AN: I'm currently trying to edit this story, I wrote it when I was sixteen (so over five years ago) and looking back at it now… it needs some serious editing. So please be patient as I re-write it! If you've already read this story, I would suggest re-reading it as I edit it because I'm likely to severely change it.

In this story, the ending of HPB did not happen, no vanishing cabinet, no Death Eaters in the castle and Dumbledore lives.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. And the poem below was written by a friend of mine.

Prologue

You not only broke my heart
You ripped it out and stepped on it
You trampled it and left it
Turned your back and walked away
Never looked over your shoulder
Or let a single tear fall
Brushed me off your shoulder
Like something you only
Pretended to care about
You never told me why
You stopped loving me
Every time I see you
I wish I hadn't
And every time I don't see you
I wish I had

I'm Hermione Granger, top of my class; I've read every book in the library at school and at home that I could possibly get my hands on. I'm the type of girl that memorizes everything so that I can have any question a professor throws at me at any moment. The type of student that raises their hand every chance they have in class. The one that all of the other students groan at, because they become proclaimed as the know-it-all. I have only a handful of friends, of which would be Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and (most surprisingly) Luna Lovegood. I have less than average looks, and make no attempts to enhance them. So who would have thought that I could have possibly fallen in love with seemingly the most amazing boy ever who appeared to love me just as much?

I met Jeriko, an eighteen year old guy at the beginning of summer. I was looking through the muggle library near my house for any new arrivals of classic novels that I'd been waiting to read. When I found one I wanted to read, someone else reached for the novel the same moment I did. He was nearly six foot tall, with dirty blond hair and crystalline blue eyes. From that moment forward, we began meeting daily and gradually fell in love with one another.

Summer passed all too quickly and soon I received my Hogwarts letter, bringing me back to reality. I'd been made head girl and classes would begin in a week and a half. Jeriko wasn't a wizard, and therefore I wouldn't be able to see him other than during the Christmas holidays. The moment I informed him that I would be leaving soon for my private school and wouldn't be back for months, he cut all ties with me. He told me that having just left school this summer for good; he wasn't looking for a relationship that would revolve around a school schedule anymore. I haven't spoken to him since.

Waking up this morning I was relieved to know I would be back in the magical world within hours. Despite the much needed break from the ever looming war, the deaths that were occurring daily in the magical world and the stress of having a best friend with a huge target on his head, I was ready to go back. I wanted to dive into my NEWT studies and perform my Head Girl duties to the best of my abilities and try to forget that this summer ever happened.

I grimace as I catch my reflection in the mirror. The shower I'd taken as soon as I woke up did nothing to get rid of the bags under my eyes. My skin seemed paler than it had at the start of the summer, and I'd appeared to have lost a few pounds as well. Running the brush through my hair to get the tangles out I sighed. Despite it still being wet, the moment I'd run the brush through it, curls began forming creating a crazy mess that I couldn't be bothered to deal with this morning. Giving up, I tossed my hair into a sloppy bun and went to put on some muggle clothing that I'd change out of once I got onto the train.

Three hours later, I was saying good-bye to my mum as I lugged my trunk and Crookshanks into the front compartments where the Prefect compartments were. Much to my luck, Terry Boot, a Ravenclaw, was already there and smiled at me, promising to put them both in the Heads compartment.

"Have a good year sweetie, and remember to write often." I hugged her one last time and she pulled a book from her purse. "It's a present for getting Head Girl this year, I know you told us not to but…" she shrugged, and I couldn't help but smile as I accepted the gift, it was a classic book I'd been dying to read but couldn't get my hands on no matter how hard I tried.

So with my new book, I headed onto the train, waving to my mum as other students filed onto the train as well. I quickly headed to the Prefect compartment, which was already completely packed. Much to my dismay, the Head Boy wasn't there, but as the train had already begun to move, I decided I couldn't wait any longer. I handed out everyone a schedule of when and where to patrol the train for the night and left them to their own devices.

Having given myself and the Head Boy the last patrol, I settled myself into our compartment and opened up my book, planning to have a nice peaceful trip. Unfortunately a half an hour later the compartment door slid open to reveal Draco Malfoy, with a very smug look plastered on his face. "Now why am I not surprised to see you here Granger?" he sneered as he sauntered in, sitting delicately across from me.

It took a moment for me to gather my thoughts. Why in the world would Dumbledore ever appoint Draco Malfoy of all people to be Head Boy? Was he trying to get me to go insane this year? I remained quiet and tried to focus on my book again, but it was a pointless battle. "You're not giving me the cold shoulder, are you Granger? I thought the point of being Head Boy and Girl was to form house unity and work together." The sarcasm in his voice made my jaw clench. I look up to see crystal blue eyes staring at me, and for a second I'm speechless. The colour is so familiar, yet something about his eyes is completely different from Jeriko's. I shake my head slightly.

"No Malfoy, I'm not. I just figure that my book here would be a better use of my time then trying to talk to someone as thick as you."

He smirks. Merlin do I hate that smirk. "Well Granger, I think somewhere deep inside you really want to talk to me. And when you finally realize that you do, I'll be sitting here reading my book." I wanted to roll my eyes at him, not knowing what could possibly ever want to make me converse civilly with the guy who constantly throws insults at me.

After a while of awkward silence as the both of us went back to our books, the door slid open again. Standing in the doorway is someone I certainly could handle talking to right now. Luna glances around the compartment and freezes as her eyes land on Malfoy. The Head Boy stares back at her, confused and taken aback. Curious to their reactions I break the silence, "Hello Luna, how was your summer?" I ask cheerfully, putting a bookmark into my book and setting it to the side.

Her eyes snapped back to Hermione and she seemed to thaw back into her normal self. "Just fine, I was able to catch a few nargles actually! My dad also got married this summer. To Ma…."

Malfoy jumps up, cutting her off abruptly, "Well as nice as it's been having a visitor, Granger and I have Head business to attend to. I very much doubt that the Prefects are holding to the schedule and we need to make sure the students are all behaving." Luna nods sadly and says she'll see me later hopefully.

I watch as he runs a hand through his platinum blond hair and can't help but notice that his eyes have turned a more grayish colour. I furrow my brow, wondering what that could have possibly been about.

I stand and head for the compartment door, planning on going through with his fake Head duties so that I can find Luna and ask what's going on. But as I reach the door way, a strong hand pulls me back, "Where do you think you're going?" he hisses at me.

"Well, as you so kindly pointed out, our Prefects might not be performing up to par. I just want to do a quick sweep to make sure everything is under control." I lie smoothly.

"Hmm… I'll go with you then. We're meant to be a team now, aren't we?" despite his attempt to sound casual, I could still hear the underlying sarcasm of his words.

With a sigh I concede, "Yes I suppose so."

I keep out an eye for Luna's flowing blond hair as we walk down the train, pretending that I don't notice her as we pass her compartment, keeping note of where she is. On the way back, four compartments away from where Luna is sitting, I mention seeing Pansy making out with Blaise. To my luck, Malfoy growls and heads off to the compartment I pointed out. Rushing to get to Luna's compartment, I close the blind and sit down.

"Hello again Luna, I was just wondering, who did your dad marry?" I spit out, a bit breathless. I needed to find out what was going on before he found out that I sent him on a wild goose chase.

Her dark blue eyes met my own and she smiled sadly, closing her Quibbler magazine. "He married Draco's mother."

All I can do is blink repeatedly at her. How could this have possibly happened? I knew one thing for certain; this year was going to be absolutely insane. The new Head Boy was the one male in the school that I couldn't stand, and was also now the step-brother to one of my best friends. Things couldn't get any more complicated… could they?