Chapter One: Breakfast and Owls

"Mail's here," Ron yawned blearily. He stumbled into the dark kitchen of Grimauld place and deposited three letters on the table amongst breakfast. Mrs Weasley had really over done it today with bangers and eggs, so this was no easy feat as most of the table was covered with platters upon platters of food.

Harry reached for his letter, which had been the same for the last six years. It was his final year at Hogwarts, and he was missing it already.

"Looks like you've got something special in that letter, Hermione," Mrs Weasley said as she levitated a steaming pot of porridge in front of the weary girl.

"I suppose so," Hermione said. She deftly opened the stuffed letter. Something shiny clattered onto the table, pinged off a platter, and landed right in Ginny's lap.

"Hermione," Ginny said in disbelief, looking up at her friend.

"I'm...I'm...oh Merlin..." Hermione leaned back in her chair, her eyes, as wide as saucers, scanning the letter she held. A smile flickered across her lips for a moment before she stood up suddenly and started hugging Ginny and screaming excitedly.

"What are you two doing?" Ron groaned, looking up at his friend and sister in disbelief. No one should be this awake at this time in the morning

"I'M HEAD GIRL!" Hermione squealed happily, shoving the letter and badge into Harry and Ron's hands. Mrs Weasley and Ginny also clustered around, reading the letter over Ron's shoulder.

Two loud cracks resonated in the kitchen.

"We thought it was your lovely voice," George yawned. "That woke us from our peaceful slumber."

"Peaceful slumber, my arse," Ron scoffed.

"RON!" Mrs. Weasley said sharply. "Language!"

"Ah, is ickle Ronniekins peeved?" Fred cooed, tweaking his cheek. "What, didn't you get your beauty sleep, Ronnie?"

Ron shot Fred a dirty look.

"Guess not," George snickered. Mrs Weasley cuffed him on the back of the head.

"So what is this kerfuffle about anyhow," George asked, joining the small crowd now completely boxing in Harry and Ron.

"Hermione's Head Girl," Harry said, handing George the letter.

"Do you know who the Head Boy is?" Ginny asked.

"It didn't say," Hermione answered. "It only says that we'll be sharing a dormitory, and it has my patrol schedule and instructions on what to do when I get to school."

"I hope he's cute," Ginny said. "Wouldn't it be just awesome to have Gerhard as a roommate...gods I would spend all night practicing my disillusion charms just so I could hide in his..."|

"GINNY!" Mrs. Weasley pointed her finger at her youngest, and only, daughter. "You wouldn't dare!"

"Besides, I need to practice my apparition skills more than a disillusion charm; after all, we're apparating to Hogwart's in a few hours."

"Wait; isn't the school protected by spells, enchantments, that sort of thing?" Harry asked, his fork stopping midway to his mouth.

"That's right, Harry," Mr Weasley said. Everyone was now eating breakfast up heartily. "As a school treat, Dumbledore decided that he'd lift the enchantment, since it's safe now, what with Voldemort gone."

"Hmm..." Hermione mused. "I won't know who Head Boy is until I get there."

"Mystery man," Ginny said dreamily, making Hermione laugh. They giggled all the way upstairs to where they were going to get changed.

"I would die if it were Harry or Ron," Hermione said to Ginny as she pulled on her shorts. "I mean, they're my friends and all, but still...that would be just weird."

"I just hope it isn't Malfoy," Ginny wrinkled her nose. "You couldn't pay me to stay with him, the slimy little git!"

"You mean, tetchy little ferret," Hermione joined her in laughing. The continued giggling and poking fun at Malfoy as they came down the stairs.

"See you Gin," Harry kissed Ginny goodbye, and joined Ron and Hermione at the doorstep of 13 Grimauld place, where Mrs. Weasley and Ginny were leaving. Unlike the others, Ginny did not have the privilege of waiting until five o'clock to leave for school. She had to be on time for her 11 o'clock train.

"See you at Hogwarts!" The trio called from the steps.

"What now?" Asked Hermione. As usual, her things were packed a day early.

"Quidditch?" Harry suggested. For once, he and Ron had packed early too. However, it could have been because they used magic to pack.

"I hate flying," Hermione pointed out.

"You flew in the room of requirement," Ron said.

"For my life, Ronald," Hermione crossed her arms. "Besides, we could be practicing Apparating. If I recal correctly, someone splinched himself last time."

Harry groaned. He hated seeing his friends argue like this.

""Here Hermione, take a drop of Felix," Harry pulled a small bottle from his robes. "It'll last long enough for you not to fall off a broom."

"I hate heights Harry," Hermione said.

"C'mon, Hemrione, do it for us," Ron placed a brrom in her hands.

"Fine. But not more than ten feet off the ground, ok?" Hermione said defiantly. Ron and Harry raised their eyebrows at one another.

"Deal."

The three teens spent the rest of their day chasing each other around on broomsticks in the spacious lot behind Grimauld place. Hermione had put a powerful concealment charm around the place so no Muggles would see them and think they'd lost it.

"See, 'Mione?" Ron called. "It's not so bad afterall, is it?"

"With the Felix I guess not," Hermione gripped her broom tightly. She ducked a Quaffle Harry had found in Krecher's closet.

"C'mon, Hermione! At least try and play," Ron swooshed past her, catching the Quaffle. "Catch it, don't duck it! Be glad we aren't playing with Bludgers!"

Hermione rolled her eyes and made after Ron.

All too soon though, it was time for them to leave. Hermione hated to admit it, but she was having a little bit of fun. Maybe flying wasn't so bad. Afterall, she did have the Felix, and they were only ten feet off the ground. Her toes skimmed the grass as she landed.

They trio quickly righted themselves so they wouldn't arrive at the school quite so windblown. Hermione shrunk all their trunks so they'd be able to pocket them.

"Good idea, 'Mione," Ron said, gicing her a lopsided smile. "I was wondering how we'd get these to the school."

Hermione looked unimpressed.

"Ready?" Harry asked.

"Ready," Ron and Hermione said. They turned on the spot in a whirl of cloaks.

"Bloody hell," Ron said as he stumbled. "I like Apparating better than taking the train!"

"Agreed," Harry said, pulling his miniature trunk out of his pocket as the others did the same.

"Shall we?" Ron extended his hand and bowed to Hermione in mock poshness.

They walked up to the front doors, where they were greeted by Professor McGonagall.

"Good afternoon," she said curtly.

"Professor," Ron said, "this is the first and only time I'll ever be on time."

"Yes, I suppose it will be, Mr. Weasley," she said, trying to hide a smile.

"Miss Granger, my office, if you please," Professor McGonagall was suddenly curt again. "I need to talk to you and the Head Boy."

"Congratulations, Miss Granger," she gave Hermione a rare smile. "I know you have what it takes to be a Head Girl. Although you don't know who the Head boy is just yet, I expect the two of you to get along and act civil towards one another. You are an example to the school. You are to spend the hours you have before the feast getting to know one another in your dormitory."

Hermione gulped and followed Professor McGonagall into her office. "But first, I have to review some school rules with the two of you."

"Granger? You're Head GIRL?" Malfoy sneered, getting up from a chair. "Professor, I thought..."

"Mr Malfoy," Professor McGonigall said in a warning tone, "You two are the top students in Hogwarts with an almost perfect record. Now remember, I expect the two of you to act civil."

Professor McGonagall droned on for the next two hours on the importance of Head Boy and Girl, while Hermione and Draco glowered at each other.

"The password is 'Lothian'," Professor McGonagall concluded, leading them out of her office and into the deserted corridor. "Follow me."