Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Chapter Two: The Common Room

Hermione left the library several hours later, with two rolls of parchment lagging behind her. She had missed dinner, and decided she would make an appearance in the Gryffindor common room, before heading towards her own.

   After a good five minutes, Hermione arrived at Gryffindor tower, but for the first time in her life she realised she didn't know the password. The Fat Lady looked down at her. 'No, password, no entry,' she said firmly.

   Suddenly, a cheerful voice could be heard from behind her. 'Hermione! What are you doing here?'

   Hermione turned around and came face to face with Neville Longbottom, a round-faced, forgetful boy. 'Hi, Neville,' she said, brightly, 'I just came to see … everyone.'

   'The password's mandrake magnificent,' he said. 'I remembered it, see.'

   Hermione nodded, as the portrait of The Fat Lady swung open. Hermione entered the common room, smiling. Everyone looked up. 'So, where's Harry,' she asked. 'Where's Ron?'

   Most of the girls exchanged knowing looks, but Hermione ignored them. She looked at Dean and Seamus. 'Where are they?'

   'Dunno,' said Dean, 'they weren't at dinner.'

   Seamus shook his head. 'I haven't seen them all day.'

   'I know where they are,' came a bitter voice from the corner of the room. Hermione looked at Ginny. 'Where are they?' she said again.

   'Their with girls, that's all they care about now – girls,' said Ginny, shaking her head in disgust. 'Good luck finding for them, Hermione. I think even their fan clubs have lost them.' Hermione opened her mouth to speak, but thought better of it. She merely nodded, and left the common room without another word.

   Soon she had arrived at her own room; she sighed, and muttered, 'Cockroach Cluster,' under her breath. The portrait of a previous Head Girl from the 18th century swung open.

   She walked into her room, without looking up, and looked towards the door leading towards the common room. Draco could be in there, she thought, at least he talks to me. But the last thought was pushed out of her mind as she remembered his last words: 'This is war – and some play nicer than others.'

   What did he mean by that? She thought, this is war. I don't see any machine guns around.

   Ah, but a voice reminded her, this is wizard war. This is better.

   Hermione sighed, and reached for her hairbrush. But it wasn't there. Her hand slapped the table continuously feeling for anything. Finally, she looked up, and gasped at what she saw. Everything in her room was levitating. Her hairbrush, her trunk, her table was a few inches off the ground, even her bed was floating. And suddenly it hit her like a ton of bricks: Malfoy. This was war, and the ball was in his court. 'Crap,' she muttered.

   Then she suddenly realised she had the upper hand, not the ball – or the court, but the upper hand. She was top of her class, and he distracted her by a couple of floating objects. This was cake.

   And he expected her to come beating down his door, he wanted her to react. Well, she was going to react by not reacting at all.

   Hermione muttered a quick incantation under her breath, and everything fell to the floor. She fell back on her bed, and stretched out her arms. It seemed life had gotten so much better.

   Then she talking coming from outside her room, and she recognised those voice instantly.

   'Please, just let us through,' said Harry, 'she's our friend.'

   Hermione suppressed a snort, and shifted uneasily on her bed. Well, they had come to see her …

   'Look, Miss Head Girl thingy, if you don't let us through, I'll pull my wand on you,' said Ron angrily.

    Hermione smiled, suddenly, and said, 'It's Cockroach Cluster.'

   'Aha,' said Ron, 'you caved! Hang on – '

   'Hermione,' said Harry.

   'Cockroach Cluster,' said Ron defiantly.

   The portrait swung open, and the duo stepped through, smiling.

   'Hello,' said Hermione, 'I see you've met Edith.'

   'She's a bit of a bitch,' said Ron.

   Hermione laughed, and Harry looked at her, uncertainly. 'We haven't seen you in a while …'

   'I think we all agree who's fault that is,' said Hermione, as Ron looked down at his feet.

   'We've been -,' Harry began.

   'Busy,' finished Hermione, 'I know.'

   'Oh no,' said Ron, 'you haven't been talking to Ginny, have you?'

   'So what if I have,' said Hermione, crossing her arms over her chest.

   'Well … she's a bit shirty with us,' said Ron.

   'Because we haven't been spending enough time with her – and you, and everyone,' said Harry.

   'We've changed, Hermione,' said Ron. 'And so have you.'

   'What?' said Hermione.

   'You're spreading rumours, Hermione,' said Harry, 'that's why we've come to see you.'

   'It's ruining our chances … everyone thinks we're items,' said Ron.

   'Oh,' said Hermione quietly. 'Oh! You two … think I started this? You came to school as if you owned it, and everyone assumed that we were all together. I didn't say anything – well, one thing – but that doesn't matter. I can't believe it! You two are absolutely the most selfish people I have ever met,' she turned to Ron, 'even your own blood thinks so. The only people who will talk to you are girls who think they have a chance.'

'But they do have a chance,' said Harry, 'even you have a chance.'

   'Oh, I feel so privileged that I have a chance with you two,' said Hermione, shaking her head in disgust. 'Selfish bastards.'

   'Come on, Harry,' said Ron, 'I knew she wouldn't understand.'  Harry turned, and gave Hermione one last helpless look, before following Ron's lead and leaving.

   'I'm changing the password!' called Hermione to their retreating backs.

   They said nothing, and she fell back on her bed again, her good mood demolished. No friends, only enemies.

   KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!

   Someone was knocking on the common room door. Well, actually it could only be one person. Malfoy.

   'What do you want?' she snapped.

   'Manners, Granger,' he said. Even though there was a large wooden door between them, Hermione knew he was smirking.

   Hermione groaned, and rolled onto her stomach. 'Can I come in?' he asked.

   'No,' she said.

   'Dear shame that is,' he said, 'you do realise I won't leave you alone until you do?'

   'Fine,' she said. And the door flew open.

   Draco strode into the door as if he owned it, smirking at Hermione as she glared at him. 'Nice room, Granger.'

   'Shut up, you've been in it before,' she said.

   'Are you implying -,' he began.

   'Levitating hairbrush ring a bell?' she asked.

   'You put it back,' said Draco, sounding slightly disappointed.

   'You thought I'd keep it that way?' Hermione asked.

   'Not a lot of people know the counter-curse,' he said.

   'I'm not a lot of people,' said Hermione.

   'No,' he agreed, 'you're not.'

   Hermione stared at him, but he seemed not to acknowledge her presence. Suddenly, he flopped down on her bed, and said, 'New rule. No war.'

   Hermione continued to stare at him, then she began to smile, and then she began to laugh. 'Huh … that's funny,' she mused.

   'I'm serious,' he said, sounding slightly put-out.

   'Oh, sure you are,' said Hermione.

   'I am,' said Draco.

   'Oh … OK,' said Hermione, smiling.

   'You want the war?' asked Draco.

   'Well … no,' said Hermione, truthfully, 'but I don't want to rule it out either.'

   Draco thought for a while. Finally, he said, 'All right, Truth or Dare.'

   Hermione chuckled. 'How old are we?'

   'I'm serious,' said Draco. 'All right, say we're in Potions, and you're pissed off with me or something. Then you can dare me to do something, or ask me a question I have to tell the truth to. And it works both ways.'

Hermione bit her lip. It did sound appealing, and it wasn't like she had anything better to do. She looked at Draco's outstretched hand, and slowly shook it. 'Deal,' she said.

   'Great,' he said. He rose from her bed. 'See you soon … Hermione.'

   She looked up at his passing figure, and watched quietly slipped out the door. No friends, she thought, only enemies.

   Was that so bad?