Hermione checked over her trunk for a third time to verify she hadn't missed anything. Her nerves were jumbled in a million pieces as she prepared for her seventh and final year at Hogwarts.
Hermione had received an owl the previous week confirming that she had been chosen to be Head Girl that year. Her parents had been incredibly pleased to hear the news, they'd always had high expectations of their daughter and she met every one of them accordingly.
The trunk snapped shut as it closed. It was heavy to lug down the stairs. Hermione's father helped her load it into the trunk of the car.
Yes, it would have been far easier for her to levitate it in but Hermione didn't like to use magic in front of her parents. She knew that they were proud of her accomplishments and that they fully embraced that she was a witch. But there was something special to her about embracing her muggle heritage while she was at home. It helped her appreciate her gifts that much more.
Hermione's Dad got into the front seat and backed the car out of the driveway. They were on their way to King's cross for the final time. A bittersweet pain tugged at her heart. This was going to be her best year yet, she was going to ensure it.
Voldemort's power and support had been accumulating over the summer. Hermione felt painfully aware of the reality that a war could indeed break out within the next couple years, but she was determined to not let that undermine her education and experience at Hogwarts.
They pulled into King's cross station all too soon. Hermione had lost herself in thought. She loaded her trunk onto a cart and said goodbye to her parents.
"I'll see you both at Christmas break. I love you" she hugged them tenderly and pushed her cart over to platform 9 ¾. She readied her grip on the handle and ran her way through the barrier until she broke through.
The train was waiting on the other side as students bustled past her. Her eyes scanned through the crowd for Harry and Ron. She didn't catch sight of them as she went to load her trunk onto the train.
The train whistled blew loudly giving everyone a five minute warning. Hermione couldn't wait any longer. She went on the train and assumed she would find them there.
It didn't take her long to scan through the aisles and find them sitting together in a compartment, waiting for her.
"Hey Hermione! How's Hogwarts' head girl?" asked Ron with a wink. He stood up to hug her, as well as Harry.
Hermione beamed. "I'm so nervous. I' m going to have so many more responsibilities this year."
"Yes, but you're going to thrive. We all know you will" assured Harry.
"I hope so. I don't want to let our house down after all"
The train sped off and they were on their way to Hogwarts for their last year.
/
When they arrived at Hogwarts, Hermione had to split up from her friends and make her way to Dumbledore's office. She would be given her badge as head girl and be instructed on her first duties and responsibilities.
As she made her way to Dumbledore's office she couldn't help but wonder who would be head boy alongside her. In her heart, she wished it could have been Ron or Harry. But their academic performances had never been high enough to qualify them. Even if they had the grades, it was very rare for two people of the same house to be named Head boy and Head girl during the same year. The only other time she'd heard of it had been when Lily and James were head boy and girl.
Hermione waited outside of Dumbledore's office for the door to open. She hadn't been given the password. When she was granted access she quickly made her way up the stairs and inside to greet Dumbledore with a hug.
"It's good to see you Professor"
"Likewise Ms. Granger. Congratulation, I'm very proud of your for achieving the rank of Head Girl. I always knew you would."
She beamed, "Thank you professor. I'm very excited about this year"
"As am I"
They both looked up as the door opened again. She heard footsteps approaching the room.
It was Professor McGonagall who rounded the corner.
"He's not here yet?" asked McGonagall, surprised.
"Not yet Minerva. I imagine he's only moments away."
"I see Ms. Granger is early, as a Head Student should be"
"Professor McGonagall will be training you on your duties this year. I, unfortunately, have too many responsibilities this year to attend to and will not have the delight of training you myself." explained Dumbledore.
"It'll be a pleasure to work with Professor McGonagall, sir" Hermione assured him.
Their attention was diverted as they heard the door open once more and the sound of footsteps heading towards the office.
"Finally, our head boy arrives" said McGonagall.
Draco Malfoy came around the corner.
Hermione and Draco met each other's gaze with the same grimace. It was painfully obvious that neither was enthralled at the idea of being Head boy and girl during the same year.
Hermione was the brightest muggle born witch the wizarding world had ever seen. She represented the idea that there were no limitations when you had the right determination. Whereas Draco Malfoy was the biggest pure blood elitist the school had seen in years. He embraced the idea that being a wizard was something you were born into, it couldn't be earned. Any idea that contradicted that was an abomination to the natural order in his mind.
They were complete opposites. Yet, they would be expected to function as one unit to bring together the school and maintain order. The world seemed to have a funny sense of humor. Or at least Dumbledore did.
Despite the fact that neither wanted to work with the other, there would be no thought of resignation. They were both too proud to step down even if it meant they had to tolerate each other for the remainder of their final year.
"The first thing you both will be required to do is to instruct the new prefects on their duties." She handed Hermione a list that stated everything they were to tell the prefects. "You are also to answer any questions they may have and supervise that these responsibilities are carried out correctly. The prefects will be waiting for you in my classroom. You may both be excused" McGonagall dismissed them both with a wave of her hand.
Draco looked over to Hermione with distrust as they walked out together.
He snatched the list clean out of her hands as soon as they were out of Dumbledore's office.
"Let me see that" he demanded and began to scan it over.
"How dare you" Hermione snatched it back. "McGonagall entrusted it to me"
"She entrusted it to us both mudblood"
Hermione abruptly stopped and shoved a pointed finger in his face. "Listen here Malfoy. We have to set an example for those prefects. I don't care that you don't like me. I don't care for you either. But I will not tolerate any disrespect from you. Do you understand me?" she poked him square in the chest as she made her point.
He rolled his eyes. "Right, whatever. Can I see the list then Granger?" he held his hand out expectantly.
She thrust it in his hand. "I already know all of their duties. As should you. I don't need the list but seeing as you can't remember what it means to be an effective prefect, maybe you should refresh it before we go in."
Draco glared knives at her but proceeded to read over the list as they walked towards McGonagall's classroom.
"Be on you best behavior" Hermione warned Draco like a child before she opened the door.
There was a group of prefects waiting anxiously for them.
"Welcome back everyone" said Hermione cheerily. Even Draco gave a halfhearted smile before it quickly flashed from his face.
"I'm Hermione Granger, Head Girl. This is Draco Malfoy. He's head boy this year-"
"I can speak for myself Granger" Draco said from the side of his mouth so that only she could hear.
"It'd be best that you don't" replied Hermione with a sweet and professional smile; her tone insisting that he stopped speaking.
She turned her attention back to the attentive group in front of her. "If you have any questions at all, feel free to come to either of us. We're here for you. Now, did everyone receive their list of duties in the mail this summer?"
A few people nodded to show they were receptive to her questions.
"Good, we're just going to review some of the more crucial ones quickly before we head down to the sorting. Now remember, when the feast is finished it is your responsibility to make sure that the first years know where their house commons are and know what the password is. Be sympathetic to them. They're young and this is a very new change for them. I'm sure you all remember your first day at Hogwarts?"
Draco leaned back against the wall and listened to Hermione continue her lecture as if he were one of the prefects and held no responsibility over the flow of the meeting, whatsoever. He wasn't even really needed there. Granger had completely stolen the spot light as was doing fine. She continued on for another good ten minutes before acknowledging he was there once more.
"Draco, did you have anything you wanted to add?"
He hadn't even been paying attention. "Nope, you got it all covered Granger"
"Excellent. You all may go. Remember to have fun this year!" She smiled at everyone before turning to speak to a couple of straggling prefects with addition questions that needed clarification. No one came up to Draco as he stood there, seemingly for appearances.
After the last prefect had left, she turned to him.
"Would it kill you to call me Hermione in front of them by the way?"
"That would imply that I have respect for you. Which I don't" he snidely retorted before walking out of the room. Hermione rolled her eyes and followed him out as they made their way down to the sorting.
.
.
.
.
.
A:N/ So, I decided to write this as a prequel to my story 'The Possibility'. I won't be able to update it as frequently as I did the Possibility because I'm starting school. But it's my goal to still update multiple times a week. Make sure you review and let me know what you think! Thanks!