"Look, Hermione," Ron sighed the next day as her nervous mood had not yet lifted. "Don't worry about it! We'll help you prepare for your inquiry. It's has to be months away."
"It's tomorrow," Hermione said in a dead voice.
"What?" they gasped together.
"I know," sighed Hermione. "I've only ever broken the rules for the greater good!"
"Don't worry," Ron said, making a decisively Let's just go over everything right now."
So they talked into the night at their common room, preparing answers for every question they thought would be relevant.
"But how do we know they're going to ask this?" Harry growled, putting down his quill.
"We don't," agreed Hermione.
"No," Ron said stubbornly. "As long as we have answers to every relevant area, we're fine. Hermione, why again were you near the library in second year when we shouldn't be wandering about?"
"Because," Hermione said automatically. "I had just come up with answer that would solve the problem. I had taken a safety measure, the mirror I used for checking around corners, before I attempted to tackle this problem which I succeeded in and helped avoid Hogwarts shutting down. This demonstrates my skills for dealing with dangerous situations effectively and safely."
"Excellent," smiled Ron. "I can't imagine what they can do, everything's fine!"
"I don't know," Harry frowned. "If Lucius Malfoy is asking, it'll be twisted beyond reason.." Hermione nodded in a defeated sort of way.
The next day, all the students who had a chance for Head Boy or Girl met in Professor McGonagall's classroom. Lucius was sitting behind a desk with several papers. Next to him was a tired old witch who seemed to be there just for show. She never spoke, but sat and looked around.
Hermione and Parvati were the only Gryffindors. There were two boys from Ravenclaw, and small, Hufflepuff girl, and one Slytherin. It was Malfoy. He was standing opposite Hermione with a smirk on his face, and he kept glancing over at Hermione who looked like she might vomit. When she caught his eye for the first time he mouthed, "Mudblood." When he was called for questioning, he bumped her as he passed and hissed, "Say goodbye to your badge."
"Ah, yes, Draco," Lucius said in his calm, slithering voice. Hermione glared at the blatant injustice. "I reviewed your papers," he said officially, pushing some sheets forward. Draco was looking more pompous than ever. "And interviewed your teachers. Everything seems in order, there's isn't a blemish on your record." Lucius glanced at the papers once more. "Very well, you may step down." Draco went back to where he was standing, flashing Hermione a victorious look. She was cursing the moment where he found out she might be Head Girl.
Next, Lucius interviewed the Ravenclaws, and he found small faults that any student would have, and dismissed them. "Caught behind the bushes with a young Miss Yuna, were we? Tisk tisk, not very decent at all." Then he called up Parvati. Hermione was beginning to panic. It seemed Lucius had found some way to pick out anything misfit.
"Alright," he said, still in his drawling voice. "Miss Granger, if you please." Hermione stepped forward, trying to avoid Draco's eye. "I see, hmmm. It seems to me you were involved with trouble each year, big trouble, that would normally involve expulsion."
"That was-" Hermione began.
"Please do not interrupt," Lucius said before returning to his condemning. "It also says here that you were seen sneaking out of bed once with another boy, all the way to a tower."
"Yes, just after Malfoy was there," Hermione piped in.
"Malfoy?" Lucius said, pretending to be confused, but he dropped the subject after that. Hermione tried to pursue it, but Lucius added, "Please do not interrupt me again, Miss Granger. It seems to be a habit of yours, a disregard for authority. Why, you're illegal brewing of love potions has even made the news," Lucius drawled coyly.
"I never brewed love potions! Draco and his friends told that lie to Rita Skitter, ignoring Professor Dumbledore's rule, and they helped her collect incorrect information where she shouldn't even have been. In fact-"
"Alright, Miss Granger. You seem to be talking more than me, you may step down."
Hermione froze. No, she couldn't have lost. "That's not fair," she said slowly, ice dripping from every word.
"Excuse me young girl, I am the adult here."
Hermione looked at the witch beside him, a pleading look on her horrified face. "No," Hermione whispered. "You surely have to say something, I am the most law abiding student here."
"Miss Granger," Lucius said again. "If you would please step back? It isn't your turn anymore."
"Well?" Draco cut in. Lucius gave him a look telling him to stay out.
"We'll see about this," Hermione whispered.
"Excuse me, young…lady," Lucius seemed to be getting fed up. "Don't threaten me, it wouldn't be wise. Now! You," he jerked his hand forward and the Hufflepuff girl jumped up, looking terrified.