Every Little Thing

#It's every little thing you do
That makes me fall in love with you
There isn't a way that I can show you
Ever since I've come to know you#

"Welcome back to those of you who have returned from a well deserved summer break, and welcome to those of you who are joining us for the first time this year. Now that all the first years have been sorted into their houses, we shall proceed by announcing the Head Boy and Girl for this year.

There were many seventh year students of whom we came upon great difficulty choosing just one boy and girl from. However, we have reached a final decision." Dumbledore announced to the excited assembly of students who sat in their four tables of Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff.

Hermione squeezed her best friend's hands tightly under the table. She took a deep breath and gave a small smile as Harry and Ron wished her luck. She had worked so hard all her time at Hogwarts, now could be her time to be recognised of that. As Dumbledore started by announcing Head Girl first, Hermione held her breath and closed her eyes. She let out a sigh of disbelief as her name was called out in front of the entire school.

She stood up slowly, smiling to her two best friends as the rest of the Gryffindors cheered wildly and even the other houses (except for Slytherin, of course,) congratulated their new Head Girl. From across the room, Draco Malfoy watched in mixed emotions as the Gryffindor made her way up to the front to shake hands with the Headmaster and receive her badge. He watched her closely, taking notice of how she'd changed over the summer break.

She seemed to be taller and her hair appeared lighter, most probably due to the sun. It was also a lot thinner than when he last saw her- no longer was it bushy or frizzy, but sleek and coiled. The uniform for the seventh years also seemed to be doing her a lot of favours too; they no longer had to wear the strict set of robes and the plain simple uniform of shirt, tie and skirt or trousers, but they could choose what they wore, so long as it was black, white, grey or house colours and of a respectable fashion: i.e. no jeans or baggy clothes.

Hermione was wearing a white fitted blouse that showed of her curves, and a black skirt - just above the knee - showing of her long tanned legs...

"Draco! Draco, it's you!" Crabbe called to his friend, who sat staring into space.

"Huh?" He asked.

"You! You're Head Boy! Get up there!" Goyle replied.

What? Draco was Head Boy? And he's missed the look of horror on Potter's face because he was thinking a bout that filthy mudblood just because she was wearing a short skirt and tight blouse? Draco stood up rather abruptly, almost taking the people on either side of him with him. He strolled casually up to the front and shook hands with the muggle-loving Headmaster.

As he went to stand next to Hermione at the front, he noticed how happy she was. She stood smiling embarrassed and proudly at her friends and housemates. She turned to face him and gave him a small smile. Draco didn't smile back. He narrowed his eyes and gave her a scowl before he hissed quietly:

"What you looking at mudblood?" She wasn't going to get him to smile at her- she was nothing more than filth and scum. Okay, so they had just been picked to work together for a year, maybe he shouldn't have been quite so harsh, but he had to show her who's in charge.

As Dumbledore nodded for them to resume their places at their respective tables, Draco made the mistake of looking into her eyes. They were so full of happiness just moments before, but Draco had taken that all away. He ruined it, just like he ruined everything else in her life. As they went to their tables, Draco walked slightly in front, but Hermione soon overtook him but as she did, her shoulder brushed harshly against Draco's, causing a rush of mixed feelings to enter Draco once again. Everything just felt so different; she was different.

"Now that the formalities are over with, let the feast begin!" Dumbledore cast his wand over the hall and trays and plates filed up with an arrangement of delicious food.

Hermione and Draco sat down at their seats; their housemates cheering them once again. As Hermione took her place between Harry and Ron, they noticed the sparkle was gone from Hermione's face.

"What did Malfoy say to you?" Harry asked at last.

"Huh?" She asked, looking up for the first time since she sat down.

"Well we saw Malfoy whisper something to you and you haven't smiled since then, so we were wondering if you're okay." Ron added.

Hermione still seemed to not pay any attention so he asked her once more: "Hermione? Are you okay?"

"I heard you okay! Just leave it!" She suddenly blurted out,

"Well what did he say? We're just worried about you Hermione." Harry told her.

"He called me a filthy mudblood." She said quietly.

"Oh, is that all?" Ron replied, sounding relieved.

"What do you mean is that all?!" She cried.

"Well I just thought, I mean he calls you that all the time so you wouldn't be bothered by that anymore. That's all." Ron tried to explain.

"Well how would you like to be called the dirtiest name a witch can get everyday of your life, especially at the moment you're supposed to be most happy?" She yelled at him.

"No, I didn't mean-"

"Save it Ron. I get it. You agree with him don't you." She started.

"What!" Ron cried. "Hermione, you're talking crazy!" He told her.

"No, I get it now. I'm alright for you to copy homework off, but not your choice for Head Girl being that I'm not a 'proper' witch in your pure-blooded opinion. Well fine! Suits me!" Hermione shouted at her friend before standing up and running out of the hall, leaving her two best friends sitting astonished at the table.

"Now that's not what I meant." Ron said quietly.

From across the room, Draco had watched as Hermione had sat down and begun arguing with her friends. He had good hearing and was particularly skilled in lip reading. He had picked up the gist of the conversation. He seemed unable to prize his eyes away from her. He had never realised how his words could affect her so much. He always thought she was so strong. He only said those things to show his power over people. He actually thought he could agree with Ron on this point- he called her a mudblood so often he never thought it could affect her so much. When Hermione ran out of the hall, Draco stood up also and followed her out...

TBC

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