What Could Have Been
Disclaimer: I don't think I'm good enough to write the Harry Potter series just yet.
Chapter One – Know-It-All and Ferret
He was the most popular guy in school, she was the outcast. He was adored by all the girls, she was looked down by the guys. He was loved, she was loathed. He was good looking, she was unattractive. He was a pureblood, she was a muggle-born. They both came from totally different worlds, and yet they came to know each other through the one thing they had in common – magic.
For her, the moment she saw him with his group of adoring fans, she felt a tugging in her heart. She admired him, from his gorgeous blond locks to his perfect facial features. He was her first crush, but with their different social status, and the different worlds that they came from, there was no hope in a relationship blossoming between them.
For him, the moment he set his eyes on her, she repulsed the every fibre of his being. From her bushy hair to her bucked out teeth, she was a sore sight to bear. She was to become his pleasurable torment, the satisfying play toy of his school years.
Throughout the first five years of their school years, he lived up to his words, irritating her in every possible way. She, in her part, grew out of her crush and saw the truth in her very own eyes, especially after her fourth year when he was transformed into a ferret. To her, that was the very best thing that could have ever happened to the stuck up Draco 'Ferret' Malfoy.
It annoyed him how she was able to become best friends with the famous Harry Potter. How the Boy Who Lived could look him in his face and say no to his friendship, and yet befriend the ugly Know-It-All mudblood and a traitorous Weasley. And how he could enjoy her company and laugh with her, and feel repulsed by the mere presence of his being. And so he kept his word, and infuriated her in the worst possible ways.
In fourth year, he was angry to find that she was able to look decent. On the night of the Yule Ball, he was anything but delighted to see her hanging onto her date, who just happened to be someone he admired. The sight of her glowing smile radiating from her body was enough for him to feel the bile charting their course up into his mouth.
Sixth year caused him to finally realise the truth. After the devastating death of their headmaster, his mind had cleared up. What was once filled up with promises of power and wealth, was washed away, replaced by the horrifying image of Dumbledore's trusting expression.
And now the last and final year of his time at Hogwarts had arrived. With the war finally over, he could relax at last, without his father bothering him and the Dark Lord giving him pointless orders. He was free to do his will; after all, his father and his so called 'lord' were dead.
And her? She was rejoicing the whole of the summer holidays after the Great War with her best friends. Harry, who had fallen into a coma right after Lord Voldemort's defeat had finally awoken, just three weeks before Hogwarts new school year began. And yes, Dumbledore had not died; in fact, he had made a special guest appearance during the Great War, surprising everyone, save the Potions Master.
It was the day the so called 'Golden Trio' returned to their school – they were dubbed that name shortly after the fall of the Dark side. She was still the same old Know-It-All, rushing around wildly, with her frizzy hair flowing behind her. Her trunk was packed and already standing neatly beside the front door. Her problem was her pet cat, Crookshanks, who had decided to pull a disappearing act one last time.
However, the same could not be said for her first crush. He was waiting impatiently for his mother to escort him to the station, after spending almost an hour in front of the bathroom mirror primping himself up. His hair was carefully combed; his fringe hung just above his eyes, giving him the 'bad boy' look; his mouth so painstakingly manipulated into his 'normal' smirk.
He looked at his reflection once more in the hall mirror, a feeling of the usual smugness surging through his body. Who would have thought that he would have made Head Boy. But then again, he had been made a prefect, so it was not so hard to imagine after all. The only feeling of dread he had from becoming Head Boy was that the most likely candidate for Head Girl was Hermione 'Know-It-All Bookworm' Granger. But he would cross the bridge when he came to it.
His mother finally ready, the two of them apparated to the station, arriving five minutes early.
His alleged nemesis was currently climbing hurriedly out of her car, as she was running late. The train was going to leave in exactly two minutes, and if she did not hurry, then she was going to miss it. And in her last year of Hogwarts as Head Girl! Head Girl! Where was her badge? She turned around, intending to rush back to the car and look for it, but fortunately for her, her father had seen her drop it. She thanked him, and gave him a kiss on the cheek, before dashing once more towards the barrier.
Appearing on the other side, she was unfortunate enough to crash into someone. She proceeded to pick up her possessions, which had somehow scattered all over the place. The person she had crashed into had already walked off, not even bothering to help her retrieve her belongings. She cursed, as she calculated that she had approximately 45 seconds left to board the train. A pale hand suddenly reached out to help her, and she looked up gratefully to find one of her best friends helping her out. Ron, being the gentleman he was, carried her trunk towards the luggage carriage, whilst she headed towards the compartment Ron, Harry, and her always occupied.
The blond who she had once had a crush on, was presently sitting in his compartment, with his fans crowding outside, and cluttering up the corridor. He soon realised that he had to make his way to the Head's compartment, to discuss the rules and what-not with his partner.
The frizzy haired girl on the other hand was already sitting primly in the compartment, after telling her friends the good news that she had been made Head Girl. She had not been too crestfallen to find out that neither of them had been made Head Boy. Harry, she knew, would not need the added pressure, especially after the Great War. Ron, although he had been made a prefect, did not have the required academic achievements to be made Head Boy. The only person she could think of that could have had a possibility was Ernie Macmillan, of whom she was only too glad to work with.
So to her utter astonishment, surprise, and indignation, she found the one and only Draco 'Ferret' Malfoy push his way into the Head's Compartment, with his adoring fans tagging behind. For Hermione Jane Granger, this was going to be one hell of a long year.