I did use a plot device. They are helpful, you know. Please review and tell me what you think. This is the same "Keep Me Sane" as before. But since I have to completely re-write it there will be some changes.
Chapter 1: I have to live with Draco Malfoy?
Hermione awoke to a loud banging noise on her bedroom door. She rolled over and looked at her clock. It was eight o' clock in the morning. She groaned and covered her head with her blanket. The knocks continued until she yelled, "Summer!" to the door and pulled her pillow over her head. She still had a month of summer vacation left and she wasn't about to start getting up early yet.
"You've got that meeting with your Headmaster today!" her father called through the wooden barrier.
"Oh!" she cried. She shot out of bed and ran to the bathroom. She quickly jumped in the shower. When she got out she stared at her reflection after getting dressed. "Well, should I blow dry my hair and let it be big and poofy…or should I let it air dry and let it be big and poofy?"
She decided that letting it air dry would be less would less work. She walked into the kitchen where her mother was cooking eggs. "'Morning, dear," she said.
"Good morning," Hermione replied, yawning.
"Were you talking to yourself in there?" Mr. Granger asked as in entered the kitchen.
"No, dad," Hermione answered. "I was talking to my hair. I'm not crazy." She had to laugh at the look on his face.
"Well, come on," he said. "I've got to go to work so I'll take you to the train station."
"Why can't he do that poppy thing?" Mrs. Granger asked. "It would be easier wouldn't it?"
"I don't think there are any Apparation areas around here," Hermione replied. "So either way I'd have travel. This way is just as complicated as the other."
"Ah," was all her mother said.
Hermione ran to her room and grabbed the book she was currently reading. She followed her father outside to the car.
When they pulled up to the train station parking lot, Hermione got out and bid her father farewell. She looked around the crowds of Muggles and quickly jogged to Platform 9¾. She casually went through the barrier into an empty platform facing the Hogwarts Express. It felt weird because she was used to there being hundreds of people around her while getting on the train. She boarded and ran into the conductor.
"Oh, you're here," he said. "Well, we can go then. The other one's already on board. Take a seat."
Hermione traveled half-way down the isle and entered one of the compartments. She propped her feet up and opened her book, Needful Things.
She'd only been reading a while when her compartment door opened and in walked Draco Malfoy. He smirked at her and sat down on the seat across from her.
"You're the other person Dumbledore wanted to see?" Hermione questioned.
"Obviously," he answered.
"What do you want?" she asked coldly.
"I got bored."
"So?" She looked back down to the pages of her book.
"Are you ever without a book," Draco commented. "I didn't know you liked Stephen King."
"I didn't know you knew who Stephen King was," Hermione said looking up. "How do you know who he is?"
"What? Do you actually think that a genius like that is Muggle?" Draco said.
"He's a wizard?" Hermione asked shocked.
"Oh you didn't know?" Draco smirked gleefully. "Finally I found something you knew nothing about."
Hermione didn't reply. She closed her book and sat up. She sighed heavily and stared at him. Draco had been persuaded over to the good side by Dumbledore after his father was put in prison. Draco had never truly wanted to be like his father. Hermione had decided that Draco wasn't as bad as she had thought. But that didn't erase the past. Just because they were on the same team didn't mean that she had to like him.
They sat in silence until Draco said, "Any idea why he wants us to meet him?"
"No," Hermione said flatly. She could think of about a hundred things she'd rather be doing than making small talk with the spoiled Slytherin brat.
He sighed and got up. Relieved to be left alone, Hermione went back to her reading until the train pulled to a halt.
She got off the train and saw Draco standing next to a carriage being pulled by an ugly horse-like creature. Hermione was slightly disturbed by it, but knew that she'd be able to see them now. She had now seen people die.
They got into the carriage and silently endured the bumpy ride to the castle. When they reached it they walked down the eerily empty halls to the Headmaster's office. The gargoyle that guarded the office was already to the side so they entered. Dumbledore was sitting at his desk looking over a long scroll of parchment. He looked up and said happily, "Oh, good! You've arrived. Please take a seat."
They sat in the leather chairs across from Dumbledore and anxiously waited for him to say whatever it was they came to hear. He rolled up the parchment, sighed, and smiled at them.
"The reason I requested you to come see me is that you two will be our Head Girl and Boy this coming year," he began.
Hermione was extremely excited until she remembered who was sitting next to her. "He's going to be Head Boy?" Hermione blurted out without thinking.
"Yes, Miss Granger," Dumbledore said without his smile faltering. "Now, obviously this news could have been delivered via mail, but there's another thing I must tell you. I realize that you two are not the best of friends. But I also realize you are not likely to get along in close quarters. So, I'm going to have you live together in a cabin by a lake. It will be secluded and I'll be checking in frequently. You'll be there until the school term begins. This is just to get you used to the idea of living in tight proximities."
Hermione and Draco looked at each other. A million thoughts ran though Hermione's mind. She was shocked. She snapped from her wondering when Dumbledore stood up. He handed them each an envelope and a badge.
"There are your book lists and Head badges," he said. "Have your parents take you back to Platform 9¾ in one week and the train will take you to the cabin. Well, I believe that's all. You may go."
Hermione walked out of the office with a stature of being in a trance. She walked quietly along side Draco outside. She didn't even remember reaching the train and re-boarding. She sat down and thought, I have to live with Draco Malfoy? Oh, dear God.
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