Chapter Four
Hermione turned to Mrs. Weasely and gave her a hug. "Thank you so much for having me, it was wonderful!" She exclaimed. "Your welcome dear, you are always welcome," she said giving Hermione's hand a squeeze. She watched as she gave Harry a huge hug, and then Ron. She gave them the usual 'stay out of trouble' speech...Hermione waited looking around the platform.
There were tons of students milling about on the platform, pushing their trolleys with trunks and cages on them. There were shrieks from the owls, and cats pouncing around as people ran after them so they could find a seat on the train. She saw many familiar faces, and waved happily at her friends who didn't recognize her at first. "Wow Hermione!" Lavender Brown squealed. "You look amazing!" She smiled happily; liking it that people said she looked good. She saw the back of a blond head with its hair slicked back talking to Lucius Malfoy. "Ugh, Malfoy." She said in disgust and followed Harry and Ron to board the train.
Every compartment they found was completely filled, and they made their way to the back, opening almost every compartment and greeting their friends. They found a compartment all the way at the back, and put down their trunks. "Where's Ginny?" Hermione asked. "I think she went to Luna's compartment." Ron replied.
"Oh yes I almost forgot, I have to go to the Head's compartments at 11:10...I better change into my robes and put my badge on." Hermione said, taking her Hogwarts robe out of her trunk. She took out her Head Girl Badge which she had wrapped in a soft silver cloth, and made her way out the door.
She usually never had to use the Hogwarts Express's bathroom, because she usually made Harry and Ron stand outside of the compartment guarding the door. But she decided she'd go straight to the Head's compartment after she changed, it was already 11:06.
She made her way to a little door at the front of the train with a tarnished gold sign on it saying "Gentle Ladies' Restroom." She knocked, and no one answered so she entered. She gasped when she entered it. Judging by the door on the outside, she had expected it to be as small as the bathrooms on airplanes. But this was a little larger than reasonable size. She guessed it was the use of wizard space, the magic that made the ministry cars huge on the inside.
She placed her robes on the counter, and looked at the sink. It was made of marble, and the faucets had scarlet gems at the top of the fixtures. There was a large mirror over it all, with a gold frame. It had an engraving of the Hogwarts express billowing steam etched in gold. It was quite pretty. The toilet had a cleansing charm on it, that after every use it put an anti-bacterial charm over it.
She quickly changed and pulled out her brush. She wanted to make sure she looked good when she made it to the Head's compartments. After spending a minute more gazing into the mirror she stepped out and walked to cabin number 23. She knocked once then opened the door. There was no one there so she went in. The clock said 11:08.
The compartment was larger than the ones they used and about three times the size. It had better seats, and even what looked like a little miniature fountain. Hermione sat down at one end of the seat, which ran along the wall of the compartment, and looked at the fountain. The fountain was made of gold, and it had four figures standing there happily while water came out of the tips of their wands or hats. She guessed they must be the four founders of Hogwarts. While she was examining the fountain the door suddenly opened.
A tall blond stepped in, with black billowing robes. A pleasant strong lavender smell reached her nose. She looked away from the fountain to see who it was. "No!" She whispered under her breath. It was Malfoy.
He walked toward her and held out his hand. "I'm Draco Malfoy. And you are?" He said with an inquiring look. Hermione looked up at him with a look of pure disgust. "Granger?!" Malfoy said his expression immediately changing. His hand snapped back as if he had touched something incredibly filthy.
"Yes, Granger. I can't believe you're head boy, how much did your father have to pay for that one?" She said with a mocking look in her eyes. Malfoy glared at her and sat as far away from her as possible. *How could that mudblood be head girl? Father will have to do something about this...Mudbloods are taking over the school!* Malfoy thought to himself. He looked at her sitting at the other corner of the room, staring at the fountain.
*But she's changed so much...She actually looks good. Not like a squirrel anymore.* Malfoy mentally slapped himself for thinking that a mudblood could even catch his eye.
"Look Malfoy. I know we have hated each other since forever--" Hermione started. "The feeling's mutual." Malfoy cut her off.
Hermione rolled her eyes and continued "Well yeah. But I think we should put all that hate aside since we will be working together. After all we are role models for the younger students, and it won't be professional if we behave like we do." She stared pointedly at him.
Draco thought for a few moments. *This is my chance to show her I'm not such a cold-hearted dolt. She should see my passionate side.* He smirked.
"Fine then! We will be enemies for the rest of our years!" Hermione said misinterpreting his smirk. "No, wait, it's not that. I'm sorry. I agree with you." He said quickly.
Hermione's face turned to utter surprise. *Is this actually Malfoy?! Saying he's sorry, and that he agrees with me?!*
Suddenly there was a tiny pop in the air and Professor McGonagall apparated in front of them. "Hello Hermione, Draco. She said nodding at each of them in turn. They both greeted her. "Congratulations on being Head boy, and girl. Hogwarts is really proud of you. It is your duty to..." Professor McGonagall gave a speech on what their duties were, and what they would be organizing that year.
"There will be a ball, as you may have already guessed from the dress robes. It is your job to arrange that. And oh I almost forgot Head boy and girl share a dormitory, meaning you will have your own common room, and two separate bedrooms. However there is only one bathroom. I expect no funny business. Not that I will expect any." Professor McGonagall finished, smiling at the two people who she thought hated each other the most in the world.
Hermione turned to Mrs. Weasely and gave her a hug. "Thank you so much for having me, it was wonderful!" She exclaimed. "Your welcome dear, you are always welcome," she said giving Hermione's hand a squeeze. She watched as she gave Harry a huge hug, and then Ron. She gave them the usual 'stay out of trouble' speech...Hermione waited looking around the platform.
There were tons of students milling about on the platform, pushing their trolleys with trunks and cages on them. There were shrieks from the owls, and cats pouncing around as people ran after them so they could find a seat on the train. She saw many familiar faces, and waved happily at her friends who didn't recognize her at first. "Wow Hermione!" Lavender Brown squealed. "You look amazing!" She smiled happily; liking it that people said she looked good. She saw the back of a blond head with its hair slicked back talking to Lucius Malfoy. "Ugh, Malfoy." She said in disgust and followed Harry and Ron to board the train.
Every compartment they found was completely filled, and they made their way to the back, opening almost every compartment and greeting their friends. They found a compartment all the way at the back, and put down their trunks. "Where's Ginny?" Hermione asked. "I think she went to Luna's compartment." Ron replied.
"Oh yes I almost forgot, I have to go to the Head's compartments at 11:10...I better change into my robes and put my badge on." Hermione said, taking her Hogwarts robe out of her trunk. She took out her Head Girl Badge which she had wrapped in a soft silver cloth, and made her way out the door.
She usually never had to use the Hogwarts Express's bathroom, because she usually made Harry and Ron stand outside of the compartment guarding the door. But she decided she'd go straight to the Head's compartment after she changed, it was already 11:06.
She made her way to a little door at the front of the train with a tarnished gold sign on it saying "Gentle Ladies' Restroom." She knocked, and no one answered so she entered. She gasped when she entered it. Judging by the door on the outside, she had expected it to be as small as the bathrooms on airplanes. But this was a little larger than reasonable size. She guessed it was the use of wizard space, the magic that made the ministry cars huge on the inside.
She placed her robes on the counter, and looked at the sink. It was made of marble, and the faucets had scarlet gems at the top of the fixtures. There was a large mirror over it all, with a gold frame. It had an engraving of the Hogwarts express billowing steam etched in gold. It was quite pretty. The toilet had a cleansing charm on it, that after every use it put an anti-bacterial charm over it.
She quickly changed and pulled out her brush. She wanted to make sure she looked good when she made it to the Head's compartments. After spending a minute more gazing into the mirror she stepped out and walked to cabin number 23. She knocked once then opened the door. There was no one there so she went in. The clock said 11:08.
The compartment was larger than the ones they used and about three times the size. It had better seats, and even what looked like a little miniature fountain. Hermione sat down at one end of the seat, which ran along the wall of the compartment, and looked at the fountain. The fountain was made of gold, and it had four figures standing there happily while water came out of the tips of their wands or hats. She guessed they must be the four founders of Hogwarts. While she was examining the fountain the door suddenly opened.
A tall blond stepped in, with black billowing robes. A pleasant strong lavender smell reached her nose. She looked away from the fountain to see who it was. "No!" She whispered under her breath. It was Malfoy.
He walked toward her and held out his hand. "I'm Draco Malfoy. And you are?" He said with an inquiring look. Hermione looked up at him with a look of pure disgust. "Granger?!" Malfoy said his expression immediately changing. His hand snapped back as if he had touched something incredibly filthy.
"Yes, Granger. I can't believe you're head boy, how much did your father have to pay for that one?" She said with a mocking look in her eyes. Malfoy glared at her and sat as far away from her as possible. *How could that mudblood be head girl? Father will have to do something about this...Mudbloods are taking over the school!* Malfoy thought to himself. He looked at her sitting at the other corner of the room, staring at the fountain.
*But she's changed so much...She actually looks good. Not like a squirrel anymore.* Malfoy mentally slapped himself for thinking that a mudblood could even catch his eye.
"Look Malfoy. I know we have hated each other since forever--" Hermione started. "The feeling's mutual." Malfoy cut her off.
Hermione rolled her eyes and continued "Well yeah. But I think we should put all that hate aside since we will be working together. After all we are role models for the younger students, and it won't be professional if we behave like we do." She stared pointedly at him.
Draco thought for a few moments. *This is my chance to show her I'm not such a cold-hearted dolt. She should see my passionate side.* He smirked.
"Fine then! We will be enemies for the rest of our years!" Hermione said misinterpreting his smirk. "No, wait, it's not that. I'm sorry. I agree with you." He said quickly.
Hermione's face turned to utter surprise. *Is this actually Malfoy?! Saying he's sorry, and that he agrees with me?!*
Suddenly there was a tiny pop in the air and Professor McGonagall apparated in front of them. "Hello Hermione, Draco. She said nodding at each of them in turn. They both greeted her. "Congratulations on being Head boy, and girl. Hogwarts is really proud of you. It is your duty to..." Professor McGonagall gave a speech on what their duties were, and what they would be organizing that year.
"There will be a ball, as you may have already guessed from the dress robes. It is your job to arrange that. And oh I almost forgot Head boy and girl share a dormitory, meaning you will have your own common room, and two separate bedrooms. However there is only one bathroom. I expect no funny business. Not that I will expect any." Professor McGonagall finished, smiling at the two people who she thought hated each other the most in the world.