Chapter 2. Surprises.
Draco Malfoy was staring out of the window, a bored look on his face, a book open in his lap.
Hermione's breath caught in her throat. DRACO MALFOY? Head Boy? It just didn't make sense. Before she could think of anything to say he turned around.
"Um, Granger? Uhh what are you doing here?"
Hermione stared at him for a moment. Was he being nice? He didn't look threatening, just curious. Should she bring up what had happened in the graveyard?
She cleared her throat. "Um hello Malfoy. I'm…I'm Head Girl. I uh take it you're Head Boy?"
He looked slightly surprised but not shocked. "Yes…I am."
"I see, well um I guess we're supposed to decide about patrolling schedules and things." Said Hermione uncertainly.
"Ok." Was Malfoy's only reply.
Hermione sat down opposite him and tried to think of what to say next. She couldn't believe what was happening. Did I just have a civil conversation with Draco Malfoy? She thought. Has he really changed? Should I thank him for saving my life? Maybe not, he probably doesn't want to be reminded. Oh bother.
Suddenly Malfoy spoke.
"Look Granger, I saved your life in that graveyard and I'm not a Death Eater but I'm still a Slytherin. I know we're not going to be best friends now or something, I mean you're a Gryffindor. I don't know how this whole thing is going to work."
Hermione was extremely confused by this outburst. At first he had sounded threatening but his tone of voice when he said, "I don't know how this whole thing is going to work" had sounded worried, almost anxious. She looked up at the blonde boy across from her. He was trying to look careless, that was obvious but Hermione could his heart wasn't in it. He had changed over the summer, somehow growing past the stuck up bully he had been before.
"I don't know either Malfoy. But I want to ask you this. Why should matter what house we're in. Don't try to give me that pureblood nonsense because I know you don't mean it and what's more it doesn't matter anymore. Voldemort is gone, he was the one that said muggle-borns were no good but he's gone. Those prejudices are falling into obscurity Malfoy; pretty soon they won't matter anymore. I know you can see that because if you couldn't you'd be dead or in Azkaban like your father. So look, I'm not saying we have to be friends but we have to at least be civil. We're Head Boy and Girl. We have to make an example for the rest of the school. So… truce?" She held out her hand expectantly.
Malfoy looked at her sharply for a minute then abruptly stuck out his hand.
"Alright Granger, truce…. But don't expect to be friends." He added after a moment.
"Also um Malfoy? I just wanted to say thanks. For… for what happened, you know, that night." Hermione couldn't feel right until she thanked him, even if he didn't want her to.
The blonde boy nodded and shrugged. "Yeah, whatever."
The atmosphere in the compartment lightened considerably after that and they began to discuss patrolling schedules.
After deciding on a schedule for the other prefects they discussed classes that year. It turned out that they were interested in the same subjects. Hermione's favorite class was Arithmancy and apparently Malfoy's was too.
"… I mean it's a fascinating subject really, who would have thought..." Hermione was saying while Draco nodded away excitedly, when the door burst open to reveal most of the prefects. They were all chattering loudly until it registered that a Gryffindor and Slytherin were sitting across from eachother having a perfectly normal conversation, and not just that, it was Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy! The prefects stood stock still at the scene in front of them.
Hermione hid a smile at the looks on their faces, "hello prefects, and come in! We were just discussing schedules. Here they are."
She handed out the personalized schedules for each house as they came in and sat down. Ron gave her a questioning look but sat down next to her without a word.
"So," began Hermione once they had all settled down. "I really nothing much to say to you except welcome! You all know me, Hermione Granger, I'm Head Girl. This is Draco Malfoy, he's Head Boy obviously. So I suppose that's really it. If anybody has any questions don't hesitate to ask me or… or Draco here." I called him Draco? She thought. How odd. Ron seemed to be thinking along the same lines as Hermione but he managed to keep his mouth shut. "So anything you would like to add to that?" Hermione continued, carefully not addressing Malfoy as anything as she turned to the Head Boy.
Malfoy was looking at her oddly but he shook his head "No. Nothing I can really think of." He looked at the prefects. "Hi, I'm Draco. You all know me." He said with a touch of irony and something between a smile and a grimace.
The prefects all looked at eachother with shocked faces. Where was the old Malfoy arrogance? Hermione gave Malfoy a small half smile before turning to the rest of the room. " So that's it then, we'll see you at the feast!"
The prefects made their way out of the compartment muttering to eachother. Hermione knew what they were talking about; the confusion in their eyes almost made her laugh.
Glancing back as she walked away, Hermione caught Draco's eye. They had a lost puppy look in them. On an impulse she smiled brightly back at him. He unconsciously grinned back before quickly scowling and turning back to his book.
As she once again made her way back through the train she wondered what was going on with Draco. He was so different. So quiet.
The sky grew darker as the endless Quidditch talk drifted on between Harry, Ron and Ginny. Hermione put away her copy of Advanced Rune Translation Level II and went to change into her robes.
Soon the train pulled into the dark Hogsmeade station. Tiredly the students got off and transferred to the carriages that would take them to Hogwarts.
The Great Hall was splendid as usual, the black ceiling contrasting well with the bright candles.
As Hermione looked around she realized something was different. There was no Sorting Hat, and instead of four long tables there were eight short ones.
Hagrid coming in hastily with the hat in one hand and a stool in the other soon solved the absence of the Sorting Hat.
"Sorry Headmistress." He said to McGonagall. "Had a bit of a problem with some of the charges. S'all right now though."
He placed the hat down on the stool before the first years as usual.
Hermione still wondered about the arrangement of the tables but she quickly covered her confusion by marching up to one of the middle ones and sitting down. She was soon followed by the rest of school.
Hermione found herself searching for a certain blonde Slytherin as she looked around. She spied Draco at a table quite near her own sitting with a couple of Ravenclaws and a nervous looking Blaise Zabini and Pansy Parkinson. Aha, thought Hermione. So Crabbe and Goyle were Death Eaters. No other Slytherin seventh years were anywhere in sight.
Hermione turned back around to face McGonagall who had stood up to speak.
"Welcome back to Hogwarts students." She began. "I have a few start of term announcements."
"In honor of your late Headmaster Dumbledore we will be promoting Inter-House Unity more than anything this year. I believe, as he did, that there has never been enough of it. I am implementing various new tactics this year to solve this problem."
"The first, one student from each year in every house will be living with another house each month. This will be predominantly done alphabetically though there will be a few exceptions. The cycle will continue until each student has stayed in each house. The list of students that will be transferring for the first month is available in your house common rooms. If you are selected for the first month please report back to the Great Hall. Your belongings have been sent to the correct houses already "
"I will announce other events later. For now, enjoy the feast."
Complete silence met the Headmistrss' words. Finally as the tables filled with food, students began to speak again.
Ron turned to Harry and Hermione. "Blimey, does this mean we'll have to spend a month with the bloody Slytherins? We'll be eaten alive.
Hermione pursed her lips. "Ronald, you forget that things are a bit different around here now. Also, there are only about three Slytherins our age left. As a matter of fact, Draco's perfectly nice now. We had a fascinating discussion on the train.
Ron stared in disbelief at her. "Draco? You're on first name terms then? All cozy with the Slytherins now are you?"
Hermione lay down her fork and knife and looked directly at Ron. "You seem to forget Ronald, that Draco saved our lives. If that doesn't warrant some kind of respect then there is something wrong with you."
Ron glared at Hermione. "Look Hermione, I know he's reformed and all that but I don't trust him. He's a Slytherin."
"Ron that's exactly the kind of reaction that McGonagall is trying to change! We're Gryffindors in case you've forgotten, we should do the honorable thing and try to make some peace."
Hermione stood up furiously and made to leave the Great Hall. Just as she was reaching the doors, McGonagall stood up once again.
"Miss Granger? I would like to speak with you and the Head Boy in twenty minutes' time in my office if you please. The password is the same. "
"Yes Professor," said Hermione before continuing on her way. She had reached the Gryffindor dormitory when she realized she had forgotten to ask the password. Highly annoyed she turned around and marched back down the stairs. Instead of going back to the Great Hall however she went directly to McGonagall's office. She knew the password was Tabby.
Hermione settled down in front of the office door, wondering how long she would have to wait. The long day began to take its toll and before long her head was nodding off against the door. Just as sleep threatened to overcome her she heard a step on the staircase below. Standing up she quickly smoothed her hair down, hoping the professor would not look to closely at how neat she was.
But it wasn't the Headmistress who stepped off the spiral staircase; it was Draco Malfoy.
"Hi Malfoy." Said Hermione automatically.
"Hi Granger." He replied.
After a few moments Hermione decided she might as well sit back down.
Draco awkwardly sat a few feet away from her. They sat like that, not speaking for what seemed like hours. Hermione almost missed the sarcastic Draco she used to know and... well not love, more hate actually, come to think of it.
"So um do you know what this is about?" Hermione said lamely.
"No. Probably just telling us we have to be an example for the rest of the school, get along, you know, blah blah." He answered.
Hermione nodded her head.
They lapsed into silence again. Where was Professor McGonagall?
Suddenly Draco said, "Granger can I ask you something"
"Sure," replied Hermione absently.
"Okay, um well have you… have you ever wished you were just someone else for awhile?"
The question took Hermione completely off guard. "Wha… what? Oh, well to be honest I've never really thought about it. I've always been pretty happy with who I am. I mean yes, there have been times when I wished I looked different you know, but honestly I am happy with… with me."
"That must be nice," said Draco heavily. "Its just that lately I've felt like I've been living this lie my whole life. I've tried to be like my father every single day. I wasted it! It was all a waste! Merlin, I can't believe I'm telling you this, of all people. And I look at you, Mudblood Granger my father called you, and so did I. But you don't know how lucky you are."
Hermione stared Draco in shock. His words were bitter and angry. She could think of nothing to say in reply. On a whim she reached over and hugged him. Letting her warmth and happiness wash out his anger. He was stiff at first, but she wouldn't let go. Gradually he relaxed, sinking into her slightly. They stayed there, his head against her shoulder, silently seeking comfort in her embrace, for a long time.
Suddenly they heard someone coming. Draco sprang away from Hermione. Clearing his throat he whispered, "could you not repeat what I just told you? I would appreciate it."
Hermione nodded. She wouldn't dream of telling anyone what had just transpired.
"And Granger?"
"Yes?"
"Just… thanks." He politely helped up from the floor.
For some reason Hermione felt a bit wobbly at the knees after this.
The meeting was exactly as Draco had predicted. McGonagall explained to them the importance of Inter-House Unity and that they were role models for the rest of the school. She also explained that there would be various activities for the whole school that the Head students would be planning. Hermione was quite excited at the idea.
On the way of the Headmistress office Draco held the door open for her. Hermione found herself wondering why Ron never and Harry only sometimes had the politeness to do such a thing. Well, she smiled to herself, growing up as a Malfoy did at least give you nice manners in some ways.
When they parted to go to their respective common rooms Draco smiled slightly.
"Who would have thought, a Slytherin and Gryffindor being nice to eachother," he mused.
Hermione couldn't help laughing at the irony.
"We must be growing up. Good night Malfoy."
She smiled as she made her way up to the Gryffindor dormitory.
There was a great commotion going on when she reached the common room. People were gathered around a long list that hung on the bulletin board. Oh right! She remembered, the list of dormitory changes for the month. Squeezing in between Seamus Finnegan and Dean Thomas she managed to get a look at the list. A yell erupted behind her after a second.
"What the bloody hell do they think they're doing? I'm not living in Slytherin for a month."
Ron, it seemed, was the seventh year Gryffindor to be relocated for the month.
Just as Hermione turned around to console Ron her eyes landed on another seventeen year old boy. A blonde one standing in the doorway of the common room looking slightly agitated and not a little confused. Hermione realized why McGonagall would be making the decisions for House switches "mostly" in alphabetical order. Even the Headmistress knew it would not be an intelligent decision to put Draco Malfoy and Ron Weasley in the same dormitory for a month.
"Malfoy?" Hermione said, hurrying over to the Slytherin. "Are you living here for the month?"
"Apparently. Honestly, I didn't think becoming a decent person would involve living in Gryffindor for a month."
Hermione chuckled, almost pleased that he had said something sarcastic after the doleful Draco of earlier. Then she realized she ought to be offended by his words.
"Well, Mr. Malfoy, my apologies that you have to be part of MY house for a whole MONTH." With that she went over to Ron who was watching the exchange warily.
"Hermione what did he say about Gryffindor? I can't believe this. It's a nightmare. I have to live in Slytherin while Malfoy gets to live here?
Hermione grabbed his sleeve and pulled him down to her level, "Ron, Draco Malfoy saved your life. You will be polite to him of it is the last thing you do."
Leaving Ron to stutter after her she returned to the Slytherin to point him in the direction of the boys dormitory. All the while wondering why it was suddenly easier to get along with a Slytherin than one of her very best friends.
"Good night for the second time Malfoy, if you have any trouble with anything or anyone just tell me." She was careful to stress the anyone, knowing full well that the Gryffindor boys would be anything but happy to have a Slytherin in their midst.
"I think I can take care of myself." Said the ever-prideful Malfoy before walking warily into the boy's dormitory.
"Yes I dare say you can," muttered Hermione to herself as she proceeded in the other direction to her dormitory.