I own nothing, as it all belongs to Queen JK Rowling!
Hermione was excited, it was her seventh year at Hogwarts, and she was finally ready to move on from the war and start her new life. As she made it to platform 9 3/4 the familiar feeling took over as she looked at all of her fellow classmates, most were running around happy that they were going back, and just for a moment, it was like the war never happened and she was with her best friends Harry and Ron again, but she wasn't. Harry and Ron decided that they didn't want to further their education after the war, which is something that Hermione scoffed at, how could anyone not want to further their education? They have gotten job offers from the ministry, but she chose to go to school so that she could earn her job the old fashion way, because of her achievements in schooling, not the war. A few days before she was supposed to go back to Hogwarts, she got the most exciting news of her life, she was going to be Head Girl! She felt so honored that they felt they could trust her knowledge, even though she missed a year of schooling. As she got on the train, and look back one more time and caught a glimpse of white blond hair, the head of the person she lusted after for so long, even after all the times he called her names, and didn't care for her at all. It was the head of Draco Malfoy.
Later on that night, after the feast and the sorting, Professor McGonagall called Hermione up to her office to show her the head dormitories. Usually, the head boy and girl would just stay in their own houses with their own room, but since the war the wanted to show unity in the school, even with some students were reluctant to do so. Hermione didn't care though, she got along with most everyone at Hogwarts, plus she was taking on a lot of responsibilities this year, and probably wouldn't see them much anyway. As she made her way up to the door, she stopped short as she heard a deep voice, a voice that she would know anywhere, Draco Malfoy. She was conflicted, was he head boy? How could she be around him when she was almost sure she was falling for him, for the boy who tried to save her best friends life back in the war. How could she not? She could see the change in him, even now just staring through the door, he's not the boy who's afraid of what his father will think anymore. She secretly hoped that he changed horrible narrow sighted views on wizard that weren't pure blood, but she couldn't let herself believe that, because then she might believe that they could actually have a chance. A chance at friendship, and maybe even love. She finally got the courage to walk through the door, and took her seat next to Draco. The professor wasted no time telling them all of the rules that they needed to abide by, and after that quickly showed them to the dormitory and then left them shortly after. Hermione looked at the women and noticed a sad look on her face, she pitied her, after Professor Dumbledore was killed, she was forced to quickly take over as Head Mistress, and though no one doubted that she could easily do it, it was a lot of stress. They went in through the portrait and she noticed how grand it actually was, with just the right mixture of Slytherin and Gryffindor. Draco has yet to say a word to her, and she wasn't sure why. Maybe he just didn't like her, that would be like him of course, judging her and thinking that she was beneath him. It was already late, and instead of staying around to find out, she just said a quick goodnight and made her way to her room, right before closing the door she heard Draco mumbled something. Not knowing if it was to her or not, her curious mind wanted to know, she quickly popped back out and asked what he was mumbling about, trying to be light and funny towards him.
"I said, since you are obviously to busy with your head up your arse, that I'm actually quite pleased that you are the head girl" Draco said.
She blushed slightly, not sure how to take that, "Thank you Draco, I'm sure you will make a great head boy, and I look forward to splitting my duties with you this year" She replied.
She quickly walked back to her room, but not before seeing his face turn red, and she could of sworn she saw him smile. That was one of the things about Draco, he never let anyone see his emotions, but she vowed right then, that she would be the one to make him come out of his shell.
The next few days went by without so much as a word between them. It wasn't as if they were ignoring each other, they were just stressed with school and head duties. Hermione wasn't going to worry about them not talking, that was one of the things she liked about Draco, his silence. She thought back to her first few years at Hogwarts, and how Ron and Harry never left her a lone with her thoughts, always wanting her to help them with something or look over their homework so they wouldn't fail. That was okay with her then, but now, after everything, she just needed silence sometimes, to organize her thoughts and just live inside her books for a little. The third week of school rolled around, and things were starting to calm down in her classes, she was ahead of everything and just wanted to relax in the common room laying in front of the fire. It was Friday night, and with no classes tomorrow she decided to take a nap while Draco was out so he wouldn't disturb her.
She woke up later, the fire dwindling down. She couldn't remember where she was for a second, and when she looked up, she saw a dark figure standing over her. She screamed and grabbed for her wand, but quickly put it down once she noticed it was only Draco there. She became oddly self-conscious of herself, wondering how long he'd been standing there.
"Sorry Granger, I didn't mean to scare you" Draco said to her after he noticed how jumpy she was.
"It's okay, and you know, I think we are past the last names, Draco" Hermione replied.
He laughed, and she was oddly disappointed when she realized he was laughing at her. Before he could reply, and knock at their portrait, thinking it was probably a prefect that needed the head boy and girls help with something, she quickly walked to the door to avoid further embarrassment by being around Draco for much longer. She quickly opened the doorway, and was surprised by Pansy Parkinson who was standing there with a smile that turned to a sneer as soon as she seen Hermione standing in front of her.
"What are you doing here Pansy?" Hermione asked her.
"Not that it is any of your business Granger, but I'm here to see my boyfriend Draco" replied Pansy with a snarl.
"You do know, that it is past curfew, and I should really take you to the headmistress right away," Hermione quickly decided that she was going to try and make friends with everyone this year, or at least make nice, even if that person is Pansy Parkinson, queen of Slytherin, "but since I am trying to turn over a new leaf, I'll let you in" Hermione replied.
Hermione smiled at her, but Pansy just looked dumbfounded and quickly followed her in. Draco was standing right behind the portrait hole, and heard everything that just happened, he decided maybe he would make more of an effort to talk to Grang-, err Hermione as she likes to be called, this year. He quickly sat back down on the couch and tried to look nonchalant as the two girls made their way in. Though he and Pansy had their ups and downs over the years, he has seen a change in her after the war. Both of their families fell apart, with their mothers abandoned by their fathers, Draco's in Azkaban, and Pansy's on the run. They only had each other for so long, and it was comfortable. Though she was overly clingy, he didn't have anyone else, and for a long time he was okay with that. Hermione noticed the looks they were giving each other, and though she knew that they have been together since as long as she could remember, it still hurt her to see that she probably didn't have a chance, no way would Pansy let anyone, let a lone her, become a close friend with him. She quickly excused herself, saying goodbye and giving one last lingering look toward them, before retiring for the evening.
After that night, Hermione and Draco came to a sort of friendship. Outside of the head common rooms, they were still rude to each other like they always were, but now, they were mostly joking when they called each other 'ferret' or 'mud blood'. Most people still thought that they hated each other, but a few people know the truth. Hermione made friends with Pansy after the first time that she let her off the hook being out after curfew, and with that came the stares of all of her peers. Even though her and Draco didn't act like friends outside of their rooms, Pansy did. Pansy didn't care what people from the Slytherin's or Gryffindor's thought of them, Hermione turned out to be a really great friend to her. On the days that Pansy wasn't hanging out with Draco, Hermione was with her. Every time people gave them a weird look, Pansy would all but rip their head off, Hermione told her not to worry about it, because she didn't care anymore what they thought. Pansy was the only friend Hermione had, besides Ginny, and even they haven't been close since they came back to Hogwarts two months ago.
The first Hogsmeade trip was coming up, and has head boy and girl Draco and Hermione had the job of planning and making sure it all ran smoothly without any students getting hurt. Though the threat of Voldemort was over, many of his followers were hidden and there were rumors going around that they were all still practicing dark magic so they could once again try and take of the wizarding community. Pansy, though her cool exterior told otherwise, voiced her fears to Hermione. Pansy s father was on the run, and she was certain that he would not give up just because of Voldemort s defeat. Hermione tried to calm her down, telling her that even if there were wizards out there, they would not try anything because of how weak they all were from the war. Pansy scowled at this, trying to show that she didn't care, but Hermione just smiled at her.
Back in the common room, it was just her and Draco for once. Usually they always had a few of his friends hanging around, and though Hermione didn't mind, she was happy for the silence that was just him and her for the night. Usually when they were together, they would talk about nothing, just sit next to each other and do their homework, but tonight Hermione wanted to get to know him better. When she first asked him about his summer, he was wary. She knew it wouldn't be a pleasant discussion, his father was taken away this summer and she was sure that he was taking care of his father business, but she wanted to know anyway, and what better way to start then one of the most painful memories of his life. He reluctantly told her of when the guards came to take his father away, how he blamed Draco for the downfall and shame that was coming to their family. Hermione was shocked at what she heard, and even more shocked when she seen a tear fall down Draco s face. Not knowing what to do, she hugged him. He tensed up at first, but when she didn't let go, he carefully hugged her back, and even felt like he could relax himself against her. He didn't see, but she let out a small smile come across her face, happy that he finally showed some sort emotion towards her. She felt triumphant in her self, knowing that he doesn t do that towards anyone, not even Pansy. Hermione thought that she should feel bad because Draco and Pansy were technically still together, but she didn't. Pansy told her that she liked someone else, and was thinking of ending things with Draco soon anyway. After they finished hugging, they went back to homework, and even though it seemed like nothing even happened between them, you could tell that there was a relaxed feeling in the room. That night, Hermione slept peacefully for once, content with the relationship that she could feel forming in her heart.