decision on her own. It is NOT your fault."

"Still Pansy, She gave up everything she had. In return I could not even keep her alive"

Pansy replied "Draco, please. It was her unfortunate fate. Nobody could fight it"

Draco took a deep breath. "Let's not talk about this Pansy. I know Blaise has done the worst to you and you have every reason to blame him but not in public like this. I request you"

"Fine. I will try my best," Pansy said.

Hermione could not hear anything after that. To avoid getting caught eavesdropping, she immediately opened the door. Draco and Pansy were standing facing each other. They looked at Hermione as she entered the room.

"I got to go, Draco. Good night"

Draco nodded at her. Without saying anything to Hermione, Pansy left the room.

...

Hermione went into washroom to get ready for bed. Coming out she saw Draco has already changed into his night attire- a shirt and a trouser. He looked too much different to Hermione in this attire. Draco looked at her and saw her staring at him. Hermione turned red at getting caught staring. Draco cleared his voice before speaking.

"I am going to bed now. If you intend to sleep later, I would appreciate you using the table lamp. I can't sleep with the lights on" he said coldly.

Hermione nodded, "Okay"

He didn't care to say anything else to her. He just lay on the bed. Hermione switched the lights off and went to bed. After laying o the bed she put the blanket on her.

I am sharing a bed with Malfoy. Even we are using the same blanket. I just hope I can sleep tonight.

She closed her eyes and tried to sleep.

...

When Ginny entered her room, she saw Blaise was getting ready for bed only in a trouser. Seeing him bare-chested, her cheeks turned to red. Blaise noticed her and smirked but didn't say anything.

Ginny said "Take the right side of the bed. The left side is mine"

"Why? Does the left side have your name on it?" He slyly said.

"Don't kid with me Zabini. I prefer that side, that's all!"

"Alright. Good night" Blaise shrugged and lay on the right side.

Ginny was astonished at this. She thought Blaise was going to bicker with her but she was wrong.

It has something to do with his bad mood because of his quarrel with Parkinson

She thought.

She changed into her pajamas and went to bed.

...

Hermione suddenly woke up in the middle of the night. She could not understand what woke her. Turning on the table lamp, she looked around. Then she discovered.

"No! Not her. Please! I break all the bonds, all the deals. Please let her go" Draco was hissing in panic.

He was having a nightmare or something. Hermione touched his shoulder and shook him. "Malfoy! Malfoy! Wake up"

Draco immediately opened his eyes and sat on the bed. Hermione kept his hands on his arms. "Are you alright?"

Draco sighed and looked around the room. He was finally getting his conscious back. He turned to Hermione, "Granger?"

"Are you feeling okay?" She sounded worried.

"That is none of your business" he said angrily. "And don't touch me" Draco abruptly shook her hands away.

Hermione felt insulted, "I was just trying to help you, Malfoy" Her voice was full of anger. "And about touching you, don't worry. You won't get mudblood germs from me, Malfoy. I am not infectious"

Draco looked into her eyes. "Not everything is about you, Granger. Stop connecting every dot with you"

Hermione snapped. "Then, what is it about? I thought you changed after Voldemort's death"

"Don't say his name" Draco hissed.

"Why shouldn't I? Fear of a name doesn't do well to anyone"

Draco stood up from the bed. "That's right, it's just a name. You may have faced you-know-who once or twice in your life" He paused. "But I had to face him everyday in my own bloody house for more past 2 years. You can't understand my feelings, Granger."

Hermione could not find words to reply him. Draco opened the door and left the room. She stared at his back. His last words had struck her like lightning.

Too many thoughts started clouding her mind. She got out of the bed and stood beside a window. She kept looking outside. Hermione was sure that she wasn't getting any sleep that night.

A/N: Please review.