Head Girl to Head Girl

Later in the week, after their Hogsmeade trip, Hermione was in her classroom between classes reading her new book. She was so engrossed in it that she didn't register the echoing footsteps in the corridor outside get louder as they approached. Nor did she even notice the person in green robes standing outside her door or the knock.

After a few moments, a voice cleared itself and Hermione came back to the present, "Ah Professor Granger, there you are," McGonagall's voice sounded from the doorway.

Hermione looked up from her book and stood, "Headmistress," she quickly put her book down, "I'm so sorry I didn't hear you come in."

McGonagall dismissed her apology with a wave of her hand, "Nothing to apologize for," she smiled, "I have an assignment for you if you would please," at Hermione's nod she continued, "Chandra Hartwell's detention is set for tonight and Professor Trelawney's come down with another of her psychic headaches," McGonagall's eyes rolled, "I was hoping you might be able to cover for her? I figured you might have a connection with the young girl being a former Head Girl yourself."

"Of course Headmistress," Hermione replied smiling inside. Professor Trelawney's so called 'psychic headaches' were infamous even when Hermione walked the halls as a student.

"Excellent," McGonagall replied clapping her hands together once, "I'll have her meet you outside the Great Hall after dinner. I'll leave it up to you as to what her punishment will be, but I would recommend a stern hand."

"Certainly," Hermione nodded and McGonagall left. Hermione sat quietly at her desk wondering what "stern handed" punishment she could imagine.

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As instructed Hermione found Chandra Hartwell waiting for her outside the Great Hall after dinner. Hermione was a bit nervous she admitted. She wasn't sure if "tough Hermione" really existed, but she was sure "thinking Hermione" was certainly up front and center tonight. She regarded the young girl from the top of the entrance steps and tried to observe her and gain any insights. The girl was standing anxiously waving goodnight to many students with a nervous smile as if she was hoping people didn't know what she was there for.

"She's nervous and apprehensive," Hermione thought, knowing what she had planned for the girl's detention, "This is a good sign."

After a little wait, Hermione finally decided to get the detention started and walked down the steps towards the girl.

"Good evening Miss. Hartwell," she said loud enough to gain the girl's attention.

Chandra turned at Hermione's voice and swallowed nervously, "Good… good evening Professor. The Headmistress told me to meet you here."

Hermione nodded and regarded the girl with what she hoped was a stern expression, "She asked me to oversee your detention for your actions over a week ago on the train."

The girl looked at the floor and shifted very uncomfortably, "Yes, Professor," she replied, in a voice barely above a whisper.

Hermione's expression never wavered, "I assume you are wondering what punishment I have in store for you?"

"Yes, Professor," the girl whispered again.

"Then let us begin. Follow me," Hermione said sternly and walked quickly towards the entrance steps with Chandra following quickly behind.

Hermione had thought for a long while after McGonagall visited about what would be suitable as a detention for Chandra. She certainly wasn't going to send her into the Forbidden Forest with Hagrid, like she had been in her first year. It had taken almost all afternoon before she had thought up a suitable punishment, and then another hour to convince McGonagall to help her with what she wanted to do. The Headmistress reluctantly agreed, but understood why Hermione wanted to do what she planned.

There was complete silence between the two, aside from the echoing footsteps in the empty halls of the castle. Finally after a long walk, Hermione stopped short and turned to Chandra. The Head Girl was trying not to meet the looks from her fellow students and as such, didn't see Hermione stop and nearly walked into her.

"I want you to know how very disappointed I am about your conduct on the train," she said with some anger seeping into her voice, "The position you hold is an important one and full of responsibility. It's a sign of respect from the teachers and the Headmistress that they believe you are able to conduct yourself as a mature witch and will be able to teach others through your example."

Chandra's eyes fell at Hermione's comments, "As a former Head Girl, I know how much of an honor it is to hold the post and how much respect is given by the teachers here towards you," Hermione watched as a tear fell from the young girl and splash on the stone floor.

"I'm sorry Professor," the girl said quietly while trying to hold back her tears, "I don't know what I was thinking."

"And that's your problem," Hermione replied with somewhat of a satisfied tone in her voice, "You didn't think, and I fear that some other outside force may have influenced your lack of thinking," she finished with a hint towards Jackson's involvement.

Chandra merely nodded at her. The young girl wiped away another tear and replied, "Yes, Professor."

"That's hardly acknowledging with any understanding of what you didn't do," Hermione snapped angrily at her.

Chandra looked at her with a mix of anger and frustration, "I know I should have acted, but it's hard when your boyfriend's the one you'd have to act against!" the girl snapped back in equal anger, "I didn't want to hurt him or anything."

"So you decided to let him hurt someone else?" Hermione asked angrily.

"No, but…," Chandra started before Hermione cut her off.

"There is no 'buts' here Miss. Hartwell. None," Hermione's face was red with anger, "What you did was out right wrong, and to say anything to try and justify your actions is just as criminal as what he did."

Chandra's shoulders dropped at Hermione's comments, sighed and quietly said, "You don't understand."

Hermione let the silence grow for a few moments before continuing, "Oh I don't understand? What don't you think I understand? How to be with someone with a strong personality? You do know who my boyfriend is?" her many questions echoed in the now empty corridor.

At Chandra's nod Hermione continued, "Good. Then you should know that even though I love him, I was still hard on him. It was for his own good and I never once lost his friendship, trust, faith or in the end his love because of it. He valued my toughness on him. He wanted me to be strong for him. If Jackson, or any boy or man, can't handle you being tough on them and respect you for it, then he isn't worth it."

The young girl was softly crying as Hermione let that sink in. She changed her voice to a more understanding and less stern tone, "However, I do think you're able to understand that, and even understand what you might be capable of."

Taking a shuddering breath from crying, Chandra sadly said, "I'm sorry Professor. I don't know what to do."

At that moment, Hermione knew she had finally hit the chord she'd hoped to. She hated being so hard on this girl, but she had seen a lot of potential in her and did not want to see it wasted, unused or worse… used in negative ways.

"Well that's a good start. Not knowing is sometimes the perfect place to start because the only way to go from here is up," Hermione relaxed her stance a bit more. She knew she needed to ease up a bit, especially for what was coming next, "Well I think there's blame enough to go around, and while I cannot deal with Jackson's blame I am able to help you deal with yours."

Hermione turned from the girl and walked back and forth in front a large empty wall three times before a door appeared magically within it. Chandra looked at Hermione walk back and forth like she was going crazy and then in utter awe as the door magically appeared on the once empty wall. Hermione, ignoring Chandra's looks, opened the door and walked in. Chandra followed her wide-eyed in wonderment into a room that was full of books, a large fireplace with chairs placed in front of the comfortably roaring blaze, and a large stone pedestal with a bowl set into it.

"This is the Room of Requirement," Hermione said as she walked up the couple of steps to the raised platform where a stone pedestal stood, "You might have heard of it while you've been here."

"I read about it in the updated Hogwarts: A History," Chandra said, still looking around in amazement.

Hermione smiled despite of the situation at the mention of the book. Harry and Ron used to joke with her that she was the walking Hogwarts: A History. She also was happy to hear that the newest version did take some her suggested edits and additions.

Hermione stood by the stone pedestal and indicated the object on top of it, "Do you recognize this?"

Chandra walked over and looked. Hermione could see the girl's mind working to identify it. She waited, knowing that the girl could answer the question.

"It's a Pensieve!" Chandra replied in surprise and wonder.

"What's its use?"

Chandra immediately replied, "It's for viewing yours or someone else's memories."

Hermione's mouth quirked in a smile, "Correct," she pulled her wand out and before she did anything looked at the young girl, "Your detention tonight is going to be meeting someone whom you might find familiar."

"Who?"

"You'll see," Hermione replied.

Hermione waved her wand over the bowl and magically filled it with a silvery substance that appeared to be a cloud-like liquid. She placed her wand to her temple and a white wisp memory cling to the end. Hermione put in into a small vial and then looked up at Chandra, "Ready?"

Chandra took a half-step back from the Pensieve, apprehensive about using it.

"It's perfectly safe," Hermione replied, "I've done this before."

Chandra nodded and swallowed nervously, still unsure if she wanted to do this.

"What am I going to see Professor?" Chandra asked as she slowly approached and stood next to the Pensive.

"One of my memories of me as a Head Girl," Hermione replied and then poured the vials contents into the silvery liquid, "Now just put your face into the Pensieve."

Chandra leaned over, feeling the cool substance on her face, and then a tug. Chandra found herself falling through the clouds and the ground rushing up towards her. She closed her eyes, screaming as the ground came rushing up at her. And as suddenly as it started, she stopped, finding herself standing in the middle of what looked like the east courtyard unharmed.

She confirmed she was in the east courtyard, after she took in her surroundings. It looked like it was fall as there were many brown and multi-colored leaves blowing around in the cool breeze. She looked and saw students entering and leaving the castle and she shouted out to them.

"Hello?" Chandra asked.

She watched as they passed by her with no acknowledgement to her calls, and she was trying to understand why. She was trying to remember what she had read about Pensives and memory watching when she saw a group of students walking towards her from the grounds. She immediately recognized the dark-haired wizard in the middle of the group. It was Harry Potter. She then looked at the others and saw Ron Weasley, Ginny Weasley and a younger Hermione Granger.

"I'm telling you Ron, you have to do this on your own," the younger Hermione spoke with a tone of exasperation and annoyance, "I can't take your NEWTs for you!"

"But 'Mione, I need your help and your notes to study!" Ron rebutted, clearly in a state of panic regarding the upcoming exams, "Otherwise I'll fail and mum will kill me," he gulped hard, "or worse."

"Ugh!" the younger Hermione exclaimed and rolled her eyes, "Fine, but you'll need to pay more attention in class!"

Ron breathed a definite and loud sigh of relief, "Thanks. You're a lifesaver 'Mione."

Suddenly a loud shout sounded from across the courtyard. Chandra turned at the commotion and saw a group of students gathered around two other students who looked like they were fighting.

Chandra moved towards the scuffle and was almost run over by a brown-haired blur that went by. The younger Hermione had run towards the group and immediately started breaking them up.

"What's going on here?" Hermione shouted, trying to avoid to sets of fists, "Break it up!"

A few moments later, the two boys were pulled apart by Ron and Harry. Harry held a tall dark-haired and lanky boy and Ron held back a boy with stark white hair.

"Draco, what are you doing?" Hermione asked in clear surprise, "You're a Prefect and should know better than to fight!"

"Longbottom started it!" Draco spat out, struggling in Ron's arms.

"I did not!" the boy called Longbottom replied equally as angry and struggling in Harry's arms, "Draco's being a prat and I called him out on it and he hit me!"

"What's the problem Longbottom?" Draco asked sarcastically, finally shaking Ron off roughly, "Can't take a joke?"

"It's not a joke destroying someone's work," Longbottom replied as Harry slowly let the boy go. He looked at Hermione and then to Harry, "He poisoned my project for Herbology that's due tomorrow."

Hermione turned on Draco, "Why am I not surprised you would be behind this."

Draco looked at Hermione with a dark look, "I never said I did it and you have no proof."

"Of course you wouldn't," came the voice of Harry Potter, "You probably had Crabbe or Goyle do it for you."

Chandra realized that she had been staring at Harry Potter for most of the conversation. She had seen pictures of him, but never in person, and was enthralled with him. He was much more handsome in person than in any picture she had seen of him. A sudden yell and a lunge by Longbottom brought her back to the conversation.

"Neville! Draco! Enough!" Hermione said still in between them, arms apart as if holding them back. But it was Ron and Harry that held back the two boys, "Both of you return to your house common rooms now. I'll speak to the Headmistress about this and I'll let her do what she sees as right."

Harry released his charge and Neville roughly grabbed his bag from the ground before turning and stalking away angrily, scowling at Draco, who returned the scowl with a smirk of satisfaction. Ginny Weasley raced off after the lanky boy as Draco, again roughly shook off Ron and straightened his clothes.

"Let go of me! How dare you restrain me!" Draco said, sounding like he had been touched by a something diseased, "Wait until my father hears about this. Touching me. I'll have you expelled."

Ron rolled his eyes, clearly not worried, and muttered, "Yeah right. I'm sure your father will come rushing out of hiding to make sure I'm expelled."

Draco ignored Ron and looked at Harry, "He's lucky you were around Potter," Draco spat at him, "I was just about to deal with him."

Harry smirked and replied, "You're lucky I didn't let him kill you."

Draco was momentarily stunned into silence by Harry's comment before Hermione broke in, "Draco, go to your common room and I'll go speak with the Headmistress about this."

He smirked at her and then said in a colder tone, "And when the Dark Lord returns I will take a lot of pleasure watching you fall. Filthy mudblood."

He turned and walked away with several Slytherin students with him. Harry took a step forward towards Malfoy, red faced, when he called Hermione a mudblood, but Ron quickly rushed forwards and held Harry back.

"He's not worth it Harry," he said, "Don't worry. After all of these years for being an idiot, that git will get what's coming to him soon enough."

Chandra couldn't believe what she had just witnessed. Draco had mentioned Voldemort, threatened Hermione, and called her a filthy word. With the exception of Harry and Ron, no one seemed to try and say anything to Draco. She looked at the younger Hermione and saw the conflicting emotions on her face. Anger, hurt, worry and a bit of fear was seen on her future professor's face.

"Git or not I still need to talk with McGonagall," Hermione said barely above a whisper, "Harry, will yo…"

But Harry Potter had already started walking away from the group towards the castle.

"Harry!" Hermione shout and she and Ron dashed to catch-up with him, "Harry, what's wrong?"

Harry's face became like stone, "It's nothing 'Mione."

"No Harry. Look, stop," Hermione stepped in front of him, stopping him in his tracks, "I know something's wrong. What is it?"

Harry looked into Hermione's eyes with a silent communication passing between the two. Chandra saw the love and caring from his eyes and she saw an equal caring and love from Hermione's. She suddenly became very jealous of Hermione, "I wish Jackson would look at me that way," she thought, becoming sad knowing that Jackson had never looked at her in any way with love or affection, just lust.

"He's just a reminder of what I still have to do," Harry replied quietly.

Hermione's face softened and she gave him a soft smile, "I know," she whispered, "But you won't have to do it alone."

"Yeah mate," Ron chimed in putting a hand on his friend's shoulder, "You facing You-Know-Who by yourself was never a done deal. 'Mione, me, Ginny, Neville, Dad, Mum… we're all in this too. No matter what."

Harry dropped his head and nodded at his friend's words. Younger Hermione looked at Ron and smiled and nodded a silent "thanks" to him.

Suddenly Chandra was tugged out of the memory and found herself leaning over the Pensive again. She looked up and saw the older Hermione standing there. The Hermione let the younger girl process what she had just seen before speaking. Chandra was silent as she stepped off the platform and went to a chair next to the fire.

"Did you see Draco?" Hermione asked Chandra.

"Yes," the young girl nodded. She sat down and looked up at her professor appalled, "He was cruel to that boy. Why?"

"Draco Malfoy was cruel to almost everyone he met or who wasn't a pure blood witch or wizard," Hermione said matter-of-factly as she went over and sat next to the girl, "More so to those who were not purebloods like me. Regardless, he reminds me very much of Jackson Mitchell."

Chandra felt a sudden wave of anger at the comparison. Her eyes flashed that anger at Hermione, but was met with a gaze of steel. Any objections died in her throat at Hermione's look. She sat back in her chair and thought about what she had seen and realized that what Jackson did on the train was no different than what Draco had done to Longbottom. Both were using their power and personality to do things for their gain and enjoyment.

Hermione watched Chandra, saw the anger, and then the contemplation. Hermione knew that she had finally hit on a nerve with the young witch. She knew know was the time to turn off the "stern Hermione" and turn on the mentor part of her.

"Far be it from me to interfere in a relationship," Hermione said honestly, "And that's not the focus of what we are here for tonight. Honestly, I just wanted to show you someone who was just as cruel to another student for no reason other than to show that he can. To show you what true friendship looks like and why you should act when you see something wrong, regardless of who it is."

Hermione stood and started walking slowly around the room with arms crossed in front of her, "I have many, many more memories I could show you and some even worse than that memory," she stopped and looked into the fire, lost in the past for a moment. She shook herself out of her reveries and turned to Chandra, "But I think I've made my point, haven't I?"

Chandra looked at Hermione nodded, "Yes Professor. And I will change."

Hermione gave her a small smile as she could see the conviction in the young girl's face to follow her promise, "I hope that for the rest of this year I do not hear that you aren't upholding the responsibilities of Head Girl, otherwise I will have to recommend that you be removed from that position and have it given to another girl."

Chandra shook her head, "No, Professor. You have my word that I will do my best to make you proud."

"Making me proud isn't the goal," Hermione replied quickly holding up a finger to stop the girl from speaking further, "The goal is that you realize, understand and learn from this so you can be proud of yourself. Do you understand?"

Chandra nodded, "Yes, Ma'am."

Hermione nodded her head once in acknowledgement of the young girl's comments, "Good. Now do you have any questions?"

Chandra looked up at Hermione, the nervousness back, "I actually do if I may? But it might be too personal or maybe to sad."

Hermione thought for a second. This girl needed trust and Hermione figured answering a few questions would help build that trust, "I'll do my best to answer, but no promises."

Chandra nodded in acceptance of the provision, "Well… what ever happened to Draco Malfoy? I don't remember hearing his name after Voldemort was defeated."

Hermione raised her chin a little and clenched her jaw at the question. She thought for a few moments of whether she should tell the young girl what happened to him. She still woke up some nights sweating, breathing heavy and disturbed at the memory.

With a nod as if to agree to the girl's question she replied, "He was killed about a month after that memory you saw when the Death Eaters house was attacked by Aurors, the Order of the Phoenix and members of Dumbledore's Army."

"He was 17," Chandra's eyes widened at the reply, "He was so young!"

Hermione's face crimped into a sad face and her eyes fixated on the flame again, "They were all too young," she whispered before clearing her throat and speaking louder, "Yes he was, but I'm sure he did not want to die, but he did get what he deserved in the end."

"What was that?" Chandra asked curiously.

"He died a cruel death in payback for all the cruelty he caused."

Chandra fell silent at this comment. Her desire to ask more questions died with Hermione's last comment. She could only imagine what happened to Draco and she shuddered at the thought. She waited patiently as Hermione continued to stare into the fire lost in faraway memories.

The chime on the clock on the wall sounded, seeming to break the spell Hermione was under. Suddenly blinking and snapping herself out of her memories she said definitively, "It's late. You may go and I will let the Headmistress know you have completed your detention as long as I have your word that you have truly understood what we have discussed here."

"Yes, Ma'am," Chandra nodded. She had. Her professor had driven the point home quite successfully.

"Good. Then I consider this matter settled," Hermione said then smiled slightly, "Goodnight Miss. Hartwell."

"Goodnight Professor," the girl replied and quickly left the room with a lot of things swirling in her mind, and leaving Hermione in the room alone with her thoughts.