Author's Note: I know I said I was requiring three reviews per chapter but the beginning of this story is very slow so what I think I'm going to do is post this chapter and then the third one to see what I come up with.
Chapter Two
Hermione had left for Hogwarts along with Harry, Ron and Ginny early. Mrs. Weasley said it was for the best, to help with Claudia's coping. McGonagall had said it was alright with her if they at least helped out with the school before the students arrived.
They had been cleaning the trophies for the past hour and not one word had been said. Ron, Ginny and Harry didn't know how to bring up a subject that didn't revolve around something gloomy. But finally, Ron couldn't handle it anymore…
"Do you honestly think Malfoy will be placed as one of the head boys?" he asked. Ginny slapped him lightly on the arm. Hermione had remembered that the school was tightening up security and trying to bring the school closer together by having two head boys and girls. She had told them that Quidditch wasn't going to be the same as well. Harry practically vomited over it.
"I mean, if it's not me and obviously if Harry was the second choice and you were a first, that gives a definite hint." Ron said. "She would obviously want Harry to make sure you wouldn't get hurt."
"Right, because I've already got too many bruises and scratches to not learn how to defend myself." Hermione said looking at the name of the trophy she was polishing.
"I wasn't saying that, Hermione." Ron said.
Hermione Granger: Brightest Witch of Her Time
She shook her head. They had never even showed her this award. It didn't matter anyway; she wasn't looking or feeling so bright lately. She put it back on the shelf and looked at Ron.
"I'm sorry I've been so down lately, guys. Harry's been through tons of stuff and got over it. I shouldn't always have to bring you down with me when I fall." Hermione felt the tears already stinging her eyes.
"You don't have to be sorry, Hermione. This is a big thing." Harry said. Hermione shook her head again and got up. They had finished and were over polishing trophies. Ginny, Ron and Harry followed her down to the Great Hall. They sat down on the Gryffindor side, but it was no longer known as that anymore. The flags that were usually hanging above the tables were gone and now you could sit wherever you wanted.
"Do you ever wonder what gives us these powers?" Ron asked. "Like what makes us witches and wizards?"
"All the time." Harry said. "It's kind of odd." Ginny nodded in agreement.
Hermione turned and saw the professor's enter the Great Hall. They all nodded at the three students. And then two more students entered. It was Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson. Hermione closed her eyes, clenching her teeth.
"They're it." Ginny whispered.
"Harry and Hermione would you mind following us?" McGonagall asked. Harry and Hermione got up and followed Pansy and Draco. Harry grabbed Hermione's hand and she squeezed it as hard as she could to let out her anger. She then let go as the approached the circle of the professor's and the head students.
"Now, as you know, we will not take any nonsense from the four of you. We expect you to set the school straight, to teach them that life is not all about rivalry. Quidditch will be different. Harry and Draco will be on the same team, Harry the captain-"
"Are you serious?" Pansy blurted out. "That's stupid! You can't expect anyone to be interested in it after-"
"Pansy…" Slughorn warned.
"There will be more teams, but if you all can control yourself over the selections, we may bring back the original way of playing. Points will be given out less and there will be much more group work. No matter how hard you try, none of you will be able to get out of this position or make other's lose this position. I expect the best out of the head boys and girls." McGonagall said. "As you know, I will be too busy to continue teaching Transfiguration as the headmistress, so we have two new professors, taking over my post and Snape's…" She looked straight at Draco as she said his name. She stepped back and two young looking twin witches appeared. They had brown hair, icy purple eyes and fair skin. "You will call them by their first names, considering they have the same last names."
"How can we tell them apart though?" Harry asked.
"I thought it was obvious, Potter." McGonagall continued. "Can anyone point out the difference?" Hermione looked closely and then noticed one had a red badge on her cloak.
"One's the head of Gryffindor." Hermione spoke up.
"And their hairstyles are different of course." Pansy said. Hermione flushed, noticing one had her hair straight and the other's was in soft curls. They smiled.
"Correct, for the both of you." Hagrid said in a jolly voice. Harry smiled at him
"Well, introduce yourselves." McGonagall told them with a grin. They giggled.
"We're from England of course, but our parents thought it would be safer to teach us at home." The head of Gryffindor started. "But finally we decided we needed to see more of what the real Wizarding world was like."
"So we applied for these jobs." Straight haired girl said. "I know we look young, but we have enough experience to enforce a little bit of cooperation here. Now, my name is Annie Cavanaugh."
"And I'm Jane Cavanaugh." Jane looked at Hermione. Was it a coincidence that her name was Jane and Hermione's middle name was Jane?
"Now, we will be starting opening ceremonies soon. You four will sit with us. I expect you all to be on your best behavior." Draco shot Harry a look, but Hermione stepped a little ahead to block Draco's view. She glared at him, the same glare she gave her father.
So they sat at the table as the students began to load in and sit where ever they pleased. Hermione sat up straight and looked at Harry. She then turned and looked at Draco. He looked at her as well.
"Got something to say?" He whispered into her ear.
"Your not worthy of my words, Malfoy." She whispered back looking at Ron who was very angry. Draco smirked and pulled back. The process of sorting students had begun, but the clapping and cheering Hermione had remembered when someone got placed in a certain house had faded greatly.
"Well you just spoke to me." Draco told her, leaning over his chair. She kept her hard look ahead and didn't move, even though he was touching her arm and sending a tingling through her whole body. He looked at Ron and then back at her. "Weasley going to hurt me if I grab your hand, Granger?" He asked, while reaching for her delicate fingers. Finally she looked at him, tearing her hand away from his grip. He smirked once more.
"Ron and I are no more then friends, Malfoy."
"I'm so sure, Granger. But still, wouldn't he hurt me if I did this…" He touched her face, stroking it with his fingers, gently, but giving her a mischievous grin. "Or this…" His hand traveled down to her neck line and before he could go any further, she slapped him. There were gasps and loud turns as everyone tried to figure out with the sound had come from. Hermione sat up straight and so did Draco.
Finally everyone turned back around and paid their attention to McGonagall. "What was that, Hermione?" Harry asked leaning over. She looked at him.
"I don't know," she said casually. "Don't worry about it." He sat back up and looked around.
Hermione bit her lip as Draco leaned towards her again. "So are you going to go running to Daddy now that I touched you? You going to get someone who knows how to teach someone else a lesson to gang up on me? Or was that just women he beat on?" Hermione turned to look at him again. She clenched her teeth as he moved her robe from her bruise. "Nasty one, you got. Bet Mummy's are worse." His index finger caressed the spot a little and then he broke away to grin at her.
"Don't touch me, Malfoy. They say I can't get you out of this school, but I assure you I will." He shook his head laughing a little.
"I only wish the best for all of the 7th years; they've had a rough time here but still they decide to come back for one more year. I've hand picked only the very best students for the head girls and boys." McGonagall said turning to look at them. "Hermione Granger," Many of the 7th years from Gryffindor clapped as she stood up. "Draco Malfoy, Pansy Parkinson and Harry Potter. I know many of you are suspecting that Hogwarts will be a mad house with these four, but have promised to lead you to peace and harmony here." They sat down as she went onto her next subject, about the professors and the greatly missed Dumbledore.
Hermione grabbed Harry's hand, hoping that he would feel some support while she went on about one of Harry's last hopes for surviving in the world.
Finally when it was over, the head boys and girls headed up to their dormitories, ready to sleep. Hermione entered an off white room, with one four poster bed. Thank God the professors decided to not make the four share rooms. There was so much to think about and the last six years of sharing a dorm had greatly annoyed her. She could hardly study sometimes.
Hermione collapsed onto the bed which was covered in white satin sheets with tassels on the end. She sighed looking up at her chandelier. It was ugly. She hated chandeliers, she much preferred ceiling fans.
She abruptly sat up as her door swung up and made a loud crash as it hit the wall. It was Draco. He stared at her like she was crazy. She stared at him like he was an alien. "Knocking's good," Hermione said.
"Why does a mudblood get the best room?" Draco sneered.
"Because I didn't have to carry Parkinson up the stairs. The door's behind you if you haven't noticed." He smirked at her, turned around and left, slamming the door. Hermione lay back down and continued looking at the light. She wondered how he had found out about her father's problems. She had only told Ron and Harry, no one else.
She rolled to her side, tiredly and fell asleep fast. There was nothing more she needed to think about.