AN: Hello all! Just wanted to thank all of you who put in suggestions on the crossover. Shame on those who didn't. I hope you like this chapter! Review.

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Albus and Hermione were deep in conversation about civil right of magical creatures and their prosperity, while Draco was silently brewing in his own self pity. They were walking through a familiar hall in the direction of the Gryffidor Tower when Albus stopped in front of a strange portrait Hermione had never seen before. The portrait was appropriately called Chaos.

The portrait was surrounded in a thick wooden frame. A maiden was in the top left corner. Her dark green dress blended into the swirling black background. The maiden was had long wavy brown hair with a ringlet of golden leaves resting upon her head. She was looking down with pleading caramel eyes extending a pale hand to the figure of a man. His back was turned to them. He was well built, dressed in a brown woolen tunic. The man had dark curly-chocolate hair that rested on his shoulders. He too had his hand extended, looking up toward the maiden. It appeared as if he was struggling against an invisible force threatening to pull him beneath the frame into the darkness. She looked frightened, desperate to pull him up to save him.

"That's pleasant," Draco remarked under his breath.

" This is it. You must pick your password." Albus turned to the two.

" Jelly newts"

" Certain Death"

"Peppermint Pixies"

"Bubonic Plague"

" Not so Morbid! Mal- Marsel- Draco." Hermione ended realizing for the first time she had used his actual name.

" I'm not having some stupid candy for the password. I don't even like candy!"

Hermione was getting aggravated. "Non mi preoccupo se odiate la caramella! Non sto avendo uno scarto sanguinante del tombstone come la parola d'accesso!" (I do not care if you hate candy! I am not having a bloody tombstone reject as the password!)

"Onestamente Granger, non dovete ottenere così arrabbiati a questo proposito."

(Honestly Granger, you don't have to get so angry about it.)

Hermione raised an eyebrow. " You speak Italian? "

"No, I thought it was Elvish." he smirked sarcastically. "Yes, I speak Italian, along with nine other languages since I was six."

"You really had no childhood."

" Who are you to judge? You don't even know me!" Hermione looked down ashamed. She really didn't know him other than the insufferable arse he was whenever she was with Harry and Ron-which was pretty much always.

" Where did you scrunge up that horrible Italian? Your accent is horrible. You sound like a street rat!"

All thoughts of pity left her mind. " You lie! I practically live in Napoli with my Grandparents every summer. My accent is fine."

"Whatever. What about... compreso male?

"Misunderstood?" She shrugged, "Fine, whatever you want. I don't care anymore." Draco turned to the portrait. "The password is compreso male."

The maiden slightly turned to them and nodded, "Compreso male." The portrait slid open and all three stepped in.

The private common room was gigantic. It was lit by a huge chandelier set with hundreds of never ending candles. Two great columns were set in the middle of the room holding up the high ceiling. On the same wall as the door sat three giant bookcases with two desks in front of them. In between the bookcases white roses grew up the wall and upon an old grandfather clock bringing a sweet fragrance throughout the room. On the opposite wall was a great wooden fireplace with a flaming hearth. On each side of the mantel an arched stairwell was set into the wall each leading to a bedroom. There was two plush maroon chairs with ottomans in front of the fireplace sitting on top of an elaborate Indian rug. Where the rug ended black marble extended into the rest of the room. Ceiling high windows with golden silk drapes dominated the left wall looking out over the quiditch field and forest. The other wall had had a huge portrait of Hogwarts on a sunny day. Hermione looked around amazed. This was certainly one of the nicest room she had ever seen. Maybe this won't be so bad after all.

Draco POV~

Wow this is actually pretty nice. Not as great as the manor, in no comparison, but it will do. He glanced over at Hermione- eyes wide with amazement. She really has no idea what luxury is. She thought I had a bad child hood? Please! I wonder which one is my bedroom?

~

Draco rushed by the other two taking the stairwell on the left of the fireplace.

"Well, I guess that's his room." Hermione said aloud not really speaking to anyone.

Dumbledore smiled amused at the boys lack of manners. " I really must be going. The Gryffindor common room is behind that portrait." He pointed to the with Hogwarts on a sunny day. " The password is checkmate." Hermione nodded, hiding the sadness the word brought at the thought of Ron. " Till dinner." Albus smiled and stepped out.

"Till dinner." Hermione smiled. She waited until the portrait closed to cross the room to the other stairwell toward her own bedroom.

Hermione opened the arch wooden door to her new bedroom. The wall were painted in Gryffindor colors: deep maroon bordered in gold. The soft beige carpet extended throughout the lovely room. Her bed was huge with a fluffy red comforter embroidered with intricate little lions with tons of fluffy pillows atop it. A golden canopy flowed down from the ceiling to the floor of the bed. On the wall opposite the door was a huge set in window with the same golden silk drapes as the common room, looking out over the grounds and forest. On the left wall were two doors she assumed were the closet and bathroom. She had an oak vanity with a large oval mirror and dressers set along the right wall. She walked over to the mirror to inspect the nights damage. She visually cringed at the sight. Her hair was frizzed with knots and was that a twig? Her face was dirty her tank top had torn on the side, even her arms were dirty with blood and dirt. She really looked horrible something only confirmed when the mirror spoke.

" Oh my dear you look utterly dreadful! What has happened ? This is not acceptable! You must wash up immediately! Dreadful! Dreadful! Here take these." A drawer opened in one of the dresser and a towel and a robe appeared.

"Uh, thank you." Hermione picked up the things.

"Welcome dear, welcome. You just go wash I'll take care of everything else. Go on." Hermione obeyed walking into the bathroom.

The bathroom was just as grand as the other rooms. The chocolate -grey tiles accented the white marble counter tops with a double sink. The walls were painted a light blue with silver glittering specs here and there. Another large mirror reflected the image of a giant tub. Hundreds of faucets lined the tub with bubbles ranging from strawberries and chocolate, to lily's. Another door was across the other side she assumed led to Draco's room. She quickly locked both the doors. Hermione twisted the faucet that read peaches and cream and let the bathroom get steamy with the sweet scent. She threw her clothes onto the counter and slid in. She relaxed and let the warm water soothe her aching muscles. She didn't know how much time had passed when she decided to get out before her finger become permanently wrinkled. She wrapped herself into a robe. Hermione gathered her clothes and unlocked the doors before going back to her room. The sun had begun to fade into the horizon and she decided she would just get a house elf to bring her dinner since she really didn't want to go down. Hermione went back to the mirror.

"What do I wear?"

"I've all ready made the arrangements dear. Here you go." All the drawers opened this time, filled with clothes.

" Oh my. Thank you very much. You really didn't have to go to all this trouble."

" Oh it's no problem dear. It's what I'm here for."

Hermione went to the drawer with the nightgowns. She inwardly groaned wishing for her comfy cotton pajama pants. She changed into a silky white nightgown. It really didn't look that bad. It had a tie in the back and fit pretty well. The mirror really knew her stuff. Hermione didn't want to go to bed yet so she decided to go get a book from the common room.

She walked into the vacant common room, again admiring its beauty. I guess Draco has all ready gone to sleep. She picked a book entitled Creatures of the Light and Dark. She settled into one of plush maroon chairs soon engulfed into another book.

~ Seven and a half hours later ~

Hermione awoke still in the maroon chair with her book dropped onto the floor. She gave a big stretch and her stomach growled. She glanced at the clock that read 12:57. Her stomach growled again demanding food. She stood up from the chair. Merlin, I'm hungry! I really got to get something to eat. I wonder if the kitchens are still open. Of course they are.

Hermione walked to the portrait hole. It opened and she almost screamed.

"Draco what are you doing!?!" She asked the boy who was just as shocked as she was. He had changed into the Gryffindor uniform colors of maroon lined in gold. Hermione thought he looked quite dashing. Igh bleh! this is Malfoy! she shook her head.

" I was... I just came back from the infirmary. My head was still hurting from yesterday."

"Oh. The nurse let you out this late?"

"Uh...Yeah. what are you doing?" he raised an eyebrow.

"I was just about to go to the kitchen to get some dinner." she made an attempt to swerve past him. He blocked her.

"I don't really think you should be out this late."

"Who are you, my keeper? I've wandered these halls hundreds of times before! Now move." she again attempted to get past him he stepped in front of her.

"Look, you really shouldn't be wandering the halls alone, especially tonight."

" What do you care? You would probably want me to get caught. Now get out of my way before I curse you." She pulled out her wand from the pocket of her gown.

" Don't be stupid Hermione. If you're really that hungry then I'm just coming with you." Since when did I start calling her Hermione? Well I guess I will have to since there is no longer a Granger. She is so stubborn. I should just let her go, its not my fault if she gets killed. She has saved your life already you are in her debt. I wonder if she thinks standing like that is intimidating. She has that cute face on she get when she's annoyed. Draco fought a smirk.

" I am quite capable to take care of myself." She lowered her wand, putting her hands on her hips.

" I understand that but either I come or I put you in a body bind until morning."

She eyed him and wondered if he would really do it. He sounded pretty serious. He stared back down at her daring her to make a move. She threw up her arms." Whatever, but try it and I'll make sure you can permanently never have children." she took off down the hall in a huff.

" Women!" Draco said whispered under his breath catching up with her.

They walked in silence to the kitchen. Hermione kept watching him from the corner of her eye. He was very rigid and alert listening intently for any shred of a sound.

She stopped in front of the portrait of a bowl of fruit. She stepped up to it and stopped. She turned back to Draco.

" Turn around."

"What?"

"Turn around I don't want you to know how to get in."

" This is so stupid I'm not going to..."

" Please just turn around."

He reluctantly turned around.

She tickled the right pear and the portrait opened.

" Okay come on." Draco followed her in.

" Wow, so this is the kitchens; I've always wondered what they were like." He watched the hundreds of house elves working like a well oiled machine. What a machine was he didn't know but the phrase fit. An old house elf walked up to them.

"Hello my name is Binky. What may I do for you?" He said is a rather raspy voice.

" Hello Binky I was just wondering if we could have some of the leftovers from dinner.

"Oh yes! T'will be Binky's pleasure! Right this way." He led them to a small table with two seats. They sat down and the elves immediately brought tray after tray of delicious foods. Hermione had a good helping since she had not eaten since breakfast. Draco didn't seem to be holding back either. They had both eating until they could hold no more. Hermione leaned back in her chair, watching Draco ravish a chicken leg.

"Draco, can I ask you a question?"

" Is there any way to stop you?" He stopped eating to look her.

" Good point, and no. Why did you stop Lucid earlier? I mean it kind of went against all the hatred you have for Harry, Ron, and me not to mention going against the entire Slytherin code."

Draco gulped down the piece of chicken still in his mouth considering whether to lie or not. Should he tell her everything? About his father beating his mother? How he promised to never let someone hurt like that again? What he had realized in the forest when he had awoken? All the reasons? Everything? No, not everything.

" I guess it was what you did in the forest. I could have bled to death out there and after all the stuff I have done to you ...I know I wouldn't have stayed for you. But when I woke up and saw you had stayed with me it really meant something. I couldn't think of anyone who would have done that for me. I guess I was ..I am... grateful."

Hermione was shocked. She hadn't expected him to say that, more like, "Oh it was spur of the moment thing," but not that.

"Oh."

Draco shrugged and stood up, stretching. " Are you ready? I'm tired."

"Yeah." she gulped down the last of her pumpkin juice. They thanked the elves and exited the portrait. The walk back was again made in silence. Draco as alert as ever. Once or twice he thought he heard something or saw a suspicious shadow but they soon came to Chaos.

"Compreso male," Hermione said the password and they both stepped in. Hermione walked across the room and was almost up the stairs when she called down.

"Goodnight Draco." a moment passed.

"Goodnight Hermione." he softly replied.

She opened the door and climbed into her giant comfy bed snuggling into the covers, golden lions dancing around her.

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AN: So was Draco in the infirmary? What or who is he so paranoid about? Where is Harry and Ron? Suspense. Suspense. People I have worked extremely hard on these chapters. Give me some thanks and review! I love all of those that have reviewed and "BUM". Dawn