Chapter 8

A/N: Wow I can't believe the story has made it this far. If anyone has any suggestions as to what could happen the days they are in the room, I would love to hear them. I need to keep the story interesting; I feel it is getting a bit boring. Please email me at AmberLee1488@aol.com with any suggestions! Special thanks to:

Moody Spasmodic- Thank you soooo much for the compliments. It was nice talking to you online. It made me feel better about my story. I love meeting other Tom Felton obsessors. I mean fans. LOL

Brooks- I almost cried just writing about his past. I wanted to justify his behavior LOL. Thanks so much for reviewing.

kole17- As always, thanks so much for reviewing. I miss our conversations LOL. I love helping with your story, so don't worry about it. Hope to talk to you soon!! LYLAS!!

Artemis Moonclaw- Thanks so much for reviewing. Yes, I hate Lucius too. Don't be ashamed! LOL

My Comforting Lie33- Yay, I'm so glad you like this. I'll update as soon as possible.

xAmericanxSunsetx- There will definitely be some conflict with Harry and Ron. There has to be, because Harry and Ron would never shrug it off easily. Thank you for reviewing.

Lila- Thanks so much. You are one of my most faithful reviewers. I'm glad you still like this, and now Draco and Hermione will be nicer to each other. It's the eighth chapter. Their fueds can't go on forever!! Hope you like this.

Samara Potter- Yes, I love "A Walk to Remember". It is the best movie, other than Harry Potter. I'm glad you took the time to read it. Thanks for reviewing!

Draco's-Tootsie23- Thanks so much for reviewing. I'm glad you like it.

Manga Devil- Yes, I thought the hug was a good way to show signs of a relationship. And Dumbledore is always related to this kind of thing LOL. Thanks for reviewing!!

Danishgirl- I'm glad you like this. I'll update whenever I can.

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The day after the ball, Hermione got a message from Dumbledore. Right after lunch, she was to report to Dumbledore's office. She had an idea of what it was about, too. Harry and Ron gave her sympathetic looks as she headed out of the Hall to Dumbledore's office. She wasn't that upset. Spending a week with no classes and no homework might be fun since they were friends now.

She made her way to the office, thinking. Where exactly would they stay? Even though they were friends, she was still a bit nervous.

"Ah, Miss Granger. Please, have a seat," Dumbledore welcomed her, indicating a chair facing his desk. "We'll wait for Mr. Malfoy," he added. She nodded, gazing around at the office. She had been there alot less than Ron and especially Harry. It was a very eccentric office, but it was nice. Just then, the door slowly opened, and she turned to see Draco enter.

He looked different than usual. He wore the usual school uniform, but his hair hung loosely, like it did at the ball. His eyes weren't cold and uptight; they were bright and relaxed. He even managed to give Hermione a small smile as he sat down in the second chair facing Dumbledore.

"Now, as I recall, you have the opportunity to spend a week with each other, to sort out any issues. This is not meant to be a punishment, so you will be in a comfortable room. However, there must be some interaction, or this would be useless. If you will, please go pack your clothes for a week, and 2 books you'd want to read. We can't have too much distraction," he explained. Draco and Hermione nodded.

"When will we go to the room?" Hermione asked.

"Tomorrow. I think it is good to start on a Sunday so it is a fresh week," Dumbledore replied happily. They then returned to their dormitories to begin packing.

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Hermione's mind was going all the while she was packing. She really was going to miss Ron and Harry. Who's going to help them with their homework? she thought as she tossed her pajamas and toothbrush in her bag. She smiled at the thought of them trying to help each other with schoolwork. Oh well, she thought as she closed the bag. It's a nice break for me. She headed downstairs to dinner so she could spend some time with Harry and Ron.

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"I can't believe you have to spend a whole week with Malfoy. You didn't even do anything!" Harry said to Hermione at dinner.

"It'll be okay," she reassured him. "He's actually changed a bit." Ron snorted and she looked at him coldly. "What, you don't think people change?" she challenged.

"No, they do, but this is Malfoy," Ron answered. Harry nodded in agreement.

"Malfoy is a person and he can change just as much as anyone else. Maybe if you got to know him, you'd realize that," she said angrily. She stood up and left her best friends mouthing soundlessly. On her way back to the common room, she realized that she just defended Malfoy. But she was right: he had changed and now he could be just as good a friend as Harry or Ron.

After working on the last bit of homework she'd have for a week, she went up to bed, dreaming of what could happen in the next few days.

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The next day, after breakfast, Hermione went directly to Dumbledore's office as she had been told. Draco was there alone, waiting for the Headmaster to get back.

"Hey," she greeted, standing beside him against the wall. He nodded in response. It's better than nothing, she thought, smiling to herself.

"So...where do you think we'll be staying?" she asked him, trying to strike up conversation. He shrugged. She looked down and bit her lip.

"Is something wrong?" she asked. He shook his head. Hermione was beginning to get angry.

"Look, I said you didn't have to talk to me if you didn't want to," she snapped. He looked at her, his eyes widening.

"I never said I didn't want to," he protested, confused.

"Then why do you look like you wish I'd go away? Why wouldn't you say anything to me?" she asked.

"That's just casual communication for me," he said slowly.

"Well, if that's how you talk to your friends, then your social skills could use some work," she told him. She saw him smile, amused. "Are you laughing at me?" she asked him, in a joking manner.

"No," he said, holding his hands up defensively, still smiling.

"Then just what is so funny?" she asked him in mock anger, holding her hands on her hips.

"You're kinda cute when you're mad," he said. Hermione's smile practically fell off her face. He was serious, and she hadn't been expecting him to say something like that. He realized what he'd just said and quickly looked away. They didn't speak again until Dumbledore returned.

"All packed?" he asked. They both nodded. "Excellent. Let's go," he said, starting down the corridor as they followed.

Finally, he stopped and turned to a door on the right side of the corridor. Hermione immediately recognized the vacinity.

"Isn't this the Room of Re--?" she blurted, but stopped. She wasn't supposed to know about the room. She, Harry, and Ron had held secret "illegal" meetings there during fifth year. If Dumbledore heard her, he didn't react. He opened the door and stepped aside to let them go in.

Obviously, it wasn't like Hermione remembered it. Now, there were two twin beds with a nightstand between them. The walls were light blue, as was the carpet. There was one dresser, and beside it was a small bookcase. In a corner of the room, there was a small table with two chairs. ("You can unpack and put your things away," said Dumbledore.) In another corner was a sofa with a lamp on a table next to it. Hermione sat down on one of the beds, while Draco sat on the other.

"Food will appear on the table at mealtimes. Otherwise, there will be only snacks. I'll be needing your wands, just to ensure safety," he added, holding his hand out. Both Draco and Hermione gave up their wands. "If you need me for some reason, press on the door with two fingers. I'll come to see what you need," he offered. "Any questions?" Draco and Hermione thought a moment, but shook their heads. Dumbledore nodded. He then left, closing the door behind him. They sat a moment, just looking around the room.

"Dang," Draco said after a minute.

"What?" she asked.

"I gotta go to the bathroom." She laughed. "There's a small bathroom through that little door," she said, pointing. He jumped up and went. Hermione began to unpack her clothes and books, putting them in the dresser and bookcase. Draco came out and did the same. This is going to be a bit boring, he thought. With nothing to do. And if she reads the whole time, I won't even have anyoneto talk to.

They spent about fifteen minutes arranging things to their liking, and then sat on their beds.

Draco looked and Hermione gave him a look that said, "Now what?" He returned the look and laid back. She copied the action.

"I'm gonna go crazy without playing quidditch," he said casually.

"Yeah, I don't like being locked up in one room for a long time," she said.

"This means we'll have to live like muggles," Draco said sadly, causing her to look at him.

"There's nothing wrong with muggles," she replied firmly. He was about to say something in return, bt he sewed his lips shut. He didn't want to start a fight on the first day. They were silent a moment, not knowing what to say.

"So...," he said after a while. She sat up and raised an eyebrow at him.

"What?"

"I'm bored," he complained. She rolled her eyes.

"Stop whining. It's only the first day, out of seven!" Draco groaned.

"Well, I'm sorry. I didn't know I was such a boring person to live with," she said crossly.

"I didn't say you were boring. There's just nothing to do in here," he protested.

"Well if you could hold a decent conversation, you wouldn't be so bored," Hermione retorted.

"I can hold down a decent conversation."

"Well bickering about it isn't doing us any good," she sighed.

"Why do you hang out with Harry and Ron so much?" Draco asked her after a moment.

"Because they're my friends. They stick up for me," she answered.

"What is there between you and Harry?" he asked.

"What? He's my friend, as is Ron," she repeated. "Why?" she followed curiously. He shrugged.

"I donno. Just wondering." Silence followed for a few minutes.

"Have you ever had a real girlfriend?" she asked. Draco's head turned so fast, she thought his neck would snap.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I just mean is it true, what everyone says? You've been with almost every girl in Slytherin?"

Draco snorted. "No. I dated Pansy for about a week. But she's so annoying and ugly," he said sneering. "She's the only girl I ever dated," he admitted. Hermione's jaw dropped.

"Don't look so surprised. I'm not desperate enought to be with that many girls."

"I'm just a little amazed. I mean, every girl in this school thinks you're hot. It's strange," she said.

"Do you?" he said, smiling. Her face went as scarlet as the Gryffindor common room.

"I...uh...that's not the point," she stammered, making Draco smile bigger. She looked away, at the clock.

"I'm hungry," she mumbled trying to change the subject. "So let's eat." They sat at the small table which now had two clean dishes with a small feast in the center. They are in silence, the wheels in their minds turning. It was only the first day and already they were bored. This would be the longest week ever. At least they weren't fighting--yet.

After they ate, Hermione got one of her books and curled up on the couch to read. Draco decided to take a shower. He grabbed his boxers, a wifebeater, and a towel and headed to the bathroom. He put his hand on the doorknob, and hesitated. He turned and looked at Hermione, deeply absorbed in her book. She looked so deep in thought, yet so relaxed, so pretty. He smiled softly, opened the door, and went in.

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A/N: I know there isn't alot yet, but that's why I'm asking for suggestions. I hope you like this so far. R/R!!!

Amber