24A/N: Thanks to all who reviewed! The reviews were helpful and spirit-lifting.
OrAnGe Is A cOlOr- Congrats to you for being the first to review. 3 Thank you for your kind praise and I'm interested to see how it goes too. I have an idea of what's going to happen, but it's still sort of unraveling in my head. And aww, thank you!
dutch potterfan- thanks. I think.
tris-everdeen99- thanks for your advice. I read your first fanfiction, and it was awesome. It was hilarious and made my day :). Keep it up!
Tigermusic- thank you :)
oONo Shoe Lovers AllowedOo- I'd greatly appreciate that. Thanks for the opportunity, and I will continue it. I'm very flattered.
lol- I'll try…
Guest- um, now!
Thanks to all who followed the story. I'll try not to disappoint :).
Disclaimer: characters and setting don't belong to me…(sadly)
Oh shit. Hermione grimaced, glaring at Malfoy. The blasted git had the nerve to smirk at her. He took his place on the other side of Dumbledore, a sly look creeping onto his face. Hermione forced herself to tear her gaze away from him, instead focusing on Snape, who seemed relatively calm compared to the other panic-stricken teachers. Why do they all look so worried? Hermione thought, suddenly suspicious. What do they know that I don't? Snape caught her eye, questioningly. Hermione blushed and refocused on Harry, who gave a sympathetic smile and Ron, who looked like he wanted to beat the stuffing out of Malfoy.
Feeling reassured, Hermione waited patiently until Dumbledore finished his speech, ending with "If you do not agree to these circumstances, please see me in the Headmaster's office, staff included." He gave a smile and gestured for the students to exit.
Hermione lingered after all the students had left, including Malfoy. Harry and Ron had given her questionable looks, but she just smiled weakly. The remaining staff smiled at her as they, too, filed out of the Great Hall. Only Hermione and Dumbledore were left. The latter was about to retire to his office, when Hermione started to speak.
"Sir? No offense, but I don't think that forcing students to live together will solve the ah…problem." Dumbledore gave her a steely glance, and then raised an eyebrow.
"Miss Granger. Are you saying that you will not accept these terms?" Dumbledore challenged. Hermione withered under his intense gaze, his twinkling blue eyes hardened.
"Uh…no sir, I was just saying…there are better ideas out there, you know…" Hermione suddenly wasn't so sure of retreating out of this torture.
"And it is up to you and Mr. Malfoy to agree on them. Good night, Miss Granger. Unless there was something else you wanted to say?" Dumbledore's features softened. Hermione shook her head slowly. What had just happened?
Hermione trudged out of the Great Hall, accidentally colliding with Professor Snape, who shot her a death glare as he rushed into the Great Hall. She started walking towards the Gryffindor common room, pondering how Dumbledore had twisted her mind to get her to agree with the deal.
"So, Granger. Backing out already?" A dark figure stepped out the shadow, blocking Hermione's path.
Hermione groaned. She didn't want to deal with Malfoy, especially not now. "Not everything is a competition, Malfoy." Malfoy smirked.
"Of course not, Granger. Why would I need to prove I'm better than you when I already know I am, Mudblood?" Malfoy smirked again, watching Hermione's careful composition crumble.
"Why do you always pick on me, you bloody prat! You are NOT better than me, okay? Aren't you the least bit worried that we won't be able to come to a compromise? I mean, I have to room with you!" huffed Hermione angrily.
"I'm not worried, Granger. Snape will sort everything out. Anyway, most girls would give up their wands to room with me. And keep your voice down. Do you want to wake up the entire student population?" Hermione was about to protest when Malfoy brought a finger to his lips and pointed to the direction she had come from.
Snape was conferencing with Dumbledore. Neither were pleased with the other.
"Now, now, Severus," Dumbledore was saying. "I believe this is completely fair. Two enemies will learn to work together until they come to a conclusion."
"S-sir, Draco's parents will be none too happy to know that their son will be living with these…circumstances. They will sue the school!" Snape hissed angrily.
"Severus, are you referring to Miss Granger? Well, I'll have you know, it'll do them both good. The Malfoys may do whatever they want, but this is protected by Hogwarts's rule #144: Extreme measures shall be taken when, and if, students are sabotaging or harming one another. It is completely fine, Severus. Nothing to worry about."
At this point, Hermione was starting to panic. What if Snape couldn't get them out of this mess? She'd really be forced to live with Malfoy for a month!
Snape, still not satisfied, spat out. "You chose two students, Albus, two to represent their houses. That is hardly fair. While the other students are going on with their lives, they'll have to undergo torture for their friends."
Malfoy smiled. "See, Granger, nothing to worry about." Hermione, however, still wasn't sure.
"He talked me out of quitting, Malfoy, and for your information, I happen to be the best debater in our year!" Malfoy shrugged it off. "Snape is a professor, Granger. He'll know how to deal with this better than you ever will." Hermione glared at him, but didn't say another word.
"You are right. This is not fair. So in addition to this, your students and Minerva's will pair up to do a long-term project; excluding Miss Granger and Mr. Malfoy, or course," Dumbledore added hastily. "I trust you and Minerva will come up with a good, learning experience for the students?"
Snape opened his mouth again, and then closed it. It was no use arguing with Dumbledore when he clearly had ended the conversation. "Of course, Albus."
Malfoy's mouth dropped open. How dare Snape give up! He had had complete faith in his godfather to dig him out of this mess. "My father will hear about this!" He whispered to Hermione, who was grinning madly. Oh how she had waited for the day when Malfoy was proven wrong.
Hermione yawned at the breakfast table. She had stayed up so late the night before for Dumbledore's emergency meeting, and when she had gotten back to the dorm, she was up all morning thinking up solutions for this catastrophe.
"Bloody hell, Hermione!" Ron and Harry had just entered the Great Hall, their plates (well, Ron's mostly) piled high with toast, eggs, and pumpkin juice. Hermione smiled, before her head dropped into her plate of toast.
"Are you all right?" Harry asked, concerned. He set down his plate to the right of her, and Ron sat on her left.
"Fine, Harry. Thanks for asking. I just really don't want to room with Malfoy." Hermione blinked several times, getting bread crumbs out of her eyes.
"That starts today, doesn't it 'Mione?" Hermione nodded in response to Harry's question.
"Bloody hell! There's no way I'm letting you near that prat." Ron stood up, stuffing the remainder of his breakfast and Hermione's into his mouth.
"For Merlin's sake, Ron, sit down! I'll be fine, really. Hermione Granger is not a quitter. Besides, don't you want to make peace with the Slytherins?"
"Not particularly. And besides, we're talking about the kid who's teased us for the past, what, five years? He's called you a mudblood! Not exactly my type of friend." Ron's face turned as red as his hair.
"Which is why we need to end this, Ron. I'm with you, Hermione. What do I need to do?" Hermione cast a grateful glance at Harry. "Thanks, Harry. I'll let you know."
Hermione spoke to the stubborn portrait. "Stupid Dumbledore." The lady in the portrait shook her head gleefully. "No? Um, conclusion…no, compromise…no? How about 'stubborn portrait with ugly clothes?'" Hermione was starting to lose her patience. The lady harrumphed at her, and was about to take off when a voice behind Hermione said, "Truce." The lady sneered and swung open, revealing a small room with two beds and a coffee table.
"Thank Merlin. I was about to crucio her head off." Hermione muttered, turning around to thank her savior. "Oh, hello, Malfoy. I suppose it was you who changed the password from 'stupid Dumbledore' to 'truce'?"
"Of course, Granger. Can't have that as a password." Malfoy pushed passed her and into the room. Hermione had come earlier, bringing a few essentials and clothes that would last her a month. Malfoy waved his wand and changed the red and gold color scheme to that of Slytherin.
Hermione frowned. She stepped into the room and took her wand out. "Colorem mutat!" Almost immediately, the colors changed back to red and gold. Malfoy glared, and waved his wand again. Hermione sighed. She would have to take the higher road. She waved her wand again, leaving half the room green and silver, and the other half red and gold.
"See, Malfoy? This is why we need a truce."
"Sure. Meet us in the Room of Requirement on Friday with your fellow Gryffindors." Hermione hadn't expected him to agree so quickly, but rather than argue, she nodded. "Good. See you then." He smirked and walked out of the room.
Hermione was satisfied. The sooner they agreed, the sooner she'd be out of here.
A/N: Okay, so I was impatient and couldn't wait for ten reviews. But I had no idea where to go with this chapter and had major writer's block. But I'm back on track and strong as ever (idk what I'm talking about)! So again, please review.