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CHAPTER TWO
THE TEMPORARY HEADBOY
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Hermione ran a practised eye down the shelf, searching for the book she wanted for reference for her Ancient Runes essay. Harry and Ron were out for their Quidditch practice. Professor Esther, the new Ancient Runes teacher, had given them a huge amount of homework the previous day. So Hermione, who honestly had no interest in Quidditch, had an excuse for not watching their practice.
As she finally found the book she wanted, and reached out to take it, a swifter hand brushed past her and took it instead. She turned angrily to find a smirking Malfoy standing behind her.
"Bad luck, Granger. It so happens that I need this book for – a month, shall I say?"
"Give it back! I need it for my homework!" Hermione said, flaring up.
Malfoy turned and made to go, when Hermione grabbed his arm in an attempt to retrieve the book.
Malfoy violently shrugged off her hand and with a swift movement, pulled out his wand and pointed it to her neck. "How dare you touch me, Mudblood?"
"It was done extremely unwillingly - give the book back to me, Malfoy," said Hermione, without flinching, but stealthily reaching for her wand.
"Filth like you aren't even supposed to be alive, Mudblood. You just wait! Before you know, you'll be reduced to what you deserve! And so will be your little boyfriends!"
"Think for yourself first, Malfoy!" said Hermione, pulling out her wand.
Malfoy, seeing that, was about to curse her...
"Mr. Malfoy! Miss Granger! Ten points from Gryffindor and Slytherin each!" Hermione and Malfoy turned to find Professor McGonagall staring at them with her typical dangerous look in her eyes.
"But, Professor...," began Hermione, but Professor McGonagall cut her off.
"You have no business shouting about in library and trying to hex each other. Now be off, both of you."
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"And I didn't get my book! On top of it I lost points for Gryffindor! And earlier Snape had taken off points for nothing! To think that I lost thirty points for Gryffindor in a single day! Me, the Head Girl!" Hermione groaned despairingly.
Ron said, "Oh come on, Hermione! You don't need to be so put out. Today's Quidditch practice was superb. Dean..."
But Hermione cut him off. "I am going to my dormitory, Ron – Harry, goodnight."
Ron looked very much affronted at being interrupted like this, especially when he was about to explain the really wonderful save he made.
But Hermione was in no mood. She could have done much better with a few consoling words, but with the first Quidditch match of the season in a week, Ron and Harry, along with Seamus and Dean, spent most of their time discussing Quidditch. Hermione could understand their excitement, but it seemed rather tiring to have nothing but Quidditch to listen to all day long.
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She sat cross-legged on her bed and pulled her Ancient Runes essay towards her. She frowned slightly as she remembered how Malfoy had taken the reference book from right under her nose. She had to submit this essay the day after tomorrow and though she would have been able to do without that book, she really wanted that her essay should be the best. She buried her face in her hands.
Malfoy had been more than ever spiteful towards her this year for she had become the Head Girl and Malfoy obviously hated the fact. He had been trying determinedly to make as much trouble for her as possible. He had, on a few occasions, literally followed her up and attacked at the right time and right place. Though Hermione was always innocent, it was just her and Malfoy who knew that, not the teachers.
She was really fed up of Malfoy. An hour ago in the library, she had felt the urge to seriously jinx Malfoy.
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"Hermione?" Ginny's voice broke upon her thoughts.
"Hi, Ginny!"
"Hermione, Professor Dumbledore has sent for you."
"Professor Dumbledore?"
"Yeah."
Sighing, Hermione got up to go.
"Any idea why?" she asked. "I don't know. But I saw Malfoy with him."
Hermione felt anger rise up in her – what had Malfoy done now? But she was also glad to see that Ginny pronounced Malfoy's name unflinchingly.
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She went slowly towards Professor Dumbledore's office, trying to think over what all could possibly go wrong. What could Malfoy have found out or invented, more likely, to get her into trouble with the Headmaster himself!
She found Professor McGonagall waiting for her outside the office. "Ah, there you are, Miss Granger. Shall we go down to Professor Dumbledore's office?"
Professor McGonagall gave the password, and a few moments later, Hermione found herself heading towards Professor Dumbledore's office.
Hermione saw, as she had anticipated, that it wasn't just Professor Dumbledore who was there – standing near him was Draco Malfoy. There was a nauseating superior sort of smirk on his face and he sneered as he saw her.
"Miss Granger," began Professor Dumbledore, "I thought it would be best for you to know this right now. Mr. Terry Boot, the Head Boy, has to leave Hogwarts until January for – for certain reasons. Therefore, we have decided to appoint Mr. Malfoy as the new Head Boy till then."
Hermione stared at Professor Dumbledore, dumbfounded. While she rather enjoyed working with Terry, she knew that it would be next to impossible for her to even try to be peaceful with Malfoy.
"But, Professor..." she stammered, not really knowing what to say.
"Yes, Miss Granger?" asked Professor Dumbledore, looking at her as if he did know what the matter was.
But when she didn't reply he continued pointedly, "I am sure that I can trust on you two to work diligently on inter-house unity."
He turned to Malfoy who nodded and said, "Yes, of course, Professor."
But Hermione noticed the evil glint in his grey eyes. She felt as if something heavy had just been poured down her throat. She couldn't move or speak, but only nodded her head feebly.
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"So, you've got to work with me, Granger. You are very thankful for this opportunity to work with me – a Malfoy, I daresay? Ah, but I lack your good fortune, I have to work with a Mudblood – and not just any Mudblood, but the know-it-all Gryffindor. Pathetic!"
"Shut up, Malfoy!" said Hermione faintly. She still didn't want to believe that Draco Malfoy was the temporary Head Boy.
"Telling me to shut up will not change the facts, Granger."
"Unluckily!"
Draco stopped in front of the library. "How's the essay going?" he sneered and went into the library, but only after taking out the same book from his bag and waving it mockingly at her.
Hermione raced up to the Gryffindor Tower. She didn't want to let Malfoy have the satisfaction of knowing that he had irritated her to the point of tears. But seeing her dash off like that, Malfoy knew only too well that she had finally broken down.
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"Mudblood!"
Hermione looked at Malfoy coolly.
"What?"
"McGonagall's called us right now."
"You want me to believe that? It so happens that I don't believe you, Malfoy."
"Are you calling me a liar?" thundered Malfoy.
"I wanted to refrain from using that word – but since you say it; well, I do call you a liar, Malfoy."
Malfoy glared at her. Harry and Ron took a threatening step forward. Malfoy raised his eyebrows and retreated back. "It's you who'll be in trouble, Mudblood," he hissed angrily and went away.
"You know, Hermione, it won't be a bad idea to confirm if McGonagall wants you or not," said Ron as they headed towards the Defence Against Dark Arts class.
"Yes, and Malfoy did turn down the corridor leading to McGonagall's office," said Harry.
"I guess it'll be no harm if I do," she said eventually.
"Yeah, and I'll tell Percy that McGonagall sent for you." Percy Weasley was the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, and surprisingly, he had lasted for one year already. Ron often muttered that if Percy was in a job, he'd be stuck there like a pig. But they all had to admit that Percy was pretty good at the job and his classes were interesting in spite of his strict rules.
Hermione turned back and hurried down to Professor McGonagall's office.
When she entered it, she saw that Malfoy was already there along with Theodore Nott and Professor McGonagall regarded her with an angry look. Hermione apologized and McGonagall beckoned her to sit down next to Draco.
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Reviews would be cool at this point.
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