!Disclaimer!
I, minnieluvsmayer do not own any of the Harry Potter characters, although I wouldn't mind sharing a cup of tea with Draco Malfoy (and perhaps snogging him?). Ahem... excuse me. Any who, as I was saying... my relationship with any of the characters is purely professional, and I only wish to do Mrs. J.K. Rowling justice. Thank you and enjoy!
A/N: I am fairly new to fan fiction and I was having trouble posting my entire first chapter. I apologize deeply to those who've already read it without seeing the entire thing. It's up and ready now, so please continue reading! Thank you!
Hermione's New Beginning
Chapter One: First Feelings
Hermione Granger looked into the mirror, hoping to see a person that was not herself. She had always lacked confidence in her looks, and although she had become very beautiful over the summer holidays, she did not notice. The young girl of sixteen touched her face gently, feeling the pale, soft skin under her fingers. A single tear trickled down her cheek, and Hermione frowned at her reflection.
Her brain squirmed as she began to think of the school year to come. The train leading Hermione to her 6th year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was about to set off for its destination. She looked at the image in the mirror one last time, and left the bathroom at the back of the train car.
As she walked down the aisle towards the prefect's compartment, many people stared at her with puzzled looks of amazement and confusion on their faces. Trying to hide her embarrassment, Hermione held her head down, looking at the floor. Why are they staring at me? She wondered. Some are even whispering! She looked up to only find Draco Malfoy, staring her down with pure astonishment written all over his face.
"Granger?!" he proclaimed.
"Yes Malfoy, that would be my name. What do you want?" She glared at him with hate in her eyes.
Draco's confusion was replaced with a grimace. "McGonagall forced me to look for you, you foul mudblood! For all your vain intelligence, did you forget that the prefect's are supposed to meet?"
"You will take that back Malfoy", said a voice behind the closest compartment. Harry Potter stepped out, and pointed his wand directly into Draco's face. "I will not tolerate you any longer!"
"Taking up for your girlfriend again, are we Potter? Can Granger not defend her own self?" Draco pulled out his own wand as well.
"I CAN take care of myself Harry", Hermione said. "You can stop trying to take up for me every second!" And with that, she whipped down the aisle leaving Harry in shock, and Draco smiling, taking right on after her.
Why on earth was I so rude to him? Hermione thought to herself. I like him... he's my best friend! How could I have been so cold? And why did Draco look at me so strangely? I haven't changed... I'm still the same muggle he's despised for the past five years...
Still thinking about Harry & Draco, Hermione sat herself down in a seat in the prefect's compartment next to Ron.
"Hermione? You look so... different!" Ron stared at her, making Hermione turn a deep shade of pink.
"Well I thought I could expect a warm welcome from you Ron, but obviously not", Hermione snapped back at him.
"No, what? Hermione I didn't mean to--"
"Just leave me alone Ron. I'm not feeling well."
"But Hermione we have prefect duty... and Harry & Ginny are waiting for us after we finish."
"I'm staying here Ron. Tell them I'll talk to them when we get to school... I'm going to try and get some sleep."
"Oh well alright... see you later." Ron frowned at Hermione and left the compartment.
The only other person left in the compartment was Draco Malfoy. He stared down at Hermione, whose eyes were closed. What happened to her over the summer? He asked himself. She's... beautiful! But she's still the same damn mudblood I've always known. I don't care about her... even though -- Draco looks down at her chest -- she's definitely grown up. What am I thinking? It's Granger! She's friends with Harry Potter, the stupid git who put my own father in Azkaban! But the way she treated him earlier... hmm... I've got an idea...
"Granger!" Draco leaned down on Hermione and spoke right into her ear.
Startling Hermione, she raised up, knocking Draco right in the forehead. "Ow!" The two said in unison. Hermione's eyes focused on the figure in front of her. Oh no... not him again.
"What do you want Draco? If you are here to tell me that I should be on duty, I don't care. I don't feel—"
"I... I want to talk to you...Hermione." That was the first time he had ever said her first name, and it felt weird coming out his mouth.
"Well... yes? Draco?" She was obviously very confused.
Draco sat down and looked up at the ceiling, trying to escape her gaze. "Well I figured... since we are prefects, and we are supposed to be setting an example for the rest of the students... well I just figured that we should try to get along. Do you know what I'm saying?"
Hermione couldn't believe her ears. "Umm... Draco? We've always hated each other. Always... what makes you want to change now?" She had a very suspicious feeling about this. "My best friend... is your biggest enemy. What are you up to?"
"Hermione, I know this is weird. But I really want to change. Can we just forget about all of the stuff that's happened before? Let's start over. Please."
She just stared at him. She couldn't think of what to say to this.
"Listen... just think about it okay?" There was a weird tone about Draco's voice. He went to the compartment door. "See you at school..."
He walked out... smirking. This will definitely be a fun year, Draco thought. He couldn't help but smile.
Hermione just sat there. This school year is going to be... strange, she admitted to herself. Just wait until I tell Harry and Ron! They'll freak! Well.... maybe I shouldn't tell them. They might just get upset with me. Harry would probably try and murder Draco... He's always so protective!
Hermione lay back down and closed her eyes. She has a lot to think about...