A/N This is my first story, so I hope it isn't too bad. It will be Draco/Hermione, and probably have 20-30 chapters. I probably won't update very often, because of school and stuff, but I'll try to update as soon as I possibly can.
Disclaimer: Everything in this story recognisable from the Harry Potter books or movies is not mine and is the property of JK Rowling. I only own the plot, which has probably been influenced by other stories I've read anyway.
"Hermione!" Mr Granger called, "Your Hogwarts letter just arrived!"
Hermione raced downstairs to open her letter. When her father handed it to her, she noticed that it was a little bulkier than in previous years, presumably because it would contain the results of her O.W.L.s, which she had taken at the end of her 5th year. She was confident that she had done well, after all, she had spent every free moment she had had for the past 5 years studying. She tore off the red Hogwarts wax seal and apprehensively opened the envelope. Taking out first her list of equipment followed by her new prefect badge (she was a prefect the previous year, so this didn't come as a surprise), she became even more anxious. The only thing left was her results. Taking the parchment in her hand, she began to read out her results.
"Charms," she said, shakily, "O."
"Transfiguration," she continued, with a little more confidence, "O."
This is a good start, she thought to herself. Hopefully I've done just as well in my other subjects.
"Herbology, O"
She continued to get Os in Astronomy, Arithmancy, History of Magic, Muggle Studies, Care of Magical Creatures and Ancient Runes, until all that was left was Potions.
"And finally, Potions," she paused, "O."
"Oh, congratulations darling!" her mother cried. "We couldn't be any happier for you!"
"Thanks Mum. I wonder how Harry and Ron did?" Hermione replied.
"Well, why don't you write and ask them?"
"I just might do that."
H,
I just got my Hogwarts letter. Got straight Os in my O.W.L.s, how did you do?
H
P.S. We need a new way to address each other.
Hermione copied the note out again, besides the postscript, to send to Ron.
"Take this one to Harry, and this one to Ron," she told her owl, Zelda, while tying the notes to her ankle. The owl hooted in understanding and flew out of the window.
About 30 minutes later, Hedwig brought her a reply from Harry;
H,
I got mine too. O in Defense, E in Potions, Tranfiguration, Charms, Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures, A in Astronomy, P in Divination and D in History of Magic. Congratulations on your results! I'll see you later in the holidays at the Burrow.
H
ps. I agree
Just as she finished reading Harry's letter, Pigwidgeon flew in and dropped a note in Hermione's lap. She picked it up and began reading.
Hermione,
Congrats on your scores. I got 2 Es, 5 As and 2 Ps.
Ron
It took him over half an hour to write that? Dismissing it, she picked up one of her new Charms textbooks and started to get ahead of her studies.
Draco Malfoy had just received his Hogwarts letter. As expected, he achieved Os in every subject he took. Contrary to popular belief, he was actually very intelligent.
His mother had congratulated him, but his father barely acknowledged him nowadays. The only time he would make contact of any sort with Draco was when he would punish him for the pettiest of things with the Cruciatus curse. Lately, he was pressuring Draco to officially begin serving the Dark Lord.
While Lucius was in Azkaban, Draco had had much more time to spend with his mother. During the Easter holidays in Draco's 5th year, believing that he would agree, she had confessed to him that she didn't really believe anything she seemed to about muggles and muggle-borns. He regretted doing what he did next.
"Have a good year, Hermione."
"Don't worry, Mum, I will."
Mrs Granger hugged her daughter before waving sadly as Hermione ran off to meet her friends.
"Harry! Ron!"
"Hi Hermione!" they said together.
"How was your summer?" she asked as they made their way onto the train.
"Terrible! The Dursleys took my wand and books, locked me in my room and only let me out to go to the toilet or to get dinner!" said Harry , as they sat down in a compartment.
"I wasn't much better. After Fred and George left, Ginny was allowed to have all her friends over, and I hardly got any sleep from all that giggling!"
"Ron! I'm pretty sure Harry had a much worse summer than you!" Hermione exclaimed.
She didn't hear Ron's reply, as the train whistled to signify that it was 11 o'clock and the train was leaving.
"So Hermione, how was your summer?" Harry asked, attempting to clear the awkwardness from the air.
"Oh, it was wonderful! I finished all of my essays in the first two days, then I reread Hogwarts: A History before my parents and I went to France for a fortnight. Then I read all of this year's course books, and of course all of the previous ones-" she replied .
"Hermione. You're rambling," said Harry.
Meanwhile, a pair of strikingly grey eyes were rereading Chapter Six of Hogwarts: A History.
