Well, I decided to try something new. I'm terribly attached to Drink From My Cup (which I'm not done writing.), since it was my first fanfic and it's very plot oriented. But I thought I would try something a little lighter and fun. Well guess what. It's not turning out that light. DAMMIT! Am I seriously incapable of righting a light fic? Yes. Yes I am. I'll try to lighten it up but really it just seemed realistic that what they talk about in this chapter would come up. Doesn't it? damn my realism. Damn it to Azkaban! Hope you enjoy:)

The Quidditch reference will become more obvious in later chapters. And future chapters will be longer.

Disclaimer: JKRowling is amazing! and she owns Harry Potter & Co.

Quidditch

Chapter One: The Hush Before The Game

"I still think they should've chucked that old rule out the window," Ron said indignantly, leaning back against the cushioned train seat.

"Now, Ron," Hermione said, though her voice lacked its usual severe tone. "It's not fair if both Heads came from the same house."

She was sitting beside him, holding his hand affectionately as the train carried them towards Hogwarts. After the events of the past year, every Hogwarts student was required to repeat a year. Muggle-borns, having been barred from Hogwarts, had not received any wizarding education, while those who had attended Hogwarts during Voldemort's reign had not received an appropriate education due to the Carrows.

Now muggle-borns, pure-bloods, and half-bloods alike could all return to Hogwarts and receive the education that was expected from the centuries old institution. Hermione was more than happy to finish her education and accept the honour of Head Girl.

Ron shrugged.

"It would have been nice to share a suite with you though," he said grinning and gave her hand a squeeze.

Hermione blushed.

"Well, yes it would have been," Hermione agreed.

"And look at who they asked to be Head Boy this year! Again!" he said looking steamed. "I wonder how much old Lucius paid this time around to stay out of Azkaban."

Harry frowned at his friend.

"None," he spoke up.

Everyone in the compartment turned to look at Harry: Luna set down her issue of the Quibbler, Neville stopped looking over her shoulder, and Ginny, who had been dozing against his shoulder, stirred and looked up sleepily.

Harry raised his eyebrows at all the attention he had suddenly drawn.

"Er- I mean, he didn't have to pay anything to stay out of Azkaban, mate. I was a witness at his trial."

"You what?" Ron said sitting up, looking surprised. "When?"

"It was a few days ago, actually. I told the court how he began to lose support for Voldemort toward the end."

"Did you also tell the court how he wanted to hand you in to Voldemort the first chance he got?" Ron asked, his ears turning red. "Or how he tortured Hermione?"

"That was Bellatrix, Ron," Hermione said quietly. "Lucius didn't touch me."

"And he didn't fight against me in the final battle, mate. Narcissa even lied to Voldemort for me."

Ron scoffed and leaned back into his seat.

"They're still a downright bunch of cowards, if you ask me."

"It was a bit cowardly," they heard Luna's dreamy voice chime in. Everyone turned to look at her. Ron still looked steamed. "But it was sort of like what my father did isn't it?" she asked, looking a little embarrassed. "He wanted to protect me so he was willing to sacrifice Harry."

Ron looked like he wanted to insult Luna's father as well but he shrugged, his newfound respect for Luna preventing him from hurting her feelings.

"No one's saying it was an honourable thing to do," Harry added. "But it's not worth sending him to Azkaban. I couldn't do it, Ron."

"I just don't want the little ferret abusing his power as usual. I hope what happened last year knocked his ego down a step or two."

"He wasn't so bad, actually," Ginny said, having pieced together the conversation since she'd woken up. "He never tortured anyone and he didn't like giving detentions. He hung around Snape a lot, and we know now that Snape was Dumbledore's."

"Didn't stop him from becoming a Death Eater," Neville said coldly. "And who could forget what a prat he always was."

After Harry, Neville had always been the target of Malfoy's bullying. He didn't seem so ready to forgive.

"That's right, Neville," Ron agreed, pleased that someone shared his view. "I'm surprised they didn't put Malfoy on trial. Don't you remember he almost poisoned me? And on my birthday!"

"Ron," Hermione said, surprised. "He's too young for trial! And the poison was never meant for you."

"Well, then that lets him off doesn't it? 'Excuse me that poison was actually for the Headmaster so I guess everything is ok, right?'"

Harry shook his head. "You should've seen him on the tower before Dumbledore died. He never would have done it. He was trying to protect his family."

"Are you all done analyzing me or should I come back later?"

Everyone jumped and turned to see the subject of their conversation. Tall, blonde, and gray-eyed, Draco Malfoy was standing at the door of the compartment.

"You really should close these doors before carrying on like that," he sneered.

"What are you doing here, Malfoy?" Ron asked.

"Well, you see, after Potter here killed the Dark Lord, Shacklebolt ordered that all Hogwarts students would repeat a year—"

"Malfoy…" Harry warned.

Malfoy and Harry held gazes for a moment before Malfoy turned to Hermione.

"The Heads have to meet in the front of the train," he said.

"Oh," Hermione said looking at Ron.

Ron still had his eyes narrowed at Malfoy.

"Relax, Ron. I'll be back in a minute." She kissed him on the cheek, which seemed to settle him, and let go of his hand.

Malfoy stood back, letting her pass through the doorway. She acknowledged him with a curt nod before heading down the train. She heard his soft footsteps behind her as she made her way to the front. She was blushing slightly, embarrassed for him having walked into a conversation entirely about him. She decided it would probably be best to apologize. At least they could start this year off right…

She slowed her pace until they were walking side by side. Malfoy looked at her curiously, but didn't say anything. Hermione had never noticed how tall he was… He wasn't as tall as Ron but he certainly was taller than Harry. She guessed he had grown a bit more since the final battle of Hogwarts. He hadn't bothered trimming his hair since then either and it lay messily on his scalp, instead of sleeked back as he had always worn it before. Maybe he was planning on growing it out like his father had. His blonde hair complimented his gray eyes perfectly, which were watching her intensely, waiting for her to say something… Hermione found she was blushing again, but not out of embarrassment.

"Look, Malfoy, I—"

"You don't have to apologize for the Weasel," Malfoy said, sneering.

Hermione narrowed her eyes. She hadn't expected him to resort to the childish names he had used in the past.

"Well, that Weasel," she said hotly before she could help herself, "helped save your life last year."

Hermione was surprised to see colour rise up in Malfoy's cheeks. It contrasted with his usually pale complexion. He shrugged and looked away from her. They reached the compartment they were suppose to meet the rest of the school's prefects. They were the first to arrive, being the Heads. They entered and stood awkwardly on opposite ends of the compartment, waiting for the others to arrive. Hermione sighed.

"I want to apologize," Hermione said suddenly, trying to break the icy air. "It wasn't fair—"

Malfoy groaned and turned to her abruptly, cutting Hermione off again. She stood still as he stepped in front of her, towering over her.

"Look, Granger, no one owes me an apology. Alright, prince Potter saved my arse more than once in the past year but we still don't like each other and I'm not going to pretend I like you either," he snarled at her.

Hermione gapped at him.

"I would have thought," she snapped back, "that since we're forced to work together this year we could at least be civil."

She drew herself up to her full height, which did not make much of a difference to him. All the same he seemed to get the idea she was trying to be intimidating. He smirked at her.

"Still the same jumped up mudblood I see," he said condescendingly and turned to walk back to the other side of the small room.

Hermione's eyes flashed. Usually she would have let his stupidity slide but this time she refused to let him get the upper hand. She reached out and grabbed his shoulder, yanking him back.

He stumbled backward and turned back to face her almost knocking her back against the window. He straightened himself and scowled at her as if furious she had dared touch him.

"Yes, Malfoy, I am a mudblood," she spat. He looked at her in disbelief. "Oh, really, Malfoy, don't look so surprised. You know that little insult never got to me."

His gray eyes narrowed into a glare.

"You know, you're not the only one who had a rough year," he growled.

"Really?" she said raising her eyebrows at him. Did he really think he could tell her how rough his year had been? "I saw what kind of year you had at your manor," she said scathingly. "Or did you forget what your dear Aunt Bella did to me just this last spring?"

Hermione knew she had let herself get too emotional. She had never allowed Malfoy to get to her like this before… not since third year at least. She felt tears welling up in her eyes. Malfoy was staring at her, a mix of anger and… was that shame? on his face.

"Maybe you've forgotten that I never wanted to hand you or Potter into the Dark Lord in the first place," he said shaking slightly, colour back in his cheeks.

Hermione was breathing heavily. This conversation was too intense to be shared with him… but he had been the one to witness her torture. The awkward conversation had been bound to come up since they were to spend so much time together this year. She had even thought about what to say to him if it did. But everything she had planned had gone out the window.

"Oh, I saw how you defended us," she said, tears rolling down her cheeks now. "You muttered and walked away. How heroic."

Malfoy looked like he was going to be sick.

"Just because I'm not some red-blooded, meat head like Weasley…"

"Don't you dare compare yourself to Ron!" she shouted at him. "You are a coward!"

Hermione realized she had gone too far when she felt herself slammed against the window behind her, Malfoy's face inches from hers in a grimace. She struggled against him but his hands dug into her arms in a vice-like grip.

"Never," he began slowly through ground teeth. Hermione stopped struggling in horror as she watched his face contort in his anger. "Never judge me by your pathetic Gryffindor standards."

Hermione was too shocked to say anything. He stood, gripping her tightly, pinning her against the wall with his body, glaring into her for a few moments before scoffing and letting her go. He gave her a haughty look and wiped his hands on his robes as though he had just disgraced himself by touching her. Hermione was shaking in anger.

"You…" she began.

"Careful, Granger," he sneered. "Prefects coming."

And the compartment door slide open, allowing a group of chatting fourth, fifth, and sixth years from each house to enter. Some had been prefects the year before while others had been on the run or kept at home under their parents' watchful eyes. A few gave Malfoy nervous looks before noticing Hermione and smiling anxiously.

Malfoy didn't miss the gesture. He began the meeting in an irritable mood, telling the prefects their duties in a hurried manner and snapping at anyone who talked out of turn. One girl who had been flirting quietly with a prefect from another house received a particularly loud "Shut the bloody hell up!"

Hermione finished the meeting, trying to smooth things over with the prefects before they decided to hand in their badges rather than work under an angry Slytherin.

"And remember that standing up to your friends is one of the most courageous things you could do. It's all about responsibility," Hermione finished.

She gave them a final smile and watched as they filtered out, the girl from before (a Hufflepuff) hurrying quickly past Malfoy, giving him a fleeting nervous look before running to catch up with her friends.

Malfoy sneered at her retreating back before turning to leave himself.

"Malfoy!"

He sighed and turned back into the compartment, leaning against the door.

"What, Granger?" he asked, looking bored. "Didn't get enough of me yet?"

"What in Merlin's name was that?" she demanded, gesturing in the direction the prefects were heading.

"That was called Head duties. I know I have more experience than you do—"

"I know you do!" she snapped. "But Ginny was just saying how last year—"

"Back to listening to rumours about me?" he said straightening up, looking menacing again.

"I don't care! I will not let you treat students like you have in the past!"

"I don't have to treat them like anything to get them to fear me like they did in the past," he said, his gray eyes flashing. "They seem to be terrified by the mere presence of me."

Hermione didn't say anything. She was gauging his expression. He bore the same look he had after she had mentioned what had happened at the Malfoy Manor.

"Let's just agree to stay out of each other's way as best as possible," he said giving her a contemptuous look.

Hermione opened her mouth to speak but he moved away, back out into the hall and toward his own compartment. Hermione sighed and followed suit, heading back to her own compartment where the others would no doubt want a full report on Malfoy's actions.

And she was thinking that maybe this time she would just change the subject.