(A/N) Sorry for making you wait longer than usual. Usually I would have the new chapter up within two or three days, but I think it's been a week or so. But that's ok right? Isn't that how long most fanfaction authors wait? Well…let me know! Seriously, I want to know whether or not it was too long of a wait. I'm not going to make any excuse or anything like that. Like I said, I'm dedicated to finishing this story! Now, LET'S BEGIN!

Chapter 8: The New Head's Assignment

Draco woke up the next morning, his whole body completely sore. After rubbing his eyes, he looked around his room to discover that he wasn't even on his bed. He was on the floor next to his desk curled up into a ball. Pillows, blankets, and sheets were ripped apart and found everywhere but on the bed where they belonged. His quills were snapped in half and his ink bottles were spilt on the maroon carpet. Even one of his mahogany chairs were reduced to twigs due to his outburst the night before.

He slowly got up remembering what happened. A flash of red caught his eye and he looked down at his hand revealing blood and numerous splinters. Must have been from the chair he thought as he warped a cloth around his bleeding hand. Hoping his wand wasn't snapped in half too, he searched his room for it. He eventually found it lying under the bed, not broken and unharmed.

Getting up from his knees, with a swish of his wand, Draco fixed all the damages he made to his room. By the time everything was repaired, the room looked as neat and as clean as it did on the first night of his arrival. He traveled to the bathroom he shared with Hermione and looked at his reflection in the mirror. His eyes were slightly red and swollen. The last thing he remembered was touching his wet face and crying himself to sleep. This of course came to a surprise to Draco, for the last time he cried, he was a little boy getting beat by his father before he started going to Hogwarts.

His gaze then shifted to his hair which hid little twigs from the chair, feathers from the pillows, and thread from the blanket. Draco couldn't remember the last time he looked so awful, not counting the time he was turned into a ferret. (A/N Haha I'm sorry, I just HAD to do it!) He stripped off his clothes and turned on the shower. Twenty minutes later his hair was free of anything that wasn't suppose to be there and his eyes looked as if he had never shed a tear in his life. It was at that time he made a mental note to thank the Dementors at Azkaban for keeping his father locked up, fore he would have killed Draco if he found out he was crying.

Draco wrapped a towel around his waist and headed to the door leading to his room. He then stopped and turned around to look at the door opposite from his. He stared at Hermione's door, debating whether or not he should open it. Curiosity got the better of him and he slowly made his way to her door. He put his hand on the handle bar and turned it, cracking the door just enough for him to see through. To his surprise, she wasn't there. Her bed was made and her room looked just as clean as his did.

Deciding it was safe, he opened the door all the way and the steam from the bathroom filled Hermione's room. Once he did, he heard a soft purring noise. What the hell? Does she still have that bloody pet she calls a cat? What's his name…Pukesharks? His eyes searched the room and found nothing, but he still heard the purring noise. He looked directly down to see the small transparent lion at this feet staring back up at him as his tail bobbed from side to side.

Draco's eyes went wide and he stumbled backwards, afraid that the lion would let out a loud roar. The little devil guards UPSTAIRS too? He thought. Draco stood there waiting for a growl to come, but it didn't. In fact, instead of sitting at the center of the entrance like it usually did, it stood at the side, leaving Draco perfectly capable of walking into Hermione's room. Strange…thought Draco. He didn't want to risk anything, so he simply went back to his room to change.

Once he was dressed in his school robes, he quietly went downstairs, not wanting to let Hermione know he was there in case she didn't leave yet. He stood there and listened for any movement that may come from downstairs. After hearing nothing for several seconds, he walked all the way down his stairs. At this point, only one thing was on his mind: coffee. He went into the kitchen and found that there was already coffee made. Not only that, but there was more than one pot. One was labeled "Decaf" while the other was labeled "Regular."

Draco couldn't decide which one he wanted, so he took his favorite mug and filled it with decaf. He quickly downed it and then filled it again with regular.

"That should get me through the day" he said to himself.

He walked out of the kitchen and went to get his book bag which he always put at the foot of the stairs. As he picked up his bag, he noticed a medium sized black box with a piece of parchment attached to it. The parchment seemed to be charmed or enchanted, because it was sparkly, glittery, and was of the Gryffindor colors. The parchment itself was red as the writing was gold.

Draco picked up the note and read the gold words. It looked like the person wrote one thing, scribbled it out, and then wrote another. Barely making it out, Draco read the words "From Hermione," and was scribbled out. Under the scribble, it said "From Granger." Draco felt a little guilty, but opened the note.

Expecting to see the same red and gold, he opened it up to see that the inside was of Slytherin colors and were sparkling as well. The parchment was green on the inside as the writing was silver. He read the note from the way top.

Dra (scribbled out) Malfoy,

You left before I could give you something…you'll find it in the black box this letter was attached to…

You don't have to accept it, but I thought about you yesterday and got you something. I guess what I'm trying to say is…thank you and I'm sorry. I'm not gonna tell you what for, but just know that I am.

I just want you to know that you have a friend you could talk with whenever you want to just loosen up and have some fun.

-Granger

Draco looked up from the letter and to the box. He picked it up and examined it closely. Opening it, he found a perfectly undamaged autumn leaf resting on a green silk cushion. He carefully picked it up, not wanting to break it, and saw in the middle of the cushion in silver lettering "Draco Malfoy. Head Boy. Friend." He put the leaf back down and closed the box, putting it on the table next to him. He read the letter over again carefully and stopped at the last sentence.

"Friends and Fun…" he mumbled to himself. He looked at the two words and noticed that Hermione had put extra emphasis on them. "She heard me…" he said aloud. HOW does she have the ability to make me feel so ridiculously guilty?! If that isn't mind control, I don't know what is, he thought to himself. He looked at the box once again and heard the words echo in his mind: You don't have to accept it… He took the box and walked back up to his room. When he entered, he put it on his shelf where he kept his most important possessions: His Quidditch materials and a picture of his mom. Draco knew that there was no way he could talk to Hermione now. She had obviously heard everything he said the night before and still she was nice enough to give him a token of their so called friendship. He mentally decided that he would try his best to stay away from Hermione. It seems that he always did something wrong around her and she constantly made him feel guilty about it, without meaning to. As much as he didn't want to do it, he had to. Draco picked up his bag and went down to the Great Hall.

Hermione decided to leave the Head's tower early in hopes to avoid Draco while he was still sensitive. She arrived in front of the Fat Lady and walked up to the boys' dormitory. She knocked on the door and Nevil opened it looking very sleepy. Hermione felt bad for disturbing him so early in the morning.

"Oh, hi Nevil, sorry to be waking you up so early but I really want to talk to Harry and Ron," she said in a sweet voice.

"Sure Hermiiiiiiiiione, they're right over there," he yawned and pointed to the two beds at the back of the room.

"Thank you Nevil I'm sure I can find them, go back to sleep" she said smiling.

Hermione walked over and looked at the two beds. She didn't know which boy was which, so she sat down on one of the beds. Looking closely, she was almost certain that it was Ron. It was still very dark and hard to make out anyone, but his red hair was visible. Ron lay on his back with his hands behind his head sleeping silently. Hermione put her hand in the middle of his chest and shook him lightly.

"Ron" Hermione whispered, "Ron…Ronald! Oh for heaven's sake" she held his face in her hands trying to open his eyes with her fingers. Still, he did not wake.

Giving up, she went to Harry's bed and tried to wake him up instead. She lightly shook his arm and he woke up instantly.

"Her-Hermione? What's wrong? What are you doing here?" he asked groggily.

"Never mind about that for now Harry, what's wrong with Ron? I tried to wake him up but he didn't even budge! Something must be wrong with him" Harry looked at her and chuckled. Hermione raised an eyebrow at him and looked at him as if he was crazy. "Harry! This is serious!"

"Actually, Hermione, no it's not. Watch and learn. Finally I can teach you something" he said as he slowly got out from out of bed and turned to face Ron. "Ron wake up, an all you can eat buffet just opened in the Great Hall!"

As quick as lightning, Ron threw off his covers, pulled off his shirt and pajama bottoms, and was already trying to pull up his school pants. He had one of his legs in when he looked up and realized Harry and Hermione were laughing hysterically at him.

"Harry you arse!" Ron exclaimed. At the moment a pillow hit Ron at the side of the head. He turned to see Seamus.

"Ron you loud mouth shut the hell up! Oh, good morning Hermione how are you?" Seamus asked.

"I'm fine thank you" she said smiling back at him.

The boys in the dormitory were use to seeing Hermione. They didn't mind, they considered her "one of the guys."

"Seamus shut up and go back to sleep before I tell your girlfriend you sleep with a teddy bear" retorted Ron.

At this threat, Seamus turned almost as red as Ron's hair and pulled the covers over his head, holding his teddy bear.

"Alright Ron, now that you've won your battle, pull your pants up young man" said Hermione giggling. Hermione was use to seeing the boys in their boxers, and neither Harry nor Ron had a problem being around her when they were.

"Sorry 'Mione" Ron replied as he pulled his pants up and went for his shirt.

"What did you want to tell us 'Mione?" questioned Harry.

Hermione debated in her head whether or not to tell them exactly what was wrong. How could she possibly tell her two best friends that she felt sorry for the guy who was their enemy for the past seven years? She looked at Harry and then at Ron who was looking back at her while buttoning his shirt. Then, she lied.

"Oh it's nothing serious…I've just been really stressed out what with Head duties and trying to stay on task with all the classes…What would you two suggest if I, oh I don't know…just suddenly didn't know how to have fun anymore?" She looked at the two eagerly awaiting their answers.

"…Hermione is this a serious question?" asked Harry.

Hermione twitched at hearing her name. The only time Harry and Ron ever called her "Hermione" was when they were mad or worried.

"Yes it's a serious question! Why wouldn't it be?"

"We were just checking 'Mione, you wouldn't ask us a question like this, it's not logical" said Ron

Harry and Hermione looked at Ron surprised. Never has Ron said anything so adult before. "What?" he continued. "I can be logical!...I just choose not to most of the time…"

"You two are avoiding the question!" Hermione spoke frustrated. "Now would you PLEASE answer me…NOW!"

Harry and Ron jumped. "Well, uh…I would attempt to take you out someplace fun and show you how good things could be outside the textbooks" replied Harry quickly.

"And what about you Ronald?"

"I would…I don't know…talk to you first and find out your idea of fun…" Ron looked at Hermione hoping she wouldn't yell at him. She took at deep breath and looked at the both of them.

"Thanks for your help guys, I really appreciate it" she said half heartedly. She stood up and gave them both a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "Now you guys get ready and I'll be down in the common room waiting."

"Your welcome 'Mione, just be glad that Ron's already done dressing. Now you won't have to wait as long" joked Harry. A pillow then flew to the side of Harry's head, this time by Ron.

"Arse…" Ron said as Hermione walked out of the boys' dormitory chuckling.

It's been a month since the incident and Draco was successful in avoiding Hermione. He would simply focus on his friends, studies, and Head duties during the day and go straight to his room at night. He tried to spend the least amount of time in his common room as possible and never looked at the Gryffindor table during eating hours. The only time he ever looked at Hermione was on Wednesdays when they had to do their rounds, but even then he would go his separate way.

From time to time Hermione would try to talk to him and have no success. Because of this, Hermione was overwhelmed with an extreme amount of guilt. Had she had known how much she was hurting Draco, she would have been more sensitive.

She was now sitting in her common room reading a book from her book shelf when there was a knock on the portrait door. Hermione got up and walked her way to the door and opened it to reveal Professor Dumbledore.

"Good evening Ms. Granger, may I come in?" he asked very politely.

"Oh of course professor come right in, I was just doing some light reading" she said, moving to the side to let him in.

Dumbledore walked over to sit on the sofa. As he did, the sofa turned a gray with the Hogwarts crest in the middle. Hermione looked very impressed and walked over to one of the sofa chairs and sat down. Dumbledore picked up the book that Hermione was reading to discover that it was at least eight inches thick.

"You surely are a dedicated student Ms. Granger" Dumbledore said with a twinkle in his eyes.

"Why thank you professor. What brings you here tonight? Was there something you wished to discuss?"

"Actually yes, but before I begin, we'll be needing Mr. Malfoy here as well"

"Oh…I would offer to go get him, but as you can see…" Hermione walked over to Draco's stair case and the serpent hissed at her, refusing to let her through, "he doesn't want me anywhere near him at this time."

Hermione looked down at the serpent trying not to look sad in front of the Headmaster.

"It's quite alright Ms. Granger, I'll go and get him" he said.

Dumbledore walked over to the serpent and it stared up at him questionably. With a swish of his wand, the serpent disappeared. He walked up the stair case and stopped in front of Draco's door. He raised his hand and knocked three times and Draco opened the door. He was startled, but quickly covered it up.

"Headmaster, hello, is there something I can help you with?" he asked. Draco leaned his head to the side to look past Dumbledore and looked at Hermione who had her head down shifting from one leg to the other looking very uncomfortable.

"Actually Mr. Malfoy, I was wondering if we could all go in the common room to discuss some Head's business." Dumbledore said.

"Yes of course."

They all walked down to the common room and sat down. Draco and Hermione waited for Dumbledore to speak.

"Well, as you both know, there has been no major Head assignment for you, but seeing as the holidays are coming up; I thought it fun to throw a Winter Ball for the school. I'm putting you two in charge of the ordeal. You'll have the help of the prefects and must arrange meetings with them. I'm expecting decorations, food arrangements, activities, musical entertainment, and a theme. Now I realize that this is a lot to do on the count of it is the end of October, but I know the two of you can pull it off. If the dance is indeed a success, you'll both be receiving extra credit which be added to any class to class you please. The Ball will be held December Fifteenth and will end at midnight. Do you have any questions?"

For the first time in a long time, Draco and Hermione looked at each other in the eyes. They looked back at Dumbledore and shook their heads. With a smile, Dumbledore stood up and made his way towards the portrait door. As he opened the door and began to walk out, he stopped and turned around.

"By the way, since you two the planners, I think it would be appropriate for you two to attend the Ball together"

"WHAT!" they both yelled.

"With all do respect, Headmaster, but I have a boyfriend. I don't think he'll take lightly to me going to the biggest ball of the year with someone other than him" spoke up Hermione.

"And I just don't want to go with her" said Draco rather rudely.

Hermione turned her head and glared at him.

"I'm sorry Ms. Granger and Mr. Malfoy, but my word is final. Ms. Granger, if your boyfriend is truly trustworthy and understanding, I'm sure he'll have no problem with you having a few dances with Mr. Malfoy. I suggest the both of you work out your differences. It is your job to be a positive role model to the other students in Hogwarts, and you won't be fulfilling that job if you continue to act as if divided. You may be in separate houses, but does not mean you are of different species. I know very well that you both a capable of being civil to one another. Now, goodnight to the both of you" and with that he closed the portrait hole and smiled as he walked back to his chambers.

There was a moment of silence and shock.

"Brilliant, just bloody brilliant" Draco said. He turned away from Hermione and walked back up to his room.

Hermione just sat there rolling her eyes. She picked up her book and continued to read. I give up with him she thought If he's not going to try to make this work, I'm not going to try either. I've already done what I could but he's just too stubborn. I hope he's having a bloody fabulous time doing whatever the hell he's doing up there in his "sanctuary."

It's been three weeks since the project was started and they only had two more weeks to get everything settled. Even though Draco and Hermione were spending more time together than usual, they rarely talked to each other. During the meetings, they would only talk to the prefects and assign everyone jobs.

It was agreed that the theme would be "Dreams Come True" and the girls will be wearing only white dresses. The guys on the other hand will wear black dress robes.

Dean Thomas has offered to be DJ for the event and as for activities, there will be a Secret Santa game that will be played. The students will pick a name in a box in the Great Hall. During the ball, the gifts will be exchanged.

Skyler wasn't taking the news lightly about her going to the Ball with Draco. Though he would never tell anyone other than his Ravenclaw friends, he was planning on making his move on Hermione that night. He wouldn't be able to do it if she was always busy with Draco and making sure everything went smoothly during the Ball hours.

Hermione was just trying to make it through the days. She had to keep up with her school work and arrange the Ball at the same time. The fact that she would have to go with Draco was the least of her worries. Harry and Ron were very concerned for her. She would barely eat and talk to them. At the times where she did eat, she wouldn't even scold Ron for talking with his mouth open.

Draco on the other hand wouldn't stop thinking about the fact he would be having to go with Hermione to the Ball.

What the hell is that bloody old fool thinking! Making me go to the dance with that mud- mud-…MUGGLE BORN! I've been trying my best to avoid the girl and now I'm going to have to spend practically all my time with her! Fabulous…

Draco sat there over polishing his Nimbus 2001. Draco wasn't as mad at her as he made it seem. He just really thought it was best not to get any closer to her. He found that every time he did, he felt himself getting more and more jealous of her. Now he couldn't even call her a mudblood.

He was still avoiding her as much as he could, but sometimes he would see her walking around with her so called boyfriend Skyler and almost each time he wanted to puke. There was something he didn't like about him and he still didn't know what. Whenever he would think about it, the only friends Skyler ever had were in Ravenclaw. True, it shouldn't be too odd considering the fact that Draco pretty much only had friends in Slytherin, but he at least had a girlfriend from time to time, and they didn't glare at him whenever they saw him.

Draco knew that he had no business caring about what went on in Hermione's life, but he was just too angry. He was angry because he was avoiding her to keep himself from feeling guilty, but now that he did, he felt even guiltier. Every time Hermione tried to talk to him whether it be about the Ball or class, he would ignore her, and when she wasn't looking, he would look and see the defeated look on her face. There was many times where he wanted to cave in and tell her he wasn't mad, but he had a reputation to protect, and with or without his prejudice father, he was still a Malfoy, which meant he had too much pride for his own good.

He got tired of thinking of Hermione and taking his anger out on his broom stick. He walked into the bathroom to get ready for bed. As he did, he heard the voice of Hermione and another girl in her room. He walked over and put his ear near the door straining his ear to listen.

"Hermione, why couldn't you just tell me the password?" one voice said.

Eck, it's the Weaslette thought Draco.

"Because Ginny, Dumbledore said I couldn't tell anyone" answered Hermione

"But 'Mione! You can't possibly think that Malfoy didn't already tell one of his so-called loser friends the password" said Ginny.

"Actually Ginny, I don't think he did…I've never seen or heard any of his friends in here, not even to visit" she replied.

"Well nevertheless, it was a stupid idea not to let anyone know the password. What if you were hurt and no one would be able to come and get you?"

"Ginny don't be daft, why on earth would I be in trouble in my own home?"

"Maybe Malfoy would hex you from the back, you never know" Ginny said

"Ginny, Malfoy wouldn't do that."

"Are you kidding?! He's made our years at Hogwarts hell! How could you say something like that?"

"Because, he may be a little rough around the edges, and he may be angry with me, but I think deep down he's just having a hard time and he'll eventually come around" Hermione told Ginny.

"What happened to him anyway? The last time I heard you were telling me, Harry and Ron how well you two were getting along and now all of a sudden you're sulking around. And don't think we don't see you looking at him at the Slytherin table! 'Cuz you know us, we're always watching out for you" Ginny said serious yet jokingly.

Draco felt that feeling again which he couldn't identify. He didn't know that Hermione was acting in such a way.

"I can't say anything Ginny, it's not my place. I know I can trust you, but it's none of my business to reveal someone else's. Especially since I'm not even supposed to know" Hermione confessed.

There was a moment of silence and Draco got nervous. He thought for a second that he might have been caught. Luckily, Ginny started to talk again.

"Well, I trust you, and if you really think that it's worth stressing yourself trying to help Malfoy…then I'm not going to stop you. Just be careful ok? Promise me?"

"I promise Ginny, I knew you would understand. There was no way I could talk to Harry and Ron about his. I tried to ask them, of course without mentioning any names, but unfortunately I guess it was too early in the morning and Ron barely had his pants over his ankles"

The two girls laughed and hugged each other.

"You can tell me anything at anytime 'Mione, I'll be hear for you. And don't worry, I won't let the boys know anything you told me"

"Thank you Gin. I guess I should get some sleep. I've been working all day for the Ball and the N.E.W.T's test that's coming up. If I knew it was going to be this much work, I would have thought more about what I was getting myself into before taking the position as Head Girl." Hermione said smiling.

"Aw I'm sorry 'Mione, I'll go then. I'll see you tomorrow during breakfast and you ARE going to eat even if I have to force the food down your throat. Do you understand me?" Ginny said.

Draco was a little shocked. He knew the Weaslette had a reputation of being practically the toughest of all Weasel's, but he never got a first hand perspective.

"Yes ma'am!" said Hermione laughing. "I'm just going to the bathroom to get ready for bed. See you tomorrow!"

"Bye"

Draco, using his seeker like speed, shot out of the bathroom and to his room. He couldn't believe it. He had no idea how hard Hermione was trying to be friends with him. Once again she was making him feel guilty, but he knew he couldn't give in just yet. He listened to the running water. Instead of waiting for Hermione to finish, he was so overwhelmed he just crawled under his covers and instantly fell asleep. The last thought on his mind was going with Hermione to the Winter Ball.

(A/N) Well, I'm not too fond of this chapter…but I already know what I'm going to write for the next chapter and I absolutely LOVE THE IDEA!!!!

If you're a hard core Draco and Hermione person, then trust me when I say you'll love my idea as well :D