Chapter 20: Head Boy and Girl
Harry and Ron entered the kitchen talking about the last Quidditch match against Bulgaria. They then noticed Hermione looking pale and shaky and almost to the point of hyperventilating while she sat at the kitchen table. "She has been sitting there starring at the morning post for an hour," Winky told them as she set their breakfast in front of them. Ginny, Gabrielle, Draco, Neville and Severus arrived shortly after and they all wondered what had gotten into their friend. It was Severus to finally take notice of the letter in her hand.
"I see your Hogwarts letters came," he told them indicating the paper clutched in a death grip by Hermione. They looked to the middle of the table to see the pile of letters for the rest of them. Severus knew how important head girl was to Hermione and tried not to chuckle at how she couldn't open the letter.
Gabrielle was the first to reach for hers since it was her first time as she had left Beauxbatons in the middle of the year. She opened the letter and a prefects badge fell out. "I made prefect!" She told them all happily and scanned the rest of her letter while the others opened theirs.
"There's a new Care of Magical Creatures book this year, I wonder why Hagrid decided to change?" Ron asked curiously as he looked over his list and letter on how he was expected in the prefect cabin for a start of term meeting.
"I don't know," Harry said thoughtfully. "Truthfully I've been debating dropping that class and just focusing on the ones I'll really need my NEWT in. I just don't want to hurt Hagrid's feelings."
"So which one of you made head boy?" Ginny asked the three boys sitting next to her. She assumed one of them would get the honor as Terry and Justin didn't have as high of grades as Harry or Draco. The three of them looked at each other and shrugged.
"I guess it must have been Justin," Draco told her. "I really hope its not that prissy Boot, he may get high marks but he sucks at thinking."
"Ne Ne Neither of you got head b b boy?" Hermione stuttered timidly from her seat where she still clutched the paper. "But you have the best grades," she said looking terrified.
"Come on Hermione, the contents of the letter are not going to change even if you wait to open it," Harry told her. "Besides, if you don't make head girl that will just give you more time to study for your remaining NEWTs. You know we all believe in you and think you'd make a brilliant head girl. There's nothing left for it, just open it."
"You really think I'd do a good job?" She asked them needing reassurances before opening the letter.
"Of course," Draco told her. "There will be a riot in the great hall on the first day back if they award it to anyone else. You are the sweetheart of Hogwarts and most everyone respects you, those that don't are afraid of your wand skills." The table chuckled at that.
Hermione turned to Severus who had remained quiet during the exchange. He could see the question in her eyes. "I don't know who Albus chose," he told her watching as her shoulders sagged. "All I know for sure is that I voted for you to be head girl and I can think of no one better to fill the position. In fact I nominated you; it was amusing to watch Minerva fume when she had to nominate someone else."
"Who... who did she nominate, maybe they got it instead?" She asked fearfully.
"She nominated Gabrielle, saying if I was nominating one of her cubs she could nominate one of my snakes." He told her with a small smile.
"Come one Hermione, just open it." Ginny told her.
Hermione decided she had put it off long enough and opened her letter. Her heart broke as she realized there was no badge in the envelope. She was still a prefect but she had not made head girl. She sadly set the list and letter on the table and hurried to her room before she started crying. "How is it possible that Albus would choose someone over her?" Harry asked Snape. He was livid that Hermione had worked so hard and didn't get the job. Everyone at the table looked upset.
"Thank the gods it wasn't me who took it away from her. I could never live with myself." Gabrielle told them and they all agreed that they didn't want to be the one in the position.
Ron was about to go after Hermione when another owl, Susan's owl, swept into the kitchen. "It's from Susan," he told them all. "She says Hannah stayed at her house last night and they got their letters this morning. They tell me to congratulate Hermione on head girl since neither of them got it and they have the highest marks other than her." Ron looked around at the confused faces of the other boys. "She also asks which one of us got Head Boy as it wasn't Justin or Terry as Justin owled them and Terry had flooed him to see who got it."
"Does that mean that no one got it or did Dumbledore assign it to someone who wasn't even a prefect or with top marks?" Draco asked as they were beyond confused.
"It has to be Harry, Draco, Terry or Justin," Severus told them. "They were the only 4 nominated. "The girls that were nominated were Hermione, Gabrielle and Hannah. There must be some mistake with the letters."
"Can you call Albus and find out while we go try and comfort Hermione." Ginny asked Snape. "She is going to be in her room for a while unless we sort this mess out."
"Albus you stupid old man!" Severus bellowed at his mentor and friend. "Hermione is in her room crying her eyes out because she thinks she didn't make head girl. And you are telling me that you just wanted to add to the anticipation by delivering the message in person. I hope she hexes you!" He was livid that the headmaster would have done that. He knew how upset he had been before his 7th year when he lost head boy to Potter and knew exactly what she was going through. She was probably in her room thinking that she wasn't good enough and that there had to be something she had done wrong. He had never wanted to strangle Albus as much as he did in that moment.
"What is all the yelling about?" Minerva's voice could be heard behind the headmaster.
"Have you told her what you did to her precious Gryffindor?" Snape barked into the flames, enjoying watching Albus look uncomfortable under the glare of the formidable witch.
"What did you do to Hermione?" She asked calmly and wondered what it had been to get Severus so riled up. She knew the two were friends so she was the only one he would care enough about to chastise Albus.
"I wanted to inform the new head boy and girl of their positions in person is all," Albus told her calmly.
"That sounds reasonable," Minerva commented, "Why the murderous rage Severus?"
"Did he mention that he already sent out the letters so that she believes that she wasn't chosen and is currently crying her heart out in her bedroom?" He asked knowing it would produce the right reaction.
"Albus Dumbledore! You should be ashamed of yourself. You know how much being head girl means to her and you go and break her heart just so you can hand her the badge in person! You get through that floo right now and fix this or I'm confiscating all of your muggle candy!" She said and Severus grinned and stepped out of the hearth so Albus could come through.
Albus was shown up to Hermione's room and Severus and Minerva glared at him again before he hurried inside. He may have been a very powerful wizard but anyone could wither under the combined glowers of the head Slytherin and Gryffindor. He knocked on the door and was happy to see that all her friends were present. "My dear Miss Granger, it has come to my attention that I have done you a grave injustice. You see I thought it would be better to hand out the head boy and head girl badges in person rather than in the supply list letters."
Hermione drew in a deep breath at his words but was too afraid to hope what it could mean. "You see my dear, it is my great privilege to award you, Hermione Granger, the honor of head girl." He told her and took the badge from his pocket. It was a silver and gold badge with the Hogwarts crest and "Head Girl Hermione Granger" written on it in red.
Hermione took the badge with shaky hands as her friends all smiled at her. She was still uncertain if it was real and could only offer the headmaster a small smile. "You were the most qualified for the position my dear, in fact you received the votes of all the professors except for one, that is a rarity for the school."
"Three bets that it was Trelawney who didn't vote for her," Ron said under his breath earning another small smile from Hermione and a chuckle from Albus.
"Perhaps you do have some of that seer blood in you," Albus told him with a wink and they all knew he was right about their least favorite teacher. "Will you forgive me for being an old fool who wanted to tell you himself?" He asked her.
"Thank you," she said and threw her arms around him in a hug, his beard drying her tears. "Of course I forgive you."
"Well, that is one head student taken care of, one to go." Albus said and turned to the two boys that were standing near the bed.
Harry and Draco looked at each other and smiled. They were both certain that the other would get the honor. Harry actually wanted Draco to get it, he would do a great job and it could go a long way to repairing the damage done to Slytherin house last year. "Our head boy this year is… Draco Malfoy," Albus said smiling and handing the blonde his badge. It was also silver and gold with the school crest but his name was in green.
"Thank you sir, it is a great honor." Draco said, "Besides, it's even sweeter knowing that I got it over Potter!" They all laughed as the two boys fake fought for a few seconds.
"The two of you will be expected to run the prefects meeting on the train. Minerva will fill you in on the rest of your duties before classes resume," he told them. "Now I have to get back and try and reassure my deputy headmistress that I did not cause her star pupil irrevocable distress and that I amended the situation."
After he left they all smiled at Hermione who was lightly rubbing the letters of her name on her badge. "We're so happy for you Hermione," Gabrielle told her as she and Ginny wiped their tears away.
"Thank you for getting Albus here so quickly Severus," Harry said to him. "I don't think he had any idea that it would worry her so."
"He is a doddering old fool sometimes," Severus said and was surprised when Hermione launched herself into his arms in a tight hug.
"Thank you for double checking for me. I know I shouldn't have placed so much hope in it, but it's something I've always wanted." She told him as she pulled away.
He tried to ignore the warm feeling that spread through him when she was in his arms. "The position has been yours since your first day at the school. The other girls have always been compared to you. I was surprised the other teachers even bothered nominating another student."
"Bug lady didn't seem to think I was a good candidate." Hermione said with a smirk. "I wonder what I ever did to make her dislike me so." They all laughed at that, Trelawney didn't take people stomping out of her class very well.
"She attempted to nominate Miss Brown before the rest of us told her how she could barely pass her other classes and had more detentions for snogging in the corridors and doing her makeup during class than any student before her." Severus told them as they all laughed at the idea of what Lavender would do as head girl.
"She probably asked her to nominate her so she could have her own bathroom," Hermione said as she got out of bed to clean herself up. "I'll be ready to work in a few minutes," she told Snape as the rest headed off to their own tasks. She didn't hear their whispered conversation as she jumped into the shower.
"Everything is planned and taken care of," Draco told Harry. "I picked up the supplies when I went for potions the night you were hurt." He told Severus. "It's a good thing that she got head girl or I don't think she would have enjoyed the party."
"It had to be her," Severus told the other two. "There were only three students nominated and Gabrielle had better grades than Hannah, Hannah was a prefect but Hermione was well above both in grades and all the teachers love her."
"All the teachers huh?" Draco said wagging his eyebrows at Snape who just rolled his eyes before continuing his train of thought.
"I knew that I voted for her as well as Minerva, Tonks, Remus and Hagrid. There is no one that Irma Pince likes more than her and I knew Flitwick, Sinistera and Vector all sing her praises. That makes 9 of 16 which would guarantee her spot," Snape finished.
"So you asked each of them who they were going to vote for?" Harry asked him trying to hide a smile at how much the evil potions master had changed around them.
"No, I just know my colleagues. The only ones I thought may not vote for her where Poppy and Sprout since Miss Abbot is a Hufflepuff and assists Poppy in the hospital wing. I did figure that Trelawney would not vote for her." He said.
"I'm still curious how you know all the teachers 'love' Hermione," Draco said with a smirk knowing teasing Snape was like poking a sleeping dragon.
"We discuss our students during staff meetings. Ever since the first day of your 1st year they have all been raving about her and how smart and talented she is." He told them with a sneer. "I always made sure to point out her flaws, but I suppose that I will have to stop doing that now that we are friends. It's a shame though; I do so enjoy baiting Minerva."
"And just what would these flaws be?" Harry said with a growl.
"Her unswerving loyalty to you would be the first one that comes to mind," Snape said with a smirk at the angry look on Potter's face. "Add to that her need to get over 100 on every assignment, raising her hand for every question and helping Longbottom against my orders."
"So basically you're saying her flaws are the exact things the other teachers treasure," Draco said laughing. "No wonder McGonagall gets upset!"
"Come on Draco; let's finish getting the party ready for her." Harry said.
"Hi Hermione," Colin said timidly as he entered the lab. He looked around and was relieved to see that Snape wasn't present.
"Hey Colin, what can I do for you?" She asked wondering what made him dare enter the lab when he was so frightened of Severus.
"I am out of the dreamless sleep potion Madame Pomfrey gave me. I tried to sleep without it but it's not working," he said sadly and she noticed the dark circles under his eyes.
"It takes time to get over a loss such as yours, don't feel bad about asking us for help. We're your friends and that's what we're here for." Hermione said giving him a hug. "How is Dennis doing?"
"He's doing better than I am," he told her. "He didn't have to watch the dementors kill our parents like I did. He was in the other room calling for backup. That is a nightmare I am glad he doesn't have to share."
"Are you having nightmares or just problems getting to sleep?" Hermione asked as she regarded her friend. "There are different types of potions for different sleep disorders. The dreamless sleep potion you had is not for regular use. It can become addictive so if you tell me what your main complaint is I can try and mix you up a batch of something to help you."
"Dennis could use something to help him fall asleep. He doesn't have the dreams so it would help him as he tosses and turns reliving things in his mind before he finally exhausts himself and sleeps. I have both, I relive it in my mind and then once I fall asleep it's still there. I see dementors every time I close my eyes," he told her in a small voice.
"I'll brew you both a mild sleeping potion to help you fall asleep. I want you to try it tonight and tomorrow and see if it helps you enough. If not, then let me know and we'll find something else." Hermione said. She wanted to help ease his pain but she also didn't want him addicted to dreamless sleep.
"I have something that might help," Severus said startling both of them as they hadn't seen him standing in the doorway. Colin looked scared. "I developed a potion shortly after I became immune to dreamless sleep to try and curb my restlessness at night. I'm sure you're both aware of my wanderings around the castle at night." They both nodded yes. "I only sleep a few hours a night and I developed a sleeping potion to try and help that. It didn't work for me, but it just might be perfect for you Mr. Creevy."
"What kind of potion is it?" Hermione asked him curiously. She knew he developed his own potions but this was one she hadn't heard him mention.
"It combines a mind calming potion with a sleep inducing potion to create an effect similar to dreamless sleep. Instead of not dreaming and therefore not getting the proper rest required, the potion relaxes the drinker's subconscious and they have mild or pleasant dreams instead. The sleep inducer helps the person fall asleep but doesn't keep the person asleep like dreamless sleep. It is non-addictive as well." He told both of them and Colin seemed to relax as he realized the potion was exactly what he needed.
"Would you teach it to me?" Hermione asked him with a smile that she could learn a new potion.
"Yes, that way you can brew it for your friends if they need another batch," Severus said trying to be nice to the boy who had just lost his family. He then allowed Colin to stay and watch them brew it while they got to work.
"Thank you sir," Colin said as Snape handed him the vials of potion.
"It's Severus now that you're an order member and staying here for the summer." Snape said giving the scared boy a smile knowing how difficult it was for him to merge his ideas of the evil potions master with who he was at Headquarters.
"Come on Colin," Hermione said steering the boy towards the door. "Severus and I have to get back to our research. Why don't you go take a nap since you haven't been sleeping and I'll send Winky to get you for dinner?"
"Thanks Hermione," he said and hurried off to his room clutching the bottles of potions like a security blanket.
"Thank you for being gentle with him," Hermione said to Snape. "I know they were never on your list of favorite students either."
"They are admirable members of the order and I will treat them as such. They fought valiantly against the dementors and I understand the pain they are facing at the moment. I know they are good friends with you and I am sure with time I will hold them in the same regard as Harry, Draco and Neville." He told her seriously.
Hermione laughed, "I see you still don't loop Ron into that group." She laughed harder as he got an irritated look on his face. She knew he did not like Ron and thought he was a waste of brain cells.
"Mr. Weasley is an exception. He dislikes me as much if not more than I dislike him. Besides, it would make things too easy around here if I was to get along with all your friends. Ronald Weasley is in my opinion little better than his twin brothers." Severus told her and rolled his eyes as she laughed again. "What you ever saw in that boy to date him is beyond me. I was afraid his stupidity would rub off on you and drain some of your intelligence."
"Really Severus, he is not that bad. He is just brash; he acts and speaks without thinking. He is a good strategist if he would only put a leash on his habit of leaping without looking." She told him shaking her head.
"I'll have to work on a common sense potion for him then," he told her smirking.
Draco, Harry and Gabrielle were putting the finishing touches on the decorations in the dining room when Ron, Ginny, Neville and Luna entered. "This place looks great!" Luna said with a smile as the room was decked out in red and gold streamers and a large banner saying 'Congratulations to HG2!'
"What does HG2 mean?" Neville asked them.
"It's for Head Girl Hermione Granger," Draco told him. "You know, HGHG so we decided that she should be HG squared!"
"Can you and Gabrielle go keep her busy for the next half hour while we get all the food together?" Ginny asked Draco.
"Sure, let's go babe," he said pulling his lovely fiancé out of the room.
"Now we just have to add some Slytherin colors and a banner for him and we'll be all set," Ginny said with a grin as she got out her wand and transfigured a few of the streamers to silver and green. She also added a banner opposite Hermione's that said 'Draco Malfoy Head Boy!'
"I thought this was just for Hermione," Ron said complaining.
"Draco deserves some recognition as well Ron," Ginny scolded him. "Besides, Hermione would be mad if we didn't congratulate him as well."
"Whose idea was the party in the first place?" Luna asked as she wandered around the room looking at the decorations.
"Severus was the one to suggest it after my party was cut short," Harry told them.
"He really has changed," Colin said as he entered the room followed by Dennis. "I went up to the lab to ask Hermione for a potion and he offered to make me one that would work as well but not be addictive. I was shocked."
"He is not as mean as he always wanted us to believe," Harry told the two newcomers. "He had to pretend to hate us to make sure Voldemort didn't suspect him. When he is here he can be himself. He's opened up a lot and is actually friends with Hermione."
"I knew he acted differently here when he actually played that game with us all, but I guess I was still scared he was going to turn back into the black bat of the dungeon." Dennis said with a chuckle and they all joined in.
"Yeah, he's nice to almost everyone now," Ginny said with a smirk at Ron. "Ron doesn't think he is actually changed and tries to keep up his old grudge."
"The feeling are mutual I assure you," Severus said as he slid into the room.
"You really need to stop sneaking up on people like that," Colin said startled again. "That's twice in one day; you could give someone a heart attack."
"If only it were that simple," Snape said with a wicked smile. "They're just cleaning up the lab and will be down shortly. Where is everyone else?"
The rest of the Weasley clan, the Longbottoms and the rest of the teachers showed up right before Hermione was escorted into the room. "Surprise," they all yelled and "Congratulations," making her blush and smile. Draco was surprised to see that they had decorated for him as well.
"I propose a toast to Hogwart's new Head Boy and Girl, to Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger may this be your best year yet!" Harry said and they all responded with a hearty 'Here Here' before clinking glasses.
"Way to go Hermione!" Hagrid said scooping her into a bear sized hug. "I am so proud of you."
"Thanks Hagrid, it's great to see you. Where have you been all summer?" Hermione asked him with a smile for her big friend.
"I've been in France with Olympe. I have an announcement to make if that's ok. I don't want to spoil your party." He told her and she just nodded at his polite way to ask her as well as his better use of English.
"Can I have everyone's attention please," Hagrid boomed and everyone turned towards him. He grinned down at everyone before continuing. "I just wanted to tell you all that I asked Olympe to marry me and she said yes!" He said happily as he looked over at Madame Maxime with a big puppy dog smile.
"That's great Hagrid!" Harry said hurrying over to the first friend he had made in the Wizarding world. "When are you getting married?"
"Well, that's my other surprise. As soon as she said yes we hurried over to the French ministry and eloped. We've been married for a month and been on our honeymoon!" He said happily as everyone else smiled and congratulated the two.
"We're so happy for you Hagrid, but where are you going to live?" Hermione asked sadly as she realized that he would most likely move to France with his wife.
"Olympe wants me to work at Beauxbatons," Hagrid told them. "Albus said he could find another teacher so I'm moving out of me hut for good this time."
Hermione decided not to dwell on how empty the castle will feel without Hagrid and concentrate on his wonderful news. She flicked her wand and extra white streamers and a 'Congratulations Newlyweds' banner appeared in the room. "Now there are even more reasons to celebrate!" She said and they all laughed and got back to the party.
"I won't have to feel badly for dropping care of magical creatures anymore!" Harry said happily. "I wonder who Dumbledore found to teach the class."
"I wonder if he'll have to hire another groundskeeper as well. When Hagrid was gone in 5th year the grounds didn't look nearly as good," Ginny commented.
The rest of the party was spent talking with all their friends, eating all the great food and discussing Hagrid's marriage and who would be his replacement. It was a fun night for everyone.