Something unexpected

Hermione stared disconsolately out of the window. "Bloody rain again! Always bloody rain in England!", she thought to herself. The parting with her parents had been hard. Then there was the parting with Harry and Ron. Harry had chosen not to go onto university. Instead, he had chosen, or rather been chosen for a high-power career in the ministry of magic. Ron was going to a French university. Hermione sighed and tried to cheer herself up by reminding herself that she was, after all, going to one of the most prestigious wizardry and witchcraft universities in England. Hermione stepped off the train and breathed in the air around her. She found a luggage trolley and wrestled her trunks onto it. She looked around her warily. She was on her own now. She signalled for a carriage and got in.

"Ampersands University, please," she commanded

"That'll be seven sickles then," a voice replied.

The carriage took off with a jolt and Hermione found herself slowly drifting off to sleep. The interior of the carriage was decorated with red and purple silk and there were little twinkling stars on the ceiling.

"Your stop," a voice declared and deposited her onto winding trail up into the mountains. "The University's just up the trail behind the mountains."

"But.......How am I supposed to get up there?" Hermione faltered.

"Well, use yer head!" the driver replied. "Seven sickles please!"

Hermione paid him and wondered what to do. She looked about her, the place was beautiful. Fir trees lined the path on either side and she could just see, in the distance a mountain stream trickling down.

"Levitatus", she said to her luggage. Then, mounting her broom, she flew over the mountain crest and saw a beautiful castle rise up in front of her. She touched down and brushed the rain out of her eyes. She straightened her robes and took in a long, nervous breath.

"Damn!" she cursed herself inwardly. No one was wearing robes at all! She left her luggage and went behind a tree, almost tripping over an entwined couple in the long grass.

"Cambius," she muttered and pointed her wand at her robes. That was better, she was now dressed in a long denim skirt and a black t-shirt. She meandered slowly back to her waiting luggage and took her map out from her pocket. She needed to register for classes. She sighed and sat on a bench, wondering what to choose. She realised it was no longer raining.

******

Draco was annoyed. In fact, that was incorrect, he was more than annoyed. Some idiot had put him into the Girls' dormitories under the name Draca Malfoy. Unfortunately for Draco, there were no spare rooms and he would have to stay there. He smirked to himself, suddenly thinking of all the girls he attempt to get into his bed that term.

He was dressed in black trousers, a black shirt and he had on a very expensive pair of Oakleys sunglasses. His shoes were polished impeccably and his silver blond hair now fashionably cut into a short, choppy style. He narrowed his eyes against the sun and spotted an exceptionally pretty girl sitting not far away on a bench. She swung her legs back and forth and looked at the sky.

"Plenty of time, Draco," a voice in his head reminded him, "first you must sign up for your classes."

With that, he turn on his heel, sending the gravel skidding in every direction and strode into the building.

******

Hermione strolled to the registering office. She knew already this year she was to be in Luciva Hall, and she was looking forward to meeting all the new people. She got in line to register her subjects and, magically, a quill and a piece of parchment appeared in her hands. She studied the parchment, it appeared to be a form to fill out what lessons she wanted to take. She checked a box next to Arithmancy, and sucked on her quill whilst she thought of what else to do. There was no question of it, she simply must do Potions and Defence Against the Dark Arts. Her quill hovered by Charms, but she deliberated a while and consulted her prospectus. She opted for Runic Studies and handed her sheet in to a smiling clerk at the desk.

"Here's your room key, meal ticket and welcome pack," she beamed.

Hermione was about to say something but the clerk got there first.

"Go out of this building, Luciva is the one with the red flags on the turrets. You will need to go up the stairs and down the corridor to the left. Next please."

Hermione tried to remember all of this information. She left the office and went outside. It was raining again. She quickly performed a shielding charm to stop herself getting wet, and, with luggage in tow, set off for Luciva Hall.

******

Draca, as he was named strode angrily down the corridors of what was to be his dormitory. The walls here were a deep pink colour. Pink! Of all colours! He reached his room and stepped inside. It was worse than just bad. It was like living in a wardrobe. He sighed and flopped down onto the bed. It made an ominous creaking sound. Draco immediately jumped off, cursing. Well, at least he had a single room and a bathroom. He didn't have to worry about any disturbances. Suddenly, through the wall burst the sounds of some kind of racket. He didn't have time to ask what it was, however, before a stunningly beautiful girl ducked, giggling into his room. Draco arched his eyebrows questioningly at her. She simpered and opened her mouth to speak.

"What are you doing in my room," said Draco, beating her to it.

"Shh," the girl said. She had the most extraordinary green eyes he had ever seen.

Draco surveyed her, puzzled. He found all his sarcasm he always had to hand was lost.

"I'm hiding," she said.

"Who fr-," but before Draco could finish his sentence, another girl burst into the room, also giggling and threw a water balloon at her friend.

"I'm gonna get you for that!" the girl laughed and they both ran from the room laughing.

Draco stared at the door and then shrugged and started to unpack.

******

Hermione had found her room, but this was only after many wrong turnings and asking for directions from a suit of armour. She sighed happily and turned her key in the lock. Her luggage floated in dreamily after her. She shut the door and got out her wand.

"Dispaveras," she said and her trunk opened and luggage started shooting across the room and neatly into drawers. A lurid pink bra collided into her face and she laughed. It was the nicest sound she had heard all day. Next door she could hear some ABBA songs being played at full blast. She stepped into the shower and started to sing.....

"Dancing Queen! Young and sweet, only seventeen,

Dancing Queen, feel the beat from the tambourine oh yeaaah!

You can dance, you can........" and just like that, her enjoyment was ended when she heard a muffled banging coming from the left wall of her room.

"SHUT UP!"

It was clearly a man's voice. Hermione was truly puzzled. She dried herself off and put her clothes back on.

"Stratus," she said, and pointed her wand at her hair. Now, instead of bushy curls, there were long, gleaming, straight locks.

She applied a lip reddening charm and an eye-liner charm on herself and padded barefoot next door to investigate.

******

Draco heard the knock on the door and opened one eye lazily. The knocking was becoming more persistent. He sighed and got up.

"Allright, allright," he groaned and slowly opened the door.

A smile spread across his face, like oil on water. "Granger," he breathed, "real nice of you to drop in."

He looked on in satisfaction as Hermione flushed and gave him a look of absolute loathing.

"Malfoy," said she, "what a surprise."

"What are you doing here, Granger? I heard that mudbloods like you couldn't get in.," Draco sneered.

Hermione glanced at the name-plate on his door which bore the words "DRACA MALFOY" in purple glittering letters. She raised an eyebrow. Draco flushed angrily.

"Just came to welcome you to the dorm, Draca,"she said and tried not to laugh.

"You disgust me, Granger. I don't know why you thought you could even fit in here, you filthy mudblood."

Draco suspected this was a little over the top, but Hermione's calling him Draca had annoyed him more than he had first thought.

Hermione flushed once more and brought her knee up sharply, just centimetres from his groin.

"I hope that the day I publicly castrate you, everyone will be there to watch, and I know I will enjoy the show," she hissed into his ear.

Draco blanched at the thought and slammed the door in her face.

"Great," he thought, "just what I needed, the old Draco is back!"

******

Hermione slammed back into her room and sat down on her bed. She nibbled her lip anxiously. She hoped in vain that it would not be like this until she left. She wanted to make some kind of truce. She grabbed a quill and some parchment and started a letter to Harry.

Dear Harry,

How are you? I am writing to you from my dorm, it's in Luciva Hall. It's very small, but not too bad. The university itself is a large castle, it's amazing, I hope you and Ron can come to visit me sometime!!

I had a fright just now. I was singing in the shower, and someone told me to shut up! Apart from that I nearly dropped the soap, it was a man's voice! I was very confused, as there shouldn't be any men in my part of the dorm. Anyway, I went next door and knocked to see who it was. It was Malfoy, Harry, he's here and he's right next door. He made it so clear he didn't want me here! He called me a mudblood, like the way we used to argue in the first year.

You'll never guess what though! He's been sorted into the wrong dormitory! He should be in the boys' bit, but they misspelled his name on the records, so his name is now Draca!!! I laughed so hard, and he got pretty angry. I hope I'm not in any of his classes!

I am really looking forward to lessons, I am doing Arithmancy, Potions, Defence against the Dark Arts and Runic studies.

How is your new job? What do you do exactly? I miss you and Ron so much! I wish you were here! Any girlfriends on the horizon? Tell me all your news, and stop me from feeling so lonely! Got to go to dinner now....Hope to see you soon, Lots of Love, Hermione xxx

Hermione rolled up the parchment and selected a piece of purple ribbon from a box to her right. She tied the ribbon around the parchment and put it in her pocket for when she could find an Owl to take it for her. She closed the door softly, after checking her reflection in the mirror and grabbing her keys and meal ticket from the bedside table. She walked down the corridor and froze when she heard a soft voice behind her.

"My, my we are keen today," Draco sneered, with a malicious smile on his face.

"What do you want, Malfoy?" said Hermione.

"Oh, nothing special, just keeping you on your toes," and with that, he passed her down the corridor, lightly slapping her behind as he went.

Hermione spluttered and then resolved to get her own back someday. He was uncontrollable and Hermione could feel the rage tighten her throat.

******

Harry awoke to a loud tapping on the window. He blearily reached for his glasses, only to find they were not there. He groaned and realised he had left them at work. He pointed his wand at his eyes and muttered "Occhialis". He whispered "Lumos" and gradually his vision cleared. The tapping became more insistent and Harry swung his legs out of his bed. He cursed, it was freezing. He opened the window and in flew a large tawny owl. The owl settled itself on the bed-rail and glared down at him imperiously. Harry deposited a few knuts and sickles into the bird's pouch and took the parchment. The bird flew out and he shut the window.

He unrolled the parchment and his eyes focussed on Hermione's tidy script. He smiled despite himself. He laughed out loud and set the letter next to his bed.

If anyone would have asked her, Hermione still would have said that Harry was still the boy she met in the first year. Harry's eyes were a dazzling bright green and his hair an untidy mop. He figured he should have it cut eventually, but for now, he just pushed it off his face with his hand.

A sudden movement caught his eye. He looked over and looked confusedly at a beautiful red-headed girl who seemed to have claimed his bed. The sheet only just barely covered her and one of her legs draped invitingly over it. Harry had no idea as to who she was or where she had come from, but he knew that he had had far too many Dragon's Blood cocktails that night. He suddenly didn't feel too well. He rushed on unsteady legs to the bathroom and unceremoniously christened the towels in vomit.

******

Hermione stood impatiently in the dinner queue. She was very hungry, and the smells that emanated from the large kitchen made her stomach growl. She looked on in amusement as Draco proceeded to have an argument with a house-elf about the quality of the food. The house-elf looked faintly embarrassed. Hermione murmured something under her breath and pointed her wand at Draco. Draco immediately fell over, causing his food to fly over a now very irate house-elf. There was a shocked silence in the dining-hall, and then everybody in the hall as one started laughing uproariously.

"Alright, ALRIGHT!," Draco yelled and the hall was silent once more.

Then one person started talking, then another, and pretty soon everyone was resuming eating and talking, as they were before the incident. Hermione watched with interest as Draco picked himself up, two spots of pink blazing on his otherwise pale face. He fought his way to the to the exit and left the dining-hall.

******

He might have known she would have pulled a stunt like this. Draco was seething. He flounced back to his bedroom and ripped a piece of parchment from his correspondence set. He snatched a quill and paused for a moment. A frown tarnished his otherwise perfect features. When he had finished he folded it in two and slipped it into his pocket. He stepped into the shower and got changed. He allowed a self-satisfied smirk to play on his lips as he stole a glance in the mirror.

Draco wandered down the halls, broomstick in hand. He had heard there was a local Wizard town nearby and was determined to find it. He recalled it being named Elresias and spotted a signpost not far off down the mountain side. He flew into the square and looked around. There were several things of interest: a night club, a strip club, named "Pocket Broomstick", several pubs, shops and, bizarrely, a staircase in the middle of the square leading to seemingly nowhere. Draco deliberated for a moment and then turned into the Pocket Broomstick. He was greeted by loud music and bright flashing lights. He was momentarily blinded, then a beautiful woman sidled up to him as showed him to the bar.

"I'll have a Wolfsbane Headbanger," he drawled to a particularly voluptuous barmaid.

She winked coquettishly and said "Coming right up sir..."

Draco swivelled around his barstool to watch the show. It was very impressive. He heard a voice next to him.

"Those cannot POSSIBLY be real," he said

Draco looked around and to a heaving bosom on the stage which was owned by a rather short witch.

"Nah," he said "enlargement charm."

******

Hermione had not enjoyed her meal. She had no friends as yet, and everyone seemed to know everyone else here. She bustled back to her room and found a folded piece of parchment tucked under the door. She opened it with intrigue. It said simply:

I should have known it was you. Nice trick, perhaps next time you can conjure me a little bunch of flowers.

She knew instinctively it was from Draco. She knew that green ink and that writing. She sighed and changed into her pyjamas. She was pretty proud of them, actually. She had found them in a muggle shop. There was a red silk camisole and matching very short shorts. She sat in her bed and listened to some music. She unwrapped a chocolate frog and glanced at the time: it was half past ten.

"What are you doing, Hermione," she scolded herself, "you are at university now, you should be out having fun!"

"Maybe I don't feel like having fun," she snapped out loud.

She blew out her lamp and went to sleep.

******

Hermione awoke to a kind of scrabbling at the lock and turned over sleepily. She heard muffled cursing coming from the other side of the door. She instantly was on her feet and she slid her feet into a pair of slippers. Yawning and stretching, she opened the door and found herself face to face with Draco Malfoy.

******

Draco was very surprised to find Hermione at his door. So surprised in fact, that if he had been capable of properly coherent speech, he wouldn't have spoken at all. He opened and shut his mouth several times in the manner of a fish and managed a lewd wink at Hermione.

"Can't get in door," he said, sounding like a Neanderthal.

"That is evident," replied Hermione crisply, "seeing as you are trying to get into the wrong room in the first place."

"Where arrrre the keys?" Draco asked and stabbed a finger into Hermione's chest.

Hermione sighed and noticed he had in fact not only tried to get into her room, but he didn't even have a key in his hand; only a combination of a paperclip attached to a twig.

"Did you come out with your keys, Draco?"

"Yesh, I fink soo," he brightened.

He aimed a misjudged kiss somewhere near her mouth and Hermione staggered backwards into the room and fell on top of her bed, pulling Draco with her. She squirmed wildly, but Draco was a dead-weight.

"You know," he said as Hermione strove to stop his hands from wandering "you really clean up ok"

With that he fell asleep. Hermione managed to wrestle Draco's unconscious form off her and shut the door. From her wardrobe she retrieved spare blankets and cushions and made herself a bed. She went to sleep.

******

Draco woke up and groaned. The pain was splitting his head in two. He cautiously opened one eye, and then the other. He first only saw sunlight streaming through the curtains. He shut his eyes again. He opened them to see a a figure in bright red pyjamas whisk by him and pull some underwear from a drawer. He tried to figure out where he was exactly. Presumably, this wasn't his bed, judging by the girl collecting her stuff from the drawer and the assortment of cushions and blankets on the floor. He heard the shower being turned on. Several moments later a towel-clad Hermione emerged from the bathroom.

"I see you are awake," she acknowledged.

"Granger?! Why the hell am I in your room?" he asked, a note of panic creeping into his voice.

"Well, I'm so glad you asked. Last night was awful. It was the worst sex I have ever had in my life!" Draco failed to notice the impish amusement in her voice.

"WHAT?"

"You heard me. Now bye bye, lover, I have to run and get some breakfast. Let yourself out and I will meet you later to discuss wedding details."

She disappeared into the bathroom and then Draco heard the door slam as she went down to breakfast.

He suddenly realised he had been had. With a roar of rage he attempted to get up, but the splitting pain in his head exploded and he miserably lay back down. He groped for his wand and pointed it at his forehead. The pain subsided and Draco felt the strength to get up. He amused himself by looking through Hermione's underwear drawer.

"Not quite the little priss underneath, are we?" he mused out loud, as a a neon pink see-through bra caught his attention.

******

Hermione hoped that when she got back to her room, Draco would have vacated it. But this was not the case. She unlocked her door, only to hear the shower running, and Draco's clothes dumped over a chair. She could not resist looking at them; a kind of morbid curiosity. She looked at his boxers.

"Very expensive, I know, now would you please put them down?" Hermione froze and went red. She went to sit on her bed and stiffly started to pack her bag for her lectures.

"I will not look up, I will not look up," she told herself.

But curiosity overrode sense. She glanced up and caught sight of a very toned body. Draco collected his clothes. Hermione tried not to stare. The atmosphere was electric. As Draco bent over to reach his shoes, the towel slipped slightly and Draco grabbed it, before it could drop any further. She wondered vaguely how good the rest of his body under the towel was and then scolded herself.

"What are you looking at, Granger?"

Hermione started and dropped all her books. "Nice one Hermione", she said silently. She got up abruptly and left the room, just as Draco's towel slid from his waist and down to the floor.