A/N Thanks everyone for their responses, I really appreciate them. First off, yes, the chapters will be getting longer, but I have been so busy lately that I haven't had time to write as often as I (or you all) would like! I will update as fast as I can, probably about 3-4 times a week-- well, that's what I'm hoping for-- I am slightly busy with working full time and correspondence. I should also say that the Draco/Hermione romance will be a little slow in developing, butI promise itwill come! I want these characters to be as close as I can make them to the real ones, so it'll take some time for everything to fall into place. Lastly, I hope you all enjoy this chapter, I know it's a bit of a bore.
"So 'Mione, how's headship going?" Ron asked, the next day, as he swallowed the last of his scrambled eggs.
"Err…not bad…considering," Hermione replied.
"I can't believe that git is Head Boy!" Harry exclaimed. "If he ever lays a hand on you…"
Hermione smiled, Harry and Ron were like the brothers she never had. "Oh look! Timetables!" she exclaimed; she had just noticed the parchments beside them on the table.
"Only you would get excited about timetables, Hermione," Harry laughed. "We have Care of Magical Creatures first today. I wonder what Hagrid'll start off the year with?"
"Probably an Erumpent," Ron snorted. "Ugh. Look what's next though."
"Double Potions," Harry groaned. "I was hoping Snape would be eaten by the Giant Squid and then we'd have a new teacher."
"Harry!" Hermione exclaimed. "That's not very nice. We should at least be civil towards him since he helped us defeat Voldemort and all."
"Hell would freeze over before Snape acts civil towards anyone who's not in Slytherin, so why should we be any different?" replied Harry.
"Because it's what's right," she answered as if that settled the matter.
"Hey look at this," Ron said, pointing to his timetable, "We have every single class with the Slytherins. Why?" he asked.
"Didn't you hear Dumbledore's speech?" Hermione asked, with a sigh, "Remember the 'we have to get along or else' speech? I suspect Dumbledore's trying to get us to do just that." Hermione looked at her watch, noticing that there was five minutes left before class would start. "We should probably get going. Class'll start soon," she added, getting up.
"Yeah, I guess so," Ron said, as he and Harry got up and followed Hermione out of the Great Hall.
No sooner had they arrived at Hagrid's cabin did Hermione stop dead in her tracks. "Oh, no!" she exclaimed, covering her mouth.
"What's wrong?" Ron asked.
"I forgot I have a meeting with Dumbledore right now! Can you please tell Hagrid for me?" she asked as she turned around back to the castle.
"Yeah, sure, no problem," Harry said.
"Thanks!" she replied, running towards the castle as fast as she could.
Less than five minutes later, Hermione was standing in front of Dumbledore's office, panting and clutching the stitch that had become apparent at her side. She gasped the password ("Sugar Quills") and ran inside. She ran up the revolving staircase and knocked on the door. "Sorry I'm late," she apologized as Dumbledore opened the door and gestured for her to come in.
"It's no problem at all," he smiled gently, "Take a seat." She took a seat beside a smirking Malfoy. Dumbledore sat down in his chair behind his desk and began to speak. "Well to start off, I hope –rather, I expect-- to see that you two make an attempt to be civil towards each other. After all, you are in your last year, here at Hogwarts, so I can only hope you can set a mature and positive example for the rest of the students.
"A lot has happened since the semester before summer," Dumbledore continued. "Alliances were broken, as well as new ones made. One can only hope that we have learned our lesson; we are all on the same side here, regardless of parentage or ancestry.
"Now that I have said that, I have a bit of exciting news," Dumbledore smiled. "In order to encourage harmony within the school, we have decided to organize several events throughout the year. The first will be a ball held sometime around Halloween. I expect the two of you to arrange the affair together, of course. Let your imaginations flow freely, but not too freely," he chuckled. "Please do run everything past me by the first of October.
"I suppose that is it for today. Unless there are any questions?" Dumbledore looked at the two students sitting in front of him. They both shook their head, mainly because they were too taken aback by the fact that Dumbledore expected them to work together. "No? Well then, if you like, you may return to class, although," he looked at his watch, "there's only about twenty minutes of class left, so, if you both like, you may be excused and go somewhere quiet to begin discussing your new project."
"Thank you, sir," Hermione replied.
"Yes, thank you," Malfoy drawled, getting up. Hermione followed him out of the room. "So?" he asked.
"So, what?" Hermione said.
He sighed, "God, I knew Mudbloods were stupid and all, but come on. Do you want to start this thing now?"
"Just shut up Malfoy! I just want to go to class in case I miss something important. We'll have plenty of time to work on this assignment together."
"Suit yourself, but do you really think that great oaf is going to teach us anything worth knowing?"
Hermione ignored him.