Dear Hermione,

I'm glad that you approve of my idea and I agree that we need to appear as a united front. I'm sure that having to work alongside me is. . . uncomfortable for you, and not ideal. I know that words are just words and that actions speak the truth, but I want to sincerely apologize to you for my behavior in the past. The way I behaved and the way that I treated you was unacceptable. You have no reason to believe me, but please know I feel immense remorse for my behavior. Nothing I can say can justify my actions and there is no excuse for them. Please know that the way I felt then is not the way I feel now. Getting to know each other better over the remainder of the summer will definitely make our lives easier once we return to Hogwarts. Whatever you would like to know, just ask and I will tell you.

Sincerely,

Draco

///

Dear Draco,

I appreciate that you recognize that this situation may be uncomfortable for me. As you can imagine Ron and Harry aren't thrilled by the prospect of you and I working together, much less sharing a dormitory. There has already been some strife from that ordeal, but it is what it is. You're right. Words are just words. Actions speak more clearly and more truthfully, in most cases, than words ever will. I appreciate your apology. An apology cannot change history, but clinging to the past and hating you won't allow either of us to move on. I haven't hated you in a long time, though you were never my favorite person. I hope that you truly have changed in your feelings. As we spend time together during our duties this year, I am sure that your actions will clearly communicate the truth to me.

As far as us getting to know each other, I think it would be pertinent for us to be aware of each other's course schedule as well as our habits since we will be sharing a space. I am taking Advanced Potions with Professor Slughorn, Defense Against the Dark Arts with Professor Doyal, History of Magic with Professor Towne, Charms with Professor Flitwick, Herbology with Professor Sprout, and the mandatory Muggle Studies class. I may try to see if McGonagall would allow me to take a few extra courses, but considering I'll have extra duties this year I may have to just accept a lesser course load. I really enjoyed my Ancient Runes class and I love History of Magic. Truthfully I enjoy most classes at Hogwarts, with the exception of Divination. Flying isn't my favorite, but it is definitely, definitely better than Divination. As far as my personal habits, I stay up late, but am an early riser. I like to get my homework done promptly and appreciate moments of solitude to read sometimes. I also enjoy listening to music, Wizard and muggle. I prefer to be tidy, but when I get lost in books or my course work I tend to leave books and parchment lying around. I will try to keep my mess to a minimum.

Oh! I almost forgot. Crookshanks, my cat, can be quite the crab when provoked, but he's really a giant sweetheart. Ronald hates him, but I think the feeling is mutual. Do you have any pets other than your owl? What's your owl's name anyway? She's quite lovely.

Cordially,

Hermione

///

Dear Hermione,

I can't blame you if you're hesitant to put your faith in my word. I hope you are able to tell from my actions that I truly have changed and no longer hold the deplorable opinions of my father as truth.

I have the same courses that you do, perhaps we will have some of them in the same blocks. Honestly, I'm rather looking forward to the muggle studies course. I'm sure you'll be so shocked to hear that I don't really know all that much about muggles. I've always quite enjoyed Charms and Potions. I liked Divination for the simple fact that you could pretty well write down whatever you wanted and Trelawny would eat it up, but I always hated that it wasn't more substantial and challenging. I actually really like to learn, though I don't always enjoy the work that goes with it. I guess I like to learn for the sake of learning. Flying is only okay?! I love flying. Flying is so freeing. It's like no one can stop you and the things that were weighing you down just fade away.

I stay up late and like to sleep in. As you probably surmised, I don't enjoy doing homework, so I typically put it off until almost the last minute. I enjoy solitude and time to read as well. Which Wizarding bands do you like? I quite enjoy the Weird Sisters. Maybe you could introduce me to some muggle music sometime? I don't know if I would like it or not, but I would give it a try. I am the same as far as tidiness goes.

If your cat hates Weasley it probably has good taste! . . . Sorry. I know you're dating the bloke. I shall try to keep my barbs to a minimum and I shall try to keep from provoking Crookshanks. What should I avoid doing? My owl is named Maleficent. She was a gift from my mother. Honestly, aside from my broom, Maleficent is my most treasured gift from my mum. Do you have a gift from your parents that you treasure more than others?

Sincerely,

Draco

///

Dear Draco,

Flying is fine, but heights are somewhat stressful to say the least. Though I get what you mean about freedom. One of the many reasons I love to read is because it allows me to escape from whatever situation I am currently in and become someone else, somewhere else. I love Weird Sisters! I would be happy to share muggle music with you. Honestly, it isn't that much different than Wizarding music, it just talks about different things.

Har, har, Draco. Very clever. I know that you and my friends don't get along, but it will make all of our lives easier if you can at least try to be civil to Ron and Harry as well as not being a prat about them to me. In return, I'll be civil to your friends as well.

The gift I most treasure from my parents is that they allowed me to go to Hogwarts. I had friends growing up, but I never really fit in in muggle schools. I was always a little different than everyone else and you know how people don't like things that are different. I was so excited when I got my Hogwarts letter. It was the best day of my life! I finally had an explanation for why I was so different from others and I was going to get to learn about this other part of me that I never really knew about. My parents were worried at first. They thought that someone was playing a cruel trick on me, but then they actually read the letter that was sent along just for them and it changed everything. They were so supportive of me. They never made me feel weird and they were always excited to get my letters and hear what I had been learning. . . . I miss them a lot.

If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be?

Cordially,

Hermione

///

Dear Hermione,

I'll try to be on my best behavior concerning your friends, but I can't make any promises. In regards to your offer, I appreciate the sentiment, but it won't be necessary.

It's nice that your parents were so supportive of you. I can't imagine what it must have been like to have no knowledge of the magical world and then suddenly, "Surprise! Your daughter is a witch." I don't mean to pry, but why do you miss your parents? Have you not spoken to them lately?

That's an interesting question, Granger. If I could change one thing about the world I would either make it so that He Who Must Not be Named was never born or that Dumbledore had never died.

Sincerely,

Draco

///

Dear Draco,

I appreciate that you'll at least try to be civil with my friends. Why won't it be necessary for me to be civil to your friends?

I haven't spoken to my parents in over a year at this point. I haven't seen them in that long either, and even if they did see me they wouldn't know me. . . . Before I left with Ron and Harry to find the rest of the Horocruxes, I Obliviated my parents to protect them so that should they be captured they truthfully wouldn't know anything about me and would hopefully stay safe.

Those are both interesting answers, Malfoy. I wish for both of those things, too, but honestly if I could change one thing I would strive for equality between all magical beings. No more blood prejudice. No more enslaved house elves. That sort of thing.

Now, which prefects do you think we should pair with each other? I'm assuming you also got the list from McGonagall.

Cordially,

Hermione

///

At first letters with Draco were purely "get to know you" and were sometimes stilted and uncomfortable. After the letter asking about why Hermione need not be civil to his friends she didn't hear from him for a couple of weeks and was growing annoyed by the time she did hear back. She had finally sent another letter to him solely focusing on Head duties and he responded to that one. Later, he had apologized for never responding to her, but never gave her any idea why and never did clarify why she didn't need to be civil to his friends. She was curious by nature and wanted to know, but chose to cage her inquisitiveness for once. Eventually they hit a groove and corresponded a couple of times a week, which seriously grated on Ron. Most of what they knew about each other was artificial and didn't mean much, but every once in a while Hermione would share something personal and Draco would, too.

Hermione was surprised by some of the things Draco told her about himself. Draco liked to learn for the sake of learning? What? Hermione would never have guessed that, at all. She had also been surprised by his answers about what he would change about the world. She hoped that he was sincere, but she still felt wary. Sharing personal things with him was scary due to her wariness, but if he was genuine and was truly meeting her halfway she didn't want to snub his efforts.

Hermione had just pulled out parchment and her quill to get back with Draco and made her way to the table when Ron plopped down beside her. She looked up at him and smiled softly. He returned her smile, but when his eyes dropped to the parchment and quill set out before her. A look of irritation replaced the sweet, goofy look that had been on his face and he snorted derisively.

"Writing another letter to the ferret I see," Ron grumbled, crossing his arms across his chest.

"Yes, Ronald. We need to make sure we have all of our plans laid out before we meet up on the Hogwarts Express next week," Hermione sighed, trying to be patient. She picked up her quill and moved to start writing when Ron started in on her again.

"You write letters to him all the time!! How could you not have everything laid out be now?" Ron said, irritably.

Taking a deep breath, Hermione laid her quill back down on the table and turned to face Ron.

"Ron," Hermione said evenly, "I know that you are not a fan of Malfoy's, but this is ridiculous. I write to him once or twice a week. That isn't all the time. Also, as long as you've known me you should know that I am meticulous and like to be sure I have everything ironed out so it runs smoothly."

Ron grunted in what she assumed was agreement at that.

"For the last few weeks, any time I receive a letter from Draco or I send a letter to Draco you've been making jabs that I really do not appreciate. What do you expect me to do? Just stop talking to him in spite of us having to work together this year, just because you don't like it?"

Ron's face had been slowly turning red as she spoke, whether from embarrassment or anger she couldn't be sure.

He quickly turned to face her and blurted, "Of course I would love it if you'd stop talking to him! I know you can't but I would love it if you would. I still don't understand why McGonagall chose him to be Head Boy."

Hermione sighed and put her head in her hands, feeling the agitation rising within her. They had had this discussion multiple times. It seemed Ron was dogged by thoughts of Hermione working with Draco almost all the time; when they were on a date, when they were watching Quidditch, when they were playing Wizard's Chess. It was starting to drive her insane. If performing magic outside of school wasn't forbidden she probably would have hexed him to be unable to even speak of Malfoy by now. Just as Hermione was about to completely lose it, Ron spoke again.

"I just, I. . . I hate the idea of you two sharing a dormitory. What if he does something awful to you?" Ron said, quietly, looking down at the tabletop.

So that's what all this has been about, Hermione thought, feeling some of her agitation melt away.

"Ron," Hermione said, as she reached out, hooking his chin and turning his head so he would look at her. Once his eyes were on her, she gently took both of his hands in hers.

"I understand why you're worried. I so appreciate that you are worried about me. You don't need to be though. I trust the charms and enchantments that we both know are in place to keep boys out of the girls' rooms. McGonagall even assured me that there were extra charms in place in the Head Dormitory since it is a strange living situation."

Ron looked unsure, like he might protest, but then he simply nodded.

"I don't like it," he said gruffly. "I don't like it one bit, but I trust McGonagall too."

With that Ron, removed his hands from hers and gently cupped her face, leaning in slowly. Hermione felt her breath catch in her throat, as Ron leaned in closer. Finally, his lips pressed softly against hers and her eyes fluttered shut. It was a sweet kiss, slow and warm and soft. Since that time he had tried to forcibly snog her, Ron hadn't tried to kiss her again until now. She was so glad that this was her first kiss, she refused to even count that other train wreck as a kiss. Ron started to pull back, when she leaned in and gently pressed her lips against his one last time before pulling back. Ron grinned at her shyly and leaned his forehead against hers. Hermione could only smile shyly back at him, filled with a sense that things were going to go well.