All related to the world of Harry Potter belong to JK Rowling.
This plot is my idea.
Chapter One: Sixth Year
Since her first day at Hogwarts, Hermione had not known happiness such as this. She had found her true home and felt as though she fit in. A place where her hard work was finally valued, hours spent in the library and the study hall studying meant she was recognised as the brightest witch at Hogwarts, if not the brightest witch of her age ever. This is not a title she intended to let slip this year, no matter what Harry or Ron said. She intended to get the best scores Hogwarts had ever seen.
Stepping back into Hogwarts earlier that week had felt like a breath of fresh air and a sense of relief set in. Harry, Ron and Hermione's summer had carried a sombre note after the loss of Sirius in the Ministry of Magic. The three had continued to live at Grimmauld Place after the return of Voldemort and his death eaters, as they gone back into hiding. No idea where their next move would come next. Each time Hermione passed a poster of Bellatrix Lestrange in Diagon Alley, she felt a shiver go through her body as though her eyes reached deep into her soul. This was the woman who had killed Sirius and taken the only true family Harry had. Harry spent most of the summer tucked away in Sirius's old bedroom holding his old things, not even speaking when she or Ron went to sit with him. She didn't know what to do to make him feel better, but she hoped being back at Hogwarts would make him feel better. Dumbledore had invited them back early and Hermione could see each day Harry was beginning to relax and talk to her and Ron again. Every so often, she watched him fade away and Hermione wanted to do whatever she could to take his pain away.
Harry and Ron were trying to convince her to spend some time to socialize this year and not be so concerned with her studies. But that didn't sit well with Hermione. She was determined. Determined to be the best. Determined to be recognized for something. Hermione thought back to the previous school year when she was sat in the library. Each week, she saw a blond, blue-eyed Ravenclaw boy and they would steal secret glances over books. Flirting and romance had never been something Hermione had been particularly knowledgeable on. However, she thought these exchanges meant they had something, and her heart soared each time she saw him in the library and hoped he would speak to her one day. One Tuesday evening when she was sat in the library pouring over a book for her latest Astronomy paper, she glanced up to see her blond boy looking at her once again. Hermione felt her heart flutter as he raised out of his seat and her breath caught as he appeared to be making his way towards his table. Hermione pretended to look interested in her book whilst glancing through her hair to monitor his movements. She began to move her books round, trying to be as subtle as she could to make sure he didn't think she expected him.
Just as he appeared to be about to join her, Hermione watched in horror as he turned to a Hufflepuff reaching to put her books on a high shelf and grabbed them for her. Reaching to put them back whilst turning to her with a smile and planting a kiss on her lips. Hermione felt her heart break and cursed herself for being so stupid. Why would he ever have been interested in her? She was a stupid mudblood know-it-all. Hermione felt stupid and she didn't like to feel stupid. Why had he spent weeks smiling at her? Why had he made her stupid heart react? Hermione felt anger grow in her at this boy. Ravenclaw pupils were meant to be smart and yet he had messed her around. Hermione felt her skin grow hot and the anger in her seemed to reach its boiling point and she wanted him to feel the pain that he had made her feel. She was snapped out of her trance as she watched books burst from the shelves raining down on the two pupils who stood in shock as the books fell down onto them. The girl screamed and tried to run but the books only came faster, until they were both pinned beneath. Hermione was so shocked, she couldn't move. Had she done that? Her anger was quickly replaced by shock and she rose to her feet, packing her books and parchment away in her bag. She ran past the growing crowd of pupils and Madam Pince attempting to raise the books from the pupils and ran to her dormitory.
That had been last summer, Hermione lost control that day and she had hated the feeling. Over the summer, she had made sure to keep her anger in check as she didn't want any incident to happen again. Hermione leaned against the corridor wall and breathed a sigh of relief. That wouldn't happen again, she would make sure of it!
Hermione had left the common room in a rush that afternoon once she had received a summons from Dumbledore to come to his office. Hermione had ignored the shouts of Harry and Ron who were slumbered over the red sofa in front of the roaring fire asking where she was heading. She had been too excited. This was the owl she had dreamed of since she first entered the lit great hall at Hogwarts and discovered her future would be spent in Gryffindor. Head girl! She was elated. There was no doubt the position would be hers, no other girl in her year could match her grades, she had been sure to keep track! No girl had ever come close and if they did, she had been sure to study harder and practise more. Hermione was determined to prove that she was not the best and the brightest by accident.
Hermione turned the corridor and could see the stone creature guarding the entrance to Dumbledore's office. She was so excited, she had to stop to catch her breath. It was finally happening! Hermione was so caught up in her excitement, she didn't feel a figure approaching her from behind. Only the firm shove that resulted in her face making contact with the cold, concrete floor. Hermione felt her breath had been knocked from her body and she struggled to lift her head from the floor to see who the mystery person was. She raised her eyes to see a blonde figure moving towards the entrance in front of her and a hint of green moving with the person on their robes. That bloody ferret!
"Malfoy, what do you think you're doing attacking me like that?!" asked Hermione as she marched down the corridor towards the moving figure.
"You were in the way Granger, some people have places to be." Malfoy did not even spare her a glance as he uttered the password to Dumbedore's office and huffed as he waited for the bird to begin to reveal the status. "Must you stare Granger, it is most disturbing and completely unladylike!" Malfoy ordered as he pushed past Hermione and began to make his way up the stairs.
Hermione stayed still for a moment in shock, why would Malfoy be here at the same time as her? He couldn't be… or could he? Hermione thought of the scores in their year group and hung her head as she realised it was true. Malfoy did have the best scores. He tried to beat her in each test and always managed to come second to her. Hermione let out a sad sigh as she realised she was going to spend the next two years of her life living with Malfoy of all people. She dread to think what Harry and Ron were going to have to say about it. She wouldn't believe it. She wouldn't believe it until she heard Dumbedore utter those horrifying words.
Hermione suddenly came to her senses and realised she could no longer see Malfoy and stepped onto the staircase. Climbing two stairs at a time, she did not want Malfoy to hear more than her and when she reached the door, she smoothed her hair and straightened her robe. Malfoy forgotten, this was a big moment for her. A moment she had been dreaming of for years and with a big, deep breath, Hermione pushed open the large, oak door that concealed Dumbledore's office.
"Welcome Miss Granger, it is a pleasure to see you back at Hogwarts. Do take a seat next to Mr Malfoy." Hermione looked on and waited to see Malfoy grimace in disgust or move his chair over away from hers but he did not move. He waited for her to take a seat next to him. Hermione moved over with purpose and looked on at Dumbledore waiting patiently for him to bestow her position on her.
"Professor, it is an absolute honour to be invited to your office. I can't begin to say how much it meant to receive your owl!" Draco scoffed at Hermione's eagerness.
"Miss Granger, the honour is mine and it is a delight to see yourself and Mr Malfoy sat side by side." The two pupils exchanged a glance at one another and looked back at Dumbledore expectantly.
"I believe you both know the reason you have been invited to my office today and it is my honour to announce that Miss Granger and Mr Malfoy, you will be our head pupils for the coming two years." Hermione grinned from ear to ear and Draco looked on impassively. "Your partnership will represent two houses being united and I hope going forward this union will be fruitful." Dumbledore did not pause and Hermione was hanging onto his every word, "You will both find your dormitory on the sixth floor behind the painting of the dark couple and your password is 'unity'. I hope this year will be successful for you both and you will work hard to ensure this new partnership is a strong one!" Hermione nodded at Dumbedore, she knew if he felt she was deserving of this position then she must be able to work with Malfoy. She could not let Dumbedore down.
"Thank you Sir." the two head pupils responded. Shaking both of their hands, Dumbedore sat down in his chair and beckoned for the two to exit through the door.
Draco stepped back to allow Hermione to exit the office first and Hermione knew that this must be Draco's olive branch for their partnership, she smiled at him and began her descent down the stairs back towards the corridor. Hermione had barely made contact with the corridor floor when she felt a knock come behind her once again and she barely had a moment to react before Hermione felt her head bang against the floor. Anger surged through her, how dare he! Hermione thought herself a fool to believe Draco would be kind to her and as she looked up to see him staring down at her, she gripped the floor and pushed up. Pure anger and adrenaline keeping her going. "I don't know who you think you are Draco Malfoy, but I will not be treated this way!"
Draco was not listening and had begun to make his way along the corridor to return to the dungeons, but Hermione had other ideas. "You do not get to be a brute, do you hear me?!" Draco continued to walk on and ignore her and Hermione felt her anger grow, she felt out of control, but she did not care. Anger overcame her and she felt it move through her like an
electric pulse. Suddenly a gust of wind came blasting through the window and it shattered into pieces on the floor. The windows continued to shatter as the power of the wind grew. Hermione watched it blow towards Draco, who remained unmoved but turned to Hermione with a look that told her he was impressed. "I will see you soon Granger," and he turned once again and left the corridor.
Hermione remained fused to the spot, what had she done? Hermione looked down the corridor at the damage she had caused. How could she? A place she loves and respects so much and she had given it no thought when that anger had come. This was not like her. Hermione ran forward, drawing her wand tucked away in her sleeve and began to cast 'reparo' to repair what she had done. Moments later when the windows were rightfully restored, Hermione sagged against the wall. She thought she had got this under control. She couldn't let anyone know what she had done. She didn't want to lose the Head Girl role the same day she had gained. Hermione decided she would deal with this, no one could know. As she steadied herself, she took a moment to remember what had just happened. She was Head Girl. Excitement replaced the anger, and she began to walk back to her common room to tell Harry and Ron her big news. But once she felt her thoughts back to normality, she felt a cold air go through her. She tried to ignore it and keep walking but it felt as though something was taking control. She didn't understand, when suddenly she heard a voice…
"Hello sweetheart…"