Chapter 2

Friends or still enemies?

The next day was just as sunny as the last. The birds were singing, everyone was in a good mood and school was back.

A young woman hurried between people on platforms nine and ten at King's Cross Station. As she struggled with her luggage she looked at the clock and gasped. It was five to eleven. She rushed to her destination in order to get on the train leading to Hogwarts her only true home. She reached the barrier that was situated between platforms nine and ten. She took one more glance at the muggle world surrounding her and then ran into the wall onto Platform 9 ¾ not noticing someone who had just seen her hair go through the solid barrier.

The young man stood there staring at the place where the girl had just been. Could it have really been the same intelligent woman he was speaking to just yesterday evening? He shook his head and smiled at the thought of her. She was an angel to him and she went to his school. He was desperately hoping that they could meet up sometime and talk once more. He walked over to the barrier and ran through it just like the girl had done. He wandered through the crowded platform searching for his friends and also for the brown-haired girl. He once more shook his head. He couldn't be worrying about her and his friends right now. He needed to get on the train and find the Head Boy and Girl compartment. He had been selected as this years Head Boy but still had to find out who was Head Girl.

The girl ran through the crowds and flung her luggage into the luggage compartment just as the train started moving. She stood there shocked when she realised she had her sneakers on. She could easily catch up with the train. It started moving quicker. All she could hear were people yelling to get on before it was too late. The girl just shrugged and started walking as though it didn't matter. People looked at her like she was mad. The boy inside was watching the girl intently. It was her. Everyone was right though, she was mad and she was going to miss the train and she wasn't doing anything about it. Then he lost view of her as the train sped up with a tremendous amount of power. He got up and ran down to the end of train and opened the door to see the girl running the same speed as the train. How was that possible? Then suddenly she jumped and grabbed hold of the railing and pulled herself into the compartment. He jumped back in shock and fell over. She looked up surprised and kneeled down beside him.

"Are you okay? I'm sorry if I shocked you. It happens when you run for a long time." She said checking that the young man was alright. She saw him nod yes to say that he was fine and she just nodded back. She stood back up and brushed herself down. She smiled at him before leaving him with a smile on his face.

She was here and it made him happy. Happy. He hadn't felt that feeling in a long time. Not just happy. She made him feel truly happy. Content even.

He got up and went in search of the Heads carriage. When he found it he went in, not noticing the girl reading in the corner.

When she felt the compartment door open she lifted her head ever so slightly only to see the boy she had been chatting to in the Leaky Cauldron just yesterday. She knew she might see him again but not so soon. He made her feel happy. Not just happy but cared for and even content, like he wanted her to be in his presence. She liked that feeling. She decided to see how long it took before he acknowledged her presence. It was quite funny actually; she knew how dense boys were.

The boy kept staring out the window thinking about her. How could this one girl make him feel like this when so many others would kill to be in his place? He was a Sex God, everyone knew that. Nobody even bothered to try and be better than him, well, almost everybody. He rolled his eyes at the thought then turned to find someone sitting opposite him reading a book. He read the title of the book and gasped. It said 'Jane Eyre'. The girl in the corner heard someone gasp and looked up abruptly to find the boy staring into her chocolate brown eyes. She looked right back at him before waving a hand in front of his face. He didn't move an inch. She snapped her fingers in his face but he didn't blink, he just kept on staring at her. She gave up and sat next to him. His body turned as she sat next to him.

Aha! She thought. He moved! Good thing too!

Finally she had had enough. She brought her hand to his face and slapped him. Hard. He jerked away holding his cheek while the girl next to him looked at him with a half smirk half concerned look on her face.

"What the blinking hell was that for?" he asked angrily.

"You were staring at me." She stated simply.

He looked at her as though she was insane. Staring at her? Sure. Right.

"You were staring at me so don't deny it. Also I'm not insane. You are a Slytherin after all. I wouldn't expect you to believe a Gryffindor." She said looking at him sadly.

In a second, the boy felt all his anger for the woman sitting beside him disappear and in two seconds he was by her side embracing her.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be angry. You surprised me that's all. Trust me, not many girls go around slapping my face." He said lightening the mood.

The girl laughed at his sense of humour and looked up at him.

"I'm sorry that I hit you. You were staring at me though." She said smiling.

"Was not!"

"Were to!"

"Was not!"

"Was not!"

"Were to!"

"Aha! You admitted it!" she said laughing.

"Shut up! You got me all confused." He said putting on his sad face.

The girl looked at him and smiled. She had to admit it but she always fell for the puppy dog eyes. It hurt her to admit it but she had to.

"Wait, what are you here for anyway?" she asked suddenly realising that there was a reason they were both here.

"Oh! Yeah, totally forgot! I'm the new Head Boy." He said standing up proudly, puffing out his chest.

She giggled.

"Why are you here?" he replied.

"I'm the new Head Girl." She also stood up but instead of puffing out her chest, she flicked her hair and did a twirl.

The boy stood there gaping. This was the girl he would be spending the whole year with. Excellent.

They both sat back down and discussed what they were going to about rounds and patrol duties. After they finished they were at Hogwarts.

They made their way to the door when the boy stopped.

"What's wrong?" the girl asked concerned.

"I've just realised something." He said standing in the middle of the compartment.

"What?" she asked again.

"We don't know who we are." He said practically stating the obvious.

She gasped as her hand flew to her mouth then just as quickly came back down to her hip and she smiled.

"Well, when they announce our names for the new Heads we'll find out then won't we?" she said smirking.

He laughed. She was right. Then he face turned back into a frown.

"What?" she asked once again concerned.

"Can you promise me something?" he asked her.

She nodded.

"If we find out who we are and we know that we're enemies, promise me that we can try and be friends. Please?" he asked giving her the puppy dog face look.

"I know that we probably are enemies and have been for some time. You have no need to fear that I won't be your friend. I am now aren't I?" she said smiling once again.

He knew she was right and she knew it to.

They headed out of the compartment and onto the platform outside. They found an empty carriage and rode in it together to Hogwarts, their minds on each other.

When they reached the Great Hall they realised that they were the first ones there. They looked at each other and started to go their separate ways when…

"Ah! The new Head Boy and Head Girl. You don't sit at you house tables for the sorting ceremony you know." The two whirled round to find the Headmaster smiling at them with a twinkle in his eyes.

"Where do we sit then?" the boy asked.

"At the teachers table of course. There are two seats waiting for you. Off you go now before everyone comes in." he turned around and walked out of the hall leaving the two students completely confused.

"Don't you just hate it when he has that annoying twinkle in his eyes?" the girl said whilst walking up towards the teachers table.

"Yeah. Don't tell anyone but when he has that look he really scares me. I get really frightened. Its like he's about to say the world is going to explode in ten seconds or something." He replied.

The girl looked at him weirdly for a second then burst out laughing. The young man was annoyed at first but soon followed the suit. They finished in time to just sit down and watch the students fill up the house tables. The girl watched as Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley came in and took their usual seats talking about something. Most probably Quidditch.

The boy on the other hand, was looking at the girl intently taking in her beauty. Unfortunately for him, she turned her head to face him and caught him staring.

"Its not that I don't mind but why do you keep on looking at me?" she asked interestedly.

He gulped and tried to think of an excuse or a comeback or anything. Luckily he was saved as Dumbledore stood up to make his yearly start of term speech.

"Welcome, welcome, to another year at Hogwarts. As many of you know, due to the recent defeat of Lord Voldemort, all trips to Hogsmeade have been brought back into the school year and there will be extra special surprises later on this year.

Anyhow, first years please note that the Forbidden Forest is, as it states quite clearly in its name, forbidden. Also, our caretaker Mr. Filch has asked me to remind you that any products that have been purchased from Weasleys' Wizard Wheeze's are banned and if they are seen or used in any way around the school then they will be confiscated," as Dumbledore said this many groans could be heard throughout the hall. The Headmaster chuckled.

"However I know that quite a few of you will probably disobey these rules so there is a list outside mine and Mr. Filch's offices stating what is banned within the school and what is not. Why you ask? My answer, have some fun this year instead of just lazing around all day. If its wet outside play a prank on one of your friends or perhaps a teacher if you're lucky enough not to get caught." He said smiling as some students started whispering to each other while the teachers all looked half way between scared to death and angry.

"One last thing has to be announced students," the hall went silent once more.

"The new Head Boy this year is…" he decided to wait a while to see how long the students could hold onto the suspense. It was quite amusing actually for him.

This is it. The girl thought frantically.

This is it. The boy thought frantically.

"…Draco Malfoy from Slytherin!" the whole hall erupted into applauds. Draco looked around to even find Potter and Weasley cheering him on. He smiled and waved. He stayed standing as the hall quietened down.

"The new Head Girl this year is…" he decided to wait yet again.

Stupid Dumbledore! The suspense is killing everyone, including me! Draco thought angrily.

"…Hermione Granger from Gryffindor!" he shouted.

The hall erupted into gasps as Hermione stood up. Was this really the Hermione Granger they had left only two months ago and now here she was in front of everyone looking like a beauty?

Draco couldn't believe it. He had fallen for Granger? Was he out of his mind? No he wasn't because she was the only who had listened to him and shared the same interests with him and he was not going to let her stand here without and applause.

He started clapping for her. Everyone looked surprised but if Draco Malfoy agreed then apparently everyone agreed. One or two started clapping then the whole hall were soon on their feet cheering her on and whistling for her. She looked around happily and then faced Draco.

He faced her as she faced him. They looked at each other for a second or two before embracing.

"Thank you." She whispered in his ear.

"No thank you. You didn't know who I was and became my friend. Now you know who I am and are still my friend and I'm grateful for that. Thank you." He said and pulled back from their embrace. The whole hall was looking at them like they were famous or something.

They both looked at each other before bursting out laughing. The looks on everyone's faces was priceless. They sat back down and everyone started eating but whispering at the same time. Who would have thought that Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger, known well for the hatred between the two, suddenly became best of friends? It was just so weird. Harry and Ron on the other hand thought that the two being friends was appalling. Sure they were friends with Malfoy but not good friends, just civil friends.

Calling each other by their first names, being polite in conversations etc but they would never be best friends and now Hermione was acting like she had been friends with him for years. It was disgusting.

At the end of dinner, the two boys decided that they should go and talk to Hermione, alone. They wandered over to the teachers table and found her happily talking to Malfoy. Harry was angry but thought how Ron would feel. He fancied Hermione and had done for years now. Harry on the other hand, knew that Hermione would always be just like a sister to him but he had to protective about his best friend sometimes. Harry felt some of the anger disappear when she saw how happy she looked. Just before the war, she had lost both her parents right in front of her eyes but she never showed any fear at the time. She was strong but she did need a new friend to confide in.

Malfoy might just that person she wants to confide with. He thought.

He wasn't angry; he was happy for her but couldn't let Ron know that. He would be on both sides, sort of. Mostly on Hermione's side though.

As they walked up to Hermione and Draco, Harry saw Ron gripping his wand. This was not going to turn out well. When they reached Hermione and Draco, they found them laughing hysterically.

"Honestly, that's what I said to him and he was like 'You bitch! You can't talk to me like that! I'm better than you and always will be!' and I was looking at him like he was crazy and said to him 'read the t-shirt!' It was so funny!" Hermione said laughing once again along with Draco.

He had never laughed so hard in his life. They wiped their tears from their eyes and looked up to find Harry and Ron looking at them.

"Hi guys. What's up?" Draco and Hermione said at the same time then burst out laughing again.

"I'll tell you what's up. Why are you hanging out with ferret boy Herms?" Ron asked angrily his face nearly matching the colour of his hair.

They stopped laughing and looked at each other then at Ron. This wasn't going to turn out well but it was worth a shot. They had to get Ron to trust Draco.

"First off Ron, one-I can hang out with whom I like, two-you should be able to trust Draco by now, three-his name is Draco and four-MY NAME IS NOT HERMS! ITS HERMIONE!" she shouted the last bit looking very angry.

"HERMIONE, THIS IS MALFOY! FERRET FACE! DEATH EATERS SON! DOES THAT NOT MEAN ANYTHING TO YOU? OF COURSE WE DON'T TRUST HIM!" Ron shouted back.

Both Harry and Draco had stepped back from the person that they were standing next to. They both looked scared. This was not good. Ron got angry quite a lot so they were used to seeing him angry but they had never seen Hermione when she was angry. Well, not really, really, really angry. This was a rare occasion and most of the students that were heading out the hall looked back to see what the commotion was.

Finally, Ron had given up and walked up to her and slapped Hermione round the face so hard that she fell to the floor. The students gasped. Hermione had made no attempt to stop him and now she was on the floor unconscious.

"RON!" Harry shouted.

"WEASLEY! HOW CAN YOU HIT A GIRL, NO LESS YOUR BEST FRIEND AND THEN KNOCK HER OUT UNCONSCIOUS." Draco shouted also.

Then they heard someone moving. They looked around to find Hermione gone. How though? Everyone started turning around and worrying. Where had she gone?

"Ronald." Someone said.

Ron turned around to find Hermione glaring daggers at him looking livid. Everyone backed away. They knew that this was not going to turn out well.

"I'm going to say something I should have said a long time ago Ronald Weasley," her eyes had turned a bright red and everyone gasped. Hermione walked over to Ron and whispered into his ear.

"I hate you."

He gasped and everyone looked shocked except Harry. He knew something like this was going to happen and he would not stand here like a fool. He would support his friend.

"Harry help me out here." Ron said frantically.

"I'm sorry Ron I'm with Hermione on this one." Harry said stepping next to Hermione's side. Her eyes went back to their normal colour and she looked at Harry and smiled.

"I'm glad I you're my friend Harry. Thank you." She said smiling.

"Anytime." He hugged her and she hugged him back.

"Harry aren't you going to support me here?" Ron asked desperately.

"No I'm not. Hermione has every right to be friends with Draco. Its her choice who is her friend and I think she has made that choice. Am I right?" he asked her.

She nodded and looked at Draco. He smiled at her and returned it. He walked over to her and took his place on her other side.

"You stay away from her!" Ron shouted at him pointing his wand straight at his heart.

"Make him…Weasley!" Hermione said dangerously low.

He looked at her and then Harry and Draco. He put down his wand and stuffed it back into his pocket.

"You'll regret this Granger. I know you will and you Harry. Malfoy will hurt both of you and most likely kill you. I don't care anymore. You can throw your lives away for all I care. You two mean nothing to me! Nothing!" he looked at Harry and Draco then turned back to Hermione.

He filled up with anger once more and brought his hand back up to hit her but this time Hermione was ready. She looked at him with a raised eyebrow and just as his hand swung round she grabbed and twisted it backwards and it made a tremendous click. Ron yelled out in pain, begging to stop but Hermione kept his hand there. Everyone was staring at her; how could she do that?

"If you come within ten metres of me I will personally see that I send you into St. Mungo's for good. Do not step over the line Weasley and watch your back." She let go and turned around and headed for the Head common room. Harry and Draco looked at each other and nodded. They looked once more at Ron and followed Hermione steps towards the common room.

They found the common room on the third floor. The portrait guarding it was of what Hermione loved best. When the boys came to the portrait they were surprised by the picture; it was a green dragon and a girl next to it. She looked extremely familiar but they couldn't figure out who she reminded them of.

"Password?" the girl asked silkily.

"Erm…" Harry stood there dumbfounded. He didn't know what the password was and apparently Draco didn't either.

"No password, no entry. Those are the rules." She said proudly.

"Damn it!" Draco said and Harry nodded.

Inside the common room Hermione heard someone outside the portrait and realised it must be Draco wanting to get in. she must have forgot to tell him the password. She sprinted to the door and opened it.

"Draco! Harry! I'm so sorry I forgot to tell you the password." Hermione said guiltily.

"Don't worry about it Mione." Draco said walking past her and inside.

He got in and gaped at the common room. He thought it would have been a mixture of Slytherin and Gryffindor colours but how wrong he was. The common room itself was a mixture of different shades of green, the furniture was made out of silk material and everything looked like they were in a palace.

"Why don't you go and look at you room Draco?" Hermione said giving Draco a push towards his room.

He walked up the stairs and opened the door that said his name on it and walked into the room. He had to hold himself up; he nearly fainted at the sight. His room was huge! In the middle of his room stood a king size four-poster bed with dark green bedding. He walked around to where the bathroom was situated and opened the door. His bathroom had to be the best. There was everything; a huge circular bath with a whirlpool activation, a sink, a separate shower and a sauna. It was amazing and he loved it.

After admiring his room, Draco made his way back downstairs and found Hermione sitting on the floor in front of the fire.

"Where's Harry?" he asked sitting next to her.

"He went. He said he was getting so I said go. He said good night by the way." She replied sighing.

"What's wrong?" Draco asked concerned.

"I feel tired, stressed, annoyed, frustrated and everything but happy at the moment and its killing me. What's wrong with me?" she said and started crying.

Draco pulled her into an embrace and rocked her backwards and forwards in his arms.

"Nothing's wrong with you. It's the first night back, Weasley saw us just being friendly towards each other, took it the wrong way, made your first night back miserable and made you upset. Its his own fault if he's acting like a jerk, don't blame yourself." Draco said trying to comfort her.

"I was planning on asking Dumbledore something Draco but seeing as you're Head Boy I wanted to run it by you first." Hermione said changing the subject.

Draco was touched to say the least.

I think I'm falling in love. He thought.

"Go on then, I'm listening." He said gently.

"Well, what do you think of putting on a play this year?" Hermione asked.

Draco raised his eyebrow and put on a confused but interested face.

"What kind of play?" he asked curiously.

"Ever heard of 'Phantom of the Opera'?" she asked.

"Have I ever! I love that musical! Carry on with your idea though." He said eager to know what idea she had.

"Well, I thought if Hogwarts students from fourth years and above put on a play and it was ready by say Graduation Day, we could invite Durmstrang and Beauxbatons students to come and watch it and then watch the seventh years graduate. What do you think?" she asked hoping his reaction would be positive.

"I think that has got to be the best idea you have ever come up with, ever." Draco said looking at her with awe.

"Thank you." She said timidly.

"Before we speak to the Headmaster about this, I have to ask, how did you come up with that so quickly and so efficiently?" he asked amazed at how she could figure out these things and come up with such incredible ideas.

"Easily. I just let my mind wander. Do you really think I study for my exams? One hour for each subject and I'm done. That's all it takes if you have patience to read a book that's about four hundred pages long." She said smiling.

"One hour for each subject? What do you do once you're done studying then?" he was very curious as to what Hermione got up to.

She just tapped her nose and said she would tell him when she was ready. They sat by the fire for the rest of the evening until Draco fell asleep on Hermione's head and she fell asleep on his shoulder.

That was how they spent their first night back at school together; resting in each others' arms.