Chapter Four

Hermione

Having the dorm to myself was quite nice, a luxury I didn't think I would have much of this year. I showered, changed into pj's, and curled up on the couch with some tea and the latest novel I was reading. After a day paired up with Malfoy, I needed an escape more than ever. I didn't realize I had fallen asleep until Draco came stumbling in, more than half drunk, scaring the piss out of me. I checked the clock and it said 1:00 in the morning. I was rather amused that it was only the first day and he had messed up this badly.

"What are you looking at, Granger?"

"Nothing exciting, really."

"Oh, piss off. I'm going to bed."

"Good for you, Malfoy. Good for you." I half chuckled as he made his way, teetering, up the small staircase to his room. I bet he would feel that when he woke up.

The next morning, I actually pitied Malfoy for how bad his hangover looked. We were allowed to make any potion from the first chapter of the book, and I mentioned the one that cured hangovers was in there. He simply glared at me in response.

"Seriously, Malfoy, I have to deal with you for the rest of the day, and if you're even more of a miserable prick than usual, I don't know if I can handle it. It's going to be quite quick to make, so you can take some soon."

"Whatever, Granger, so long as it gets you to shut up."

Half an hour later, a sickeningly yellow colored potion sat in our cauldron waiting for inspection. Once it was approved, I pulled a vial out of my bag and put some of the potion in there before handing it to Malfoy. He begrudgingly took it, and I put the rest into three other bottles. We were given the okay to leave since we were once again finished early, and we ran into Professor McGonagall in the hallway.

"Ah, good. I was just coming to get you two. You're getting your first assignment from Dumbledore, and he wanted me to get you out of class so he could explain it to you. If you'll follow me, we're heading up to his office."

The three of us walked in silence until we reached his office. He welcomed us in before McGonagall could knock, and Malfoy and I took a seat across the desk from him.

"How are the two of you doing? Is the dorm to your liking?"

"It would be better if we weren't sharing it," Malfoy muttered.

"Oh, it can't be that bad. There's plenty of space so that neither of you would have to see each other if you didn't want to. I hate to say that you will have to spend a little bit of time together in order to complete the task I'm giving you now. I would like to host a Halloween Ball, and I would like the two of you to plan it," Dumbledore announced proudly.

The silence was palpable. I think, for once, Draco and I agreed on something: that Dumbledore had lost it.

"We think it would be a good idea to give the students something to liven them up. After… well, after such a terrible summer, we all deserve it. I know with your organizational skills, Miss Granger, and your good taste, Mr. Malfoy, I think it would be well worth it to have the both of you do this. I know it will be a… a struggle, but we have the utmost confidence in you," McGonagall said, breaking the silence.

"When do you need the plans by? And is there a budget that we should be worried about?" I asked, figuring I'd just bite the bullet.

"By the end of the week, Sunday night at the latest. And as for budget, I think a party celebrating the end of a war that has gone on for too long should have no bounds," Dumbledore said, smiling that damned smile of his.

"If your plan gets approved," McGonagall began in her business tone, "You will have one week to gather samples of the fabric, lighting, and other things, or at least detailed drawings of the objects. Once that is done, you will work with the prefects and one other person from each house to get the designing done. You will have to delegate tasks and keep them in control. I'm hoping by this point, you will stop going at each other's throats. You will also have to organize trips to Hogsmead to shop for the things you need in order to pull this off and for students to get their costumes if they so wish. Are there any questions?"

"Is there anything off limits?" Malfoy asked, which surprised me.

"Well, keep it school appropriate. No alcohol, no nudity, no profanities spray painted everywhere… And don't make it too scary. We want it to be enjoyable, not horrifying."

"I'm looking forward to see what the both of you come up with," Dumbledore smiled at us again. "I hope it all goes well with you."

"Thank you, Headmaster, Professor. Was there anything else?" I asked, eager to get the ideas I had in my head down on paper as soon as I could.

"Nope, that's all. You both can go."

As we left the office and headed to our next class, I finally broke the silence, "Malfoy, when should we work on this? You have the busier schedule, so I can really work around whatever you have planned…"

"I forgot you had so little of a life. I don't want to work on this with you at all, so I'm debating if we should have short meetings over the course of a couple days, or bite the bullet and get as much done as we can in one night."

"We may as well stick with that last option. Once ideas start, sometimes it's harder to stop them. It would also be easier scheduling time out of the rest of our schedules if we could just take one day and get it done…"

"Whatever, Granger."

"What night?"

"Let's get it done tonight. Anything goes wrong, we still have the rest of the time to get it done."

"Very well. I'll meet you in the dorm after diner then."

"Make it around 8:00. I have a house call to make. There's this 6th year in my house who won't stop giving me puppy eyes. I think I'd rather see her face in a different light…"

"You're disgusting. Whatever. I'll be in the dorm, you can come back whenever the hell you want."

"What? Don't like hearing about my conquests? Is it because poor little Granger isn't getting any?"

"Piss off, Malfoy. You aren't even worth my time," I said before making an abrupt right turn down a hallway that would take me around to my class the long way. I was really grateful that he decided not to follow me. Who did he think he was? Just because I hadn't slept with anyone... He was an asshole for even bringing up sex in the first place. That perverted, low life, piece of scum…