A/N: Thank you CalisOwnCaliGrown for the constructive criticism it's always welcom. I'm working on improving the areas you pointed out, but it will be a while until i have the story flowing. I'm trying to work on this as much as possible, but i also need to graduate so we'll see what happens.

The sun was shining. The birds were singing. Everything that was supposed to make a day beautiful was in place. Hermione sat with her head against the cool glass in the heads compartment, annoyed with the perfect scene she saw out her window-it was all so cliché it made her sick. The train would be leaving in about thirty minutes meaning she still had about twenty until Harry and the Weasleys arrived, and hopefully as much time if not more until her ill-fated first meeting with the head boy.

For the longest time all Hermione could remember looking forward to was assuming the position of Head Girl and now that she had it she found that she would much rather she didn't. It had happened slowly. Removing her parent's memories hadn't done it, neither had the months on the run, her anger with Ron had dissipated, and the final battle was over; she was free to live without fearing for her life. Still Hermione was unsettled; she could not pinpoint the event that had finally extinguished the light in her eyes. Deep down inside she knew just who and what were responsible, but to admit it would require her to face herself so she pawned it off on an accumulation of events that must have gradually dulled her over the past seven years.

Pulling herself out of her thoughts Hermione tried to set to work as she had always done, yet her efforts were futile. This would be her first year she would be going back to Hogwarts without her textbooks memorized. What would the old Hermione say if she saw the girl who was occupying her body? She would be ashamed; these actions were not like her.

Draco stood at the door watching his counterpart stare off into space, wondering what could possibly cause her once vibrant eyes to appear so hollow. What could leave the muggle born looking so haunted? Her life is perfect. Right? Under veratiserum Draco had admitted that he only took the actions he did to save his parent's lives. He denounced the Dark Lord and thus had been granted a reprieve. Draco's marks were second only to Hermione and he had been a prefect the past two years it was only natural that he would be named Head Boy after having his name cleared. Could it be him who had her so on edge?

"Well Granger," sneered Malfoy, "while I know you think sitting around all day watching you daydream is a valid use of my time, I beg to differ. Pull your head out of the clouds so we can get started on our tasks and I can get away from you."

"Don't worry Malfoy; I can barely bear the thought of being in the same room with you and your incestuous blood either."

He hadn't even mentioned blood and here the little mud blood had to dredge it up--if that's how she wants to play then fine.

"You're still the same loud mouthed, dirty blooded little chit aren't you? Even though I was cleared of all charges of my involvement with the death eaters for the past three years, does not mean I completely disagreed with the Dark Lord. You'll learn your place mudblood and you'll stay there."

"You're an ass Malfoy," said Hermione before finding the most professional tone she could muster "I have drawn up the patrol schedules for us and the prefects, I have chosen the passwords, and I have owled professor McGonagall to double check and make sure I did not forget anything."

"Yes, well…I would like to look over the schedules I'm sure you screwed them up somehow and as for passwords I could care less. You are forgetting something though Granger-"

"And what would that be Malfoy?"

"We have to have a meeting with the prefects before we reach the castle."

Hermione laughed "Yes, Malfoy we do I'm so glad you could remember that. Now I don't know if it's a muggle thing I must have picked up as a child or what, but I have this great little thing called common sense. Now wouldn't it make sense to wait until say…everyone boarded the train to begin a meeting?" She looked down at her watch then back up into his steely grey eyes, "it appears we have twenty five more minutes before we depart Malfoy and I was not planning to start the meeting until at least half an hour into the trip."

"That sounds decent Granger, but it won't be like this the whole year. You are not above me and you will not treat me like your subordinate. Question my common sense again and you won't like what happens."

"Try stepping up and actually doing something then Malfoy. You don't scare me, as I remember you were scared shitless and rescued by Harry in the room of requirement during the battle last year. You're scare factor has gone way down."

"I'd watch your back Granger," said Malfoy before he left the compartment.

Stupid git, he still does scare me, but I can't let him know that. Why the hell is he so difficult? Why would McGonagall do this to me?

Outside on the platform Malfoy sat thinking to himself. This is going to be a very long year; either we'll both end up dead or very injured. I didn't think my life could get any worse, yet here it is.