Chapter 9
Hermione's POV
"Finally, I'd like to introduce Draco Malfoy," the hall was silent at the mention of his name, with the exception of hushed voices and no sign of applause. He stood up and inclined his head slightly to the crowd. "And Hermione Granger," the hall erupted into cheers as the brains of the Golden Trio was announced. Hermione, completely red in the face, acknowledged the school with a modest smile and wave, "as this years Head Boy and Girl! May the feast begin!" Yelled McGonagall over the hysteria.
Glittering golden plates and goblets littered with assortments of food and drinks were conjured out of thin air and onto the four house tables. Chicken legs, mashed potatoes with gravy, roast beef, lamb chops, beacon and steak, boiled potatoes, fries, Yorkshire pudding, peas, and carrots where laid out in front of them.
The volume in the hall plummeted as students and professors reached for the mounts food and piled into onto their plates and into their mouths.
"You'd better grab some roast beef now, Ron's going to finish it off the next chance he gets," Harry said beside her.
Ron shrugged and raised his eyebrows apologetically then shoveled some mashed potatoes into his already preoccupied mouth.
Ginny threw him a look of disgust.
"What? I'm starving," Ron choked out.
Hermione sat quietly, avoiding any further contact with Ron, as her friends enjoyed each other's company, and listened to Neville's tale of Luna first encountering his grandmother.
Hermione glanced around the hall looking at all the familiar faces, as she picked at the remains of her dinner. Looking from the Ravenclaw to the Hufflepuff table she finished at Slytherin, where there where only seven new first years and twenty returning students. Easily the least populated house at Hogwarts.
Hermione scanned the faces of children whose parents had destroyed their precious school, who ripped apart her friend's families, who murdered her loved ones; but her eyes landed on one boy in particular.
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Draco's POV
"C'mon mate! Do it. I dare you."
"Zabini I told you I'm not doing that stuff anymore. I'm Head Boy now, and your a prefect so I'm telling you now, I forbid you to do it."
"Well okay if you forbid me . . . . Geez your getting soft Malfoy—"
Draco slammed his elbow into Blaise's ribs and grabbed him by the ear.
"What was that Zabini? Say it again. I dare you."
"Will you two knock it off, McGonagall's looking this way," Astoria said from across the table.
Draco glared at Blaise as they both continued eating their dessert, savoring the taste of the house elves baking. He'd never admit it, but Draco had always liked the school. Sure he may have complained about the food, the staff, the classes, and the other students but in total honesty, he secretly loved it all. Never did he say that to his parents; they would have beaten him, not his mother, but his father would reprehend him for enjoying any school filled with Muggleborns and Dumbledore as headmaster.
It didn't matter anymore, they were all dead. Dumbledore, his father, and his mother. All dead.
This was his chance. McGonagall had given him another shot to become a better person, a better friend. Obviously Draco couldn't get too soft, he still had a shred of dignity to uphold and not all of his family pride was gone.
He wasn't going to ruin the opportunity, not like everything else in his life. His first step, apologize to the Gryffindors. A few in particular. They might not even forgive him, and he shouldn't expect them to for the horrible things he's done to them. It would be a grueling task, but it had be done.
A bellow from Hagrid, who towered over the other staff members sitting at the high table, prodded him from his thoughts. Draco could see McGonagall trying to cease her conversation with Professor Slughorn to make a final speech and send them off to bed.
Staring a the piece of pie Astoria had forced on his plate, Draco looked up and locked eyes with Granger. She seemed to have realized he had taken notice to her staring, but still held arrogant eye contact.
He inclined his head slightly and raised an eyebrow. Granger retaliated with the exact motions. They glared at each other until Professor McGonagall stood at Dumbledore's podium and silenced the hall with a single clear of her throat.
"A brilliant welcome back fest if I do say so myself. I hope you all tried a bit of the spiced pumpkin tart, a new favorite of mine. Now before I babble on about more desserts, Madam Pomfrey and Professor Slughorn have taken the liberty of concocting a dreamless sleep potion for all students. You shall find them on your bedside table if you so chose to use them. We have all seen enough horrible things to last us a lifetime, some more than others, but with this potion it will allow you to numb the pain even for just a night," McGonagall said grimly. "Furthermore, class courses will be reviewed and schedules made for the present term tomorrow at lunch. All students will have until that next morning to have half an idea of where to go. Now, straight off to bed! Prefects please show our first years to their dormitories and answer any questions. Head Boy and Girl please assist all stragglers and return to the Great Hall when all students are in their dorms. Off you go."
The house tables and remaining desserts vanished into thin air with a wave of the Headmistress' wand as students swarmed from into the entrance hall and onto the grand, marble staircase.
Only two first years where left behind during the stampede up the stairs. One a Hufflepuff and the other a Gryffindor.
"I'll take Hufflepuff and you take Gryffindor?" suggested Draco when it was just the four of them left at the bottom of the stone staircase.
Hermione looked unsure to leave the minuscule first year alone with him, "Don't worry Granger. I'm not a foul loathsome evil little cockroach anymore. I'll meet you back here for our finial check."
Draco smirked as he motioned to the little Hufflepuff girl to follow him up the staircase, just before catching the slightest smile on Hermione's lips. She was most likely remembering the satisfying moment of slapping him in the face.
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Hermione's POV
"Fizzing Wizzbee," Hermione said clearly to the fat lady who sat perched in her portrait.
She walked the Gryffindor boy through the common room to where Ginny was laying on the couch playing wizards chess against Harry, as Neville and Ron watched.
"Oh there you are Hermione, we thought you'd never show," said Harry who sat on one of the squashy red arm chairs.
"I can't stay long, Neville, could you show Henry to his dormitory with the other first year boys please," asked Hermione.
"Of course!" Said Neville, scrambling off the floor.
Hermione turned to leave once she saw the boy was in good hands and backed towards the portrait hole. "I'll see you lot later, I've got to meet Malfoy for a corridor check."
"Be careful Hermione, have your wand ready and scream if you need help. You never know what Malfoy might do. Don't trust him," called Ron from the other arm chair.
"I'm sorry, Harry, did you say something?" asked Hermione.
Harry frowned and glanced from Ron to Hermione then to Ginny, "Just keep your eyes open Hermione."
"Anything for you Harry," she said with a sweet, fake smile at Ginny and Harry. Glaring at Ron as she stalked out the common room.
"I reckon she's still mad at me," grimaced Ron.
"She's always mad at you," said Ginny.
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Hermione made her way to the bottom of the staircase and found Draco already waiting.
"Well let's get this over with," said Hermione and motioned near the kitchen to scan for out of bed Hufflepuffs.
"You know we're going to have to do this every other night," he muttered. "Better get used to it."
They walked on opposite sides of the corridor, keeping a pleasurable amount of space between them, searching for students sneaking about the castle. Hermione and Draco entered the Hufflepuff common room. Being Head Boy and Girl, they were entitled to all house passwords. The dimly lit mustard colored walls were strung with portraits of famous witches and wizards from the Hufflepuff house.
"Well, it seems as though the prefects have gone to bed," Draco whispered. "C'mon, the Slytherin dormitory is only a few flights down."
They made their to the dungeons and stopped when they reached a smoothed stone slab with marble snakes around the frame.
"Dung Bomb," hissed Draco. Hermione shivered from the cold and drew her robes tighter around herself.
The slab slid open with a screeching groan, letting more icy air claw at their skin. The Slytherin common room was almost pitch black with little light from the walls. A low burning fire cast shadows on the walls and made the portraits of terrifying beasts look gnarlier and bloodier. All the furniture was stained ink black. Slazars snake symbol was plastered on nearly every object in the room.
Hermione shivered again from the cold or maybe it was the eeriness of the room that made her do so. She rubbed her hands together trying to heat her numb fingers.
Malfoy saw her shudder, "Scared Granger?"
"You wish," retorted Hermione.
A shuffle from the dorm stairs made them both jump.
"We weren't sure if you were coming back mate!" erupted Blaise with a goofy grin.
"Shut up Zabini, your going to wake the entire castle," whispered Astoria.
"Granger and I were just checking common rooms. I figured you two would still be up," said Draco.
Blaise and Astoria only just noticed Hermione standing near the embers of the fire.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't Little Miss Know-It-All. How's it goin' Granger?" Asked Blaise who strutted towards Hermione and reached to place a delicate kiss on her hand.
Draco stepped forward to tell him it was a very foolish idea but before he could, Hermione took her hand back and thumped Blaise hard on the head. Astoria busted with laughter as Blaise rubbed his forehead.
Hermione raised her eyebrows and gave him a thats-what-you-get-when-you-mess-with-me kind of look. "Well I wouldn't want to over stay my welcome. Let's finish the other common rooms Malfoy, I want to go back to Gryffindor tower," said Hermione.
"Alright I'll see you two later," Draco said to his two friends.
They left the menacing room behind and resumed climbing the fights of stairs to the Ravenclaw tower in the west wing.
"Do you ever get used to the cold down there? And is it always that dark?" said Hermione still warming her hands.
Draco gave an emotionless chuckle. "It's never been warm in that common room there may be a fire but it doesn't heat up much. What do you expect? We have to be hidden away from the rest of the castle in the dungeons. Slytherin has always been the most dissatisfactory house, so why should we be given a cozy common room?" He asked rhetorically. His voice held something along the lines of malice.
"We're here," Hermione said quietly.
They had reached a door without a doorknob, keyhole, but with a bronze knocker that took the shape of an eagle.
"How do we get in? No one will be awake to hear us knock," inquired Draco.
Without answering his question Hermione knocked on the door and waited as the eagle asked a riddle: "I'm so fragile that when you say my name you break me. What am I?"
Without a hesitation Hermione walked up to the door and whispered, "You are silence."
The door clicked and Hermione swung it open, climbing inside. The Ravenclaw common room was as empty as the Hufflepuff one. Several books were already strewn across the floor and table tops. Reading lights were on each table and bookshelves lined every wall.
"Everyone's asleep, let's get your common room over with. Your gang will be awake to make sure I haven't killed you, I suspect?" Draco muttered.
"Oh, like I couldn't take you Malfoy," Hermione challenged. Hermione led the way to the Gryffindor tower which happened to be on the other side of the castle.
"Oh please Granger, just because you saved the world doesn't mean I couldn't beat you," Draco remarked.
"Really?"
"Really."
"Fine lets duel," she said simply.
"What? Right now?" He asked incredulously.
"Yeah right now, give it a go Malfoy," Hermione provoked.
Draco frowned but then grinned, "You see, as much as I'd fancy a duel with you Granger, I can't."
"Why not?" She inquired.
"Well I'm sort of tired you see, I didn't get my nap in today."
"That's not a very good excuse."
"Fine, if you really want to know. . . I don't fight girls."
Hermione laughed, "Really? That's never stopped you before."
Draco sighed, "Well, times have changed Granger. . . We're here."
They had reached the entrance of the Gryffindor common room when Hermione begrudgingly spoke the password to the Fat Lady, "Fizzing Wizbee."
"Oh good Hermione your back, we need your opinion on—"
"What's he doing here!?" bellowed Ron who sprung from his arm chair.
Hermione glanced at Draco who was gazing at the common room in awe, never having seen a room so comfortable and warm.
"Hey Weasel," Draco said calmly.
"Don't 'Hey Weasel' me Malfoy. What are you doing in our bloody common room? Hermione are you alright? He didn't hurt you did he?" Ron rushed to Hermione's side, running his hands over her face and scanning for any signs of injuries
Hermione pushed his arms away angrily, "Quit it Ron I'm fine!" said Hermione shrilly. "Malfoy lets go, we don't want to keep McGonagall waiting. "
She stalked out of the portrait hole with Draco trailing behind her. Anger coursing through her veins. He did it again. Ron made her look weak in front of Malfoy twice today. What was his deal? Why would Ron want to know if she were hurt or not? Hermione figured she was nothing to him. He wouldn't have broken things off if he still cared.
Neither of the two talked the whole way down the staircase. McGonagall greeted them with an exhausted smile, "All students are in their dorms?"
"Yes Professor."
"Very well, I shall show you to your dormitory now," said McGonagall walking briskly out the hall.
"I'm sorry professor I think I heard you wrong, what do you mean by our dormitory," asked Draco who appeared utterly confused.
"Oh no Mr. Malfoy you heard me correctly. I assumed you and Ms. Granger knew you'd be sharing a dormitory together," said McGonagall.
If hell wanted to consume them then and there Hermione would have easily obliged.
"No professor, no one seemed to have mentioned that one, tiny, measly little detail when the position was given to us," remarked Draco.
"I do not appreciate your attitude Mr. Malfoy, and I would have thought Percy Weasley would have given you all you needed to know about being a Head at Hogwarts Ms. Granger. No matter, however, you two did agreed to get along am I correct? So this shouldn't be a dilemma," she said raising an eyebrow.
"Yes but professor, we are very different people who've loathed each other for years, how—" started Hermione.
"If this truly was your dream to become Head Girl you will be able to push all differences aside," countered McGonagall as she started climbing the staircases.
Hermione hung her head tiredly and follower the headmistress. After many flights of moving stairs, Hermione recognize the area on the fourth floor; the corridor was a deserted one that never had many occupants. Not even the ghosts at Hogwarts bothered to travel through the empty floor.
"The portrait I have chosen to guard the entrance of your dormitory has promised a constant watch over this floor. Just like the Fat Lady's portrait you must give them a password to enter. You may not share that particular word or phrase along with the location to anyone, understood?" asked McGonagall.
"Yes professor," chorused both students.
"Very well, ah here we are . . . the entry to your new dormitory. . . just this way."
They reached the dead end of the hall then followed McGonagall into the shadows of the left wall. It was pushed in to make a skinny hallway leading to what looked like yet another dead end. Blazing torches lined the dusty stone walls, two final torches at the end revealed a beautiful, delicate, black framed portrait of Remus Lupin.
Hermione stared at him in shock, having last seen him lying dead next to his wife Nymphadora Tonks. Pausing in her tracts, Hermione thought back the memorable Defense Against the Dark Arts classes he had taught and the amount she had truly learned from her old professor. As a result Draco ran into her not knowing she had blocked his path.
"Any day now Granger," Draco said impatiently.
"Right. Sorry," said Hermione.
Nearing the portrait, Hermione noticed Lupin's familiar raggedy cloak and greying hair.
"Hermione! Wonderful to see you again, no student better to have this position than you, in my opinion. However, I am a bit shocked to see a Malfoy. . ." Lupin looked quizzically Draco, "Hmm well . . . there is always room to improve one's life. . . ."
"The password, Remus, is 'ridkkulous'," said McGonagall.
He gave Hermione a quick wink as his portrait swung forward, presenting them with a large dark colored room, and cloudy carpet that covered the stone floor. A booming gape in the center of a bookcase bore a gigantic window; which created a reading nook with fluffy pillows to lie against, dominated an entire wall. Black wooden tables and benches at the back of the room occupied Daily Prophet articles and reading lamps. The walls were decorated with scarlet tapestries and portraits of famous witches and wizards. An enormous bulletin board hung several school notices and ads, projecting various schedules and agendas. A grand fireplace in the front of the room brought light to two squishy armchairs each on the side of a cozy maroon sofa.
Hermione gaped at the elegance of it all, "It's beautiful professor."
The headmistress beamed at Hermione, "Yes it is quite something isn't it. Why don't you two take a glimpse of your bedrooms." She said indicating to a pair of side by side mahogany doors.
Hermione taking the left and Draco, the right; the both strode across the room to the twin doors, pushed down the handles, and walked in.
Hermione wasn't surprised to see her room was quite similar to the girls dormitory back in the Gryffindor Tower. The walls were decorated red and gold, a stove stood squarely in the middle of the room, with heat already radiating off it. A four-poster bed, much broader than her old one, had the Gryffindor house crest emblazoned on each pillow, whereas the top comforter matched the scarlet walls. To the left of the bed was a small beside cabinet and a giant one for her already unpacked clothes. On the wall next to that where two sets of lengthy windows with enough space for Hermione to sit and dangle her legs freely out the castle walls if she so chose. An oak desk, located on the opposite wall of her bed, held enough room for several rolls of parchment, at least 6-7 books, and storage for a couple of personal items of hers. Next to her desk was a tall yet simple bookshelf with many of her favorite reads from the library only a couple floors below.
Still perched in the doorway, Hermione found a door similar to her own on the right hand wall. A sudden strike of curiosity carried her to the door, and in a single motion she pulled open the door and flipped the switch.
The bathroom tiles mirrored the exact color a grand shower and elegant bath. A marbled vanity with two sinks possessed all of her necessities including 'Hermy's Horrendous Hair Helper' which George had later nicknamed his potion.
What puzzled Hermione was the extra sink. She didn't need two. As the realization dawned on her, Draco too, from the frame of an adjacent doorway, seemed to catch on to what this meant.
They had to share.
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Sorry for the late update! I hope you all had a Merry Christmas (if you celebrate it) and have a happy New Year!! Thanks for reading, I'll try to update soon! <3