A love Story

Chapter 1

Hermione looked around the Great Hall, seeing mixed emotions on every face she saw. Everyone had lost friends or family, but the war was now over and there would be no more sorrow.

"Hermione over here!" Harry called from across the Hall. He was sitting at the Gryffindor table with Ron. Hermione made her away over to her best friends.

Harry was beaming at her but Ron looked a bit awkward and she knew why. Ever since that kiss in the room of requirements, they had been a little weird around each other. They had avoided discussing it at all. It hadn't been easy since every single one of their friends expected them to start snogging any second.

"How's everyone at the Burrow?" Hermione asked Harry, trying to cast a casual glance at Ron as well

"Barking mad if you ask me" said Harry smiling "But then that's the state of the whole wizarding world now i suppose. Mr. Weasley and Bill haven't gone to work in weeks. It's like everyone's on an extended vacation"

Hermione laughed. She had gone to Australia a week after the War had ended. She had revived her parents memory, explained to them everything that had happened and came back with them to live in her old home. She had decided to come back to Hogwarts to finish her education, as had most people in her year. The only empty seats she saw in the Great Hall were either of those on the run with their death eater parents or, her heart sank, students who had lost their lives.

"Hey you guys" Neville greeted them as he sat down beside Hermione "i wonder where Luna is, haven't seen her since i got back"

"She's with Ginny at Hogsmeade" harry said "they'll be back before the sorting i suppose"

Everyone was looking forward to the sorting that was to begin in a few minutes. It was one of those things that reminded everyone that Hogwarts was now back to normal.

"Can you believe they let Malfoy come back" said Ron heatedly "after everything he's done"

Hermione looked across the hall at the pale youth sitting alone at one end of the Slytherin table "his mother did save my life Ron" said Harry "and i think that he should be forgiven"

"Can i have your attention please" came Mcgonagall's voice and they were all silenced "I know last year has been hard on us all. All of us have lost many loved ones in our struggle to defeat Lord Voldemort and his followers. Many brave souls perished in the War" she looked across the hall "We remember those that are gone and alongwith their memories will build a new world in which prejudices and hate will not be given room to grow."

"Now, the heads for this year are Miss Hermione Jean Granger from Gryffindor..."Gryffindor table burst into cheers and several people clapped her on the back

"...And Mr. Draco Malfoy from Slytherin" the Great Hall immediately fell into silence. Everyone was staring at Malfoy who, for his part, was looking shocked beyond belief. People started muttering furiously.

"Silence" said McGonagall curtly and everyone turned to look at her "As i have just said prejudices and hatred are to be forgotten. Hogwarts will not let another Voldemort fester in its midst. Now the usual announcements..."

"I can't believe that git gets to be head boy!" said Ron indignantly "we're the ones who were risking our lives to get rid of you-know-who"

"It's not like he wasn't in any danger though" said Hermione and everyone turned to look at her with surprise "i'm just saying Voldemort did threaten to kill him alot too and it must not have been great having Voldemort in your house"

"Hermione, this is the guy who tortured you for being a mudblood for six years" soid Neville

"and i hate him for that" said Hermione "don't get me wrong, i'd still punch him in the face any chance i got"

That seemed to satisfy Harry and Ron who smirked and started eating their food.

"Miss Granger, a word please" McGonagall called once the feast was over and everyone was leaving "Now i understand that you and Mr. Malfoy have had a rocky past and you like many others disagree with my decision to appoint him as head boy"

"Professor I understand that this is to promote inter-house unity and everything but.."

"Ah but Miss Granger it is more than that. You see, in you sixth year Professor Dumbledore expressed his wish to me that, when the time comes, you two be made head boy and head girl"

Hermione was staring at McGonagall, surely she had misheard.

"Professor...I..why would Professor Dumbledore..." she was at a loss for words

"I do not understand the reason myself Miss Granger" said Mcgonagall "but i know that you would want to honour Professor Dumbledore's wishes as well"

"of Course" said Hermione

"very well then" said McGonagall "I shall speak to Mr. Malfoy now however i request you keep this fact between us. I trust you know where the heads' rooms are. The password is 'Halloween'"

Hermione thanked McGonagall and wondered off out of the Great Hall. She wondered why Professor Dumbledore would have told McGonagall beforehand who the heads of houses should be. Of course he had known he did not have long, but why had he felt this wish was significant enough to instruct McGonagall about.

Hermione reached the Heads' rooms and stepped inside. It opened into a sitting room half the size of the Gryffindor common room. However it was not just a blend of red and golden, it was adorned with all of the house's colours.

There were two sets of stairs on either side of the room. Hermione went to the one with head girl written atop the open doorway and climbed up. Her room was beautiful. It exclusively held the Gryffindor colours alongwith a huge four-poster bed and dressing table. There was a huge window that had a great view of the forbidden forest and the mountains beyond.

"Every year at Hogwarts has been an eventful one for me" Hermione thought "This year might just be normal"

"i wouldn't count on it" said a voice from inside her head.