A/N: Right now, it's just Hermione's POV and Draco's, but I do plan on having other POVs too. Hope the jumping around isn't too much of a nuisance. I clearly don't own the characters or the world, so send that love to JK Rowling. I do however own this plot and whatever OCs I create. Read, enjoy, review if you'd like to.
**Draco's POV**
I woke up with the sun streaming in my face, which caused me to sit up in a jolt in confusion. The dungeons never had sunlight streaming in and my house elves would never let the curtains open before I was awake. I shook my head, remembering that I was in a different room in Hogwarts. I checked my watch and groaned at the time, seven in the morning on a Saturday... Perfect.
After I got dressed in my casual attire, I grabbed my satchel of art supplies and decided to take a walk before breakfast. Granger was just coming down the stairs in a dark pair of jeans, boots, and a hoodie at the same time I was. She looked rather startled to see me, so I decided to play with her nerves a little.
"Morning Granger. Why are you up so early?"
She blinked in surprise.
"You asked me last night to be civil, if you recall? Most of the time, civility works both ways."
She shook her head and gave me a small and strained smile. She pulled a packet of papers out of her bag.
"Quite right Malfoy. Have you read the assignment? We're to answer at least fifty of these sample questions by the end of the year with a well done visual aid each. Seems easy enough. Did you want to start?"
I raised my eyebrows.
"I was going to go on a walk to enjoy this weather before it turns cold. Then breakfast. Maybe we could do it after? If that works into the Golden Girl's schedule of course."
She nods in agreement. We both stand there awkwardly and I motion to the door for her to go first.
"Ladies first."
She walked in front of me, giving me a view of her arse. Blimey, with all the robes, I never noticed what a body Granger had. I cleared my throat and tried getting my mind somewhere else before I was cursed into doing ballet.
**Hermione's POV**
I woke up to hear my owl scratching at my window. I opened it to let my fluffy golden owl in.
"Athena, get in here. What is so important that it couldn't wait until breakfast in the hall?"
The owl responded by dropping the small box in my lap and nuzzling my hand for a treat. I absentmindedly gave her a cracker and she flew out of my window. I looked over the box and all I found was a quickly scrawled, "Hermione Granger" on the parchment on the box. Odd. I ripped it open just to find an intricate looking box. Opening the box, it was an elaborate invitation to a masked ball this Halloween. I looked through the box more to try to find more information. A little note fell out.
'Dearest Ms. Granger:
I know we are no where close to being friends, but I am grateful to you and your group of friends for saving my son and myself. Please come to my grand costumed ball on the Saturday before Halloween. I would be honored to host you as my guest. Feel free to bring a date.
My gratitude is yours,
Narcissa Malfoy
P.S. Draco does not know that I've invited the three that saved the world from He Who Must Not Be Named, so please don't mention this to him if you see him in the halls.'
Short, blunt, and to the point. My eyes caught sight of the Mudblood scar on my arm and I shuddered. Last time I had been in the Malfoy manor, it had not been a pleasant experience...
I distracted myself by going to take a quick shower and getting myself ready for the day. I used a quick hair drying spell before getting dressed in my favorite dark skinny jeans, heeled boots, graphic tee, and hoodie. I grabbed the packet describing about the assignment on my way downstairs.
"Morning, Granger. Why are you up so early?"
I blinked my eyes in surprise. Honestly, I'd forgotten I was sharing a room with Malfoy and wasn't prepared to see him so early. I was waiting for him to act like a pompous little git.
"You asked me last night to be civil, if you recall? Most of the time, civility works both ways."
Perhaps he really is trying to be civil... I shook my head to readjust my curls and tried to smile politely.
"Quite right Malfoy. Have you read the assignment? We're to answer at least fifty of these sample questions by the end of the year with a well done visual aid each. Seems easy enough. Did you want to start?"
His pale eyebrows shot up in shock.
"I was going to go on a walk to enjoy this weather before it turns cold. Then breakfast. Maybe we could do it after? If that works into the Golden Girl's schedule of course."
I rolled my eyes at that before nodding awkwardly in agreement. We both were headed towards the door, but in a show of being polite he waved me ahead of him.
"Ladies first."
I walked out of our common room like my arse was on fire and made my way up to the room of requirement. I kept that beautiful studio in my mind until I saw the door appear in front of me. Once I was inside, I immediately went to the cupboard I left my notebooks and journals in. They were all sorts of colors, being Muggle notebooks and journals. The thing they had in common was a gold or silver emblem of a genie's lamp on the cover with a number in the right bottom corner. I smiled. A soft breeze blew in from the window and it rustled the studio that held countless bits of art. I was curious, so I went over to look at some of the art. The first one I pulled out was a dark masterpiece with a small boy on a leash being pulled away from the light. It fascinated me. In the corner it was signed simply with 'the lost one'. I flipped through some more of the art to find his signature over and over. I was going through it and I saw myself on one of the pages. It was an in detail sketch of me smiling over to someone with my hand brushing away my hair. Right next to it was one of me and Ginny sitting on a wall in the spring. I checked my watch and noticed it was time to meet Ginny in the Hall. I grabbed the three pictures I'd noticed so far, hoping no one would notice they were missing before fixing the artwork to look undisturbed.
As I walked to the Great Hall, a ghost came up to me and I choked back a sob. Fred Weasley.
"Hello Hermione. I have a small task for you. I desperately need you to send Georgie a special note from me with a Twin chocolate mousse cake."
"Fred! You're a Hogwarts ghost? And pray tell, why is it you'd rather your twin, who is still desperately aching, get one of those devilish cakes that make you see double instead of anything else? And why me? Why now? Have you seen Gin yet?"
He grinned that trouble maker smile.
"Patience Mione, I have time to answer your questions. As to being a Hogwarts ghost, it comes and goes. I'd also like to have a word with Harry! He's a right foul git, not telling me that his dad was one of the Marauders! And LUPIN? Sirius, I can understand that one, but still! And as to Gin, I figured I'd surprise her at breakfast..." He frowns sadly for a moment. "Even if I can't live anymore, I still want my family happy. And laughing."
He winked at me before disappearing theatrically. I rushed to the Hall and Ginny ran to hug me, only to be interrupted by Fred. She looked broken right then, as if she couldn't believe it. She looked at me like a lost little girl. Fred looked near tears himself and like he wished to hug his only sister.
"Hey Gin."
A/N: I love Fred Weasley so much and it killed me when he died:( I'd think it's an honor for ghosts to be a Hogwarts ghosts, but what would I know? I'm still alive. Also, I can imagine Fred as a ghost, totally giving Peeves ideas, but keeping him from actually hurting anyone. Then, whenever George eventually passes on, Fred will go on to the after life with him, Together again. Review, please and thank you!:)