Dare

Hermione's Point of View

****

When the Hogwarts Express came to a stop I stood up and put my book back in my trunk, deciding to make sure everything was in its place before I exited the train. As I snapped the lid closed on my trunk, I was surprised to see it begin to levitate and move towards the door to the compartment. I looked over and saw Zabini flicking his wand at it until it was over his own trunk, so that the two of them moved out of the compartment together.

It shocked me to think that the Slytherin would be so... chivalrous... to me.

With a bow in my direction, Zabini motioned for me to follow the trunks out, which I did.

Ahead of me, I saw Harry and Ginny follow Neville and Luna into a carriage before it took off towards the school.

"Come on, Granger," I heard Malfoy's voice hailing me from a carriage in front of me. Zabini was just loading our trunks on the back of it, and Malfoy was holding the door open.

By the time I reached the open door I was on at least fourth thoughts about whether this was a good idea, but felt that I didn't have too much choice. So once again loosening my wand in its sheath, I stepped to the open door. Zabini extended a hand to help me into the carriage, and I took it cautiously.

Crabbe and Goyle were filling the rear-facing seat, and Malfoy and Zabini were on the other one. Quietly, I took the spot closest to the door, doing my best to not let my thigh brush against Zabini's leg. I noticed that Crabbe and Goyle were looking at me funny, but I didn't want to say anything. After all, they were the last two people I had ever wanted to be in a conversation with. Even after Malfoy. Assuming they were capable of having a conversation.

"Thank you for letting me ride with you," I said to the Slytherins.

Crabbe and Goyle didn't respond, not that I had expected them to. Zabini just smiled at me and shrugged. But Malfoy looked me in the eye for a moment, before he dropped his gaze to his lap. "Consider it payback for earlier," he said.

Zabini looked like he would have dearly liked to ask Malfoy what he was talking about, but for some reason, kept quiet.

I once again found myself comparing this ride to the ones from years past. Usually, I was with my friends, and we were having a good time wondering what kind of first years would be joining Gryffindor. This year, my ride to the school was silent, save for the loud breathing from the rear-facing seat.

It was over quickly, and I was torn between bolting from the carriage to get away from these almost-strangers, and holding my ground like the brave Gryffindor I was.

After a moment's hesitation, I decided to be dignified, but also the first one out.

With a smile and a quick, "Thanks," I left the Slytherins to their own devices and headed into the Welcoming Feast for my last Sorting Ceremony.

****

As I headed into the Great Hall, I was again impressed with this architectural masterpiece that had stood the test of time. I quickly found a seat at the Gryffindor table next to Harry and across from Neville.

"Can you believe it?" Neville asked us. "Our last year."

"Yeah, it seems weird to be here. I wasn't planning to come back." Harry looked pensively at the spot next to him on the other side. It had been Ron's normal seat, and so far it had remained empty.

I gently took his hand, and Harry turned to face me. He gave me a gentle smile and tightened his grip on my fingers.

A moment later, Professor Snape led the terrified first years into the Hall to be Sorted. Every year before this, I had seen Professor McGonagall in this role and the first years were always nervous. But this year some of them looked ready to vomit.

"Wonder how his speech went." Harry quipped, deadpan.

Neville and I both chuckled.

Professor Snape began reading the role, and the first years began stepping up to the stool. We clapped politely as the queue of terrified youngsters shortened and they joined the tables.

As the last of them went through the ordeal, Professor McGonagall rose to give her own welcome. A few minutes into her speech, she asked for Zabini and me to stand up, and introduced us as this year's Head Boy and Girl, which was followed by more polite applause, although my friends clapped and cheered loudly. I noticed that the Slytherin table also seemed to be clapping in support of Zabini, although it wasn't with the heartfelt abandon of my friends. I spared a brief moment to wonder what it would be like to be in a House that wasn't a cohesive, supportive family. It made me glad all over that I was a Gryffindor. It was at that moment that the side door by the Head Table opened to reveal shockingly red hair only a Weasley could have, and a moment later the person in question was identified as Bill Weasley.

"Ah, Harry, did you know Bill was coming?" I asked quietly.

"No. Ginny?"

"No. I had no idea. And we will have words later about that."

"Your attention, please!" Professor McGonagall called out. "Replacing me as the Transfiguration Professor and Head of Gryffindor house this year is Professor William Weasley. Please make him feel welcome back here at Hogwarts."

A few more announcements, and the platters filled with the usual excess of a house-elf produced feast.

Time flew, and before I knew it, I was being summoned by Professor McGonagall. I smiled at Bill, and noticed he was smiling back.

As I approached the Head Table, I realized I was not alone in my movements, for Zabini was also walking with some trepidation towards my favorite professor.

"Miss Granger, Mr. Zabini, I just wanted to let you know that Professor Snape has agreed to escort you to your rooms this evening, and give you the passwords. I believe he is ready to leave, so I fear it is time for you to go, as well."

"Thank you, Headmistress," Zabini said.

Professor Snape did look impatient, so Zabini and I hurried to where he was waiting.

Without a word, he strode through the door at a fast clip. Zabini didn't seem to have trouble keeping up, but I did, even as used to walking with tall men as I was.

"The password to the staff lounge is 'gillyweed'. You are not to lounge there. However, in case of an emergency, you are authorized to search for us there. The password to the Headmistress's office is 'tabby' which you will need for your weekly meetings."

He led us to a corridor that was close to the Great Hall and stopped in front of a painting of a young girl wearing a renaissance gown.

"These are the Head Students. They will be setting the password." With a curt nod, he left us standing in front of the portrait.

"Granger, do you have a password preference?" Zabini asked, looking at me curiously.

"Ah, no."

"All right, then. How about 'Vervain'? I don't think anyone would guess it, since neither of us is all that enthusiastic in Herbology..."

"That's fine," I said. The girl in the portrait nodded at us and swung open to reveal our quarters for the next year.

To say I was awed would be an understatement.

My parents were not poor by Muggle standards. Both dentists, my family was quite comfortable. Before I had received my Hogwarts letter, I had always gone to private school, and my Muggle friends were from a similar socio-economic class. We regularly took trips around Europe, and our home was always stocked with up-to-date technological gadgetry for my father. My mother and I enjoyed shopping together, and while we did look at the price-tags on our purchases, we didn't fret too much about the occasional splurge. Dealing with Ron and his reaction to Harry's relative wealth was the first time I had ever been around anyone who had ever done without. And it was easy to forget at Hogwarts, that Ron's family was poor, robes generally disguising the differences in backgrounds.

And Hogwarts was an incredible place for a young Muggle-born student. But even so, over the years, I had become somewhat inured to the grandeur around me.

Stepping into the Head's Common Room reminded me just how incredible Hogwarts was.

The room was large, with high ceilings. The woodwork was burnished a dark mahogany. One wall had a fireplace large enough to step into without crouching over at all, adorned with a mantle piece with a beautiful clock and a stunning box which seemed to contain Floo Powder. The room had two couches at angles to the fireplace, both in soft looking tan leather. The back of each couch was adorned with a lap throw made of what seemed to be cashmere, one in Gryffindor's scarlet and gold, and the other in Slytherin's emerald green and silver.

The wall opposite the fireplace had built in book shelves, filled with copies of the most common reference books. In front of the wall by the shelves were two large desks with comfortable looking chairs.

The wall across from the door had a short staircase of five stairs that lead to two doors on opposite sides of the landing. One had a gold plaque and the other a silver one.

I made my way up the stairs to see my name engraved on the gold plaque, so pushed open the door.

The room that met my eyes was similar to the dorms in Gryffindor tower, and yet, completely different.

The same color hangings were on the bed as I had grown used to the last six years, and yet the bed was larger than my parents king size bed at home. The wood glowed a deep cherry color and was matched by a tall wardrobe in the firelight from the small grate across from the door I had just entered. Next to the bed was a nightstand that had several shelves for books and a candleholder, which was currently lit. On the wall to my right were two doors, one with a painting mounted on it.

I approached the painting first, and realized it was of Gryffindor himself.

He studied me as I studied him. It was a tense moment. Then, as I was beginning to be a bit concerned that I was being found wanting by the founder of my own House, he broke into a grin.

"You must be Miss Granger?"

"Yes, sir."

"Well, Miss Granger, I have heard quite a bit about you and your friends these last few years."

"Oh?" I couldn't help be become a bit curious.

"Yes, indeed. The Headmistress speaks very highly of you. Although the Deputy Headmaster doesn't seem to share her opinion," here his expression darkened for a moment, "but what can you expect of the Head of Slytherin?"

"Ah, well, Professor Snape has had quite a history with me and my friends, sir."

"Well, Miss Granger, I just wanted to let you know that I am here to guard you when you sleep. When you wish privacy, just close those curtains, they contain a silencing charm, as well. This door leads directly into the common room in Gryffindor House."

"That's good to know. So I don't have to traipse through the halls, then?"

"No. The other door leads to the bathroom you share with the Head Boy."

Curiously, I opened the other door and stood there gaping like an idiot.

Previously, I had thought the Prefect's bathroom was nice. This was stupendous. Directly inside the door were a commode stall and a large sink. Then there was another door. Going through that door I felt my jaw drop. I walked into the inner room and saw a glimpse of Heaven. The tub had three times the number of taps as the Prefects bathroom, and a waterfall. It also had a shower stall.

As I stood there, gaping, the other door opened, and Zabini walked into the bathing chamber.

"Granger, looks like we need to work out a schedule for sharing this."

I looked over and noticed he seemed to be clad in only a towel. I felt the blood rise to my face as I quickly turned my back.

"I'll, ah, leave it to you for now..." I couldn't help but stammer. I had never noticed before how built Zabini was.

"All right. I'll be out in a bit," he said. I could hear water splash as he got into the tub and began turning on the taps.

I retreated into my bedroom as quickly as I could, but couldn't resist a quick peek behind me. I turned in time to see Zabini slip into the water, his back to me.

Embarrassed, I closed the door.

I smiled to the portrait of Gryffindor as a shut his curtains and changed quickly into my pajamas. Once changed, I re-opened the curtains on the portrait.

I placed my wand on the nightstand and climbed into the enormous bed, for once missing my gossiping roommates. With a sigh and a muttered "Nox," I began my first night of sleep as Head Girl.

*****

Blaise's Point of View

*****

It honestly had not occurred to me that Granger would be in the bathroom when I walked out in a towel. Not even as a possibility. So to say I was taken by surprise was a bit of an understatement.

That's not to say that I'm a prude.

I'm not.

I am, after all, from a large Italian family. Prude and large family do not go well together. Nor does prude and Italian, for that matter.

I think it was Granger's reaction that made me nervous. Seeing her blush made me realize that all of Draco's speculations about the relationship between members of the Golden Trio were probably quite wrong. No girl who has taken on two guys at once would blush seeing me in a towel.

I decided not to let Granger's presence keep me from that glorious tub. I didn't even wait for her hurried exit before I started enjoying the best perk of being named Head Boy.

A while later, when I was clean and relaxed, I got out and dried off and headed back into my room. I quickly put on some comfortable pajama pants and decided to browse the bookshelves, hoping that Granger might be in the common room.

When I saw she wasn't I decided she was shyer that I had originally realized.

I settled down on the couch with the green throw and began to read my potions text. It was always a good idea to over-prepare for Snape's class.

I had a sneaking suspicion that the fall of Voldemort was going to affect some changes in my Head of House. I just hoped my classmates didn't try to piss him off in class tomorrow. Especially Potter. Of course, even I had noticed over the years that Potter didn't have to try to piss Snape off. It was Snape's automatic reaction to Potter, and it carried over onto the other Gryffindors in my year. Snape always had it in for Gryffindors, but especially the ones in my class.

Not that I feel sorry for them.

I don't. They deserve it. Everyone else dotes on them, letting them get away with things that Snape would even take points from Slytherin for.

And now McGonagall was the Headmistress. No wonder Snape seemed pissed tonight. Even for Snape.

If things had been bad for Slytherins before, now they would be worse.

I had to think of a plan to make this year pass without major casualties among my housemates. We had lost too many already to the idiocy that was Voldemort.

With those cheerful thoughts, I decided to go to bed.

*****

The next morning I got up early and took a quick shower. Before getting dressed and heading to the Great Hall for breakfast. Snape was walking up and down the table handing out schedules. As he came up to me, he said, "Mr. Zabini, I would like a word with you before class this morning."

"Yes, sir," I answered him.

With a nod, he moved on, leaving me with a folded piece of parchment. Sitting down next to Draco, I glanced down to see when my classes where for the year.

"Defense is first," Draco said to me.

"Hmm," I responded. "Defense, then Potions, Transfiguration, History, lunch, Arithmency, Runes, Charms. What a day! Why do we have all these one hour classes?"

"New format. At least, that's what Snape said last night in the Common Room during his yearly welcome speech. Mondays we have all of our classes for an hour so that professors can lecture. Then the rest of the week we have longer classes for practicals. A new reason to hate Mondays."

"Humph." I glanced over to the Gryffindor table and noticed the Head girl sitting with Potter. They didn't seem too thrilled with their schedule, either, although she was talking animatedly to their new Head of House.

I noticed movement out of the corner of my eye and realized Snape was once again standing behind me.

"Mr. Malfoy, I just wanted to let you know that since you have been a member of the Quidditch team since your second year, I have selected you to be this years Captain. Do not let me down." And with that, Snape swept out of the Great Hall.

Draco looked flabbergasted.

"Congratulations mate," I said.

"Thanks." Draco drew a shuddering breath. "So, I wonder when I should schedule try-outs."

"This weekend. You need as much time to practice as you can. This is our last chance, Draco. Our House pride is resting on you."

"Can you pile more pressure on, please? I don't think I'm feeling it enough."

"You'll be fine. Well," I said, putting down my coffee mug and half eaten piece of toast, "I've been asked for a word before class. I'll see you in a few." And with that, I followed Snape out of the Great Hall.

Moments later I stood facing the door to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. Taking a deep breath, I knocked on the door.

"Enter," Snape's voice called from within.

I slowly pushed the door open, seeing my Head of House in his customary black robes seated behind the large desk at the front of the classroom.

"Mr. Zabini, please close the door."

"Yes, sir," I responded, doing as he asked.

A moment later, he sent a Silencing Charm over my shoulder.

"Mr. Zabini," he began, "first, I want to congratulate you on being selected as Head Boy. It has been a number of years since we have had a Head Student selected from Slytherin House. I was quite pleased when the Headmistress nominated you. I hold it as a sign that the rest of the school is going to attempt to put some of their distrust of a quarter of the school based simply on their Sorting aside.

"That said, it also means you will be facing more pressure that most Head Students have to face, as the staff and students both look to you to see if Slytherins are capable of... fitting in.

"While this will, to some extent, be occurring for all of the members of our House, you, as Head Boy, are more in the public eye. I dare say some of the other seventh years will also be experiencing the schools attempt to reform opinions directly. Mr. Malfoy, in particular, is also going to be facing some obstacles in rebuilding his reputation."

"Yes, sir. I had figured this much out," I said when I realized Snape had paused for me to respond.

"The Headmistress felt that selecting you would show that she is not prejudiced against Slytherins. She wanted to show her support for the amount of work we are going to have to do to rebuild our House and make it once again respected in the wizarding world. I have every faith in you, Mr. Zabini, that you will make good decisions this year and help Slytherin House in this task. However, I must caution you that you must work well with Miss Granger. She is currently a genuine heroine in the wizarding world for all that she is Muggle-born. I know, Gods do I know, how frustrating she can be. This is the only warning you will receive. Remember, there are many people looking to you, and to Slytherins in general, to fail.

"Now, I believe it is about time for class to begin. Please take your seat."

And with that, he motioned for the door to open, and my class mates began filing into the room for the first class of our seventh and final year at Hogwarts. I noticed the Draco had assumed the seat next to mine.

"Well?" he asked.

"Just a pep talk on how many people are looking for Slytherins to fail, and encouragement to play nice with the little lioness I share my common room with."

"Does he think we're fools? Like we couldn't figure that out on our own?"

"No. Just wanted to make sure we understood the severity of the situation."

"Ah." With the conversation concluded, Draco turned his attention forward to better ignore the comments and stares he was receiving from the rest of the class.

I noticed that Granger and Potter assumed the seats behind Draco and me. This was unusual, since she generally tried to stay as far from both Draco and Snape as she could, and today she was only in the second row. Potter looked extremely uncomfortable with her choice of seats, but he seemed unwilling to abandon her or challenge her decision.

I half heard Longbottom whisper to Potter, "Can you believe the nerve of him? Coming back here?"

"Neville, now is probably not the time," Potter whispered back.

"Harry, I'm not scared of him anymore. I say we wait for him after class..." he spoke in a slightly louder voice, "Hey, Ferret Boy, it's quite brave of you to show your face anywhere near this school. Are you sure you shouldn't have been in Gryffindor? Oh wait, a Gryffindor wouldn't have done what you did in the first place."

By the end of his words, the whole classroom had gone silent and everyone was staring at Longbottom. He was a very different boy than he had been at the conclusion of the last school year, I'll give him that. It seemed he had finally found his courage... in front of Snape, no less.

I sat back, waiting to hear the explosion, or rather the cold, cutting comment that must await him from Snape. After all, Snape may hate Potter and his friends but he loathed Longbottom for the incompetent oaf that he was.

However, before Snape could even get a word in, Granger jumped to her feet.

"Neville!" Her face had gone quite pale, except for her cheeks which were bright red. Her eyes flashed dangerously and her hand flexed like she was restraining the impulse to go for her wand. "That was completely inappropriate, verbally attacking a student who was minding his own business. The past is the past, and we, as a whole school, are trying to move on. I cannot believe you; I am shocked that you would say something like that. And I'm saddened that my first duty as Head Girl is to deduct 50 points from my own House! And assign a detention to one of my best friends!"

Eyes still flashing she looked around the room, taking in the gaping expressions of everyone present, including Snape.

"Does anyone else want to start throwing insults?" she challenged.

When she was met with silence, she sat back down, refusing to meet anyone's eyes.

Just then, the bell rang, signaling the start of class.

"Miss Granger, please remain after class. You, too, Mr. Longbottom." And with that, Snape began his lecture.

****

Snape's Point of View

*****

As soon as the classroom emptied of everyone but Granger and Longbottom, I waved my wand and the door shut with a bang.

"Mr. Longbottom. I believe the Head Girl assigned you a detention. I expect you here at seven o'clock tonight promptly. I will not accept tardiness. Is that clear?"

"Yes."

I was shocked at Neville. He used to be terrified of me. Now he was being rude. I could see equal shock on the face of the new Head Girl.

"I believe that will be two detentions, Mr. Longbottom. Regardless of your personal feelings about me, I am your professor and you will address me with respect."

"Yes, sir."

"You may leave."

Neville wasted no time getting out of the classroom, leaving me alone with the Head Girl.

Once the door closed again, I turned to Miss Granger.

"Miss Granger, do you believe I need your help in maintaining order in my classroom?"

I could see the fear on her face at my tone of voice. "No, Sir."

"Why then, did you feel the need to interfere when Mr. Longbottom began his rude behavior? Did you not think I would stop it?"

"No, sir, I knew you would stop it."

"Then why did you interfere?"

"Because I was angry at him, Sir. And, if I may be honest, Sir, if you had done it, Harry and Neville would have said you were playing favorites and complained. They can't accuse me of favoring Malfoy over Neville. And for once, Malfoy hadn't done anything. I know you believe that Gryffindors usually start the fights, but it really is usually Malfoy, Sir. But this time, he didn't even defend himself. I thought it would make a stronger impression coming from me, since I'm their friend, than from you, since you and Harry and Neville have... never gotten on well..." As usual, her mouth was getting carried away. But the more I thought about what she said, the more I realized it was the absolute truth. I looked at Miss Granger in a new light, and for the first time, I respected her.

"Miss Granger, it had, in fact, occurred to me that the reprimand coming from you was making a stronger impression than the same point loss would from me."

She was clearly shocked speechless.

"In the privacy of this room, I would also like to thank you for standing up for one of my students. I realize that was not easy for you."

At my thanks, her jaw dropped and her cheeks flamed.

"However, if you ever do that in my classroom again, flouting my authority, I will take off one hundred points from Gryffindor. Is that clear?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Good. Fifty points to Gryffindor for the promotion of inter-house unity in honor of Albus. Tell a soul and you'll be sorry. Now, go on to Potions."

And with that, she walked out the door to hurry on to her next class.

As I waited for the next batch of students to arrive, I couldn't help but think about Miss Granger. It was then that I realized who she reminded me of.

Lily Evans.

She didn't look anything like Lily, of course, which is probably why I had never noticed it before. But she had the same spirit, the same sense of right and wrong, and the same willingness to stand up to her Housemates in defense of whomever they were picking on.

Even a Slytherin. And not just a Slytherin, but the Slytherin who had spent all their time previously calling her names and making fun of her heritage.

The parallels between Lily and me, and Miss Granger and Mr. Malfoy were astonishing.

Just then, the next group of students began to arrive.

*****

Blaise's Point of View

*****

After class, the room emptied in record time.

Potter was waiting in the hall, though, as Draco and I filed out.

We eyed each other warily.

Draco turned to me and said, "I think we should wait for Granger. I, uh, need to talk to her."

I just nodded, since I felt the same.

"What do you need to talk to Hermione about? Are you going to hex her?" Potter asked, almost as belligerent as Longbottom had been that morning.

"No."

Potter seemed to be waiting for her, too.

At that moment, Longbottom came out the door, his face as red as I had ever seen a human face get.

"Harry, let's go," he said.

With a glance over his shoulder, Potter followed after Longbottom.

A few minutes later, Granger came out the door. She also seemed a bit flushed. She either didn't see us standing there, or didn't care, as she walked right past us.

"Granger," Draco called out.

"What?" she snapped, stopping.

"Thank you."

She looked at him in shock.

"You're welcome. I'm going to be late to Potions."

She started walking again.

Draco and I hurried to catch up.

"Really, Granger. Thanks. I don't know why you did that; I can only imagine what Snape said to you just now for trying to assert authority in his classroom. But thanks." Draco seemed to be finding it easier to say thanks with the repetition. I don't think I'd ever heard him say thanks before.

With that, we all fell silent and headed to the Potions room.

***

The rest of the day passed without incident. No one else tried to bad mouth Slytherins in front of either Granger or me, and I heard nothing further about what had happened that morning, although I did see the looks that got shot at both Granger and Draco.

After dinner, I saw Granger head out of the Great Hall alone, a sad look on her face.

A few minutes later, I leaned over to Draco and said, "I'm going back to my common room to study. If you want to come, you're welcome to."

Crabbe and Goyle were completely engrossed in their food. With a shrug, Draco got up and walked with me from the room. As we reached the door, I noticed a crescendo in the volume of whispers.

Sighing, I headed through the door and towards my common room.

The little girl in the portrait looked at me and I whispered, "Vervain."

She nodded and the door swung open.

Walking in, I noticed that Granger had dropped her bag on one of the desks, but she was no where to be seen.

"Make yourself at home. I'm going to see if Granger's all right."

Draco just nodded and dug out a book. I headed up the stairs and knocked quietly on Granger's door.

A moment later, the door cracked open.

"Did you need something?" she asked, not opening the door any further. In the dim light of her room it looked like she had been crying. At that moment I realized I hadn't spared a thought for what her housemates must have said to her for her to have left dinner so quickly.

"Draco and I are going to study in the common room. You would be welcome to join us."

She nodded, looking thoughtful. "I'll be down in a bit. I'm going to take a bath first, so please stay out of the bathing chamber."

"All right."

And with that, she shut the door.

"You have to share a bathroom?" Draco asked, having overheard our conversation.

"Yes."

He grinned at me. "Lucky you, Zabini, you have to share a bathroom with a girl."

"So far, she's not bad."

"You've only been here since last night."

"True." I went back down the stairs and sat at my desk, opening up a book to start my Defense homework for Snape.

As Draco and I worked in silence, I couldn't help but think about my conversation with Snape that morning, and what he thought of Granger's defense of Malfoy.

A while later, Granger came out of her room. It took a moment to register that she was dressed in loose pajama pants and a tight tank top. She appeared to be quite relaxed, however, as my brain registered that Granger was an attractive young woman under her shapeless robes, my normally comfortable pants became much less so. Her tank top was snug enough to show the upper curves of her breasts and left little to the imagination. Her pajama pants, while loose, we of a soft enough material that it clung to her curves. Her normally bushy hair hung in damp ringlets, which she had pulled up into a ponytail, a few curls escaping to frame her face and trail appealingly down her long neck.

Why had I never noticed how attractive she was?

Malfoy was also staring at her.

Slytherin girls would have never ventured into the common room attired like that. Their parents would kill them. No matter what the rest of the school thinks about the sexual practices of our House, most of the girls leave Hogwarts as virgins, lest their parents disown them. Most of the rest of the school avoids Slytherins, which means most of the boys in Slytherin are also virgins when they leave.

Draco and I both were.

I found myself again re-evaluating Granger's possible levels of experience. She had blushed at me last night, seeing me in a towel, but now she was completely comfortable in her pajamas...

I forced myself to turn back to my homework.

A few minutes later, I heard Draco speak to Granger, "Hey, Granger, have you found any good sources on Vampire toxin?"

"Just one, but it seems to be lacking any discussion of the hypnosis effects."

"That's covered pretty well in the Blake volume," he replied. Surprised, I looked up to see him handing the book he had been looking through to Granger.

"Uh, yes, that's a good discussion of it."

"The toxin is also covered in Fangs and Fluids," I said to them both, levitating a book over to the table between the couches.

"Oh, good!" Hermione exclaimed.

"But I still cannot find a reference on the flight ability," I continued, looking at them hopefully.

"Here, Zabini," she floated me a different book, "what you're looking for is on page 477."

"Thanks!"

Working together, we got the assignment done in about a third of the time it would normally have taken.

Stretching, Hermione looked at the clock and saw it was nine o'clock.

"Malfoy, you're out past curfew. And frankly, I don't think you should be wandering around the halls alone. Zabini, are you going to let him use your passage? Or shall I escort him back while I make my rounds?"

"He can use the passage."

"Passage?" Malfoy asked, confused.

"Yes, each of us has a direct passage to our House common room in our bedrooms," Granger answered him.

"Oh. All right, I'll head back, then. I want to turn in early."

I got up and walked Draco through my door and to the passage covered with the portrait of Slytherin himself. I opened the door and Draco and I stepped through the door into the heart of Slytherin territory.

The room got quiet quickly, all eyes on us. Slowly, the noise level increased as people picked up their conversations. Crabbe and Goyle were talking in a corner with Millicent.

Seeing that everything was calm, I said to Draco, "See you at breakfast tomorrow."

He nodded, and left to join his other friends in the corner.

I headed back through the door and stepped into my room, closing the door all the way before I headed back into the common room I shared with Granger. She was just buttoning her robes over her pajamas getting ready to start her rounds.

"Will you be all right making rounds alone?" I asked her.

She gave me a funny look. "Of course I will be. The only Slytherin I ever feared before was Malfoy, and somehow he doesn't seem likely to attack me today. Crabbe and Goyle would only attack on his orders. I can take any of the girls..." she trailed off, seeing the look on my face.

"What?" she asked.

"I wasn't worried about you being attacked by a Slytherin. I think you have more to fear from your own House right about now. After all, you broke the Gryffindor code of loyalty to House, and you did it defending a Slytherin!" I was also upset that she would automatically assume anyone in my House would be the real threat to her, although I was determined not to let it show.

"Zabini, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you."

"It's all right, Granger. Goodness knows we both have six years of stereotypes about each other's Houses to overcome if we are going to work together."

She just nodded at that, and went out the door on her patrol.

****

Hermione's Point of View

*****

As I left my new common room, I realized I was quite glad to be going on patrol alone since I had quite a lot of thinking to do.

First, was the automatic reaction this morning in class to defend Malfoy. From Neville. Amusing on one level, frightening on another.

Then there was Snape giving me points. In my six years as his student, even with all the correct answers and high scores I had received, he had never, ever, given me a single point. Taken away thousands from Harry, Ron, and I, but never once awarded one...

Why now? What had changed? Had he seen me as a person for the first time? That's how it seemed to me.

I was also upset with my friends' reactions at dinner. I was being shunned in a way I hadn't been since I had told McGonagall about Harry's Firebolt in third year. Zabini had been right about one thing, I had broken the Gryffindor code this morning, and they seemed determined to make me pay.

That was one of the reasons I had agreed to study with Malfoy and Zabini tonight. I hadn't been sure about how that would work out, but I couldn't bare the thought of the Gryffindor common room tonight.

It had been surprisingly nice to work with the two Slytherins. Ron and Harry were smart, and always had been. But they were also lazy, much preferring to read what I had done than to do the work themselves. I doubted that would change with Ron's death and Harry's new sense of entitlement.

But the Slytherins had been as involved in the studying as I was; helping each other and me, it had been a completely new experience.

I couldn't help but wonder if it had always been like that for them, and for a moment felt a pang of jealously at the idea of friends with similar interests and motivations.

Maybe I should have asked to be sorted into Ravenclaw. Maybe then I would have had that experience before. Although I somehow doubted it. I knew for a fact that the Ravenclaw student's were quite competitive about their grades.

For the rest of my round, I thought about the slowly developing truce I seemed to have with Malfoy and Zabini.

At eleven, I returned to my new common room, determined to get a good night's sleep before I had to face the school the next day.