The long awaited letter arrived with the normal equipment list and regulations, making the crumpled buff envelope bulge more than usual.

Just a few lines written in neat script, but so important. I was proud of myself; this is exactly what I had wanted, what I had studied so hard for. Finally, I was Head Girl.

Dear Miss Granger,

I am delighted to inform you that you have been chosen to fulfil the position of Head Girl this year. Please report to the Head's compartment on the Hogwarts Express to brief the prefects in their duties (patrolling the corridors). I trust you and the new Head Boy will be courteous to each other.

Yours sincerely,

Professor Dumbledore (Hogwarts Headmaster)

The doubts didn't come until after I had told Harry and Ron. I had always just assumed that Harry would be Head Boy but... he wasn't and my over-active mind involuntarily flicked through all the possibilities. The range of choice was not great. I would either be stuck with some obnoxious Ravenclaw, a kind but annoying Hufflepuff like Ernie or... as soon as that thought entered my head I knew who the Head Boy was. There was no competition.

The last cryptic sentence of the Headmaster's letter now made sense, it was a warning to me to put our rivalry behind us and carry out my duty to the school without any silly arguments or, in our particular cases, duels.

Well, there was no harm in trying; I just want to survive this year sane.

xXx

On the train

I know we get our own compartment and everything and I am not normally one to be upset about the privileges of success, but I would rather be having a divination lesson with Trelawney than be sitting here right now. Man is he a... uh, calming thoughts Hermione, calming thoughts.

He obviously hadn't given a thought to who would be Head Girl, probably only fantasizing about a tanned, bleached blond with legs up to her shoulders and baby blues eyes containing a worshipping look, and was not happy to find me, rather plain with brown bushy hair, brown eyes and the attitude of a Grizzly bear. His face when he walked in was classic though; I had to hide a sudden fit of giggles behind my book. He looked so horrified to find me, the school know-it-all, the bucked-toothed beaver. Luckily for him he didn't say anything to me; otherwise I would have had to have cursed him, not something I wanted to do on my first day as Head Girl; just swung his trunk into the rack above the seats and his owl beside it, then stalked out, in all probability looking for his friends so he could complain.

The next time I saw him was at the prefect meeting on the train. He just sat there looking sulky and glaring out the window. I coped without him anyway - I mean, why I would ever need him to help me I don't know, but still...

I quickly briefed the prefects in their duties, and then went on patrol down the carriages. At least there were some good prefects this year - Ginny, Ron and Luna - but not Harry, he was still Quidditch captain for Gryffindor. Anyway, back to the point - the new Head Boy was an unhelpful, insufferable...ferret.

xXx

After the sorting and the feast Professor Dumbledore showed us to our own quarters. They were near to his office, hidden by a portrait of an old knight. The password was not too bad compared to some of the Gryffindor ones...fortitude.

I could not stop my gasp as the portrait swung forward and we stepped through into the room. It was large with cream furnishings and thick rugs underfoot. A fire was burning happily in the traditional Hogwarts fireplace; placed around it were several armchairs, similar to those in the Gryffindor common room, and a sofa. There were also two desks, each with their own chair, situated near to the large window which looked out over the lake. Despite the airiness of the room it still had that cosy, homelike feeling like the rest of the castle. I loved it.

There were three large oak doors coming off this room, one leading to his room, one to the best room so far - a kitchen fully stocked with snacks and cocoa - and the last to my room. This had another door leading into the shared bathroom; his room seemed to be a mirror image of my own, complete with large bed, wardrobe and dressing table. I only got a quick glance as by this time Dumbledore had left us, saying if we had any problems he would be in his office and that he liked gumdrop buttons. As soon as Dumbledore had left, he had stormed to his room and slammed the door, completely ignoring me - which was strange. Normally he would not pass up the opportunity to insult me and call me Mudblood; maybe I was getting to him.

Or he had actually grown a heart over the summer?

Never mind; what did I care about Malfoy, as long as he left me alone? I just warmed up some milk for myself and took it off to bed, wanting to get an early night before the first day of school.