Hermione was late. She hated being late. "Mum, I can't fit all my books in my trunk!"
Her mom appeared in the doorway to her room holding a new lack backpack. "Thanks" said Hermione giving her mom a hug, "See you at Christmas!" She quickly ran out the door and into the awaiting taxicab.
Hermione went straight to the heads' compartment once on the train. She really wanted to see her friends after not being able to visit during the summer, but her letter said she was to meet with McGonagall first. As she entered the compartment, Hermione was blinded by a mass of bright hair. The next thing she saw was a smirk.
"Oh no!" she exclaimed, "Not you, anyone but you! I can't live with you!"
"Oh good then that settles it. Tell Dumbledore you resign immediately." Draco Malfoy retorted.
"What! You can't resign! That is preposterous…" Burst professor McGonagall as she stepped into the compartment.
"No, no don't worry Malfoy was just being stupid…uh I mean surprisingly humorous" Covered Hermione lamely. Malfoy snickered.
"Very well" said the professor looking much calmer now, "I just wanted to meet with you and explain your head duties. You are responsible for holding prefect meetings once a month. Assign them patrol schedules and discuss their duties. You can hold up to two dances or balls a year and it is up to you to organize everything. Keep an eye on the prefects and they will keep an eye on the other students. It is a good system. Any questions?"
"So we don't have to patrol at night anymore?" asked Malfoy.
"No, but you may do so if you wish" answered McGonagall, "Well then, seeing as there are no more questions, I'll leave you two to have a relaxing train ride." And stepped out into the corridor.
"I'm off to see my friends," said Hermione promptly.
"What, you don't want to spend some quality time with your old friend Draco?" said Draco in his most rejected voice.
"I'm sure we'll get enough of each other seeing as how we'll be living together for the next nine months," said Hermione.
Draco gave Hermione a big warm hug, "It is nice to see you again beaver teeth" he whispered in her ear.
"Same to you, ferret face," she whispered back, "Now get off me before someone sees us and assumes I associate myself with someone as ugly as you" Draco released her and she headed towards the back of the train to find her friends.
She laughed quietly to herself as she thought about how much she loved joking with Malfoy. Over the summer they had become quite close.
The day she came home for summer vacation there were two owls waiting for her. The first one was from Mr. Weasely. Harry and Ron had run away and everyone thought she would have gone with them or know where they went. The second one was from Harry telling her just that. Harry had a dream in which Voldemort had collected his remaining crucifixes and gave each to one of his followers. In his vision, Harry saw Mr.Zabini give a horcrux to his son Blaise, thinking Hogwarts would be a wonderful hiding place. Harry and Ron were off to see Blaise and convince him to join their side and destroy the piece of Voldemort's soul.
Hermione owled them back immediately asking which other Deatheaters had horcruxes. Harry gave her the three other names and she began the long task of figuring out how to get each one. The first two were relatively easy. She was able to find a way around the wards surrounding the houses. The third was more difficult. The Malfoy Manor was impenetrable from the outside and there was no way to convince Lucious to give the horcrux up.
By this time, Voldemort had found out what she was up to and started planning an attack on her parent's house. He knew he had only one horcrux left and was not about to risk it being destroyed also.
As Hermione readied herself for bed one Monday night, she glanced out her window to see three Deatheaters in her yard. She was about to scream when a cold hand covered her mouth and an arm slid around her waist. "Do not scream unless you are ready to fight Voldemort himself," said the voice into her ear. The arms released her and she turned to see Draco Malfoy worried face, "You need to get out of here. Can you apparate?" he asked. Hermione nodded no, Draco grabbed her hand, and before she knew it they were in Hogsmeade near the school's gates. "Get inside fast and warn McGonagall," he told her and started to walk away.
"Wait, where are you going?" she asked. Hermione was completely puzzled and more than a bit frightened.
"I need to retrieve something before it is too late. I will join you soon" and he was gone apparated into the night.
Hermione ran as fast as her feat would carry her. Across the grounds, through the halls, and to the headmaster's office. By the time she got there she was completely out of breathe and sobbing hysterically. After she calmed down a little she was able to tell the concerned professor what had happened.
McGonagall told Hermione to stay in her office while she gathered the other professors.
This was what Hermione remembered most about this night. Stuck in the small cozy office and having no clue what was going on outside it. After three hours of intense pacing, the door to the office opened and there stood Draco Malfoy.
"Its over," he said and sank to the floor completely exhausted. Hermione sat next to him and cried. "Its alright" said Draco as he put his arms around her, "Voldemort is dead. Harry and Ron are alive, though slightly wounded. Everyone is in the hospital wing."
Hermione just kept crying. She wasn't worried about her friends, she was just glad the war was over. She was still very confused and she couldn't help feeling a bit disappointed she wasn't part of the battle. She felt like she had been training for this night seven years and all of a sudden it was over and she had no part in it.
Draco just held her. After a while, Hermione calmed down and Draco told her about what happened after he apparated. He went to the burrow first and told Harry to be ready. He then retrieved the last horcrux from his father's study in Malfoy Manor. He was prepared and knew the spell that could break it. It wounded him though; a deep red cut appeared on his right arm. He ignored it and apparated to Hermione's yard. Harry, Ron, McGonagall and every Weasely you could think of were there fighting six Deatheaters and Lord Voldemort. He quickly joined in the battle, greatly surprising the Deatheaters who thought he was on their side.
In truth, the young Malfoy had been a spy for the order of phoenix since his third year of Hogwarts.
After almost an hour of fighting he heard a scream unlike any he had ever heard. It was high pitched and terrifying. Two Deatheaters then apparated. The other four were wounded or dead lying facedown on the grass. McGonagall quickly made a portkey and took everyone back to Hogwarts. Once there Draco went to check on Hermione.
Hermione, calm now, felt better knowing what happened. Draco and her sat in the office all night. They were each other's comfort and they became friends sitting there together.
Hermione did not see Draco again all summer and she was happy he would be the Head Boy. But now she wanted to see her other friends whom she had not seen since the hospital wing the day after the war.
She found them in the last compartment on the right.