' – Headmistress you cannot be serious! I see no reason for him to have this position, he who willingly served Voldemort, he who tormented Harry throughout his school years and – '

'Yes, he who had no other choice but to be part of his father's scheme, he who served as puppet for atrocities, he who is now remorseful, Miss Granger,' Headmistress McGonagall interrupted pointedly.

Hermione blushed consciously and lowered her fervent eyes. Perhaps her tirade was getting the better of her but it was a justified outburst. Draco Malfoy was a foul, coward who had done nothing for Hogwarts, or for the War. Sure, he had not been an out-and-out assassin but he had been quite close, which meant he was a weak mind. Why should Hogwarts help him?

'I understand your reasons Headmistress, but appointing him Head Boy will not help either the school or himself. He will probably take advantage of its perks and not change at all! Unless Malfoy is shown humbleness…'

'Well, I tend to disagree, Miss Granger. You see, I think making him Head Boy is an excellent move, for I would be able to watch over him and keep track of him if you like. Were he out of Hogwarts bounds he would be more dangerous, I assure you. Also, he will learn what it's like to have greater responsibilities and perhaps will be beneficially influenced by this title.'

Hermione snorted loudly.

'Beneficially influenced? By who?'

'Well you of course, Miss Granger!'

'Me?!' she exclaimed shocked. 'What has he to learn from me? Malfoy loathes my being and always has.'

'Even enemies respect each other,' she replied curtly. 'You being Head Girl you will most likely brush off some of your qualities on him, since you will be spending some time together.'

'Supposing this to be possible, how would I benefit from this entire affair?' she asked a bit disappointed.

'Why, I am shocked, Miss Granger, to see you do not wish to help a fellow student come to the light,' she said pursing her lips, though her eyes showed different feelings.

'It shan't be morally rewarding, I tell you,' she muttered.

'Never say never,' she countered. 'I am just as angry with Mr. Malfoy's life choices as anyone, but it is our duty to help him on the right path. Remember the case of poor Severus Snape, may God rest his soul. After all, the boy didn't have it in him to be a murderer or associate himself with the Death Eaters.'

'I suppose not…' Hermione replied sulkily. 'But I doubt he will ever truly change.'


When Hermione left the Headmistress' office she felt exhausted from arguing. Her protests had gone to smoke. She had to coexist with Malfoy somehow. She was a mature woman, it wasn't such a difficult task…she wasn't a third year anymore, but she would probably suffer from it either way.

She hadn't told the boys yet. Knowing how protective Ron was, Malfoy'd be burnt to the stake in just a couple of days. Well, Harry might understand but Ron wouldn't hear of it.

She headed towards the appointed Head Boy and Girl room, whispered the password and crawled in disappointed. She didn't feel like going to the Gryffindor Common Room. Harry and Ron were playing Wizard Chess and the latter would probably ignore her, since nothing ever distracted him from chess. Well…he did it unconsciously. It was strange if not baffling how daft Ron could be. After that one stormy kiss he simply decided to chicken out and let her do all the work. Safe to say, it was never brought up again, only hinted at gently, and Hermione was too proud to approach him without encouragement. She felt Ron's attempts to come close to her, but his shyness was becoming annoying and futile. He probably wanted to wait. She didn't. Not after seven years.

As she crouched on the couch, curling up with a nice book she heard the creaking of a door and saw someone coming out of the bedroom.

It was Malfoy.

What was he doing here? McGonagall had informed her he was due the day after tomorrow. And there he was, in all shining glory, wearing his usual black and green attire, spick and span, though his hair was ruffled and unkempt. His face was unreadable. There was no sneer there, just indifference and perhaps boredom.

'Granger…' he muttered. 'I thought I'd manage to have a few days to myself.'

'I always come early,' she replied firmly. 'When did you come?'

'Two hours ago.'

'I see…'

'Well, I might as well get used to your presence.'

Hermione withdrew herself from the couch, but he waved his arm as he walked to the door.

'Don't bother, I'm going to the Slytherins.'

'Oh, well, you can't stay there for too l-'

'I know Granger, thank you for the unnecessary information,' he said shrugging his shoulders as he stepped through the hidden door.

Hermione watched him go and stared at the missing spot for several seconds. He had been so unfazed! True, he was still an impolite jerk, but the old Draco Malfoy that usually retorted something awful and smirked superiorly had apparently vanished and had been replaced by an apathetic young man with a peculiar attitude. Somehow the change affected her. It made her think of the war and all those people that had seen their loved ones die, that had become different, had grown sadder and had lost themselves in a whirlwind of worries and sorrows. Was he one of them? Had he lost what made him be himself?

Strangely enough, she wished he was his old self. This new version put her out of ease, since she didn't know how to respond to him this way.

Nevertheless, she would try to reason.


Later that evening, he did return. She had almost fallen asleep in front of the fire, but his loud footsteps echoing on the marble woke her from her dreams and she pulled herself up.

'Evening, Granger,' he muttered and sped past her to his dormitory.

Okay Hermione, say something, anything. Remember what McGonagall told you.

'Congratulations, Malfoy. For the uh, Head Boy position.'

He stopped a bit and looked over his shoulder, as if something had caught his eye in the distance.

'I'm not happy about it.'

'I…er, I can tell. Are you alright?'

'Yes.'

'Do you…wish to talk about anything?' she tried. Her voice sounded like broken glass.

'With you?' he asked in disbelief.

Hermione had to admit the situation was hard to swallow.

'I suppose…'

'About?' he asked impatiently.

'How you're feeling…' she continued awkwardly.

It almost made her jump when he started laughing quietly.

'McGonagall put you up to this, didn't she?'

'Why do you say that? Of course not!' she protested.

'You wouldn't be asking me idiotic questions about my feelings Granger.'

'Why ever not?'

He rolled his eyes. 'Maybe because you couldn't give a rat's arse? Look, I don't want to get into conflict with you. I'm not a wreck, I'm not a victim or whatever McGonagall thinks I am. I don't' need help.'

Hermione wanted the ground to swallow her. She really wanted to go and complain to McGonagall shouting "you see? I told you so!"
But okay, she had to find a better alternative.

'Alright, you don't need help. But if you ever do and find yourself in a situation…'

'I won't resort to you Granger,' he said, without a trace of malice.

She sighed. 'I know, but I'm just saying…you can.'

He was about to climb up the stairs when he turned and looked her up and down.

'For all your brains and ethics Granger, you're a dirty liar and you're a tool to boot. You've been a tool for Potter and Weasley and now you want to be a tool for this school. Save yourself the trouble, and get on with your life and I will with mine.'

He disappeared in darkness and the harshness of his words echoed in her ears all throughout the night, not letting her have any peace. She tossed and she turned in her sleep most of the night, trying to deny his words, trying to find a way around them. Was she being used? No. Her friends loved her, she knew that; it was insane to believe otherwise. But was it true that maybe she should start on her own life and leave some things behind?

What did that mean? Oddly enough, she felt he had the answer.


The very next day Ron and Harry both echoed their dissatisfaction at the appalling news of Hermione residing with Malfoy.

'What is the wanker doing back at Hogwarts? He should be expelled for what it's worth,' Ron said infuriated, stabbing the plate with his fork.

'Ron, he deserves to have an education just like everyone else.'

'Oh, I bet you'd say that about Voldemort himself if you could,' he retaliated.

'You know it's not the same thing. Malfoy has made some mistakes, but...'

'Some mistakes?' Harry intervened. 'I'd say many.'

'Okay, many. But that doesn't mean he is a lost cause.'

'Might I remind you he let Death Eaters into the castle and almost killed Harry?' Ron bellowed frustrated.

'Gee, I wasn't there Ron. I was taking it easy at the beach. I understand what you're saying and I agree with you, but what should we do? Toss him out and let him do God knows what? With his wealth and his power there's no telling what he'd be up to. I argued with McGonagall for an hour, but she is convinced this is a right measure and I trust her. She wouldn't do this without logical reasons.'

'Malfoy is not an inborn Death Eater, but he's pretty dangerous and unconscious, Mione. I don't think he even draws the line between good and evil,' Harry added. 'I don't think he ever did.'

'Look, he apparently regrets and wants to make amends for what he has done. Or so he told McGonagall and the judges at the Ministry trial. I don't like him and I'll probably never trust him, I might believe in him, but I won't judge him,' she replied.

'Why ever not?!'

'Because Ron, had you been in his place, what do you think you would have done?'