Disclaimer: All characters are owned by JKR.

Plot: Draco/Hermione. Don't like it? Go somewhere else. This is my story. And I did warn you in the summary. As for the actual plot being original, no one has a copyright on the entire school idea. If so, Hollywood would be in serious trouble

Chapter 4: Their Rooms

Draco's feet hit the landing with a thud, as he got out of the train. For a moment, he just took a minute to look at the bustle and commotion around him, as people greeted each other after the long summer. He realized that this truly was his last year, the last time he could escape to Hogwarts. There was a difference between knowing something was going to happen and realizing the extent and meaning of the event. His last year. He heard someone call his name.

He turned around to see Blaise Zabini, his drummer hailing him. At the moment, Blaise was a guy, his caramel eyes regaling him coolly despite the smile on his face. "Zabini," he acknowled Blaise with a nod. Blaise was possibly the closest thing he had to a friend. With a cool intellect and a sardonic sense of humor, Blaise was almost as cunning and conniving as he was. 'Keep your friends close and your enemies closer' was always the thought that appeared whenever Malfoy thought of Blaise. Blaise had expressed several times his disinterest in becoming a Death Eater, mainly his displeasure of having to be somebody else's lackey. But Draco did not even presume to be privy to Zabini's feelings on the subject. When a guy would change from a guy to a girl every few weeks because he just bloody felt like it, it didn't take a genius to realize that his thought process was more complex than you could have initially thought.

"If it isn't our illustrous leader. Congratulations on making Head Boy. About time a Slytherin had a position of power," Zabini said with mild amusement, with a mock bow.

Draco chuckled at that. Zabini, friend or foe, was nevertheless an amusing person most of the time. It was a good thing too because Blaise was an integral part of his band. "Yes, we'll see some improvements now, won't we?" Draco added with a sly smile.

Blaise returned the smile with one of his own. Before he could say anything, they were joined by Daniel Pucey, a sixth year Slytherin and his lead guitarist. "Draco, Blaise" Pucey acknowledged in a dry tone.

"Pucey," Malfoy answered blandly. Daniel had a very dry wit and possibly even drier sense of humor. He wasn't quite as sociable as Blaise or Draco were, preferring to stay back in the shadows. Daniel was a man of few words and an even more guarded expression than Draco's, making him a bitch to play in poker. You never knew Daniel's hand, no matter what. He had a perfect bluffing face. The only thing that Draco knew was that Daniel played music possibly as a way to attract his parents' attention away from Adrian, his older brother. Malfoy had played Quidditch with Adrian on the Slytherin team for a few years and was of the personal opinion, of no matter how pure Adrian's blood was, he needed to be disapparated. Adrian wasted everyone's air, including that of mudbloods. And that was saying something.

"Are we going to start practicing soon?" Pucey asked.

Blaise raised an eyebrow and even Draco was mildly taken aback by Pucey interest. Not that he let it show. Although it was interesting that Pucey was as emotionally invested as the rest of them were in their band. "Once we get settled in and I get to talk to Brooks," Draco said in a bored tone, referring to Terry Brooks, their Ravenclaw bassist.

Pucey nodded. The only non-Slytherin of their band, Brooks was nevertheless a brooding bassist. Who would have thought that of a Ravenclaw?

At that moment, Crabbe and Goyle chose to materialize at his side, having spotted him talking to Blaise and Daniel. Good, old, dependable, dim- witted Crabbe and Goyle. Draco both liked having two personal body guards and his own personal entourage since the first year. Despite everything, they were loyal to a fault. On the other hand, he despised such blind obedience. It reminded him too much of Lucius. Nevertheless, he had appearances to keep, saying goodbye to Blaise and Daniel before climbing into a thestral driven carriage and resigning himself to a mind-numbing conversation with Crabbe and Goyle before they arrived at the castle.

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The carriage ride to the castle was enjoyable, as Ginny and Ron started recounting some of the summer's fiascoes involving testing Fred and George's products. Most of the results were unpleasant but always hilarious. Harry and Hermione spent a good time just gasping for air, holding their sides as their bodies ached from laughing so hard. Crookshanks just looked at her annoyingly from the floor of the carriage

"I really don't see what's so funny about that," Ron said crossly.

Harry, Hermione and Ginny would just exchange looks and burst out laughing again. Ron's ears just turned red in embarassment. Despite all the years, Ron had not changed. Still having a tendency to put his foot in his mouth, still didn't have a clue about what was going on. Despite everything, he was a loyal friend and ready to go to the very end, even if he fainted along the way.

The carriage finally stopped and they all got out. No sooner Hermione looked up that she saw Professor McGonagall, with her trademark square glasses and emerald cloak. "Ms. Granger," Professor McGonagall's rather severe voice, rang loudly.

"Yes Professor?" Hermione inquired curiously.

"Please follow me. I have to show you to your new quarters before the Feast begins," Professor McGonagall explained.

Hermione nodded her head, picking up Crookshanks in her arms. They knew they had at least half and hour before the arrival of the first years and their Sorting into the houses. She knew that neither she nor McGonagall could afford to miss the beginning of the ceremony.

"Bye Hermione. See you in the Hall," Ginny chirped.

"Bye Hermione. See you soon." both Harry and Ron said, almost at the same time. Hermione smiled back at that. They really spent so much time together over the past few years that they could very well just finish each other's thoughts.

She followed McGonagall up the steps of the castle and saw that Malfoy was waiting there for the professor as well. She gave him a stony look before deciding to ignore him completely. She kept her eyes focused on McGonagall's back and on where they were going. Part of her was surprised that Malfoy hadn't made a remark until then, but she knew that he wasn't daft enough or stupid enough to start a fight with her in front of a teacher. Unless it was Snape. Hermione allowed herself a small, secretive smile when she thought of Snape. He certainly wasn't the Slythering everyone thought he was. She could just imagine Malfoy's face if he found out that his favorite diabolical teacher was really in league with Dumbledore. Not that she would breathe a word about it until the time was right. Everyone assumed that Snape was a loyal Death Eater to Voldemort, and that was the way it was going to stay,

Eventually, Professor McGonagall stopped in front of a potrait of a wizard, sleeping peacefully in a big plush chair with a roaring fire in the background. His wizard's cap lay askew on this gray hairs and he was snoring peacefully. Hermione could almost swear that Professor McGonagall snorted, if such an action was so unlike the teacher. She however rapped the frame smartly, awakening the old man not quite so gently.

"Huh? Whose there?" the wizard said sleepily, before his eyes came into focus. Once he saw the Professor and the two students behind him, he hastily tried to make repairs to his appearance. "Why Minerva! What a pleasure to see you my dear! You are looking more and more beautiful as the years go by!" he said with a twinkle in his eyes.

"Good to see you too, Waffling," she said tersely.

"Tut tut tut, Minerva! Why so formal! Call me Adalbert!" the wizard said, gently reprimanding her.

Hermione had to stifle a laugh at the old wizard's flirting with the stern professor.

"In any case Waffling, allow me to introduce the new Head Girl, Ms. Hermione Granger, and the new Head Boy, Mr. Draco Malfoy," McGonagall answered, bristling a little and ignoring the wizard's suggestion.

"Ah! And what a lovely young lass she is," the wizard said, turning his interested and merry eyes at Hermione. For an instant, she felt the insane urge to giggle at the old man but she squashed the impulse. The old wizard must have sensed the merriment behind her eyes and gave her a roguish wink.

"It's been a while since I've encountered a Malfoy," the old wizard then turned his attention to Malfoy. "I hope you show this pretty lass all the courtesies that she deserves, as your forefathers before you would have done," he admonished gently.

Hermione almost wanted to look back and cast a superior glance at Malfoy. It didn't matter that Adalbert Waffling was an old coot, or crazier than an old bat. His admonishment about the kind of behavior that Malfoy had to engage in probably was enraging him.

"Of course," Malfoy said smoothly, with a dangerous glimmer in his eyes. "And the password would be?" he asked.

"Bathilda Bagshot," Prof McGonagall said, almost imperiously as the picture frame swung open and the wizard was startled by the movement. She swept inside and Hermione followed suit.

Hermione was stunned by the luxury of the common room. One half of the decor was in the traditional Gryffindor red and gold colors and the other half was in Slytherin's green and silver. Like the other common rooms, there were a number of couches and comfortable chairs at the center of the room, facing a large gray marble fireplace. The Hogwart's insignia was etched in the front, but only with the Lion and the Snake in the emblem. There were two desks in rich mahogany at either side of the room and the sides of the room sported two bookcases filled with books.

In either side of the room there was a small staircase leading up toward the rooms. Hermione's feet itched to race to her room and check it but she waited for McGonagall.

"This is a list and schedule of the duties of Head Boy and Girl. Some you are acquainted with, having been Prefects. However, there is a detailed explanation attached," she said pointing to a large message board in the wall between the staircases. "I'll give you a few minutes to see your rooms before I expect you to head down to the Great Hall for the Sorting Ceremony. You will be able to get settled afer dinner," she added as she went out the potrait door.

Hermione let Crookshanks down gently on the floor before rushing up her stairs to her new room. It opened with a touch and she stepped into a very large and furnished bedroom. Her four poster bed was covered in deep red linens with a golden pattern. She also had a huge closet in which to keep her robes and clothes and a vanity mirror and chair. The carpet underneath her feet was a golden yellow with red swirls. French doors opened the door out to the balcony.

The opened side door revealed the bathroom. She went in and marveled again at the luxury. The huge windows had an amazing sight of the lake, the sun illuminated the sunken bath in the middle of the room that looked like it could hold at least four people in it. She noticed the privy discretely to the left and the shower at the right. She turned around to see a huge mirror that spawned the entire side of the wall and two sinks

Her brain registered the fact that there were two sinks in the room. With growing horror, she realized the implications and looked desperately to see if she was right. Through an opened side door, she saw Draco Malfoy looking straight at her horror stricken face with an amused glint in his eyes.

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Draco had stood in the common room, taking it all in as soon as McGonagall left the room. Although he was impressed at the superior quality of his new lodgings, it was nothing he wasn't accustomed to at Malfoy Manor. He was merely impressed that the school was able to match it. He certainly did want to appear gauche and like a simpleton by gawking the way Granger did. Although, it was to be expected. The poor idiot girl probably had never experienced the better things in life.

He strolled leisurely up the stairs to his new bedroom. He was pleasantly gratified for the dark mahogany furniture, from the four postered bed upholstered in green and silver linens, the wardrobe he found and a writing desk. The french doors led to an outside balcony, He was about to go out through them, when he heard a purring at his feet.

He looked down to see the ugly cat that Granger had been carrying all the time at his feet, rubbing itself against his left leg. He was about to kick it when it looked up at him and grinned a feline grin.

Draco was startled at that. Although he shouldn't have. His mother had cats. But none exhibited the self-awareness that this cat did. Its yellow eyes looked amused at him. Much to his disconcernt, it actually winked at him.

Draco was amused. Few living things courted him so familiarly. The poor animal was not at fault that its owner was an annoying know-it-all Mudblood witch. He knelt down and patted his head in one quick stroke.

From this particular position, he noticed two feet clad in boring black functional shoes from the corner of his eye. Straightening himself, he saw the sidedoor that led to the bathroom and Granger looking around with almost an awestruck expression on her face. Her face glowed and she positively irradiated happiness. For an irrational second, Draco wondered what it would be like for her to look at him like that instead of the usual stony expression or her eyes hot with anger and loathing.

He shook his head angrily. Hunger must be affecting his wits. And then he realized what it meant to have her standing in the bathroom. That meant that there was only one and they had to share it. The thought made Malfoy smirk with amusement. There were endless possibilities associated with that scenario. The look of horror in Granger's face was just the beginning, he felt with glee.

"It looks like we'll be sharing the bathroom as well," he drawled, his trademark smirk in place. He let his eyes roam over Granger, in a suggestive manner because he knew that it would infuriate her. It wasn't like he was checking her out for real.

He saw her face begin to flush and her eyes to sparkle with anger. He could almost laugh at how predicatable her reactions were, her face so expressive. He didn't need to notice how becoming it look on her, how alive she seemed.

"Thank you for stating the obvious. However, we're gonna be late to the Feast and the Sorting Ceremony. Then, you and I will have a discussion about this situation," she said tersely before turning on her heel and slamming her door.

His amusement far outweighed the anger he felt at her highhandness. Despite everything, he look forward toward the discussion they would have. If only for the reason she seemed to despise it. He strolled out of his room and to the Great Hall.