Chapter 1
The Great Hall was humming with soft conversation when Minerva McGonagall stood up from her seat at the head table. Minerva was happy to be surrounded by familiar faces: Professor Flitwick, Sybil Trelawney, Rubeus Hagrid, Horace Slughorn. These few professors were sitting with some new as well as some other returning professors. Professor McGonagall stood in front the podium and a hush fell over the Great Hall, the first years had been sorted and now everyone was waiting for the feast to begin.
"Welcome to all new and returning students. And a very special welcome to all those who have returned to finish their education by completing their eighth year," Minerva smiled, as her eyes swept over the crowd. A small number of students from each house had returned to finish their eighth year which pleased the new Head Mistress greatly.
"Before we begin the feast, I would like us all to take a moment of silence for all those friends and family we have lost last year," Minerva continued, eyes closing, bowing her head.
Every student bowed their head quietly, a few began to shed some tears, while others reached across the table to hold hands with friends.
"Now I wish all students, regardless of house begin to practice a sense of unity. Let us not forget that we are stronger together and that being divided only leads to an ugly burden that is too much for all of us to bear. As such, I have chosen two students, of former rival houses, to be Head Boy and Head Girl, Miss Hermione Granger, of Gryffindor, and Mister Draco Malfoy, of Slytherin. Let us hope that the only rivalry between houses will be over a friendly quidditch match!" Minerva laughed along with the some of the students and staff while some rolled their eyes.
"Now enough of this, Let the Feast Begin!" Minerva clapped her hands and the food appeared.
Hermione Granger tucked into her food, happy to be back. Despite being offered many jobs at the ministry, Hermione returned, along with some of her other classmates. When Harry and Ron were offered early acceptance in the auror training program, they jumped at the chance. It would have felt strange not to complete her education, especially with only a year left. Hermione was happy for Harry and Ron, but still wished that her best friends had returned with her. Sitting next to Ginny, Hermione smiled as Ginny kept glancing at the beautiful engagement ring Harry had given her. When asked, the redhead would show it off happily. Hermione looked around the Gryffindor table seeing the familiar and new faces meshed together.
Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnegan, Lavender Brown, Neville Longbottom, and Parvarti Patil. It was good to have so many people here. Hermione began laughing at some jokes Seamus was telling. She noticed that, Dean and Seamus kept holding hands despite, trying to eat their dinner. Hermione was happy they had gone public. She looked around the Great Hall. It was going to be a good year. Although Harry and Ron weren't returning, Hermione knew they would visit often with Harry being engaged to Ginny and Ron head over heels for Lavender.
It was true, Hermione and Ron had shared a kiss, when destroying the horcrux, but it was the heat of the moment. They had tried dating for a month, but both agreed that it was like dating a sibling. Molly Weasley was a bit miffed when they broke up, but assured Hermione that she still loved her like a daughter. However, the Wizarding World seemed to be furious and/or heartbroken that the "Golden Couple" (as the Daily Prophet referred to Hermione and Ron) had broken up. Hermione couldn't care less about what others thought. If those Hermione loved were okay, that's all that mattered.
After ending things with Ron, Hermione went to Australia to find her parents. After some long and hard searching, she found them, they had opened a dental practice, built a large home, and had a new baby. They seemed so happy. Hermione had the courage to remove all her parents' memories of herself to keep them safe. However, Hermione could not find the courage to switch back their memories and, parentless, returned to the Burrow. Broken hearted and crying on Molly's shoulder while Arthur made her a cup of tea. Both Molly and Arthur said she would always be welcome at the Burrow. Hermione realized she always had a family in the Weasleys. Molly and Arthur always treated Harry and Hermione like they were their own children.
Shortly thereafter, Minerva had paid a visit to the Burrow, offering Hermione the position of Head Girl. Hermione was thrilled and accepted immediately. Minerva also told her Draco Malfoy would be head boy.
"While I know your history with him has been tense, I really want to show a united front to the incoming students," Minerva explained. "I figured that you would not mind since you and Mr. Potter helped Draco and his mother become acquitted."
Hermione was a bit nervous that Draco would be Head Boy, but not because of his death eater past. Would Draco take the position seriously? Would he tease her in front of the other students? Is he even capable of showing a united front? She did not want to spend the entire year fighting and scowling at each other. So, Hermione did the only logical thing she could think, she owled him, asking to meet and talk about the position of Heads.
Hermione had met Draco at the Leaky Cauldron. They had a bit of lunch and discussed their predicament. Draco seemed more relaxed, he was still arrogant, but he did not seem to harbor any resentment or anger towards her. Surprisingly, he didn't sneer once. Draco asked for only one favor.
Hermione waited patiently and quietly as the blonde nervously played with his napkin, moving his silverware back and forth. Draco seemed to be wrestling with himself. Expecting the worst, Hermione's nerves were calmed when he finally said,
"I'm gay," Draco looked up to gauge her reaction, but her face remained calm. Hermione sat in silence, waiting for him to continue. "Blaise Zabini and I have been together since fifth year. Well, on and off. It's about to become common knowledge. I couldn't tell anyone before because Lucius would have skinned me alive."
Hermione noticed the way Draco spat his father's name. She couldn't imagine the pain of keeping his sexuality a secret.
"Would you mind it terribly, if Blaise…well, if he could..." Draco tried to find the right words.
"I don't mind if Blaise lives in the Heads dorms with us. Just respect, the common area, I don't want to walk in and get an eyeful," Hermione chuckled. Draco laughed gently.
"You don't mind?" Draco asking, just to be reassured. Draco was worried that she was lying. After all, he had spent years tormenting Granger, Potter, and Weasley.
"Not at all!" Hermione smiled. "In fact, Dean and Seamus were thinking about starting a sort of Gay Straight Alliance. Open to all Gay and Lesbian students, as well as allies."
Draco smiled, a rare smile. The rest of the lunch was pleasant. Draco felt ten times lighter. He still thought Granger was an annoying know it all, but the fact that she accepted him was the moment he began to consider her as an almost friend.
…
After the feast, Hermione began to walk with Ginny towards the Gryffindor common rooms, she wanted to see if it still looked the same before looking at the Head dorms. Plus, she noticed Draco and Blaise laughing and walking towards the Heads Dorms so she thought she should give them a little privacy.
When Hermione took one last look at the Great Hall, she noticed one Slytherin lagging behind, Gregory Goyle. Hermione felt her heart clench. He seemed so forlorn. Hermione remembered Vincent Crabbe's death in the Room of Requirement. The two friends were always inseparable. Although Crabbe had tried to kill her, she knew the pain of losing friends. At this point, everyone did, and she thought of House Unity. Quickly she muttered to Ginny that she'd be back in a moment and began walking over to the former enemy. Hermione noticed he was still incredibly tall, maybe 6'3" or 6'4." Although, he had lost some weight, or rather that weight had turned into muscle.
"Goyle…Gregory," Hermione hesitated. Greg looked down at her, surprised Granger was even looking his way, much less talking to him. She hesitantly placed her hand just beneath his shoulder.
"I'm sorry about Crabbe…I know he was your best friend," Hermione said, sadly. He seemed quite taken aback.
It took Greg a moment, registering her words. Merlin, Vince had tried to kill her, yet here she stood offering her condolences. Was she always this kind, or was she just being fake? Of course, Malfoy had told Greg that he had formed a sort of truce with her.
Greg shook his head, fighting back tears. Vince had been his best friend since birth, it was hard not having him around, especially since now he was forced to go back to school. Apparently, he had taken too long to respond because Hermione gave him a small smile, his arm a final pat, then walked away towards the Weasley girl.
What the hell just happened? Greg thought as he walked off towards the dungeons. The truth was, Greg wasn't used to girls coming to talk to him unless they wanted something. Ever since fifth year, when Draco had realized he preferred men, specifically Zabini, girls would come and talk to Greg and Vince. "Where's Draco? He hasn't been around much. Does he have a girlfriend?" Draco kept being intimate with a few girls, as a cover. Greg always thought his father was bad, but Goyle Sr, was nothing compared to Lucius.
Girls always just asked him questions until one night in sixth year. Theo had thrown a party in the Slytherin common room and Draco who had been under a lot of stress just wanted to spend the night with Blaise in the Room of Requirement. Vince and Greg had been dodging questions from Slytherin girls as well as a couple of girls from other houses all night. Finally, just to get some peace, Greg went into the boy's dormitory. It was maddening, How does Draco do it? Greg thought, he'd never had so many girls badgering him in his life.
"Hey," Greg heard from the door. He turned to see Daphne Greengrass. She looked really pretty in a skintight green dress. Greg looked away, "Draco isn't here," he said quickly.
Daphne made her way over to the bed, standing between his parted legs. Daphne grabbed Greg's chin and tilted it up before saying, "Who said I'm here to see Draco?" Daphne smiled, before kneeling before him. "Maybe I wanted to see you." Daphne began running her hands over his trouser clad thighs.
Greg had joined the Quidditch team as a beater the previous year. With all the exercise and weight training, plus another growth spurt, he'd become less flabby and more muscular. Before he knew it, Daphne was undoing his buckle and had her mouth on him. Merlin, it felt like heaven.
Greg had never even kissed a girl and now there was one sucking him off. It should have seemed strange, but at that moment, Greg could only focus on Daphne and the sensations flooding through him. The way Daphne swirled her tongue around the head then slid her tongue underneath his shaft, using her hands. When Greg came Daphne swallowed all his seed.
Daphne looked up at him and smiled sweetly. Greg gently took her face in his hands, wanting to kiss her, but his hopes were shattered when she said, "Are you sure you can't tell me where Draco is?"
Daphne had used him to try and get information. She didn't actually want Greg and it stung. He stood up, re-buckling his belt and walked out leaving her without an answer. When Greg had told Vince what had happened, Vince replied, "Yeah, she did it to me, too. So did Pansy, Astoria, and a few others." Vince winked and said, "Use it to your advantage."
From then on, Greg did. He used Daphne, Pansy, and any other girl who came offering in the same way they used him. However, Greg did not just receive their pleasure. He wanted to learn from them how to please a woman, leave her whimpering and begging. Then Millicent had come to him, not looking for Draco, just release. Like him, she knew that Draco and Blaise were together. She just needed a friend with some benefits. But now, like Vince, she was gone, too.
…..