Disclaimer: Just the fact that I wrote Disclaimer should be enough to tell anyone that I Do Not Own These Characters! Understand? Good now that we got that cleared up…

A/N: Ok well this is my first attempt at fan-fiction so please tell me how it is. This story will eventually be Hermione/Draco. Please review when you are done reading. I want to know what people think of this story and if I should continue. Thanks! Also whatever took place in the HBP didn't happen here.

Chapter one: The 7th year's Task

Hermione smiled to herself as she walked into the Great Hall. Beside her were her two best friends, Harry potter and Ron Weasley. It was the Golden Trio's last year at Hogwarts and Hermione knew that it was going to be great. Last year Voldemort had gone back into hiding and for the first time wasn't a threat to the wizarding world. Hermione was pleased at the prospect of being able to spend time with her friends and take her N.E.W.T's without the thought of Voldemort constantly looming over everyone's heads.

After the sorting of the new first years had finished with 10 new Gryffindors, the students sat down at their new house tables and Dumbledore tapped on his glass for the student's attention. Hermione quickly quieted down as she was anxious to hear what Dumbledore had to say.

"Ah, yes. The start of a new year and what's sure to be a great one at that. As you all know, Voldemort has gone back into hiding and as of now is no longer a threat. The other professors and I thought that this was a cause to celebrate and have decided that the 7th years will have a special project this year that I know will be very interesting and exciting. We have only done this project one other year and that year it was very successful. With that said I would like the 7th years to stay after the feast. All other years will return to their dormitories. Now enough said, I can see that most of you are anxious to eat so let the feast begin!"

Dumbledore clapped his hands twice and suddenly food materialized in front of everyone.

Ron dove right into the food but Hermione was too curious and excited to eat just yet.

"What do you suppose the new task is going to be?" Hermione asked excitedly.

"Dunno," replied Harry. "Should be interesting knowing Dumbledore."

"I can't wait to know. I'm sure whatever it is it will be exciting" Hermione exclaimed.

After the feast had ended and everyone had eaten their fill and some had eaten more the 6th year prefects led the younger years to their dormitories. Dumbledore began tell the 7th years about this years task.

"This year the professors and I have come up with a long, exciting, and at times difficult task for the 7th years. This task will take up muck of the school year and will prepare you for not only physical but some emotional challenges that you will be faced with throughout your life. Everyone will be placed with a partner with whom you will be sent into the wilderness with. You and tour partner will have to come up with shelter, food, warmth and whatever else is needed. You will not have your wands and therefore will have to learn to survive the muggle way. You will also be responsible for each other's well being. You will have to try and make your way out off the wilderness while dealing with whatever other challenges come your way. More will be explained to you after your partners have been chosen. Now as for partners the Sorting Hat will decide who you should be partnered with. Every set of partners will be placed together for a reason. The reason may not be evident yet but hopefully will be by the end of this task. Now when Professor McGonagall calls your name you will do as you did in first year and come up front and place the Sorting Hat on your head. The Sorting Hat will say the name of your partner out loud. When everyone has a partner then you will go and sit with them. One last thing, your partner may not be a 7th year. Each partner is chosen for a reason and if the Sorting Hat feels that your partner is in a younger year then he or she will be allowed special permission to go. Now let the sorting of partners begin." As Dumbledore said this he had a twinkle in his eye. He knew the reason each pair of people were put together. It would be interesting to see who each person belonged with.

McGonagall pulled a roll of parchment out like she did back when the students were in first year.

Neville Longbottom was the first student to be paired with a younger year. He got partnered with Luna Lovegood. Hannah Abbot got partnered with Ernie Macmillan and Pansy got partnered with Blaise Zabini. Harry was the second person to get paired with a younger year. His partner was Ginny Weasley.

By now people had figured out that you were being partnered up with the people that you were most likely to marry or be in a relationship with. The pattern had held true so far and it proved right again as Ron was partnered up with Lavender Brown who Harry and Hermione knew he'd fancied since 4th year. Finally though, after what seemed like ages to Hermione she got called up.

Nervously she got out of the seat and made her way to the front where the Sorting Hat sat waiting for her. Hermione sat down and pulled the Hat over her head.

"Ah, Miss Granger. It's so nice to see you again. Yes, I remember, I thought you would have done will in Ravenclaw with your cleverness, but it seems you have done well in Gryffindor have you not?"

"Yes, Gryffindor was the right choice," Hermione responded politely inside of her mind.

"Good, now as for your partner… yes this is interesting, yes indeed.'

"What's interesting?" Hermione asked cautiously.

"It seems that your partner will have to be….Draco Malfoy." The Sorting Hat said out loud for everyone to hear.

Hermione along with everyone else on the Great Hall with the exception was in shock. Until now the pattern of why you were partnered with who you were partnered with had held true. But now it couldn't be. It was no secret to the Hogwarts residents and staff the great animosity between the particular students.

As Hermione stood up she looked over at professor McGonagall as if to sii of what she'd heard was true. Unfortunately though it was. McGonagall gave her a small shake of the head as if to say sorry but she was stuck with Malfoy.

Hermione then looked at Professor Dumbledore but he just sat there twiddling his thumbs with a sparkle in his eye. Yes, he thought. This will be interesting.

The only other year Hogwarts had let the 7th years do this special assignment the Sorting Hat had paired up two students almost like the two who'd just been paired up. Yes, Dumbledore still remembered those other two students. They were James Potter and Lily Evans.

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