Chapter 1: If That Is How It's Going to Be
Hermione Granger Stared at the yellowed envelop addressed to her in emerald green ink. She turned it over, running her fingers over the waxy seal. Hogwarts… Hogwarts. What a curious name, she mused. The name rolled over and over again in her mind as she opened up the letter and read the pages inside:
HEADMATER: ALBUS DUMBLEDORE
Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. Of Wizards
Dear Miss Granger,
We are please to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on September 1. We await you owl no later than July 31.
Yours sincerely
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy HeadmistressHermione read both pages twice over, making sure to take in every bit of its contents. A toothy grin spread over her face as she pushed her bushy brown hair out of the way. So I am a Witch. I wonder what mum and dad will say.
"Draco, you Hogwarts letter came today," yelled Narcissa Malfoy in a high-pitched voice to her son. No reply came.
"Dobby! Take this letter to Draco, now." She said shortly to the big-eyed house elf cleaning the floor at her feet.
Crack Dobby vanished and reappeared in Draco Malfoy's bedroom. It was a large room, the size of a small house, complete with its own miniature kitchen- if he actually wanted to make something for himself with out walking all the way to the other side of Malfoy Manor, or with out asking one of the house elves to do it- a large radio that took up a sizeable amount of wall space, numerous posters with moving images of the Bulgarian Quidditch team zooming around their home pitch.
Dobby the house elf shuffled over to Draco's bed, where Draco's shiny white-blond hair could be seen brightly against the dark green and silver bed set.
"Young Master Malfoy, the Misses would like me to give you these," He said to the back of Draco's head. Draco groaned about being awoken so early- for it was only noontime- then proceeded to roll over, stretch his arms out before he sleepily opened his eyes and grudgingly responded.
He took the letter out of the house elf's hands, mumbling, and ripped open the yellowed envelop and scanned the enclosed parchment.
"Well, of course I am accepted. As if that wasn't obvious." He threw the first page next to him on the bed and scanned the second yellowed parchment. "Dobby, send an owl back to Hogwarts, then go to Diagon Allen and get the school supplies listed here- all except my robes and wand of course- you should do well enough with the rest. Get the money from mum before you leave."
Without another word Draco gestured Dobby to leave and Crack he was gone.
Draco rubbed his eyes, yawned, looked around his room, and then fell hard against a green pillow and fell back fast asleep.
September 1
Hermione hugged and kissed her parents goodbye at King's Crossing, waving as she walked towards the Hogwarts Express at Platform 9 ¾. As she looked back one last time to wave at her mum and dad, Hermione caught sight of a boy with white-blond hair who's stern looking mother saying goodbye with a kiss on his fair-skinned cheek.
Hermione pondered over the boy for a second longer-admitting his attractiveness, hoping they would meet sometime- before she moved down the corridor to find an empty compartment, but instead found one with only a single occupant.
"Hi!" She said cheerfully to the boy holding a toad in his hands, as she stowed her luggage, "I'm Hermione Granger."
The boy looked up, his pudgy face showing signs of surprise at his visitor's outgoingness.
"I'm Neville Longbottom, are you a first-year?" Neville said meagerly.
"Yes, and are you as well?"
"Yep!"
"Well, it is a pleasure to meet you, Neville." Hermione said courteously. She felt she was where she should be, around other who could do magic also, those who had received the same yellowed envelop. Home.
It was going to be a long trip- she had read Hogwarts: A History at least five times before she had left and knew it would take until after nightfall to get to school. Deciding there was nothing else to do, for she had already read her schoolbooks over twice, she leaned her head against the window and fell asleep.
"Oh no! Trevor!
Hermione awoke with a start. Her large brown eyes looked around the compartment for the cause of the commotion.
"Trevor!" Neville was yelling as he scrambled on the floor, looking under the seat cushions, as well as all over the floor.
"Um, uh, do you need some help?" Hermione asked him with uncertainty, not sure what to do or even whom "Trevor" was.
"It's my toad, he's gone! My Gran will kill me if I lose him. He must've jumped away when I dozed off!" he cried hysterically, his pudgy face growing red and his eyes welling up with tears.
Hermione looked at him piteously, "I'll go look for him out in the corridor." She patted Neville's shoulder reassuringly and walked out of the compartment.
Door to door she checked compartments nearby, most of the occupants looked to be 1st years like her, judging by their young faces and introductory conversations. In growing irritation she slid the next door opened to find the blond haired boy he had seen on the platform.
Draco turned his head toward the doorway; his stone-grey eyes met her brown ones.
For a moment, Hermione forgot for what reason she had barged in.
Draco stared at her. Her hair was bushy, her teeth too large, but there was something…
"Have any of you," she inclined toward Draco's friends, both large and fairly dull in appearance, then looking back at Draco, "seen a toad? A boy named Neville has lost his."
Shaking his head, Draco replied, "Um, no, uh we haven't seen any toads around." He was surprised to find himself speaking serenely to someone he had never met and who had forcefully entered his compartment uninvited. "We'll let you know if we see any." Did I just say that?
"Yeah, uh, great. Thanks! I've got to go check with everyone else" Hermione said, smiling at Draco as she turned slowly to leave.
October 31, nearly 2 months later
Hermione ran down a corridor crying into her armful of books, her hair and robes bouncing as she went. Her feet were tiring but she didn't want to slow down, she wanted to be far away.
Boys are so hurtful, and stupid. Why did Ron have to be so mean, I thought we were friends, I guess not! That stupid git! She cried even harderEveryone was staring at her and she knew it, but she didn't care, she didn't are about anything else except punching Ron Weasley in the …
WHAM!
She collided with something bigger than herself. From her awkward position on the floor, her books and parchment in the air and on the floor all around her she look at what she had hit, or rather whom.
"Why don't you watch were you're going!" Came the strong voice of Draco Malfoy somewhere amidst all the flying parchments, his eyes glared menacingly forward. "Oh, Hermione, I didn't see it was you."
Draco and Hermione had gotten to know each other a little after their first meeting on the train. They had a few classes together: Potions, Defense Against the Dark Arts, and a few others. They were the smartest in their class, and often exchanged their class notes in the Library where they often found each other studying or doing some other homework. Though they talked little beyond class work and the best methods of study, they considered themselves more than acquaintances, but not quite friends either- they weren't that close yet.
Hermione continued to sob as she tried to pick up her belongings and stuff the paper, ink, and quills back in to her bag.
"Uh, are you alright?" Draco asked her apprehensively, looking at the tears streaming down her face.
"Do I look alright! I'm a bloody mess! My stuff is everywhere, and I am crying uncontrollably. But that aside, I guess I am perfectly grand," She retorted.
"Right, sorry, just asking if you were alright from you running into me, but for course I'm perfectly grand, too."
"Er, sorry about that. My mind was elsewhere."
"I could tell. So, what are you going on about?" Draco inquired, helping her gather up her papers.
"Nothing important, just an idiot I loathe." Hermione's movements became more aggressive as she fumbles with quills that had fallen out of her bag.
"Who? Harry Potter, Ron Weasley?"
"Ron, actually. 10 points to Draco Malfoy, for being able to read minds."
"I hate him too, the bloodtraitor," He scoffed, his lip curling in disgust.
Hermione stopped putting her books in her bag and stared up at Draco, surprised and bewildered at what he had just uttered.
"That's not a very nice thing to say, Draco," her eyes red and puffy, threatening to expel more tears.
"Yeah, well neither is being a bloodtraitor, so it evens out." He shrugged.
"No, it does not! You're so horrible, you think because you are a pure blood-yes I know you are- you think you are better!" She yelled at him furiously.
"Well of course, why wouldn't I be? I'm better than any bloodtraitor, half-blood or mudblood!" Draco said indignantly.
Hermione paused before she said assertively, "I'm muggleborn." Draco just stared at Hermione, taking a step backwards, feeling she might hit him. "You know, Draco, I thought you were okay, despite what everyone else thinks of you. You could be attractive, too, if you personality and ego didn't get in the way!" She fumed, stepping forward threateningly towards Draco.
"Well, Granger, same to you. You could have been attractive if you face didn't get in the way, you filthy mudblood." He knew he had just crossed that invisible line that defines acceptable from bloody improper. She was bright, mildly attractive, but she was a Gryffindor and a muggleborn, and he was a Slytherin and a pureblood. They just cannot go together.
The use of her last name had caused her to pause, but calling her a mudblood robbed her of all words. Hermione's mouth ran dry and her lips were quivering.
Hermione was still staring at Draco, their eyes locked in a silent battle. She felt as if he had just slapped her. A single tear ran down her cheek as she stared into his stone-grey eyes, looking for some sign that he hadn't meant it.
Draco stared back, fuming, ready to strike back at her next quip. He wouldn't be beaten at a shouting match, and he was not going to blink first.
Finding no remorse in her opponent, Hermione said angrily, "Oh, sod off," and she grabbed her things and ran past Draco, making sure she hit him with her bag, down the corridor towards the girls bathroom.
Draco blinked. He turned around and stared at her as she ran off. Why did he feel so horrible? He didn't like her, Of course not! Especially not now that he knew what she was. He was all confused, wondering if he should run after her and say he was sorry. No, idiot, why would I apologize to her?
After mentally fighting with what to do, Draco walked down the corridor, following the same path Hermione took. People were now staring at him. Why do people have to be so bloody nosey? Can't they just mind their own business? Granted he and Hermione had made such a ruckus that even people on the staircases above him had stopped to listen in on the escalated argument.
He adjusted he green and silver scarf- it felt oddly tight around his neck.
"Hermione Granger… Granger!" Draco called as he pounded heavily on the girl's bathroom door. "I know you are in there."
Hermione jumped at the sudden din that now echoed through the bathroom, bouncing off the tiled walls. She did not reply.
"Hermione, really, this is just ridiculous"
"No, you're ridiculous, Malfoy!" She yelled through the door.
At least she responded. Draco heard her footsteps pacing nearer and nearer to the large wooden door that stood shut between them, and immobile barrier.
"Hermione, c'mon, I'm… I'm…" Draco stammered, running his fingers through his blond hair, searching for what to say. But he was cut off by Hermione throwing the door open violently.
"Your what, Sorry? No, you're not. You're a pig-headed, arrogant… rude, self-centered prat!" And she slammed the door in his now-paler face.
She breathed heavily, her chest shaking as she hyperventilated slightly. She leaned her back against the wooden door and slid herself down to a sitting position, her hands covering her blotchy, tear-stained face, her bushy brown hair even more frizzy from the heated anger she emitted. He had looked so surprised when she had yelled at him. Maybe he was actually sorry.
A few moments silence dragged on between the two before Draco finally spoke up.
"Fine, Granger. If that is how it's going to be from now on, I hate you. I always have and always will hate you, I can promise you that." His voice shook, but out of anger and rage, or hurt and humiliation, Hermione didn't know. "How could I ever apologize to or feel sorry for an ugly, filthy little mudblood like yourself?"
Draco kicked the door as hard as he could before he stormed off; his grey eyes lived with hurt and hatred. Hermione, who had looked back at the door at the sound of his voice, buried her face back in her hands, sobbing worse than ever.