Chapter One

Draco led back in his seat as the Hogwarts Express whisked him and his school friends away from the hustle and bustle of London and towards the slightly less busy lifestyle of Hogwarts living.

He placed his arms behind his head as he stared out the train window at the blurred English countryside. Draco closed his eyes and thought while breathing slowly. 'My very last year at Hogwarts…'

Draco was brought quickly back down to Earth.

"Mr Malfoy?" It was a nervous third year student.

Draco looked at him through slightly narrowed eyes. "Yes. What do you want?"

The third year spoke to his feet. "You're needed in the Head's carriage."

Draco sat up a little. "Whatever for?"

"I don't know," Draco glared at the boy. Then, as an afterthought, the boy ventured a retort. "How should I know?"

Draco stood up quickly and stood closely to the boy. "Look, pipsqueak. Don't you ever talk to me like that again, you hear? Or you'll be beaten so badly, you'll be in St Mungos being fed every meal through a straw. Got it?"

"Yes, Mr Malfoy."

"Good. Now go back to the Head's carriage and tell them I'll be along in a minute."

The third year left quickly. He rested against the wall of the carriage and took a few deep breaths to steady himself. He then wiped a tear from his cheek, sniffed a few times and then headed towards the Head's carriage.

Hermione sat in the Head's carriage and looked out the window. She remembered all the memories she had on this train: looking for Neville's frog and meeting Harry and Ron instead, sharing a compartment with Professor Lupin in third year… Hermione let herself wallow in her thoughts for a moment, then sprang to life and started to apply some make-up. 'Maybe the replacement Head Boy will be someone good-looking…' Hermione thought to herself as she applied mascara to her long eyelashes. 'Better make myself look good, he could be a hotti-'

"Oh, God. It's Granger."

Hermione spun around and saw Draco Malfoy stood in the doorway to her compartment. Hermione instantly dropped her mascara onto the seat next to her in shock.

"Oh, no. Not you." Hermione said in disbelief.

"Well, it is me. So, what am I here for, Granger?" Draco leant against the doorway and crossed his arms.

'Oh, my god. Draco's arms look sooo good! STOP IT! YOUR NOT SUPPOST TO BE THINKING ABOUT HIS ARMS! THINK ABOUT THE TASK IN HAND! TASK IN HAND!'

"Right. Um, well…" Hermione tried to concentrate. "Yes. As you know, letters were sent out by post this summer to confirm the people who have been chosen to be Head Boy and Girl. Unfortunately, the chosen Head Boy, Dean Thomas, has broken his leg, so he is unable to do Head Boy duties as yet. So, the next person who would have been chosen to be Head Boy is you. So, we want you to be Head Boy until Dean is able to do the duties. If you like it, you could pursue it for the rest of this year."

Draco thought for a while. "What about living conditions?"

"Well, here's a letter. You don't have to send it back to Dumbledore, obviously, so just go up to him after the feast tonight and say whether you are going to take the placement or not. I know it's a short period of time to decide, but…" 'Hermione, you are rambling! Stop rambling! He thinks you're a freak already!' "Yeah. That's it really," she said, knowing that she didn't explain about living conditions because of her rambling.

Draco raised his eyebrows at her. "Living conditions?" Draco asked again.

"Oh, it's on the sheet."

"But I want to hear you say it." Draco said, deliberately winding her up.

"Why me? Can't you read?"

"Of course I can read, it says…" he scanned the sheet of parchment. "Oh, it doesn't mention it."

"Well, meet me by the teacher's table tonight after the feast, because that's where it says on the letter. I can be told what is going to happen while you can explain that you're not going to do it because you're scared of getting your robes dirty." Malfoy's eyes narrowed again. "Well, that's what you're going to do, isn't it? Give up before you've even begun?" She raised an eyebrow cockily.

Draco decided to play the waiting game. "Well, you'll have to see, wont you?" Draco strode down the train.

His mind was already made up. He was going to give this a try. He just wanted to prove Hermione wrong. That even if his best robes got completely ruined, he would not cry.