Hermione was happy to be attending eighth year. She even managed to get her friends, Ron and Harry to join her despite the fact they had job opportunities offered. It was actually a struggle to convince them but she promised Ron that she would help him not do but help him with homework and Harry that a normal school year could be fun. Once they arrived she was called in to McGonagall's office. McGonagall was named the new headmaster of Hogwarts so she knew it was important so she headed down the corridor to the familar statue. It was weird that it wasn't Dumbledore waiting for her but she got over it quickly.
Hermione is surprised to see none other than Draco Malfoy standing in the office. McGonagall asks the two to sit down and gets on with the meeting as planned. "This year I have selected you two to be head boy and head girl. I know that you two have restraint against each other but I am hoping that after a war that the two of you can get past your differences and be an example for others. I do however understand this is not ideal so if you truly cannot get along by Christmas I will make new arrangements. You two will share a dorm with your own bedrooms at least between a shared common room and bathroom."
Draco is outraged that she has to share anything with the muggleborn but decides against fighting it because as McGonagall said they can be out of this predicament after Christmas if they keep up to their old ways.
They are then directed to their new shared space before they separate and join their friends at dinner. Hermione with Harry and Ron and Draco with Pansy and Theo. After dinner, the two head back to their common room and the conversation they've been dreading has to happen. Hermione speaks first as usual, "Look we can be civil about this ok. I don't wanna spend the year fighting with you over my dirty blood, the bathroom or anything else you come up with. If we must we can set times for showering and use of common room with friends, but I mean it. I am not fighting with you anymore."
Draco responds back with a surprising answer, "I can be civil and the schedule thing sounds fine when do you want the shower because I can go now honestly."
Hermione surprised he actually liked an idea she had tells him, "I actually prefer the mornings if that's ok."
Draco just casually responds, "that's fine what time though? I will need some bathroom time in the morning."
Hermione thinks about it a bit before responding, "I get up early like 6 maybe. I only need 30 min."
Draco responds back, "ok sounds good I don't get up till 7 anyway. That's settled. I'm gonna go shower now see ya tomorrow probably." He then heads off to take his shower and Hermione decides to go unpack.
Hermione has settled into her room nicely and after about an hour heads out to the common room to get a nice cuppa before bed. She notices however that Draco has in fact covered the entire common room in his stuff. She looks annoyed and finds him on the couch reading. He's got the window open too. She feels a chill and decides to be upfront like she told herself she would be, "do you think this is fair?"
Draco looks a bit distraught, "I do not, I have to share with you. I probably could've gotten a private suite otherwise." Hermione tries to shut the window but he steps in front of her. He retorts, "what are you doing?"
She pulls her nightgown on tighter, "I was just gonna close the window if that's ok." why is she letting him walk over her?
Draco assessing her decides to play with this a bit, "could you not? I just really need some air."
Hermione decides to just settle in for the night so she shrugs it off makes her tea and goes to her room.
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The next morning after her shower, Hermione is still frustrated with his stuff everywhere. She moves some of it off to the window side and puts her books on the shelf she has now cleared. She knows he will probably get mad at her for it but he shouldn't get the whole common room to himself especially since she offered to schedule friend visits. Draco finally comes out of the bathroom and notices she moved his things. He tries to hold in his anger but she touched his stuff.
He tries to be nice though, "Can you at least ask before you move my stuff?"
She however cannot resist her anger, "Sorry but I don't think it was fair that your stuff was all over the common room. I deserve some room."
Draco is reeling, "Ok just ask next time"
After a day of classes they are back to their shared space. It seems equal enough to him but she still pesters him, "Can I have the couch? I wanna get started on studying."
Draco doesn't mind as he heads to shower the day away. He always liked showering early. It gives him time to think and apparently time for her to move more of his stuff again. "I thought I told you to ask before you move my stuff?"
Hermione doesn't even show remorse, "I only moved the stuff on the couch that I asked to sit on."
Draco just screams internally. He walks off to his room since it's clear she's taken the common space. He asks himself. "What is this feeling so sudden and new?"
Hermione hears him a bit before he shuts the door, she doesn't know if he was talking to her though so she keeps on studying.
Draco, however, is freaking out. His pulse is rushing and his face is flushing. She's getting on his nerves. But god what is this feeling he is experiencing? Oh yes loathing. He loathes her. He storms out and decides to get the first fight out of the way.
Hermione is now aware of his sudden presence and gets up. He seems angry.
"I can't stand your face" he says quickly.
"well I can't stand your voice" she fires back.
"Oh don't get me started on your clothing." he is fuming.
She is shocked he didn't just call her a mud blood but he still is insulting her. She may not dress the best but at least she didn't stand out in clothes clearly meant for different circumstances. She goes in with a punch anyway, "You make my skin crawl."
He has now run out of insults in his fury so he just retorts, "yeah will you also make my skin crawl."
The argument has them out of breath, and they decide to just storm off to their rooms. Neither one know how they will handle the school year.