Chapter 1: The Letter
Hermione woke to the chirping of birds. Her eyes were closed, but still, the sunlight leaked through the window and into her sensitive, sleepy eyes. She pulled the covers back over her head, and attempted to force herself to go back to sleep.

But sleep wouldn't come. Reluctantly, she opened her eyes, and propped herself up on her elbow.

The electronic clock on her bedside table flashed 7:26 A.M. The calendar, which had a small picture of a cat on it, said that it was August 31st . Hermione flopped back down on her bed and smiled. School was starting tomorrow!

I know what you're thinking, there aren't many people in the world that count down the days until school starts again. But, when you go to Hogwarts, a school for witches and wizards, the situation is a little bit different.

Hermione was just drifting back to sleep, when a sudden tapping at her window jolted her awake. She catapulted herself out of bed, and unlatched the window. Throwing it back with anticipation, she allowed a large, brown owl into her room. Who is this from? she thought to herself. She had already gotten her annual letter from Hogwarts, and her best friends, Ron and Harry hardly ever wrote letters any more.

The bird swooped over her bed, dropping the thick envelope onto Hermione's unmade duvet. She snatched it up, holding it tightly with both hands. Part of her wanted to rip it oped right away, and pour over its contents. She hadn't gotten a letter from the wizarding world in so long! But the other half of her wanted to wait a little while and leave the surprise for later. But, the first part of Hermione got the best of her, and she ferociously tore open the envelope, revealing a small, folded piece of parchment. Ever so carefully,she unfolded it.

Dear Miss Granger, she read. Well, it couldn't be Harry or Ron, Hermione thought. They'd never call her "Miss Granger". She refocused on the object in her hands, and her eyes began flying down the parchment.

We are pleased to inform you that you have been selected by the myself,Minerva Mcgonagall, to be Head Girl for this coming year at the Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. You have been selected for your enviable work ethic, and superior grades. Please note that this is not a job to be taken lightly. You will be expected to use your time well, In order to save time for nightly patrols and planning events along with the Head Boy this year. On the Hogwarts express this year, you will be expected to ride in the "Head Car" with the Head Boy, to discuss your plans for the year. Best of Luck!

Minerva G. Mcgonagall
Headmistress of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

"YES!" Hermione cried, pumping her fist in the air with an uncharacteristic burst of energy. She'd been hoping for this position from the moment she'd set foot in Hogwarts. Last year, when she was forced to go help Harry fight Voldemort in an "ever so minor skirmish" that nearly took the lives of every student at Hogwarts, her dream had been thrown out of the way. Now she had another chance.

She had been shocked when professor Mcgonagall had personally come to her home, to invite her to redo her 7th year, regarding the, well, the circumstances, but now, she was HEAD GIRL! Head Girl for crying out loud! The one thing that she'd been dying to do for the last 7 years. She grinned, and turned to go down the stairs.

"MUM! DAD!" she cried as her feet pounded every step. She swung around the corner into the kitchen, to see a surprised pair of parents look up from their muggle newspapers.

"Yes, what is it dear?" her father asked, folding his paper and setting it down on the table, peering at his daughter over his glasses.

"I'm head girl!" she exclaimed, her happy cry echoing through-out the house. Hermione held up the piece of parchment, which had suffered minor damage in her clenched fist.

"Oh darling that's wonderful!" her mother cooed, and stood to congratulate her only child. Margery Granger, and her husband, Ted knew little about the wizarding world, but Hermione had been raving about this for years. "I'm so proud of you!" she exclaimed, and pinned Hermione in a tight hug.

"Thanks Mum!" Hermione gasped as she pried 's arms off of her shoulders. She sighed, free from her mother's firm grip. "What's for breakfast?' she wondered aloud.

"Oh, well, we've just finished breakfast, dear. But I'm sure I can whip something up..." her mum trailed off as she went in search of some breakfast for Hermione.

"No, no! It's fine!" Hermione demanded. "Really! I'll just go over to the coffee shop down the road. You know, Bluebell's" she lied. Why on earth would she go to a muggle shop when she could go to a wizard cafe in Diagon alley like The Tea Kettle?

"You're sure?" her mother raised a skeptical eyebrow. "I really don't mind." she said, but Hermione saw through her act. Margery's age was beginning to catch up with her.

"It's fine. As soon as I'm properly dressed I'll head up there." she smiled and turned to go back to her room.

"Would you like me to drive you?" Mr. Granger offered, eager to be of some help.

"No thanks, I'll walk. I need the exercise!" she joked, and dashed up the stairs.

Hermione wasn't the only one getting a letter from Hogwarts that morning. Unbeknown to her, halfway across England, Draco Malfoy was opening an almost identical envelope. As his eyes scanned the parchment, a smug smile formed on his lips.

"Ah yes. Head boy." he tossed the letter onto his desk, and strutted into the corridor. "I'm head boy!" he announced to his Great Aunt Sylvia, who happily sat knitting in a portrait on his wall.

"But that is to be expected of you, child. You're a Malfoy." she said. Her cold, grey eyes lingered on her knitting before they met Draco's. His face fell, but he quickly stood up straighter, and gave a curt nod.

"Yes, Aunt Sylvia. Thank you." he smiled and continued down the hall to his father's study. He knocked thrice, and waited for a reply.

"Come in... Lucius said icily as his son entered the room.

"Father, it seems that I've been placed as head boy." he said smugly.

"Very good, Draco." stood and placed a hand on his son's shoulder. "Believe me, I'd just love to chat, but i have some,er, work to take care of." Lucius said, giving Draco a look. He knew that this meant his father had some, simply put, dark or illegal things to deal with.

"Oh. Yes father." he said, and left the room. Draco often wished that his father was more caring, but he couldn't change that. He walked down the hall with a sigh and a deflated heart. But, there was one place he could go to relax.

He disaperated, picturing the small coffee shop in Diagon alley clearly in his mind.