"Ms. Granger, ah yes thank you for coming. This was of the upmost importance I hope you realize." Said Professor McGonagall, well, Headmistress McGonagall now that she thought of it.
"Yes what is it Professor?"
"Not yet, we're waiting for someone else." She said, looking towards the door.
"Who?" she asked, wondering why she could possibly be here before the year even started.
"Ah yes here he is, Mister Malfoy please sit down." Draco did as he was told, taking the seat next to Hermione with a silent smirk on his face towards the obvious displeasure on hers.
"Problem Granger? Cat got your tongue?" he said,
"Oh shut it Malfoy."
"That's quite enough you two. I brought you here for a reason if you wouldn't mind letting me get it out."
"Yes Professor…" said Hermione quietly.
"Now that the war is over we want to promote house unity, something that has been very lacking ever since Salazar Slytherin and Godrick Gryffindor's fight back in the very beginning of the school. Now since you will both be returning 7th year Head boy and Girl I expect this to start with you. You do not have to be friends, but you may not be enemies either. The bad blood needs to stop. Since Mister Weasley is not returning we have not decided on a head boy for Gryffindor, as is the case of Ms. Parkinson of Slytherin house, which I don't blame her considering the castle was destroyed towards the end of 7th year, there really wasn't much to be missed." She said, looking at Draco, who only looked at his feet in response.
"So, you want unity? I don't understand."
"Well Miss Granger, I want you two to get along, very few of the 7th years of your year are returning, as a matter of fact there are about 10 of you. So it would be prudent you get along, you'll be sharing a dormitory. It will be you two, Mister Nott, Mister Longbottom, Mister Boot, Mister Zabini, Mister Finch-Fletchley, Mister MacDougal, and Miss Turpin. Now the dormitories are split up girls and boys and then the boys into sections because there are more of you. Your dormitory was added during reconstruction, and is near the owlery, it is behind a painting of the 9 of you and the password is gillyweed. Any questions you two?"
"Professor, will we be having class with the current 7th years?"
"Where else were you expecting to learn it Miss Granger?" she blushed and slid further into her chair.
"Jeez Granger and I thought you were supposed to be the smart one." Draco smirked,
"Why are you bothering to come back anyways?" she asked impatiently, "You have no reason to stay."
"Don't be daft granger I have my reasons, filthy little mudblood." He said sulkily.
"I will not tolerate that kind of language Mister Malfoy," said Professor McGonagall sternly. "You two may go." They stood up,
"Oh mudbloods first." He jeered; she just glared and stormed out the door. Hermione disapparated immediately, heading straight to the burrow. When she arrived Harry and Ron knew something was wrong, and she explained the whole situation in angry frustration.
"I, I just don't know what to do! I mean they separated us out for a reason right? It's just infuriating!"
"Why do you reckon Malfoy is coming back?" Ron asked tentatively, grabbing her hand trying to calm her down.
"I already said I haven't the slightest clue."
"Look, Hermione, we told you it wasn't worth going back, skip the N.E.W.T.'s required for magical law, come be an auror with us."Harry said, she just shook her head,
"Honestly Harry I'm not going to quit now." She said scornfully, "You two shouldn't either but I rest my case."
"Hermione calm down, that prat Malfoy can't take you."
"But all the things they learned last year in preparation for N.E.W.T.'s! I'm so behind!" she squealed, burying her head into Ron's chest.
"Calm down Hermione, it's just a test." He said, she looked up, saying nothing. This time tomorrow she would be on the train to Hogwarts, to perhaps the strangest year she would have yet.
