Author's Notes

Hello to all who're reading this. I know a lot hit upon this story and if you read it, can you leave me a review? I do not think you realize the potential of your review making me utterly and completely happy.

So please leave me a review telling me what you think and if I should continue with it or not. Your reviews mean a lot to me and they make my day, and I would write my chapters faster and update sooner.

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN THE CHARACTERS AND THEIR ABILITIES AND SUCH ALIKE. THEY BELONG TO J.K.ROWLING. I only OWN THE plot.

Please read and review. Enjoy.

HATE-LOVE REBOUND

Chapter Three: Tell Me, Dear . . . Has Your Inner Conscious Been Bothering You Lately?

Date: 28.08.06 to 01.09.06

Bliss … bliss … bliss … so this was what it felt like to be in bliss … and no, she wasn't high. She wasn't stupid, she knew what weed did to people. She shuddered, the horror of looking like that. She quickly erased the mental image from her mind and proceeded to think about how she had felt in the salon. Oh yes, Hermione had actually gone to a salon. But if she had known where she would have ended up in, she would not have gone willingly. It turned out that the slip of paper Ginny had given her on her birthday was the location of the salon that she was now dreaming about. Usually she didn't feel so enthusiastic or caring about her hair or facial looks so she had nearly Apparated home but as usual, Ginny had forcefully dragged her into the salon, thus resigning Hermione to her fate.

In there, her hair had been the object of much criticism and she would have defended the state of her hair if Ginny hadn't put a Silencio charm on her. So there she was: the unwilling project of Ginny Weasley, about to go into worst torture she had ever known since the Final Battle (her idea of the worst torture, since the Great Battle, kept changing rapidly, she thought).

Her hair had been combed and brushed and untangled for about two hours until the stylists decided it was in enough good condition to start the cutting and layering. Another hour later, her hair was now medium and it was in layers and they had decided to put in some red tints towards the ends. Another two hours and her eyebrows had been plucked (and they hurt, dammit!), her face scrubbed and cleaned and had been advised what products she should use on her face in order to keep it glowing all the time (she had no intention of shining like a beacon, thanks very little!) and then the bliss part came in.

After all the hair tugging and eyebrow plucking, she was afraid of what they were going to do next. But it turned out to be one of the most glorious feelings she had ever had. She was having a pedicure. Somehow or the other, they had come to the decision that her feet were even more tensed than her forehead was therefore they proceeded to give her a foot massage, and her silent complaints were abruptly brought to a halt. Ahhhhh . . . . . To feel like this all the time, she thought. It was almost worth all the pain she had had to go through in the last four hours. Bliss, she thought hazily, I could do with this everyday; it's so gooooooddd . . . .

As she daydreamed about her future feet massages, she didn't notice the tawny owl that was very rapidly trying and failing to stay in the air and so was headed for a crash landing right through her window. When one of its wings whizzed by her, she was startled out of her visions of bliss till kingdom come and as the tawny owl had landed safely on the bed, Hermione recognized just whose the owl was. On its feet was a package tied to it and a letter with it. She took off both and after feeding the poor exhausted owl, she opened the letter first.

HOGWARTS SCHOOL
of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

Headmistress: MINERVA MCGONAGALL
(Order of Merlin, Second Class)

Dear Ms. Granger,

How are you? I trust that the summer holidays have treated you very well. It is now the beginning of your seventh year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and we are pleased to inform you that you have been chosen as Head Girl. Please accept my felicitations. Term begins on September 1.

Yours sincerely,

Gerard Flitwick,
Deputy Headmaster

P.S. You are to meet the Head Boy in the Prefects Compartment on the Train when on your way to school, and hold a Prefects meeting then. If the Head Boy does not know of this, please inform him that the Headmistress wishes to see both of you after the Feast has ended. My felicitations to you once again.

HEAD GIRL!! her mind screamed at her. Numbly, Hermione sat down on the bed that the owl had just vacated and tugged at her hair, trying to understand what the letter had told her. Quickly she read the letter again just to make sure she was reading right.

As the implications hit her, she mentally wept and she shouted in joy, "Holy crap!! I'm Head Girl!!" She jumped up and down, and then suddenly all her friends were in the room, looking in awe at her. It was quite uncharacteristic of her to behave this way. When they heard the phrase "Head Girl" being screamed, they immediately understood and their awe cleared up.

Ron was the first one to speak, "Hermione, I'm going to guess from this entire racket you're making that you've been made Head Girl?"

Hermione stopped her prancing and turned around to look at Ron with shining glittering eyes. In a second, she jumped off the bed and leapt on Ron, hugging him tightly. "How'd you guess?"

"Oh no clue whatsoever. I guess your jumping up and down like a 5 year child or you screaming Head Girl had nothing to do with it."

"Oh shut up, Ron," Hermione said, still hugging him tightly, "I can't believe I'm Head Girl."

"What's so hard to believe about that?" Harry asked, grinning largely.

"Well …" started Hermione but Harry cut her off. "Don't start, Mione. We all knew you would be made Head Girl."

"Wow," said Ginny, "look at this scrap of metal. It's so huge. Remember Percy's badge, Ron?" As soon it was out of her mouth, she swallowed thickly, remembering just whose name she had just uttered. "Sorry, Ron. Slip of tongue. Blech."

Ron winced like if he had heard Voldemort's name. Hermione, on the other hand, spun away from Ron and quickly tugged her badge away from Ginny. "Hey, don't insult my badge. It's more than a scrap of metal. It stands for 'Head Girl'," she proclaimed loudly.

"Like we didn't guess that already," noted Harry wryly.

Hermione stuck out her tongue at him childishly, "Whatever, I feel so happy. My dream has just come true."

Harry laughed, "Well mates, how do you think we should celebrate?"

"Ooohh, I know how," Hermione stated excitedly, her mind reverting to original daydream she had been having earlier . . . . .

Later ...

"Thanks for that, Harry. I've been salivating over that dream for a few days now," Hermione said happily.

Harry made a non-committal sound in the back of his throat and made a resolution to never ask Hermione ever again how she wanted to celebrate, "Sure, Hermione. Anything to make you happy."

"Anything?" Hermione perked up on hearing this, "will you give me another massage?"

Harry groaned mentally and asked himself why he hadn't elaborated on his resolution: don't ever hint towards anything that would make her happy; and now resigned himself over to his fate, "Sure, Mione. I'll give you another massage."

"Thanks, Harry. You're the absolute best."

"Don't I know it."

Meanwhile, in another place, a rather huge place, the boy who had gotten the badge for Head Boy, sat there unemotionally thinking until his lips turned up in a slight smirk.

Granger's going to have a cow.

The last three days of the summer holidays sped by, what with the Trio and Ginny spending most of the remaining time frolicking or eating ice-cream at Fortescue's. At one point, it had been rather difficult to get Ron away from the ice-cream parlour, when he had started claiming that he needed to stock up on his intake of walnut-flavoured ice-cream as he wouldn't get it at Hogwarts. His friends, realizing the futility in dragging him away, decided to leave him there and let him learn the lesson on his own on the day before returning to Hogwarts. Sure enough, he spent the entire night puking and looking uncomfortably green around the gills on September 1st.

September 1st, thought Hermione, it's here at last. First day of me being Head Girl. Also first day of our last year. She sighed and Harry noticing this, nudged her and told her to stop looking so down on the first day back. She smiled at Harry, glad that they were such good friends.

"You're right, Harry. We should make this the best one. After all, Voldemort's gone, isn't he?" she said.

"Is that supposed to be a rhetorical question?" Harry replied, grinning.

Hermione made an attempt to hit him on the head but he dodged it, attributing to his good Quidditch skills. He laughed and then said, "Last one out of the house is a rotten egg." He ran quickly out of the door.

Hermione laughed childishly and ran after him. Yup, he was one of her best friends and she felt extremely lucky in being able to share a friendship with him.

------------------------

The train whistled and soon everyone was bustling to get onto the train. Hands appeared out the windows and waved madly at their loved ones, and too soon the train was off on its way towards the school.

"Come on Hermione," said Harry, "let's go find the compartment Ginny and Ron are in. At least I hope they managed to find one."

"Ok. Let's go. Wingardium Leviosa!" Hermione pointed at her trunks. Harry followed suit.

It wasn't until the middle of the train they found Ron and Ginny seated comfortably, enjoying themselves immensely as they conversed with two of their classmates, Neville Longbottom from Gryffindor and Luna Lovegood from Ravenclaw.

"Well, thanks for being so concerned about us," Harry said sarcastically as he opened the door to the compartment.

Ron had the grace to colour and mumbled something about being caught up in eating Cauldron Cakes and talking instead of thinking about his friends.

Hermione snickered when she heard the mention of food being the cause of the apparent lack of concern. Really, you could always trust Ron with food, she thought.

They hadn't settled themselves soon when Neville said, "Oh by the way, Hermione, congratulations on being Head Girl. You deserve it."

Hermione's hand flew to her mouth, "Oh. Oh. Why, thank you Neville. But you inadvertedly reminded me of something else. I have to go to the Prefect compartment to meet with the Head Boy."

"Well that you do but not for another fifteen minutes so relax yourself," Ron said.

"Thanks. Don't want to be late for the very first meeting."

"No problem. Although I doubt you've ever been late for anything," mumbled Ron.

"What's that, Ron? Didn't quite catch you."

"Oh that's quite alright. Didn't really say anything of importance," Ron hastily said.

Luna remarked from her corner of the compartment, "Do you usually say anything of importance, Ronald? I've always quite wondered this."

Ron's ears turned a lovely shade of magenta and he struggled not to say anything too harsh. Luna was a girl after all and one of their close friends. It wouldn't do to hurt her feelings especially seeing that his sister was friends with her. Really, the audacity of the girl to question his intelligence. Hadn't he been the main strategist for the battles in the Final War? He stuck his nose in the air and said nothing.

"Oh come on, Luna. Of course Ron has said some things of importance. Have you forgotten his role in the War?" Ginny said.

Good to know someone had remembered his part. And it was damned good to hear his sister come to his defense once in a while.

"Oh yes," said Luna dreamily, "I remember now. You must forgive me, Ronald. I am now remembering one of my memories in which you were at the head of the table, describing the plan. How stupid of me. Sorry, Ronald."

Ron's ears were now red, "That's OK, Luna. I forgive you." With that, he shut his mouth and hoped no one else remarked on it, otherwise he would have a hard to leaving the compartment with his head that big.

Harry laughed at all this camaraderie. It was really amusing to see Ron go red with compliments. It also felt good to have all the heavy weight off his shoulders and most importantly, heart. Hermione smiled inwardly, and then by chance she looked at her watch and with a start realized that the fifteen minutes were almost up and she still hadn't changed into her school robes. Drat it, she thought, I'll just have to do without them for now.

"Well, guys, I'm heading for the Heads meeting. I wonder who Head Boy is. Anyway, when I get back, I'll let you all know. Aren't you coming, Ron? Ginny?" Hermione said.

"No," Ginny answered, "the Heads are supposed to meet first for the first half an hour and then we the Prefects will come."

"Oh. Ok then. See you then. See the rest of you later."

Hermione left the compartment and walked down the aisle hurriedly towards the end of the carriage. As she neared, she realized the door to the last compartment was already slight ajar. She almost ran and then stopped in front of it to regain her composure. She entered.

"Well, well, well, Granger, I should say that you are most undeniably late for the probably the first time in your pathetic life," one Draco Malfoy drawled.

Malfoy?!?! Hermione whirled around to notice that Malfoy indeed was in the compartment, seated as if he owned the place. Her mind lamented, Why me? Why me? What have I done to deserve this? Nothing at all, I tell you. In fact, I've done so much good stuff that this slimy disgusting ferret should not have been made Head Boy. It should have been Terry Boot, not him!

Another voice whispered and taunted, so you haven't done anything bad lately then? What about ogling a certain blond haired boy who was all but almost naked?

Shut up! "Malfoy, what are you doing here?" Hermione asked, her composure slowly cracking.

"And here I thought the Head Girl was chosen because of her intelligence," Malfoy said almost sadly, then sighed, "I always knew McGonagall was too much of a softie. Look at what she chose."

Hermione seethed, her blood was starting to boil. Not only was he here, taunting her but also there was still the ever present image of him in the Manor, in all his fine . . . .

"Don't tell me you're Head Boy? Please tell me you aren't."

"You've already reached the begging stage? My, I didn't expect it to be so soon."

Hermione blustered. "What? Of course, I'm not begging. I don't believe this. Of all the smart intelligent people in the whole school, he had to pick the dumbest one to be Head Boy."

Malfoy stood up so fast that Hermione stumbled back a step awkwardly. "How dare you insinuate that I'm dumb, you filthy mudblood? But I must admit, I expected a better comeback than that."

Something pricked Hermione on the inside, and with a start, she realized that it was hurt. She thought she had gotten accustomed to the pain that particular word caused, but it appeared not.

Hermione looked up, not at all the least bit scared (but she was, a teeny itty bit). Malfoy had grown over the summer, she thought stupidly. He was so tall that she had crane her neck in order to look up into his face. He must be 6 ft 1" or so, just as tall as Harry but shorter than Ron. His face still held the same angular planes and high aristocratic cheekbones. His eyes, grey as pewter, now looked at her with disdain and something else that she couldn't quite identify. A lock of his platinum blonde hair had escaped the gel and was hanging onto the side of his face, which was at the moment scowling at her.

What are you doing? Filing a description of Malfoy for later reminiscing? her scandalized mind asked. Hermione rapidly moved away from her location and drew in a deep breath, mentally counting to ten before she turned to confront him again.

"Well, brushing my concerns aside, we're here obviously to talk about Heads stuff. So let's start," she said calmly.

Malfoy turned around, assessing her under his cool grey gaze. "You recover fast."

Hermione paid no heed to him and continued, "The Prefects will be coming here in twenty minutes time. I suggest we sit get this over with."

"Like hell I'm sitting with a mudblood."

"Still the same prat, I see."

"Filthy mudblood."

"Jerk."

"Bushy-haired know-it-all."

"Twit."

"Buck-toothed rabbit."

At that, Hermione smiled at him largely, and he just stared right back, for the first time noticing she no longer had the large overbite. "Where'd they go?"

"If you're smart, you'll have figured this out by now. Considering my point of view that you aren't, then I guess that will take, oh say, another three years or so."

"Floozy."

"How dare you?" she scathed, "you dare call me that when it's like calling the pot calling the kettle black?"

He scoffed and at that, she stood up, ready to leave. She was fed up, dammit. Fed up with this disgusting piece of ferret shit. She'd make sure to tell him this little tidbit at some other time.

At that same precise moment, the other Prefects filed into the compartment. Hermione threw him a loathing look and resumed her seat and a placid expression.

"Hello all. Welcome back to another new year. My name's Hermione Granger, your Head Girl for the year and this," she pointed off-handedly somewhere in Malfoy's direction, "is Malfoy, your Head Boy." Her tone was implied, 'Can you believe it? I can't, either.'

As much as Malfoy disliked being gestured to in such a way, he stayed where he was and decided to let her run the meeting. After all, he had no wish to deal with such plebeians, including the mudblood.

The others were surprised that Malfoy had been made Head Boy, but then again, as they thought about it, he did have the highest grades, next to Hermione's, of course.

The rest of the Meeting went by with Hermione informing them of their duties, the responsibilities, the consequences if they abused their powers (at that, Malfoy smirked a little, oh yes, was he going to like being Head Boy), and other events that could be held at Hogwarts during the year. After half an hour, the meeting ended and they all filed out the same way they had come in. Malfoy left with them as well, not wanting to spend another moment in Granger's company.

Hermione scowled when he left without so much as a goodbye. Then she remembered the P.S. in her letter. She stuck her head out the compartment.

"Oy, Malfoy. Hold up," she shouted to his back.

Malfoy paused on hearing her voice. What could she possibly want now? He answered irritatedly, "What is it, Granger?"

"Professor McGonagall wants to see us after the Feast. I was supposed to tell you. Professor Flitwick told me to do so."

"Great," he said sarcastically, "the old dragon wants to see me." Then he continued walking away from her.

Hermione scowled again. The jerk. He made her feel so frustrated at times. Hermione went back into the compartment, gathered her papers and left, heading for her the compartment her friends were in.

Draco stood in a compartment to far away from the Prefect's Compartment and the way he stood was so that she wouldn't notice him as she went by. Why was he here at all? He didn't really have a valid answer. Yes, he did have one. He would hex her. But when the mudblood walked by, all he did was look at her and notice all the things that he had noticed in the Prefect's Compartment again.

She hadn't worn her school uniform or her robes when she had come. She was dressed in a pair of jeans that were not too tight but tight enough to show that she had long slim legs. As she walked by, her hips swayed gently and her hair, which was the first thing that surprised him, was no longer the bushy, frizzy dull brown colour it was; it was now a dark caramel colour and reddish tints at the end and what was most important (why it was, he didn't know either) was that it was no longer bushy or frizzy, instead it was slightly in between curly and wavy and it was combed (miraculous, he thought) and it swished to and fro over her hips as she walked by. She had on a simple red T-shirt that covered her chest and he now realized his erroneous mistake that she wasn't flat-chested at all.

When she had finally walked by and gone around the corner, his mind asked, so did you hex her or not?

All too soon, they were at Hogwarts Train Station, and all except Hermione had changed into their school robes. She had fallen asleep on Ron's shoulder when she had returned from the Heads/Prefects Meeting. And she was slightly angry because none of her friends had checked to see if she had changed into them and this they had not realized until the train was pulling up at the station. Harry and Ron, feeling abashed, had offered to stay until she changed quickly. Feeling a bit angrier and yet miffed, she sent them on their way, telling them she would come with Hagrid.

So there she was, hurriedly changing into her school blouse and school skirt, when suddenly the door opened and a voice boomed.

"Hermione! What're yeh doing 'ere still?" Hagrid's voice called out.

"Hagrid!" Hermione squealed and then ran to give him a big hug, "How are you?"

"I'm okay, Hermione, but what're yeh doing 'ere? Where are Ron and Harry?"

"They're the reason I'm here still. I fell asleep and they didn't bother to wake me up and tell me that I still had yet to change into my uniform," she explained.

Hagrid shook his great hairy head. "Good thing I decided to check all the compartments then. C'mon," he waved his pan-like hands.

Hermione put on her black swishing Hogwarts robe, took her wand and then followed Hagrid out of the train. A bunch of scared-looking first years were standing near a lamp post, trembling with nervous fear when they once again saw Hagrid emerge from the train. Some even whimpered. Hermione smiled, wondering if they had all been that small seven long years ago.

"Seems like yeh weren't the only one sleeping in the train. Found him in there too," at that, he jerked his thumb to someone on her right. She turned around, and felt surprise when she saw Malfoy looking a bit drowsy yet awake enough to feel that he had been humiliated somehow.

"Having nappies in the train, Malfoy?" Hermione smirked.

"Whatever, Granger," he replied, then turned towards Hagrid, "so when are we going to leave this station and get to Hogwarts, Professor?" At the last word, he said it as if he had been branded.

Hagrid ignored him and turned to the bunch of quavering small pre-teens. "Alright, first years! Follow me." He led them to a lake after a long stumbling path in the darkness that was illuminated by Hagrid's lantern only. He said, "No more'n two to a boat."

When all the first years had entered a boat, only two were remained. Upon seeing this, Hagrid threw an apologetic glance to Hermione and proceeded to take one boat all for himself. After all, he was a very big man, and only he alone could fit in it. Hermione's feelings sagged a bit more when she realized that she had to share the boat with Malfoy of all people. But she squared her shoulders and sat in it, not wanting to be the first person to start complaining or whining about it. Malfoy looked at her and saw a challenge in her eyes, think you can handle sitting in the same boat with me, a Mudblood? Well, don't. It'd me much better for me if I didn't have to share at all.

Malfoy glared at her and then realizing the futility, gingerly lowered himself into the boat and mentally washed himself of all the filthy grime he imagined was now coating him. He refused to let her win this battle, albeit a minor one.

Hagrid, on seeing that they were all in a boat, yelled "FORWARD!"

Sitting there in the same boat, which was now moving of its own chart and accord, with Granger, was not that tiring at all, as he'd expected. She remained quiet and kept her gaze focused ahead of her. Another silent twenty minutes went by, and when all the boats had rounded a bend, their gazes drank in the sight and splendour of the Hogwarts castle. Hermione gasped, never ceasing to be amazed by the beauty and magnificence of it.

True, Hermione and Malfoy had seen it in their first year but now looking at it in their last and final year, they both knew that they would not have preferred any other way to see Hogwarts for the first day of the last year; although Hermione wished Harry and Ron were there to see it with her. Instead I had to be stuck with one sodding Malfoy . . . damnit!

A few minutes later and the boats entered a cliff and landed themselves upon a shore full of stones and pebbles and all got out of them and headed towards a staircase that led upwards for what seemed like three stories. Finally, they reached an oak door and Hagrid opened them wide and open and after telling the first years to remain where they were until they were called, he entered the Great Hall and proceeded to the long table seating all the professors.

Hermione and Malfoy ducked unobtrusively as possible and headed for their respective House tables, Gryffindor and Slytherin. Hermione sat between Harry and Neville, while Ron was opposite her.

"Blimey, Hermione, was that Malfoy with you? What was he doing with you?" Ron asked, his face in a bit of a shock.

"Apparently, he was asleep on the train, too so we both came with Hagrid. You honestly think I would have wanted to spend time with him voluntarily?" Hermione scathed.

"No. Just wanting to make sure."

"Well, be quiet now. Professor McGonagall's going to talk." Everyone fell immediately quiet when they noticed Professor McGonagall standing, waiting for their undivided attention.

"Welcome to the first years and welcome back to our older students. Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is pleased to see you here. I am Professor McGonagall, your Headmistress, and for those of you who do not know, it is my first year as one. I am sad to say that, my predecessor, Professor Albus Dumbledore, is no longer with us and that these next few moments are going to be for him. Please bow your heads as we say a prayer in silence."

A few minutes of complete silence passed by, in which Hermione had sneaked a glance up once to notice that Malfoy had his arms crossed and hadn't bothered to close his eyes at all; it was as if he sat in defiance.

"Now, the Sorting Ceremony shall begin!"

And so it did, and after another agonizing twenty minutes where they all felt barely suppressed hunger, the Ceremony ended and the Welcome Feast began. It pained Hermione to no end to keep reminding her best friend, one Ronald Weasley, to stop eating like a pig at any meal, and this was certainly no exception to that behaviour. Resigning herself to hearing his words like garbled gibberish, she made one attempt and when it failed to have an effect once again, she ate her own dinner in silence afterwards and wondered what Professor McGonagall could want from her . . . and Malfoy, it would do good to remember she wanted to see both of them, not just her alone.

"Harry, Ron, listen. Professor McGonagall wants to see me now. So you guys go on and head to the Tower. I'll see you later," she said in a low voice.

They nodded in reply, and Hermione stood up, wanting to reach the Professor before Malfoy did. To her annoyance, she saw Malfoy get up the same time she did but by the time she had her legs over the bench, he had already reached half-way towards McGonagall. Damn his 6 ft 1" frame! So it annoyed her to no end when she reached there after he did. He sent a half-smirk to her and then turned to pay attention to their Headmistress.

"Good evening, Mr. Malfoy and Ms. Granger. Congratulations on being Head Boy and Head Girl. It is my sincerest hope, that despite your past troubled history, that you shall put it aside and produce the most commendable work as possible. I would not expect any less from the both of you, as you both have shown in recent years the best academic grades a student can achieve and very remarkable leadership as well as other redeemable qualities," she paused to take a breath, "now, if you will follow me, I will be taking you to your accommodations for the year."

She left the Hall and led them up two staircases, going along two corridors until she reached a painting that contained a female half human-half elf. "This is Arya, she will be your entrance to the Heads Dormitories or Heads Quarters, if you will. The password at the moment is Abriros. You are to choose another password together after I leave. Arya, Abriros."

Arya smiled at them and then the painting swung forward to allow them entrance. Hermione and Malfoy followed the Professor into a very spacious living apartment-like dormitories.

"Here, as you can see right ahead of you, is the common room with a set of couches and sofas and a table where you can hold your own Heads meetings or just socialize with your friends," at that, her face took on a stern caricature, "I hope not to hear of too many of such socializations. Next, on either of your sides, you'll see a door. One marks Gryffindor for Ms. Granger, and the other Slytherin for you, Mr. Malfoy. These are your bedrooms and there is only one bathroom which the both of you are expected to share. Now, as for your further duties and responsibilities, wh shall have a meeting after your classes tomorrow to discuss those. Now I bid you good night." Professor McGonagall turned and left, acknowledging them with a small tight smile.

Without further ado, Hermione, who did not feel the urge to bid Malfoy good night and who also had the extreme urge to go and explore her new room, flounced over to her door and examined it. There was a small tapestry with a tawny golden lion stretched comfortably over it. "Good evening, fair Hermione. What is your password?"

Hermione blushed a little, and said very softly so that Malfoy would not hear, "The Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare." The lion chuckled and opened to let her in, while Malfoy not paying attention to Granger, had done the same thing with the silver serpent on his door, "I wish Father dead."

Inside her room, Hermione felt like she was in a state of euphoria. Her own haven. At last. No more crazy deluded females waking up at odd hours to discuss something that was not schoolwork, and no more undignified and meaningless annoying female shrieking when they realized they had not yet prepared themselves sufficiently for the day. No more having to hassle to get said annoying females out of the bathroom. Oh, but I have to share it with Malfoy instead. I'm not sure if this is an improvement over Lavender and Parvati. His ego is so large, with my luck, he'll spend twice the amount of time they do! Crap. Oh well, on the upside, I get to do all my homework in peace. Yeah for me!!

She looked at the bed, it was so large and comfy-looking, with all the red and gold splashed everywhere in the soft pillows and bed sheet. The walls were a soft pale gold colour and the curtains an accompanying red colour with golden stripes. There was a closet to hang her clothes and a study desk for her books and bag. Hermione sighed in pleasure, when she at last changed out of her school robes and dumped herself on the bed. Mine, her gleeful mind rubbed their hands in ecstasy, all mine. Then she fell asleep.

A/N: Well, that was a very long almost 10 pages worth of writing. Remember, to leave a review cause then I could update faster.