A/N: I hope you R&R!

Disclaimer: J.K Rolling not me.

Flames and Icicles

Chapter Three

A Trip for the Cat

A light drizzle had began as the students left the train for Hogwarts. Hermione bustled along with Crookshanks in her arms. Harry, Neville, and Luna had made it to the carriages first. Hermione, Ron, Colin, and Ginny had to finish their prefect duties. Maybe it was fate what happened next, or maybe a sign that something needed to change, or it might have simply been the fact the Crookshanks dug his nails into Hermione's skin, the ground was slippery, and she stepped on the end of her robe combined that made her trip and topple into Draco Malfoy.

"Crookshanks, no!" She yelled at the fluff ball pouncing after the loose thread on Ginny's robe, and soon hidden in the crowd.

"Get off of me you Mudblood!" Bellowed Draco from under her. She then realized that she was practically laying on him, his chest against hers, his face bellow hers…you know that kind of thing. Not even a spark flew between the two.

Hermione shifted her face into an angry crumple and got up quickly, not wanting to touch him any moment longer. He seemed to reiterate this notion by the look of disgust on his face. Then in a sickening twist his anger turned into a smirk.

"Granger, I know you want me but really did you have to push me in the mud?" Sarcasm dripped from every syllable.

"I'm sorry Malfoy, I just thought ferrets liked the mud." His face swarmed back into a look of pure anger. "Did I say something wrong?" Usually this was when Crabbe and Goyle, his thug sidekicks, would threateningly step forward, but they were no where to be seen. 'Probably lost, or looking for the dinning cart still.' She mused. "I may be a filthy mudblood as you say, but now I'm not the only filthy one MALFOY."

She then walked away from the boy with mud on the back of his cloak, bristling about her encounter.

"Hey Hermione! Over here!" Called Ginny. The redhead was standing next to a carriage, and had a very familiar cat in her arms. "He attacked my heels." She giggled, but then saw Hermione, apparently still bristling. "What happened?"

"This cat made me fall on Malfoy!" She pointed accusingly at the fur ball. Then sighed. "But I love you still." She took the cat in her arms. Ginny laughed, but only after asking the girl if she was ok from the tripping experience.

"Nothing I can't handle." Hermione soon forgot about the 'Slytherin Prince' as she entered the carriage and sat with her friends.

((((((((((--))))))))))

"WHAT!" Asked Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger in unison. The brown-haired girl regained herself and blushed at the outburst. "I don't understand sir… I thought only Head Boy and Head Girl got that. I mean we aren't old enough to take that, right?" The Beginning of the Year feast has just finished and as instructed, Hermione grabbed her things and headed for the Headmaster'' office. To her dismay, Draco Malfoy was already there- also on instruction.

"There is no way I'm sharing a common room and all that stuff with her!" Hermione thought his term "all that stuff" sounded really intelligent, in a completely sarcastic way.

Dumbledore waited patiently until they stopped then went on. "Yes, Miss Granger, I am aware that you and Mr. Malfoy are not our Heads this year, but you will be next year and this is why you are here." He paused for effect, "Things have changed a good deal since last school year…and now a slightly different approach is being taken to train, if you will, our future Head Girl and Head Boy." He stopped and let this register through the two teens.

"So. We'll be the Heads next year?" Hermione could not hold her voice steady as it shook with excitement. She glanced at Draco to see his face quipped with curiosity. Then back to the Professor who wore a brilliantly radiant purple cloak lined with shining silver stars and a matching hat. Draco always thought the man had guts to wear such outfits. A Malfoy would never wear such embarrassing garments.

"Yes, Miss Granger. Under the conditions that you tell none of your peers and let them be surprised next year, and that you share a commons room till February."

Hermione bite her lip in doubt. Sure she was beyond excited about being the Head girl next year, even IF it was with Malfoy as Head boy. But on the other hand she would have to basically LIVE with him until February, AND she could not tell her friends! What would she say when they asked her why in the Hell she was living with Malfoy!

Draco seemed to be thinking along the same lines and asked pensively, "What will we say to these 'friends we aren't allowed to tell' when they ask why we aren't staying in our regular rooms?" It was a rudely put, but Hermione wanted to know also. She had never been good at lying.

Dumbledore stroked his beard and a familiar something twinkled in his eyes. "Well you two are the top of your class… Tell them the part truth." They looked at him in full confusion. "You are working for me."

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