Waiting to Exhale

Once dinner was finished, the Headmistress made a final announcement. "If all  eighth-year students could stay behind for a moment, please," she asked. "I need to explain your current housing and duties before showing you to your rooms."

The small group gathered together, their faces trained upon McGonagall as they waited for further instructions and information, similar expressions of worry gracing their features. Finally, the headmistress spoke. "We do not have enough beds for you to return to your home houses. Since that is the case, Hogwarts itself has made a new dorm for all of you. Further, since you ARE returning seventh years, you will have the additional duty of helping our Headboy and girl~ Ginevra Weasley and Tobias McLaughlin. What this means is taking care of first and second-year students, directing them to the appropriate person such as Prefects or our heads and just generally showing others what house unity is." Another pause. "Now then, if you would follow me."

The small group waited for but a moment before their Headmistress moved from the teachers' table and walked the few steps leading down from the small stage. After a rather long slog (the fifth floor and a portrait of Sir Robert Canary) McGonagall stopped. She turned to face the young men and women, her face set in a serious expression.

"Each of you will have your own room which will be marked with a plaque. Because you are all young adults there will not be any wards to stop opposite genders from entering each other's rooms. I do expect that you will act with decorum. You will be allowed to go to Hogsmeade whenever classes are not in session. Do NOT take advantage of this. Your class schedules will be found in your rooms and you will join our regular seventh-year students for studies. Are there any questions?"

Silence.

"The password for your dorm is Triumph though it may be changed if you so desire." With no further instructions, the tall slender woman turned away and headed for the stairs. Hermione stepped forward and whispered the password. The portrait smiled and bade them welcome and soon enough, the returning students stepped inside only to pause just past the entrance as they took in the common room.

To the left? A small kitchenette containing a stove, coffee maker, cupboards and ice box while being bound by a long countertop with leather covered bar stools. To the right? A large seating area, twice the size of a House common room, filled with multiple couches, three armchairs, a gorgeous fireplace and a few desks and end tables. Accents of green, gold, yellow and blue, mostly comprised of throw pillows and woven throws, tied all of the houses together.

Within moments, the small group scattered, off to look for their rooms. Upon arrival, Hermione stepped into the plain white room which contained a canopy bed, small desk, armoire, dresser, armchair, and bookcase.  Assuming she would be responsible for decorating her own space, she prepared to do just that. The bed was covered with soft lilac sheets, royal purple throw pillows and covered by a blue and purple duvet. The walls shifted to a lovely dove gray with touches of darker gray on cornices. Each piece of furniture shifted to solid mahogany and the armchair became a lovely dark gray leather. 

Eventually, she opened her trunk and began putting away her clothes before sending her muggle books and the revised edition of  Hogwarts: A history to the bookcase. Soon enough, her room was in order, her trunk emptied. With a smile, she picked up her schedule, noting that the original Seventh-years shared their class times with the few who had returned. Her schedule contained Arithmancy, Charms, Transfiguration, D.A.D.A and double Potions. All in all, she was happy with it and ready to begin. With nary a thought, she turned around and returned to the common room.  The others were already there and scattered around the various pieces of furniture.

Draco spoke first, his velvety voice filled with something unknowable. "There is our beloved Know-It-All. DId you make your room pretty?"

Hermione frowned at him, her full, mobile mouth turned down. She answered, of course,  softly but with a hint of sarcasm. "Of course I did, Malfoy, not that YOU will ever see it."

The bastard smirked at her, as per usual but it was Blaise who responded, "Does that mean one of us will get to?"

Most of the girls laughed but it was Tracy who answered. "Well, if Hermione won't share her space, you can always come and see mine, Blaise." More laughter ensued, bright and airy. Conversation resumed with the sharing of class schedules before rambling onto other topics but by ten the common room was mostly empty except for Draco and Hermione. Dark brown eyes met clear gray, something sparking between the two.

The silence felt oppressive but neither moved, not at first. Minutes felt like an eternity to the young woman but it was the gray-eyed male who arose first, his long legs eating up the space between them so that he could settle at the far end of her couch. Another silence, even as gazes met and skittered away, toward the now lit fireplace. Words then, from brown-eyed young woman to her light-eyed companion.

"Will we be at odds this year, Malfoy?"

He answered, "No. At least that is not my intention. I would like for us, all of us, to start over."

She laughed, cynically, and then spoke. "I'll believe that when I see it." She rose from her spot, her eyes meeting his, once more. "Goodnight, Malfoy."

"My name is Draco. Try to use it."

Deep brown eyes widened before Hermione turned and walked away, leaving the alabaster-skinned young man, alone. She did not look back.