Hermione woke up bright and early the next morning, her head pounding and her feet aching.
She slowly got out of bed, careful not to get her books on the floor- that were covering her bed. Guess I fell asleep reading, as usual. Hermione thought, picking up 'Hogwarts: A History'.
KNOCK, KNOCK!
"Yes?" Hermione answered, dropping her book on the ground.
The door opened, and Malfoy walked in; already dressed and ready for the day.
"McGonagall told me that we need to meet with her in her office before breakfast- you dropped your book." Malfoy said, pointing to Hermione's book on the ground.
"I see that, thanks. Why do we need to meet with her?" Hermione asked, picking up the textbook.
Malfoy shrugged and walked out, closing the door behind him. "Okay." Sighed Hermione as she decided she should start getting ready as well.
After Hermione showered and dressed, her and Malfoy walked to the Headmistress tower- Hermione feeling rather nervous, thinking she did something wrong. Malfoy on the other hand, had a smug look on his face. As usual.
When Hermione and Malfoy reached the gargoyle, Hermione slapped herself. "Did McGonagall give you the password?"
"Hm," Malfoy thought. "Albus."
On that name, the massive gargoyle roared and stepped to his left, allowing a spiral staircase to come into view.
"Albus?" Hermione asked quietly, then it came to her. Professor Dumbledore. He was the previous Headmaster in Hogwarts, until he as killed by the old potions teacher, Professor Snape. A single tear fell down Hermione's cheek, but she wiped it away before Malfoy saw.
"You alright, Granger?" Malfoy asked, eyeing her suspiciously.
"Yes I'm fine." Hermione shook her head, "just memories."
Malfoy nodded and gestured for Hermione to walk up the stairs first.
When they entered the office, Professor McGonagall was sitting behind the big desk, surrounded by portraits of past headmasters.
"Good morning, professor." Hermione said, slowly walking up to the desk.
"Good morning, Mr. Malfoy and Miss. Granger," McGonagall said, peering at them through her spectacles. "Thank you for seeing me before your breakfast. Please sit."
"Of course, professor, but may I ask- why do you need to see us?" Asked Hermione as she sat down on one of the big chairs in front of the desk. Malfoy doing so as well.
"Well," McGonagall started, taking of her glasses. "I need to speak with you two about something rather important. Do you remember how I was talking about the forbidden room in my speech last night?"
Both Hermione and Malfoy nodded.
"I wanted to explain that to you- seeing as you are Head Boy and Head Girl. That room was previously used as a Defense Against the Dark Arts room, during the time Professor Snape was Headmaster-"
Hermione inhaled sharply, while Malfoy started to fidget in his chair; uncomfortably.
"Of course during that time it was just known as the Dark Arts and was taught by the Carrows. As you may have heard- Mr. Malfoy you saw- the Carrows tortured and brutally punished the students if they ever questioned them, well; not all students survived those punishments-"
"Are you saying some students were killed by them?" Malfoy asked, sitting up right. Hermione looked at him and back at McGonagall.
"Sadly yes," McGonagall nodded. "That room holds many dark secrets, and if I didn't know better- I'd say that room is cursed- haunted, so to speak."
"I'm sorry, professor, but what does this have to do with us?" Asked Hermione cautiously, chewing her bottom lip.
"I was getting to that, Miss. Granger," McGonagall said as she put her glasses back on. "It is your job to keep that room from being seen by anyone, no one is allowed to enter- including you two. If a student even touches the door knob, you are to give them a detention and take fifty house points away. Am I clear?"
Both Hermione and Malfoy nodded.
"Good, now- Mr. Malfoy I already talked to you about your seventh year, you have half a semester of classes you need to make up in order to graduate. Miss. Granger you have a whole year. Miss. Genny Weasley returned last night-" McGonagall said looking at Hermione, "after the feast as so did the rest of her years to finish. Mr. Blaise Zabini also returned as well." She finished, this time looking at Malfoy.
"Hm, that seems to be everything, I'll see you two later then." McGonagall said, waving them off.
Hermione and Malfoy were on their way to the Great Hall, just in time for some breakfast.
"So, guess we're in charge of the room, then." Hermione said quietly.
Malfoy nodded, "yeah, nice of her to pin that on us."
Hermione stopped suddenly. "She didn't pin that on us, its our job to make sure the students here are safe."
Malfoy stopped as well. "Well, the last Head Boy and Head Girl did a fantastic job of that last year, didn't they?"
"Don't you dare blame the Carrows' punishment on them! There was nothing they could have done, and if I'm not mistaken- it was your father who brought them here! You were probably their favorite bloody student!" Hermione yelled, happy that most of the students were in the Great Hall already and no one was wondering around to hear them quarrel.
Malfoy said nothing. His eyes flashed with anger, then, sorrow?
"Do you think I liked it here when all that was happening?" Malfoy asked in a hushed voice. "I hated it! I may have been a selfish, arrogant twit, but I hated seeing everyone around me getting tortured, or even dying. Seeing first years coming back to the Great Hall with broken arms, and bloody noses- first years! You don't know what happened here when you three went off gallivanting on your adventures."
"'Gallivanting on our adventures'? Is that what you think we did? We went through hell, Malfoy!" Hermione argued back, this time raising her voice.
"So did I!" Malfoy yelled. "You don't know what I had to do to keep my family safe, because my father did nothing, so I had to do something! At least you were away from him, I had to see him every-bloody-day!"
Hermione didn't need to ask to know who he was talking about. Voldemort.
"They tortured me too, Hermione! They made me torture friends and family- they made me crucio my mother, they wanted me unbreakable! How can you ask that of a 17 year old boy?" Malfoy had gotten tears in his stormy grey eyes, but he wiped them away- hoping Hermione didn't see.
"Mal- Draco-" Hermione said softly.
"No, don't. Don't feel sorry for me. I don't want your pity." Malfoy spat, then stormed off into the Great Hall.
When Hermione finally made it to the Great Hall, Malfoy was sitting by Blaise Zabini- involved in a deep conversation.
"Hermione!"
Hermione looked towards the Gryffindor table and saw a particular red head waving in her direction.
"Ginny!" Hermione ran to her friend and sat down next to her. Ginny pulled Hermione into a tight hug, only letting go when Hermione started to wheeze.
"Oh, Ginny, we saw each other the other night." Hermione laughed, pouring herself some chilled pumpkin juice.
"I know, I know. Hey, I didn't know you were Head Girl!" Ginny squealed hugging Hermione's arm.
Hermione chuckled and nodded, "yeah, and if your brother wasn't so thick, I would've told him."
Ginny scoffed. "He's been such a baby. Anyway, so- Malfoy.."
Hermione took a sip of her juice and got herself some eggs and sausage. "So, what about him?"
"He's Head Boy," Ginny said quietly and looked around to see if anyone was eavesdropping. "I honestly would've thought Professor McGonagall would have picked someone different- someone better."
Hermione shrugged and looked behind her at the Slytherin table. Malfoy was laughing with Zabini, both ignoring the weird glances they were given.
Hermione looked back at Ginny. "She wanted to give him a second chance- make things better for him."
"In my opinion he doesn't deserve it-"
"Everyone deserves second chances, Ginny. No matter their past." Hermione said, and looked down at her plate of food. Ginny nodded and started to eat as well, the tips of her ears turning a bit red.
"Here are your schedules!" Hermione heard someone yell.
A short, plump woman with pepper colored hair, came huffing down the aisles, handing out Gryffindor schedules.
"Oh, right, she's our new Transfiguration teacher and head of Gryffindor. Her name is Professor Hinkle." A black haired boy, sitting across Hermione said.
"Oh, of course," Hermione nodded and looked at the boy. "I'm sorry, you are?"
"Luke. Luke Creevey." Luke said, extending his hand to Hermione and Ginny.
Hermione and Ginny both shook his hand.
"Creevey? Wait, Colin Creevey-" Hermione started.
"He was my cousin." Luke said, "I'm a sixth year."
Hermione cleared her throat. "Well, this is Ginny and I'm-"
"Hermione Granger- yeah I know who you are." Luke said, smiling.
Hermione blushed and scratched the back of her neck.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to come off as a creep. Its just, well, you're known everywhere." Explained Luke.
Hermione nodded and cleared her throat again. Ginny was just about to say something when Professor Hinkle- their new head teacher shoved their class schedules in front of them.
"New school year, new rules." Hinkle coughed.
"Wait," Hermione said, looking at the parchment. "All of Gryffindor classes are with Slytherin, we don't share one class with Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw."
Professor Hinkle nodded and wiped her forehead. "Yeah, Gryffindor with Slytherin, and Hufflepuff with Ravenclaw. Other head teachers think the houses will balance each other out like this." And after saying that, the plump woman hurried off, handing out other schedules.
"Great." Ginny said, shoving her plate away.
"Well, my first class is Potions." Hermione said and started gathering her things.
"Hm, looks like Creevey and I have Herbology." Ginny said, gathering her things as well.
"Well, it was nice meeting you." Hermione said, smiling to Luke.
"Thanks, it was nice meeting you as well." Chucked Luke.
"Come on, we have a long way to walk if we want to get there on time." Ginny said, hurrying Luke towards the Great Hall entrance.
Hermione got up as well, thinking it wouldn't be bad to head down to the dungeons for her potions class.
As Hermione was leaving, she noticed Zabini and Malfoy weren't sitting at the Slytherin table anymore. Guess they started ahead as well. Hermione thought as the bell rang.
Hermione entered the potions classroom half expecting it to be full of students, but was shocked when she saw only four tables were barely full.
Blaise Zabini and Draco Malfoy were sitting at one table, only the two of them, while the other tables- full of Gryffindors and Slytherins were actually quite full.
"Go ahead and sit by Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Zabini." Professor Slughorn said as he came out of his office.
Malfoy looked behind him, at Hermione, and nodded.
Hermione reluctantly chose the chair right in front of Zabini and Malfoy.
"Welcome seventh years to potions!" Professor Slughorn laughed, "you are guys are in groups today because we're going to be practicing a very complex potion."
Malfoy couldn't help but stare at Hermione. Her usual fuzzy brown hair was tamed and was in beautiful curls.
"So your recipe and ingredient list is on page two-hundred and forty-four." Slughorn said. "Get started, I want this potion done before you leave class today!"
"I'll get the ingredients." Zabini offered, grabbing his potions book and heading towards the class ingredient cabinet.
Hermione and Malfoy started setting up the cauldron and measuring utensils.
"So who was that boy you and Weasley girl were talking to?" Malfoy asked casually, looking down at his potions book.
"Why?" Hermione asked harshly, crossing her arms.
Malfoy put his hands up. "No need to get defensive Granger, I was just curious."
Before Hermione could reply, Zabini returned back with a handful of ingredients.
"Ooh, very well done, ten points to Gryffindor!" Slughorn said as he was testing out the potions.
Finally Slughorn made his way to Hermine's group.
"Not bad, perfect shade of blue, and perfect smell." Slughorn said as he wafted the steam towards him. "5 points to Gryffindor and Slytherin."
RING, RING!
"Don't worry about the cauldrons, I'll clean them up! And if you didn't get a chance to show me your potion, show me tomorrow!" Slughorn said as he waved the students on.
Hermione quickly grabbed her bag and rushed out the door.
"Wait, Granger!" Malfoy called as Hermione entered the busy dungeons hallway.
Hermione stopped and turned around.
"You forgot your potions book." Malfoy said, giving the book back to Hermione.
"Oh, thanks-" Hermione tried to say, but was cut off when Malfoy just walked past her.
"Right." Hermione said, shoving her book back into her already full bag and hurried off to her next class.
*A/N*
So here is the second chapter!
I hope you guys enjoyed the first chapter and I hope you enjoy this one!
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-UnrulyBananas*