Chapter 1- The wall is crumbling
Although Hermione hated divination with a passion, that warm September day she sensed something. Something about this year would be different. Something would definitely change.
Hermione boarded the train, and went to find the compartment as a 5th year Hermione had to go to the Prefect's carriage, Making her way past a bunch of giggling first years she found the compartment. The Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff prefects were already there as well as a quiet Ron.
"Hey Ron." She said lightly sitting down next to him.
"Hey Hermione."
"How was your summer?" she asked, hoping he would brighten up.
As Ron launched in to a novel length tale about his summer, Malfoy and Parkinson entered.
"Looks like Weasel had a everlasting talking charm on him." Malfoy said loudly laughing to Pansy.
Draco caught Hermione's eyes and something made her shiver. As Ron finished he asked Hermione how her summer was.
"Fine." She said sharply. She paused to readjust her tone. "I went to Spain with my parents. There is so much information buried there. I got to see the ocean too. It was my first time seeing it. I love it…just how the waves crashed against the rocks reminded me of something Professor Binns said in class. I guess that's why I love traveling. I mean, learning about all those different cultures, and things like that. It's a real way to apply what I've learned, and a way to learn more." Hermione said.
"So that's why you always pay attention in Professor Binns' class. So you think Dumbledore's found a new Defense against the Dark Arts professor?"
Hermione nodded and stole a quick glance at Draco. He was looking right at her. She frowned slighting, "I think I'll read." She pulled a thick textbook out of her bag, and submerged herself in it, reading all about ancient runes, for what seemed like the millionth time this summer. She didn't actually read though. She just pretended to read, turning the page every once in awhile.
Every once in a while Hermione saw Draco staring at her, with an expression on she'd never seen him wear. As she stared back it was Draco's turn to shiver. Her deep brown eyes, some called the color of espresso, if first looked at, showed hate. But Draco had learned to see past that. Living with Lucius Malfoy for fifteen years had taught him that much. You have to learn how the person is feeling behind the mask, so you don't get hurt.
Behind the hate was a sense of curiosity, spunk and rebellion, as he realized this, Draco's mind began on a wild tangent. He knew people put up emotional barriers, walls if that was what you wanted to call them, to protect themselves from what they were really feeling. He knew that by looking at her eyes, her wall was starting to fall. It was starting to crumble. He always knew people's eyes could lie, but as he shifted his gaze back to the window he could feel that they weren't. He only wished his wall could start to fall. His close friend, Blaise Zabini once said, "Man, you can talk the talk, but now you have to walk the walk. It's pretty scary being out there, so you learn to put up defenses."
Hermione Granger, spunky, and rebellious? No, yet those eyes aren't lying. She needs to be set free. Draco thought, turning his gaze once more to the window, as the Scottish countryside zoomed by while the train gently swayed on.
Hermione continued her stare at Draco until Ron noticed. "Hermione what's up with you?"
"N-nothing, just...er... won - wondering how a spoiled, cocky ferret got the job as a prefect, that's all." She stuttered hesitantly. Hermione didn't dare look at Draco. Her mind told her it was normal to say something mean about him, but her heart was saying that something was up. Besides, she was caught- and she didn't like it.
As Hermione ignored Draco's gaze, Pansy walked in. She took one look around the compartment, her eyes resting on a laughing Ron.
"Idiot." Pansy muttered, so that only Draco and Hermione could hear. Hermione agreed; Ron was acting like an idiot. If only there was some unidiotic charm around.
"I'm gonna get changed." Hermione announced quietly. She clearly wanted to get away from the tension that ensured in that small compartment. However, the Hufflepuff prefect's and the Ravenclaw ones seemed oblivious to what was happening around them.
Hermione stayed in the bathroom for a while. There was a tension that she couldn't explain back in the compartment. She finally went back and started talking to an excited Ravenclaw. She wasn't listening but sill managed to look interested.
"What do you think?" The girl asked, waking Hermione back to the reality that lay before her.
"Um, I don't know really."
Hermione looked out the window; they were almost there. She was thankful to know that they were almost there, where she could get away from Malfoy. The train ride had been bad enough, she couldn't imagine what it would be like if she had to spend anymore time with the stupid guy.
Professor McGonagall came in and gave the prefect's normal, beginning of year, "good behavior" speech. Her words went out of her mouth, and bounced around the compartment. Scanning the four girls' and four boys' faces she could see that no one had taken in a word after the second sentence.
"Well since I see no one is listening I will hand out the patrolling schedule. There will be no switching your partner so do not come to me complaining. I will see you at the sorting."
Hermione unfolded a cream colored piece of parchment with her name on it. In blue ink, and in careful script she saw a name that made Hermione gasp and drop the piece of paper.
Draco Malfoy
The train came to a screeching halt at the platform. Picking up the piece of paper she shoved the book back into her bag. Stepping off the train Hermione felt a strong hand helping her down. She looked down surprised at the man who had helped her down. It was no other than Draco Malfoy.
"Thank you." She muttered looking away to the carriages.
"Let's go find Harry." Ron said pulling Hermione away from the glassy stare of Draco. Hermione reluctantly followed him, but as soon as she saw Harry and Ginny waving at them from afar she forgot completely about being helped out from the train.
Almost like a little girl, Hermione raced towards Harry ready to begin a new year of adventures and challenges.
A light mist began to fall, covering the stars with silvery clouds, as people began to enter through the large front doors. Hermione always loved walking through those doors. She felt as if she was walking into a new world, a world full of knowledge. She was the sponge ready to soak all it in.
Candles floated around gently as they entered the Great Hall. A line of first years, almost double the size of Hermione's first year were standing, impatiently waiting for Professor McGonagall to begin the sorting.
After what seemed like ages of reciting names, and yelling, the sorting ceremony came to a close. The golden plates appeared and Ron and Harry dug in. Hermione however wasn't that hungry. She only ate a little food, feeling that stuffing herself would do no good. Apparently Ron and Harry hadn't gotten that message, because they were stuffing their faces like there was no tomorrow.
"Ugh, don't you guys get tired of eating?" Hermione asked, disgustedly.
Harry looked up and his green eyes swept over her quickly.
"You know very well I don't get that great of food at the Dursley's." He said with a slightly confused grin.
"Okay, well that's no excuse for Ron."
She turned to look at her redhead friend, but Ron was deeply engrossed in a conversation with Seamus and Dean.
Over at the Slytherin table Draco was sitting quietly eating, not listening to what people were saying. It took Blaise Zabini three times, and a slap on the face for him to realize he was being asked a question.
"What?" Draco asked coldly.
After Dumbledore made his famous speech, Hermione, Ron, Draco, Pansy, and the other prefects led the first years to their common room. Muttering their separate passwords they entered their common rooms, a little happy, a little confused, and tired. Yet Hermione and Draco had first patrol that night. Something they really didn't want.
So, after getting settled Hermione left the Gryffindor common room and went down the many flights of stairs to the entrance hall. A boy was standing there, looking out onto the grounds, his white blond hair illuminated by the moonlight.
"Malfoy." She said simply.
"Granger." He said turning around.
"Shall we go?" She asked, almost sounding like someone from Shakespeare's plays.
"Whatever."
They walked together, completely ignoring the fact that the other was there for a long while. Each wrapped up in their own thoughts; Draco's mind wrapped up in how annoying Pansy was, and Hermione's was wrapped up her classes.
Draco wasn't looking where he was going, and accidentally fell into Hermione. He quickly got back up, realizing what an awkward position he was in.
"Watch where you're going Mudblood."
"Well then watch where you're going Ferret."
As Draco and Hermione began walking down towards the dungeons they both shivered. Something powerful was in their touch.
Yikes! I actually liked touching Her…Granger, even if it was on accident. What has gotten into me? I mean I almost called her by her first name.
What's wrong with me? When Malfoy bumped into me it sent shivers down my spine. I'm never gotten shivers from a guy's touch. What's wrong with me?
Draco pointed vaguely at a portrait and said, "Pure-blood". The portrait swung open, and Hermione knew it was the Slytherin common room. She turned away, thinking about the day, and went back to the Gryffindor common room.
Both Draco and Hermione were asleep in minutes, and yet, they slept restlessly. Something was changing. And change wasn't always good.