Disclaimer ~ All characters are the property of J K Rowling
A.N. ~ I hope that you all enjoy this chapter. If you know anyone who enjoys Dramione and may like this story please tell them all about it.
The great hall boomed with the sound of applause as the last student was sorted into their house and Dumbledore stood to give his usual speech.
"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I don't want to keep you all from the feast awaiting you so I will make this quick. As always the Forbidden Forest is just that... forbidden, so please do not venture into it if you do not wish to die a most painful death. On a happier note let us all congratulate our newest Head Boy, Draco Malfoy and Head Girl Hermione Granger." Everyone cheered as the two stood up from their seats. "I'm sure they will make us proud. Now then, let the feast begin.
Hermione sat back down as the table filled with food. She looked around at her friends but no one really even acknowledged her presence. It seemed as if everyone had hooked up this past summer. Harry and Ginny. Ron and Lavender. Even Neville had started dating Luna. Hermione thought back to the talk she and Ron had after the prefect meeting.
He was waiting for her after she had finished giving the new prefects their duties.
"Hermione. Can we talk?" Ron asked. Hermione looked at him and nodded. She needed to know what happened. She needed to know why he gave up on them before they had even started. He looked down at the floor and took a deep breath before looking back up at her. "Look Hermione. I know that we said we would give us a try this year and I was honestly looking forward to it. I've had feelings for you since fourth year and I always thought that it was love, real love. A week after school ended I was helping out George and Fred at the shop when Lavender came in. She seemed so different, so sad. I had never seen her look so empty before. I asked her what was wrong and found out that her parents had been killed the day before school ended. Death-eaters killed them when they refused to join the cause." Hermione gasped when she heard this. Even though she and Lavender weren't friends she did know how much she loved her parents. Hermione couldn't imagine what it would be like to lose her mum and dad. "We started hanging out, I was just trying to cheer her up, you know, but then things changed. I found myself wanting more then just friendship from her. She wasn't the same Lavender, she was different and I found myself falling for her. I love you Hermione, I do, but I don't think its that type of love. I'm sorry. I hope that we can still be friends though." Hermione just nodded as he walked off, leaving her there, heart broken.
Now it seemed as if everyone had someone and had no need for her anymore. She listened as they all discussed upcoming Hogsmeade trips and possibly all going together. Hermione sighed and looked around the great hall, stopping when her eyes landed on the Slytherin table and a certain blond haired ferret. Hermione was so shocked earlier that she really didn't have a chance to really look at him. He had gotten slightly taller, maybe by three or four inches, and even in his robes you could tell that years of quidditch training had given him a toned, muscular body. His hair was longer and instead of the slicked back look that he was known for, he was wearing it loose, letting pieces of it fall over his eyes. His eyes. Hermione thought. She would never admit it out loud but she had always thought that he had the most beautiful eyes she had ever seen. There weren't many people who had that steel grey color, which darkened when he was angry. Hermione couldn't help but think he was good looking, after all, even though he was a foul mouth prat she was still a woman and as such her hormones let themselves be known.
"Hermione!" Hermione was startled by the sound of Ginny's voice, calling her name. She looked up and noticed that the great hall was starting to empty with the fifth and sixth year prefects escorting the houses to their dormitories. Ginny, Harry, Ron, and Lavender were all standing there, staring at her. "Are you coming Mione?"
"Actually, I have to wait for Professor Dumbledore to show me and Malfoy to the heads dormitory." They all looked at one another confused.
"What are you talking about Hermione? The heads have always stayed in separate quarters in their own house." Harry said. Hermione shook her head.
"Not this year Harry. Since Malfoy and I are from different houses, we will be living in a separate dorm, with our own rooms and common room."
"Like hell you are!" Hermione looked up to see a red faced, furious looking Ron. "Is Dumbledore off his rocker? There is no way in bloody hell we are going to allow this Mione! Isn't that right Harry?" Harry nodded, his face showing the same fury as Ron. Hermione stood up and just glared at them.
"You're not going to allow it! What in the hell makes you think you have any say in the matter Ronald! Or you Harry! If Dumbledore wants me to live with Malfoy, then I will live with Malfoy!" Ron's eyes widened at her out burst. Harry stepped forward.
"Mione, its Malfoy! We don't want to see anything happen to you. You're our best..." Hermione cut him off.
"Friend! Is that what you were about to say? Because the last time I checked friends didn't ignore each other! Friends don't treat you like you are invisible! Friends don't treat your feelings as if they mean nothing." Making sure to look at Ron as she said that one. They all just stared at her, not one of them having anything to say back. Hermione crossed her arms in front of her. "Thats what I thought. Now if you'll excuse me I have to go see the professor." She turned on her heel and walked away from them, leaving them staring at her.
Draco was sitting at the Slytherin table talking to Blaise when he noticed the argument going on at the Gryffindor's table.
"Wonder what thats all about?" Blaise said."The Golden Trio at odds with one another. I never thought I would see it happen." Draco watched for a minute more before shrugging and turning back to Blaise.
"If it means I don't have to deal with them in my common room, then I'm all for it." Draco replied. Blaise let out a chuckle.
"I can't believe you have to spend the whole last year living with Granger of all people. How will you survive it?" Draco just rolled his eyes at him, before glancing over at Hermione. He had been quite surprised when she had first walked into the heads compartment earlier that day, and not because she hexed him. Hell he expected that. No it was because of how much she had changed over the holiday. She had finally learned to tame her bushy, brown hair, and she had filled out in all the right areas. She also seemed to have started dressing more feminine, letting her clothes cling to her curves, not afraid to show them. He had to admit that she looked quite lovely, and if she wasn't an uptight, bossy know-it-all with a stick shoved up her ass, he might actually take a go at her. He no longer cared about the fact that she was muggle-born. After Voldemort turned on his family he had started to really think about what he had been brought up to believe in and it just didn't make sense. After all, Granger was the top student and was considered the smartest and most clever witch of their time. If being muggle-born truly made you inferior to pure-bloods then how would that be possible. Also if half-bloods and muggle-borns were so bad then why were his father and the other death eaters blindly following one. This was why Draco took a chance and told Dumbledore of the task he was given. The task to help get the death eaters into the school and to kill Dumbledore. Of course Dumbledore had already known about what he had been asked to, most likely told by Snape. He remembered that night last year when he finally went to tell the headmaster.
It was late, after midnight, when Draco headed towards the headmaster's office. He had once again been awakened by one of the numerous nightmares he had been suffering since first receiving his task. He knew what he had to do. Knew that the headmaster would make sure nothing happened to his mother, who Voldemort threatened to kill if he failed. As he approached the headmaster's office he noticed that the gargoyle statue was already moving and allowing him entrance. He slowly walked up the spiral stone staircase and stopped in front of a polished oak door that had a brass knocker in the shape of a griffin. Before he could knock, the door started to slowly open and he heard the headmaster's voice.
"Come in Mr. Malfoy." He walked into the circular room whose walls were covered with portraits of previous Headmasters and Headmistresses. "What brings you here at such a late hour Mr. Malfoy?" Draco looked over to see the headmaster sitting behind an enormous, claw-footed desk.
"I need your help professor." Draco said. Dumbledore stood up and came around the desk, walking towards him and motioning for him to sit in one of the big, plush black chairs in front of him.
"It must be of great importance, if it could not wait until morning." Draco nodded as he sat down and watched as the professor sat across from him. "Could this have anything to do with the tasks you have been given?" Draco looked up startled. "I know many things Mr. Malfoy. More then you can imagine." Draco looked down at his hands and took a deep breath.
"So then you know. The Dark Lord has asked me to help the death eaters gain entrance to the school and then I am supposed to kill you. If I don't, he will kill my mother." Dumbledore nodded his head in understanding.
"Well then. We can not allow that to happen, but you must tell me everything, Mr. Malfoy." Draco nodded and proceeded to tell Dumbledore all of his plans. He told him about repairing the vanishing cabinet in the Room of Requirement so that the death eaters could enter from Borgin & Burkes vanishing cabinet and when they were planning the attack. When he was done telling him everything he knew, Dumbledore stood up walked over to him. Offering his hand.
"Thank you for your honesty Draco. Believe me when I say that both the Order and myself will make sure that your mother is safe and that this all ends for the best."
And Dumbledore was true to his word. He, members of the Order, and most of the professors had worked together to set a trap and end Voldemorts reign of terror. They also made sure to get his mother to safety before anything could happen to her.
"Its time to go Draco." Draco looked up at Blaise who was getting up to leave. He glanced over and noticed Hermione stalking away from the rest of the Gryffindorks. Draco stood up straightened out his robes and followed her over to the headmaster.
"Ah. Miss Granger, Mr. Malfoy. I understand that you had quite the reunion aboard the train this morning." Draco smirked as he watched Hermione turn a bright shade of pink. "Whats done is done though and now we must move on. Before I have Severus and Minerva show you to your dormitory, I would like to inform you that we have already decided on the first social event of the year. We will be having a Halloween costume ball on October 31st. It will be up to the two of you to plan the event and of course you have the help of the prefects too. You will need to plan decorations, food, entertainment, and make sure all rules are in place concerning curfews. Also you will make the choice of whether the students costumes are chosen by them or if we use the Jack O' Cauldron." Hermione and Draco glanced at each other before looking back at the headmaster.
"I'm sorry sir. The Jack O' what?" Hermione asked. Dumbledore smiled at her.
"The Jack O'Cauldron Miss Granger. You see back when I was a student there was a young witch by the name of Rianon Liberts. She was one of Ravenclaws brightest students and she was always trying to solve other students problems. One day she heard a few of her fellow female students discussing the upcoming Halloween dance and how they were having a hard time choosing their costumes, each of them hoping no one would choose the same one as them. Wanting to help, Rianon created the Jack O'Cauldron." Dumbledore flicked his wand and two extremely long pieces of parchment appeared in his hand. "This is a list of every student here at Hogwarts and this is a list of every costume known to witches, wizards, and muggles. If you choose to use the Jack O'Cauldron both lists will be placed into it and it will choose which student gets which costume. On the day of the ball each students costume will appear on their bed and to make sure that no one knows who is who, the moment the student is fully ready they will be transported straight to the Great Hall for the ball. The cauldron provides everything the wearer will need for their costume including a mask to hide their identities." Hermione was quite excited about the Jack O'Cauldron. Not only would it mean not having to shop for a costume she would only wear once but it would be fun to see what the cauldron chose.
"I think the Jack O'Cauldron is a wonderful idea professor." She said.
"I hate to say it but I agree with Granger." Hermione looked at Draco shocked. Did Malfoy seriously just agree with me? Draco didn't miss the look. "Don't be so shocked Granger. This keeps psychotic females like Pansy from trying to get us men into matching costumes." He cringed thinking about the time Pansy tried to get him to be the Peter Pan to her Tinkerbell. Hermione rolled her eyes. Of course it would be something selfish that caused his agreement. Dumbledore clapped his hands together and smiled.
"Well then with that settled," he waved his wand and a giant cauldron that indeed looked like a jack o'lantern appeared. They watched as Dumbledore placed both pieces of parchment into it before flicking his wand again and sending it back to his office. "Now then, I hope to hear your plans for the rest of the ball soon. Ah Minerva, Severus. Just in time to show our new heads to their quarters. Have a wonderful evening." He said before turning and heading away to his office.
Hermione and Draco followed their house heads up to the fourth floor and down the long hallway, stopping in front of a portrait. The portrait had the silhouettes of a lion and a snake standing in front of Hogwarts. The professors turned and looked at their students.
"This is the entrance to your rooms. While you will both be able to open the portrait at any time by yourselves, this first time must be together." Professor McGonagall said.
"And why is that?" Draco asked rather rudely.
"Because of what this dormitory represents, Mr. Malfoy. The uniting of two houses, no matter how much they may hate one another." Professor Snape explained. "Now if you will both please stop wasting our time and say the password." Draco looked over at Hermione, who had already stepped in front of the portrait and was looking at him, waiting. She lift an eyebrow at him.
"Well?" Draco walked over and stood next to her making sure they didn't accidentally touch. She turned back to the portrait. "On three then. One, two, three."
"Unwavering Unity." They said together. They watched as the lion and snake bowed to them before opening up to reveal a short hallway. They followed the professors down the hallway and into what appeared to be there very large common room. Hermione was in awe of the beautiful room in front of her. The large room had light colored stone walls that were mostly hidden in rich colored tapestries and book cases, that were filled with books, including those that Hermione and Draco had brought. The room was decorated in neutral, warm colors. There was a large plush sofa and two matching chairs placed in front of an extremely large fireplace and a large throw rug depicting the Hogwarts crest covered the dark wooden floor. On the back wall was an archway that had a bookcase on each side of the opening. Next to each bookcase was a desk, one with the Slytherin crest sketched on it and the other with the Gryffindor crest. In the corner furthest away from the entrance was a small kitchenette and dining table with four chairs.
"Now then. Up those stairs you will find the entrances to your rooms. on the left and Miss Granger on the right. The door in the middle is to your shared bathroom. You also can enter the bathroom from your individual rooms. Now there are certain rules that pertain to living in these quarters. Number one. No one but the two of you is to know the password. While it is okay to invite guests to join you in your common room, we ask that you take in to consideration the fact that you do share this area with another person and that you inform them of any company that may come by." Professor McGonagall informed them.
"Also may I suggest that you keep your guests to a minimum. As Head Boy and Girl you have an example to set, and we are trusting that you will make wise decisions. Do not prove us wrong." Snape drawled in his monotone voice, before looking over at McGonagall. "I believe we are done here Minerva." Professor McGonagall nodded and followed Snape towards the entrance. She stopped and turned to look at them one more time. "Oh and Miss Granger, Mr. Malfoy. Once again congratulations. I know you will do well." Then she turned and left, the portrait shutting behind her, leaving Hermione and Draco alone.
Draco looked over at Hermione who was walking around and looking at everything in awe.
"It really is not that great Granger. My bedroom at home is bigger then this." Hermione glared at him.
"Well then why don't you go home and enjoy it, Malfoy. I'm sure daddy won't mind the wasted money he spent to get you back into Hogwarts." She paused for a moment. "Oh wait. Thats right, daddy dearest is in Azkaban, where he rightfully belongs. I guess your dear mummy must have made the bribe. It must be so nice to be able to buy your way in and out of everything." She turned to go up the stairs to check out her room when she felt her arm grabbed and she was turned and slammed up against the wall. Hermione looked up to see Draco glaring down at her, his grey eyes filled with anger.
"Don't you ever speak about my mother. You don't know anything about her or me for that matter. You keep your filthy, mudblood thoughts to yourself. Do you understand me Granger?" Hermione just stared at him, only causing Draco to get angrier. "Do! You! Understand!" He yelled in her face, shaking her out of her stupor, and causing her to nod her head quickly. Draco let go of a her and went up the stairs to his room, leaving a very shocked and shaken Hermione behind.
Hermione watched as Draco flew up the stairs and flinched at the sound of him slamming his door shut. She had seen him get angry before but this time was different. This time he was beyond furious, and she really couldn't blame him. True, Lucius Malfoy was a complete and total scum bag who deserved to be where he was right now but Hermione really didn't know much about his mother. I mean she had just assumed that anyone who would actually deal with someone like Lucius Malfoy, had to be just as horrible herself. It was quite obvious though that while Malfoy was scared of his father he loved his mother very much. I never knew Malfoy knew how to love." She stepped away from the wall and headed up the stairs coming to a stop in front of her door, which said HEAD GIRL in big bold letters. She opened the door and entered but not before casting a quick glance at the door across the hall from her. She shut her door and turned to look at the room she would be sleeping in for the next year. The room was quite beautiful, decorated in her house colors of red and gold. The room was quite large and had the same stone walls and wooden floor as the common room did. One wall had an antique gold, chest of drawers and matching vanity and chair. There was also a door that led to a decent size closet and one of two large windows that was covered by thick red drapes. On another wall was the other window and a large bed that seemed match the chest of drawers and vanity. It also was the antique gold and it was covered with a dark red comforter and many red and gold pillows and there was a small matching bedside cabinet next to it. Another another wall had a small fireplace and two sets of shelves to hold personal mementos, such as pictures. The last wall had two doors on it. One was the door she had entered through and the other led into their shared bathroom. Hermione walked into the bathroom. It was quite large holding a tub the size of a small pool, an enclosed shower, double sink, and toilet. There were shelves on both sides of the room both holding linens in red on Hermione's side and green on Draco's side. There was also empty shelves for their personal bath products. Hermione was thinking about how good a nice, hot bubble bath was sounding when the door to Draco's room opened. Hermione stared in shock as the slytherin walked in wearing nothing but a pair of dark green and silver boxers hanging low on his hips. She felt her breath catch as she took in his bare, chiseled chest, and muscular arms.
"Merlin Granger! Could you possibly stop drooling and get out so I can shower." Draco's voice pulled her out of her thoughts and she could feel her face turning bright red. She quickly turned and ran back into her room muttering a quick apology before slamming the door behind her and throwing herself face first onto her bed.
Holy mother of Merlin! I just ogled Malfoy! Malfoy just caught me ogling him. Hermione thought as she felt the embarrassment of her actions sink in even further and tears began to spill over. The perfectly worse ending to the worst day ever!
I hope you liked it. Please feel free to leave a review, they are always appreciated.