Disclaimer: Nothing you recognize is mine.
A/N: I have recently realised that I have become obsessed with writing Draco/Hermione fanfic's and therefore have decided to try something new. I hope you like it – I'm certainly enjoying writing it! Lol – Happy reading!
Summary:
"Were two of a kind granger" he whispered, "Both friends with a highly respected and talented wizard, always standing just to the right of them".
Hermione frowned at the boy in front of her, feeling his hot breath on her cheek.
"Don't you think it's about time you found your own path?"
Standing To The Right
Chapter Two: Owl Post
Hermione stared around her new common room in awe. The soft white carpets, the deep blood red and forest green couches, the crystal and gold chandeliers, the …………truly massive bookcase!
"Oooh!"
Draco rolled his eyes as Hermione forgot to be overwhelmed for a minute as she dashed across to the towering shelves of books.
Draco turned to professor Dumbledore with a please-don't-leave-me-with-that-insane-bookworm! Look on his face and the old head teachers eyes twinkled.
As Draco sauntered over to one of the couches; a green one at that – he really was a true, stuck-up Slytherin, mused Hermione; she felt Dumbledore's step in line with her, in front of the bookcase.
"I took the liberty of filling it with books I know you love" he explained and Hermione's gaze fell instantly on Hogwarts: A History.
"However I also decided on a number of muggle novels and factual volumes and just a few from my own personal collection that I thought might interest you, hmmm?"
It was then that Hermione noticed a shelf filled with a completely bizarre collection of books, with titles she could barely pronounce. It was taking all of her will power not to grab them and devour them at that very moment.
Dumbledore chuckled. "All in good time miss. Granger" he smiled.
"Let's see if I can find something that will be to Mr. Malfoy's liking" he mused.
The two men left to take a look at Draco's personal quidditch room and Hermione sighed contentedly and decided to unpack.
Just as she was turning towards the staircase leading up to the bedrooms, there was a sharp rap on the portrait hole covering.
Jumping slightly, Hermione glanced quickly around for Dumbledore and Malfoy. Upon finding them nowhere in sight, she headed cautiously towards the portrait hole.
She nervously swung it open and jumped back as a boy clambered through it, dusting himself off and muttering furiously.
"For gods sake Draco, why do you always have to be late?" Hermione recognized the voice as Blaise's and a frosty glare settled on her face.
She glared as Blaise yanked off his cloak and threw it over the back of a chair, before settling himself on the sofa.
"You'd better hurry up mate, if you want to have a chance with those two raven claw girls" Hermione watched as he swung a bottle whisky over his shoulder, shaking it tantalisingly.
Finally she uttered a little cough.
Blaise decided to stop talking and turn around.
"Granger…" he greeted her coolly. "Where's Draco?"
Hermione folded her arms and narrowed her eyes at the boy.
"He's talking to Dumbledore" she replied, still sending him death glares. Then she stalked past him in the direction of the staircase, and then hesitated. Doubling back she walked up to Blaise, who sent her a reproachful look.
"As head girl, I have the complete authority to remove this alcoholic substance from your person" she said, snatching the bottle of whisky from his hand.
Blaise merely shrugged, as she smiled smugly.
"Don't drink it all at once, Granger" he called after her retreating figure.
Hermione turned round and stuck out her tongue in the most immature manner she could muster, and then stomped off to her bedroom.
Blaise watched Hermione go. She was one crazy girl! He chuckled.
Standing up as he heard the sound of voices from behind a door on the left of the common room, he grabbed his cloak and flung it over his shoulder, waiting for Draco and Dumbledore to return.
"Ah Mr. Zabini" the head master greeted Blaise warmly. " I see you found the heads common room quite easily" he smiled.
He turned to Draco; "I shall not deter you from Miss Patil and Miss Johnson any longer" he winked.
Draco shrugged and the elderly professor exited the common room.
Blaise turned to his friend, eyebrows raised.
"Nice pad mate, shame about the girl next door" he said nodding sideways in the direction of Hermione's room.
He watched as Draco sneered, "I very much doubt that father will be happy with this arrangement"
Blaise nodded in agreement. Lucius Malfoy would be appalled at the idea of his son living with a mudblood to say the least.
"Anyway, I'm off to meet a certain raven claw, if you're still coming?" Blaise prompted.
Draco however shook his head and professed himself too tired to be messing around at this time of night, no matter how intriguing he found Alice Johnson.
"Don't you dare get all Gryffindor on me Malfoy!" muttered Blaise, as he swept out of the common room. He laughed as Draco gave him the briefest glance at a choice finger, before slamming shut the portrait hole.
Seventh year, mused Blaise. Seven years of pure unadulterated magical learning had finally come to this. One year, twelve exams and one dark mark to come and pass and he would be free. Well as free as a man can be whose every movement and decision is based on another man's wishes.
He fumbled in his inside pocket and pulled out a tiny ornate silver hipflask and took a quick swig of the burning spirit inside.
Seventh year, his last year of freedom. And he was already living every second of it. Why he'd only been here four hours and already Miss Padma Patil was tucked up in bed, suitably corrupted. It seemed good looks, a mysterious aura and a trust fund never went out of fashion, Blaise grinned.
He gazed out over the moonlight bathed lake as he wandered its bank, kicking pebbles as he went.
He finished the last drop in his hipflask and stared up at the Hogwarts castle, now almost completely hidden in shadow. He focused on the single bright light coming from one of the towers and jumped slightly as a figure passed the window suddenly.
Our revered head girl, Blaise contemplated, recognizing the figure. How difficult granger would find the real world once she could no longer hide behind her books and high grades. When Hogwarts no longer offered her a safety net and when her friends moved on to build their own lives.
"Welcome to hell, granger" Blaise raised his empty hipflask in a toast to the twinkling light of Hermione's bedroom.
Hermione glanced out at the glittering surface of the lake as she passed her bedroom window.
Seventh year. Hermione sighed as she remembered that in one year she would have to leave all that she treasured here at Hogwarts and make her own life. It was a thought that terrified her. For all her high grades and extensive knowledge she seemed to be the only one without a plan.
Harry's path was set out for him and although she dreaded the day that he would leave them to fulfil his destiny, she envied his determination and courage to face the future.
Even Ron had plans. He was going to travel, Romania and Egypt with his brothers then to the quidditch league.
She frowned for a minute – how the hell did Ron have a plan and she did not! What was the world coming to!
However that was a question she didn't want to even think about.
Sighing Hermione changed out of her school uniform, placing her head girl badge next to her wand on her bedside dresser, smiling a little as she did so. That had been the last of her well thought out dreams – head girl. She hugged herself in delight and slid into bed.
Just as she picked up one of Dumbledore's books, there was a tapping on her window and upon her undoing the window clasp, in flew three owls.
She recognized the first two. Hedwig circled the room elegantly before dropping her letter into Hermione's lap. Pig widgeon hooted and dive bombed Hermione's wardrobe before launching himself at Hermione's bed, where he lay in a daze for a second before following Hedwig back out the window.
The third owl Hermione didn't recognize, but it was certainly a school owl.
She took the note from its leg and watched it swoop out into the night.
Unfolding Ron and Harry's letter's she smiled broadly.
Mione,
First of all – Congratulations!
You're going to make a great head girl! We didn't get much of a chance to speak to you at the feast as Dumbledore hurried you and Malfoy away.
Meet us in the Gryffindor common room tomorrow night and we can catch up – I have something important I need to discuss with you and Ron.
See you tomorrow,
Harry
Herms,
Congrats! When can we come and lounge around in your overly luxurious common room?
Give Malfoy a kick from me.
See you at breakfast – I'm already starving!
Ron
Hermione laughed. Ron was always hungry – it was ridiculous. What could Harry want to tell them? God, she hoped he wasn't in trouble!
Shaking these thoughts from her head, she picked up the third letter and unfolded it.
Miss Granger,
Congratulations on your recent appointment as head girl.
You and Mr. Malfoy are expected in professor Dumbledore's office at one o' clock tomorrow lunchtime for a more detailed discussion of responsibilities and to prepare patrol timetables with the prefects.
I wish you a good evening,
Professor McGonagall
P.S – Professor Dumbledore would prefer it in future if you did not aim any exploding darts at his beard as it is apparently extremely time consuming to wash and he has recently run out of his unicorn milk and pixie dust shampoo. Thank you.