Brrrrnng! Brrrrnng!
Urgh! Darn alarm clock. As I fumble around with the bedside table trying to press the snooze or off button, whichever one will make it shut up. I realise it's Monday morning. Great! As I walk down into the Common Room I try to brace myself for today. I mean, it's only been the first week and everything but I'm already tired out by everything… Or more to say, will be tired out by everything. I know that this week will be the beginning of all my Head Girl duties. I also know who Head Boy is… Draco. I still don't know what his deal is. Oh well. As I walk into the Great Hall to get breakfast I spot Harry and Ron. Now, I kinda feel bad about how I ditched them like that yesterday. I spent the rest of the day avoiding (which wasn't very hard to do) and I got back to Gryffindor Tower so late that I knew they were both sleeping.
I didn't really do much, I just spent like the whole day in the library then when Madame Pince got me to leave I went up to the Astronomy Tower and watched the stars. Well, that isn't entirely true. I just thought about Ron, Harry, Draco and everyone and everything else that seemed to be quickly getting more and more confusing.
"Hermione, do you wanna come and sit down?" Ron asked.
"Sure, I am starving… It feels like I haven't eaten for ages."
"Well, you didn't come down to Dinner last night so you would be," Harry said, while managing to look so sweetly concerned.
"Yeah, well, I had some things to do. But for now, let's eat." I said.
"Umm… I think Ron already beat you to it," Harry replied, laughing.
I piled my plate with scrambled eggs, bacon, sausages and some fried tomatoes.
"You know, Granger, for someone who has such a tiny figure, to match your tiny brain, you really do eat a lot," said Malfoy, who had come up out of nowhere.
"Considering some of the things you've said before that isn't really much of an insult. I expected better, but what do you want?" I replied.
"I don't want or need anything from you. I just had to tell you that instead of going to second lesson, which would have been care of Magical Creatures with that oaf. We have to go to a meeting with Dumbledore and I think McGonagall will be there too," he said, "I guess I'll see you later," with that he sauntered off.
"Damn man. What is his deal?" Colin Creevey asked, "Why would anyone be mean to someone who was friends with Harry?"
While trying hard to bite down on a laugh, "I honestly don't know Colin," Ron said trying to assume an innocent, baby-like voice, "Maybe there are actually some people out there who don't like us very much."
"Shut up Ron, how tight are you being?" I intervened, "Don't worry about him Colin, Ron just didn't get any sleep last night and he's in a bad mood."
"A- A- Are you sure, M- Miss Granger? I don't want him to be mad at me. What would Harry think if his best friend, like, hated me?" Colin asked.
"I assure you, I wouldn't really care." Harry said.
"Harry! I didn't know you were listening!" squeaked Colin, sounding thoroughly embarrassed.
"Yeah, sorry… But Hemione, Ron and I need to go. You know, classes and stuff… We'll catch up later though, okay? Bye" Harry replied.
"Bye Harry!" yelled out Colin, waving energetically.
"Okay, Harry, I know you love having your own little fan club and everything… But that guy seriously needs some help." Ron said, with a bemused sort of expression on his face.
"Oh Ron, leave him alone," I said, "He just admires Harry." And with that both of them, including myself, cracked up laughing. Herbology went by pretty much uneventfully, unless you count the fact that Ron had to choose the hot pink gardening gloves to wear, which resulted in Ron being bagged out the whole lesson. Before long, I had to make my way to the meeting when I realised I didn't know where it was meant to be. So while everyone was packing up all the equipment they has used I asked Professor Sprout if I could go on to the Charms classroom to get Malfoy, so I could go with him to the meeting. Professor agreed, seeing as she was struggling to put three pot plants of Squirgufers in their little spot in the Greenhouse, which was proving quite difficult for her.
I grabbed my books, said a quick 'bye' to Harry and Ron and then left. By the time I got to the classroom the bell had just gone, resulting in Malfoy, and his cronies, Crabbe and Goyle, to leave the classroom together.
"Malfoy!" I called.
"Granger, what are you doing here? Do I have a fully-fledged stalker on my tail?" he tried to joke.
"No, you forgot to tell me where we're having the meeting," I replied icily.
"Oh yeah… woops! Completely slipped my mind," he said while giving me a fake smile. He offered his arm and said, "Care to walk with me there? We might as well."
I was completely taken aback by this behaviour but I said, "Sure, why not?" and slipped my arm through his and chatted and laughed with him all the way to the Great Hall as thought we were and always had been great friends. For some strange reason, being with Draco like this really made me happy. He really is considerate and nice when he wants to be. I just felt so comfortable with him. So, because of the way I felt, I totally ignored everything that was being whispered about us as we walked past. By the time we got to the Great Hall Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall were already there.
"Hello, Miss Granger and Mr.Malfoy, would you please take a seat. We have innumerable things to discuss although we shall only discuss those of importance here today," Dumbledore greeted them and waved his wand levitating two chairs to join the one table that had been left out of the four rows of House Tables that normally occupied the Great Hall.
"Certainly Sir," replied Malfoy as he pulled out Hermione's chair for her and then seated in his own leaving Hermione and Professor McGonagall practically gaping in surprise.
The meeting went well. Malfoy was really well-behaved. He noted down all of his duties without one single complaint or sly look. Which was really weird for him. Hermione did this as well… But then again, has anyone ever grown to expect anything other than that from her?
The last topic they discussed was night patrol.
"Yes. I think we have basically spoken about everything of importance but there is one more matter I must speak to you about. Tonight, Wednesday night and Friday night are all the night that you will have to start your night patrol. All that is required of you is that you both patrol the grounds starting at eight pm until eleven pm and that is all. You will have to be looking out for students out and warm them to be inside their Tower at nine. And anything else that is unexpected or out of place needs to be reported to myself, if you cant get in contact with me, depending on the urgency you shall report to Professor McGonagall. That is all. I am pretty sure you're classes will be almost finished so if you wish you could join them or have fifteen minutes of leisure time." With that Hermione and Draco left and walked slowly back to class. "Well, that was a mouthful, huh?" Draco said, as an attempt to start up a conversation.
"Yeah, I know… And to think we have four classes left to go through. I just want to go back to sleep," I replied.
"Why? Did you have a rough night?" Draco asked, with what seemed like real concern in his voice.
"You could say that… Draco?"
"Yes?" he replied.
"Why are you being so nice to me?" I asked, not able to hold in my curiosity any longer.
"Well, why shouldn't I be nice to you?" he replied, "I have always thought you would make a great friend. And there have been many times when I've wanted to stop acting like a jerk so I could actually become friends with you. But, as time went by that grew harder and harder for me to do. But then, today, I just wanted to give it a go and it just feels so natural. I don't know if I'm explaining this right or not."
"N-No, it makes perfect sense," I stuttered, in my shock.
"So, friends?" he asked, while holding out his hand.
"Friends." I answered, shaking it. With that the bell went. "I guess I'll see you in that poetry class we have later on," I said.
"You can bet on it," he replied. And we separated and both walked off to find our friends who were making their way towards us now.
Well, I thought today was going to be interesting. I wonder how Ron and Harry will take this.