Disclaimer: No I don't own anything of Harry Potter. Actually I don't own anything of real significance! Hooray for me!
Enjoy!
' …' = thoughts
"…" =dialogue
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Hermione walked to the Burrow in the dark, flinching at every small noise. After using the portkey, she had taken a train to return back. Meanwhile, thoughts plagued her mind of what had just happened. 'He kissed me. He let me go. Why?' As much as she aimed at piecing it altogether, she couldn't figure it out.
Harry sprinted out of the Burrow, hugging her tightly, "You're alright." He kissed her forehead.
Ron, Ginny, Fred and George rushed out of the house, an expression of relief on their faces.
"How did you-," Hermione asked, entering the kitchen with them.
"The order," Ron replied, clutching her hand, "The others have gone to help the aurors."
A few minutes after, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Bill and Charlie appeared.
"Hermione," Mrs. Weasley said, running to her side, "Thank god you're alive."
"Luckily for her," Bill said gravely, "Must not have passed the area."
Her eyes welled up with tears, "They just emerged from the trees. People were running everywhere. So many children," she rambled incoherently, fixed to the chair like a statue.
Everyone in the room looked at her in shock, realizing that she was there. Mrs. Weasley gasped in horror, watching Hermione faint and collapse to the floor.
"Bring her to upstairs," Bill ordered Harry, who carried her up.
"Charlie," Mr. Weasley said, "Alert Dumbledore." Charlie nodded and apparated immediately.
"Poor child," Mrs. Weasley said, "How did she ever get out?"
"She had her wand," Ron said, expecting that it was a reasonable explanation. He silently hoped Hermione didn't get hurt in the process.
"The ministry would have located her instantaneously because she's a student," Mr. Weasley clarified.
"Well then, she must have hidden somewhere or -," Ron said, desperately wishing Hermione was not there.
His parents stared back at him, not saying a word.
"She couldn't have -," Ron said, his voice dying on him.
Bill finally spoke up, "They created barriers so that no one can leave. The ministry has accounted for no survivors." He paused and looked Harry straight in the eye as he came down the stairs, asking for Mrs. Weasley. "She must have gone through hell to be with us now."
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Hermione awakened from her sleep, gasping for air.
"I'm right here Hermione," a male voice said.
"Don't touch me," she said, tugging her hand out of his grip and moving to the corner of the bed.
Her vision cleared up, revealing the Weasley family and Harry beside her bed appearing very concerned.
"Oh! I'm so sorry Harry," she said kissing him, "Thought you were… someone else."
Everyone embraced her, pleased to see her in better health.
"Hermione, we need to know if you were hurt in any way," Mrs. Weasley said softly, sitting at the edge of the bed.
"No, I was able to hide in one of the buildings. All I remember is stumbling across something hard and it sent me to some street nearby," she lied.
'Why aren't you telling them the truth,' she asked herself. 'Right, I'll tell them that I was making out with a Death Eater… I'm sure they'll find it bloody fascinating…the best thing that happened since Voldemort returned.'
"Are you sure that you're alright?" Ron asked. She nodded and looked away quickly.
"Just drink this love," Mrs. Weasley said, handing her a cup, "It will make you feel better."
All her worries drifted away with the warm soothing taste of the chocolate milk. Soon she would be at Hogwarts, the safest place, far away from many things… especially a certain Death Eater.
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Two weeks passed without Hermione fretting over what had happened. Besides, if he sought to find her, he would have done it a long time back. Little did she know that she was very much on his mind. Every day, hour, minute and second. He didn't want to think about her. Nevertheless, he was not only recalling the savor of her lips but he craved for her.
Seated at his desk, he attempted to study the plans for the next attack for the seventh time. Again, his mind wasn't acquiring more than the spaces between the words and lots of letters. Reflecting back to that night, he couldn't stop himself from thinking about her. 'The mudblood had definitely improved since last year,' even though he hated to admit it. And her kissing… if only he had known before. 'Stop thinking about her,' he thought, kicking the leg of his table. Neglect the problem: her. That was the solution to his problem. 'Good luck keeping your eyes off her, never mind that body' She has Potter. 'Once you see her with those idiots, you'll be convinced that she's better off dead. She'll only be your ruin.'
Then it was settled. Tomorrow when he saw her at the train station kissing Potter's arse, he would just return to torturing her verbally… and perhaps more if he got the opportunity. Stupid mudblood.
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Hermione walked onto platform 9 ¾ with Harry, Ron and Ginny following her close behind. They hastily put their trunks onto an empty baggage slot when they heard the final signal of the train. Rushing towards the tail of the train, they settled in the compartment that was practically owned by them for all these years. They waved their final farewells to Ron's parents, Bill, Charlie and the twins who were pulled of the hook for house arrest ever since discovering a way to break the spell.
"What a relief," Ron said, flinging himself on the seat, "If I had to watch my brothers kiss you goodbye one more time-." He shook his fist in the air.
Hermione grinned and sat opposite of Ginny and Ron with Harry. All three engaged in a Quidditch discussion, leaving her looking at the trees and mountains they were passing. Her head jerked up from Harry's shoulder when the compartment door opened. With the look of disgust on Ron's face, she assumed it to be Malfoy.
"What do you want Malfoy," Ron sneered, standing up as Malfoy entered the compartment. Observing me from head to toe, he leaned against the door totally oblivious to Ron's cursing.
"Not you Weasley," he scoffed, "I want Granger." His eyes locked with mine, sending me back to the mirrored room and those eyes that were sharp like broken glass. Shaking my head, Hermione persuaded herself that it couldn't be Malfoy. She would be the last person he'd want to kiss, especially after spending eight years in the same school with her. He'd let her be eaten alive by Voldemort before even attempting to stick his forked tongue down her throat.
"What," I said blankly, finding comfort in the nook of Harry's neck.
"McGonagall wants to see us in the staff room," he said indicating the opposite side of the school.
He ran his hair through his hair the moment it fell in front of his eyes. 'Damn he looks fine,' she contemplated. His robes were completely open to expose his unbuttoned white shirt and black khaki pants.
"Potter, better watch where the mudblood lets her eyes wander off to," he said, snapping her out of her reverie. He smirked at Hermione and left.
"What an ass," Hermione said, getting approval from Ginny.
Harry simply glimpsed out the window, "I don't like the way he's looking at you."
Ron nodded, stuffing some chocolate frogs in his mouth, "shince hwhen doesf he dcheck ryou out."
"Why?" I demanded, "Guys shouldn't look at me?"
Ron coughed up his food, hurling his arms in order to say no.
"You better go. Wouldn't want to make McGonagall mad on the first day as Head Girl," Harry spoke up, to save Ron from Hermione's wrath. Conveying a last death glare to Ron, she left the compartment.
Walking into the staff room, she glanced around to find Draco seated in a huge black velvet chair near McGonagall.
"Should have known," he jeered, rolling his eyes.
She looked at her professor for an explanation.
"Mrs. Granger, Mr. Malfoy is Head Boy," she informed the traumatized girl who yelped. "You will share a dormitory-."
"No, I will NOT spend my year with this mud-muggle," Malfoy said, while Hermione protested similarly.
"You both will share the same common room," McGonagall tried to speak again.
"We HAVE to breathe the same air," Malfoy complained.
"You already do," McGonagall said, evidently aggravated with both of them.
"I agree with him," Hermione said, nodding her head, "It's unwise… considering our-."
"Past. Yes, I know," McGonagall said, before being interrupted again.
Malfoy stood up in outrage, "I'm claustrophobic. Cannot breathe-."
"And you'll share a bathroom," McGonagall continued, the screaming increasing by twenty notches.
"WITH HIM," Hermione exclaimed, "He's probably worst than a woman- worrying about his looks-."
"SORRY GRANGER," Malfoy said, bolting towards her, "IF LOOKS DIDN'T COME WITH YOUR PATHETIC MUGGLE PACKAGE."
"MR. MALFOY! That's enough," McGonagall roared, sending both students to their seats instead of slashing each others heads off.
"You will live together. OR I'm sure we could find someone more suitable for your positions," the professor knew that it was settled by their paled faces at the notion of replacements. "You may leave."
Hermione startled Malfoy by preventing him from leaving for his compartment when they had exited the room.
"If we must," she stammered, reflecting on how despicable the idea was, "Live together."
"I share your disgust," Malfoy nodded, folding his arms across his chest. Anyone who would have seen them would have called it a breakthrough moment since they were having an actual conversation without exposing their claws.
He stared at the floor, waiting for her to continue. Her foot hit the ground impatiently as she struggled to find the proper words. Glancing up between some strands of hair, he said, "First name basis?"
"Right," she said, gulping. "I suggest that we ummm…avoid…."
"Each other?" he said, his lip twitching. He glanced down the train's corridor as it coiled around a sharp turn.
"No," she said, calmly, "Avoid playing pranks on each other and…"
"Keep your two lover boys away," he said, "You're enough to deal with."
"Same for your two friends… the ones who can't form an intelligent phrase, never mind coherent," she muttered. Hermione nearly thought she was losing her sanity when Draco stifled a small laugh.
Returning quickly to his emotionless face, "That's it?"
"Same for your girlfriend, Pansy," said Hermione.
He mumbled something to her, rubbing the heel of his boot on the carpet.
"What?" she asked, approaching him.
"Pug face isn't my girlfriend," he stated, "Got to be daft in the head like her to fancy that thing."
Hermione's laughter was stopped when Draco suddenly pulled her into a room. Nearly falling on top of him, she regained her balance in time.
"What?" she questioned him.
"Devil bitch has a sixth sense. Appears every time someone talks about her," he said, sitting near the door.
"Drakie," a soft voice cooed, outside in the hallway.
"Why don't you just get rid of her," Hermione asked plainly.
Draco observed her amusingly, "Too many aurors are watching me. Even she's not worth killing for a dementor's kiss."
'Is he suggesting that they suspect him of being a Death Eater,' Hermione wondered confusingly. 'Why would he say that openly?'
She was violently pushed on the seat, "Another thing Hermione" he said pausing as if saying her name had taken half his strength, "I'd prefer to keep as much distance between ourselves as possible. Being civil with you is too demanding." He looked sideways outside the door before leaving.
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Hermione joined Harry and Ron at the Gryffindor table after helping to get the first years to the school. Tapping his foot on the floor, Ron waited impatiently for Dumbledore's speech to end. "Same things every year," he muttered, "I'm hungry."
"Stop it, will you," Hermione snapped, "Said that about four times, you have!"
"Can't believe Malfoy is Head Boy," Harry whispered in her ear, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. She nodded, giving her sign of disapproval to his new position.
"The forest on the grounds is forbidden, like its name states. Before some students suffer an excruciating death from starvation," Dumbledore said, his eyes wandering off to the Gryffindor table, "The new Head Girl is Hermione Granger of Gryffindor and Draco Malfoy of Slytherin is Head Boy." There was a loud cheer from both houses and some students applauded noticeably for Gryffindor while others just sent sour looks to the Slytherins.
After one hour, Hermione was still catching up on all the latest news from her other friends… or at least one. Unfortunately, being friends with Lavender Brown had its flaws. The girl could talk for days without end about men.
"So he invited me to Cuba. Guess what?" she said enthusiastically. "He apparated to my house, just to make sure that I made it across safely!"
" Yes," Hermione said dully, pumping her straw in and out of her milkshake and counting the amount of bubbles perceptible, "Because Floo powder is extremely difficult to use. Throwing it in the fireplace can eventually make your arm go stiff." She was dying of boredom. A few minutes ago, she had given up keeping a tally of the boys Lavender encountered. Worst of all, she was still recounting her first week of the holidays.
"Mrs. Granger," Professor McGonagall called out, from behind Harry. "I must show you to your rooms." Draco Malfoy stood near her, his eyes wandering aimlessly around the room.
She nodded; glad to escape from Lavender's 'man from the beach' story. Both Malfoy and she pursued McGonagall out of the Great Hall and up some winding staircases to narrow hallway. Harry obviously did not like the idea of sharing a room the pompous ferret boy. It was only when she informed him about the consequences of their bad behavior that he started to accept the idea.
"Your password will be stinksap for this week," she said, entering the room.
She couldn't mask her surprise at the size of the room. Draco was equivalently impressed.
"There's a bell near the washroom for service from the kitchens… seeing that you're quite far from them," McGonagall said, opening the curtains of the room.
The walls were decorated with tapestries representing Gryffindor and Slytherin. The room to the left belonged obviously to Draco, considering the metallic snake head that protruded out of the door. I walked into my room, finding a queen's size bed and an entire music system. The only downside was that my desk was in the common room… were I would have to see that stupid git's face. There was a room with books stacked to the ceiling. In the common room, there was a cupboard packed with candy which would make Ron wish he had studied all these years to become Head Boy.
The washroom was twice the size of the Prefect's room. It was undeniably the best part with a bath tub the size of a pool. There was a hot tub at the end of the room and an actual massage therapist that arrived at your command.
"I trust that you can find anything you desire in the room," MGonagall said as both students searched the room endlessly, "Dumbeldore wishes to see a platform for the Prefect's patrol times by the end of this week. That will be all."
Draco and Hermione soon found themselves alone in the room. The walls seemed smaller and the floor space since McGonagall left and once again they reflected on the difficulties of living together.
"I'll handle Slytherin and Ravenclaw," Draco said, for their first task, "We compare on Friday."
She nodded in agreement, standing on the opposite side of the room.
"I'll use the shower first in the morning since I probably wake up earlier," she said, adding quickly, "If you don't mind."
"How about a first come, first serve basis," he said, putting an end to the matter.
"About the common room-,"she said.
"You stay to your half," he said pointing to her desk and one of the couches.
"Fine, same goes for you," she said, putting her bags in the room.
"Then it's settled," he said.
When she returned into the common room, he had already closed the door to his room.
Sorry if this chapter didn't have a lot of action… but the next chapter will be better… especially the one after that… hehehe bye Review!!
Thanks to the ppl who reviewed the 1st chapter
Tigger
Kandi
NewYorkK045
Wouldn't You like to know
shelly
Silent-Serpent… thanks about your comment … George and Fred can leave the house but can only stay on their family property. I should have made it more clear!
Serpent de feu – nice name, snake of the fire. I'm hoping you read this b/c I wanted to
know where the recent chapters of Dragon's Feast were being posted up… I found a site but they took it off(like ff.net ~_~) Thanks!