The train moved down the tracks slower than usual it seemed, or maybe she was just impatient Hermione thought to herself. The beginning of her seventh year at Hogwarts was only moments away and she couldn't wait. Things had been different since Harry had defeated Voldemort. There were still Deatheaters that would love to see the rise of another dark lord, but for now they were quiet. Lucius Malfoy and several others had been killed during the final battle. Hermione had been surprised to find that Draco, unlike his father, was loyal to the Order. He had always hated his father and the way he'd been treated. She had learned a great deal about him when they had been fighting side by side. It had all turned out rather strangely. Draco had been moments away from being killed by one of the Deatheaters when Ron had saved his life. Draco had thanked him, but the history between the two kept them from becoming friends. Ron continued to claim that he hadn't known it was Draco he was only trying to save a member of the order.

Suddenly Ginny burst into her compartment. "Hermione, we're almost there, why aren't you in your robes yet?" Ginny anxiously shuffled about the compartment and Hermione laughed. "I guess I just lost track of the time, oh, Gin, hand me my robe please" Hermione changed quickly and proudly fastened her Head Girl Badge to the front of her robe. She gleamed at Ginny and they gathered their trunks. Harry and Ron joined them outside the train. Hermione gave Ron a puzzled look questioning where they had been during the train ride. Ron just smiled though and ignored the unasked question. Hermione walked to meet Professor McGonagall, and the Head Boy. It was a Ravenclaw boy, Charlie Finnister, not anyone Hermione knew that well. She smiled sweetly at him and they shook hands and exchanged formalities.

In the carriage on the way to the castle Professor McGonagall filled them in on the extent of their duties and informed them of their living situation for the year. Neither of them looked surprised to discover that they would share a common room. Hermione was in fact very pleased to discover that she would have her own private bath, but the prefects baths would be open to them. When they were about two minutes from the castle Hermione's mind began to wonder. She found herself once again thinking about Draco and Ron. She and Ron had been together for quite sometime, and her attempts to avoid his sexual advances had failed miserably, but she had found she enjoyed herself just as much as he did, if not more. Her memories of some of their nights together had her feeling a bit pained. She unconsciously squeeze her thighs together in an effort to suppress the growing need. She made a mental note to steal Ron from Harry tonight after they had gotten their rooms settled. She came back to reality as the carriage stopped and she felt the breeze floating in the open door. "Hermione, Charlie, I will expect both of you to brief the prefects with me this evening after the banquet, you'll be given a list of their names before then, and please do not be late," Professor McGonagall gave her last bit of instruction to them before she took off to confer with Dumbledore about the evenings festivities.

"Well, if it isn't Ms. Hermione Granger, filth of the witching world," she cringed as she heard the familiar voice and felt the sting of its words. "Oh, hello Malfoy," she snorted as she approached him. She jabbed her finger into his side where she knew he had been severely wounded during the battle, "I would have hoped that by this point you would have learned to be civil, especially since Ron saved your life," she said just loud enough for him to hear and no one else. He was wincing in pain and cursing at her underneath his breath, she said louder now, "Oh and Malfoy, don't ever insult me again," the next thing to be heard was a large smack as her hand made sharp contact with his pale white skin. He flush immediately and realized that it would leave a mark. She stalked away from him and he found himself thinking God, I wish I weren't such a prick, I shouldn't have said that. His thoughts trailed off and he put them to the back of his mind when his close friend Blaise Zabini approached and slapped a hand on his shoulder and said, "Not even a day into the quarter and already you're getting too much attention from the ladies." Draco just scoffed and walked away, but still holding a hand to his burning cheek. He inwardly cursed himself again.

Hermione soon caught up with Ron and the others. She smiled at him and linked arms with him. It was fairly obvious to any casual onlooker that they were dating, but she continued her flirtations. As they sat down in the Great Hall she played with the hairs on his neck and leaned her head on his shoulder. Harry and Ginny sat across the table from them, Ginny still blushing slightly every time she looked at Harry. He of course was still oblivious but it didn't make much difference to Ginny, she'd moved on. Neville was sitting to her left, and their hands were secretly laced underneath the table. Also underneath the table Hermione's hand was slowly stroking Ron's thigh and she brushed over his crotch making him shift a little with discomfort. Ron looked at her curiously and she whispered to him, "I've been thinking about you all day...it really has been too long," she winked as she finished off her sentence by biting her lip. Ron raised an eyebrow at her and she just giggled noticing once again how his freckles stood out on his pale skin. He ran his hand through Hermione's straightened hair and planted a kiss on her forehead. She simply smiled and leaned into him. He rested a hand on her waist and the other he placed on top of her thigh and he gently rubbed his hand up and down. Hermione was thinking to herself I can't wait till this banquet is over, I really do need to have some fun tonight.

The Sorting Hat finally finished distributing the first-years into their houses and the feast had begun to come to a close. Hermione winked at Ron and stood up when Professor Dumbledore called her name and Charlie's to announce their role as Head Boy and Head Girl. Instead of sitting down they were asked to come to the front, along with the rest of the prefects. Hermione was not surprised to see who most of them were. Although she was a little shocked that Draco had become one. Once they were all lined up near the head table Dumbledore introduced each one and announced which house they belonged to. Hermione smiled sweetly and looked out at all the tables in the hall. She was delighted, and it was obvious. Ginny, who sat watching her could tell she was nearly the happiest she'd been in ages.

After Dumbledore's speech had finished the prefects led the first years to their dormitories and Hermione and Charlie gathered them together and went to Professor McGongall's classroom. Once they reached the classroom each prefect was asked to take a seat. McGonagall gave each Head a list with all the names and began detailing their duties as prefects. Hermione was oblivious to most of it, only making sure to keep up with what she said so that she wouldn't be caught unaware. Ron was secretly making faces at her, which made her want to giggle but she couldn't risk that. McGonagall finished detailing their living and bathing quarters and asked for questions. Most of them knew all about prefects and so no questions were asked. McGonagall then dismissed all of the prefects but asked Hermione and Charlie to stay behind. She thanked them for their help, and asked them to patrol until midnight in order to make sure no one tried anything funny on the first night back. They both agreed and split up the castle into two different sections. They were dismissed and McGonagall turned and went into her office, and Hermione and Charlie walked out of the room. Hermione was immediately snagged by Ron who had been waiting for her. "Charlie, I'll catch up to you in the common room later, don't change the password till after we've talked," she yelled at Charlie as Ron had started to drag her around the corner. She smiled at him as he pressed her up against the wall with his body. He had grown strong and his arms and shoulders rippled with muscles. She loved the way his red hair hung down into his eyes. She could see the lust in his eyes and she couldn't stand it. She fiercely kissed him as if tomorrow would bring the end of the world. He licked her lips slightly and she opened her mouth allowing him entrance. He thought to himself, No one would ever imagine that my Hermione Granger is such a tomcat. Hermione had similar thoughts, He is so gorgeous, Gods, who would have ever imagined that little Ronald Weasely could be so fiesty.

Ron began to slide his hand up her shirt and when he reached her bra he unfastened it and slid his hand over her breast. He cupped her breast and pinched the nipple between his thumb and forefinger. "Oh Ron...." that was all she managed to get out before he resumed kissing her passionately.......

Chapter 2