Alright, here's chapter 2. Please let me know what you think. Again, I don't own anything! I hope y'all like it!
(Hermione)
The Welcome Feast was wonderful, but Hermione felt a little out of place without her two best friends there. Finally it was time to show the new Gryffindor first years to the dormitory. Hermione stood up began to lead the way up to the tower.
"First years, follow me! This is the most direct route to the dormitory. Stay close; it's easy to get lost here. Mind the stair cases too."
She fell into step with Ginny and chatted with her on their way up until they reached the Fat Lady.
"Hello, dears. Password?"
"Fortes fortuna adiuvat", Hermione replied. The Fat Lady smiled and swung open to reveal the familiar common room, and Hermione stepped through.
"Bit of a mouthful isn't it? The password I mean," said Ginny.
Hermione laughed. "I think they're trying to really embrace the essence of Gryffindor. Or something like that. Hopefully the next password will be something easier."
"It better be," Ginny muttered.
Hermione laughed again and turned to the group of Gryffindors in front of her. "Alright everyone, first of all you need to remember the password to get back into the common room. It'll be posted on the bulletin board here, and it can change pretty frequently so make sure you check it often. Boys, your dorms are up the stairs on the right. Girls, the left. If you have any questions or concerns please ask your house prefects, Neville Longbottom and Ginny Weasley." Neville and Ginny stood and waved so the new students could see who they were.
"Right then, my name is Hermione Granger. I am Head Girl this year so of course if you ever need anything please feel free to ask me too. Ginny, Neville, I'll let you two take it from here; I need to go to a meeting with Professor McGonagall and the Head Boy. I'll be back soon."
Ginny and Neville both shot her a nervous look before they turned and started talking to their first years. Hermione smiled and waved goodbye to her house. She took a few short cuts to get to McGonagall's office so that she wouldn't be late. She got to the statue at the same time as Malfoy. He froze, and then took a deep breath before nodding to her and murmuring, "Granger." Hermione nodded back, "Malfoy." He gave her a strange look before composing himself. She spoke the password to the huge griffin and it sprang to life to let them through. Hermione frowned. The look on Malfoy's face was something she couldn't quite recognize, but she shrugged it off and headed up the stairs followed by Malfoy.
"Ah good, right on time. Sit down, you two." McGonagall looked tired, so Hermione figured it would be a quick meeting. "Miss Granger you went over the new patrol protocol with the prefects?"
"Yes, professor, we discussed it all on the train."
"Good. And Mr. Malfoy, have you figured out a time and place for the monthly meetings?"
"Yes, professor."
McGonagall looked at him from over her glasses and nodded. "I expect more help than usual from the two of you this year. Typically your job only entails taking care of the prefects. However, as you know, the castle is still in need of repairs in many areas. We'll need extra time from you and all the prefects to help with the repairs. Both of you may work a shift without a teacher present, but all the prefects much be accompanied by either of you or a teacher. Understood?"
Hermione replied a sharp, "Yes ma'am." Malfoy simply nodded his head.
"Good. That's all for tonight. If you don't have any questions then off to bed."
They both got up and left quickly. They walked down the corridor in an awkward silence. "So our first meeting is going to be September 18th."
"Yes, Malfoy, we talked about that on the train remember?"
"I know, but I wanted to let you know that I received permission from Professor Flitwick to use the charms classroom for meetings. I figured that would be a good place for the meetings since it's sort of in the middle of the castle. Not as far of a walk for the Ravenclaws and Gryffindors."
"Oh," Hermione was surprised that he thought that far beyond himself. She assumed he would have asked for permission from Professor Slughorn to use the potions classroom. "Well that's perfect then. Thank you." Malfoy nodded his head in response. They had arrived to the main staircase. "Well, see you in class tomorrow." He rolled his eyes and nodded again, "Way to state the obvious, Granger." He took off down the stairs and without looking back, raised his hand with a short flick of a wave. Hermione shook her head and started the walk back up to Gryffindor Tower.
