Disclaimer: All characters belong to J.K. Rowling.

Summary: Hermione Granger's family has just been killed by the Death Eaters. What will she do now that she is Head Girl and the Head Boy is non other than Draco Malfoy? Triangle: DM HG RW

In the Midst of War
Chapter One

Hermione Granger had been depressed all day. She was sitting on the train, staring out the window even though she was supposed to be doing Head Girl duties. All she did was mumble a hello to Harry and Ron and then tell the prefects to watch the cabins. She didn't even notice the other platinum blonde Head Boy sitting across from her, rather angrily.

"That stupid old Dumbledore. Put a mudblood as a Head Girl," he mumbled deridingly. But Hermione made no reply. The boy sighed, evidently very bored. After ridiculing Albus Dumbledore, Hogwart's headmaster a little more, he finally spoke to Hermione harshly.

"What is wrong with you, mudblood?" he asked, but it sounded more like a sneer. Crookshanks, Hermione's cat, purred angrily. "Shut your cat, Granger."

"You shut it, Malfoy," Hermione said protectively. Bloody Malfoy, Hermione thought. Pretending like he doesn't know.

The gray eyes watched Hermione warily. Then, he mumbled something that sounded like "mudbloods."

"Don't you have to go watch over the cabins or something? After all, you are Head Boy," Hermione said.

"Of course. I am Head Boy," he said. "And what are you, Granger? Hardly the dirt underneath my shoe." Hermione resisted the urge to slap him.

"Then I will go," she said. She left the boy alone.


Draco Malfoy didn't like the idea of having a mudblood as a Head Girl. What a disgrace! That stupid Dumbledore is losing his mind. He watched as the frizzy haired girl left the cabin.

Finally! He thought. Some peace and cleanliness!

But Draco Malfoy was no idiot. He had watched Granger carefully, and he knew that something was on her mind. But what? Oh, I don't care. Who does for that stupid little mudblood?

Draco saw a newspaper on the chair where Granger was sitting in. The Daily Prophet. Huh. It was a few days old, and evidently had been wet. He had not been able to read the news lately. After scanning the article, he saw that his father was mentioned! Father was on some business after he got out... Was it this? He sighed, and then started to read.


Hermione Granger toured and inspected each cabin. She made sure that no one was messing around. Then, she had gotten to Harry and Ron's cabin.

"Hermione!" Harry and Ron both said. She saw that Neville and Luna was also there. He waved a hello and she waved back.

"Hey Harry, Ron, Neville, Luna," she said, nodding at each in turn.

"What's wrong?" said Ron. He looked at her face. "Are you alright?" Hermione self-consciously touched her face. Tear stains.

"I'm—I'm fine!"

"Are you sure?" asked Harry.

"Yes, I'm sure."

"Well, I suppose you'd be sad, having Malfoy as a Head Boy and roommate," Harry said, trying to change the subject. He smiled feebly.

"Yeah," Hermione replied. "Terrible time."

Suddenly, he heard a group of boys outside. She turned around and told them to go back into their cabin.

"Filthy mudblood," they mumbled loud enough for her to hear. "Hey, you heard about the muggle family that was killed a few days ago? Lucius Malfoy. He broke out of Azkaban and then went gathered bunch of Death Eaters…"

The boys looked in shock at Hermione's face. They watched her eyes fill with tears.

"Hey," said Ron, placing a hand on her arm. "Are you alright?"

"Oh leave me alone!" She cried and then walked away.


Draco looked up as he saw a distressed Granger enter. He handed her the Prophet.

"Did.. was.." For the first time, Draco Malfoy was at a loss for words.


Hermione was in shock when she saw what Malfoy was reading. She quickly snatched the Prophet from his hands.

"Your father," she sneered angrily. "Your father killed my family."

"Care to explain how my father died in the process?" Malfoy yelled angrily. "I wish he killed you too!"

"He nearly did," Hermione whispered hatefully. "He tortured me with the Cruciatus curse. But the shield spell comes handy sometimes."

Shocked, Malfoy looked at the ground. They passed the remainder of the ride in silence.