Hey all! I'm so, so sorry I've been MIA for a long while. This is something that just popped into my mind the other day when I was thinking about movies I love that would be cute as a fic as well. So here is MY version of A Cinderella Story, the movie starring Hilary Duff and Chad Michael Murray. Though my version stars our fantastic Know-It-All and a certain Slytherin Prince. :)
Please leave comments/reviews and tell me what you think! And if you have a movie you love that you'd love to see as a fic, let me know! I'm always looking for more movies to watch and more inspiration! - Spense
"Welcome to Hogwarts!" Headmistress McGonagall said as everyone filled into the Great Hall. "And welcome back to all our wonderfully brave students who've come back to finish their educations after everything that's happened in the last year." She glanced to the Trio, who gave her a calm nod. "This year will be as great as any year, though we are rebuilding, we are as strong as we ever were. Shall we start the sorting ceremony?"
As the first years finished being sorted and the golden platters began to fill with food, Harry turned to his friends. "How are you guys holding up?" He swung his legs over the bench and got comfortable beside Hermione.
"Oi, I'm fine!" Ron said, loading his plate full of food. "Honestly, glad to be back in some form of a good routine." He waved down the table at some of Ginny's friends who had taken a liking to him. "Hermione?" Ron added, touching her arm to get her attention. Things had been awkward for them after the events of the Chamber. He had tried to talk to Hermione about it multiple times, but whenever he brought it up, she immediately went quiet.
Hermione snapped out of her daydream, which she seemed to be doing a lot more frequently. She wasn't quite herself these days. "Oh, I'm fine." She looked between the boys, not really meeting Ron's eyes. "Really, I'm fine." She absentmindedly rubbed her arm where her scar still burned slightly. "I'm just glad to be home." She glanced up at the teacher's table, where she met McGonagall's eyes and received a small smile.
"I'll cheers to that!" Harry said, raising his glass. "Here's to us. To home. To finally being free." Ron and Hermione joined Harry in his toast, clinking their glasses and laughing.
As they were finishing up, McGonagall tapped her glass and everyone in the Hall fell silent. "If I could have your attention, I'd like to personally choose the Head Boy and Girl. Now, as many of you know, our wonderful students from last year didn't get to have a real school year. And we have 3 students who didn't have a seventh year at all. I'd like to ask Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy to come to the front, please."
"MALFOY?" Ron asked. "HEAD BOY? WHY, THAT'S JUST THE MOST RIDICULOUS THING I'VE EVER HEARD! THAT PRICK DOESN'T DESERVE HEAD BOY."
Harry shushed him as he gave Hermione a small smile. "It'll be fine. Go on, we're right here."
Hermione returned Harry's smile and walked slowly up to stand next to Draco. "Hello, Malfoy." she said cautiously, "You look well."
"Granger." He said, meeting her eyes for a few seconds. She thought for sure she saw a glimmer of something, but she wasn't sure. He turned toward McGonagall, effectively ending their conversation.
"As the two students with the highest grades, last year notwithstanding, it is my honor to appoint you as Head Boy and Girl," McGonagall said, handing each a pin. Hermione's pin was a beautiful ruby stone with a gold ribbon saying "Head" and Draco's a stunning emerald stone accented by a silver ribbon. "I'm putting my utmost trust in the two of you, please, help me keep order. Lord knows I'm going to need it."
"Of course, Headmistress. It would be our pleasure." Draco said, taking his pin. "We will do our best to put our troubled past behind us and work together to make this year at Hogwarts the best." He looked at Hermione, gave her a curt nod, and walked back over to the Slytherin table, where Pansy Parkinson linked her arm with his.
Hermione walked back to the Gryffindor table and sat back down next to Harry. "Well, that was… different." She said. "He didn't have as much distaste in his voice when he said my name as he usually does."
"He's got no reason to say your name at all!" Ron said, his face turning pink. "What a stupid git. If I get anywhere near him, I'm going to give him a piece of my mind"
"Well, I mean, he kind of does," Harry said, scratching his head. "They're both Heads now, so that means they'll be working together and communicating a lot…"
"Shut up, Harry. I know that. I don't have to like it, though." Ron retorted, the color from his face moving to his ears.
"Too true." The trio sat and ate in silence, save for the few new students that came over to meet them. Harry was glad that Hermione and Ron were getting as much recognition as he was, more so even, maybe.
"Well, let's go boys. Time for bed." Hermione said, not touching her dinner much. "I'm not really hungry and we have a big day tomorrow."
Ron looked up at her with his mouth full of food. "Really?" Ron began to shove food in his pockets, making sure to forgo any dessert he'd thought he wanted.
Harry let out a laugh. "Why don't you go ahead, 'Mione. We'll be up in a bit." He helped Ron put the food back on his plate.
"Okay, good night, you two," Hermione said as she stood and left the hall. She decided that she wanted to take the castle in, the last time she was there it had mostly been destroyed.
She began following the familiar route to the Gryffindor common room, but turned down the hallway that led to the Astronomy tower. She wasn't really paying attention, she was just wandering. She wasn't tired so much as she just needed to be alone. The last year had taken its toll on her and she wasn't sure that she could ever be her old self again.
As she walked past a familiar wall on the seventh floor, she began thinking of a place where she could just be quiet and comfortable; with lots of books to help her study and relax. She walked past the wall twice more and there it was. The door to her solitary new hideout, the Room of Requirement.