Chapter 1: Head-Girl
"Granger." I heard behind me as I sat down in the compartment reserved for the Head-Girl and Boy. I turned around, hoping that I had heard the sneer in that voice wrong.
"Hello, Malfoy." Of all the people to be Head-Boy, it would have to be him leaning against the doorway. Why couldn't it be someone else? "I assume you're to be the new Head-Boy?"
"Of course. Who else would it be?" Over the years, Draco Malfoy has turned into an attractive person. He was still an arrogant, hateful ass, but even I had to admit he was quite attractive. "Don't tell me. I have to share this compartment, and the dorm with you? A filthy, stinking mud…." He was interrupted by the arrival of one of my best friends and his most hated enemy.
"Malfoy," Harry stood there, glaring at Malfoy with cold steel in his eyes. "Please, finish that sentence. Give me an excuse."
"Oh, Potter. You are a stupid git, aren't you," Malfoy turned around, smirking. "Do you really think you are going to get away with blasting me – the Head-Boy? You would be suspended before the train even began to stop." He pushed past Harry, laughing. "Oh, I wish you would give me just the smallest reason." With that said, he disappeared into another compartment – one that probably held Crabbe and Goyle.
"Hey 'Mione. You okay?" Harry asked me. Harry has always been the nicest, sweetest guy – even when he was being a clueless idiot. "Was he serious? Is he really the new Head-Boy?"
"Apparently, Harry."
"What was Dumbledore thinking? Making Malfoy Head-Boy?"
"Harry, you know that the Head-Boy has to have been a prefect and have the highest grades among the male prefects."
"Yeah, but Malfoy?" I love Harry, but sometimes he needed more than a hint.
"Harry, I don't want to think about it." I shook my head at him, brown curls flying everywhere. "Let's talk about something else. How's Ginny?"
"Oh, she's fine. She's in the back with Ron and Luna. She's trying to get those two together. Thinks they'll be 'cute' together. She's been at it since last week."
"What? You mean he hasn't told her yet? He promised us he would tell her!"
"I know, but try telling him that." Harry looked out the window at the passing scenery. "I would tell her, but we promised Ron not to say anything." I could tell that keeping this secret from Ginny was hard on him. "Anyway. I tried to get her to stop. . ." Harry glanced at me before continuing. "I kind of told her that he was still in love with you. . ."
"What? Harry!" Ron and I had dated for a few months last year, but it wasn't like Harry's relationship with Ginny. It had never gotten that intimate.
"I know! I know I shouldn't have, but it did work, for a while."
"What happened?" Knowing Harry, he probably forgot to mention to Ron that he was supposed to still be in love with me.
"She asked him and he told her that he wasn't still in love with you, that the two of you are happier being friends. That's when she decided that he would be great with Luna."
"Harry, we need to talk to Ron again. He has to tell her."
"I agree, but how are we going to convince him . . ." Harry stopped speaking when he heard the door sliding open.
"Out, Potter," Malfoy stood in the doorway, leering at Harry. "Wouldn't want your Weasley trollop getting jealous, would we?"
"Harry!" I yelled as he started to lunge at Malfoy. "We're not even at Hogwarts yet!" Harry looked at me with anger in his eyes.
"Fine." Harry said as he pushed past Malfoy, making him stumble into the wall. The door slid closed as Malfoy sat down. I didn't want to deal with him, so I stared out the window, waiting for the Hogwarts train station to come into view.
As I stared out the window, Malfoy started to mumble to himself. I didn't want him to notice that I was looking at him, so I watched his reflection on the window, wishing that I could make out what he was saying. I was so intent on watching him, that I barely noticed when the train jolted to a stop.
"About bloody time," Malfoy grumbled, standing up. At the door, he turned to look at me. "Coming, Granger? Or are you still dreaming about Potty?" That said, he stormed out of the compartment.
I sat there a while longer, catching my breath. Even though I wasn't thinking of Harry, Malfoy's comment hit a nerve. I got up to leave as Ron looked in.
"All right, 'Mione?" Ron asked, giving me his goofy grin. "Malfoy giving you a hard time?"
"Yeah, but no more than usual." Technically that was true, his comments just seemed to hit harder than before. "Ron, we have to talk . . ."
"Can't talk now, 'Mione," Ron said, backpedaling. "Gotta go, just checking on you. I'll see you in the Tower." Ron turned and ran out to join the other seventh-years. I shook my head, smiling. Most everyone thought of Ron as the daft sidekick, but he was also very perceptive. He knew that I had a lecture ready for him.
Still smiling, I began to check the compartments to make sure everyone had gotten off of the train. I was half-way through when I heard a noise coming from one of the compartments. Wand in hand, I approached the door and opened it.
