WM's Foreword: I am terribly sorry for the long update. There's been some problems with the hard disk and all. I'm planning to make a better summary in the start of next chapter, a longer one with more clues perhaps. Thanks to AtLossforWords, Silent nox, Punkey-Monkey, Fiona, and Moon-n-Universe-Goddess for reviewing. It made me want to continue.
Note: italicized – flashbacks; "—" – conversation; '—' – thoughts
Standard Disclaimers Apply
Tainted
---Winter's Masquerade---
--
An Unlikely Comrade
--
"I am pretty sure that she'd go to her Gryffindor buddies."
"What do you expect?"
"Gryffindors are such losers."
Although they were irritating her to no end, Hermione tried to drown away the conversation of Slytherin students a few feet behind her. Everything was a mess and she didn't know how to cope up with it.
Why she ended up in Slytherin was beyond her capability to comprehend. How was she ever to survive her final year in Hogwarts? She was in a house where the head of the house hated her with such obviousness, in a house where the students hated a Gryffindor like her, and in a house where the tormentor of her and her friends were.
'Someone please kill me,' she begged with despair as she grudgingly walked towards her first class – potions. 'How worse can this get?'
"She's hiding more, I'm sure. What a double-faced bitch! Strutting around playing Little Miss Perfect and hating us Slytherins when deep inside, she is actually one of us!"
Hermione almost spun around to gag Pansy with her Potions book but resisted the very strong urge. The last thing she needed was to start a fight on the first day of class and get detention. Everything was unbearable as it is. She did not need more problems.
Entering the classroom, she was about to head to her usual seat when Blaise Zabini walked past her.
"I suggest you avoid the Gryffindors. After all, you aren't one of them anymore."
Her mind barely registered the fact that Zabini, one of the most cunning Slytherins ever, was giving an ex-Gryffindor like her some advice. She looked at him as he sat on his usual seat, already looking bored.
'Why should I listen to a Slytherin?' She thought as she ignored the advice and slumped down next to Harry.
"This day is awful," she murmured.
Harry looked at her and smiled hesitantly. "I know."
"You're not going to avoid me now, are you?"
"Of course not," he said with conviction, eyes looking towards a certain group of Slytherins as they sat down. He looked at his best friend then, sympathy and worry evident on his face. "Mione, I'm worried about you. Malfoy and his group would make it hard for you."
Grimacing, she sighed. "I don't know what to do, Harry. I don't even know why I ended up in Slytherin of all possible houses there could be!"
"Maybe we should talk to Professor Dumbledore about this."
Hermione opened her mouth to say something but then, the banging of the door cut her off.
Snape strode inside and stood in front of the class, eyes sweeping through the combination of Slytherin and Gryffindor students and stopping immediately at two students, his brow raising.
"What do we have here?" He asked in a sneering and yet dull tone. "How interesting – a Slytherin beside a Gryffindor."
Slytherin students snickered.
"Inter-house unity it seems."
Harry and Hermione struggled to keep a straight face. Snape will always be insulting Gryffindors.
Thankfully, after his comment, class commenced with him starting his lesson in his dull voice. Everything was moving bearably until, halfway through the lesson, he asked a question and looked at Hermione pointedly.
The brunette, although knowing the answer, hesitated. She did not want Slytherins to have additional points. But Snape kept on looking at her, waiting, until finally he opened his mouth to begin his normally insulting remarks.
"It seems to me that sitting beside a Gryffindor does wonders to one's intelligence."
Hermione seethed at the comment but bit down a retort, her current housemates laughing at the comment about her and her Gryffindor friends.
When Snape continued his lessons, Harry stole a quick glance at Hermione and gave her a smile. By the end of the period, Snape announced that they would be brewing the potion the following meeting.
She walked with Harry towards Transfiguration and sat beside Lavender Brown by the front row where she usually sat. Doing so earned her a load of insults from the Slytherins at the back of the class but she ignored them, turning her attention to her seatmate.
"You don't mind me here, do you?"
Lavender shook her head. "Of course not. But I'm sure your housemates do. You'd get in trouble for this."
"I know. But it's already a given. I am an ex-Gryffindor in Slytherin."
The other girl nodded in sympathy and in part envy. "Don't worry thought. Draco Malfoy is a very good reason to cheer up. Being in the same house with him must be so thrilling!"
Hermione almost screamed at Lavender for reminding her of a certain bastard that would surely make her life a living nightmare but before she could as so much as open her mouth, Professor Minerva McGonagall entered. Much like Snape, she swept her eyes around the classroom only this time, when she spied a Slytherin with a Gryffindor, she almost smiled.
Classes went on smoothly until a question was directed towards Hermione, McGonagall having used to having the brunette answer any question. But like in the Potions class, Hermione hesitated, this time casting a glance at some Gryffindors who gave her an understanding nod. She turned to the Slytherins who were glaring at her to answer and then turned to the waiting professor.
"I am not aware of the answer," she said without blinking, her mind made up that she would not help Slytherin get points even if she had to give up her reputation of being a know-it-all.
McGonagall, although obviously not believing her, did not probe her on as if she understood what her reason was. She looked at some Gryffindors and then noticed a certain exchange student who was busy staring at a crystal.
Narrowing her eyes, she strode towards the Gryffindor student and looked upon the girl sternly. "What are you doing?"
The girl did not move and kept on looking intently at the crystal she held within her right hand.
"What is your name?" McGonagall asked sternly.
The piercing blue eyes of the girl looked at the stern professor coolly. "Miller… Xyril Miller."
"Well, Miss Miller, if you are not interested in listening, perhaps you know the lessons."
Xyril Miller's eyes darted towards what was written on the board before looking back at the professor. "I do."
As usual, Slytherin students found something amusing. This caused McGonagall to look at them sharply and deduct ten points from the Slytherin house.
"I suggest you leave if you are not planning on listening."
Xyril nodded and with one fluid movement, grasped the bag on her table and strode out.
The Gryffindors were shocked while the Slytherins were surprised. McGonagall became sterner. But the Slytherins recovered quickly, and Pansy, in a moment of pure waywardness, raised her hand.
"Yes, Miss Parkinson."
"So, you're going to deduct points from your own house? It's just fair," she said, emphasizing the last word.
"Of course. Ten points from Gryffindor." She then strode back to the front and turned to Pansy as if remembering something. "And yes, another ten points from Slytherin for being rebellious."
This time, the Gryffindors were the ones amused.
------
Xyril walked down the corridors and continued looking at the crystal in her hand. Her eyes looked at it intently until she passed by an opened classroom, where Ravenclaws were having their Divination class.
Stopping for a moment and looking at the students visible from her position, she saw a familiar redhead she knew was sitting together with the raven-haired boy she had had a staring contest with back at the Great Hall.
It was a good thing indeed that she was already sorted into Gryffindor when she enrolled. That left her time to look at the boy earlier that morning without having the bother of being sorted.
Turning away, she looked at the crystal for a moment before shaking her head and walking away.
There were so much more important things she had to deal with than be in a class or looking through other classes for that matter.
------
Back at Transfiguration, Hermione's eyes darted towards Harry who gave her a nod, understanding completely without words that her thoughts were on the girl. Sighing, she turned back to writing her notes.
'She was the one from the ceremony. I didn't realize I have Transfiguration with her. It could even be possible that I had Potions with her. Merlin, what is going on with me? Why didn't I notice?'
Suddenly, Hermione stopped writing and stared unseeingly at the parchment before her.
'She's in Gryffindor? With an attitude like that she could be in Slytherin and– oh Merlin! Could it be possible that the sorting hat made a mistake and managed to interchange me with Xyril? Oh please let it be that! Please! Please! Please!'
------
She was worried, very much so. As her steps led her to the Great Hall for lunch, her uncertainties increased.
Would the Gryffindors allow her to sit with them? Or if they would, surely the Slytherin would take it as an insult. She could sit with the Slytherin first years but how would Harry and Ron feel? Besides, Ron was in Ravenclaw with Ginny.
"I absolutely despise this!"
"Talking to your self, Granger?"
Stopping on her tracks, she watched as Malfoy, who was surprisingly alone, walked past her, his eyes still trained on her. She did not retort, her unexpected encounter with him leaving her struggling for a guarded demeanor that, unfortunately, left her open to certain strong memories of her sixth year with the bigoted Slytherin that she wished so fervently to forget.
He stopped suddenly and turned to face her completely. "No rebuke?"
Still she did not move or say anything. Apart from unpleasant memories, there was this sudden familiarity about Malfoy that reminded her of something that she knew vaguely she had encountered on the ride back to Hogwarts. It was something about a dream… a memory. She just couldn't put her finger on it.
"Sitting with Gryffindors really does affect one's intelligence," he sneered, spinning on his heels and walking away.
She let the comment slide off, not at all offended for some reason. "Malfoy," she murmured softly before she even noticed.
He stopped and visibly tensed at the lack of venom in her voice. Slowly, he turned around, looking at her with uncertainty that she never saw in him prior to that moment. It made her wonder if there could have been something in sixth year that influenced the way he was looking at her that instant.
They remained quiet, he looking at her still with uncertainty and she thinking of things that both pained and sent warmth through her being. It wasn't till her eyes settled on the patch indicating his house that she suddenly was brought out of her trance, and, with small steps, she walked towards him, hand reaching out to touch the snake emblem on his robe.
The moment her hand touched the insignia, his hand went up to grip her wrist and yet not pull her hand away from him. She looked up at him with searching eyes and saw the quick flash of vulnerability that disappeared as quickly as it appeared. He loosened his hold then, stepping away from her and walking away without a further glance.
Unknown minutes of standing there brought her nothing but confusion and a pang of something she did not wish to examine anymore, thus letting a frustrated sigh, she continued her trek towards the Great Hall, her anxiety temporarily forgotten as she still struggled with a decision on where to sit for lunch.
Apparently, many students were either not hungry or they did not wish to eat inside the Great Hall after they were resorted. There were barely any students in. Perhaps eight Hufflepuffs, five Ravenclaws, a single Gryffindor, and…
She stopped her assessment with a look of irritation.
Most of the Slytherins were there.
'Figures,' she thought with disdain. 'Almost none of them were moved.'
"Mione!"
She blinked and looked towards the lone Gryffindor, her face brightening. "Harry!"
Quick as lightening, she went to sit beside him, feeling glares on her back by doing so. She did not mind though, for a few seconds later, a Ravenclaw entered from the door and joined them.
"Ron!" She greeted.
The redhead beamed. "Bloody hell! You'd never believe this. Most students are eating out! Almost looking like they plan to recreate the Great Hall on the school grounds. You should see that they're mingled."
Harry shook his head. "I never knew that inter-house unity would have to stem from this. Then again, even when it looks as if they're with other students from another house, those students were originally from their house."
"Like us," Hermione pointed out glumly.
The two boys nodded.
"Where's Ginny?"
Ron looked at her. "She's in the Ravenclaw common room. I think she's trying to get familiar with the place."
"I don't think I can do that."
"Why not?" Harry asked before realization dawned on him. "Oh."
The trio looked discreetly at the Slytherin table and noticed that for most part, the seventh years were glaring at them – at Hermione.
"You have to be careful, Mione," Harry advised. "We won't be inside the Slytherin territory when it's time to sleep."
"Bloody hell! If they hurt you, I'm going to hex them!"
She smiled, touched by her friends' concern. "Too bad I wasn't Head Girl, huh? I could've stayed at the Heads' dorm and not worry about my safety so much."
The two exchanged a confused look.
"Who is the Head Girl?" Both had asked simultaneously.
"I don't know. I wasn't really listening."
Suddenly, they all looked at each other and smiled. It was apparent that none of them had been listening at that time. Soon, they were laughing at their similarity of reaction at the result of the resorting, earning curious glances from both the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws, and hostile glances from the Slytherins.
------
The rest of the day had been bearable. It turned out that they had at least one class with each other, not the three of them together in one class but two in a class that would allow them to have more contact than those allowed by breaks.
Slytherins and Gryffindors had two classes together – Potions and Transfiguration, Gryffindors and Ravenclaws also had two – Charms and Herbology, and Ravenclaws and Slytherins had only one – Defense Against the Dark Arts.
By the end of the day, Hermione was left to walk alone out of her last class for the day – Ancient Runes.
'I wonder how my friends are doing,' she mused, walking unconsciously towards the Gryffindor Tower. 'Maybe I would survive. Hm, I wonder who ended up being the Heads this year. After all the trouble from last year, I could hardly expect me, Harry, and Ron to be prefects.'
"Granger, you're lost."
She continued walking, apparently too lost in her musings to hear the male voice and even the footsteps following her.
"Granger, stop."
A hand closed in on her right arm and it startled her immensely that she dropped her books as she spun around. The face that met her was graced with a smirk as Blaise Zabini looked at her with amusement.
"Boo?"
Her eyes narrowed dangerously and without another word, she started picking her books up. It was only with the last book that the boy had actually helped her, handing her the book, smirk still in place.
"What is it?" She asked icily.
His smirk widened. "You're welcome, Granger."
She rolled her eyes. "Zabini, will you just get this over with? I need to go and have my rest."
"I know," he said neutrally. "But you're heading towards the Gryffindor Tower."
Looking around, she almost slapped her forehead. 'How could I be so stupid?' She looked back at Zabini and smiled wryly. "I doubt you stopped me for that."
He chuckled. "You are downright perceptive, you know that?" When a raised eyebrow was all the reaction he received, he looked ready to start laughing at her expense once again. "Alright. Straight away then. Dumbledore asked us to go to his office after class, remember?"
She looked at him blankly. "He did?"
"Ah I see. Being a very bad Gryffindor. Not listening to the Headmaster." He gave her a mock look of scolding before chuckling. "Then again, you're not a Gryffindor anymore."
"Zabini, I swear, if you don't stop beating around the bush, I will hex you!"
He just chuckled more. "Feisty little thing, indeed. You spark up interest you know."
Patience snapping, she spun around and began walking away. But then, Zabini's hand grasped at her right arm once more and pulled her back.
"Not so fast, Granger. Dumbledore said we go there together. If I don't show up, my badge could be in for it and on my first day, too."
She gave him a wide stare. "Badge? You're a prefect?"
His amusement actually reached his eyes. "It gets better actually." At this, his dark eyes sparkled. "I'm the Head Boy."
For the second time in that encounter, Hermione dropped her books, this time, in shock. She tried to say something but nothing would come out of her mouth and so she closed it, staring at the tall Slytherin with very wide eyes.
He smirked at her for a few more seconds before actually releasing her arm and bending down to retrieve her books. "Come along now. We better be there."
Not waiting for her, he walked away, her books with him. He was certain that if her curiosity wasn't enough to make her follow him, her books in his arms will be her motivation. It was a good thing for him to have stopped by at the Head Boy's room earlier to dump his things there before he went hunting for the Golden Trio member.
When she did follow him, she was quiet. It was almost strange for him, a Slytherin, to find a Gryffindor – or rather an ex-Gryffindor – not quarreling with him especially one from the Golden Trio, who were best known to the Slytherins for their venom in dealing with people they did not like. It was not within his mind to actually start thinking that quite possibly the vacation had done something to abate this girl's hatred towards them. Granger was after all, very much known to be harboring a big grudge against his house because of obvious reasons like Malfoy, Snape, him, and every other Slytherin who dared get into her nerves for the last six years.
Looking at her from the corner of an eye, he noticed her thoughtful expression, reminding him of sixth year – the very same year that he started to stop participating in any Slytherin plot against the Golden Trio because of some reasons unknown to many, even to most of the Slytherins.
"Cockroach cluster."
"Huh?"
He smirked and stepped into the soon-to-be moving staircase that would lead to the headmaster's office. "The password."
"Oh," she said, stepping beside him and waiting as they were slowly propelled upwards, finally leaving them in front of an opened door.
Dumbledore was apparently waiting for them as he had left his door open.
"Ah, Mr. Zabini, Miss Granger, come in," said the professor's voice from inside.
Standing before the headmaster a few seconds later, the twinkling eyes of the old wizard noticed with fondness the books that Zabini held were the type of books the girl with them would usually heave around the school. He smiled kindly, knowing of the right choice he made.
"The badges," he said, handing both to Hermione. "I am quite aware that the other three houses think it is unfair that both Head Boy and Head Girl are from Slytherin. But I have, in best mind, trust that the two of you would be splendid."
Hermione looked at the headmaster and Zabini alternately. "Head Girl?"
"Yes, Miss Granger. It was actually decided even before this school year began."
"Oh." 'Brilliant. Very brilliant. Just say oh! I never felt more stupid!'
"Oh let me not keep the two of you. The only purpose that I have not given the badges back at the announcement during breakfast was so that the two of you could concentrate in your classes. But seeing as how I have already given the badges, you may both proceed to your dorm."
Zabini nodded and without hesitating, shifted all the books to one arm to hold on Granger's arm with his free hand. Pulling her away, they stood on top of the stairs.
"Mr. Zabini, if you see both Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley, send them both here."
------
The moment they were walking towards the Heads' dorm, Hermione recovered from her temporary lack of reaction. Shaking Zabini's hand off, she glared at him. "Why didn't you tell me?!"
He raised a brow and continued walking, an angry ex-Gryffindor walking beside him in heavy strides. He had expected this much from her and was merely waiting for her to start picking fights with him. Not that he really blamed her. Any Gryffindor picked on for a long time, particularly by a Slytherin, would harbor an immense dislike and would jump on any chance they get to even at least verbally assault their tormentors. "Tell you what?"
"That I am Head Girl!"
"Oh that," he said as if it was nothing. He knew that would rile her up more and being the Slytherin that he was, he couldn't suppress the elation he felt at getting a rise out of one of the fiercest Gryffindor known to Hogwarts.
"Yes, that!"
He shrugged casually. "Now you know."
Hermione bit her lower lip to prevent herself from screaming at the infuriating Slytherin with her. "I didn't know how to react! You made me look like a fool! You are certainly a Slytherin! You must be having a blast embarrassing me you arrogant bastard!"
"Aren't you being too much, Head Girl?" He mocked, provoking her more.
"Damn it, Zabini! You are just like that self-important prick who calls himself Draco Malfoy!"
At any rate, the comment bothered him. He knew that for Granger, Malfoy was considered the same as something far fouler than anything there could be and he took it as an insult. She wouldn't be where she was now if he did nothing to lend her a hand, even when she did not know. And as much as he did not want the comment to get into his very rare and almost playful mood with a Gryffindor, his eyes flashed for a moment. He knew she noticed it but he quickly reverted to his unperturbed stance. "How may that be?" He asked coldly, the teasing air about him suddenly gone.
"Mione!" Two voices called.
She stopped, her anger forgotten as she looked behind her to see her two best friends running towards her. Shifting moods all of a sudden, she smiled widely. "Harry! Ron!"
The two stopped before her, noticing Zabini, who was beside her, carrying her books. They gave the Slytherin a curious look before looking back at Hermione.
"You're Head Girl!" Harry announced. "We just heard some students talk about how much it would have been better if you'd remain in Gryffindor while being the Head Girl!"
Ron nodded while Harry talked, both their faces indicating how exceedingly excited they were for their female friend. They exchanged excited congratulations and encouraging words and were generally being their usually affectionate self to each other that it was blatantly obvious to Zabini that no matter how different their houses were, the Golden Trio would always be the Golden Trio.
When they finally noticed that he still existed, he could have sworn that the three looked at him with a sheepish expression at managing to make him appear an outcast. He merely gave them a bored look, not really caring. Then, remembering something, he expressed in an uninterested tone that, "Dumbledore wants to see you two in his office."
The three, to Zabini's expectation, exchanged a look before bidding each other long goodbyes and another warm set of congratulations and supporting words. They were really too emotional for a Slytherin to watch that he wanted nothing more than roll his eyes in mockery.
When the two had left, Hermione turned to him and gave him a curious look.
"Anything to say?" He asked with a cold edge to his voice.
She frowned. "They trust you. Could you believe that? They didn't even threaten you."
"I'm Head Boy. That's power for you." Sparing her an impassive glance, he continued walking towards the Heads' dorm. He was a few meters away when the Head Girl dashed after him.
"Hey, I'm sorry."
He continued walking as if he did not hear anything, although he had to admit that getting an apology from Granger this sudden was both a surprise and an amusing thing. It was apparent to him that he had just touched her conscience and he enjoyed doing so immensely. It gave him some edge over her and he decided he should hold this over her head longer. He had nothing against her now after what happened in sixth year but he wouldn't be a Slytherin if he didn't make it hard for a Gryffindor. "About?" His voice was still devoid of any emotion and a quick glance at her showed him that he was playing his cards right.
"What I said." She fidgeted slightly and even flushed guiltily. "Everything I said, actually." She paused and took a deep breath. "I didn't really mean to blow up. It's just that I'm frustrated, alright? I don't understand what is going on. I don't want to be in Slytherin! I still can't grasp the fact that I am in the very house that spent six years tormenting me and my friends."
His steps did not falter and he put on the impression of ignoring her although he wanted nothing more than smirk at her. She may now be a Slytherin, but she was still a Gryffindor, easily fooled because of their penchant for fairness.
Hermione ceased her efforts, thinking that her pestering could push him to be despicable. Soon enough, they were standing before the portrait to their dorm.
She looked at the portrait of a mermaid, sitting beside a pile of treasure inside an old ruined ship under water. The mermaid's red hair was spread out because of the water, her green eyes smiling as she looked away from a fine golden necklace in her hands and settled her eyes on them.
"There isn't a password yet. Would you like to make one now, or should it wait till later?" The mermaid had asked in a melodic, almost hypnotic, voice.
"Lion-heart," he murmured dully. 'That should make her guiltier,' he thought, almost having lost his control to hold a smirk back.
Both female looked at him, the mermaid smiling and the muggle-born surprised.
"Why lion-heart? It's only a Gryffindor thing. It would be selfish of me."
"I care none for this, Head Girl. You know that." He then looked at her, eyes unreadable. "Change it if you like, just inform me."
The mermaid, sensing something, just smiled and shook her head. The portrait altogether swung to the right, giving them access to their dorm.
He stepped inside followed by a slightly annoyed Hermione. She was currently contemplating on changing the password one of these days and not informing him till the next day so he'd have to stay out for the night with his Slytherin pals. But her thoughts were left forgotten when she saw the dorm's receiving area.
Inside, the common room was just about as big as the Gryffindor common room and almost identical that Hermione felt at home. She sighed audibly in relief. The only difference was that there would only be the two of them sharing and that the color was either green or red.
"How come there's red here? Not that I'm complaining but you know what I mean."
"I asked Dumbledore to keep it this way." He then walked towards the right staircase. "The left one's yours."
"Wait," she called. "My books, I…" She stared down at her shoes, suddenly very embarrassed at having to remember too late that her heavy books were being lugged around the school by the Head Boy whom she just insulted minutes before.
He caught the blush on her cheeks before she looked down and he could not help but smirk. 'Gryffindors and their easily embarrassed disposition.' "Contrary to popular belief, Granger, some Slytherins are also with manners. We have joint bathroom. I will carry your books to your room through it."
Confusion crowded her mind and she looked up. "Why not use my stairs?"
"It's charmed to transfigure into a stone slide if a boy so much as steps on it. They can't have an innocent ex-Gryffindor alone with a Slytherin without any defense, can they?"
"Then why a joint bathroom?"
His smirk never left his face. "For me to check on you."
"So why the charmed stairs?"
He looked at her for a long time, soon making her self-conscious. "Oh I'm not entirely sure," he lied smoothly. "Perhaps the stairs are merely for show and the joint bathroom for a special convenience."
Her brows furrowed. "Special convenience?"
The sensual smirk he gave her sent her looking down at her shoes again, her cheeks stained with the red color he was finding more and more interesting principally on her. Of course he was merely baiting her. Potter and Weasley would kill him before he could even as much as kiss her, with her consent given or not.
"Meet you in your room then?"
Her gaze met his sharply and she shook her head with panic. "NO!!" She flushed but held her ground, her chin raised stubbornly at what he knew so well as Gryffindor pride. "No. I think I'll have my books now. You'd been carrying them around far too long."
He decided that she had enough teasing for the moment but gave her a challenging smirk. One last jab wouldn't really hurt, would it? "There are many willing girls, Head Girl. I wouldn't jump you. Well, unless of course you secretly want me to."
She reddened even more and he was immediately aware by instinct that she was going to hex him right on the spot. Not what he wanted for a reaction but it was still gratifying to see a Gryffindor-at-heart get riled up enough to consider breaking the rules and hex other students. It just goes to show that they are also rule-breakers and the Slytherins shouldn't get all the blame.
"Hexing me already? Head Girl, isn't this a bit too un-Granger-like?" He laughed and although there was a slight mockery to it, he knew she managed to grasp the fact that he was only provoking her to make a fool out of herself. "If it makes you feel better, Dumbledore gave me the duty to keep an eye on you and the duty to keep anyone from groping you, me included. So there is no need to hex me." He gave her a wink and walked up the stairs.
Not knowing whether to be embarrassed or annoyed, she walked up her staircase and entered her room, which to her delight, was rather big.
It had a big poster bed directly set on the wall facing the door, night table on either side of the bed, a vanity table by the left wall next to a big bookshelf, and a desk by the right wall beside the door that she presumed must lead to the bathroom.
There was not a spot of green in the room and she wondered if Zabini had anything to do with it.
"Yes, I had," he said with amusement, leaning against the bathroom's doorframe.
She blushed, wondering if she spoke out loud as he walked inside, placing her books on the desk. He gave her a smirk before walking towards the bathroom door.
"Oh wait," she murmured, walking up to him and giving him his badge. "I think the Professor gave yours to me because you've been carrying my books."
"I suppose so." He glanced at her then walked away.
"Uh, Zabini?"
He stopped and gave her a mildly curious look. "Yes?"
"If you do something nasty to me, I'll hex you," she said flatly.
He nodded and walked out, not in the least bit threatened. She was still a Gryffindor at heart and would never attack unless extensively provoked. And he knew that there was only one person of existence that could do that in less than half a minute and that person wasn't him. Hence, no matter how he'd inflame her, she would do no such action as hex him.
When he had left, she walked towards her big four poster bed and threw herself on it, groaning in desperation. "Why does this have to happen to me?!" She clutched at her robe and immediately remembered the new crest she would have to bear from now on. Frowning, she realized something about the snake.
She could now vaguely recall that she did have a dream. There was a snake on it.
"Great! I have just been warned in my dream that I'd be in Slytherin and I so stupidly forgot!"
Closing her eyes in frustration, she couldn't help feeling that there was something else about the snake that's telling her of something very important.
"What is it? What is it?" She repeated until she dozed of to sleep.
