Chapter 3

Professor McGonagall lead the way into the eighth year living quarters, her pointed hat brushing against the top of the passageway as she walked. Draco let Hermione go before him in a gentleman like way, before the passage sealed itself up behind them. Hermione was grateful for the coolness of the passage, and she ran her fingertips along the edge of the wall as she walked. The hallway opened into a large common room that was filled with purples and greens, which was common in the wizarding world. The green wasn't the Slytherin green; it was more forest like in shade.

The room was "L" shaped with the hallway opening into the first part. From the entrance you could see a homely decorated fireplace with little ornaments sitting on the mantle, which was to the right. The walls were filled with posters of quidditch teams and famous witches and wizards, with many portraits hung about too. There were clumps of couches and love seats strewn about the room with coffee tables and lamps that mismatched in a homely way throughout the main part. To the back of the room was big windows with window seats that showed off the landscape and the quidditch pitch in the distance. The floor was layered with different colors and patches of rugs that added warmth to the large room.

The second part of the "L" was entered via a large arch and was ornately decorated. Inside were four round tables with study lamps. There were books stacked on display cabinets lining the walls. Inside the cabinets were many objects, including some muggle trinkets. The area was clearly set up to be for the use of studying.

None of the three said much as they looked around, occasionally giving compliments to the room. They were spread out far from each other, but once they had uncovered what there was to see, they met at the end of the "L" where the study area was, and McGonagall stood with her back to three passageways.

"These areas are the girls and boys dormitories, along with a passage that leads to separate gender bathrooms. It's charmed so that neither gender can enter, because I know what you nineteen year olds are interested in these day," she said, a smirk on her lips. "Now there are no rules against… frolicking, per se. But we will try to dissuade it. Every male will share one dorm, and every female will be together in the other. The rooms will accommodate for how many students sign up to return. We have already had everyone in Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw request admittance. Of Gryffindor we have Miss Patil, Mr. Finnigan and Mr. Thomas. From Slytherin there will be Misses Bullstrode, Parkinson and Greengrass. The only male returning will be Mr. Zambini. So that's about 35 or so, which is a decent size. I must say I am proud of how many have wanted to return."

"That is a decent amount, isn't it?" Hermione remarked. They didn't make a move to have a look down the passages, knowing there wouldn't be much to see. She leant on the edge of the table watching what McGonagall was doing. Draco leant beside her and their elbows touched. He was cool to the touch, despite his suit in this heat. He'd taken off his jacket back in his common room before leaving and had rolled the black sleeves of his dress shirt up. Minerva flicked her wand and opened the wall of windows, as a slight breeze had picked up bringing the cool air off the lake inside.

Unbeknown to them, McGonagall was taking in the new way the two were interacting. She had not expected the two of them to get along so well, and had expected a harsher atmosphere. She had doubted their ability to lead the school in house unity, but was glad she had asked Draco to let Hermione in today. She needed the two of them to cooperate.

"Now, you two have your own separate wing off the main common room that is for your own personal use. You are not permitted to have more than one guest each into your common areas. If you'll follow me…"

She walked over to a hanging fern in the far corner (the fern was clearly magical because the branches swayed despite there being a breeze). This time she reached up and gave a light tug and the ceiling descended, revealing a spiral staircase. "These are your quarters, however I have to attend to other matters. I'll be contactable via patronus if you need me. Oh, and I would prefer to have you both break the room in now, so house elves have brought your luggage from your old dorms into the ones upstairs."

As soon as she showed them how to get in, she left and Draco and Hermione were alone, standing behind awkwardly not entirely sure what to do with themselves. They might have a friendship pact, but that didn't mean they magically knew how to get along.

"After you?" Draco asked Hermione, placing one hand on the small of her back, gesturing towards the stairs with his other hand. Hermione offered a small smile as a blush grew on her face and ascended the stairs cautiously.

Their private living room was decorated much the same as the common room below. A small potbelly fireplace sat in the corner, with two loveseats facing it. The floor was covered with rugs, and the walls with portraits. There was only one round table that was smaller and had two pretty lamps light on them. Windows surrounded the room, and the sun could be seen falling lower across the horizon, casting long shadows. Hermione thought of what it would be like to show Ron the romantic view, and shook her head. Ron didn't like romanticism.

She stood close to Draco, and noticed again the sickly pallor of his skin. She thought about asking him about it, they were friends now, were they not? But she decided against it. The sunset was far to idealistic, and could make the situation and the electrical contact hard to control. She turned her gaze around the room, drinking in her now home.

Draco turned to her and couldn't help notice that despite her bushy, uncontrollable hair, Hermione looked beautiful in the light cast by the sun. She wasn't looking at him, he thanked Merlin for; he didn't know if he could contain how he wanted to touch her again. He padded away from her, over to the only part of the room that wasn't covered with windows but instead a door.

Behind the door another staircase led upstairs, the only exit from the room. Clearly this was where they slept. He mounted the stairs and heard Hermione's quiet steps behind him. The stairs continued upwards, but he stopped at a side door. It opened out into another round room that was basking in the sunset. The room was open with many windows dressed in sheer white curtains. Draco hooked a finger into his collar, trying to loosen his tie. It was the bathroom. It was immaculate. It was shared.

"Well, looks like we are most definitely shacking up together Granger," he muttered, looking around the pristine bathroom. It was fitted with a double basin, a pool sized bathtub (like the Prefects bathroom), an open shower that was really just a faucet on a wall, and a toilet.

"Oh, wow," she breathed quietly. She ignored how her heart raced a little at what Draco said; she wrote it off as nervousness due to sharing a bathroom with a man. It could have been anyone and she would have had the same reaction. "Do you prefer morning or evening showers?" she asked seriously.

Draco outright laughed at the serious look on her face. "Really Granger? That's what you're most concerned about? My showering habits?"

"Well, I'm an only child. I've never shared a bathroom with a man before," she bubbled, her Gryffindor bravery fading away. She was definitely not experienced in this. "I'd prefer not to run into you indisposed." Her gaze fluttered over him body before she quickly looked away. She felt hot, and it wasn't because of the weather.

"My my Granger, aren't we the little innocent," he grinned, shoving his hands in his pockets.

"I take pride in my purity, Malfoy," she asserted, lifting her chin. She was challenging him.

"Well, you wouldn't be you it you didn't, now would you?" he badgered, mirth in his eyes. "I shower in the evenings, after quidditch practice."

"Perfect, I shower mornings," she stated matter-of-factly. She moved back to the door and walked up the stairs further. "Coming?"

He followed behind her seamlessly for someone who looked as ill as he did. At the top of the stairs was another white-sheered covered window, along with two doors. The door on the left had Hermione's initials engraved in cursive on the door, the one on the right showed Draco's. "Let's open on the count of three shall we?" Hermione smiled; she was excited to see how McGonagall had decorated her quarters. Draco smirked sarcastically and rested his hand on the handle. "One… two… three!"

They swung open their doors and looked inside eagerly. The rooms were immaculate. They both housed four-poster beds with drapes. They had a wardrobe and side tables, with a small bookshelf on the wall. At the foot of their beds were their trunks. The rooms were identical semi-circles, aside from the colors. Hermione's was adorned in brilliant golden colors, with one red cushion in the center of the bed. Draco mirrored hers, with silver drapes and decals, and one emerald cushion in the center of his bed. Hanging from hooks on the walls were their rucksacks, robes and winter scarfs. The house elves had done the hard work for them and unpacked.

Hermione grinned a huge toothy grin and exchanged the look with Draco, who merely smirked, hands still in his pockets, always the "cool guy". "This is excellent! I love it! Do you like yours?" she asked.

Draco lifted one shoulder, shrugging. "It'll do," he teased, watching her take in his arrogant body language. "I like the privacy better than listening to Goyle's snoring."

"Well that's always a plus," she retorted swiftly. "Do you know what time it is?"

Draco rolled his eyes and looked at his empty wrist. "Oh, would you look at that? Must be idiot-o'clock."

Hermione rolled her eyes right back and took off down the stairs hurriedly. "I'm hungry!" she called over her shoulder.

He followed at a much slower pace. He liked this new friendship he had going. She surprised him. Hermione was not the big-toothed princess he thought he knew. There was more to her character. She cared for others, and wasn't prejudiced against those who mistreated her. She was mature; she forgave and moved on. She brought a joy to mundane activities like looking at the merpeople's war. He didn't want to think about what the other people in his house would think when they saw their blossoming friendship. But that's the thing; Draco had never had a friend like Hermione. Granted they were only new found friends, but he was glad she was a Gryffindor, believe it or not. She had the courage he lacked; he had the cunningness she lacked. A well-balanced friendship was beginning, and he couldn't wait to see where it will go.

"Wait for me, Granger," he muttered, taking the stairs casually but swiftly behind her, fixing his sleeves as he walked. "Don't go leaving me behind."

Authors note: The next chapter will have some new POVs, so I can't wait to see what you think! Love Kathryn