New students, thought Hermione, were starting to get annoying.

Why did it take so long to sort them all?

It wasn't like she was waiting for something.

Something like McGonagall announcing the head boy and girl.

It wasn't like she wanted to be head girl.

Okay, she did, but she had her reasons.

She was the smartest in her class, of course.

Lots of people- well, in Gryffindor- liked her.

She had even helped kill Voldemort a few months ago!

Wasn't that reason enough?

And then it was time, she assumed, as McGonagall stood up.

She made her way to the podium, her eyes seeing everything.

Admittedly, she hadn't chosen the head boy and girl yet.

Prefects had been easy, but the head boy and girl...

She still hadn't decided on the right pair for the job.

Ideally, it would have been Hermione and Harry.

But, of course, you couldn't have them both from one house.

The other staff would call her prejudiced.

McGonagall announced the prefects, which included Harry and Ron, and some other people too.

And then it wasn't just time. It was the time.

Hermione tightly shut her eyes, trying not to clench her fists in her crossed arms.

"Hermione Granger, of Gryffindor!" was announced. "Please stand!"

For a moment she wondered if this was a good idea.

Of course, the professors knew best, so she did stand.

There was scattered clapping throughout the room, mostly from Gryffindor.

Though even they weren't very loud.

Everyone turned to McGonagall, who took an anxious, deep breath.

"This year," she started to say, but was interrupted by a rude second-year boy.

"Hey! Who's the head boy?" called the young Slytherin.

"I'm getting to that!" McGonagall said irritably, straightening her hat before she continued.

"This year, as you should very well know, will be different.

He- Voldemort was, of course killed...of course you all know..."

She broke off with a sigh, still unsure of who to pick.

And then it started to dawn on her.

Just like the first rays of sun after stepping out of the shadows.

"The staff," she pretty much blamed them, "have not yet decided on the head boy."

Students all started to whisper to each other, the buzz growing louder every second.

"Students!" she exclaimed, and they all were silenced by her glare.

"Until we- er, they decide, we will have a substitute head boy..."

Who was she supposed to pick?

McGonagall cast her gaze into the tablesof Slytherin, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw.

"...Draco Malfoy!" she announced. "Please stand!"

No one clapped as he did so, then quickly sat down.

Hermione felt an itch in her hands, as if she wanted to clap.

She was about to pass it off when it finally hit her.

Apparently light travels faster than sound, nowadays.

"No, wait!" she exclaimed, "Who's the head boy?"

Harry and Ron exchanged an awkward glance.

"It's Malfoy, isn't it?" she said quietly.

Their faces said it all, and no words were necessary.

This didn't talk them from speaking, though.

"Don't worry, 'Mione, just tell us if he does anything wrong!"

"Or if he tries something on you-"

"Harry!"

"What?"

"Hermione would hex him before he got within two feet of her!" exclaimed Ron.

"Yeah," Harry agreed, "I bet she won't need your help at all, Ron!"

"Nice lot of friends you are!" Hermione said flatly, standing up.

"You going back to the tower now, 'Mione?" asked Ron.

"If you haven't heard, I go to the heads tower now," she replied coldly.

She srtarted to walk away, then went back to them.

"And I get live there. With Malfoy."

And only then did she leave, the stares of more than one boy on her back.