Hermione and Ginny sat with the rest of their friends at the Gryffindor table. The sorting was as boring as always, but Hermione enjoyed Dumbledore's speech. Now that Voldemort was gone, his uplifting speech was more believable. Dumbledore also introduced the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, professor Aleen; a slender, blonde haired woman who looked to be in her mid-thirties.
Hermione noticed that the Slytherin table was a bit different this year. There were less people of course, some of which being in Azkaban and a few being dead. There were more first years then fifth, sixth, and seventh years put together. The older Slytherins seemed happier somehow, as if they were free and had less worries. As Hermione glanced at the table she caught Draco's eye.
She did not look away quick enough and soon they were in a sort of staring contest. Draco's stare was pointed and almost teasing Hermione's more questioning. It seemed to Hermione that Draco found something amusing, but she could not figure out what it was.
When the food appeared seconds later Ginny noticed Hermione wasn't paying attention to her. She bent over to see what Hermione was looking at, but didn't see anything exciting.
"Hey what are ya looking at?" asked Ginny and Hermione nearly jumped out of her skin.
"Nothing. Were you saying something?" Hermione asked. Ginny just looked at her for a second before turning away to chat with someone else. Hermione served herself some food and started eating. She didn't talk much, but was comforted by the voices of her friends all around her. This was her home and she was glad to be back.
After the feast, Hermione met Draco and Professor McGonagall at the foot of the staircase. McGonagall led them to the painting of a meadow, which would be the entrance to their new rooms.
"I'll leave you two to agree upon a password." With that McGonagall left.
"Draco is a sexy beast!" Draco yelled before Hermione had a chance to say anything. The painting swung open and Draco smirked.
"I'm changing that as soon as you leave," said Hermione.
They both took a few minute to take in their new common room. Two overstuffed armchairs, one couch, and a small table surrounded the fireplace. On the mantle there was a clock and vase of flowers.
On the other half of the room there was a small kitchen. It had an eating bar with three stools, a small refrigerator, a cabinet, and a sort of dumbwaiter for getting food from the kitchens. There was a note stuck on the refrigerator telling them to shout what they wanted into it and the food they wanted would appear inside.
There were two wooden doors on the wall across from the kitchen. Hermione went to one and Draco to the other. They both opened their doors at the same time.
Hermione walked in to see a lovely bedroom with two beds inside. As Hermione wondered why there were two, Draco popped his head in from the door connecting the two rooms.
"It seems we have a very nice bathroom," he said as he entered the bedroom.
"What?" asked Hermione.
"A bit slow aren't we," teased Draco, "We obviously are to share this bedroom, which explains the two beds, side tables, desks, and wardrobes."
"Oh no," said Hermione, "There must be some mistake. They would never allow a boy and girl to share a dormitory,"
"Well, considering we're the head boy and girl, they probably trust us enough and think we're responsible enough to handle this."
"Whatever. I'm going to find a teacher."
After a short talk with Professor Flitwick, who assured her this is how it always had been done, Hermione headed back to her bedroom. The room was actually quite nice. She found Draco lying on one of the huge four-poster beds.
"So was there a mistake?" he asked.
"No, you were right. We have to share this room." She sighed.
"Oh it won't be that bad," said Draco, "I don't snore and I keep things clean,"
"That is really not what I'm worried about." Replied Hermione truthfully.
"Well there are two stalls, two sinks, a closed off shower, and a huge bathtub in the bathroom, so no problems there," said Draco. He then took two chocolate frogs from his pocket and transfigured them into folding screens that they could change behind. "Any other worries?"
"What about the bathtub?" asked Hermione.
"I take showers,"
"Oh, okay," Hermione feeling a bit better now unpacked her trunk that was sitting at the foot of her bed. She hung up her robes and clothing in the wardrobe, put her books and school supplies on her desk, and put her diary, cds, and her copy of "Hogwarts, a History" in the drawer of her nightstand. She transfigured a piece of parchment into a small lamp and put it on her nightstand. She also changed the color of her bedding from red to purple. She liked the dark color and had long since tired of red and gold. Hermione jumped as an owl landed on her shoulder.
"What is its name?" She asked Draco as she stroked the small black owl's feathers.
"Henry," replied Draco as Henry flew over to his perch next to Draco's bed, "He doesn't like his cage and… What are you laughing at?"
Hermione was doubled over in laughter, "You… name….named … your owl…Henry?"
"Yes, what's so funny about that?" asked Draco somewhat peevishly.
"Oh nothing," giggled Hermione as she walked over to her wardrobe to get her pajamas.
"No really, why is Henry such a funny name?" Henry hooted softly when he heard his name.
"It's not a bad name. I just expected you to name your owl Dragon or King or something like that," Hermione emerged from her screen wearing blue and purple plaid pajama bottoms and a lavender tank top. She grabbed her toiletries from her trunk and headed to the bathroom.
Draco followed her. "Do you think I should change his name?"
"I don't know why you won't drop it" Hermione looked at the small shelf above her sink, "This will never work," Hermione transfigured the shelf into a cabinet with three shelves and put all her girly stuff inside.
"Well it really is a huge problem. I don't want people making fun of me… I mean Henry. Henry is a very good owl and he deserves a respectable name"
Hermione quickly finished brushing her teeth and replied, "If you change Henry's name I will make fun of you until the day I die for being so insecure about your owl."
Hermione went back into the bedroom, got into bed, turned on her lamp, and got out her diary. She just about finished her entry when Draco walked in.
"You keep a diary?" he asked.
Hermione looked up to answer hi, but was distracted by the sight of Draco wearing nothing but a pair of black boxers. Her eyes took in hi broad shoulders, sculpted pecs, and firm six-pack. He wasn't overly muscular, but had a seeker's build; light and speedy.
Hermione looked away after a minute and wrote one last sentence in her diary; this is what I was afraid of.
"Hermione?" asked Draco somewhat concerned, until he saw the blush on her cheeks.
"Yes, I keep a diary, not that its any of your business. And just so you know I keep two charms on it; the most advanced locking spell I could find, and a spell that turns whoever opens it magenta until they admit to having sexual fantasies about Snape during dinner!"
"Well I quite like the color magenta," Draco reached over Hermione, who was stunned momentarily by the warm body so close to her, and grabbed her diary. "It seems you were bluffing, my dear Hermione, you should have known better. Now lets take a look at what you just wrote,"