Chapter 2
Only great amounts of self-control kept me from destroying my bedroom in a fit of rage. Malfoy, I fumed. It just had to be him. I was hoping that due to his parentage, attitude, or general cheekiness he would not be named Head Boy. I knew there had to be a down side to this job. I have to live and work with a consummate ass. I guess I should say ferret, but he's still an ass. Every now and then having to deal with his insults and derogatory comments is bad enough but hearing them every day is going to drive me nuts. Not to mention the annual projects that the Heads have to work together on. The only consolation is that I am sure he is hating this as much as I am.
With only two hours left until the train to Hogwart's departs, I had better prepare myself for what is surely going to be a long ride. I have all my books and am packed except for a few odds and ends. Harry should be arriving with the rest of the Weasley family, as Headmaster Dumbledore had allowed him to spend the entire summer with Ron and his family. We were all grateful for that. Harry is always in such a sorry mood after spending time at the Dursley's but then again, I would be too. I hear my dad honking the car's horn and quickly levitate my trunks and bags and move them downstairs. I have to be early this year. It wouldn't be a good first impression for the Head Girl to show up just before the train leaves. As my father always says, "If you are early, you are on time. If you are on time, you are late. And if you are late, you might as well not go." It's a motto the whole family lives by.
It's a short drive to King's Cross station and my parents give me a tearful goodbye. Heavens, they'll see me in just a few months, you would think I was going halfway around the world. I rush through the bricks to Platform 9 & ¾ and am greeted by the general chaos that is the Hogwart's Express.
The squawk of owls, the whistle of the train, and sound of excited children as they prepare for their first journey to Hogwarts envelopes me in its familiarity and I sigh contentedly. I remember the first time I stepped aboard that train. Despite outward appearances, I was petrified. Then I met Harry and Ron and everything turned out okay. I quickly board the train and find the Head compartment. It was empty at this early time and I quickly stow my belongings. I know Harry and Ron will arrive at the last possible moment so I go back outside to help the younger students. The gold Head badge gleams dimly on my shirt and a few of the children look at me in awe especially the ones who know who I am.
I hear a cry go up and turn to see several of the students closest to me fall down as an unseen force behind them pushes them down. Then I realized what was happening. The two Slytherin goons, Crabbe and Goyle have arrived and they make way for their leader, none other than Draco Malfoy. I step forward and help a young boy off the ground and turn a menacing glare towards the numpties. I pull out my wand and aim it directly at the two buffoons.
"Crabbe, Goyle! Stop messing with the younger students or I'll take house points. You know I can." I growled. The two idiots looked at each other and then to their leader as they came to an abrupt stop. "Indeed. You should know that we can't treat our fellow students that way." Malfoy echoed me in a strangely docile way. I looked sharply at him as he motioned the boys to help the younger students up. Malfoy stepped around the mess on the ground moved closer to me.
"Malfoy." I sneered.
"Granger." He responded in an oddly jovial tone.
"What's wrong with you?" I asked confused.
"I came to the realization this summer that being mean takes way to much energy and that since we have to spend the next year together, being nice is going to bug the hell out of you just as much as insults. In short, my superior intelligence has allowed me to find a way to annoy you without burning me out. Aren't you proud of me?" He said with a sadistic sneer. It was all I could do not to hit him.
Since there were so many witnesses I turned on my heel and boarded the train. Harry and Ron couldn't get here fast enough. I brooded in silence until my friends finally arrived, at the last minute no less. I was so happy to see them and they delighted me with their summer adventures. I felt a million times better just being with them. All the years we have been friends haven't changed how I feel for these two. I just can't imagine my life without them.