Disclaimer: None of these characters are mine
THREEE MONTHS EARLIER
Malfoy sat in the back of the class whispering, as usual, with Crabbe and Goyle. They were no doubt hatching some new scheme to humiliate Harry or Ron or Hermione but from passed experience it was known that all attempts to get one over on the three Gryffindor students were a waste of time as the plans always backfired on them. However, this did not deter them, they would forever be hatching plans to humiliate and annoy, just as Harry and his friends would ignore them and still manage to foil their plans. But things were going to change for the six of them.
"As some of you might know, there have been a number of bitter rivalries between students from Slytherin and Gryffindor." Professor McGonagall said. "As a result it has been decided by the House Leaders that there will be an end to all of this nonsense between these two houses and as of now you will be seated one Slytherin with one Gryffindor."
The class room erupted into a large groan and moan, many people shouting over their friends and foes, trying to get across the impression that the new plan than the teachers had come up with was completely bogus and heinous. The cries of disdain were quickly shot down.
"Complain all you want, but as of tomorrow you will all be separated from one another and paired with a member of the opposite house, whether you like it or not." McGonagall's voice was firm and authoritative, as it was usually, but there was also a note of anger and annoyance within her words. It appeared that the teachers liked this new plan about as much as the students did. However, the behaviour of the two houses towards each other was becoming increasing more violent and vindictive that something had to be done. "Tomorrow morning you are advised to check the notice boards within the Great Hall, they will tell you who your partner will be for the next month."
"A month!" Hermione exclaimed.
"Do you have a problem with that Miss Granger?"
"Yes I do, Professor. We will be lucky to last one day, never mind thirty of them. Surely the best answer to this problem would be to let us work it out ourselves." Many of the students around her nodded in agreement, anything that meant that they did not have to suffer the consequences of having to be around a member of the opposite house.
"I'm sure that would be. However, that has been the case for many years, allowing students to work it out themselves, and relations between these two houses have grown steadily worse. Slytherin may not get on with Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, but their behaviour towards each other is civil compared to that of Gryffindor and Slytherin. Now this is our choice and you will all obey it, or you will no longer be a participant of this school. Have I made myself clear?"
A mutter of agreement ran through the classroom, there was nothing that anyone could do but follow the orders of the teachers. As of the next day every member of the transfiguration class would have their lives turned upside down and thrown into chaos, but none more so than Malfoy and Hermione.