(A/N: I do not own any of the characters, even if I wished I did.)
Chapter I
Hermione stared at the portrait that stood before her. She could not believe the fact that she was chosen.
With a smile it greeted, "The Head Girl! Password, Madame?"
"Espiègle," She returned with a smile.
"Welcome to the Head's Quarters." It said as it swung open to let her in.
Everything in the room caught her attention. Her eyes never stayed on anything in particular. The fireplace was well lit and their rooms were of two opposite directions, each staircase leading to one. The living room seemed too big for just two people, but it was comfortable enough. The rain poured quite hard outside, giving the whole room a cold and relaxing feel. The raging wind was banging hard against the windows.
For a while, Hermione decided to stay and sit beside the fireplace and savor its warmth. At half-past eight, she ended proceeding to her room, which according to McGonagall was the one that the East staircase directed to.
Just as McGonagall had set forth in words, her room was not something that she'd ever regret having. She smiled to herself, realizing how nice it was to be chosen as the head girl…
A few minutes before half-past nine, she thought of heading to McGonagall's office for their meeting.
The moment she opened her bedroom door, she saw the blonde student, lounged on the couch…
"Malfoy?!" She exclaimed. The look of repugnance marked her face.
Draco looked up, "I am just as disgusted as you are, Mudblood."
She tightly shut her eyes, hoping that right there and then, Malfoy would just disappear.
"Heads!" She opened her eyes as the only painting spoke aloud. "McGonagall wishes to see and talk with you here in the quarters." They nodded.
Hermione walked the stair steps and sat across Malfoy with discomfort. Anyone in her presence would be aware of her uneasiness. From time to time, she'd look at the Grandfather clock.
"It's not like your fidgeting is gon'na help." He shot. Her gestures started to annoy him. "Rude." He murmured.
"Mind your own business, will you?" She replied, not realizing that her actions did bother him a lot. "And perhaps, I can't wait to leave your presence, and I know you feel the same towards mine." She raised a brow and looked away. Malfoy kept shut.
Before the discussion got any worse, McGonagall came.
"Apologies- oh, I never thought the two of you were finally the once who were chosen." She commented, as if she wasn't one of those who picked out the Heads.
"Neither did we," Hermione thought to herself as both of them remained standing.
"Just to clear things up- oh yes, be seated- we chose from different houses so that unity may be enforced, especially between Slytherin and Gryffindor," She looked at Draco and Hermione respectively.
"But those were just petty fights between the first years! How could it be taken seriously? Those were kids down there!" Malfoy protested.
"Don't pretend like you don't see the real situations, Mr. Malfoy. Those occurrences were only a few of what we took into consideration. I believe you know that fairly well." McGonagall replied calmly.
"The Administration is aware that this will take time before the upshots are seen, right?" Hermione asked.
"Yes, Ms. Granger. But we realized that there is nothing wrong if we try to initiate things now." She paused, "Amity shall first be seen between the two of you."
Silence seemed to have roosted between them.
Finally, Malfoy spat, "Nonsense. We can't make up for the feuds and arguments by those who were born before us that led to the distinct separation of the houses, Professor. Don't expect-"
"Mr. Malfoy, I respect your thoughts, but it is merely your pride that is preventing you from working with the administration and the whole student body. The houses weren't made to merely compete with each other, but also it has to complement each one. That is what we're trying to work on here."
He grunted. "My father will hear of this."
"As a matter of fact, he has," McGonagall replied.
Draco looked away with disbelief. Thinking how his father could have let this happen.
McGonagall was familiarizing them with the rules and regulations, but Malfoy's unresponsiveness displeased his professor.
McGonagall cut her discussion short and stated, "Now Mr. Malfoy, if you're not interested to-"
"I am! Of course, I am! I just can't believe that of all school years to consider as the on set of this 'peace' thing, you decide to start it now! Oh, and congratulations to Granger and I, we were chosen to be the Heads!" He said with incongruity.
"I shall talk this out with the Administration." McGonagall said, "As of the mean time, do not forget about your duties and responsibilities. Good day."
"Good day, Professor." Hermione watched McGonagall leave.
Both of them remained seated in silence. Draco watched as the fire burnt every piece of wood in the fireplace, while Hermione went on with reading Hogwarts: Grounds and Boundaries.
"I can't believe he let this happen," Draco grumbled, pertaining to his father, Lucius.
Hermione decided not to comment on anything. Whatever she is to say will just blow him off.
"Had he lost his pride?" He muttered to himself and continued, "No, he'd lost his mind."
She tried to concentrate on whatever paragraph she was at, but he kept on gabbing words, which distracted her austerely.
She placed the book down and exclaimed, "I'm so sorry I'm the head girl! You're not pissed just because you can't do it, but more so because it is I whom you're doing it with."
So, I've hit a nerve, he thought. "Precisely, Muggle. So why are you sorry? I am sorry. Care to share my pain?" He smirked and then headed to his room.