A/N: this chapter is getting nearer and nearer to the main plot...it's pretty short, but it's to the point

Chapter 5: The Callixtus Bond

Disclaimer: I don't own HP...I wish I owned Tom Felton.

Hermione and Draco got inside the hospital wing and Madame Pomfrey healed them both in a matter of seconds.

"Honestly, I don't think that fighting is a good way to spend your time", she said. She obviously did not understand the situation. They didn't bother to explain. They were too busy worrying about the punishment they would get. Usually, they wouldn't worry about detention, but being sent to Dumbledore? This was something entirely different.

They left the hospital wing as quietly as they had entered. They didn't talk or look at each other.

"How could I have thought that a git like Malfoy was cute?" Hermione asked herself.

"She is so stuck-up...I can't believe I thought she was pretty", Draco thought.

The trip from the hospital wing to Dumbledore's office was considerably long, so there was an awkward silence. Neither of them was used to this kind of silence.

Hermione sort of wished Malfoy would insult her or something, just to have something to do, but nothing came out of Malfoy's mouth. Deep down inside, Draco wanted Hermione to tell him he was a jerk or something like that, so that he'd have something to say, but Hermione kept quiet.

"It's about time", Professor McGonagall said as they neared Dumbledore's office. "Sorry Prof-", Hermione said, fixing her robe.

"Drooble's best", McGonagall said, and all three of them got inside the office.

"Miss Granger, Mister Malfoy, sit down," said Dumbledore from his seat. He's beard was longer than ever, and his eyes were the droopiest they had ever been, but they still gleamed with wisdom. He gave them a small smile and then his face became serious.

"Sorry Professor Dumbledore", Hermione piped up as soon as she sat down.

"I'm sad to say that you have disappointed me"

"Really sorry—"

"It's a bit too late for that Mr. Malfoy"

"Professor?"

"Yes?"

"What detention will we be getting?"

"You won't be getting any," said Dumbledore, "there is something else we want you to do"

Hermione looked surprised, and so did Draco. But they nodded and they listened intently to what Dumbledore was going to say.

"As you may know, you are partners. You have been asking questions all day, I heard. I have my reasons. You will know them soon after you are connected by the Bond of Callixtus"

"Callix-what?

"Callixtus", Dumbledore said, "As you may know, you two are the only proper candidates for head boy and girl next year, and there have been changes. Being head boy and girl has much more responsibilities than it ever had before. All of this is because of the defense program of the Ministry of Magic. You will undergo training over the summer...which means that you will have to learn to work together. I know about your little—feud. I think that if you learn to overcome this, you will be the best boy and girl Hogwarts has ever had"

Hermione beamed.

"Anyway, since today you have proven that you could not overcome this easily, I have decided to put you under the bond of Callixtus. The bond, often called Callixto, is the modern discovery of a wizard called Alwedian Militates Jr. It connects two people over a certain period of time. This bond will only be broken under two circumstances. One, if I decide to remove it for no reason at all, which I assure you I have no intention of doing. Or two—"

Draco held his breath.

"—if you overcome your feud. I must warn you that this bond is strong, and is not easily fooled. Since this bond can only break away temporarily in some conditions—such as going to the bathroom—you will have to share a common room, which will be at the Alwedian Militates Wing, who coincidentally, is the father of Alwedian Militates Jr. I hope that it will not take all year before the Callixto bond breaks."

"Professor! I can't share a common room with—with..." Hermione stopped. She didn't want to waste a year with Malfoy the ferret.

"With her", Draco said smugly. He couldn't believe it. A whole year with...Miss know-it-all.