Thanks for the nice reviews everyone! I'm still a bit new at uploading and updating and such… so please bear with me! I agree with those reviewers who don't want to see Hermione out of character, so I'm going to try to keep her in canon.
Disclaimer: I'm not J. K. Rowling, just an enthusiastic fan.
Notes: Single asterisks (*) indicate thoughts. Double asterisks (**) indicate flashbacks.
Courting Ron: Chapter 2
In reality, Hermione –did- have a meeting with the Hogwarts staff later that night. Professor McGonagall briefly mentioned that the meeting was more of a Head Boy/Girl orientation than anything else… she would be introduced to the staff, briefed on all the necessary passwords and protocols, and given a list of all the House prefects. Hermione bade her friends farewell and headed up to her dormitory to do some unpacking before the meeting. She worked meticulously, smoothing out her conservative, yet stylish, wardrobe, putting her textbooks in alphabetical order on her desk, and setting up pictures of her parents and friends on the various tables and nightstands around her room.
She glanced at her watch— still had an hour left. As it had no homework to concentrate on, her mind wandered to her classmates. The boys, to be more specific.
First, she wondered about Terry Boot. Since he was this year's Head Boy, she'd be working a lot with the reserved Ravenclaw. Hermione had spotted him several times in the library, but homework had prevented both of them from talking much to each other. He seemed very sweet, and she'd enjoy getting to know him during the year.
Then she thought about Harry. In many ways, he was still the shy little boy she'd met on the Hogwarts express six years earlier. Yet he was standing a little taller now, more observant and less trusting of strangers now, but still gentle with his trusted companions. He'd gotten closer to Ginny Weasley in the past few years, Hermione noticed, though the two hadn't moved beyond the occasional hug and tickle fights. She made a mental note to talk with, and maybe encourage, Ginny later in the week.
Then her mind moved on to Ron. He'd gotten a bit taller over the summer- she barely came to his chin now. His voice, as she'd heard earlier, had gotten deeper. His blue eyes, slightly muted from all stress of the years, still managed to captivate her distracted attention. When focused on her, she felt as if she could drown on those sapphire pools…
Suddenly, Crookshanks jumped on to her lap, purring slightly. Hermione went to stroke her cat's fur and saw the time on her watch. Fifteen minutes! And she had to go down four flights of Hogwarts' crazy changing staircases!!
Hurriedly she pushed Crookshanks off her lap, grabbed a quill and some parchment, and rushed out the door. She was two flights down and just about to turn a corner when she abruptly collided with a solid body. She fell on her bum, and her parchment flew in various directions.
Scrambling to collect the paper, she said "So sorry about th—."
"Hey, watch where you're go—." Both parties turned to face each other at the same time.
"Malfoy!" Hermione gasped. "What are –you- doing up here?"
"Oh shove off Granger. I don't have time for your crap." With that, Draco Malfoy, enemy of her beloved best friends, turned and stalked off without leaving a single insult. Hermione's mind raced. What was he doing up here? Why was he acting strangely? Where was he going? Maybe she should do something… the Head Girl always has a right to know.
But with another glance at her watch, all thoughts of Malfoy, his strange behavior, and the various bits of parchment she hadn't collected were abandoned as she flew down the second-floor staircase. Four minutes! She'd better make it in time…
Author's notes: So, what do you think? I think I'll be able to find more inspiration if I got, say, ten reviews for this chapter….?