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Chapter Eighteen: Getting kick started.

Hermione barely registered as he read off the names. Male first then female. Though as they got closer to M she paid more attention-and just in time to.

"Neville Longbottom and Luna Lovegood…" Everyone clapped as per usual before going silent for the next name. Hermione started to hyperventilate as he carried on. She glanced at Malfoy and saw him smiling softly at her but she resolutely turned away again and stared forward. Everyone was startled when the Minister frowned in confusion apparently, "Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger."

There was a buzz of whispers as they went to sit as they had been told, no one clapped, they just stared. Then the Minister went on. Hermione noted Harry and Ginny and Ron and Lavender stayed together. It ended with Blaise and Pansy but everyone knew that, with Blaise being a Veela and Pansy his Mate, "Now you will be shown to your rooms. To make this easier we have given each couple a dormitory to themselves."

"Follow me." McGonagall called over the hum of students and everyone got up and left, "Mr Malfoy, Miss Granger a word!"

"Yes Professor." Malfoy said first as Hermione trailed behind.

"Your room is the same but altered so you may go there now."

"Certainly Professor." He nodded before turning to Hermione, "Coming?"

"Have I any choice?" She snapped and stormed off.

Hermione got to their common room first and noticed a small kitchenette was just off to the side but otherwise it was unchanged. Narrowing her eyes she wandered up the stairs. Still two rooms. Poking her head in her room she gasped.

It was bare! All her things gone. It was whitewashed and scrubbed like they were going to decorate. Feeling faint she stumbled to Malfoy's room and opened the door. She stepped back away from it and bumped into Malfoy who held her so she wouldn't fall.

"Everything alright?" He whispered having not seen his room yet.

"The room." She gaped and pushed the door open again and she heard him chuckle, "This is not happening." She hissed breaking from his grip and opening the wardrobe and drawers which now held both their clothes. A mixture of their things was dotted around.

"It was going to happen eventually." Malfoy shrugged and sat on the bed. The king sized double bed! Hermione scowled, no way was she sharing a bed with him. That was that. She would sleep on the couch or she'd make him sleep on the couch. Liking that idea, she continued to stare at the bed, then to Malfoy, before looking away, aware of what could happen.

"I hope you know you'll be on the couch tonight and every night after that."

"Really? Because I'm pretty sure this is supposed to be both our beds, not just yours."

"I am not sharing a bed with you." She told him sternly.

"Come on Granger, grow up, it's not that bad."

"With you, yes, it is." She narrowed her eyes and stared at the door.

"I wouldn't be like that, I respect you Granger, and I would never do that." He easily drew the conclusion from her mind and seemed to want to reassure her.

"I'm not risking it." She murmured.

"I wouldn't." He stormed and pushed off the bed and stood in front of her.

"I'm going." She told him and walked to the door.

"Granger, its breakfast, come eat with me."

"No." She shook her head and walked out.

"Granger." He followed her downstairs.

"Leave me alone Malfoy!"

"Will you just calm down and talk properly to me."

"No…hi Pansy, Blaise." She greeted them when she opened the door and let them in, "Talk to them."

"Ugh." He moaned as she slammed the door behind herself.

"Still no progress?" Blaise asked.

"What do you think?" He scowled and sat in the chair.

"She'll come around Draco, give her time."

"I am trying but the whole marriage law thing is screwing everything up."

"So I guess she saw the room?"

"Yes, and she told me I had to sleep on the couch because she didn't trust me." He buried his face in his hands.

"Bloody hell." Blaise mumbled.

"Shut up." Pansy hissed at him before turning back to Draco, "She's going to be wary of you, she just needs to get used to the idea."

"But she doesn't need to be wary; I won't do anything to her." He sighed.

"Look, you're a Veela, she knows what you'll ultimately want and she clearly isn't ready for that right now."

"Yes, but when will she be ready, two days, two weeks, two months, two years." He fretted.

"For goodness sake, this is ridiculous; I'll talk to her tonight." Pansy huffed.

"You will?" He looked up at her.

"Yes, I will not let you suffer, you're like my brother and you helped me, I will repay that debt." She said resolutely.

"Thank you Pansy." He sighed, "How can I thank you?"

"Stop being a miserable git, it's not you." She smirked, one to rival his own.

"Fine." He agreed.

"Now we are going to go eat breakfast because I am starving."

"Okay."

"Coming." Blaise nodded and the three Slytherins walked out.

"So what's your room like?" Draco asked politely.

"Like yours but only green and silver." Pansy smiled, "Not blasted red and gold."

"Lucky sods."

"You know most couples are taking this well." Blaise remarked as they passed people in the Great Hall.

"Lucky them." Draco hissed sitting down.

"Granger's not here." Pansy whispered glancing around the other tables.

"What?" Draco scanned the room too and drew the same conclusion.

"I wonder where she's gone."

"When does the library normally open?"

"Eight, I think." Blaise frowned.

"What time is it?"

"Eight oh three."

"She's at the library."

"How'd you know that?"

"When in doubt, she goes to the library." He shrugged, "I noticed that whenever she and her friends are arguing or she's confused, she goes there. Plus Potter and Weasley are always saying that when she disappears. I think it's her motto."

"Of course it is."

"You always said your Mate had to be smart." Pansy whispered.

"I don't know if I regret that statement now, if she was dumb she would just go along with this."

"It could be a good thing she's smart."

"How?"

"She's probably researching you right now; it might help her understand better."

"I hope so." He groused as he reached for some toast.