"Hermione, let's go!" Mr. Granger yelled up the stairs. Hermione let out a loud huff and shook her head. Can he not wait just a bloody moment? She thought. She was trying to get ready as fast as she could, but she had to make sure she had everything.
Ok, I have my textbooks, my robes, and the cage for Crookshanks, plenty of quills and ink…What am I missing? Hermione thought to herself. She mentally went through everything she forgot to bring to Hogwarts, some of which included textbooks, extra quills, extra ink, and on occasion, Crookshank's cage. She finally reached the end of her list and sighed. She brushed her scraggly brown hair out of her eyes. I'll just brush it on the way there. She said to herself.
"I'm coming!" Hermione shouted as she pounded down the stairs carrying her large suitcase and bag. "Okay, let's go." She opened the door to her yard where her mother was waiting impatiently in the passenger's side.
"About time, Hermione!" her mom scolded at her.
"Sorry mum; had to make sure I had everything." She said as she opened the back door and got in. "Let's not waste any more time than we need to!" her father soon came out of the house and into the driver's side. He started the car up and drove until they reached the train station. Hermione opened the door and breathed in through her nose. She loved the smell of train smoke. Her mother and father soon came out after her. Hermione looked around at the station. It didn't change since the last time she'd seen it. There were still the same old musty brick walls, the dirty floor, and that strange man who always stayed at the same spot every day looking for money. Hermione walked forward until she reached a brick wall located between Platform 9 and Platform 10. It looked cleaner than it did last year, but it didn't matter, Hermione had to go through it either way. She saw a trolley parked next to the wall and grabbed it. She put her suitcase on first, then her bag, and then put Crookshanks—who was in his cage—on top. Building up speed, she ran to the wall at full speed. She couldn't help to close her eyes as she ran through the wall and came out into another train station.
Smoke hit her face and she coughed. Her parents soon came out after her and followed her to the lavender train. She pushed her way through the large crowd of people all chattering about what to do at Hogwarts and how they were going to miss their family. Wondering where Harry and Ron were, she spotted Neville hugging his parents' goodbye. She waved to him. He saw her and waved back. Somebody tapped her shoulder and she turned around to see her mother with tears in her eyes.
"Mum, you do this every time." Hermione said, jokingly rolling her eyes.
"I can't help it Hermie." Her mother replied as she wiped a tear from her eye. She embraced Hermione in a hug lasting what she counted as at least 2 minutes. Finally her father broke it up and gave Hermione one too. However that one too was broken up by the sound of the train whistle.
"Well, I better get going." Hermione stated as she walked to the third car down. Walking into the car she was hit in the face by a chocolate frog. A young boy Hermione guessed was a first year ran up to her and peeled the frog off of her face.
"Sorry miss!" he said apologetically.
"It's alright." She said back, chuckling to herself. Walking down the aisle she saw through the sliding glass door Harry and Ron. She opened the door and shouted to them 'Hello!'
"Hey Hermione!" both boys said in unison. She smiled and sat down.
"Hey guys, how was your summer?" she asked.
"It was good. Well, as good as staying with the Dursley's can get, I guess." Harry said.
"Mine was good too. How about yours Hermione?" Ron said.
"It was okay. I can't wait to get to Hogwarts, though. I'm so excited for this year!" Hermione squealed in delight.
"Why?" Harry asked.
"Because, silly! I'm going to be Head Girl this year!" she said back at him. Harry and Ron exchanged curious glances and Hermione laughed. "It's because the seventh-years aren't going to be here this whole year."
"Why not?" Ron queried.
"I'm not sure, but I'm betting Dumbledore will explain it all in when we get there." Hermione said. "Anyway, I can't stay long—I have to go to the Head Girl and Head Boy coach. Mandatory, I guess." She then got up and opened the door and walked out. She headed towards the end coach, wondering who the Head Boy would be. Sure, she was ecstatic that she was Head Girl—she had dreamed of being Head Girl ever since her first year—but the curiosity factor put butterflies in her stomach.
She finally reached the last coach after triumphantly heading through the packs of first-years ever-so-hyper for their first experience at Hogwarts. As she slowly opened the door to the coach, she shouted 'Congratulations!' at whoever it was that was Head Boy. She caught her breath and sucked in a gulp of air.
Of course, that person had to be the slimy ferret.
"Malfoy?! Is this a joke?" Hermione screeched loudly. How could he possibly be Head Boy? His dad probably had to threaten to fire Dumbledore so he could. Malfoy doesn't deserve it. An angry scowl crossed her face. Draco chuckled.
"Hello Granger. Can you send in the Head Girl? I've been waiting for at least 10 minutes now." He said tauntingly.
"I am the Head Girl for your information disgusting ferret." She replied. She took Crookshanks' cage off of the trolley and set it onto the ground. She watched the orange cat cautiously walked out. As Crookshanks did so, she menacingly hissed at Draco. She giggled. "Aw, even Crookshanks doesn't like you. That would put the tally up to about half the school then."
She set her small bag on her seat and prepared herself to heave the large suitcase up onto the top storage compartment. Letting out a slow breath out, she suddenly pulled it up and started to place it onto the storage compartment. The bottom of the suitcase hit the edge of the compartment. Hermione's face began to redden. With all her might, she tried to push it up the rest of the way, but it was no use. She let go of her pushing, thinking that the suitcase would drop to the floor harmlessly. But no, of course, it couldn't go down without hitting someone on the way there. And of course, that person had to be Hermione.
All the air was knocked out of her as the suitcase hit her chest. She was hit to the floor and the suitcase landed on her stomach. She could hear Draco laughing hysterically at her.
"Well, don't just stand there, help me!" She said, fully knowing that he wouldn't. Her stomach started to ache, and her breathing was getting shallower. Her wand was in her pocket, so she pulled it out.
"Wingardium Leviosa." She said. The suitcase gently lifted off of her stomach, and her breathing regulated. She set the suitcase down on the floor. Annoyed with Draco's selfishness, she grasped her small bag and smacked it against his shoulder. He let out a loud 'Oof!' and she laughed. He got an angry face and stood up and drew his wand.
"Want to try that again, Granger?" he asked threateningly. She too stood up and drew her wand, already thinking of what spell to use on him. They had a stare down until it was broken up by an old gray-haired woman pushing a cart chocked full of goodies.
"Now you two stop that right now!" she yelled. Hermione obeyed the command, but Draco didn't. His wand didn't lower, and now he was facing the old woman. She gasped, fumbling at her pocket, searching for her wand. Before either of them could cast a spell, the trains whistle blew loudly, signaling that they were almost to the school. The old woman scurried off before Draco could say anything.
"Darn woman…" he said under her breath.
"You better get into your—never mind." Hermione faltered. She looked the other way, looking for something to distract her from him. Ah! The suitcase! She thought and she opened it revealing her gigantic array of items. She spotted her robes and grabbed them before Draco could see the contents.
"Hiding something?" he said with a smirk.
"No. Everyone has to have their privacy. Even me." She retorted back. She walked to the back of the coach and slid the curtain across, cutting a wall between her and Draco. She took her clothes off and changed into her robes. She opened the curtain back up to reveal that Draco was already changed. Did he actually listen to an order this time? Probably not. She thought. She walked past him and motioned Crookshanks back into her cage. She opened her smaller suitcase and pulled out her gold badge that read: Hogwarts Head Girl, Hermione Granger. She pinned it to her chest and watched as Draco did the same. They both sat down and waited in awkward silence until the train stopped and the whistle blew. They both stood up and walked to the exit. Hermione beat him to it and she speed walked out of the coach. She was glad to see Harry and Ron walking towards her also.
"Guess who's Head Boy?!" she said furiously.
"Who?" Harry said.
"Malfoy!" she stated. Both boys looked very surprised. "I know! I don't know how he got to be Head Boy, but he did it!"
"His dad probably had to bribe the school to get him the place." Ron said. Harry nodded in agreement. "Come on, let's go. Don't want to be late." All three headed towards the exit. They filed out and stepped into the surprisingly cold summer night. They all spotted Hagrid trying to herd the first-years to the boats.
"Hi Hagrid!" they shouted at him in unison. He waved at them and was about to speak when a first-year kicked him in his shin. He turned to face the young kid and started to scold him when the crowd of people pushed Hermione, Ron, and Harry to the carriages. They stepped onto the black carriages pulled by an invisible force, or as that was what it appeared to be. Harry explained to them yet again that they were pulled by the thestrals. They reached the school in a matter of minutes. They hopped off and headed towards the main gate. The door opened and everyone filed into the Great Hall, which was brightly lit by the floating candles that burned brightly. At the stage sat the teachers at their own tables.
Filch yelled at some of the students as they tracked mud into the Great Hall, and Hermione laughed. She missed this school. She noticed Dumbledore at the front of the Great Hall signaling the students to sit down at their appropriate table. Everyone was soon seated. Just as the last student sat down—as if on cue—the doors to the Great Hall opened again and in filed the first-years. They filled in the back as Dumbledore waved 'Hi' to some of them. They gave an awkward wave back and went silent. When the last student came in, Dumbledore clapped his hands for everyone to be silent. The Great Hall suddenly quieted and Dumbledore spoke.
"I'd like to say hello to all the first-years!" he said with a friendly smile. "Also, because all of the seventh years are away for educational purposes, I'll introduce the new Head Girl, Hermione Granger; and the new Head Boy, Draco Malfoy!"
Hermione was dumbfounded at first that she had to walk up to the front of the Great Hall, but soon made sense of the situation and stood up. She spotted Draco at the Slytherin table also standing, and she rolled her eyes. She still couldn't believe that she had to share the position of Head Girl and Head Boy with him. Trying to make the best of the situation, she made her way to the front of the Great Hall. Everyone at the tables—except for the Slytherin table, of course—clapped for her accomplishment. She smiled as gracefully as she could considering the circumstances. Finally, after what seemed like forever, Hermione reached the front where Dumbledore was waiting with a pleasant smile on his face. She looked at his face and a million thoughts went through her mind. How does he keep his beard so shiny and silvery? Does he condition it with something? I wonder if it takes him a long time to do it. Maybe he has to do it with magic. Well, probably, because he's, like, the best wizard ever. I wonder what we're going to have for the meal. Oh, I hope there'll be some chocolate cake. O love chocolate cake. Maybe the elves will put a slice out just for me. Do they know that I like chocolate cake? I'll have to tell them. Maybe after dinner. Yes, that's when I'll do it. She thought as she shook Dumbledore's hand. He broke it off and shook hands with Draco. He spotted her looking at him and he grinned. She silently though to herself: Ugh, this is going to be a long year.
