M for Masquerade

Hermione PoV

For the first time ever Hogwarts was hosting a Masquerade ball for all year 5's and up. And being in year 6 I was allowed to go with all my friends. But the main thing that worried me was… dates. No one was going together but everyone was expected to leave with someone. Really I don't know what got into Dumbledore's head to allow this. I mean with no one knowing who anyone is I might end up with a Malfoy or Zambini. Urch!

"Mione!" I looked up to see Parvati Patil calling my name and rushing towards me.

Why me, can't she giggle with anyone else?

"Hi Parvati, What's up?" I asked as she plopped herself into the chair next to me.

"Haven't you heard, Mione?" she asked breathlessly.

"Heard what?" I asked thinking it was something important…I was wrong.

"Were being given our costumes for the ball so we don't have to worry about buying our own" Parvati said with a squeal.

"Is that it? Hump, well I guess that would be news to you wouldn't it?" I said turning back to my book.

"Well I do know some other news but you wouldn't want to know about that." She said turning away.

More news?

"What?" I asked

"Well' she said sitting down 'Dumbledore has decided to choose a girl and boy from each year to be a head." She finished her announcement and walked off in a huff.

Things were starting to look up.

How had I thought things would be looking up just because heads of each year were being chosen, I mean I wasn't thinking I'd be chosen was I?

You're kidding yourself darling, of course you think you're going to be chosen, and you're a prefect.

Shut up stupid mind no one asked you.

Actually darling you did.

Anyway the feast went a little like this:

The night was going grandly with delicious food. Everyone ate quickly as they couldn't wait for the announcement. Everyone fell silent as Professor Dumbledore stood up

"Well I won't dawdle for any longer lets get down to business the heads for first year are Janelle Pare of Ravenclaw and James Smith of Hufflepuff. For second year Gregory Palma of Ravenclaw and Anjali Warland of Slytherin. For third year Jaime Meadows of Slytherin and Jacob Flamb of Hufflepuff.

For fourth year Samantha Black of Ravenclaw & David Ranfire of Slytherin.

For fifth year Ginerva Weasley of Gryffindor and Anthony Cekes of Hufflepuff. For sixth year Hermione Granger of Gryffindor and Draco Malfoy of Slytherin…"

The rest of Dumbledore's speech faded out as I heard the words Draco Malfoy. I was stuck being head of year 6 at Hogwarts with Draco Malfoy.

As Dumbledore finished announcing the heads he sat back down. As people got up from there tables I started to leave.

"Hermione, where are you going?" I looked up to see my best friends Harry Potter & Ronald Weasley looking at me.

"Back to Gryffindor tower." I said

"But all heads are meant to head up to the staff table" Ron said pointing to the table up the front where a few people were standing including Ron's sister Ginny & the dreaded Draco Malfoy.

"Oh" was all I said as I headed to the front of the room. Ginny greeted me at the table and we turned to listen to Professor Dumbledore.

"Hello all you new heads. As heads of your respective year you will be helping the prefects with there jobs this also means that anyone that is a prefect will give up their position. A plus of being a head is that you will have your own dormitory who you will share with your partner. Your belongings have already been sent up to your new rooms and a guide will be here any minute to show you your way."

I'm stuck with Malfoy.

As Dumbledore finished talking house elves appeared from chamber beside the hall. I recognized the house elf that ran up to us straight away and I greeted him.

"Hello Dobby"

"Hello miss, follow this way as I show you to your rooms" he said bowing but keeping as far away from Malfoy as possibly. Than it hit me Dobby had once worked for the Malloy's and I'm sure he had bad memory's from the time he had worked there. I mad sure I was standing between Dobby and Malfoy so that nothing would happen. Dobby led us to a portrait of a dog lounging on a rock. After Dobby told us the password (windershins) he ran off leaving Malfoy and I too get settled. Malfoy disappeared straight away to his room whilst I wondered around the common room & study. After awhile I went to my room. It was decorated in a soft blue with lovely dark wood furniture. I went and jumped on the bed, it was so soft and I was so exhausted after the days events that I fell straight asleep only to be woken up suddenly by someone jumping at me from the shadows.