It's Complicated

You Forgot Something

Hermione found herself the centre of attention at the Gryffindor table, head-girl, the brains of the Golden Trio and the brightest witch of this age - there was no escaping them!

She was as polite as her Granger blood could handle although at some point she started to get flustered and annoyed.

Don't they realise I'm a person? A person trying to eat food?!

She thought, Ginny sent her an empathetic smile. Hermione had forgotten all about Ron's 'shifty eyes' for now, too caught up in the fact that she would have to be in her pajamas in front of Draco Malfoy - her pajamas were Gryffindor colours, red silky shorts and a golden singlet for a top a lion roaring across her breast.

Now...isn't that something he wants to see.

"Okay, question time is over. Leave the poor woman alone!" Ginny snapped as the tenth boy of the night started to inquire of her.

He huffed at the youngest Weasley and stamped back to the Hufflepuff table.

"Ginny that was rude," Hermione smiled at her best friend.

"Thank you." She hugged the red head from the side and Ginny laughed.

"Well, I knew you wouldn't do it yourself."

Hermione was too nice a person to send anyone packing, especially those that look up to her and think of her as 'their hero.'

Professor McGonagall waited for her two new Heads after the feast and a flare of amusement filled her as she watched them trudge slowly towards her from opposite tables.

"Come along, I'll show you where you're staying" Minerva said keeping her strict tone and lead them away from the Great Hall and up to the 7th floor near the Room of Requirement.

"Professor? We're not using the Room of-"

"No Ms. Granger, after the battle the Room hasn't revealed itself, some say it was too badly damaged to come back - I myself never found out the cause." The Professor pursed her lips and shot a look over her shoulder spying the two children giving each other glances. Her eyes narrowed

"Do you happen to know what happened to the Room of Requirement?" She asked sharply.

"N-no professor, although I heard it was a fire" Hermione Grangers voice was small, and meek and Draco looked as though the life had been beaten out of him.

Nothing more was said as the teacher lead them down a corridor and up to a portrait of Professor Snape.

His painting nodded stiffly at the aging woman and a perfect sneer appeared on his face at the sight of Hermione.

"Know-it-all Granger, finally made Headgirl?" His voice didn't hold the normal malice it might have if he were still alive and well, but Hermione didn't care very much and nodded at him. Actually, Hermione was quite fascinated by Snape now, after all she'd heard from Harry, how could she not be curious about his love for the Boy Who Lived's fiery haired mother?

Severus's eyes travelled to Draco and he smirked.

"Congratulations dear Godson" Draco smirked in return and bowed.

McGonagall sighed in impatience.

"You will choose a password you both agree on and it will be the one you use until Christmas when it will change again." The Headmistress nodded once again at the late Headmaster and strolled away her cloak floating behind her.

The two teenagers were left alone and Draco glared at the girl before him.

Stupid muggleborn making him feel stupid and all - all - friendly!

"Hurry up Granger and think of a password" Malfoy snarled at her and she looked at him in surprise her brown eyes shining in confusion.

"You want me to pick?" She asked, oh boy, Draco thought - she looks silly when she's confused. This might be because Hermione Granger was rarely confused.

"Yes, pick a password." Draco sighed heavily watching her intently as another crease added itself to her brow he couldn't help but think that confusion suited her quite well. In fact, his thoughts took him to one specific word and he nearly blanched.

Cute? Hermione Granger is not cute!

"How about Gatsby?" She asked innocently looking up to his grey eyes, they flashed. This muggleborn was mocking him!

"I mean," she pushed on, "since we are both reading the book and all." Draco grunted in agreement after a few seconds and Snape rolled his eyes before swinging open to reveal their new common room.

Hermione gaped, it was wonderful!

Simple and cosy, creams on the walls and a dark sofa facing a roaring fire. There was a long bookcase against the back wall and she immediately gravitated towards it. She twirled in a circle trying to see everything at once, and without remembering who she was with let out a bright laugh and caught onto his hands bringing him further into the room.

"Isn't it amazing?" She asked slightly awed still looking around, and not looking at Draco Malfoy who probably looked like he was about to have a stroke.

The little beaver was touching him!

She was dancing with him!

And she was, she spun again and then a brick settled in her stomach as a fact smacked her in the face.

She was holding ferret's hand!

She was dancing with him!

She stopped suddenly and stumbled back, he caught her quickly and held her still.

He smirked at her, his grey eyes seemed to be daze.

"I'm sorry" Hermione mumbled and he shrugged, she was stunned.

No rude remark?

No teasing? No nothing?

Draco couldn't bring himself to, she looked too adorable and she had been having too much fun for him to ruin it.

It hadn't offended him as much as he thought it would - touching a mudblood.

He released her and she smiled at him in a small way, in a thanking way.

"I'm going up to bed, goodnight Malfoy" she yawned and started to make her way to the stairs at the other side of the room and Draco panicked.

He didn't want to be alone, in such a strange way, he wanted to stay with Hermione Granger.

He did want to be her friend.

"Granger you forgot something" Draco was hesitant, she turned around confused and was slightly baffled to see the Slytherin King holding out to her a mug of hot chocolate.

"Do you want to talk?"