Disclaimer: I do not own anything in this story. As much as I wish I did.
NOTE: Snape is alive. The war is over. No Deathly Hallows for the most part.
"Miss Granger, if I could, I'd like to see you in my office." Headmistress McGonagall called out as Hermione prepared to leave the Great Hall. Tonight was their first night back at Hogwarts since the war ended. Earlier that day, Hermione had been surprised to see a majority of the students from their year had decided to return for the final year. It seemed nearly everyone was back, aside from the tragic few that had been lost during the war. Even the Slytherins reappeared.
Shaking off Harry, Ron, and Ginny, Hermione assured them it probably had something to do with prefect duties and promised she be in the common room shortly. Harry and Ron had been shocked to learn that Hermione hadn't been made Head Girl, instead Hannah Abbott and Blaise Zabini had been given the titles. Hermione chuckled at the worrying glances she was receiving from her two best friends as Ginny dragged them back to the common room. She had changed over the summer and her boys felt it would be best if they took up the role of her protective older brothers. Without the war looming over her, Hermione finally took the time to relax, have fun, and be a girl. Multiple sleepovers with Ginny had taught Hermione how to dress, how to control her hair, and how to do her makeup. Ron and Harry, having spent the summer with Charlie in Romania, were a little more than amazed when they saw her on the train. Yes, the summer had been good to one Hermione Granger.
Completely lost in her thoughts, Hermione had arrived at the Headmistress' office without noticing. Whispering the password, Hermione climbed the spiral staircase and gently knocked on the door.
"Enter." Professor Mcgonagall's rang out. Taking a deep breath, Hermione swung the door open only to see Draco Malfoy standing on the other side.
"Oh sorry Professor, I didn't realize you were in the middle of something. I can come back at another time." Hermione was anxious to get away from Malfoy. He had switched sides during the war, but she had never learned why. It was still unnerving for her to be around him, though Ron and Harry had struck up an unusual truce with the boy.
"Don't be silly Miss Granger. I need to speak to the both of you." Hermione dared to glance quickly at Malfoy, who was looking at her as well. Blushing, she quickly turned to face their Headmistress. "Now, I'm sure you were both shocked at not receiving the positions of Head Boy and Head Girl. You're both the top of your year so usually you would receive the titles. This year though, I need you to do something else. With the war over, you would think that the house rivalries would have ended. Unfortunately though, they have not. Tensions seem to be worse, between your two houses especially." Hermione didn't like this turn in conversation. She had the sinking feeling that she was going to be working with Malfoy a lot more than planned this year. "Tonight is only the first night and I've already broken up two fights and the other Professors have already handed out detentions." Mcgonagall paused to look at the two students in front of her. She prayed to Merlin that what she was about to do wouldn't bring harm to the pair in front of her, but she wasn't crazy enough to pray that much good would come out of it.
"Excuse me," Hermione piped up, "But what exactly are you asking of us?" The poor girl was getting increasingly nervous, wringing her hands and chewing on her bottom lip.
"Well, I'm resorting you Miss Granger. As of tomorrow morning, you are a Slytherin." Trying to ignore the terrified look on the girl's face, the Professor turned to Draco. "Mr. Malfoy, do you know of any girl in your house that would be willing to take Hermione under their wing? You know, get her settled in Slytherin, help her make some new friends." Professor Mcgonagall looked expectantly at Draco, who seemed relatively unfazed by her latest idea.
"Pansy and Daphne both would, I'm sure. Neither girl fought during the war, their families choosing to remain neutral. Besides, she would be sharing a dorm with the two of them." Draco Malfoy was prepared for something along these lines. Professor Snape had already spoken to Draco of the Headmistress's plans.
Hermione was slowly coming out of her shock. She could see where the Headmistress was coming from, even if she didn't like it. Besides, knowing the Pansy and Daphne were neutral during the war helped. Though she hated to admit it, Malfoy had matured over the past year so perhaps she could handle this. Squaring her shoulders, Hermione decided. She was going to be a Slytherin.
After a bit of convincing on her part, Hermione managed to persuade McGonagall in allowing her to remain in Gryffindor tower for just tonight, before she made the transfer first thing tomorrow morning. She had to find a way to tell her boys.
After finalizing the details, McGonagall left Draco and Hermione in her office to speak about their situation before the pair headed back to their respective dorms.
"Well Granger it-" Draco began,
"Hermione." She interrupted quietly. She didn't speak again for a moment as Draco looked at her quizzically. "If this is going to work, and if I am going to be a Slytherin, I want to at least feel like I'm welcome. Surely I will not get that feeling if you all go around calling me Granger."
Nodding, Draco continued his previous statement. "Well Hermione" he paused, as if tasting her name on his tongue, "I will meet you outside the Gryffindor common room before breakfast tomorrow morning. That way, we can get you moved completely before we have to go to class. I'll bring Daphne along with me, but I'm not sure if I'll be able to get Pansy up. She's never been much of a morning person." Draco fell silent, waiting for Hermione to accept or even acknowledge his plan, but it seemed she had become lost in her thoughts.
'I can kind of see where Harry and Ron were coming from when they formed their truce with him.' She couldn't help but stare at the man sitting in front of her. He was so much different than the boy who had tormented her for 6 years. 'I still can't help but wonder what prompted his change in heart during the war. No one just up and switches for no reason. There has to be something there...' Hermione was abruptly pulled from her thoughts as a hand gently touched her shoulder. Draco was looking at her expectantly and Hermione wondered how long she'd been staring off into space.
"Tomorrow morning sounds wonderful." She nearly whispered the words, hardly believing what she was saying. She had merely a few hours to convince Ron and Harry that she was doing the right thing. "Goodnight Draco." She called after the blonde boy as he left the Headmistress's office.
"Goodnight Hermione." Draco smiled at her before turning and closing the door behind him. Hermione simply sat there for a moment, never before having seen Draco smile. It had always been some form of a smirk- cruel, sarcastic, and cold. But his smile, it was the complete opposite. What scared Hermione though, what that is seemed real.