Disclaimer: I do not own anything except the idea for this story. All else belongs to the wonderful J.K Rowling.
A/N:I'm not even going to say anything. I doubt you listen to me anyway.
A change in colours?
The rest of the summer flew by. The group took their usual trip to Diagon Alley and Ron made Hermione "help" with his homework. Although Hermione tried to patch things up with Harry it didn't seem to work and so the atmosphere remained cold and tense. When the trio finally made it back on the Hogwarts Express Ron had a very long, dull conversation with his shadow about the Cannons, whilst his friends avoided eye contact. His fiery temper was just reaching boiling when Malfoy appeared at their door. "What do you want Malfoy?" Ron spat, grateful to unleash some of his anger.
"Oh nothing, I just heard that the perfect couple weren't really that perfect... wonder if it means the perfect trio aren't either."
"We are all just fine thanks. You can leave now."
"Oh yes, so fine that only the weasel talks. Has Ms. Granger lost her tongue?" This was the first comment that Malfoy had directed at Hermione, and the first time he had ever called her Ms. Granger.
"I'm fine Malfoy. I would be even better if you would leave us alone though."
"Ok, well I'll see you around. I'm sure we'll have potions together." Malfoy said with a smirk, although Hermione could have sworn he had winked at her. Perhaps it was only her imagination; but then again Malfoy did just manage an entire conversation without calling her Mudblood.
The rest of the train journey passed with no more interruptions. When the trio got off they heard Hagrid's cries to the first years with a small break to smile and wave to them. They walked over to the carriages and got into the first one.
After the new first years were sorted, Dumbledore stood up to address the students. "Welcome back. I'm sure this year will be full of pleasant surprises and many celebrations. I would like to inform the new students that the forbidden forest is forbidden and that our caretaker wishes for magic to be kept out of the corridors. I would like to speak to the head boy and girl when they are finished. That is all. Let the feast begin!"
The first years marvelled at the amount of food that appeared on the table whilst the rest dug in. When Hermione had finished her meal and Ron had finished his second helping they both stood up to walk up to the headmaster. "Where are you going?" They both asked together.
"I'm Head Girl... are you Head Boy?"
"Yes. When did you find out? Why didn't you tell me?"
"You didn't tell me either Ron."
"Yeah but that's different. I didn't want to be mobbed by my family."
"Look, it doesn't matter now. I'm glad you are my counterpart but I don't think we are getting off to a good start seeing as Professor Dumbledore is about to leave." Hermione said with increased agitation in her voice.
They both turned and ran to catch up with their Headmaster. They finally reached him just as he was saying the password to his gargoyle. "Lemon sherbet."
"You wanted to see us Professor?" Hermione quietly asked.
"Ah, Miss Granger, Mr Weasley. Yes, I wanted to show you your new living arrangements for this year."
"New living arrangements?" Ron questioned.
"Yes, as Head Boy and Girl you will share a common room with two bedrooms with a shared bathroom."
"Percy never said anything about there being perks to this job!"
"As you will have extra responsibilities you may be keeping odd hours, so it is better for you to have a different room than to disturb others. Would you like to see it now?"
"Yes, please." Hermione and Ron chimed together.
They entered the Griffindor common room and followed Professor Dumbledore over to a bookcase in the corner. "What are we doing here?" Ron asked.
"Ah, never judge a book by its cover Mr Weasley. I think there may be one here that even Ms Granger has not read."
"Wow a book Hermione hasn't read? We really do need Colin and his camera now!" Hermione glared at Ron but quickly turned her attention back to Dumbledore. He bent down to the bottom shelf and picked out a dark blue book from the middle. As he did so the bookcase sank into the wall and a passageway opened. They walked down the passageway and up a flight of stairs to a pair of golden doors; each engraved with a lion. Dumbledore pushed open the doors to reveal a large room with 3 doors on the opposite wall. The left-hand wall had a row of tables underneath the windows. The right-hand wall was covered with 3 bookcases. In the middle of the room there was a couch and a few seats that would rival the comfort of the Griffindor common room chairs. They faced an off centre fire with a large wooden coffee table in front.
"Mr Weasley, your room is through the left door and Ms Granger yours is through the right. The middle door leads to your bathroom though you can enter it from both your rooms. Your things have already been brought up. Any problems you can come and see Professor McGonagall or me. I'll leave you settle in. Please meet me tomorrow in my office after your last class. Goodnight."
"Goodnight Professor." Hermione said while Ron ran off to see his room. When Dumbledore left Hermione went to explore her room. It was an inversion of Ron's with a four poster bed, and a desk below the window. It was small, but cosy. Hermione and Ron entered the bathroom at the same time. "It's so cool that we have our own rooms!" Ron exclaimed.
"Yeah.... I know." Hermione said nonchalantly.
"Are you ok Mione?" Hermione nodded, but Ron knew better. He walked over to her and gave her a friendly hug. "I'm always here for you... I'm even closer than I was before." He said as he pulled back from their embrace. Hermione smiled taking in the sincerity in his sparkling sapphire eyes. "I don't know what I'd do without you." She said while fighting back the unshed tears.
"You'll never have to find out."
Ron and Harry spent the evening playing chess in their own private common room, whilst Hermione went to the library "to start work on the exams." Although she really wanted to avoid Harry. Once in the library she went to her favourite table beside the restricted area and began to read through her potion textbook. She had only been sitting there for about ten minutes when a certain silver-blonde hared boy came to stand in front of her. "Malfoy. You are blocking my light!"
"Sorry, would you mind if I sat here?"
"Aren't there any other free seats in the library?" Hermione asked as she looked around the corner to find no one else there.
"Well as you can see, it's just you and me. I know you don't like me, and really I can't blame you, but I just wanted to apologise."
"Apologise?"
"Yeah, I know that the way I've treated you for the past 6 years hasn't been good enough, but you have to believe that it wasn't me. I mean obviously it was me because I said and did those things but really you don't know how controlling my father is."
"I can only imagine, but why would you want to change your attitude now?"
"I turn 18 soon and so I want to start making my own decisions. I don't want to be my father."
Hermione didn't know whether to believe him or not but she had heard that it was a good policy to keep your friends close and your enemies closer, so it couldn't hurt to give him the benefit of the doubt.
"Ok, well thanks for the apology. I guess I can forgive you, but I won't be forgetting as quickly. You would need to prove yourself first for that."
"Thanks Hermione. I will try and make it up to you. Thank you for your time." With that he turned and walked out of the library leaving the puzzled girl staring. She went back to her common room to find Ron sitting alone, staring into the dying embers of the fire. She sat beside him on the settee, resting her head on his shoulder. They didn't say anything, as both were happy to just rest in each other's presence. Soon the fire flickered out and Ron rose pulling Hermione up with him.
They separated and went into their own rooms with their own thoughts. Hermione got changed for bed and went to the bathroom to wash her face and brush her teeth. She opened the door to find Ron at the sink brushing his teeth. "And I thought all guys were dirty." She said with a cheeky grin.
"Well it depends what type of dirty you mean." He replied with a wink.
"Ronald Weasley, kindly remove your head from the gutter and move over so I can brush my teeth!"
They brushed their teeth in silence, having a competition to see who could clean up the best. When they had finished Ron shot her a sexy smile and bid her goodnight. Hermione finished up soon after and went back to her room.
She thought about how odd Malfoy had been and how stupid she was to avoid Harry, but mostly she thought about how hard it would be to be living next to Ron. She didn't want nor need another ruined relationship. She finally fell into a restless night sleep knowing that she would have to talk to all three boys in the morning.
I'm not sure on this chapter cause I'm introducing the theme of Malfoy changing. I'm not even sure I trust him myself and I'm giving him the words to say. I promise you I will get the situation over quickly and as painlessly as possible. Soon enough you will see why I had to write it, other than the fact that Harry just wasn't a big enough problem in her life.
Ok, so I know most writers are just doing it for reviews, and sure I have low self-esteem, but really I'm just writing this story for me and you get the pleasure of reading it! Thanks once again to Oliver's Quidditch Crazy. I'll let you in on a little secret... writing Hermione's feelings and thoughts is really easy for me in this story cause I relate to her a little bit too much. Unfortunately I do not have any magical ability and I'm not really smart. I do however have a pretty lousy love life, which often makes me feel ill, just like a roller coaster!