*Disclaimer: Obviously the rights of the Harry Potter universe belong to the amazingly talented JK Rowling! This story take place in their final year and the war has not progressed as much, i.e Dumbledore is alive and Draco is not yet a death eater. Hope you enjoy my story :) *
It was September 1st and the Hogwarts Express had arrived at the school to begin another year. Hermione Ron and Harry were heading away from the Hogwarts Express towards the carriages drawn by the school's herd of Thestrals. All of their group of friends could see the Thestrals since their fiasco in the ministry in their fifth year.
"So who were the prefects Ron?" Hermione was quizzing. "I really want to know who will be the head of the school with me!"
"Uh well, pretty much same as last year, except there was a different Hufflepuff guy, I don't know his name." his face suddenly darkened. "Oh and Blaise Zabini was the prefect for Slytherin instead of Malfoy. I'm not really sure which one would be worse."
"Hmmm, perhaps the head boy will be Ernie Macmillan then." Said Hermione thoughtfully and then sighed in relief. "Well that's good anyway, obviously Dumbledore came to his senses about ever appointing him in the first place."
"I bet Snape wasn't happy about that." Harry stated knowingly.
"So it turns out that even though ferrets may not be fit to be prefects, Dumbledore must think that they are still aloud to be students." Ron nodded towards the blonde student standing with other Slytherins by a carriage.
Harry and Hermione looked over to see Malfoy grinning towards them. "I don't like the way he's looking at you Hermione." Harry frowned. "It looks like he's up to something.'
Hermione laughed. "I have more important things to worry about than a silly git like Draco Malfoy. Come on, let's go get a carriage." She pointed to one with Neville and Luna already waiting. "Besides, I want to find out who the Head Boy will be!"
They headed over to the carriage and forgot the matter as they caught up with their friends laughing and talking the rest of the way up to the school.
Later on Hermione was rushing down the corridor towards McGonagall's office, silently berating herself for getting caught up talking with Luna. She fought to catch her breath as she reached the door and pushed it open.
Hermione's jaw dropped when she saw who was sitting in McGonagall's office already. "Malfoy!?" She exclaimed unable to hold back her shock.
"Granger." He sneered back, revelling in her surprise. "Bet you weren't expecting me to be Head boy."
"No I wasn't, because I was under the impression to be given the position of Head Boy it was necessary to have at least half a brain in your head!" Hermione shot back.
"Now that's enough!" Professor McGonagall interjected already seeming exasperated. "Ms Granger and Mr Malfoy, I do understand that you two have a not so savoury history," Malfoy scoffed and was silenced with a none too subtle glare from McGonagall. "But be that as it may, you both have been selected and are now the role models for the rest of the school. I trust that you both read the parchment that explained your roles that was sent to you both with your badges?"
Hermione and Draco both nodded, determinately not looking at each other.
"Good," McGonagall nodded satisfied. "So you understand that you will have the same roles as when you were both prefects last year, except the prefects will now report to you and you will also both have your own lodgings. You will have your own bedrooms and bathrooms but you will share a common room."
This time is was Hermione who scoffed loudly earning herself one of McGonagall's well known glares.
"Now this is a privilege that has been extended to you and I trust you both understand this," She continued. "So you will of course be expected to keep your grades up and to represent this school in the best way possible. This includes working as a team together, I do not want to be hearing stories of my Head girl and boy fighting, do I make myself clear?"
"Yes Professor McGonagall." Draco and Hermione both replied sullenly.
"Good," She sighed. "I will now take you to your dwellings, the password for the common room is Felix Felicis, and you would do best to keep this password to yourselves, lest you want some unwanted visitors. Alright let's go, otherwise you will both be late for the feast."
The three walked down the corridor in silence, until Hermione asked other question that had been pestering her since their meeting, aside from how on earth Draco Malfoy managed to get the role of Head Boy. "Where is Professor Dumbledore Miss?"
McGonagall glanced down at her without breaking her pace. "Given the state of things, Professor Dumbledore will be in and out of the school a lot this year as he was last, so I will be dealing with the two of you when he is away. In saying that, he will be back in time for the feast tonight."
They continued down the corridors in silence after that, all relieved when they reached their destination, a portrait of young boy in Hogwarts's uniform.
"Felix Felicis." Professor McGonagall stated with a quick nod to the portrait.
"Right you are professor," The portrait winked with a mischievous grin and swung open to admit the two students in.
"I trust you will find everything in order," McGonagall turned to Hermione and Draco. "The Feast will begin in half an hour; I also trust that you will both be on time." Hermione frowned when she realised McGonagall was mainly looking at her. McGonagall then walked off the corridor shaking her head, wondering if Dumbledore has made the correct choice in appointing these two of all people the year before.
Hermione walked around the room pleased to see it was similar to the Gryffindor common room, only smaller and with neutral colours. She was walking past the fireplace when Draco began to speak. "Don't get too comfortable in here, I don't plan on having to look at your ugly face when I am trying to unwind."
Hermione gritted her teeth and turned around slowly coming face to face with Draco Malfoy's typical glare. "I would expect you to be used to it, given what you have to look at every time you look in a mirror you slimy little ferret. If only that was the worst of your problems, too bad your head is emptier then your face is unpleasant." She felt herself getting angrier as she looked at Draco's now half amused face. "Speaking of empty heads, how on earth did you hoodwink Professor Dumbledore in to giving you the Head Boy position?"
"I thought it was customary to give the Head Boy and Girl position to those with the best grades in the year level?"
Hermione raised her eyebrows in disbelief. "You have the best grades in the year?"
Draco smirked back at her. "Just because I don't flaunt my intelligence to the rest of the school like you mudblood, does not mean I am not intelligent, I've been neck and neck with you since our first year." He grinned when he saw her flinch at the word Mudblood. "I received 6 owls in my 5th year, same as you, with 5 being Outstanding and 1 Exceeds Expectations and I plan on receiving the same amount of Newts this year. Perhaps all Outstanding would be better, however."
Hermione's mouth dropped without her realising. She quickly shut it and shot back "How on earth do you know what results I received?"
"I make a point of keeping an eye on my competition, and when you have a father who is as influential in the Ministry as mine is, finding out information like that is a breeze." He smirked at her. "In any case, let's not pretend I'm any happier about this then you are. So you better stay out of my way this year if you don't want to get hurt." He shot her one last glare before turning on his heal and walking out of the portrait hole.
Hermione had to admit she was in shock. She couldn't believe that after all these years of thinking the opposite, Draco Malfoy actually had a brain in his head, and she hated to admit it, but he was probably just as smart as her. She shook her head the remove these unsettling thoughts. Well, she told herself, it gives him even less of reason to be such a prat 100% of the time. Smiling to herself at that thought she rushed out of the portrait hole, eager to see her friends at the feast and see what they think about the whole situation.