Chapter 1: Re-Introduction

After the war, students who had opted out of seventh year were invited to come back and finish their schooling. Harry and Ron, unsurprisingly, had decided against it, but Hermione wanted to go back. She received her Head Girl badge the day after she sent in her confirmation. September 1st, she set out with all of her bags and books, all the Weaslys and Harry off with her to say goodbye. She hugged Harry and Ron, giving the latter a quick kiss on the cheek before climbing aboard the train, waving to them all before they disappeared from view. She patrolled the train, from back to front, helping first year and reprimanding the older students. It was well after lunch by the time she made her way to the Heads compartment, and she was surprised by what she saw inside.

She hadn't expected it. She thought the Head Boy would be someone like Ernie Macmillan, or Michael Corner. Those would have been the logical choices, given that they fought for Hogwarts and were some of the top students here. But McGonnagal must have followed Dumbledore's belief that everyone deserved a second chance, or had a discussion with his portrait because when she reached the door to the Head cabin, she saw a shock of white-blonde hair through the glass. She knew that after the war, he had 'switched sides' in a way. He helped Kingsley (the new Minister of Magic) to identify the remainder of the Death Eaters, and removed all traces of the Dark Arts from Malfoy Manor. But she hasn't thought he'd come back to Hogwarts, let alone become Head Boy, given everything he'd done. But she supposed that if he was the choice McGonnagal had made, she would deal with it. She took a deep breathe and slid the door to the side, then slipped inside the compartment and closed it again.

Hermione sat across from him, taking care to ensure their knees didn't touch. "Hello, Malfoy," she started, uncertain if everything that had happened the past year would change anything, particularly the names that he seemed fond of calling her. She was used to them of course, and they wouldn't keep her from her duties, although she wouldn't hesitate to slap him if necessary. But she thought life would be much more pleasant if the name-calling was kept at a minimum.

"Afternoon, Granger." He continued to stare out the window, watching the countryside pass by silently. He seemed to be done talking to her, so Hermione pulled a book out of her bag, The Tales of Beedle and Bard. Even though it was a children's book, she still loved reading it, because it was from Dumbledore, and the stories were so fascinating, yet simple. She was pulled out of her reverie when he chuckled. Still not looking at her, he said, "always with your books, eh Granger?" Startled, she gave a sound that he must've taken as an affirmative, because he closed his eyes and leaned his head against the window. She opened her book again and began to read, lost in the world of a child's fairy tale.

She had finished that book, and was switching it out for another before he spoke to her again. "So. You're Head Girl." She couldn't help the sarcastic reply that came out of her mouth. "Obviously, why else would I be here?" She realized how rude it sounded, and was going to apologize when he interrupted with, "easy, tiger. That was a statement, not a question. I knew it would be you." She waited for the usual terms of "bookworm" or "nerd" but they didn't come. So she responded with, "you're Head Boy."

He laughed again. "Obviously, why else would I be here?" He smirked, but it wasn't his usual "I'm so much better than you" brand. It was kind, almost friendly. Yes, he had mocked her, but it was good-natured, a word she never thought she'd use to describe anything this boy did. So she smiled and tried to go back to her book. But he interrupted her once more by saying, "I was surprised too. I thought it would be the Boy Wonder, but considering that he's not glued to your side at the moment, I'm assuming he opted out of coming back?"

She was shocked to not hear any malice when he spoke about Harry. "Yes, he and Ron both decided not to return. I encouraged them to continue their education, but when have they ever listened to me?" She smiled wistfully, and waited for him to say something else, but he didn't. He had closed his eyes again and leaned on the window, so Hermione figured he was done talking. She took a new book out of her bag, another that she had already read, and longed for the library, where there would many new books for her to explore. The rest of the trip was spent in silence, on both ends of the compartment.

When the train stopped, she put her books away, and he stretched out across the seat. They stood and went separate ways, Hermione herding the older students toward the carriages, and Malfoy bringing the first years over to Hagrid. They arrived at the castle at the same time, and went to sit with their Houses. She was greeted by old friends, and he sat alone. McGonnagal, as new Headmaster, gave the welcoming speech and started the sorting. After the hat was put away, the feast began, and Hermione was grateful for the elves in the kitchen, deciding to visit the kitchens sometime that week.

After the feast was over, the prefects led all the students to their dormitories, while the Heads followed the Headmaster to her office. It looked a lot different from the last time Hermione had been there, but no less wonderful. McGonnagal made the office look almost regal.

"Your duties will include nightly patrols, and planning any extracurricular activities. You'll also be planning the Halloween party and decorations this year, as I don't have much of a knack for decoration that appeals to uounger students." she smiled at this. "You may or may not have known this," she started, "but the Heads always share a common room. On the fourth floor, down the hall from the restrooms, there is a painting of a woman on a bench. She's normally quite quiet, and she won't let anyone in your dorm that doesn't know the password. The password at the moment is 'apothecary' but feel free to change it at any time. You'll have separate rooms, each with its own password, and there's also a sitting room and a kitchen, should you feel the need for a snack. Right now there's only a sofa and some side chairs, but is there anything else you'd like in your sitting room? An office desk, perhaps?" She looked expectantly at Hermione with this. But it was Malfoy who said, "yes, an office desk would be nice. It wouldn't be too much trouble?" "Of course not," McGonnagal stated. "I'll have one brought up for both of you. Is that all?" He nodded. "Well then, you're dismissed. Please, start your patrol immediately." He nodded once more, and turned to leave the room, stopping when he realized Hermione wasn't with him. "Granger," he called. "Patrols. Come on." But she stood looking at the floor thoughtfully. Then she said to him, "go on without me. I'll meet up with you in a bit." He shrugged, and left the office.

After he had gone, she said to McGonnagal, "would there be room in my personal dorm for... A piano? Not a grand, or a baby grand. A standing would be fine." The Headmaster looked shocked for a moment, then said "unfortunately, there isn't room in the dorms for much more than a bed and a dresser. The closet is there and you could store it there of course, but I doubt you'd be comfortable playing your instrument in such a tight space, and that would also limit how much clothes you could have. However, there is plenty of room in the sitting room, even for a baby grand if you'd like. I didn't know you played the piano, Miss Granger."

Hermione smiled. "I used to take lessons when I was younger. I haven't for a while, but there's a song I want to learn, and I remember the basics of reading sheet music. So I was just thinking, if its not too much trouble..." McGonnagal nodded. "It's no trouble at all. By the time you finish your nightly patrol with Mr. Malfoy, the desks will be in your dorm, and tomorrow after supper your piano will be waiting for you."

"Thank you," Hermione beamed. "I should probably go meet Malfoy now. Good night, professor." With that she left the office. She found Malfoy on the third floor, with a couple of second years who were trying to scare a first year with stories of the legendary three-headed dog. The rest of the patrol passed without incident, and they made their way back to the fourth floor.

Malfoy found the portrait, and said clearly, "apothecary." The woman on the bench nodded, and the frame swing forward. Hermione stepped inside first, and decided that the common room alone was worth becoming Head Girl. The walls were a soft beige color, and the sofa and chairs were white leather. The office desks that McGonnagal had gotten for them were on opposite sides of the fireplace, both of them a beautiful mahogany. When she explored the kitchen, she found a cozy little space, with a simple stove and a refrigerator stocked with fruits and vegetables, as well as milk and juice.

Finally, she looked at the clock and saw that it was nearly one in the morning. She left the kitchen and noticed Malfoy putting paper and quills into his desk, organizing it the way he saw fit. She called out to him, "I think I'll head to bed now, Malfoy." He nodded and said "of course, gotta be well rested for the first day of classes. I'll head in in a bit. G'night, Granger." "Night, Malfoy." She started toward her room and was about to enter when she heard him speak again. "I, uh, look forward to working with you, Granger." She looked at him for a moment, then responded with, "as do I. See you in the morning." She entered her bedroom, quickly changed the password to "Beedle and Bard," and was asleep before her head hit the pillow.