Ch. 4
After she unpacked her trunk she sat down and wrote letters to her friends and one to Mrs. Weasley as she promised herself she would.
She told them how much she liked the castle and that Malfoy was also a teacher, but she left out the part about McGonigal making them work together. She could picture Harry's reaction, he'd probably say that even if Malfoy was a git, she still needed to support what McGonigal had asked her to do. Ron would probably tell her to leave and see if there were any positions open at Durmstang. She stuck just to the basics and put in how nice it was to see Neville and Hagrid again. After she was done she headed to the great hall, excited to have her freedom.
She talked with the different professors as everyone shared what their tasks had been and she had a really nice time.
"Where's Professor Malfoy?" Professor Flitwick had asked her.
McGonigal answered, "When I saw him earlier he was as very pale and said he wasn't feeling well. He said he might come down to see you Poppy."
"That's odd," Mrs. Pomfrey said, "All last year he wasn't sick even once."
"Nor did he miss a meal time," laughed Professor Flitwick.
It was true that he did try to help her and her friends when they came to his house that night, she remembered his aunt pressuring him as well. He might have been a prisoner in his own house for all she knew. If he had truly wanted her dead, all he would have had to do was say the words and it would have been done. Hermione felt guilty and knew what she said to him earlier was probably the cause for his absence. She considered what they had said and began to prepare him a plate of food to take back with her.
She remembered during the battle that he had not gone to Voldemort, but instead had helped those who stayed behind to protect Hogwarts. She remembered too, that when the battle was over, he didn't remain with his parents, but sought out each death eater and personally captured them and handed them in to Kingsley to be locked in the dungeons until the ministry could be trusted to take them. She remembered his aunt Belitrix, killed by Mrs. Weasley, and how Draco stepped over her dead body as he embraced his mom. "Maybe I was too hard on him, he has seen horrible things too," she thought.
"What's wrong Hermione?" Neville asked as many of the teachers grew silent to look at her.
"Nothing, I'm fine," she said as she continued loading up a plate for Malfoy.
"I hope you're not coming down sick too," Madame Pomphrey said, concerned.
"I think I just over did it today is all. I'll be turning in soon and I'm taking something to eat to Professor Malfoy." They all gave her kind looks as she got up to leave.
"Take care Neville, I'll see you tomorrow," she said before leaving the great hall.
She didn't know how she would say sorry when she still did feel a strong sense of anger at him for his behavior during the day. He just liked to take things too far, like watching her weed a garden for a few hours so he could take a break to gloat in the sunshine.
She crossed through the portrait hole and walked right up to his door and knocked again. After a few moments the door opened a crack and Hermione held up the plate.
"I thought you might be hungry," she tried to say in a friendly way.
He just stood there and after a few seconds reached out to take the plate. As he did, he stepped into the light a little more and she could see that his eyes were a little red too, just as hers had been earlier.
"Um…thanks," he said as he took the plate from her hand and began to shut his door. She stuck her foot in so it couldn't close all the way. She had come to say something and she wanted to get it off her chest.
"Malfoy, I'm sorry for what I said today." She sighed "That was a time that was hard on all of us and was surely hard on you as well."
He stayed stunned in the doorway, wanting to close it but unable to find the energy. "What did you say that wasn't true?" He lingered for another moment. "I think you need to know, I'm not like I was. I can see tonight that no matter how much I change I can't take back the past," his voice was faltering with sorrow again.
She didn't know what to say, she had never considered that he wanted to be anything but who he was when they went to school together. Now it was obvious to her why he sat with her on the train, he really was trying.
"I can tell you have changed," she took a deep breath before speaking again, "Draco." She had a serious look on her face. "I'm willing to try if you are."
"Would you believe me if I said I have been trying?" he managed.
"Yes, I do believe it and I admit I hadn't seen it sooner." She felt weird having an actual conversation with him.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
Other teachers were starting to show up and it felt awkward for her to stand at the door.
"let's talk tomorrow." She said as she saw Neville pass by with a quizzical look on his face. As she turned Malfoy shut his door.
In the morning she heard a knock on her door and was ready to go. Malfoy hadn't woken her up too early this time.
"Granger," he called through the door as she opened it.
"What's on our list for today," she asked, letting him pick first.
"Wow Granger, you're actually going to let me pick first today? I thought you'd have the day planned out?" he said in a trying to be friendly but sarcastic voice.
"I do, but I'm trying to be nice," she half smiled.
"We can pick over breakfast," he said as he lead the way out of the portrait hole.
Overall they were on friendlier terms, but by no means friends. The next week and a half passed quickly and before they knew it, the first day of school had arrived. The headmistress had called a meeting of all the teachers.
"As you know this year we have welcomed on a new addition to our staff, Hermione Granger. Hermione has not only fulfilled the post of Transfiguration teacher, but has agreed to be head of Gryffindor house."
Several teachers were clapping but she noticed one that wasn't; Malfoy.
"I'd like the heads of houses to listen carefully as I give instructions for sorting this year. Professor Longbottom is the head of Hufflepuff house, Professor Flitwick is head of Ravenclaw House, Professor Malfoy is head of Slytherin house, and Professor Granger is head of Gryffindor house."
"When the students are brought into the great hall by Professor Hagrid, they will be sorted into their houses. After the feast, they will be led by their prefects toward their house common rooms. I want the heads of house to go up to their houses common rooms and greet the students before they turn in for the evening. You have a few hours to prepare yourself before the sorting will begin. Please be back here about 15 minutes before the sorting is to begin," She concluded.
She walked back to the teacher's common area, talking to Neville on her way. "What kind of speech should I give, what do you do or say when you're a head of house?"
"Well, you mostly just say welcome and let them know the rules. What I told my house last year was how to get a hold of me when there was an emergency, if they couldn't get a hold of their prefect."
"How do they get a hold of you? It's not like our rooms are in their houses. We never called for Professor McGonigal, she just kind of showed up…"
"Have you ever noticed the portrait in your bedroom? There's a second one in the common room. If the students need to page you they can do it from there, it also alerts you if there is a student out of bed."
"I don't remember those from when I went to school here." She replied.
Draco who had been following behind them suddenly kept pace with them. "That's because they are a new security feature since the attack." He added.
"Oh," She started, she didn't want to bring up the past with Draco again. Not after what happened last time.
"I came up with the idea, as well as a few other safety features to make the castle safer. Chocolate Cauldrons" Draco said as the portrait swung open.
She started to change the subject "Neville, how is it that you're head of Hufflepuff house and not Gryffindor?"
"I actually had my choice of which house I wanted when Professor Sprout became assistant headmaster," Neville began.
"Assistant TO the headmaster, Longbottom," Malfoy corrected.
"Yes, thanks Malfoy," he started again "so anyways, professor McGonigal gave me my choice and I already knew Gryffindor common room and history really well. The sorting hat almost put me in Hufflepuff, so I don't think it's that far of a stretch. I decided I wouldn't mind being the head of house for Hufflepuff and I let McGonigal know my choice. Last year McGonigal was the head of house for Gryffindor while Professor Sprout took on Slytherin."
"Malfoy, it's your first year to be a head of house too?" She thought he might have been in that position last year…
"Yes, although I did ask last year and was told that no one was able to be a head of house as their first year as a teacher." He said a little coldly.
Hermione now understood why he didn't clap, he had been upset, maybe even jealous about McGonigal's decision.
"Well, one thing's for sure Hermione," Neville added. "You'll be busier than most of us. Gryffindor's have a reputation for sneaking out the most and for getting in the most trouble."
"That is true," Malfoy echoed, a smile appearing on his face for the first time that evening.
Hermione gave a confident smile back, "I was definitely one of those. I snuck out probably about once a week for the entire time I went to school here."
"Granger? I thought you were a rule follower?" Malfoy couldn't imagine her doing that.
"Nope, she's right. Once I caught her sneaking out and she stunned me so I couldn't stop her." Hermione gave him a sad look. "You did cover me up with a blanket though," he added.
"I remember that Neville, sorry." She squeezed his arm.
"I remember a time when you punched me in the face," Malfoy threw into the conversation.
"No way! Did you really Hermione?"
"Yes," She replied, remembering what he had said to her.
"She broke my nose! I had never been punched before, but in all fairness I deserved it."
Hermione wished she could apologize, but she couldn't. That was the time he had called her a filthy mud blood. "Yes, you did," she said kindly as she looked in his direction. He was half smiling and then stood up.
"I better get back to the great hall pretty soon, it's almost time," he said. "Are you guys coming?"
"Sure," Neville said.
"Yeah," Hermione returned as she got up and joined them.
They filtered into the great hall and noticed the table had been moved to the very back, exactly like it was when they were in school.
"There's no assigned seating, but once you pick your seat it would be best to keep it for the year." McGonigal said to the staff, she eyed Draco and Hermione.
Hermione looked over at Draco. She would like to keep an eye on her students and was sure he would like to keep an eye on his. He sat down at the far end of the table, directly in front of the Slytherin table.
"Do you think we could sit a little more to the middle?" She asked in a hurried tone as the other teachers were approaching the table.
Malfoy sighed. "It's really an inconvenience, I like this spot."
"Just over a few, I'm not asking for a lot!" She shot back, her voice getting louder, drawing attention to them.
He raised up begrudgingly and moved over two spaces, sitting in the third seat in.
"It's not like you HAVE to sit next to each other, right Hermione?" Neville questioned.
Hermione faked a laugh, she forgot he was right behind her "Of course not!" She said as she took her seat next to Malfoy. "Are you going to join us Neville?"
He knew there was something weird going on with the two of them and wasn't sure he wanted to listen to them act this way at every meal for the year.
"I was actually hoping to get a table in front of my house so I could keep a good eye on them," he said to Hermione suspiciously as he left to the other side of the table.
"That's exactly what I was saying," Malfoy piped in.
"Well I wanted the same thing and I have to compromise!" She snapped at him.
Professor Flitwick came and sat next to Malfoy as Hagrid went over and sat next to Hermione.
"Oi Professor," He said as he bent his head down. "Hermione, is he botherin' you? Notice he's been sitting next to you a lot, always looking surly." He said as he nodded his head over to Malfoy.
Malfoy heard him and glared over at Hagrid, Hermione noticed this and leaned in to block Malfoy from view.
"I'm fine, thanks Hagrid," she changed the subject, "So the first years are here I take it!"
"Yeah," he looked skeptically at Hermione, "They're all lined up outside." Hermione noticed that the 7th and 6th years had taken their seats, and that the 5th years were following suit. After a few minutes the 4th, 3rd, 2nd years came into the hall. "Here they come now," he said as the first years filtered into the great hall. Excitement filled the air and Hermione had a smile on her face in anticipation for the sorting.
Malfoy didn't look excited or happy as the great hall filled up, but Hermione was beaming at all the little first years. "Is it hard to believe that we were that little once?" She asked him.
"Can you keep it to yourself Granger? I have a reputation to keep." He hissed at her.
She ignored him. "They're so cute!"
"Granger, enough, my house table is laughing at you," he glared at her as he nodded in their direction.
She looked over and noticed that many students were watching her and did appear to be laughing. She looked again at Malfoy to see what his pose looked like and attempted to copy it while she reined herself in.
She looked over at her own house table to see them having a similar reaction. Some of the 6th and 7th years she remembered from when she was a prefect a few years ago.
The headmistress pulled out the sorting hat and placed it on the stool as the first years lined up. The hat sang its song, a different one like it sings every year. The song alluded to old rivals becoming friends. Hermione looked straight forward while feeling awkward thinking that the song might allude to her and Draco, and Draco snorted loudly and laughed it off. The students and teachers listened and tried to figure out its meaning.
"First years, please come forward when you hear your name, the sorting hat will be placed on your head and sort you in to your houses," the headmistress announced as she lifted the hat from the stool.
Each time the hat called a student for Gryffindor she smiled widely, and each time it called a student for Slytherin she looked at Draco to see if he was smiling. She knew he wasn't enjoying her reactions, but she thought smiling was better than how she was acting before, and that was as far as she could rein it in.
When the sorting was over there was the start of the term speech and the usual big feast. There were many dishes and the students took their time trying nearly everything on the table. The first years were amazed to see that the empty plates and cups refill themselves.
When the feast was done, the prefects were called to lead the first years to their houses while the other years waited behind for a few minutes.
"I suppose we ought to go now?" Hermione whispered over to Draco, making sure it was the right time to remove herself from the hall.
"A word before we do." His voice was also dropped to a whisper "Since we have to sit together I expect you to behave in a way that doesn't embarrass me," he said coldly.
"Understood master," she returned. He gave her an incredulous look, "that's what you wanted, isn't it? Me to follow every order you command?" She spat.
"I just expect you to behave in a way that normally befits a teacher." He returned.
"It's normal to be excited Malfoy, this was my first sorting as a teacher. Weren't you excited last year?"
He ignored her and stood up to leave the table. She began to follow suit when Hagrid leaned over to Hermione.
"It seems there's something odd going on between you and Malfoy. I'm not going to pry but I'm here if you want to talk. Now go get your first years." He whispered in a serious tone.
She went down the passage way that lead to Gryffindor tower. How could it be in all the chores that she did, they never took her back to her old tower? When she reached the portrait of the fat lady she opened up without the password.
"Good evening Professor Granger," the fat lady said as she swung open.
"Good evening," she beamed as she strolled in.
The common room was packed. The first years were already there as well as most of the other years of students in her house.
A student did a loud whistle when she approached to quiet down the crowd.
"Good evening students, and welcome to Gryffindor house!"
There were cheers and whistles from the crowd.
"While you're in this house I need to explain a few rules to you. No one is to leave this tower after bedtime hours except for express emergencies. The first step is to notify your prefects if there is something going on that you need assistance with and they will page me from there."
"Yeah, but didn't you like break 100 school rules when you were a Gryffindor? Word is that you've snuck out loads of times, cut us some slack." A student spoke and the other students were echoing their assent.
"Excuse me, mister…?" she asked, now realizing why McGonigal always had a sharper side with her students, and why Malfoy wanted to put a reputation out there to his students.
"Bones, Travis. My sister is Susan Bones."
"Ah, that makes sense," she now found out how he had learned these things. "Mr. Bones, you will have a week of detention for your rudeness. Does anyone wish to join him?" She looked around the room that was no longer elated.
"School rules are to be followed at all times. There is a competition in this school for earning house points, and each year that I attended this school Gryffindor won the house cup. Your schedules will be dispensed tomorrow in the great hall after breakfast. Sleep tight. Prefects, a word please?" She was sounding more McGonigal-ish by the minute.
A boy and girl came up to her and she went over her expectations with them. She also told them where the prefects bathroom was located should they need a short break from their duties. The knowledge about the portrait being able to page her was not common and she shared it only with the prefects.
She turned and left the common room and headed back to the great hall. Seeing all the tables lined up made it feel like home again to her. She had missed this place so much and started reflecting about her speech to the students tonight and felt that she bombed, not having said what she wanted to. She paced the great hall for a few more minutes when someone popped in.
"Granger?"
"Malfoy, what are you doing in here?"
"I was heading back and heard footsteps, what are you doing?" His tone was truly curious.
"Just enjoying being back, it feels different though on this side of things. So how did your speech go?"
"Fine, just explained the basics." He didn't elaborate.
He could remind her of professor Snape sometimes. She could imagine the speech he gave to his students every year, and she laughed.
"What is it Granger?" Malfoy asked in an irritated voice.
"Just imagining your speech if you were Snape," she smirked.
"You laugh, but he was a good head of house." Malfoy returned. He still admired his God father. "Like your speech was so great?" he pushed.
"Yeah, it was pretty good," she lied.
"Oh, yeah, let's hear it. Go on…"
"Well I just told them all welcome and that we'd have a great school year, and that we needed to win the house cup, and they all started cheering."
"Good for you Granger. You're a more accomplished liar than I gave you credit for." He said as they reached the teachers common room and entered.
"I'm not…" she began when she was cut off by Neville.
"Your prefects have been paging you for the last 15 minutes, there's some trouble in Gryffindor tower."
She turned directly out of the portrait and went straight up to the common room. "It's a bit rowdy in there tonight Professor," the fat lady said as she swung open.
She walked in on the scene, a massive party that was out of control. She approached where the music was and smashed the box onto the ground and then announced that it was bedtime. "If I get one more warning that a student is out of bed tonight, that student will sleep in the shrieking shack," she warned.
The students filtered into their beds and she waited by the fire for half an hour, fuming.
She decided she was done with fun and games and the quarter hadn't even begun yet.
When she got back to the teacher's common room Malfoy was still waiting up sitting by the fire. She debated if she wanted to go over and tell him what happened, or just go off to bed. She let go of her door handle and slowly walked over to the fire.
"So, did you wait up to hear about it?" she asked pointedly, knowing him well enough to know he had an ulterior motive for being there.
"No, just enjoying this book," he lowered it to talk to her.
"Who's the liar now Malfoy…" she said sarcastically.
"What happened," he ignored her quip.
"Mutiny, however they no longer have a music player, that might help them to see that I'm serious." She was going to have to rely on the other heads of house to help her be successful. Even though she felt she was on shaky ground, she took a chance on being honest with him.
"You really have to work on your presence around the students," he said in a condescending tone. "They can tell if you're soft, and they will take advantage of it."
Hermione sat down, ignoring his tone but realizing there was some truth to what he said. "I know, I see that now," she admitted.
"Well, hate to say I told you so. I'm off to bed." He closed his book as he stood up.
"You waited up just to say 'I told you so?'" she asked, frustrated.
He paused for a few moments "…yeah…"
She threw one of the pillows from the couch at his face and turned around to go into her room. "Next time," she thought, "if I'm debating talking to him or not, the answer will be no."