Hermione Granger considered herself a fairly normal person, well,
except for the fact that she was a witch. Okay, so she considered herself a
fairly normal witch. She was seventeen years old, relatively smart,
relatively pretty, relatively nice, just plain old normal and boring,
basically. At least, this was how she saw herself.
What Hermione didn't know, was that that wasn't how the other students and teachers at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry saw her.
The boys at Hogwarts all lusted after her, the teachers were proud of her outstanding school work, and the other female students thought that she was the nicest and prettiest and smartest person they knew. Everyone liked Hermione.
Except Draco Malfoy.
The other Slytherins had come to terms with the fact that it was impossible not to like her, so they sucked it up and liked her anyway. Not Draco. Draco was stubborn, almost as stubborn as Hermione herself could be, and he refused to give up his beliefs about muggleborns, not even one as perfect as Hermione Granger.
What no-one knew, save one teacher and a Headmaster, was that Hermione's life was not as normal as it seemed.
You see, this is a slightly twisted tale, much like a muggle soap opera, where Hermione finds she may not be as normal as she thinks, and one certain Slytherin may have to change his views when the school finds out a secret that not even Hermione herself knew before this fateful Seventh Year.
* * *
September was Hermione's favorite month of the year. Why? Well, she returned to Hogwarts in September, of course! Getting off the train at Hogsmeade on the First of September was one of her favorite events. She could almost hear the books in the library calling to her to come and read them. Inhaling dramatically, she welcomed the sights and smells of Hogsmeade. She made a mental note to go to every Hogsmeade visit that year, as it was her last year to go on these school trips, and make the most of her last year here. Of course, she wouldn't give up on her school work, but she needed to lighten up a little, spend some more time with Harry and Ron, more girl time with Lavender and Parvati. This would be a year to remember.
She had no idea how right she was.
Entering one of the horseless carriages, she waited quietly for Harry, Ron, and Ginny to catch up. They had been in a separate compartment as Hermione had been named Head Girl- not even she had been surprised to find out. The only bad news was that Draco Malfoy was Head Boy. She had had to share a compartment with him the whole way to the school. She had tried to make light conversation throughout the train ride, however all conversations had led to quarrels and Hermione dearly hated to quarrel. So, eventually, Hermione had just given up on trying to be polite and so had pulled out her worn and well-read copy of Hogwarts: A History and simply ignored him for the rest of the ride.
This had not been easy, as he had stared at her for the entire trip. Very frustrating indeed.
Upon entering the school, Headmaster Dumbledore greeted one and all at the Front Entrance.
"Hello Headmaster Dumbledore!" she exclaimed when she crossed the threshold of the cavernous hall. Her voice rebounded off of the walls, startling a few younger students and even tiny little Professor Flitwick, who was in the process of explaining a Levitating Charm to Professor Sinistra who needed to hang a telescope from her ceiling. Needless to say, people don't have too many inquiries when it comes to the eccentricities of the staff.
Dumbledore smiled and greeted Hermione with a loving handshake. Although Dumbledore claimed not to have favorites, it was hard not to enjoy Hermione's bounciness and enthusiasm for learning. A woman after his own heart, he called her.
"Welcome back, Miss Granger. The castle missed you over the holiday. I'm sure the halls will fill with your wit and ringing laughter once again this year. Now, if you don't mind waiting here for just a moment, we will see that Draco makes his way here so that the two of you may be introduced at the beginning of the feast."
"Certainly Professor, I don't mind at all. It's absolutely brilliant to be back. A quick question if you don't mind. When will the library be re- opening for the year?"
The old professor chortled at his young student's eagerness to get back to work. "You know Hermione; I wish all students had such an enthusiasm to return to school, this would be a much more cheerful place I assure you."
"Yes, but sir, the library.?"
"Ah, Mr. Malfoy, wonderful to have you back!" Dumbledore exclaimed, cutting Hermione off in the middle of rephrasing her question. He shook Draco's hand in a delighted manner; ignoring Hermione's slightly put out comportment. "Now, after the feast, I would like for the two of you to stay behind so that I may show the two of you to your rooms.
* * *
Hermione let out an angry exhale. Draco and she had been pugnacious towards one another since they had entered their shared common room. What was it about him that riled her up so? It was very frustrating, to tell you the truth.
"Granger, are you even listening to me. How dare you not pay attention. I thought you were rude but I didn't know you were so utterly and completely uncouth."
Hermione just gave the impression of being completely apathetic and raised a delicately arched eyebrow at him in a questioning manner. "What makes you dislike me so very much?" she asked him in a calm and controlled voice.
Draco was a bit taken aback by the question and stood there silently for a moment. Getting jurisdiction over his own body again, he crossed his arms over his chest and stared at her for a moment. "I can't answer that honestly."
"Well why not?" Hermione asked huffily, stomping her foot to accent her words and crossing her own arms over her chest, unknowingly drawing attention to that part of her anatomy.
"Because if I told you I would have to admit it to myself and I don't care to do that at this point in time."
"Well, jolly good and political of you Malfoy. I don't know why you can't just give a straight answer."
He just kept studying at her in a lackadaisical style.
"Fine, be that way." Hermione turned and stomped away into her room, throwing the door closed for added effect.
He was such an intolerable prat.
What Hermione didn't know, was that that wasn't how the other students and teachers at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry saw her.
The boys at Hogwarts all lusted after her, the teachers were proud of her outstanding school work, and the other female students thought that she was the nicest and prettiest and smartest person they knew. Everyone liked Hermione.
Except Draco Malfoy.
The other Slytherins had come to terms with the fact that it was impossible not to like her, so they sucked it up and liked her anyway. Not Draco. Draco was stubborn, almost as stubborn as Hermione herself could be, and he refused to give up his beliefs about muggleborns, not even one as perfect as Hermione Granger.
What no-one knew, save one teacher and a Headmaster, was that Hermione's life was not as normal as it seemed.
You see, this is a slightly twisted tale, much like a muggle soap opera, where Hermione finds she may not be as normal as she thinks, and one certain Slytherin may have to change his views when the school finds out a secret that not even Hermione herself knew before this fateful Seventh Year.
* * *
September was Hermione's favorite month of the year. Why? Well, she returned to Hogwarts in September, of course! Getting off the train at Hogsmeade on the First of September was one of her favorite events. She could almost hear the books in the library calling to her to come and read them. Inhaling dramatically, she welcomed the sights and smells of Hogsmeade. She made a mental note to go to every Hogsmeade visit that year, as it was her last year to go on these school trips, and make the most of her last year here. Of course, she wouldn't give up on her school work, but she needed to lighten up a little, spend some more time with Harry and Ron, more girl time with Lavender and Parvati. This would be a year to remember.
She had no idea how right she was.
Entering one of the horseless carriages, she waited quietly for Harry, Ron, and Ginny to catch up. They had been in a separate compartment as Hermione had been named Head Girl- not even she had been surprised to find out. The only bad news was that Draco Malfoy was Head Boy. She had had to share a compartment with him the whole way to the school. She had tried to make light conversation throughout the train ride, however all conversations had led to quarrels and Hermione dearly hated to quarrel. So, eventually, Hermione had just given up on trying to be polite and so had pulled out her worn and well-read copy of Hogwarts: A History and simply ignored him for the rest of the ride.
This had not been easy, as he had stared at her for the entire trip. Very frustrating indeed.
Upon entering the school, Headmaster Dumbledore greeted one and all at the Front Entrance.
"Hello Headmaster Dumbledore!" she exclaimed when she crossed the threshold of the cavernous hall. Her voice rebounded off of the walls, startling a few younger students and even tiny little Professor Flitwick, who was in the process of explaining a Levitating Charm to Professor Sinistra who needed to hang a telescope from her ceiling. Needless to say, people don't have too many inquiries when it comes to the eccentricities of the staff.
Dumbledore smiled and greeted Hermione with a loving handshake. Although Dumbledore claimed not to have favorites, it was hard not to enjoy Hermione's bounciness and enthusiasm for learning. A woman after his own heart, he called her.
"Welcome back, Miss Granger. The castle missed you over the holiday. I'm sure the halls will fill with your wit and ringing laughter once again this year. Now, if you don't mind waiting here for just a moment, we will see that Draco makes his way here so that the two of you may be introduced at the beginning of the feast."
"Certainly Professor, I don't mind at all. It's absolutely brilliant to be back. A quick question if you don't mind. When will the library be re- opening for the year?"
The old professor chortled at his young student's eagerness to get back to work. "You know Hermione; I wish all students had such an enthusiasm to return to school, this would be a much more cheerful place I assure you."
"Yes, but sir, the library.?"
"Ah, Mr. Malfoy, wonderful to have you back!" Dumbledore exclaimed, cutting Hermione off in the middle of rephrasing her question. He shook Draco's hand in a delighted manner; ignoring Hermione's slightly put out comportment. "Now, after the feast, I would like for the two of you to stay behind so that I may show the two of you to your rooms.
* * *
Hermione let out an angry exhale. Draco and she had been pugnacious towards one another since they had entered their shared common room. What was it about him that riled her up so? It was very frustrating, to tell you the truth.
"Granger, are you even listening to me. How dare you not pay attention. I thought you were rude but I didn't know you were so utterly and completely uncouth."
Hermione just gave the impression of being completely apathetic and raised a delicately arched eyebrow at him in a questioning manner. "What makes you dislike me so very much?" she asked him in a calm and controlled voice.
Draco was a bit taken aback by the question and stood there silently for a moment. Getting jurisdiction over his own body again, he crossed his arms over his chest and stared at her for a moment. "I can't answer that honestly."
"Well why not?" Hermione asked huffily, stomping her foot to accent her words and crossing her own arms over her chest, unknowingly drawing attention to that part of her anatomy.
"Because if I told you I would have to admit it to myself and I don't care to do that at this point in time."
"Well, jolly good and political of you Malfoy. I don't know why you can't just give a straight answer."
He just kept studying at her in a lackadaisical style.
"Fine, be that way." Hermione turned and stomped away into her room, throwing the door closed for added effect.
He was such an intolerable prat.