Authors POV

The air was filled with the sounds of the new school term beginning. There was the chatter of the nervous first years as they eyed Hogwarts with extreme awe. Most of the older students were gleefully meeting back up with their long time wizarding friends. If you listened long enough you would soon be filled in on all the newest gossip that was being shared. Laughter rang out over the grounds as new jokes and funny stories were exchanged. You could barely hear the soft sound of the wheels of the last wagon as it pulled up to Hogwarts. Out of it stepped the ever cunning Draco Malfoy followed by his ever present "bodyguards". Crabbe and Goyle were rambling on about something that obviously was of little significance.

"F'rs yers, over her!" came the bellowing voice of the half giant Hagrid. All the newest additions to the school cautiously approached him. Each eyed him wearyingly, none seemed to know what to expect of him.

Nearby the famous trio could be seen. Harry and Ron were laughing uncontrollably while Hermione and Ginny exchanged exasperated looks while rolling their eyes.

"Honestly, Ron, can't you be serious for once in your life?" Hermione was slightly peeved at him. Ron had seemed to laugh for the entire train ride there.

"Sorry, 'Mione, but I have to agree with Ron. You have to admit it was funny." Harry just barely managed to get the statement out before he started into another laughing fit.

"I don't see what is so amusing about me being forced to live with that intolerable git!" Over the summer Hermione had been notified that she was to be this years headgirl. She was delighted at first and ran around her house declaring her happiness until her mother had told her to remember that if she became any louder the neighbors would most certainly complain. They had become infuriated over the vacation when Hermione had come home and had shone a liking for blaring her music as loud as she possibly could. Her neighbors had not hesitated to let her parents know just how unhappy they were and she had no doubt that they wouldn't waver to call the police if they heard any more noise. With that warning she went back to her room to finish reading her letter. It was then that she discovered that the headboy was non other than Draco Malfoy. Not only that but this year they would be required to share living quarters.

As Ron gave yet another impression of what Malfoy's face had been like when he read that he would be living with Hermione more laughter erupted. This time Hermione had no choice but to join in. As the four shared in humor they failed to notice that someone had come up to stand behind them.

"Well, if it isn't the golden trio, and it looks like they've picked up a new member. What, Potter, can u not find anyone else your own age to worship you?" Hermione spun around in surprise at that all to familiar drawl.

"Why don't you bug off, Malfoy" Hermione spat at him giving him her most hate filled glare she could muster.

"Since when do I take orders from a filthy Mudblood like yourself, Granger? Since never, that's when." He started to sneer back at her with that famous smirk of his plastered on his face. Hermione couldn't help but to notice how his eyes not only met hers but seemed to travel down her body. She had grow quite a bit over the summer and having spent 3 weeks at the beach had given her a nice deep tan. She was definitely no longer the homely little girl she had once been. Her figure had grown to be quite nice and she had gotten used to the guys in her home town looking her over, but this was not just any guy, this was Draco Malfoy.

She quickly turned to her friends. "We should be heading in now. The feast and sorting are bound to be starting any minute now."

Harry couldn't help but to notice that she looked somewhat nervous. He caught the slight waver in her voice and saw the look of desperation to get away in her eye. Ron started to protest, saying that they had at least 20 minutes left. Harry, having seen Hermione look this way, urged Ron forward toward Hogwarts.

Hermione's POV

They sat down at the table and waited for all the first years to file in. They looked so scared and nervous and totally confused. 'Funny, they look exactly how I feel' Ever since her little meeting with Malfoy she was completely lost. 'How could he even think about me like that! All I've ever been to him is a filthy little Mudblood. Ah, the nerve of that git!'

Professor McGonagall stood up at the head of the room next to the Sorting Hat. It looked just as old and worn as ever.

"You know it's amazing, I can still remember sitting on the stool waiting my judgment in complete terror like it was just yesterday." Ron recalled, jerking Hermione out of her deep confused thought.

"Yea, so can I. Ugh, I can't believe I was almost put into Slytherin. I don't think I'd be able to resist killing Malfoy if I had to live in the same house as him. Oh no offense, Hermione." having said this both Harry and Ron burst into laughter once again, only this time Hermione did not accompany them.

"Aw, come on, 'Mione, we were just playin with you."

"Yea I know, it's just…" Hermione was cut off by the Sorting Hat's new song.

Back in the day of the great Four

They knew of a time that would bring fourth a war

They themselves would be long gone

So they chose four others to go on

Each of the new would resemble the old

And they would be known by the prophesies told

Of darkened hair and emerald eyes was Gryffindor

Him being the bravest of the Four

Next was Hufflepuff the fiery red

Always loyal and never from danger fled

Then came Ravenclaw with her hair of brown

And brilliance filled her crown

Lastly is Slytherin, his eyes of ice

He, a master wandsman, always struck precise

The future of both worlds would be in their hands

They must come together and face foreign lands

For if one shall waver they all shall fall

And the dark lord will rise above us all

But when together, with ease they will fight

And all will be saved by their combined might

After the Hat had finished his song the sorting began. A slight murmur went through the head table. Hermione was one of the few students who had been paying any attention to the song and she noticed the look in her headmaster's eyes. He looked as to be distant with a slight glimmer in his eye. She turned to Harry to point this out but just then a round of applause echoed from her table. Yet another student had been placed in Gryffindor. After all had been sorted Gryffindor had received 14 new members, Ravenclaw with 12, Hufflepuff with 15, and Slytherlin with 13.

"Now that all have received their welcome I shall begin by saying that, as all the older students know and of course obey, the Forbidden Forest is just that, forbidden. And I can assume from the glares I am receiving that you all wish me to shut up and start the feast. So with no more to say for now let the feast BEGIN!" And with that all the tables filled with every kind of edible substance imaginable. Ron dived in and got just about one of everything on his plate. Harry was soon to follow his example.

"Now if you two continue to eat like that you will end up like Crabb and Goyle."

"Aw, relax, Mione, we can never look that ugly." came Ron's garbled response through a mouth full of food. Hermione just shook her head. The feast passed on with Ron and Harry discussing Quiditch while Hermione and Ginny sat there looking bored. Hermione couldn't help but to glance over at the other tables. Her eyes scanned the Houses for the new first years. Then, her eyes settled on a Sytherlin. Not a first year though. Draco Malfoy was also scanning the tables and his gaze had fallen upon a certain Gryfindor. A shudder when down her spine as she felt his cold glare go through her. Her eyes slowly made their way over him. She notice almost immediately that he had worn his light blonde locks down. They cascaded down the sides of his face just to rest slightly above his shoulders. The light reflected off it to cause an almost blinding effect. Her sight traveled down to his face. His eyes were facing her direction but he didn't seem to really see her. She noticed his deep silver eyes showed that he was deep in thought. His brow was creased, almost as if something was troubling him. His mouth was set in a straight thin line, so unlike his usual smirk. He seemed to feel her presence and for the first time really saw her. His expression changed so fast that Hermione had to wonder if it had been there at all. It was replaced by a cold glare. Their eyes met and it soon became a staring contest. Hermione quickly looked away, her face tinged red with having been caught staring at her enemy.

"Now if the Perfects would be so kind as to show the first years to their rooms. I wish you all a good night. Remember classes start first thing in the morning! Be prepared to work hard." With that a steady line of first years being ushered out to their common rooms by the perfects left through the doors. Hermione, Harry, Ron, and Ginny all left to follow the rest of their house. Hermione stopped right outside a picture of the great Four and bid good night to her friends.

"Now if that git Malfoy gives you any trouble at all you know where to come get us. I'll beat that smirk right off his face."

" Yes, Harry, I know you will, but I'm a big girl and can take care of myself."

" Yes, well, keep my offer in mind, Mione." Hermione rolled her eyes and took a step towards the picture.

" Sorry guys, I'm tired and I haven't even checked my new room out yet. I'll see you guys in the morning. Good night."

" Good night ,Mione." they all chimed in together. With that she turned to look at the portrait. Godric Gryffindor waved to her while Salazar Slytherin just merely turned his head away to look in the opposite direction.

"Hello dear, you must be the new headgirl! Hermione, isn't it?" greeted Helga Hufflepuff.

"Why, yes, I'm Hermione. I believe the password is together?" with that the picture opened to reveal an average sized common room. It was smaller than the one's for the houses but more than big enough for two people. The ceiling was enchanted to look like the one in the Great Hall. Hermione gazed upward as a shooting star flew by. She lowered her gaze to observe the room. On the far wall directly in the middle of the room was the fire place. There was a couch and two large chairs arranged in a half circle around the fireplace. The furniture was of deep green leather with gold trim. A desk adorned a place in the corner near the door. Next to this desk was an elaborate bookshelf filled to capacity with books. She strolled over to read the bindings. She had just started to read the titles of the books on the second shelf when the door on the left side of the room opened. Out stepped Malfoy. Hermione, being deep in concentration, failed to hear him enter. He slowly and quietly crept over to the desk right beside Hermione. Then leaning on it with his arms crossed over his chest he watched her. They stayed like that for a long 5 minutes. When finally Hermione decided on a book to start reading she looked up. She found herself eye to eye with Malfoy. She jumped back with a intake of breath. In the process she dropped her book. Malfoy eyed her with amusement. With his head bent ever so slightly to the side and a half smile, half smirk plastered on his face he spoke.

"Oh, did I scare the big brave Gryfindor mud blood?" he mocked her with a laugh almost as annoying as the smirk on his face. " I always thought you were put in the wrong house. This just proves it. Gryfindors are supposed to have at least part of a spine."

"Oh, just leave me alone, Malfoy! Since we are forced to share living quarters you could at least act civil!"

" Me, act civil to a mudblood? You must have lost what little brains you had when I scared you."

"You know just as well as I do, Malfoy, that I get the highest marks in all our classes. Even higher than yours."

" Yes, well…" and with that Malfoy stormed out of the common room into his bedroom.

'I wonder what that was about? Must have hit a sore spot with him. Maybe I should go after him… Wait, No! What am I thinking. He deserves every bad thing that happens to him. Maybe I am losing my mind…' Hermione calmly walked over to her room, leaving the book on the ground. She turned the door handle and walked into her room. In the center of the room was a large double bed adorned with red sheets with gold trim. On the left side of the room stood a wardrobe which had all her things already unpacked into it. She sat down on her bed and looked around. 'Not bad' she got back up to investigate the door next to the wardrobe. Once she opened it she saw that it led to the bathroom which adjoined Malfoy's room. In it were two sinks, on a marbled counter. The shower and bathtub were side by side. With this discovered she went back into her room to change into her night clothes.

After she had put her sleeping clothes on, which were a pair of loose fitting pink starred sweatpants and a tighter shirt with a picture of a volleyball on it, it came to just above her pants line, she started her exercise routine. She sat on the floor and stretched out. First she separated her legs and reached to each side while counting to ten. Then she started sit-ups and pushups. Her goal was 30 of each every night before bed. She had started this workout over the summer in order to lose weight so she could fit into her bathing suit. It had worked quite well and she continued to do it, even though she certainly didn't need to lose anymore weight. She had become quite athletic over the summer, what with swimming at the beach and of course the beach volleyball. Once she had finished her workout she went into the bathroom. She applied her straitening potion to her hair. She no longer liked the bushy haired style she had worn for so many years. Now her auburn hair was straight and flowing. She looked quite beautiful with her new style and many people noticed. She left the bathroom and settled into her bed. She picked up the book in which she had started on the train and had hopes of finishing soon. She read herself to sleep like she had done every night since she could first read. While asleep she dreamed of the past events. In almost every dream one face in particular stood out. Draco Malfoy.

'It was a warm summers night. Hermione found herself standing in the middle of the Quiditch field. A slight breeze stirred a pile of leaves that had been resting at her feet. They slowly rose into the air, swaying with the breeze. She watched them glide up into the night sky. While watching them be blown into the darkness her attention was caught by something over on the other end of the field. A dark figure clad in robes flew effortlessly high above the ground. It rose into the sky and dove back down with the greatest of ease. It swayed with the wind and looked as if it truly belonged forever in the sky. Hermione stood mesmerized by the figure gliding right and left in front of the pale moon. She watched as it flew with the purest grace. It danced across the night sky captivating her in its heavenly movements. She grew weary watching the dark rider and slowly sat down. She subconsciously ran her fingers through the deep luscious grass, her face always following the movements of the figure. She watched in complete calm. Never before had she felt so at ease. She watched in awe as the rider gently glided over to her part of the field. It dove in a graceful yet intense dive towards the ground. Just as it was nearing the ground the rider jumped fearlessly off. They landed crouched on the ground and quickly sprung up in a standing pose. They walked confidently towards Hermione. She was overwhelmed by a sense of comfort. As they neared she could see the rider had crystal like blonde hair that shone in the pale moon light. When they were but a few steps away she gasped as she saw who the graceful rider had been. Draco Malfoy.'

Hermione awoke with a start. She was panting heavily and had broke into a cold sweat. Never before had she felt so complete. But why had the rider turned out to be Malfoy? She slightly cursed herself for being so shaken up by a mere dream, yet it had felt so real. She brushed the thought aside and fell back into a restless sleep.

In the room next to her a young Slytherin awoke in a mess too. For he had just experienced the most amazing dream of his life. He had been out practicing his flying when he discovered an audience. As he flew near her he felt so happy and light hearted, like he had never felt before. But, then to his amazement, the one watching him had been non other than Hermione. He had never had such a vivid dream before. What if… He quickly brushed that thought away. He spent the rest of the night trying to fight off his own thoughts.

AN hey there! ok i know this chapter had alot of flaws but thanks to many of my reviewers I have fixed most of them. I'm sorry about the mix up with the sorting hat song, it should now make sense and go along with the rest of the story. I also want to appoligize about the horrible spelling of the founders names, I thought I had fixed it once before but it obviously didn't work. I think they are now correct but if you find anything else please let me know. Thanks.

moseysdragon