Chapter 5

Awkward Silences

Harry awoke on the morning of September 1st to the sound of his oversized cousin Dudley running up and down the stairs of number 4 Privet Drive. Dudley's actions were obviously an attempt to wake Harry whose room lay on the other side of the wall.

Harry rose quickly, deciding to have some fun with Dudley. He snatched up his wand and Hogwarts letter and opening the door of his room, he strode into the hall to find Dudley waiting.

"Good morning, Potter." Dudley said with a sneer. He had the air of Draco Malfoy about him, and this made Harry grimace.

"Dudley." Harry said, looking at him coldly.

"Got a staring problem do you, Harry?" Dudley asked threateningly.

Harry raised his wand and pointed it at the boy's throat. "What's it to you if I do?"

"I- I know you can't use that....that thing." Dudley stammered, nodding at Harry's wand and gulping. "You've gotten in trouble for it b-b-before."

Harry, of course, had known Dudley would say that, but he was one step ahead of him. That's why he'd brought his letter.

He held it up, "Do you know what this is?" Harry asked; without letting Dudley answer, he continued, "This is a letter giving me permission to use magic whenever I bloody well please." Harry said, knowing very well that the letter was nothing of the sort.

He smirked at Dudley, turned on his heel and reentered his room, closing the door behind him. He smiled to himself, he loved scaring Dudley, and the boy was so stupid he'd fall for almost anything.

Harry looked at his clock radio and that's when he realized that today was September first. He had to be at Kings Cross in an hour and a half.

Harry dressed quickly into Muggle clothes. He combed his hair and brushed his teeth hurriedly before returning, once again, to his room.

He threw some last minute things into his trunk before placing his Firebolt on top and locking it.

Harry ushered a disgruntled looking Hedwig into her cage and placed it beside his trunk.

He stopped for a moment, sat on his bed and looked around. The room was bare. Harry had packed everything dear to him; he wasn't planning on ever returning to this house.

The Dursley's had decided to be nice to Harry for once and gave no argument when Harry asked to be driven to Kings Cross. They were all exceptionally happy, as was Harry, hoping it was the last time they would ever have anything to do with each other.

Upon their arrival at Kings Cross they practically threw Harry out of the car before speeding away. Well, what had Harry expected? A heartfelt goodbye?

Harry walked directly to the barrier between platforms nine and ten. He waited until a crowd passed before disappearing through.

Harry found and empty compartment near the middle of the train and he situated himself in it. He was joined a few minutes later by Ginny and Neville; which made Harry wonder if Ron would be along, but he dared not ask.

Harry quickly found that Neville was not quite as boring as he had originally thought. And he, Neville and Ginny were soon talking animatedly about Quidditch.

Meanwhile, on the platform Ron was stuffing his pockets with new prototypes from Fred and George's joke shop. They'd asked him to try them out on some other students. Ron gladly accepted.

He thanked the twins quickly before boarding.

Ron had decided that now was a good time as any to apologize to Harry. So he began searching the train.

He soon found Harry, Neville and Ginny in the mid-section of the train. Ron took a quick glance through the glass before entering. Ginny and Nevile barely noticed Ron's presence as he took the seat across from Harry.

"We have to talk." Harry said the moment Ron sat down.

"Yeah. I know, mate. I'm terribly sorry. You know how she gets to me, that one." Ron replied, evidently talking about Hermione.

"Ehhh...I guess it's alright. The fight was stupid anyway."

"Yeah. I suppose. Forgive and forget, then?"

"Yeah. I guess this means I'll be talking to her later." Harry said, a smile stretching across his face.

Harry and Ron shook on it and Ron proposed they play some wizard chess.

Hermione had arrived late to the platform and had almost missed the train. Knowing she was late she headed immediately to the rear of the train to find a seat.

She discovered that all the compartments were either full or filled with undesirable people. So she opted to search for Ron. After several minutes she found him in the same compartment as Harry, Ginny and Neville. Hermione felt slightly betrayed, she thought Ron was on her side. Hermione bypassed the compartment, wanting to avoid an awkward situation, thinking that Harry was still mad at her.

Hermione moved forward along the train. At the head of it she found the prefects compartment and across from it was something she hadn't noticed before. It was the Head Boy & Girl compartment. She opened the door praying that Malfoy wasn't inside.

To her relief he wasn't so she took a seat, sliding the door closed behind her.

She took a notebook out of the little backpack she carried around with her and checked over what she'd written.

September 1

................11:30- prefects compartment- patrols

Hermione closed the booked and checked her watch. It was pretty close to 11:30 so she jumped up and proceeded to the prefects' compartment.

To her dismay she only found Malfoy in the compartment.

"Granger." he said with a nod and a smirk.

Hermione just sighed, wanting nothing to do with him.

"Granger." He drawled.

"What?!"

"Did you have a fallout with Potty and Weasel? I noticed you weren't sitting with them." He added a fake pout. He was just obnoxious as ever.

"None of your business Malfoy." Hermione screamed.

"Ooo. I'll take that as a yes." he replied with yet another smirk. "Poor Granger."

Hermione was tempted to slap him like she'd done in her third year but the arrival of the prefects stopped her.

It took several minutes for everyone to get situated but when they did Hermione noticed Ron's absence. She told Malfoy to work out the hall patrols and she excused herself, saying she'd be right back.

Hermione found her way to Ron's compartment and slid the door open. That's when she remembered that Harry was also in the compartment.

Hermione looked at Harry, who looked back. They were both silent for half a minute, but to Hermione it felt like ages. Harry smiled, which threw Hermione off and she finally broke the silence.

"Ron," she said, "you were supposed to be in the prefects' compartment ten minutes ago!"

"Oh, right. Sorry." Ron mumbled.

Hermione quickly turned and walked towards the front of the train, Ron followed.

To Hermione's great surprise Draco had already properly organized the patrols and given out passwords.

A sixth year Hufflepuff filled Ron in while the rest of the prefects chatted happily. Hermione, seeing she was no longer needed took a schedule from Draco and headed back across the hall to the Head Boy & Girl compartment. She took a seat and stuffed the schedule into her bag without looking at it. She then took out the extended version of Hogwarts, A History and began reading.

After some time it started to get dark and she changed into her robes, pinning her Head Girl badge happily to the front.

Hermione then pulled out the schedule she'd taken from Draco earlier. She searched for her name and found it under Friday, 2nd Floor and right next to Draco Malfoy.

"What the hell?" Hermione said out loud. She walked across the hall once more to the prefects compartment and threw the door open.

Malfoy was sitting inside talking happily with Crabbe and Goyle, who were looking more brutal than ever.

"I need to talk to you, Malfoy." she said. Malfoy gave her a weird look and then stood up, while Crabbe and Goyle just laughed.

They went into the Head Boy and Girl compartment and he took a seat, she remained standing.

Hermione held up the schedule, "What the bloody hell is this all about?"

"It wouldn't have happened if you hadn't rushed out to find your boyfriend." Draco replied.

"He's not my boyfriend, Malfoy. And what'd you mean?"

"Well I always thought you'd be better with Potter anyway...." he said before continuing on the subject, "And as for that...seeing as you do everything perfectly..."

"What happened, damn it?!" Hermione screamed, getting impatient.

"Well I started with all the fifth year prefects, then the sixth, then the seventh. That's when I noticed there was one spot open. Then I realized that I never assigned you and me spots. And I'd already told everyone else where they were so I couldn't change it, Granger! Like I want to be stuck with a mudblood every Friday night." Malfoy replied and stomped moodily out of the room.

What Draco said had been true. He'd had forgotten himself and the mudblood. But now he realized that it could work to his advantage. They would have to talk on their patrols together and hopefully he could gain enough information on Potter to make the Dark Lord happy, if that were possible.

Hermione was furious. That idea of spending every single Friday with that slime ball was sickening. She pulled her cloak over her and closed her eyes only to be interrupted moments later by someone knocking on the compartment door. "Come in." she sighed, her eyes still closed.

"Uhmm....Hermione?" said a voice.

She knew that voice. It was so familiar. It was Harry. Her eyes snapped open to look at Harry, who'd taken the seat next to her. He smiled like he'd done when Hermione had gone to find Ron, but this time it wasn't as unsettling.

"Hermione I came to say I'm sorry." Harry said softly. "It was stupid of me to blow up at you. The whole argument was stupid. I guess I was just upset because everyone acted like nothing had been achieved."

"It's alright, Harry. We both know what happened. Even if no one else understands...."

"Yeah, I know. I'll always have you and Ron." he paused for a moment, "I'm glad we're talking again."

"Me too." she said and hugged him.

Harry grasped her by her shoulders and held her back, as if to get a better look at her. He smiled and pulled her towards him. He kissed her lightly on the lips before getting up and leaving.