Disclaimer: All hail Jo Rowling for giving us Harry and his world.

Come What May

Chapter Six

"He's what!" Harry yelled as Hermione sat down in their carriage a few minutes later.

"Head Boy, yeah," Hermione nodded.

"But, but. . .after last year! Did nothing count against him?" Harry sputtered indignantly.

"My guess? Hell no," Ron said angrily.

"Stupid, ferrety git," Ginny supplied helpfully.

"Guys, I have to share a dorm with him. As in, live with the slimy offspring that came from the bastard that murdered my parents," Hermione said, realizing what it all meant.

'Another cut would help you out, Hermione,' the Voice awoke.

'No, it won't. Now SHUT UP!' she yelled at it.

'You'll never be able to shut me up. I'm your worst nightmare.'

'You only wish,' Hermione thought darkly.

"Herms? Hermione?" Ron was calling her name.

"What? Oh, sorry Ron," she said, turning red.

"Thought we lost you again there, for a minute," Ron said worriedly.

"No, no. . .I was just thinking," she said miserably.

"I will kill him myself. I've got half a mind to go hunt him down now and finish him," Harry said venomously.

"Don't bother. Killing him won't solve anything," Hermione said tiredly, trying to ignore the Voice in her head.

'A cut will solve it all. Blood always repays a debt.'

'Since when do I have a debt to repay?' Hermione thought incredulously.

'Since they've decided to kill you.'

'Well, they won't kill me, they can't get me here.'

'Oh really? And what do you think the Malfoy boy is?'

'He wouldn't dare. He didn't have the balls to kill Dumbledore last year. He wouldn't kill me. I know he won't.'

'Ah, but how well do you know him?'

'You know what? SHUT UP! I'm not supposed to listen to you anyways!'

"EARTH TO HERMIONE," Ginny spoke right in her ear.

She jumped. "I'm sorry guys! I can't get this crap out of my head! How am I supposed to deal with this?"

"Not alone," Ron said forcefully.

"You may have to share a dorm with him, but it doesn't mean you have to look at him," Ginny suggested.

"And if he hints at anything, or does something, we'll go kill him," Harry assured.

"How am I supposed to avoid him, though? I don't want to be forced to stay in my room or leave the dorm just so I don't have to look at him," Hermione complained.

"Best thing to do is to just act like he's not even there," Ron said bracingly.

"I guess it'll have to work. I'm not giving up my Head Girl duties just because Ferret Boy is stuck with me. I worked so hard for too long to get here," she said fiercely.

The others exchanged grins at Hermione's remark. She was in there somewhere, hidden, but when she made an appearance, it was like she was a brand new person.

"Hermione, what's gotten into you?" Ron asked jokingly.

"I decided over the summer that there was no way in hell I was going to keep up the goody-goody actthis year. I've changed. No more sweet, innocent Hermione. I'm blunt, straight to the point, sarcastic, and not the bookworm. I have to be. Anyone walking around with a damn voice inside their head all day has to do a little changing to deal with it."

"We knew there was something up. I mean, the Hermione I knew would never dress like that," Ginny said, grinning, as she gestured at Hermione's outfit.

Today she had on a pair of low-rise, very snug blue jeans with a white ribbed tank that sported a large Gothic cross, embroidered in silvery blue. She had her hair brushed down and curling wildly around her face. As more of an accent than necessity, she had stuck a white headband in her hair for added affect.

Hermione grinned sheepishly. "Well, I had to change the wardrobe to fit the attitude, didn't I?"

"I get it, Herms, don't worry. And it's not like I hear Ron or Harry complaining," Ginny pointed out, looking pointedlyher brother and Harry.

"Well, I, er, sort of, you know, didn't-" Ron gibbered.

"Save it Ron, there's no point trying to dig yourself out of this one," Harry said, trying his best to hide his crimson face.

"Always the same with those two. Typical horny teenagers," Ginny declared.

"Hey!" Ron protested. "Not fair! I was trying to say that I had noticed, but if Hermione likes it, then I wasn't going to say anything. Geez, I swear, you are getting more and more unbearable, you know that, Gin?"

She smiled sweetly. "It's written in the contract. Younger sisters have to be a royal pain in the ass once they grow up. Didn't you know that?"

Ron grumbled something under his breath.

"McGonagall told me not to worry about anything. She said she had seen to making sure I would be safe when I was alone with Malfoy," Hermione said quietly to Harry while Ginny and Ron continued to argue loudly.

"She better damn well have seen to it," Harry said savagely.

"Harry, relax. I can take care of myself. I've got to move on. I can't sit around and be a train wreck for the rest of my life. If I want to throw off this curse, I have to go on with my life as though nothing happened. I have to find that one person that completes me. I can't live with this voice in my head for the rest of my life. I'll kill myself before that happens!"

"No," Harry said, looking alarmed. "That's exactly what Lucius wants. If you do that, he'll have one, and so will Voldemort. And I'm not going to let that happen. He'll think he's got one up on me, and like hell am I going to let that happen. You're my best friend, and I care for you too much to let you kill yourself. You're like a sister to me, and I won't let it happen. You got that?"

Hermione was rather touched. "I get it. I'll get through it. I promise. You really think of me as a sister?"

"Yes," he said, almost defiantly.

"I'm honored, Harry, I really am. You're like a brother to me, too, do you know that?"

Harry shook his head. "So we're on the same page now?"

"I think so. Hey, you two," Hermione said, turning to face the now scarlet-faced Ron and his equally pissed sister. "I can see the castle from here. We best get out robes on."

There was a silence in the compartment as they all dug through their trunks to find their robes. Once they were all ready, they checked their luggage one last time before sitting down as they felt the train begin to slow.

"Oh, Ron, once the train stops, prefects are to make sure everyone gets off all right and that they make it to the carriages."

"Right," he said tersely, throwing a dirty look at his sister, still angry about their row.

The train continued to lose momentum, and a few minutes later, they came to a stop at Hogsmeade station. All at once, there was a great banging as students began throwing the doors open and exiting the train.

"I've got to go ahead. McGonagall wants us to get to the exit on the platform and make sure that the platform gets cleared quickly and that everyone gets to the castle. I'll see you guys later!"

She made her way through the packed corridors, thinking longingly of when she would be able to eat a decent meal and when she could crawl into bed. She pushed her way through the crowd and out onto the platform, wending her way through the students and greeting those who called out to her as she passed. Her eyes narrowed when they spotted a familiar, brilliantly blonde head slightly ahead of her, near the exit of the platform. And by the looks of it, he wasn't going to stick around and supervise the clearing of the platform.

"Oy Malfoy! Where the hell do you think you're going?" She yelled at him.

He turned and smirked at her before continuing on his way.

"Stupid bastard," she hissed. "I'll do it myself. I can handle it all on my own. I don't need his damn help."

She stationed herself at the exit and watched as everyone made their way to the carriages. She was seething about Malfoy, and planned on telling him off as soon as she was sure she wouldn't be overheard. That little bastard wasn't going to be getting away with murder (figuratively, of course) while she had to share the Headship with him. She was going to make damn sure of it.

Draco left the Head compartment in a daze.

". . .the hell happened to Granger?" he muttered to himself as he absently walked down the now empty corridors.

In truth, he barely recognized her now. Her hair had gone from bushy to shiny and pleasantly curly, falling gently past her shoulders. Her light, almond eyes, framed by some expert makeup, had a deep sadness in them now. She had grown taller as well; she now was almost equal with Draco's six foot one inch frame. And damn did she know how to wear some clothes now. She went from the frumpy school girl goody-goody look to a sexy, shape showing wardrobe. And Draco sure as hell was not complaining. But. . .

"Stupid ass, you can't let this get to you. She is the enemy. The enemy, dammit! So what if she looks like a damn fox now? She's a worthless Mudblood that needs to be killed. But not by me. The hell if I actually try to kill her. There's no goddamn way I could lay a finger on that now," he reasoned with himself.

He continued to yell at himself in his head, not paying attention to where he was headed. People were looking out their compartment windows at him, some glaring, others looking at him questioningly. Draco wanted nothing to do with them. He just wanted to be by himself for now.

'By yourself, ha. You just want another look at Granger. And you're not complaining now that you get to share a dorm with her. The question is, are you going to be a worthless bastard and actually attempt to get her heart now that your father has murdered her parents?' His conscience badgered him.

'And if I want another look at Granger? What the hell's the big deal? I'm just looking for an empty compartment, and if I meet her along the way, it's not going to be a great loss. Besides, I have all year to ogle at her, why would now be such an opportune time?'

Realizing he was talking to that damn voice in his head again, he smacked himself on the forehead.

"Quit talking to that damn thing. It does you no good, you fucking moron," he told himself sternly.

"Draco?"

He heard a voice. Particularly, a shrill, nails-on-a-blackboard, bone chilling female voice that could mean absolutely nothing good. As though rooted to the spot and steeling himself for the sight behind him, he turned slowly.

"Oh, fuck no," he groaned.

It was Pansy Parkinson.

"Draco!" She squealed in a high voice that made him wince horribly.

"Oh Draco! We didn't think we'd ever see you again! You had me so worried! Oh, I've missed you so much!" She squealed again as she ran up to him and yanked him into a bone crushing hug.

"Pansy, d'you mind? I can't fucking breathe!" He choked out, feeling a few ribs give under the pressure being exerted on them.

She let him go reluctantly. "Where did you disappear to after. . .after everything?" she said in a hushed voice.

"Somewhere," he said shortly, looking around and noticing people had their faces literally plastered to the glass, trying to listen in.

"We didn't think you'd come back. We didn't think they'd let you come back," she said in the same hushed voice.

"Well, good for them. Anyways, listen Pansy, I'd love to stay and chat, but, uh, I have to go find someone. I'll see you around."

He turned and continued down the corridor, ignoring the people who were pressed up against the glass.

"Stupid gits," he muttered.

When he finally found solace in an empty compartment, he collapsed onto one of the seats and closed his eyes. This was going to be an impossible year, he knew it. He would be royally screwed no matter what, as his father and Voldemort saw to it to plant another spy in Hogwarts to keep a watch on him.

"Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse, and then Father and Voldemort come up with this fucking brilliant idea. I'm tired of being the damn guinea pig," he groaned to himself. "Why did they have to think that planting a spy at Hogwarts was going to work again?"

He laid there with his eyes closed for the remainder of the trip, only opening his eyes again when he realized it was completely dark outside and the train was slowing down. He unsealed his trunk with a muttered counter charm and hastily pulled out some crumpled robes. He was supposed to oversee the exiting of the station once the train had stopped, but, dammit, he was bloody tired and very hungry. There was no way in hell he was going to stand around with Granger and watch all the school get up to the castle first, not when there was a decent, hot meal to be had up there.

When the train stopped, he joined the anxious students queuing up at the doors as everyone slowly exited the train. Once he was out on the platform, he stopped and looked around for a minute. Students surged around him, some gawking, others pointing and muttering openly as he faced the place that had been hell for him last term.

When he finally got over the overall eeriness of the surrounding area, he came to his senses and began to move towards the platform exit. People were muttering all around him, but all he cared about was getting up to the school. He couldn't quite place it, but the eeriness he felt around him had something to do with the ghosts of last term. It was almost as if Dumbledore's ghost was lurking around, anywhere he turned, there to reach out and grab him, to remind him of what he did, and how he was so very fortunate to be able to come back to the place where he was killed and finish his education.

He was just taking the first step down the stairs towards the carriages when a voice rang out behind him, sounding excessively pissed off about something.

"Oy Malfoy! Where the hell do you think you're going?"

He turned around to see. . .very tall, very gorgeous, brunette girl, his age, quite beautiful. . .oh wait, dammit, Granger!

He smirked at her, which incensedgirl further. He could almost see the sparks shooting from her eyes as he turned and walked away, enjoying how he infuriated her. . .well, sort of. The truth was, she was so damn different he found it almost difficult to enjoy taunting her, not after everything that happened. And besides, who was she to go and get drop dead gorgeous over the summer without any warning? It wasn't nice of her to change so drastically without any warning, he should have seen it coming, that way he wouldn't be thrown so off guard, dammit.

He managed to score an empty carriage for himself. When he finally looked straight out the window in front of him, he received a huge shock. The carriage wasn't horseless after all. Those skeletal, black, demon-like things that the oaf Hagrid had shown them in the fifth year were pulling the carriages. What was it he had said? Oh yeah, you only can see them if you've watched someone snuff it.

"I guess Dumbledore counts as mine, then," he muttered, watching the glossy back of the thestral move gracefully as it pulled the carriage closer to the castle.

When the carriage pulled up to the rest of them, lined up at the castle entrance, he jumped down from his and joined everyone else as they flooded towards the doors. Then he saw McGonagall standing there at the doors, watching everyone move through.

"Oh damn, she is going to be so pissed when she sees I'm not with Granger," he groaned.

He did his best to duck low and move to the other side of the queue, away from McGonagall and her hawk eyes. Of course, it didn't help that he stood out so well against everyone else, with his accursed brilliantly blonde hair.

"Malfoy!"

"Oh, shit," he moaned, pulling a face and for a moment, acting like a five year old caught in the act of stealing some treacle before dinner.

He dragged his feet towards McGonagall, who was looking remarkably like a dragon at the moment.

"Explain to me why you are not with Miss Granger, supervising the platform exit?" she asked in a deadly tone.

"Well, er, you see, Professor. . ." he tried.

"Save it, Mr. Malfoy. Twenty points from Slytherin. I should have expected better from the Head Boy. Keep this up and I'll have you removed. Get into the Great Hall," she said, glaring at him icily.

Walking into the Hall with his head bowed and his hands in his pockets, he made his way over to Slytherin table, again ignoring the stares and mutterings that arose when he walked in. He made sure to sit down at a spot that was furthest from Pansy, as she was giving him the eye and leaving the space next to her pointedly empty.

He kept his head down as the Hall filled up around him. He took no notice of how his end of the table remained remarkably empty, due to the fact that everyone now that Draco was infected with dragon pox or the Plague, whichever they thought was worse.

Once everyone was situated at their respective tables, McGonagall came through the doors, leading the new first years. All of them had varying degrees of fright upon their faces, and some of them, he noticed, already knew who he was, for when some of them caught his eye, they hurried to catch up to the pack.

"I hate my life," he muttered darkly.

Professor McGonagall was just unrolling the scroll with all the first years' names on it when again, the doors to the Great Hall opened. Granger walked in, glaring at all who looked to see who the latecomer was. She stalked over to the Gryffindor's table, where she literally threw herself into a space between Weasley and Potter. He could almost see the air crackle around her with an electricity sparked only by how incredibly pissed she was.

He watched as she turned to mutter to both Weasley and Potter, and then, without warning, all three of them turned around and glared daggers at him. Draco quickly averted his eyes, but not before he caught the look in Potter's eyes. It clearly said that whenever he had the chance, and Draco was alone, he was going to get the dog crap beat out of him.

Professor McGonagall cleared her throat to get everyone's attention again, and instantly, the Hall went silent. Draco listened to his stomach grumble loudly as McGonagall read off the names, the line dwindling slowly at the T's.

At long last, with "Xerxes, Melody!" the Sorting was over. McGonagall rolled up her scroll and moved the stool with the Sorting Hat off to the side before walking up behind the High Table, standing at her place, leaving the magnificent chair that was Dumbledore's empty.

"Welcome, everyone, to another year at Hogwarts. It is good to see you all again, and I am pleased to see you are all in good health." She paused, looking around at all the faces looking back at her. Some were subdued, remembering the loss of Dumbledore, others were depressed; they were the ones that had lost loved ones over the summer.

"The end of last term left us all damaged, heartbroken, grieving at our loss. We said good bye to one of the greatest people Hogwarts has ever seen. Hogwarts will live on, but never will we forget Albus Dumbledore. His legacy will last forever, and whether you realize it or not, he has impacted each and every one of your lives. It may seem difficult, nearly impossible, that Hogwarts would continue to exist after Professor Dumbledore's murder, but I can assure you, the castle is quite protected, and though he is gone, the enchantments and spells he cast still remain. As the former Deputy Headmistress, it was my duty to step up after Professor Dumbledore left us, and I am now acting Headmistress. Those who need to seek me will be able to find me in the Head's Office. Now, enough talk! I'm sorry to befuddle you for so long. Let us eat."

As she sat down, the tables filled with food and drink for everyone.The sounds of people happily eating filled the Hall, but at Draco's end of Slytherin table, there was nothing but silence as his fellow house mates kept well clear of him, occasionally shooting him malevolentlooks. He could understand their feelings completely; after all, he abandoned them before the end of the term, and he had promised to lead them to greatness.

After a while, when the desserts had finally faded away, and the remains of Draco's hardly touched meal vanished from his plate, Professor McGonagall finally stood up again.

"I suggest we all retire to our beds for the night. The term returns in full tomorrow morning, so get well rested. And I will need to speak to our Head Boy and Girl outside in the entrance hall. You are dismissed."

Draco got up automatically and moved towards the doors, well ahead of everyone else. He had no desire to speak to them, and they, him. He waited just outside the doors, leaning casually up against the wall, his arms folded, his face arranged in a blank expression.

Moments later, Granger appeared, still fuming about his failure to cooperate earlier on the platform. She threw him a filthy look and stood well away from him, refusing to acknowledge he was there. Shortly thereafter, McGonagall appeared, giving Granger a faint smile, and looking at Draco like he was a slug. Indifferent to the behavior, he stood up straighter and looked at the woman straight on.

"Well, as you both know, the Heads share a dormitory. You will have a common room, your own separate bedrooms, and a bathroom. You may entertain friends if you so wish, just be sure to mind the rules. Come along now, I'll show you where you are at."

McGonagall started up the stairs. Wordlessly, Draco followed, Granger alongside him, still not speaking to him. From time to time, she would glare at him sideways, but otherwise gave no indication that she knew he was there.

On the fourth floor, McGonagall stopped outside a portrait of a lion and a snake. The lion was lazing around on a sunny rock, the snake resting comfortably in the rock's shadow. Both looked up at the three when they stopped in front of the painting.

"Unity," Professor McGonagall spoke.

The portrait swung open, revealing a sort of stone-walled antechamber with another plain, wooden door facing them.

"Welcome to your new dormitory. I daresay you'll enjoy it immensely," the professor said before swinging the door open.

Hermione gave an audible gasp as she walked inside. Facing them on the opposite wall was a handsome, glossy fireplace, complete with a warming, roaring fire. Two large and squashy armchairs were grouped in front of it, along with a side table, which held several large volumes of books. Hanging above the fireplace, sleeping in their portraits, were none other than Godric Gryffindor and Salazar Slytherin.

"Godric! Salazar!" McGonagall called.

Both of the men opened their eyes sleepily. When they saw McGonagall standing there, watching them, they rubbed their eyes and looked quizzically down at her.

"You called, Minerva?" Salazar questioned. He had an oily voice, and there was something very shrewd about the way he looked at the Headmistress.

"Yes, I did, Salazar. I've brought our new Head Boy and Girl up. Let me introduce you to Draco Malfoy of Slytherin, obviously, and Hermione Granger, of Gryffindor."

Godric looked down at Hermione with interest. "My house, eh? Do possess the bravery and nobility that I prided myself on?"

"I'd like to think so, sir," she answered.

"Good, good," he roared. "Excellent."

The two Heads looked around them. They seemed to be in a tower, as the ceiling was almost nonexistent as they looked up. The large common room held several large bookshelves, their own mini library. There were two couches grouped together near the bookcases, with side tables that held glowing oil lamps. Slightly behind the couches, closer to the bookshelves were two very large desks, complete with ink pots and plenty of spare quills. Two handsome oaken chairs stood respectively, finished with squashy velour cushions.

"Your bedrooms are up there," McGonagall said, pointing.

The two teens turned to look where she was pointing. A beautiful carved staircase swept up the side of the circular wall, leading up to a wide sort of catwalk, where they saw three solitary wooden doors standing.

"The middle one is the bathroom, and the other two would be for you," McGonagall clarified. "I daresay you'll find everything you need. I've had your trunks brought up for you as well. Feel free to come find me if there is anything you desire. Good night to you both."

Hermione had already started up the stairs before McGonagall had left. When she reached the three doors, she paused, wondering which one was hers. She peered closely at the door knob on the door to the right of the bathroom. She was just able to discern an elaborate working of a lion on it. When she opened the door, she let out another gasp.

The room was very large, also with the gently curving walls that signified being in a tower. The color scheme was different shades of rich red and warm golds. A large canopied bed stood against the right wall inside the door, up against the far wall across from the door. This room too had a sightly fireplace, directly across from her bed. Just inside the door, to her left stood a stately wardrobe. She went over to it and opened it. The house elves had already emptied her trunk and all her clothing and robes were hanging inside, her several pairs of shoes lined up at the bottom of the wardrobe. She had her own desk in here as well, accompanied by a smaller bookcase, nonetheless filled with books. On her bedside table stood a beautiful red and gold oil lamp, the oil in the base enchanted to swirl red and gold. From the ceiling hung another similar lamp, the oil in it swirling red and gold also. A warm plush red rug covered the floor, which was embroidered in sparkling gold thread.

"I'm in heaven," she whispered.

She noticed then the door that stood on the far left wall. She knew it had to lead into the bathroom and went over to it and opened it. The bathroom itself was nearly as large as her bedroom. Laid into the floor was a bath the size of a small pool, and around its edges were many different taps, each with a different colored glowing jewel, signifying what each did. On the wall directly across from where Hermione stood was another door, leading into Draco's room. Besides the bath, there was an elaborate shower set up as well. It was set as a sort of maze, with high tiled walls. One must walk between the walls and turn a few times before actually getting to the shower, which had many jets and heads set into the wall, a massaging shower, if you will. On the left hand wall stood a lengthy counter, in which two sinks were set. A full length mirror hung above the counter. The toilet stood on the right hand wall, hidden between two walls. Hermione noticed that the two house colors were combined in here, there was lots of red, green, silver and gold to be had wherever she turned.

Hermione walked back into her room, thinking of changing into her pajamas when her door burst open and there stood Draco Malfoy, looking around with a scrutinizing look upon his face.

"What do you think you're doing?" she demanded as he walked further into her room.

"Just making sure you don't have a better bedroom than me," he said, walking over to her bed and flopping onto it for a second.

"Get off my bed!" she shrieked.

"Just checking to see if yours is more comfortable."

"Get out!" she shrieked again.

"Like I really want to be in here. I was just merely seeing if things were equal. After all, equality is my policy. Well, unless it concerns Mudbloods such as yourself."

Hermione seized her wand off her table. "My suggestion to you, Malfoy, is to get out of here before you end up with your mouth transplanted onto your ass. And that's not a threat, it's a goddamn promise. Now, GET OUT!"

He eyed her wand closely before getting up off her bed and walking to the door, where he paused.

"Oh, by the way, I forgot to mention something. I like what you've done with yourself, Granger. Very nice," he smirked, eying her up and down before shutting the door with a snap, as something very large and heavy broke against the wall above his head.

"He. . .is. . .INFURIATING!" she shrieked one last time as she took several deep breaths to calm herself.

She walked over to the wardrobe again and pulled out her pajamas. A few minutes later, she climbed into her enormous bed and leaned over to extinguish the lamp next to her bed. She snuggled down under her covers, enjoying how warm they were and how very much like a cloud her bed was. It was very comfortable, lying there under the covers, listening to the fire crackle. Her eyelids grew heavier and heavier, and before the fire had extinguished itself, Hermione was asleep.