Disclaimer; i own nothing apart from the plot. All creidt on characters and settings go to JKR. It is her world after all i've just borrowed it :)
HPOV
I walked back through Diagon Alley in a daze. I barely heard what the others said to me and before I realised I was Flooing back to the Burrow.
'Hermione? Hermione!' Ginny practically shouted at me once we were sat in her room. Harry and Ron had been sent to de gnome the garden so that Mrs Weasley didn't have to do it after we left for school the next day.
'Sorry Gin, I'm daydreaming.' I replied.
'You've been like this since you got back from Flourish and Blotts. What happened when you were in there?' she asked me.
'What makes you think anything happened?' I replied as I felt the all too familiar red blush creep into my cheeks. This was happening too often for my liking. I had to gain control of my emotions!
'The fact that you're almost the same colour as the floor in the Gryffindor common room tells me that something happened.'
'Fine. You can't tell anyone, especially not Harry or Ron. I promised I wouldn't say anything to them.'
'Promised? You promised that to whom?'
'Malfoy.' I sighed and looked at her. To say she looked shock would be an understatement. She looked like she'd just seen one of her brothers naked or some other horrific and mentally scarring thing.
'Malfoy? You were speaking to Malfoy in Flourish in Blotts? What did he say?' her eyes were wide with excitement now.
'He was just asking me if we could make the effort to get on when we're sharing quarters and stuff. It wasn't anything major Ginny.'
'Still, this is the boy that's called you mudblood for the past 5 or so years. How did he look?' it was her turn to blush.
'If I'm honest, he looked pretty god damned good!' we both started laughing then.
'What's so funny?' Harry asked as he entered the room with Ron on his heels.
'Girl matters,' I laughed at him before moving over to allow Ron to sit next to me whilst Harry sat with his arms around Ginny.
'Bloody gnomes.' Ron said angrily. 'Bit my finger through the glove, it was bleeding and everything.'
'It's probably a pathetic scratch Ron. Let me see it.' He thrust his hand towards me and sure enough there was a small gash that was excreting blood. 'You realise it would be better to have your mum look at this right?' I asked him.
'You're already looking at it. Just stick Dittany on it or something.'
An hour later we were sitting at dinner waiting for Mr Weasley to arrive home from work. As soon as the corresponding hand on the enchanted clock moved to travelling Mrs Weasley began serving up the food.
'Have you all packed your trunks? We're leaving at 10 tomorrow to make sure we get there and you can all get settled on the train.'
'We're just about packed, wash bags and a couple books left.' I replied and Ginny nodded her head.
'Boys what about you?' Mrs Weasley asked, already dreading the answer.
'Well our stuff's kinda....you know...in the trunk...and the floor...and all over the place.' Harry said sheepishly.
'As soon as you've finished eating you two are to go and pack everything!' Mrs Weasley said angrily.
Dinner passed relatively unexcitingly the only thing happening was Mr Weasley's arrival from work. He told us about his day and made sure we'd bought everything we needed from Diagon Alley.
'Good. I take it your mother told you that we'll be leaving at 10 tomorrow so no sleeping in and no hold ups, that's aimed more at you two than the girls.' Mr Weasley said pointing his knife in Harry and Ron's direction.
'Yes dad, and Harry and I are finishing packing tonight so we don't have to do it in the morning.'
'I'd expect it to all be done tonight; we're not getting you up tomorrow so you can finish packing Ron!' he finished.
Ginny and I left the kitchen after helping Molly with the washing up and cleaning. I checked the time as we left the kitchen, it was 8.30pm. 'What are we doing tonight Gin?' I asked as we climbed the stairs.
'I thought a couple of games of exploding snap sounded just about right.' She replied.
We sat on the floor and took the cards out. I'd forgotten how incredibly rubbish I was at exploding snap so I was grateful when Harry and Ron trudged into the room to join us.
'I swear they ask us to take too many books.' Harry said as he sat in between Ginny and I.
'Harry I'm sure we'll need them all.' I reassured him.
'Pfft, that'll be right. Do you know that my copy of 'A History of Magic' hasn't been opened in about 3 years Hermione?'
'Well that's because you usually get your notes and help from me isn't it?' I snapped at him.
We played a couple more games before deciding to call it a night. I did my usual before-bed routine and collapsed into the camp bed.
'I reckon mum and dad have gone mad. Leaving here at 10 tomorrow? We're gonna be really early. At least we'll get an empty carriage.' Ginny said into the darkness once we were snuggled up in our beds.
'I have to sit in the Head's carriage.' I muttered.
'What? Me and Harry are gonna be alone most of the journey because Ron's on prefect duty. We'll have to make sure we can find Neville and Luna. Does that mean it'll be you and Malfoy in a compartment for the entire journey then?' she asked quietly.
'I think so. But if he was nice to me when we were own our own today I'm guessing he might be the same tomorrow on the train.'
'More like hoping Hermione. Just be careful what you say about it in front of Harry and Ron. Harry already asked me what was up when we got our letters and you started shouting at Ron.'
'G'night Ginny.'
'Night 'Mione.'
******
At 9.50am I was back down in the living room of the burrow with my trunk and Ginny's. She'd run back upstairs to give the boys a ten minutes heads up to try to avoid Molly shouting at them right before we leave.
The minutes ticked by slowly and the only thing I could think of was sharing a compartment with Malfoy for the day and then the living quarters for the year. It sound incredibly clichéd but I think my heart actually skipped a beat at the thought. As if on cue to waken me up, Ron bustled into the living room with his things followed by Harry then finally Ginny. I looked at the four trunks knowing that only one would be returning next year. It made me kind of sad to think that this was the last time I'd be getting ready to catch the Hogwarts Express from Platform Nine and Three-Quarters.
'Ready to go?' Arthur asked us.
We nodded our heads and silently followed him out to where a large car was waiting. We piled in and began the drive to London. I barely noticed the countryside pass us by. It wasn't until the houses got thicker and thicker that I realised we were already in London. I closed my eyes and.....
'Hermione! Wake up we're here!' Ginny shoved me to wake me up.
'God I'm sorry, I never realised how tired I was.' I replied a little embarrassed.
My trunk was heavier as than I remembered as I dragged it out of the car and onto a trolley at the door of the station. As usual on September 1st, we received a fair amount of strange looks as we pushed through the crowds to reach the barrier. One by one we ran through it and entered Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, our gateway to Hogwarts.
After a quick and almost tearful goodbye I climbed onto the train behind Harry, Ron and Ginny.
'I have to go to the front of the train. I'll meet you at Hogsmeade?' I asked hopefully.
'Catch you there 'Mione.' Harry said with a smile and I left them to go to the Head's carriage.
As I slid the door open I found that Draco was already there and sat lounging across one of the two seats. On the other was Professor McGonagall who looked rather uncomfortable to be in a student's carriage rather than the staff carriage.
'Please sit Miss Granger, I've much to tell you and Mr Malfoy and little time to tell you in.' I glanced at Draco to see that he was looking at me. 'As Head Boy and Girl you are to set a perfect example in front of the younger pupils. You will patrol the corridors from 11pm until 12am every night. After that teachers will be on night patrol. Prefects will patrol the corridors from 9pm until you two take over at 11pm. There will be a rota that you will be given. If anyone cannot patrol they are to speak to you and organise someone to take their place...' McGonagall continued to tell us our duties and responsibilities for at least 15 minutes after that. I only started paying attention again once she said 'living quarters.'
'...located on the sixth floor. The current password for the new term will be 'Hippogriff' so keep it to yourselves. Your separate rooms for sleeping each have a password which will be left in a note hanging on the door. I think that's everything. Enjoy the remainder of your journey.' Professor McGonagall left us alone to sit in the staff compartment.
The silence between Draco and I was almost too much. I moved myself over to the empty seat to give us some space and I knew that Draco wouldn't want to sit next to me for an entire journey anyway.
'Why'd you move? He asked, puzzled.
'I thought you'd like the space and not having to sit next to a muggle born.' I replied simply.
******
DPOV
'I thought I said I was going to make an effort? I don't want to turn into the same sort of person as my father. I know he's not as respected as he thinks he is. I know people hate him with a passion and to be honest I don't want that. I'm starting with the people that I've been a git to in the past.' I said.
She looked pretty shocked. Maybe not the reaction I was going for. 'So you can sit over here if you want Hermione.' She laughed at that.
'If you want me to.' She said quietly.
'You know you've turned into quite an attractive witch?' What was I saying? One minute I'm explaining that I'm just trying to be a better person and the next I'm telling her I think she looks good! Her cheeks turned pink but she said nothing. I looked out of the window and watched various parts of the UK speed past us. I wasn't aware that she'd fallen asleep until I felt her head lean on my shoulder. I put my arms around her shoulders and quickly felt myself drifting off too.
Well that's chapter 3. i wasn't too sure about this one, it's a bit longer than the otehrs but it had to be to get Draco and Hermione in together. Thanks to all the wonderful people who reviewed me. Keep them coming so i know what's going well and what's not working.
Li x
