As the first day of school feast began to whine down, Professor McGonagall stood at the podium "Everyone is dismissed to their common rooms for the evening. First years follow your prefects to your respectful dormitories. 6th and 7th years please hold back for a moment."
As the great hall began to empty out, the older students began to discuss among themselves about what they could possibly be addressing.

"Are they adding another class to our schedules?"

"Maybe she's going to talk about you-know-who!"

"Do you think she's going to train us to protect the castle in case of invasion?"

"Who knows there could be another tri-wizard situation?!"

Hermione half listened to her fellow Ravenclaws while looking around the room. Even Harry and some of her fellow DA members in Gryffindor seemed to not have a clue what was happening.

McGonagall shushed the crowd and gathered the students together in the front of the great hall. "So, we know this past year has been difficult for most of you, and it will continue to be that way for the foreseeable future." She remarked. "In light of that, myself, Headmaster, and the professors, have decided that it would be good to forge more inter-house unity between the older students."

At the sound of "inter-house unity" groans erupted from all house. McGonagall let out a loud whistle to quiet the crowd, which worked immediately. "Now now, I do not want any complaining. All classes are to be mixed between houses. In addition, everyone will receive a partner in another house that they will have studying hours with and projects together for each class. This partner will change to someone else midterm at Christmas. You're allowed to complete your study hours in groups; however, your partner must be there in order to fulfill the requirement."

McGonagall waved her hands in the air and large scrolls appeared in the back of the hall "Everyone's name is listed with their corresponding partner for now until after the Christmas break. Find your name and return to your dormitories. Goodnight."

With that the hall erupted in chaos, everyone pushing and shoving to get to the lists. Hermione stayed back as to not get trampled.

"I'm excited to see who I get. Do you have a hope for who your partner will be Hermione?"

Hermione looked next to her to see her blonde airy friend Luna Lovegood. She shrugged in response "I don't care as long as they don't drag my grades down with them"

"True, at least you can change your looks and hide from them."

Hermione chuckled at Luna's idea regarding her Metamorphmagism. She could change her appearance at will which came more in handy now at Hogwarts than when she was a child. Although professors seemed to catch on quick as to who she was, her fellow students are not as quick. "You're not wrong there Luna"

"I wish I could do that. I hope my partner is patient with me is all."

Hermione sighed in acknowledgement as they reached the front of the line. She rolled her eyes when she heard Ron Weasley groan loudly "Ugh I'm with Loony!" then he turned realizing they were right behind him. "Oh, hi Luna! Looks like I am your partner." He scratched his head as he blushed in embarrassment.

"Oh goodie." She responded as genuine as ever, not letting his comment phase her.

Hermione's eyes scanned the list as she searched for her name.

Lavender Brown- Pansy Parkinson

Oh, I'm sure they won't kill each other.

Harry Potter – Padma Patil

That's awkward, didn't he take her to the yule ball, or was that Parvati?

Cormac McLaggen- Cho Chang

Blaise Zabini- Neville LongBottom

Hermione Granger- Draco Malfoy

She took a deep inhale, and before she could make a comment, she heard Harry in her hear "Oh that blows, stuck with the broody death eater."

She chuckled "at least he's smart. I see you're stuck with owning up for making Patil's life hell at the Yule ball"

Harry blushed in embarrassment. "Well if you overhear anything, be sure to report it at the DA meetings, who knows?"

"Will do." And with that she returned to her Dormitories.

"Hermione Granger" Draco said aloud to his friends in the Slytherin common room "What do we know about her besides that she's a know it all?"

"She's gorgeous- well she's a Metamorphmagus so she can be gorgeous in a thousand different ways. Its honestly annoying" Pansy commented as she fixed her hair.

"I'm not sure who she's close friends with although she is in that dumb little DuMbLeDoRe'S aRmY" Nott said rolling his eyes.

"She's smart, beautiful, nice, and crazy rich." Blaise mumbled from behind his copy of the Prophet, making everyone turn his heads towards him.

"So, you know her?" Draco questioned.

Blaise folded down the paper and looked at his friends "We were friends when we were young. Her father comes from a deeply connected pure blood family in Italy, and my mother's…..second, or maybe it was third, husband was his cousin. "

"Interesting."

"I should ask her on a date."

Blaise rolled his eyes at the three of them before continuing "They had a family vacation home on Lake Como and had a big family summer outing there I attended a few years in a row when we were young. Her and her brother, he was a Slytherin I think in 4th year when we started, were the nicest to me of all the cousins, but then her grandfather died, and they had to move back to Monaco. Between that and my stepfather disappearing we never saw each other until Hogwarts."

"Interesting."

"Monaco? Where's Monaco?"

"I want to say it's in Africa. Or maybe South America. Is she Latino?"

"Blaise took a deep breath and stood up "Parkinson, Nott. You're both idiots, and neither of you have a shot with her. Monaco is in the French Riviera. Malfoy, you're right she is very smart, one of the brightest witches in our class. She was invited to Slughorn's train car with me today as well, so you'd do good to stay on her good side. Now on that note, I'm retiring for the evening."

Blaise walked out leaving comments in his wake.

"Interesting."

"You're a bloody wanker Zabini!"

"French Riviera? Is he sure?"