Living a lie

by Braveheart185

Okay,so it's an eigth year Dramione fic, and Hermione is Head Girl. When she finds out that former-student-and-deatheater Draco Malfoy has returned, she is determined to take her duty seriously, and rid Hogwarts of the plague that is him. But unfortunately, things don't go quite as she had planned.. Rated M for later chapters, there will be angst, and some especially dark chapters,

1. Chapter 1

AN-This Dramione will be quite long; I don't want the stuff to be rushed.
Disclaimer-None of this stuff is mine; I'm just borrowing it from J. :) I own nothing but the plot line. Read and review, please!

0-0-0

Hermione collapsed onto the worn, old seat with a sigh, grateful to have found an empty compartment on the Hogwarts Express. It saddened her that she was anxious, for the first time ever, to be returning to the castle that was her school. She hadn't been back there since the Battle. Who knew what condition it was in..who knew how being back there her feel?
Even as she considered all of this, Hermione knew that a part of her was rejoycing; she was going home. After the battle, Mcgonnagol had announced that none of last year would be taken into account; although the students would pass up a year, they would be re-taught all that they ought to have learnt the prevous year, alongside their new studies. As for those who would have been in their seventh year, the new Headmistress was allowing all who wished to return to re-do their last years, in a new eigth year. New dorms had been added to the common rooms to acquire for the increased amount of students. Hermione sighed. It was all going to be so strange..so many new things in so old a place...

0-0-0

Much to her suprise, Mcgonnagol herself had come to greet Hermione at the train. They shared a carriage to the school, and the older woman pulled a small, shield-shaped badge out of her pocket.
"I'm sure you've already considered this, and that you're not suprised at my offer. The truth is that you would be the best Head Girl..if you're willing to accept the offer?"
Hermione gulped, anxiously. She had already considered it; she would have been a fool not to think that she would be offered it. But she didn't know if she could take it. It was bad enough being a war hero-now that she was returning, all she wanted to do was to loose herself in her studies, to emmerse herself in her work..
Mcgonnagol continued, oblivious to Hermione's inner turmoil."You will, of course, have your own quarters-sharing with the Head Boy. Full access to the Prefect bathrooms, full Prefect privileges." She looked at Hermione imploringly."Honestly, I don't think that anybody else could do it. The students need to feel safe, need to feel protected. What better way than to have a war hero as Head Girl?"
Hermione sighed; there was really no arguement to that. Twisting her features into what she hoped was a grateful smile, Hermione took the scarlet badge offered to her."I'd be happy too, Professor."She lied smoothly, suprised when Mcgonnagol began to laugh.
"The Sorting Hat didn't put you into Slytherin for good reason, Hermione; you're an awful liar." Hermione blushed, and cast a side-long glance at her professor before joining in her laughter, if somewhat more reservedly. In any case, it felt good to laugh, Hermione decided. She didn't do it often enough..

A.N. It's rather short, but I didn't want to begin the next bit in this chapter...anyway, reviews are magic, guys! ~Braveheart