Why, hello again, my dear readers. I hadn't expected to come back to this story for a few more days. However, sitting here, drinking my coffee and eating my croissant at my favorite coffee shop (Anyone in Utah : Beans & Brews is sooo much better than Starbucks :D ) this Saturday morning, I find myself drawn back to our boys. (Partially thanks to my amazing reviewers.) I was astounded by the amount of traffic and interest simply the prologue of this little tale brought. I'm excited to continue!

totalizzyness, Megan, Elza, and LIGHTNSHADOWS: Thank you, thank you! Reviews are what make writers excited to write. You four are absolutely amazing. Elza, fantastic input. Trust me, you will see some of the things you suggested at some point. ;)

Also, thank you thank you to all who added Head Boy(s) to your favorites and story alerts! I hope I don't disappoint.

Characters owned by JKR, obviously.

x Sweetie x

Chapter One : Roommates

Draco paled the moment he opened the door to his rooms. He may be a Slytherin, but it didn't mean he enjoyed the harsh green and silver silks that were draped over every single surface. He shrugged off his school robes to reveal the simple white button up shirt he wore with his black slacks. He pondered, looking around the room as he unbuttoned his cuffs, rolling his sleeves up to his elbows. He glanced down at his forearm, noting the absence of the Dark Mark. It had disappeared the night of the final battle. Thank Merlin. He pulled out his wand and got to work, not bothering with his unpacking until he had fixed this disaster.

He transfigured the plain, four-post, wooden bed into something wrought-iron and elegant. The walls became a soft blue color, while his bedding changed to a mix of whites and creams. If someone had been watching him, they would have been astounded at the relaxed stance he'd taken. His lips were set in a small smile as he worked. The torches on the walls dimmed to a more acceptable shine. He added a small desk against one wall and a sketching easel near the window. The curtains over the small window in his quarters lengthened to the floor and became white and slightly transparent. He could just make out the varying shades of the setting sun through the filmy fabric. It wasn't one hundred per cent better, but it was a start.

He turned his attentions to his trunk, spelling it empty. His clothing and robes found homes in his chest of drawers and his closet. His books piled themselves neatly on his desk and his spare parchment and quills slid into its drawers. He then levitated his trunk to the end of his bed and settled himself on the edge of it, looking around the room. He nodded once at his progress. It would do, for now. He cast a quick tempus charm, checking the time. He sighed when he realized how late it had gotten. No time to wind down, it seemed.

He pulled his sleeves down, buttoning them quickly, then threw his robes back on. He adjusted his Head Boy badge, proudly, then checked his reflection. Not a hair out of place. Very nice. He stared at himself in the mirror a moment. Had his eyes always looked so haunted? Had his lips always been so tight with stress or so torn from his bad habit of worrying them with his teeth? He took a deep breath to steady himself, straightened his robes, then opened his door, making his way down the stairs. He couldn't help but feel a flash of surprise once he reached the bottom and was once again in the common room. Harry was settled on the sofa, his spine straight and his shoulders tense.

The walls had been changed to a warm cinnamon color, while the battle tapestries had been removed. The sofas and chairs were a buttery, chocolate brown leather that looked like you could easily sink into them and read for hours comfortably. The fire was roaring in the hearth and the torches here had been dimmed as well. Harry's head snapped up when he heard Draco enter the room. "I couldn't stand the blasted room before. I.. er.. I hope this suits you, too, Malfoy," Harry started, obviously trying to be civil. Draco just smirked. "It'll do, I suppose, though it isn't to my usual… standard," he stated, looking down his nose at Harry. If Draco was honest with himself, he was actually quite impressed. It looked almost exactly like his personal library at home, minus the books. He wasn't about to reveal that to Potter, however.

Harry's eyes narrowed. He was trying. Why the bloody hell wasn't the Slytherin doing the same? He sighed almost imperceptibly. Draco settled himself, primly, on the chair closest to the fire. He was easily chilled and the warmth was welcome. They sat in an uncomfortable silence for a quarter of an hour before the Headmistress returned. The tension never eased from Harry's shoulders. He also noted that Malfoy's hands never unclenched. How the devil were they going to make it through the entire year living together? What had the castle been thinking?

"Now, Mr. Potter, Mr. Malfoy, it will also be your responsibility to supervise rounds, oversee the Prefect meetings, and aid any professor should they need it. Understood?" she continued as she spared a glance at them. Draco was glaring at the wall, not really paying attention to what Professor McGonagall was saying. Harry's cheeks were flushed, though with anger or embarrassment, she couldn't quite be sure. "Well?" she demanded. That seemed to snap them out of it. "Yes, Professor," both of the boys replied. "Need I remind you of the honor that Hogwarts has bestowed upon you? The list of Head Boys that have found themselves successful in adulthood is not a short one. We have Quidditch professionals, Potion Masters, world-famous Mediwizards-"

She continued on, but Harry blocked her out, letting his mind wander. His eyes met Draco's briefly. He looked amused, but only for a moment before his wall fell back into place. He sneered at Harry. Harry shook his head slightly, tuning in just as the Headmistress finished her speech. "This is your chance to make a name for yourselves, boys. I suggest you take full advantage." Harry chuckled, quickly covering it with a cough when he caught himself. Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy had already made names for themselves. He just wanted to live a normal life now, though he couldn't say the same about Malfoy. He probably loved the notoriety.

"What's so funny, Potter?" Draco demanded as soon as the Headmistress had left the room, though his voice lacked the usual venom. The relaxing ambiance of the room was having an effect on him. Harry blushed, keeping his eyes on the floor as he stood. He hadn't thought Malfoy or McGonagall had caught that. "Nothing," he mumbled. "Rounds, yeah? If we separate, we should get them done more quickly," he said a bit louder, trying to change the subject. Draco just looked at him, quite obviously annoyed. "You know as well as I do we have to do rounds together, Potter. Or were you too busy staring at me to listen to what McGonagall was saying?" he said with a laugh. Harry cheeks flushed even more as he stalked out of the room. 'Maybe this won't be so bad,' Draco thought to himself. 'I'll have even more of a chance to get under his skin this year.' He followed Harry through the portrait hole, and nearly ran into him since the daft bastard had stopped just outside the opening.

"Let's get this over with, Malfoy. I want to go to bed.," Harry said, while walking down the hall. First stop was the library to make sure no one was out of their beds and hiding in the aisles. He didn't know what had Draco looking so pleased, but it wouldn't mean good things for him, he was sure. He was even more irritated that he had to lengthen his stride to keep up with the other boy. Draco had always been taller than him, but he was bound and determined not to make him wait for him. He wouldn't be the one to slow them down.

The remainder of their trek around the castle was uneventful. Even that was an extreme step forward. Neither one of them had hexed, insulted, annoyed, or otherwise pestered the other. They simply walked in silence. An uncomfortable silence, but silence nonetheless. Once they made their way back to the portrait, Harry was dead on his feet. He was still having nightmares about the war, so he hadn't been sleeping well. He spared Draco a single glance before turning and walking up the stairs without a single word. Draco simply shook his head and followed behind him, heading up to his own room.

Harry burrowed into his bed deeply. He really would have to do something about his room sometime or another. Everything was draped in red and gold. It was obnoxious. How was anyone supposed to get sleep in a room like this? He shut his eyes tightly, attempting all the tricks in the book. He counted sheep, he did arithmetic in his head, he quoted Shakespeare's plays that he'd memorized. It was no use. His eyes slid open to the pale moonlight lighting up his room. He could make out the piles of clothes in the corner of his room where he'd tossed them, the haphazard pile of books on his desk, the gold, the red, the red, the gold…

"GAH!" Harry screamed, frustrated. The door connecting the bathroom to his room slammed open, banging into the wall hard. "What the bloody hell is going on with you, Potter?" Draco seethed. Harry's head shot up. "Er.. Malfoy… Umm, I didn't mean to wake you.," he stuttered, not knowing what to say with the Slytherin in his room. "Didn't mean to wake me? I'm a light sleeper as is, I don't need you bloody well screaming your damned head off at all hours of the night!" He stared at Harry briefly, his eyes flashing around the room in disgust. He stalked back through the bathroom, slamming the door on his way. Harry just shook his head. He cast a quick silencing charm before giving up and allowing the torches to relight themselves. If he couldn't sleep, he might as well make use of his time. He grabbed his wand and got to work.

Draco was up before the sun and was seated beside his window, sketching whatever came to his mind. He didn't pay much attention to the page as his charcoal pencil flew across it. He put it down as the sun started to rise. He conjured a window seat to rest beneath the window, and sat atop it, resting his arms on the windowsill. Sunrises were so peaceful. He always started the day watching it. 'New beginnings,' Draco thought to himself. He smiled wistfully as the colors started to fade, then began to gather his things for his morning shower.

Once in the bathroom, he slid out of his pajama pants, started the shower, and stepped under the spray. He let the steaming water pound against his back as it relaxed the tension from his muscles. He treated his hair with the special cleansing oils that Uncle Sev had given him for his birthday, then set to work washing the rest of his body. He made quick work of it, knowing that it was only a matter of time before the stubborn Gryffindor was awake and wanting his turn. He really would have to write to his father to complain about the foolish idea that he should share a bathroom. He would fix it. He stepped out of the shower and was just beginning to towel himself dry when he heard a sharp intake of breath from the other door.

Uh oh. Someone's going to be angry.

Enjoyed spending my Saturday with you, loves! Review, review, review and maybe I'll update tomorrow. ;)

x Sweetie x