Chapter 10
Hermione and Draco both yelled from the doors opposite one another. This wasn't going to work. The pair ran out of their bedrooms and into the common room to complain to McGonagall and confess that things would not work out between them, but before they could, Hermione and Draco realized McGonagall was already gone.
"Damn! I knew that old bat was waiting to make a run for it," Draco cussed and kicked the fireplace.
Hermione sat at one of the corner of the table and held her head in her hands. What were they going to do? They'd throttle each other if they were left alone too long. She needed to make boundaries.
Hermione stood and brushed the hair from her face then crossed her arms, "Let's face it Malfoy, neither of us likes being with the other but there's no way we're going to back out, so the only option here is to put up with one another. The only way to do that is to set place some rules, right?"
Draco looked at her and rolled his eyes and huffed, "Yes I suppose."
"Alright. Then for starters. . . I call taking showers in the mornings!"
"What? You can't just 'call it' that's not fair!"
"Actually it is. First of all, ever hear the term 'Ladies first'? And second, you have Quidditch practices in the evenings; so wouldn't you rather shower after that."
Draco opened his mouth to disagree, but shut it when he realized Hermione was right.
"Fine," he growled.
Hermione's face lit up as he actually agreed to one of her rules.
"No coming in my room. Anything you see or hear in there is none of your business. If you decide to snoop then you'll look like a beaver again."
"Alright, but same goes for you." Hermione nodded.
"Good, and no coming in through the bathroom either." He smirked.
"Gross. Trust me, you won't have to worry about that."
They stood thinking next to the roaring fire of other rules to keep each other away.
"Oh speaking of bathroom, no coming in when I'm showering. I am to be covered, but that doesn't mean you can unlock the doors and come in. And no touching any of my stuff or hiding it." Hermione said pointedly.
Draco raised his eyebrows but none the less nodded in agreement. "Okay but this armchair is mine," he said pointing to the one on the right, closest to the portrait door.
Hermione looked at him like he was crazy and shrugged her shoulders, "Sure that one's all yours."
Draco smiled and sat down in his chair. Hermione sat in the other one closest to their rooms and began to brainstorm more ideas.
"Ah! I've got a good one: no changing the password to the portrait door and locking it without telling the other. And just like McGonagall said, no showing others where this room is located or letting them in." Hermione glared at Draco knowing he could have brought random girls up.
He grit his teeth but obliged.
"Another thing, if you make a mess you clean it up alright? I'm not your maid," Hermione said strictly.
"And I'm not yours," Draco retaliated.
They both chuckled silently as they pictured each other in a little maid's dress and a duster in hand.
"Oi! No mail reading either. I don't want you looking through any private letters." Draco said pointing at her sternly.
"Let's just make an overall agreement that neither of us looks through anything that isn't theirs."
"Fine with me."
"Good."
"Oooh and knocking is a must! No entering the bathroom or bedroom without knocking first or consent to come in."
"Yeah alright."
They sat quietly thinking of any rule that came to mind.
"I can't think of anymore," Draco said.
"Neither can I; it's a good list so far. We'll add anything if there's a certain incident or if something comes to mind."
"Okay, good with me."
"Alright then we have ourselves a deal then Malfoy?" Hermione asked standing then sticking out her.
Draco looked at her outstretched hand for a moment and settled for a nod instead. "We have a deal; but if either of us break it then they get unlimited hexes thrown at them."
"Deal," She said reeling her hand back.
"Good."
"Great."
"Alright well now that that's settled I'm going to unpack," Hermione said to no one in particular.
It was well past curfew and was nearly pitch black outside save for the stars twinkling in the night sky.
"Wait! Are we going to have our first meeting tomorrow with all the prefects? You know, to tell them all the rules and write up schedules?" Draco asked.
"Um I suppose we should. What time?"
"Noon possibly?"
"Yes alright, that should work."
Hermione walked to her bedroom and closed the door behind her and sighed. As she looked around she wasn't surprised to find all her belongings already unpacked; Hermione had only pretended to do such a thing to escape from the awkwardness in the common room with Malfoy.
She changed into her pajamas and walked to the bathroom. Hermione noticed her toothbrush and other bathroom essentials were neatly placed into a small drawer. She heard Draco open his door and shuffle around in his room. She brushed her teeth quickly and scurried back into her room, shutting the door behind her and locking it.
Hermione went to her bedroom door and with a swift wave of her wand she locked the door. As if on cue she heard Draco lock his door as well; both of them purposely making sure the other could hear the clicking a of the locks.
Just as an extra precaution Hermione enchanted her walls to keep all noise out and any noise she made in; mainly to keep her from dying of embarrassment if Draco ever heard her sleep talk or scream in one of her nightmares. Hopefully she wouldn't have any, all thanks to Madam Pomfrey and her dreamless sleep potion.
Hermione crawled into bed and let out a deep breath. She was finally home.
Sure she didn't feel the same comfort with an ex-Death Eater in the room next to her, or the absence of her fellow Gryffindor girls sleeping in the dormitory with her, but it was still Hogwarts. Part of her felt sad being back. It was the place where hundreds of great witches and wizards lost their lives.
People she knew. Friends she missed.
Hermione flicked her wand in defeat of trying to find comfort, shutting off the lights and plunging herself into complete darkness; and took a swig of the sleep potion on her bedside table. The effects were almost immediate. It tasted of cool water. Refreshing yet soothing, it was like drinking in a cloud. Her eyes slowly closed and her mind grew blank from all her previous thoughts until she was awake no more and fell fast asleep.
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Hermione woke the next morning with someone flicking her head. She shot her eyes open and bolted right up, ready to defend herself against the intruder.
It was Malfoy.
"What are you—" Hermione drew the covers up to her chin and began to yell angrily at the Slytherin.
Draco put up a hand to silence her, "I know I broke one of the rules, but breakfast ends in 15 minuets and our meeting with the prefects is in 20; so I figured I ought to let you have a chance to get ready."
Hermione opened her mouth but quickly shut it and narrowed her eyes. What did he care if she missed breakfast?
"Thank you," she mumbled, avoiding his face altogether.
"Yeah whatever Granger just hurry up," Draco disregarded and walked out the door, shutting it behind him.
Hermione looked in bewilderment at where he just left, however mentally slapped herself when she remembered that she was on a time crunch. She sprang from her bed and quickly changed her clothes, she would have no time for a shower. Hermione grabbed her wand and ran out of her room and through the portrait hole; nearly tripping down every other step towards the Great Hall.
Just before she entered, Hermione straighten her clothes and caught her breath, she walked to her normal spot where her, Harry, Ron, and Ginny normally sat and took a seat. Ron was nowhere to be seen.
"Good morning," Hermione said breathlessly.
Her two friends stared at her as she took scoops of the remaining breakfast dishes and slapped them on her plate.
"More like good afternoon," Harry said, the corner of his lips tugged up into a smile. "We thought you wouldn't show."
"Actually we thought Malfoy was up to something and was holding you captive and against your will," Ginny whispered so the Slytherins at the table next to them wouldn't hear.
"I just slept in late, that's all," Hermione said biting into a piece of toast. "It was actually sort of odd, this morning Malfoy woke me up, and yes before you yell at me Harry, I did lock my doors," Hermione said when he looked at her with crystal ball sized eyes. "He told me I had only a few minuets left of breakfast and to get ready for the prefect meeting."
Ginny raised her eyebrows and Harry frowned, suspicion and curiosity written all over their faces.
"Why would he to try to help you?" Harry asked.
"I haven't really figured that much out myself, however, all I know is that if he slips up then he's stripped of the Head Boy title and if it's real bad then Malfoy could be kicked out of Hogwarts so—"
"—so he's trying not to slip up." Harry said nodding slowly. "He has nowhere else to go if he can't stay here. He's got to play his part."
Hermione took a sip from her cup of tea and took what Harry said into consideration. Perhaps it could be that he has nowhere else to go.
As if he knew he were being talked about, Draco strutted into the Great Hall and walked along the length of the Gryffindors table and stopped where Hermione, Harry, and Ginny sat.
"Hello Pothead," Draco said to Harry, he turned to Hermione and Ginny. "Granger and She-Weasel come with me, I've told the other prefects to meet us at the Room of Requirement."
Harry narrowed his eyes at Draco yet turned to his girlfriend and best friend all the same, "You two should go, I'll catch up with Ron and meet you later."
Ginny pursed her lips and gave Hermione a look. They both stood up and waited for Draco to lead them. Ginny blew Harry a kiss as they exited the Great Hall, he winked in return. Hermione, Draco, and Ginny scurried up the marble staircases, waiting impatiently as several of them moved to the opposite levels. Finally making it to the seventh floor, across from the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy, the three students found themselves staring at the stone wall that led to the Room of Requirement.
Draco walked past the wall three times. His eyes closed in concentration. As soon as he opened them, an arched doorway appeared in the stone. Quickly, Draco opened it and ushered the two girls inside. As Hermione had hoped, the rest of the prefects had already made themselves cozy sitting on a long U-shaped couch waiting for the three of them.
The room had transfigured itself into exactly what they had needed: a meeting room. The walls were painted a dark charcoal gray which matched the bright ruby red couch that they had all been sitting on. Where the couch had ended, sat two chairs centered with a table in the middle. The table held all sorts of papers and pieces of parchment stacked in neat piles. Had Malfoy done all this?
Ginny took a seat on the couch next to Neville and gave him a reassuring smile when Hermione sat beside Draco in the two chairs in front. The meeting began.
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"I think that went fairly well," Hermione said confidently. "I mean at least Malfoy paid attention this time and participation in the conversation."
"He's just trying to look good in front of us prefects so if McGonagall asks, he'll get good reviews." Ginny said staring at her curfew patrol schedule. "Oh come on! I've got three nights with Astoria, four with Zabini, and one with Malfoy! I thought you said you we'd get to pick who we patrolled with."
Hermione sighed, "I'm sorry Ginny, that was the best I could do. At least your not partnered with Malfoy ever other night."
Ginny grimaced at her friend and mumbled, "Yeah. . . That's gonna suck."
The two girls made their way to the Great Hall for their lunch hour. The prefect meeting had taken most of the morning, it had ran longer than expected because Neville had had so many questions. Hermione knew he considered it an honor, being picked a Gryffindor prefect, but the boy was extremely nervous and wanted to do nothing wrong.
Students filed into the Great Hall, it was particularly crowed given the fact that McGonagall and the rest of the staff began revising and handing out class schedules. Ginny and Hermione sat at the Gryffindor table next to Harry and Ron.
"How was the meeting?" Harry asked enveloping Ginny in a one armed hug.
Hermione sat next to Ginny leaving Ron to sit alone on his side of the bench. She didn't acknowledge him in the slightest.
"It was fine, what have you been up to,"
she asked grabbing for a sandwich.
"Ron and I were actually—"
"Mr. Potter!" Squeaked Professor Flitwick from behind. "Your—ouch– I have your—oh will you watch where you step!"
Students steamed lazily through the narrow strips of the house tables, Professor Flitwick was getting trampled and smushed against the backs of random kids. Harry scooted down making room for the professor to sit.
"Here sir!" Harry said raising his voice over the loud chatter in the hall and motioned to the empty seat.
Flitwick pushed past the students and under a particularly tall boy's legs. He scrambled gratefully next to Harry, holding onto two stacks of paper.
"Thank you," he huffed. Flitwick set the stacks down and grabbed the first piece on top; he tapped it with his wand and held it out for Harry to take. "I might as well give you three yours as well," he said motioning to Ron, Hermione, and Ginny.
"Oh no! We've got at least half our classes with Slytherin!" Ron groaned as he compared his schedule to Harry and Ginny's.
Hermione scanned hers quickly as Flitwick handed it to her; she always loved to see what classes each new year would bring.
She frowned when she had realized that Ron had been right, Hermione had several classes with the Slytherins.
"Blimey, McGonagall is really pushing this whole inter-House unity but . . . I suppose it would be nice for a change." Harry said scratching his neck.
Ron frowned but Hermione and Ginny shrugged in agreement.
"Oh come on! You lot really think we could be friends with Malfoy–" Ron began.
"Not friends but . . . Maybe allies." Harry suggested.
Ron rolled his eyes and stood up. "You've all changed," he spat and stormed out of the Great Hall.
They all watched him go until Ginny said, "Geez, what's got his knickers in a twist?"
Hermione grinned but Harry shook his head tiredly, "It's just Ron being Ron."
The trio at lunch rather quickly, the crowd and noise was getting too much to bare, so they walked aimlessly through the corridors until they found themselves in the courtyard. They sat down on the newly refurbished fountain and swirled their fingers in the cool water. Suddenly Harry sprang to his feet which caused Ginny to nearly topple over into the water.
"Oi, watch it!"
"Sorry," Harry said. "But I've just realized, we haven't seen Hagrid yet!"
The three looked at each other, completely baffled that they hadn't visited their giant friend yet. Without a word they raced each other down the grounds of Hogwarts, pushing and shoving in a playful manor to get to the hut first.
Hermione grinned once she was in the lead, these were the sorts of memories she loved to make: running around with her friends in the sunlight, the beauty and lush colors of the outdoors, the mid-evil, yet magical, castle looming behind her, the exotic chirps and noises of unknown creatures in the Forbidden forest.
She loved it all.
Hermione's happiness was short lived when Harry came running beside her and pushed her into a bush. She yelled in frustration as he took her spot in the lead, but threw a well aimed Leg-Locking Curse at him.
Harry tripped just feet from Hagrid's door, enabling Ginny to hop over him and pound on the door with victory. Just before it opened she stuck her tongue out at Harry who bunny-hopped over, and Hermione who was pulling bits of twigs and leaves out of her hair.
"'Ello! I was beginning ter worry if you lot was ever goin' to come and visit me!" Hagrid bellowed and looked from Harry to Hermione. "What happened to you two?"
The three friends beamed at one another.
"Could we come in?" Harry said sporting a contagious grin.
"Well 'o course yer can!" the half-giant said herding the three Gryffindors into his home. "Could I get you lot some tea or fruitcake? I just baked some this mornin'."
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Yay! Draco and Hermione share a common room!! Now that they are at Hogwarts the story should start to pick up!! Also, I felt like I should include Hagrid at the end because most of the other stories I read never have Hagrid, classes, any of the minor characters, or iconic places around Hogwarts. I've been writing some of the scenes in my notes so that's why I haven't been posting as much on here, but I promise you they are very very very good. And when I mean good, I mean DRAMIONE FILLED!!!!!
I hope you all are enjoying the story so far and I encourage you to keep reading! <3