Midnight Strolls
"Hermione dear. Are you ready to go? We're going to be late. Remember you have to be to king's cross early because you're Head Girl" Hermione's mother shouted up the stairwell that lead to Hermione's attic bedroom.
"I'm coming; I promise I'll be down in a minute." Hermione was trying to rush, but there was only so much you could do with her hair the muggle way. It took hours over the summer to get it looking decent. She couldn't wait to be back at Hogwarts, and the world she belonged in. She only wished that her parents could belong in it too. She loved them dearly, and even though they tried to understand they just couldn't. They couldn't understand half of what happened to Hermione in her six years at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Over the years she just stopped telling them. Sure she'd tell them the basics. You know, 'school was fun' or 'I learned a lot'. Stuff like that. The other stuff she just couldn't explain. The worst of the things were the boys. She knew that just because the boys at her school happened to have magic powers didn't mean that they weren't boys, but they were different just like everything else in her world. She tried to stay away from the boys.
"Took you long enough dumpling."
"Yeah, dad but I had to fix my hair. You know that us girls can't go anywhere with their hair a mess."
"I suppose so." Her father looked down at his little girl. His only child that lead a life that didn't, and he might as well admit it, couldn't involve him. "We better go Miss Headgirl." His baby was headgirl. It was great, but she was headgirl of a school he knew nothing about. She was supposed to go to his old private school. They had it all set up. Everything. Then she got that letter from the first of many owls.
"Is everything ok Dad?" Hermione's father looked very solemn, very unlike himself.
"Yes, I was just thinking."
The trio arrived at King's cross an hour before the train was scheduled to leave. Finally, Hermione thought, I'll get to find out who the head boy is. I hope its Justin Finch-Flectly or maybe Terry Boot. I'd take anyone but Malfoy.
"Granger"
Oh no. It can't be Malfoy. Anyone but him. Why him?
"What're you doing here Malfoy?" Hermione wasn't in the mood to start into their "bonding" ritual this early in the year. She'd prefer if Malfoy just burst into flames, but since that won't be happening she'd just have to be on guard in case he started something in front of her parents.
"Oh, I see you've brought the muggles along with you. How sweet." He looked at Mr. and Mrs. Granger as if they were trolls.
"What're you doing here Malfoy!" Hermione wanted to know. If he was the Head boy she wanted to know it. While she waited for him to answer she desperately searched his clothing for the shiny badge that she had seen Percy wear so many years ago.
Nothing. She didn't see the pin. While she was looking she noticed that he was actually wearing "normal" clothing. He had on a black T-shirt and a pair of brand new jeans. Around his neck though was something not so "normal". It was a silver necklace with a charm on it. The charm was a snake. Oh of course, it was something to show the world that he was a Slytherin. She wondered were he had gotten it. The snake seemed alive. Wait, it was spelled. The snake just flicked it's tongue. He should know better than to wear something like that out in public! She got very upset that he would risk getting caught with it.
"It's really none of your business." He stared at her, just willing her to fight back. She had had enough of him already this morning.
"Malfoy! As Head Girl I demand you tell me why you're here so early." She'd show him. Unless of course he really was Head Boy, in that case her statement would mean nothing. They would be equals.
"Fine, your grace. Just so you know. I always get here this early. I like to get my favorite compartment. It just so happens that a lot of other people like that compartment too. Are you satisfied, or should I bow?" Draco's look told her to not even think of making him bow. He looked her up and down. God, there was that damn badge. Why did he actually have to deal with that Mudblood as Head Girl. It could've been anyone else. He'd have been happier, but no it had to be perfect little suck up; Granger. Well, of course it was Granger, who else would the Head Master pick. That just gives the golden trio all the more power in the damn school.
"Fine, go to your compartment then." She was gaining confidence; he hadn't told her to buzz off that he was Head Boy. Maybe her year would be saved after all.
"I don't have to listen to you! It's not like your better than me. I'll go to my compartment when I damn well feel like it." Draco was fuming now. Not only was that Gryffindor scum Head Girl she thought that gave her the authority to boss a Malfoy around. He'd have to teach her a lesson this year. One that she'd keep the rest of her pathetic Mudblood life. He then walked away though the barrier mumbling something about stupid muggles, and how he hated going into muggle London.
Hermione didn't even bother to listen to him. He was ruining her good byes to her parents. Hermione turned back around to where her parents where standing. They looked upset to say the least.
"Mum, Dad are you guys ok?"
They seemed to come out of their stupor when they heard their daughter's voice.
"Yes dear, we're fine. It's just who was that young man? He seems to have an anger problem." Hermione's mum answered back.
"Oh, don't worry about Malfoy, most wizards have an anger problem. It must be connected to the magic gene." Although that was mostly a lie Hermione figured a nice scientific answer would put her parents at ease.
"Malfoy? Is that really his name? Oh and why did he keep calling you by your surname sweetie. Doesn't he know your real name?"
"Um. Malfoy is not his real name. It's his surname. Wizards usually just call each other by their surnames, unless there is family present. You know, because it would get very difficult to figure out who you were talking to." Hermione was glad that she had spent the last six years learning how to lie from two of the best. Thank you Harry and Ron.
"Oh, ok then Dear. Have a good term." Each of her parents hugged her.
"Oh, are you going to come home for Christmas?"
"I don't know mum. It's my last year at Hogwarts. I'll let you know later." Hermione then gave her parents one last hug and disappeared as she leaned against the magical entrance to platform 9 ¾.
The platform was completely empty. Not a soul. Expect for where ever the hell Malfoy had run off to. She hoped that he was just here to get a good seat, and that he wasn't head boy. If only Harry and Ron could have come earlier with her, but no the lazy bums had wanted to sleep. That's why the Weasley's hadn't taken her this summer. She really missed Ron, but she missed Harry more. She touched the goblin gold bracelet Harry had gotten for her this summer for their one year anniversary. It was very elegant with flames etched around the band, a lion in the middle, and on the inside it was engraved. It said, "To Hermione, my shinning star when everything in the world goes black." It was a very sweet gift, but also very expensive. She had gotten him an IOU one all night date. She had no clue what the get him, so she figured that could be considered romantic, so that's what he got.
'Well, I guess it's time to find out who the hell I'm working with for the year' Hermione thought as she headed toward the front of the scarlet steam engine that bore the Hogwarts crest.
She slid the prefect's door open to stare at the back of a frame she knew all to well. Why, why did it have to be him? That lean tall body. The only thing that didn't say, Malfoy was the fact that his hood was up. She couldn't see that damn blonde hair of his.
"Why didn't you just tell me you Head Boy back at the barrier! Do you like to embarrass the hell out of me? Huh? Do you, or do you just feel that I'm not good enough to know such things?" Hermione ranted for a good five minutes. It seemed as if the idiot didn't even realize she was talking to him. He didn't turn around, he didn't say anything, and he didn't even acknowledge that she was in the room. That just pissed her off more. She was going to hit him so hard that he wouldn't wake up until they got to Hogwarts.
"Hey, asshole, did you hear me, or are you just being a troll?"
"Didn't I save you from a troll?" the figure said as she walked around to face him.
"HARRY! Why didn't you tell me you were Head Boy?" And the proof was staring her straight in the face as the silver badge was pinned right next to his Gryffindor crest.
"I wanted it to be a surprise. That's why I told Ron to write you saying we wanted to sleep. So I flooed over to the Leaky Cauldron this morning, and walked to Kings Cross.
"Oh, I'm so glad it's you. I thought it would be Malfoy. I had a run in with him already this morning. Then when I saw you from the back I thought you were him. You've gotten taller. And, how much Quidditch have you been playing? You look great Harry."
Harry just chuckled. "You thought I was Malfoy? I don't know if I like my girlfriend mistaking me for another guy. I did get taller didn't I, Mrs. Weasley and I had to go to Diagon Alley and get me new robes. I've shot up six inches. I had to borrow the twins' clothes as I was growing. Quidditch you ask huh. Well, not much, just about five hours a day is all." He chuckled a little again and pulled Hermione into a hug.
"Did you even go to the Dursely's?"
"Nope. Dumbledore figured there was no point. If Voldemort wants to attack me, he's going to attack me. I'm safer with wizards."
As Harry and Hermione worked out schedules for all the prefects and the ghosts they heard sound from the platform. Students were pouring in from the barrier. Every year was represented, from 1st all the way up to 7th. You could tell the 1st years because they looked up at the steam engine with amazement. You could also tell the muggle borns, because not only did they come alone, but they looked very scared and not sure what to do until a platform worker came to help them out.
The compartment door slide open as the first of the prefects came in for their start of term meeting. It was a couple of Ravenclaw sixth years. They were chatting about how they had set up their study schedules over the summer. Hermione greeted them and they smiled; remembering her from their first year as prefects. They looked at Harry weird. He just suspected it was because he was "Harry Potter", boy wonder, but they were really wondering what he was doing there. Then they noticed the pin, and quickly started talking about him being Head Boy. Was that allowed? They had never heard of it before. More students filed into the compartment.
"Hey mate. How's your first day on the job going?" Ron had finally showed up. If at all possible he had grown over the summer too. He had now passed the twins in height and had new robes.
"Ron! How was your summer? I missed you. Are those new robes?" Hermione had started asking him questions the minute she saw him.
"Whoa, Hermione calm down. Take a breath will you. Yes these are new robes. I've gotten so tall that none of my brothers' robes fit me anymore. Isn't it funny; my last year and I finally get new robes. Oh well I guess one of my sons will have to use them."
"You can only hope. They do bare the Gryffindor crest. What if your kids don't get put in Gryffindor?"
"Hermione, don't curse me. My family has been in Gryffindor as long as the Malfoy's have been in Slytherin. It'd be terrible if my kids were the first to break that chain." Ron actually looked as if the thought of them ending up in any other house was just like looking at death. "I think mum would disown me."
"She might at that Ron, she might at that. Come to think of it. Do you think she'd disown me if my kids weren't in Gryffindor?"
"Yeah Harry, she probably would. Although I have no clue how far back the Potters go in Gryffindor."
"Me either. Maybe Hermione does. Hon, do you know how far back my family goes in Gryffindor?"
"Ha Ha, that's very funny Harry. Like I sit around all day remembering stupid facts like that. Find out for yourself."
"Where would I look? How am I supposed to find out for myself if I don't know where to look?" He was playing with her, trying to see if she'd break down and help him like she always had before.
"Harry, you are so dense. Sometimes I wonder why were going out. There is probably a school registry in the library some where." She looked at her slow boyfriend. Why did she agree to go out with him? It wasn't as if she didn't like him, but now everything was different. When they broke up she hoped it wasn't some big stupid thing, and that they could still be friends. She treasured Harry very much and would hate it if she didn't at least have his friendship.
"OOOHH, right a registry. I should've thought of that." He was blushing because of the easy answer. "And we're going out because I asked you before Ron collected his courage and asked you himself."
"Harry you're so mean. Leave Ron alone. I think everyone is here now. We should start the meeting." She dragged Harry to the front of the table with her as the prefects took their seats. As Hermione looked around at the new faces and the old she noticed that one of the old was not there. She didn't see the scowl or platinum blonde hair of Draco Malfoy. Where was he? He was certainly on the train. Well, he'll be getting yelled at when the train arrived at Hogwarts.
"Well, hello everyone! My name is Hermione Granger, I'm your Head Girl and I'd like you to meet Harry Potter. He'll be your Head Boy for this term." Everyone clapped respectively at them and then Hermione continued.
"I'd like to go over the schedules with everyone and then"
Just then the compartment door slammed open and Draco waltzed right in.
"Have I missed something? I had more important things to do." He took his time getting to the one seat that was left open for him.
"Malfoy why were you late?" Hermione was still mad at him for earlier that morning.
"It's really none of your business." Hermione stared at him for a second then decided the fight was just what he wanted. So she was determined not to give it to him.
"As I was saying. The schedules are as follows." She went down the list and everyone at least looked at the person they were partnered up with. Everyone was partnered with someone out side of their house and year. Expect that Hermione had paired her and Harry together since he had no clue what he had to do.
Author's Notes:
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. I wish I did though. I'd be VERY happy if that happened, but it won't so oh well.
This is my first fanfic. It's dedicated to my best friend Aurora Slytherin. She wanted me to write her something, and here it is. I hope you liked the first chapter, more to come I just don't know when.