Draco Malfoy was getting on the train at King's Cross on September 1st, for what would be his last year at Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. His mind usually would have been on whether or not he had packed different items. Not this year though, instead his thoughts centered around the fact that he was now Head Boy. The gold badge pinned to his jacket was proof that he wasn't some dumb sleaze.
He was quite the opposite in fact. He may have always played second fiddle to Hermione Granger, who was Head Girl, but if you wanted any sort of social life there is no way you could best her. She was a very rare breed indeed. Thinking of Hermione didn't bring pain or anger like it used to. Instead he only had simple acceptance, or should I say, tolerance, for her.
Draco kissed his mother goodbye, hoping she wouldn't cry like she had last year, and boarded the train with his belongings. He stowed his trunk and went into the Head compartment. Usually he would wander the corridor's searching for an empty compartment, but not this year, him and Hermione, would share a compartment at the head of the train instead.
When he got there, Hermione was sitting in the seat beside the window, primly reading a book. Not a suprise to say the least. He could see her physically tense when she noticed him and it only made him smirk.
"Hullo, Granger," Draco said in his lazy drawl.
"Hello, Malfoy," Hermione said surveying him for a moment as she would a difficult text book and then with a curt nod she went back to her book.
Draco sat in the seat across from her. He realized he had forgotten a book to entertain him at that moment and he frowned and looked towards Hermione.
She, no doubt, would have at least a dozen books stowed away in the little bag she was carrying. For a second Draco wondered how heavy her trunk was, and how she could manage it, it was sure to be stocked almost as well as a library and she wasn't very big.
He cursed himself for thinking such strange things. Now the trick to getting Hermione to lend him a book would be not to make her mad. Which was a near impossible feat, she took offence to almost everything he said. So, stealing himself for a huge arguement, he cleared his throat to get Hermione's attention.
"Hermione..." he began in the sincerest tone he could muster.
"What," Hermione said rather shortly making Draco wince.
"I was just wondering if I could trouble you for some reading materials. I seem to have forgotten my own," Draco said carefully.
"Oh, of course I have just the 'reading materials'," Hermione said and without a trace of emotion she reached into her bag, pulled out a rather large leaflet and tossed it to Draco.
"What is this," he said rather bluntly and Hermione glared at him.
"Read it," Hermione said forcefully and then she diverted her attention back to her book and refused to look at Draco for the rest of the train ride, although she was wearing an evil smirk.
"I can't believe it, Granger! You wrote this whole thing up on how House Elves should be payed for their work. What a load of rubbish. Why not use your intelligence for something more useful," Draco ranted after he he had read the first three pages.
To this Hermione simply rolled her eyes and kept on reading.
Draco sighed and put the leaflet on the seat beside him. He had decided he would just watch the country side until they got there, but soon enough it was dark outside and there was nothing to do. He gave Hermione a death look and then picked the leaflet up. It was quite redundent that Granger thought she could change the system. It had been the same for centuries. Although he had to hand it to Hermione that she at least stuck up for her beliefs, but that was not to say that he agreed with them in the slightest.
He was reading about pensions and time off, when the train came to a halt and everyone could be heard scrambling around for their things. Draco chuckled cheerfully and handed Hermione her leaflet back. She just looked at him oddly as he grabbed his things and strode out of their compartment. She quickly put here book back into her bag and followed him, lugging her heavy trunk behind her.
Being in an extremely strange state of mind, Draco offered to lift Hermione's trunk off the train. Maybe it wasn't so much his mood, but more the fact that she was blocking his way out anyway. Hermione was just about to protest that she could do it, but Draco just picked it up (with great effort, may I add) and gently dropped it on the cobblestones.
"Thank you," Hermione said quite suprised that he had done something for her.
"You think I did it for you? You were bloody blocking my way, Granger," Draco said with a nasty tinge to his tone, but instead of being mad, Hermione laughed and grabbed her trunk's handle.
"Why are you laughing, Granger," Draco said, put out that he hadn't gotten a rise out of her.
"I'm just glad you haven't totally gone crazy. If you would have been totally nice I would have to throttle you," Hermione said and with a smirk at his surpised expression, she took off towards the carriages, her trunk bumping heavily into her ankles.
Draco shrugged his pack high on his shoulder and took off after Hermione, after all they were sharing a carraige as well. He didn't have to walk very fast to catch her, though, as it turned out. She was having a bit of trouble with her trunk.
"Why are you lugging that heavy thing around anyway?" He asked.
"I don't want the house elves to have to lug these heavy things up to the castle," Hermione said angrily as once again her trunk bit into her ankle.
"They're not that stupid! They would use magic," Draco said laughing at her as she struggled.
Hermione didn't answer instead she tried to increase her pace, trying to get far away from Malfoy, before she exploded and cursed him. Draco was about to say something along the lines of be careful you're going to trip yourself, but it was too late.
Hermione's trunk hit a bump and went flying into the back of her legs sending her flying forward onto the cobblestones. She would have used her hands to stop herself (which might have broken her wrists), but as they were otherwise occupied, she hit her head rather hard. The resulting thud, did nothing for Draco's concience. He walked cautiously up to were she lay splayed out on the ground.
"Granger, are you alright," he said trying not to sound concerned.
She didn't answer though and Draco turned her onto her back and didn't like what he saw. Although, her bushy brown hair was everywhere, making it hard for him to make much out. He moved some of her hair away from her forehead. As soon as he did this, a nasty gash became visible. Most likely the bonk on the head had knocked her out. Students were hurrying all about them, but they didn't notice the Head Boy, crouched over the Head Girl.
Draco had no other choice, he picked Hermione up and carried her to their carraige, after setting her inside, he went back for her trunk. Instead of dragging it, he carried it, although it almost killed him. Now he was sure, Hermione had packed at least a million books in her trunk. Not her brightest moment, but she had been blinded by her love for reading.
Why could she have not gone to the library like everyone else, was beyond Draco, but there were more pressing matters at hand. Like how mad Weasley and Potter would be to find out that Hermione had gotten hurt in the presence of Draco. It wasn't going to be good. Not to mention Hermione wouldn't be all to appreciative that he had carried her to the carriage, she'd probably give him a thourrough tongue lashing when she was better.
Then why had Draco helped her? He could have just as well left her there to rot on the cobblestones. Maybe it was part the fact that he wasn't that mean, and part that he respected Hermione, more than he had any other person. Although he would never ever admit this to her.
He stowed her trunk and got into the carraige, Hermione was layed out on one of the seats, so he sat on the other. It had to be the quietest ride to Hogwarts he had ever had. When they stopped at the large stone steps leading into the Great Hall, Hermione actaully opened her eyes. And screamed like a banshee. Draco covered his ears and grimaced. Who knew Hermione had such lungs?
Hermione stopped screaming and sat up, but not without clutching at her head, which must of been experiencing a massive headache right about then. Draco uncovered his ears, Now he could hear all the people rustling around their carriage wanting to know who had been screaming. Draco didn't bother to open the door, he just sat there and waited for Hermione to regain her senses.
"Oh my head," she finally spit out, looking over at him like maybe it was his fault.
"Yeah, I bet it bloody hurts. Stop your moaning and let's get out of the bloody carraige," Draco said and Hermione didn't bat an eyelash.
"Ron and Harry'll kill you," Hermione said as though she still suspected he had hit her upside the head.
"I know. But I didn't give you that nice lump you are beginning to grow on your forehead. You tripped, remember?" Draco said now ticked that she was threatening him.
"Oh," Hermione said squinting her eyes as a wave of pain washed over her.
"Come on, we better get you up to Madame Pomfrey before you die of shock or something," Draco said and made a grab for her arm.
"I can walk," Hermione spat, pulling back her arm as if bitten by a spider.
"Fine go ahead. Seemed to work for you before," Draco said sarcastically.
"Sod off, Malfoy," Hermione said and she stood. A bit shakily, as Draco noticed, but without assistance.
She walked over to the door and threw it open. She was shocked to see a rather large crowd gathered around. They had been waiting there since she had screamed, that and Proffesor McGonagall hadn't led them inside yet. Hermione glared at everyone. Her headache was making her extremely grouchy. She stood so long in the doorway, that Draco contemplated pushing her out, but then she took a shaky step and she was out in the throng of people.
Draco grabbed her bag, she had forgotten it. Was he going to be babysitting her all year? School hadn't actaully started and she'd already pretty much gone to pieces. How pathetic. He was grumbling to himself when he step out behind Hermione, but immedaitely that was forgotten as he was pushed roughly against the carriage.
"What did you do to her, Malfoy," Ronald Weasley snarled, his face mere inches away from Draco's.
"I didn't do anything," Draco said rolling his eyes and pushing Ron away from himself. Hermione was being inspected by Harry, but she turned around and glared at Ron and Draco as if they were stupid children
"He's telling the truth. I tripped, fell and was knocked out, he put me in the carriage, and then when I woke up and I screamed because I was confused. End of story, now someone grab my trunk," Hermione said commandingly.
"Are you alright," Harry asked calmly and Hermione turned towards him ready to jump down his throat.
But all her energy drained at that moment and she felt awfully tired. All she wanted was a nice long sleep. Hermione fell straight forward, out for the second time that day.
Harry caught her easily and picking her up, yelling for everyone to get out of their way. Draco watched as Harry carried Hermione easily to the front of the line to get inside, and that was the moment Proffesor McGonagall opened the doors. Everyone waited patiently as Harry told Proffesor McGonagall everything and she took the unconcious girl from him and whisked her off to the Hospital Wing.
"Get her trunk," Draco ordered gruffly pointing at Ron and then he stocked off through the crowd, angrily pushing people out of his way.
It was perhaps the most dramatic start to a school year he'd ever had.
Draco had thought that Pansy Parkinson would sit with him at dinner, fawning over him as she usually did. But that was not to be, instead she had went and sat with Blaise Zambini who was smugly listening to her tell him how much she loved his hair. Draco scoffed and picked at his steak and kidney pie. Hermione was still in the hospital wing, but that didn't stop everyone at the Gryffindor table from glaring heatedly at Draco. It amused him to no end.
If Gryffindor thought he had injured their Golden Girl, than bully for them. It was no loss; they had never liked him anyway. But he didn't much like the way his own house was looking at him. It was as if they were supremely proud of him. It made him uncomfortable, and it was disgusting to think they hoped he had maimed a female student. Nevermind her parentage.
At one time Draco would have revelled in the attention, but right now he didn't want any of it. Maybe this is how Potter felt, forever being watched. It was completely unnerving. Draco angrily threw down his fork and made to leave from the table. Too bad he hadn't been paying attention to what was going on around him. Proffesor McGonagall had just came in with the three legged stool for the children who were about to be sorted.
Everyone stared at Draco, it was completely silent for maybe a moment and then a few chuckles broke out. Draco sank back down and gritted his teeth. That hadn't helped him much, now they must all think that he was also derranged. Not that he cared. Pansy scooted over to him, worried now at his mental state.
"Draco, are you feeling alright," she asked in an almost patronizing voice.
"I'm fine," Draco said forcefully. Now that he had Pansy's attention he had realized he didn't want her pity.
"Okay," Pansy said and she went to sit with Millicent Bullstrode.
"Stupid female," Draco muttered under his breath.
Dinner was boring, completely, but Draco had to wait for Proffesor McGonagall to get done with the Sorting and then Proffesor Dumbledore to say his speech before he could leave. He met Proffesor Snape as he was about to head down towards the dungeons.
"Draco, nice to see you haven't gotten yourself into too much trouble," Snape said smoothly as about a dozen students walked by and gave Draco dirty looks.
"Proffesor, I didn't do anything," Draco said frustrated with the whole situation.
"I know, but your fellow students are being as stupid as ever," Snape sighed.
"I guess," Draco said shrugging his shoulders.
"I am supposed to take you to your new room. Remember as Head Boy you share a common room with the Head Girl," Snape said and Draco could hear the resentment in his voice.
"I forgot," Draco said and Snape didn't bother to answer, instead he strode off in the direction of the Ravenclaw common rooms. Draco had been there once, on business, of course.
They walked right and then left and then right again, down so many corridors, that Draco knew he was going to get lost. Finally they came to a large portrait of the four founders. None of them were looking to happy to be stuck in a painting with the others.
"Password," chirped tiny Helga Hufflepuff.
"Unity," Snape said as if he had a bad taste in his mouth.
The portrait swung forward and Draco walked in. It looked nothing like the Slytherin common room, but it was a nice change, he decided. The whole color scheme was of course a combination of the Slytherin and Gryffindor colors. There was a large crimson chair with gold gilding that sat beside a large bookcase and Draco had to roll his eyes at how predictable the Head Girl was.
His own green and silver chair was at a writing desk beside a window. Very conveniant. In the middle of the room were three chairs. A large black leather couch, and two matching recliners sat before a huge roaring fire. The fire place was quite the biggest Draco had ever seen and looked as though a giant could standing inside it without even brushing their head on the top.
"Your room is over there," Snape said pointing to an oak door with a large HB on it.
"Thank you, Proffesor," Draco said as he headed over to check out his own room.
"This is the first year in a decade that a Gryffindor and a Slytherin were Head Boy and Girl. So no making the Head Girl think you're out to get her, alright," Snape said slowly and Draco could see once again that he detested Hermione.
"She already thinks that, Proffesor," Draco said laughing slightly.
"Well no furthering the situation," Snape warned and then he left in a swirl of black.
Draco opened his door and was happy with what he found. A large four-poster bed was in one corner taking up most of the space in the room, but there was enough room for a dresser for his clothes and nightstand. It wasn't cramped, nor roomy, it was warm and inviting instead. He jumped onto his bed, done up with green silk sheets and a silver down comforter, and bounced around for a moment. Then he lay on his back and took a brief nap.
Draco only woke up when he heard a crash. It had come from the common room and he supposed that Hermione must be back. He got up, smoothed his hair and and then went out his door. Sure enough Proffesor McGonagall was just bidding goodbye to Hermione, who was looking rather pale in her black school robes.
"Good evening, Mr. Malfoy," Proffesor McGonagall said before she left.
Hermione turned around quickly and Draco had to grimace. She was beyond pale, she was death warmed over. The huge cut on her head didn't help her look either, and under her eyes were dark circles that Draco wasn't sure were there before. The only good thing that could be said about Hermione was that her hair for once had calmed down and was laying rather flat around her shoulders.
"Malfoy," Hermione addressed him warily and Draco smirked.
"Nice lump you got there, Granger," he said and he was sure she would have turned red if she could have.
"Spare me," she said sinking into the cushions of the black couch.
"All the retards from your house still think I did something to you," Draco stated waiting for her to react with pride.
"They aren't the brightest lot at times," Hermione admitted and Draco just stared at her.
"Granger, I think you just insulted your house. That bump on the head must of given you brain damage," Draco whistled low and sat in one of the recliners, as far away from Hermione as he could get and still be able to hear her.
"You wish," Hermione said rolling her eyes.
"Yeah I do," Draco said truthfully.
"I know. It would make your life so much easier if I just keeled over dead, or went crazy, but that's not going to happen," Hermione said evenly and Draco shrugged.
"I can dream can't I," Draco said nastily and then he got up.
"I wanted to get some ground rules set with you since we will be sharing a common room," Draco said crossing his arms over his chest.
"I was thinking the very same thing," Hermione said looking up at him with tired eyes.
"Alright then. No going near my room, I take showers an hour before class, you can use it when I'm done, when I'm studying I don't want to hear a word from you. In fact, I really don't want to talk to you unless absolutely nessecary." Draco listed coolly.
"Fine, you have your rules, I'll have mine. Don't go into my room, don't go near my bookshelf, don't touch anything of mine or I will hex you. When I'm studying, I don't want you to even be around. If you must do your homework at the same time as me, go into your room." Hermione said and then she slowly got up from the couch and walked towards her room.
"Do you agree," Hermione said suddenly turning around back towards Draco.
"I agree," Draco said.
"Good, so do I," Hermione said and she went into her room and slammed the door. The HG rattled around for a moment before finally settling back onto the door.
Draco went into his own room and went to sleep, term would be starting the next day and he needed his beauty sleep.