Disclaimer: All JKR's. None of it's mine save the plot and Draco's brother.
Chapter 3
When everyone was full to the bursting with stew and gateau, Dumbledore rose to his feet again. "Now that we are all fed and watered, I have a few announcements to make." "He'd better make it quick, I'm going to fall asleep on the table," groaned Ron quietly.
"Firstly, to first years please note that the forest in the grounds is strictly prohibited to all students, no exceptions. Secondly, I have great pleasure to announce that there will be a trip to Paris in February for seventh years. It will be a Defence Against the Dark Arts Convention in which a group of people from each house must make a presentation. School from all over Europe will attend."
At these words, excited whispering filled the Great Hall. People were looking expectantly at Dumbledore, others were whispering to their friends. "Thirdly, due to the popularity of the Yule Ball over the last few years, we have decided to make it permanent. Though this time, all years will be allowed." More excited whispering.
"And finally, due to a slight change in the Hogwarts system, I would like to announce this year's Head Boy and Girl and their team of Prefects." Hermione's heart leaped. Her eyes widened and she looked pointedly at Dumbledore trying to avoid the fact that the whole of Gryffindor house had just turned to look at her.
"To begin with, Head Boy. This young man has shown extraordinary talent over his six years with us. He is a capable Quidditch player and has been a particularly good achiever when it comes to academic grades." Hermione nudged Harry at these words. She hoped that Ron didn't notice.
"It is an honour to announce this years' Head Boy, Draco Malfoy." Hermione's heart dropped like a stone. Malfoy? Head Boy? The words echoed strangely in her ears.
"Capable Quidditch player? Since when?" exclaimed Ron in surprise. "As far as I knew, hanging around with Crabbe and Goyle had rubbed off on him! He's never been good at anything except showing off!" muttered Harry indignantly. Hermione was stunned. She looked over at the pale boy who was smirking in their direction as he made his way to Dumbledore. Dumbledore gave him his badge and Malfoy pinned it on his robes immediately. He sat back down at the Slytherin table grinning smugly. Hermione shook her head disbelievingly.
"And now, this years Head Girl. What can I say? There are certainly no other candidates for this position that show the same qualities. She is amazingly intelligent, brave and cool in the face of danger." Then it was Hermione's turn to be nudged. "Ladies and Gentlemen, this years' Head Girl, Miss Hermione Granger."
Gryffindor table erupted in cheers. Hermione couldn't help grinning. She forgot all about Malfoy for a blissful twenty seconds as she made her way to Dumbledore. She knew she was blushing with pride as Dumbledore handed her the badge. She pinned it onto her robes and made her way back to her seat, positively glowing with happiness. "We knew you'd get it!" said Harry as she took her place.
"Yeah! Well done! You should've seen Malfoy's face when Dumbledore said your name! I swear the house elves heard his mouth hit the floor!" said Ron, cracking up.
When the clapping had died down, Hermione tried to rub her back. So many people had slapped her on the back it was beginning to sting. She hardly heard as Dumbledore began to read off a list of names of new Prefects. She heard the name "Ginny Weasley," though and immediately jumped up cheering with the rest of the Gryffindors. Ron was grinning madly and Harry's eyes sparkled. Hermione looked away. Not again, not now.
When Dumbledore began to speak normally again, wishing them all a peaceful night, the horror of what was going to happen this year set in. Head Girl and Boy. Hermione and Draco. Granger and Malfoy. Pureblood and Muggleborn. That was how they were going to be remembered. Hermione wanted to be remembered as the cleverest and most capable witch Hogwarts has ever knew. But now, for the rest of eternity, she was going to be bound to his name. This is not happening to me.
"If the Head Boy and Girl could stay behind please and I will show you to your quarters," announced Dumbledore. Hermione got sympathetic and commiserating looks from all of Gryffindor and most of Ravenclaw. "Good luck," whispered Harry as they filed out. "She's going to need it," added Ron when they were outside of hearing range.
Back in the Hall, Hermione stood up and perched on the edge of the table, taking care not to look at Malfoy but to examine the hem of her new robes. She could feel his icy eyes on her, watching her every move but she didn't rise to the bait. When the rest of the school had filed out, Dumbledore spoke.
"Now, I now you two have never been the best of friends, but this year I ask two of Hogwarts' most mature students to set aside their differences and help the school. Various teachers whom you must complete over the year have given me a number of assignments for you both. You will, of course be attending the convention in Paris in February and with all this extra work, you both will be excused from N.E.W.T's." At these words, Hermione looked at Malfoy. He was gazing at some point behind Dumbledore, obviously bored. When he heard the last sentence, he snapped out of his stupor and a triumphant smirk was plastered on his face.
"I will now lead you to your quarters," said Dumbledore, sweeping out of the Hall and indicating for them to follow. He led them through tapestries, down corridors, through empty classrooms until they eventually reached a painting. It was a portrait of four people. They were, of course moving. There were two women and two men.
"Password?" asked a man with silvery hair. "Manitis," said Dumbledore promptly. The portrait swung forwards to reveal a beautiful room. It had a few bookcases in the corner, crammed with books. It was decorated in cosy colours such as red and orange. On one side of the room was a fireplace, in front of which stood two chairs. One with the Gryffindor emblem and with the Slytherin emblem, both embroidered neatly on the back. Candles hung from the walls, setting a dim glow over everything. Malfoy scowled at the obvious lack of Slytherin colours. Hermione worked to conceal her amusement that her new study room was almost completely covered in her houses colours and she shared the room with a strict Slytherin.
"You each have your own bedrooms and bathrooms and each bedroom has a shortcut to your respective house common rooms. Have a peaceful night. There will be no bickering, I trust?" said Dumbledore, looking from the scowling Slytherin to the grinning Gryffindor.
"Oh, no sir. I'm sure we'll get along fine," said Hermione with not enough sarcasm for the wise headmaster to trace. With that, the old man left the room and Malfoy immediately started on Hermione.
"Right, Granger. It's bad enough me being stuck with you but I don't want to have to speak to you as well."
"Well, Malfoy I guess your perfect pureblood bubble has just burst because we're going to have to. We're working on assignments all year. And if it's torture for you it's going to be sheer hell for me but you're going to have to get used to it. Unless, of course, you'd do me a favour and hand down your position to someone worthy, like Harry," retorted Hermione, putting her hands on her hips and facing the blonde boy.
"Yeah, right, good one Granger," sneered Malfoy, before turning his back on Hermione and marching into his room, nose turned up. Hermione shook her head and went into her own room, thinking about what the probability would be of Malfoy finding out if she bewitched his Slytherin chair.
Thank you to the two reviewers who have reviewed (and hopefully read!) my story so far! I had an anonymous one and one from SnufflesnSyrup so thanks to both of you!
Lauren
Please R & R!!!
Chapter 3
When everyone was full to the bursting with stew and gateau, Dumbledore rose to his feet again. "Now that we are all fed and watered, I have a few announcements to make." "He'd better make it quick, I'm going to fall asleep on the table," groaned Ron quietly.
"Firstly, to first years please note that the forest in the grounds is strictly prohibited to all students, no exceptions. Secondly, I have great pleasure to announce that there will be a trip to Paris in February for seventh years. It will be a Defence Against the Dark Arts Convention in which a group of people from each house must make a presentation. School from all over Europe will attend."
At these words, excited whispering filled the Great Hall. People were looking expectantly at Dumbledore, others were whispering to their friends. "Thirdly, due to the popularity of the Yule Ball over the last few years, we have decided to make it permanent. Though this time, all years will be allowed." More excited whispering.
"And finally, due to a slight change in the Hogwarts system, I would like to announce this year's Head Boy and Girl and their team of Prefects." Hermione's heart leaped. Her eyes widened and she looked pointedly at Dumbledore trying to avoid the fact that the whole of Gryffindor house had just turned to look at her.
"To begin with, Head Boy. This young man has shown extraordinary talent over his six years with us. He is a capable Quidditch player and has been a particularly good achiever when it comes to academic grades." Hermione nudged Harry at these words. She hoped that Ron didn't notice.
"It is an honour to announce this years' Head Boy, Draco Malfoy." Hermione's heart dropped like a stone. Malfoy? Head Boy? The words echoed strangely in her ears.
"Capable Quidditch player? Since when?" exclaimed Ron in surprise. "As far as I knew, hanging around with Crabbe and Goyle had rubbed off on him! He's never been good at anything except showing off!" muttered Harry indignantly. Hermione was stunned. She looked over at the pale boy who was smirking in their direction as he made his way to Dumbledore. Dumbledore gave him his badge and Malfoy pinned it on his robes immediately. He sat back down at the Slytherin table grinning smugly. Hermione shook her head disbelievingly.
"And now, this years Head Girl. What can I say? There are certainly no other candidates for this position that show the same qualities. She is amazingly intelligent, brave and cool in the face of danger." Then it was Hermione's turn to be nudged. "Ladies and Gentlemen, this years' Head Girl, Miss Hermione Granger."
Gryffindor table erupted in cheers. Hermione couldn't help grinning. She forgot all about Malfoy for a blissful twenty seconds as she made her way to Dumbledore. She knew she was blushing with pride as Dumbledore handed her the badge. She pinned it onto her robes and made her way back to her seat, positively glowing with happiness. "We knew you'd get it!" said Harry as she took her place.
"Yeah! Well done! You should've seen Malfoy's face when Dumbledore said your name! I swear the house elves heard his mouth hit the floor!" said Ron, cracking up.
When the clapping had died down, Hermione tried to rub her back. So many people had slapped her on the back it was beginning to sting. She hardly heard as Dumbledore began to read off a list of names of new Prefects. She heard the name "Ginny Weasley," though and immediately jumped up cheering with the rest of the Gryffindors. Ron was grinning madly and Harry's eyes sparkled. Hermione looked away. Not again, not now.
When Dumbledore began to speak normally again, wishing them all a peaceful night, the horror of what was going to happen this year set in. Head Girl and Boy. Hermione and Draco. Granger and Malfoy. Pureblood and Muggleborn. That was how they were going to be remembered. Hermione wanted to be remembered as the cleverest and most capable witch Hogwarts has ever knew. But now, for the rest of eternity, she was going to be bound to his name. This is not happening to me.
"If the Head Boy and Girl could stay behind please and I will show you to your quarters," announced Dumbledore. Hermione got sympathetic and commiserating looks from all of Gryffindor and most of Ravenclaw. "Good luck," whispered Harry as they filed out. "She's going to need it," added Ron when they were outside of hearing range.
Back in the Hall, Hermione stood up and perched on the edge of the table, taking care not to look at Malfoy but to examine the hem of her new robes. She could feel his icy eyes on her, watching her every move but she didn't rise to the bait. When the rest of the school had filed out, Dumbledore spoke.
"Now, I now you two have never been the best of friends, but this year I ask two of Hogwarts' most mature students to set aside their differences and help the school. Various teachers whom you must complete over the year have given me a number of assignments for you both. You will, of course be attending the convention in Paris in February and with all this extra work, you both will be excused from N.E.W.T's." At these words, Hermione looked at Malfoy. He was gazing at some point behind Dumbledore, obviously bored. When he heard the last sentence, he snapped out of his stupor and a triumphant smirk was plastered on his face.
"I will now lead you to your quarters," said Dumbledore, sweeping out of the Hall and indicating for them to follow. He led them through tapestries, down corridors, through empty classrooms until they eventually reached a painting. It was a portrait of four people. They were, of course moving. There were two women and two men.
"Password?" asked a man with silvery hair. "Manitis," said Dumbledore promptly. The portrait swung forwards to reveal a beautiful room. It had a few bookcases in the corner, crammed with books. It was decorated in cosy colours such as red and orange. On one side of the room was a fireplace, in front of which stood two chairs. One with the Gryffindor emblem and with the Slytherin emblem, both embroidered neatly on the back. Candles hung from the walls, setting a dim glow over everything. Malfoy scowled at the obvious lack of Slytherin colours. Hermione worked to conceal her amusement that her new study room was almost completely covered in her houses colours and she shared the room with a strict Slytherin.
"You each have your own bedrooms and bathrooms and each bedroom has a shortcut to your respective house common rooms. Have a peaceful night. There will be no bickering, I trust?" said Dumbledore, looking from the scowling Slytherin to the grinning Gryffindor.
"Oh, no sir. I'm sure we'll get along fine," said Hermione with not enough sarcasm for the wise headmaster to trace. With that, the old man left the room and Malfoy immediately started on Hermione.
"Right, Granger. It's bad enough me being stuck with you but I don't want to have to speak to you as well."
"Well, Malfoy I guess your perfect pureblood bubble has just burst because we're going to have to. We're working on assignments all year. And if it's torture for you it's going to be sheer hell for me but you're going to have to get used to it. Unless, of course, you'd do me a favour and hand down your position to someone worthy, like Harry," retorted Hermione, putting her hands on her hips and facing the blonde boy.
"Yeah, right, good one Granger," sneered Malfoy, before turning his back on Hermione and marching into his room, nose turned up. Hermione shook her head and went into her own room, thinking about what the probability would be of Malfoy finding out if she bewitched his Slytherin chair.
Thank you to the two reviewers who have reviewed (and hopefully read!) my story so far! I had an anonymous one and one from SnufflesnSyrup so thanks to both of you!
Lauren
Please R & R!!!