-Two-

Head Boy

Hermione was on platform 9 ¾ ready to board the Hogwarts Express. She was hugging her parents goodbye. It was going to be hard for her to leave them, especially after being away from them for so long during the war. She returned to Australia and removed the memory charms off them and they moved back to London to start their new life. They spent the rest of the summer getting their life back on track and Hermione told them what happened during the war.

"Bye mum, bye dad," she said as she hugged them, a little teary eyed.

"Make sure you write to us," said Mr. Granger.

Hermione picked up Crookshanks who was sitting in his cage, looking rather unhappy and boarded the train. She bumped into Ginny on the train, "Ginny! So good to see you."

"Hi, how've you been," smiled Ginny. They chattered away as they walked through the Hogwarts Express to find a compartment.

The train weaved through the lush terrain, rain pelting down from the thick mass of grey clouds above. Hermione and Ginny huddled in their compartment eating sweets and cauldron cakes. Ginny talked about her new captaincy of the Gryffindor Quidditch team and Hermione rambled on about being Head Girl.

"I better change into my robes, we'll be arriving soon. I'm suppose to help guide the students to the castle," said Hermione, and she made her way out with her change of clothes.

She exited the bathroom dressed in her school uniform, her shiny Head Girl badge fixed over her robes. She was heading back to her compartment when she heard someone call out to her. She whipped around to find Malfoy, walking towards her through the corridor.

"There you are Granger, where have you been hiding?" he said.

"Malfoy! Why would you be looking for me?" she said with a tone of resentment.

"Didn't you hear? I'm the new Head Boy."

Hermione gaped at him, Malfoy? New Head Boy? Why? What could have possibly possessed the teachers in choosing him?

"You looked surprised," Draco smirked as he saw her expression, "Come on, we'll be there soon. We're supposed to guide the students from the platform."

They had arrived at Hogsmeade Station. Draco and Hermione guided the students to the carriages that led them to the school. Finally, Hermione boarded the carriage with the last lot of students (Draco was already up at the castle). She sat in the carriage as the Thestral pulled them along. There it was, she smiled as Hogwarts emerged before her. It was fully restored, the lights lit up the castle, buildings, towers and roofs were rebuilt. It was just how she remembered it from her first year, her second home. Tears welled up in her eyes at the sight, thinking of her journey that took place there. From a bushy haired, tweed skirt wearing little girl to fighting alongside her school mates in the war to returning back and starting a new life. Other students in the carriage were smiling and pointing excitedly at the new Hogwarts.

Everyone was seated in the Great Hall, some chatting away excitedly, others looking around the hall as if they had been reunited with their long lost friend and some, especially older students, looking around sadly at the place that was once a war zone. Professor McGonagall rose from her seat and everyone fell silent.

"Welcome back students! I have a few things to say before we begin our feast," she said. "Last year proved to be a very trying time for all of us. We lost many great people. I know that this year will be a struggle to get back on our feet, but we will do so together." Everyone clapped and cheered. "We have a new student counsellor, Professor Lovewell, on board for anyone wishing to talk about their issues. Also, we have a new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Penwith." She pointed to a young man who looked to be in his late twenties with scruffy brown hair and stubble. Everyone whispered to each other as they noticed him, they had never had a teacher that young before. "I hope you do well in making them feel welcome. Now, let the feast begin!"

It was a long night but finally, the students were in their dorms and the castle was quiet. Draco and Hermione had been summoned to McGonagall's office. They entered the Headmistress's office and sat down in the chairs in front of her desk. They had a brief meeting where she discussed what their duties would be and informed them of the upcoming semester. Afterwards she let Draco go and it was just her and Hermione.

"I'm sorry Miss Granger, that I didn't tell you about Mr. Malfoy being Head Boy," McGonagall said. "After all that's happened, I'm sure he is the last person you would want to spend the year with."

"Why didn't you tell me?" asked Hermione.

"I was afraid that you would turn down the role of Head Girl if you found out it was him earlier, so I had to leave it as a surprise."

"How come he's Head Boy in the first place? Why would you choose him?"

McGonagall held up her hand to stop the inflow of questions, "I'm afraid it's not up to me to tell you that. I will leave that to Draco to tell you when he is ready."

Tired and confused from her and McGonagall's little chat, Hermione went to the dormitory that she and Draco would be sharing for the next year. Don't let him get to you. Just focus on completing your studies and get out of there. She walked up to the portrait, muttered the password (Dragon-berries) and stepped inside. It was a cosy little common room, just enough for two people. The space before her was warm and welcoming. It had one long couch facing the crackling fire and two desks on either side of the room. A single stone step led up to two bedrooms on either side. A window separated the bedrooms with a window seat beneath it. Lying on the couch was Malfoy, he was staring into the fire. He sat up as he heard her enter.

"I've taken the room on the right, yours is on the left," he said.

Without saying a word to him, Hermione crossed the room and headed into her bedroom. Even though she would miss the Gryffindor common room and the people in it, it was nice to have her own room for a change, a bit more privacy. Her bags were already there and Crookshanks was curled up at the foot of her bed. The room contained a large four poster bed with red curtains, bedside table and chest of drawers. A small bathroom was also connected to it, she decided to take a shower. She got dressed in her pyjamas and wore her light pink dressing gown and headed out of her room to sit by the fire.

She approached the couch only to find Draco still lying there, gazing into the fire, "Still here?" she said. Draco didn't respond, he looked as if he were lost in thought. He's being very quiet, she thought. I would have thought he would be voicing his opinions about his dislike in sharing a dorm with me by now. Deciding not to disturb this rare silent moment from Draco, she went back to her room, she was tired anyway.

Draco allowed himself to lie on the couch for a few more minutes, head swimming with thoughts. This was going to be a hard year for him. He was already receiving menacing looks from some students, they were disgusted that he became Head Boy. Just last year, people respected and feared him, now he was nothing more than scum to them. How could things have changed so drastically for me? Draco didn't feel like the same person anymore. He wasn't the confident, arrogant, egotistic person he was before, although he could still be if he chose to but didn't want to as the name, Malfoy was not something to be proud of anymore.

He ran his fingers through his blonde hair, sighed and made his way to his bedroom. What was he to expect this year? Well there was one good thing, he wouldn't have to deal with his two worst enemies, Potter and Weasel.