AN: Characters belong to JK Rowling :(
Hope the changes to the last chapter, explain things a bit more, here's the next one...
Chapter Eight - Hogwarts
Draco and Severus were sitting eating lunch in the kitchen at Grimmauld Place.
"How's the rebuilding going?" Draco asked
"Well, we should have the majority finished by the time school starts." Snape replied.
Draco smiled, he was actually looking forward to going back. He'd always felt calm at Hogwarts, although he wasn't totally sure what reception he would get this year and that was making him a little uneasy.
"Draco, this next year might be just as hard as the last year, I'm not going to lie and say that its going to be easy, but you're strong, you can deal with it, and remember you won't be dealing with it alone".
Draco nodded
"And I just wanted you to know how proud I am that you made Head Boy, and I know your mother would have been too."
Draco smiled, "I notice you didn't mention the bastard".
Snape looked down and said "Draco about your father, I'm sor.."
"Don't you dare apologise for killing him. He wouldn't have thought twice about killing me, or my mother for that matter. I'm glad he's dead, my life is better without him".
The pair looked at each other, and Severus could see the look of total honesty in Draco's eyes.
Before the conversation could go any further, Hermione entered the kitchen, and was a little surprised to see Snape there.
"Miss Granger"
"Professor. Um I'll just grab a cup of tea and leave you both to it".
"Why don't you join us" Snape asked "I have an offer for Draco, and you".
Draco and Hermione's eyes met, and they shared a confused look. Hermione made her tea and sat down at the table next to Draco.
"As you know the teachers and staff are currently rebuilding Hogwarts, with some other help. Professor McGonagall and I spoke with Professor Dumbledore, and wondered if our Head Boy and Head Girl would like to come back to school early and help with this process. We felt it would be better for you that sitting around here all day, especially as your supposed guardian is out galavanting".
Hermione sniffed a giggle, as Snape and Sirius still hated each other, although he had a point. Since the end of the war, when Sirius had been cleared, he had been out and about enjoying every second of his new found freedom. He was presently on holiday with Harry and Ginny, spending some quality time with his Godson.
"I'd love to head back to Hogwarts" Hermione said, with more joy in her voice than Draco had heard in a while.
"Well I'm not staying here on my own" he answered
"In that case, I will let Professor Dumbledore know that you will be returning."
"How soon can we come" Hermione asked.
"Tonight, if you wanted. The Head's Dormitory is virtually finished, and I don't see why you both can't be involved in the final decoration" Snape replied.
Both Hermione and Draco nodded.
Snape stood up, "I suggest you start packing, and just floo to the Headmaster's Office after 6pm", he said before stepping into the floo himself.
Draco and Hermione sat there for a few minutes, before either of them spoke.
"So it looks like we will be still living together then" Draco said, looking at Hermione. She nodded.
"Draco, um, would you mind if we kept the Head's Dormitory just for us. Its just its actually been quite nice here, well the peace and quiet of being here. Does that make sense?"
They were looking at each other, which seemed to be happening more and more. Conversations where they actually looked at each other, and didn't exchange any insults.
"I don't think I'll be getting that many visitors, in fact having somewhere to hide might be quite useful" he smiled.
"You really think people will want to hurt you?" she asked, looking concerned.
"I don't expect a warm reception from many people. I was an bastard to most of them for 6 years, and those that I did hang out with now see me as a traitor. I don't think its going to be a fun year with lots of friends, put it that way."
Hermione nodded, and the pair fell into silence for a few minutes, before Hermione stood, and said, "I'm going to pack", and left the room.
Draco followed not long after.
At 6pm, they were both standing at the floo, with their trunks packed. Kretcher was in the kitchen watching them. They had earlier told him they were leaving and he had seemed a little upset, as if he had enjoyed having company, other than the delightful portrait of Mrs Black. Hermione was sure that would change once Sirius returned.
Draco grabbed his trunk and floo'd to Hogwarts, followed by Hermione. The pair arrived in the Headmaster's Office to find Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape.
"Welcome back" Dumbledore greeted them, "Professor's Snape and McGonagall will show you to the Head's Dormitory and tomorrow I will explain how you can assist with the rebuilding of the school".
Together Draco and Hermione followed the Professors to a portrait on the 5th floor of the Astronomy Tower. It was a portrait of a snitch. Both Professors turned to face Draco and Hermione, as Professor McGonagall said "You both need to agree on the password. You will be the only two who know it, although the portrait will allow the Headmaster, and your Heads of House access."
The two nodded, as McGonagall continued, "now, the dormitory has been set up with the basics, you are each to decorate your own room, and the main living area must be decorated together. The charms you need are here" she concluded, handing Hermione a sheet of paper, before leaving with Professor Snape.
"So I guess we have to set a password?" Draco said "Any ideas?"
"Home" Hermione suggested
"I like it" Draco replied
They both turned and faced the portrait and together said "Home". The snitch flapped its wings, and the portrait swung open, and they walked in.
They came to a large living area, with a fireplace and small kitchenette. There were stairs at the back of the room that led to a second floor with three doors. They headed up the stairs and found two bedrooms on either side with a bathroom in the middle.
Hermione took the room on the right, and Draco the one on the left. Hermione still had the piece of paper in her hand from McGonagall and she read the spells. Hermione decided on a nice warm red for the walls, with a matching bedspread and curtains with a gold trim.
"Very Gryffindor" came a voice from behind her, and she turned to see Draco smirking in her door way.
"And I suppose yours is green and sliver" she replied, smirking back at him
"Well you have the spells, so currently its very plain" came the response as Draco walked in and took the paper from her hands, before walking out of the room. Hermione giggled and said a quick spell to unpack her trunk, before following Draco across the hall to his room.
Draco heard Hermione giggling behind him, as his room was indeed green and silver. He turned round and saw the smile on her face, "Very Slytherin" she responded.
Together they walked back into the hallway, "so what colour for the bathroom?" Hermione asked as they past the door. Draco opened it, and the pair saw the room for the first time. There was a bathtub as big as the one in the prefects bathroom, along with a huge shower on the opposite wall. The tub appeared to be marble, with the shower decked out in white tiles.
"Wow" Hermione muttered
"How about a nice blue?" Draco asked, Hermione nodded, and he muttered the spell. The walls turned a nice warm blue, that looked like a summer's sky.
"Now for downstairs" said Hermione turning and heading back down the stairs.
"Neutral colours I think" she said as she wandered around the room.
The walls suddenly turned a warm yellow colour, like a beautiful sunrise. Hermione turned to Draco and smiled, "I like it" she said.
Draco and Hermione spent the next few hours conjuring desks, chairs, bookcases, sofa's, rugs, cushions, and all of the furnishing that they would need, before collapsing on the sofa's next to the fire. There had been a few disagreements, but for the whole they had managed to complete the task without any major arguments.
"Well its looks better than when we started" Draco said
"Yeah, I think I'm going to like living in here" Hermione responded.
They smiled at each other, both feeling a sense of calm, and readiness for the next chapter of their life, whatever that would be.
AN: So this chapter is the start of their friendship and relationship, let me know what you think and then you'll find out what happens when all the other students return :)