Chapter Two

The passageway was cold and dim as Hermione and Draco followed Professor McGonagall to Dumbledore's office. Hermione, hardly noticing her freezing digits, was currently preoccupied by the many pressing thoughts swimming about her head. How was she going to be able to talk to Harry privately, without teachers and students buzzing around, if she was going to be in a separate common room for the remainder of the year? Would the duties of a Neck Girl greatly impact her study habits? Did she pack enough extra socks to keep her warm in case her dorm was chilly? Her most pressing thought though was about how she was going to survive a full year working with Draco Malfoy.

After Draco had made his way to the front of the Great Hall earlier this evening, Dumbledore had declared dinner over and instructed all students to retire in their common rooms for the night. Hermione stood debating whether she should follow the rest of the Gryffindors to their common room, or remain until Dumbledore gave her further instructions as to how to find her new dormitory.

The decision was made for her when Dumbledore said, "The two of you may go to your old common rooms for the time being. In an hour's time, both of you are to report back here and follow Professor McGonagall's instructions."

Hermione nodded in acknowledgment of what the headmaster had said, and then practically sprinted out of the Great Hall. Soon after running out of breath, she arrived in front of the portrait of the Fat Lady. Hermione breathed out the password (still trying to catch her breath), and stepped into the Gryffindor common room. She was shocked when twenty eager Gryffindors ran up to her and began talking excitedly.

" Hermione! What are you doing here? I thought you dorm somewhere else now?"

"Oh, congratulations Hermione! This must be such an honor."

"We all knew Dumbledore was gonna choose you, Granger. Way to go!"

"Hey, since you have some power now, can you help a girl out by not reporting me when I sneak out to see my boyfriend in Ravenclaw? You'll do that for a friend, right 'Mione?"

Hermione stood speechless for a few moments, and began stuttering when she attempted to answer everyone. Her stuttering ceased as Ron and Harry came on either side of her and steered her away from the crowd.

"Oi, back off ya crowd of vultures!" Ron called over his shoulder.

The three friends found a deserted corner in the common room, and gave death glares to anyone who dared to approach them. Ron sighed in relief and Harry leaned against the wall closing his eyes. Hermione stared at her two best friends and resisted the urge to cry. She couldn't imagine a full year at Hogwarts without ending every long day by relaxing with them in the common room. They were what kept her sane throughout the school year. She wouldn't be able to handle the pressure without them.

Ron noticed Hermione's scrunched up face and nearly shouted, "Woah! No tears! I've had enough of them with Ginny crying over Seamus this summer! I'll have none of 'em from you, 'Mione!"

Harry opened his eyes and shot Ron a look that translated into, 'why are you such a moron?'

Harry pushed himself away from the wall, and hugged Hermione securely. As his arms wrapped around her, Hermione realized that she didn't need to doubt the strength of their friendship. If she needed them, they would find a way to be there for her.

So now, back in the corridor with Malfoy and McGonagall, without Ron and Harry to steer her away from her loud thoughts, Hermione tried to clear her mind on her own. Draco looked at her strangely once she began practicing breathing exercises she had once learned in a yoga class in the Muggle world. She regretfully ceased her exercises once they reached the entrance to Dumbledore's office. She was afraid she would worry the old wizard with her extremely heavy breathing. Hermione had never been to his office before, but she recalled the description Harry had given her when he had been in the office in his second year.

"Lemon drops," Professor McGonagall said.

Hermione watched as the statue moved to reveal the path to Dumbledore's office. The stairwell was so dark that Hermione continuously stumbled on her way up. Once, she nearly fell on her face until she caught hold of Malfoy's arm. She quickly steadied herself and gasped as Malfoy yanked his arm out of her hold.

"Hands of Mudblood. I don't want your germs," he hissed vehemently.

Professor McGonagall had not heard him, and continued to briskly walk up the stairs. Hermione bit her bottom lip to refrain from hexing the stupid ferret boy. However, the maliciousness of his words hit her hard. Her eyes stung and her heart pounded in her chest. She began the breathing exercises once again to calm herself.

Upon finally reaching the top of the stairwell, Hermione sneezed.

"Oh good, and have arrived. Thank you, Minerva. Bless you . I hope you packed some extra socks for I have heard that the Head Girl dormitory is quite chilly at nighttime. We wouldn't want the new Neck Girl to catch a cold so soon after being appointed. I welcome you all to my office. Please have a seat."

Dumbledore spent the next 20 minutes going over the duties of the Neck Girl and Neck Boy, and stated their privileges. Hermione concluded that Neck Girls and Neck Boys basically existed to assist Head Boys and Head Girls with their duties in order to maintain control over their peers. Some of their privileges included an extended curfew, free admission to Quidditch matches, and allowance into the castle's kitchen (as long as the house elves didn't say otherwise). Dumbledore then thanked them, wished them luck, and gave them directions to their new dormitory.

Malfoy immediately left the office after being dismissed, leaving Hermione to find her own way to the dormitory. She walked throughout the castle's corridors until she found the portrait that led into her dorm's common room. Hermione stopped in front of the portrait and took a moment to just breathe. She shut her eyes and took a deep breath. She recalled inspirational quotes from the myriad of books she had read, and recited several of them mentally.

When she finally opened her eyes, they revealed a moving portrait of a field of irises. Hermione watched as the irises swayed in the slight breeze of a sunny spring afternoon. She became worried as the sky in the picture darkened and a sheet of rain poured onto the weak flowers. Hermione gasped and reached out towards the portrait. She wasn't sure what caused her to do this. Maybe the thought of something so innocent and beautiful being destroyed caused her to take action. That was probably it. The idea sounded noble enough.

Hermione removed her hand from the portrait, took one more deep breath, and stepped into her new life.