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SlytherinPrincess16: Sorry that I haven't replied to you for a while, I have been intending to do so while reviewing the next few chapters of your story, so I will do so ASAP! I hope you like this chapter though. Sorry!
Thankyou so much once again to everyone who reviewed my last chapter, it really is appreciated. I hope you enjoy this latest addition!
Chapter 5: Painful PatrolsRather sourly, Hermione dragged her feet down the hallway of the Hogwarts Express. She was only moments away from her doom, for she had been condemned to a year's worth of Draco Malfoy.
All day she had been attempting to stick to the constant mantra of it's not that bad, it's not that bad... but unfortunately it hadn't quite sunken in yet. Before she knew it she was standing in front of a compartment marked "Head Prefects" in small gold lettering. Sucking in a deep breath, she swung open the door and stepped inside.
Malfoy sat opposite Professor McGonagall, smirking, as always. On the other hand, Professor McGonnagall looked thoroughly stern. As Hermione entered, she looked up and her expression softened slightly.
"Good Afternoon, Miss Granger. Please take a seat beside Mr Malfoy so we can begin." She said, inclining her head towards the seats. Reluctantly, she sat down, but avoided Malfoy's sneering stare as she did so. Professor McGonagall cleared her throat.
"Firstly, I would like to congratulate you both on gaining the positions of Head Boy and Girl. I must warn you though, this position does not represent power and glory; it is a symbol of responsibility and trustworthiness. There are many tasks that you will be expected to complete, and you will need to set a fine example for the students, particularly the lower years. I have a letter for each of you describing this in more detail, but if either of you feel that you are not ale to sustain the high standards required for this position, please inform me at once so I can arrange a substitute." She surveyed them both over her glasses, as if inspecting them for faults.
"I believe that is all, so please take the time to read your letters, and I will see you at the commencement of the feast." And with that, she swept out of the compartment and down the hallway.
Before Malfoy could slip in a snide remark, Hermione had engrossed herself in her letter. At the very bottom, after Professor McGonagall's signature, was a small "P.S." It read: "Congratulations Miss Granger, you are the 500th Head Girl from Gryffindor house! I am sure that you will do a fine job this year. Good luck!"
Hermione couldn't help but smile. That was just like professor McGonagall, to keep score of such odd statistics.
Abruptly, she looked up from the parchment.
"Well, is that all, then?" she enquired in a business-like tone. Malfoy shot her a dirty glare.
"I believe so. Now will you please do me the courtesy of leaving the compartment? You see, your mudblood stench is making me nauseous. Another minute and I might have to perform the Bubblehead charm." He replied maliciously.
"My pleasure, I assure you." She retorted icily as she strode out of the compartment, slamming the door loudly behind her.
Slightly happier, Hermione sidled off the Gryffindor bench in the Great Hall, feeling significantly heavier than she had been on the train. She was just about to join Harry and Ron back to the common room, when a small, weedy-looking second year boy rushed over to her.
"Th-this is for you, from P-P-Professor McGonagall!" He stammered, holding out a folded piece of parchment.
"Thanks." She replied as she took it from him. Without further ado, she hastily unfolded it and read its contents, desperately hoping it was informing her of Malfoy's resignation. No such luck. It read: "You will be required to patrol floor five of the castle at 8:15pm tonight with Mr Malfoy. Please meet outside the Great Hall. From hereafter patrols will resume as normal." Disgruntled, Hermione stomped off towards the common room, all prospects of a pleasant evening ruined.
Back in the common room, everyone seemed to be heartily enjoying themselves: a bunch of rowdy fifth years were holding an exploding snap tournament, a group of girls, including Ginny, were toasting marshmallows in the fireplace, and Harry and Ron were deeply engrossed in an animated discussion about whether they could commit every single foul against Slytherin in a single quidditch match this year without Madam Hooch noticing. As much as she tried to join in, her mind kept wandering back to Malfoy, and how suddenly his remarks seemed a hundredfold more hurtful, despite the fact that he'd been repeating them for the past six years.
Resigning, Hermione retreated to the girl's dormitory for some peace and quiet. Sighing, she collapsed onto her luxurious four-poster and pulled out her copy of Standard Book of Spells Grade Seven, and began to re-read the chapter on human transfiguration.
Before she knew it, it was five past eight and time for her first patrol.
"Thank goodness for books!" She muttered as she headed off towards the Great Hall.
As she strode down the corridors, her wand guiding her way, a brilliant idea came to her. Instead of having the same old argument with Malfoy, she'd try a different tactic tonight. Besides, their relationship, or lack of, surely could not get any worse, and if this technique didn't work, she had all year to experiment with new ways of tolerating him. What was there to lose?
With a spring in her step, Hermione reached the Great Hall with five minutes to spare. So she waited. And waited. And waited. Suddenly it occurred to her that perhaps Malfoy wouldn't show. It was now twenty-five past, so surely he should be here by now. Of course, she didn't expect him to be early (Malfoy would never Show signs of eagerness) but still, ten minutes late for the first patrol of the year was definitely not a good start.
No sooner had Hermione given up hope of Malfoy coming, did he appear around the corner, looking as snide and stony as ever.
"Well, shall we get started, then? Which way is quickest to the fifth floor?" Hermione asked brightly.
"Err, there's a tapestry further down, and behind that is a staircase leading straight up. That's usually pretty quick, I think. " Malfoy answered quite politely, caught off-guard by her cheeriness. Realising his slip, he added, "Because if we take too long, I'll run the risk of catching fleas from you!" as his face contorted back into its trademark sneer. Hermione smirked triumphantly into the darkness.
Fifteen minutes later, after a painstaking silence, Hermione decided to attempt to break the ice.
"Wow, you must be concentrating really hard on those non-verbal curses and jinxes; you've barely insulted me all night!" She exclaimed, in a tone of mock interest.
"That's because keeping my mouth shut is the only way I can refrain from vomiting all over you-just the thought of having to do this all year makes me sick to the stomach!" he retorted maliciously. However, Hermione remained unscathed.
"Tsk, tsk, Malfoy. Not at all up to your usual standard. But then again, it must be quite challenging to have to come up with so many ways to try and offend me, so I'll let you off this time." Hermione replied, with a Malfoy-worthy smirk.
Abruptly, he stopped dead, spun around and met her smug stare. He was utterly seething.
"Look Granger, just shut up. Okay? Shut up."
Hermione stared at him in shock.
"If you want to live through this year, just shut up and get on with the patrol. Don't try to be smart, don't try to be funny, don't try to make conversation, just walk and keep your mouth shut. Get it?" He looked so fierce that Hermione nodded obediently at his request. She felt like a naughty two year old being reprimanded by her mother.
Hermione spent the remainder of the patrol mentally kicking herself. How could I have been so stupid? Malfoy was, for once, attempting to be civil, and I had to open my big mouth and rub his nose in it! After what seemed like a decade, they finally returned to their starting point, and went their separate ways without another word.
Little did they know; the silence wouldn't last long.