Disclaimer: I only own the plot; the rest is J.K.R.'s.
Chapter Two: Meetings
Hermione hurried on to Platform 9¾. She was excited for the new school year and all the new responsibilities she had. Plus, she and her friends could finally enjoy a relatively relaxing year at Hogwarts now that Voldemort was gone.
Hermione kissed her parents good-bye, promising them that she would write to tell them how she was doing. Then, she began to search the crowd for a mob of red-heads where she could definitely find Ron and Harry. There.
"Harry! Ron!" Hermione called out to her two best friends.
"Hey Hermione!" They boys shouted back in unison.
After the Trio had reunited, with lots of hugging on Hermione's part, Hermione greeted the rest of the Weasley family. After a few minutes, the warning whistle sounded alerting the students that they must board the train.
"Now dearies," Mrs. Weasley said to Ron, Ginny, Harry, and Hermione, "you must board the train before it leaves without you."
The four students said their final good-byes before boarding the Hogwarts Express. Ginny immediately took off to find the compartment where her friends were sitting. That left Harry, Ron, and Hermione to find an empty compartment for themselves. They finally found one towards the back of the train where they quickly stored away their heavy baggage.
"It's really nice to see you guys," Hermione gushed to her friends while giving them another hug.
Harry grinned and teased, "Yeah, and it's nice that we all made it out alive."
Ever since Voldemort's defeat, Harry had lightened up a great deal. It was as if the weight of the world was taken off his shoulders. Which, Hermione supposed, was true since the fate of the world would have been decided when Harry defeated Voldemort or vice versa. Anyway, she was glad Harry could move on and get on with the rest of his life.
Hermione looked at her watch and glancing up at Harry said, "I'm sorry Harry, but I have to get to a Heads' meeting and Ron should be getting to his prefects' meeting, so I'll see you in a little bit."
Ron rolled his eyes, "Yeah, yeah. I know about the meeting. It wouldn't kill me if I was a few minutes- Wait! Did you say Heads' meeting!"
Hermione gave a huge smile, "Yup."
"Wow," Harry exclaimed, "that's really great, Hermione! Why didn't you tell us sooner?"
"Well," Hermione said slyly, "I was so busy fighting Death Eaters it must have slipped my mind." Harry and Ron looked at her in mock suspicion. "Okay, so I didn't forget, but I did want it to be a surprise."
"Either way, congratulations, Hermione," Harry said with a smile.
Ron was smiling as well, "This is so awesome! Now you could totally get back at Malfoy for all the mean things he's done by giving him detentions and stuff!"
Before Hermione could scold Ron to tell him that that would be something a Slytherin would do and that she would never abuse her powers like that, a voice drawled out from the open door of their compartment.
"Did I hear someone say my name," Draco Malfoy stated calmly from the doorway.
Hermione couldn't help but stare for a minute. Malfoy had definitely changed since she had last seen him. He still had his famous platinum blond hair and steel gray eyes, but he had grown taller and filled out with muscle, probably from Quidditch training. Hermione had always considered Malfoy good-looking, though she'd never admit it out loud.
But now Hermione thought he's more than just good-looking, he's HOT. I wouldn't mind seeing him with his shirt off, get a good look at his abs- Hermione, stop it!, she chided herself, This is not the time for that, if there's ever a time!
Hermione immediately stopped her thoughts from going further before anyone caught her staring, especially Malfoy.
"Don't flatter yourself, ferret," Ron retorted harshly.
Harry narrowed his eyes at Draco, "What do you want, Malfoy?"
"Actually," Draco began, gesturing to Hermione, "I came for the silent one over there."
Hermione looked up and her gaze collided with Draco's. His cold silver eyes met her warm honey-colored ones and held for a minute as something passed between them. Hermione just tried to appear calm as her heart rate suddenly sped up.
What's with me? Hermione asked herself. First, I'm fantasizing about Malfoy with his shirt off and now my heart beat is speeding up. Stupid hormones!
"What's the matter, Granger," Draco finally broke the silence, "cat got your tongue?"
Hermione's eyes widened and she paled slightly as she remembered the strange dream she had been having.
Draco noticed something was wrong and called out, "Granger?"
Hermione's gaze once again locked with Draco's and she thought she saw what looked like worry in his eyes. But, that was impossible, right? Malfoys never showed emotion, plus Draco hated her. Why would he be worried?
Hermione broke off the gaze to turn to Harry and Ron who were looking at her anxiously.
"Are you okay, Hermione?" asked Ron.
Hermione smiled shakily, "Of course I'm okay, Ron. It's just that…um…that I was surprised that Malfoy knew a muggle phrase, that's all."
All three boys were still looking suspiciously at her when she asked, "So Malfoy, what do you need me for?"
Draco smirked at her, "Is that an offer? We are sharing lots of space this year and we could, you know, get a little closer," he stated with a suggestive wink.
Hermione glared at him, "Like I'd waste my time on you." Wait a minute. Did he say sharing space this year? Oh, no.
Draco just shrugged, "I highly doubt your time would be wasted. All the ladies say I'm good and I know I'm good."
"Alright, that's enough," Harry interrupted not liking where the conversation was headed, "What do you need Hermione for, Malfoy?"
"I came to make sure she was coming to the Heads' meeting," Draco stated smugly.
"And why would you do that?" Ron asked still seething from the conversation Draco just had with Hermione.
"Because, pea brain," Draco spoke as if he were talking to a kindergartener, "I am Head Boy."
"What!" Harry exclaimed, "Why would Dumbledore make you, of all people, Head Boy?"
Draco shrugged calmly, "I don't know how that old man's mind works, so don't ask me."
"Okay, Malfoy," Hermione said, trying to sound cool and collected when she really wanted to scream about the unfairness of this whole situation. What have I done to deserve this?, she thought as she continued, "you got me and now let's go to the meeting."
Hermione then quickly rushed out of the compartment. She had seen Ron's furiously reddening face. He was going to snap at any second now. Draco, luckily, had followed her without another word to the two boys.
However, Hermione and Draco hadn't gotten far when Ron stepped out of the compartment and shouted at Draco, "If you hurt Hermione in any way, I'll…I'll…I'll KILL you!"
Hermione rolled her eyes, but Draco had turned around and answered back, "I'm so scared. You'll probably threaten me to death. How fatal!"
Ron didn't have a chance to answer back because Harry pulled him back inside the compartment. Hermione and Draco resumed their walk to the front compartment where McGonagall would be to give them their duties as Heads.
After a brief silence Draco stated, "I think that went rather well," which got an amused snort out of Hermione. Draco just smirked in reply.
Hermione is an interesting girl Draco mused. I never really noticed it before. She's smart, funny, beautiful, fun to get into a fight with- Wait. Did I just think beautiful? True, her hair isn't frizzy anymore, but softly curled, and she filled out in all the right places with lots of curves, and her eyes are an amazing shade of brown-but, Granger? The bookworm? Before now I wasn't allowed to think of her as anything but a mudblood with my father around. But those days are over.
I wonder what freaked her out in the compartment back there. I highly doubt that it was because I used a muggle phrase. Maybe I'll find out later. After all I am living with her now.
At the meeting, McGonagall gave the Heads their basic instructions for the year. Hermione and Draco had to go on a nightly patrol together, give out detentions only when necessary, give prefects their instructions throughout the year, and basically be role models for everybody else, which meant no fighting if they could help it.
"Well," McGonagall concluded, "this meeting is over and I expect both of you to behave as a Head Boy and a Head Girl should. I will reprieve you of the duty to give the new prefects their instructions and do it myself. I will see you two at the feast." And then she was gone, off to have a meeting with the prefects.
"I'll see you later," Hermione said to Draco as she turned to leave for her compartment.
"But sooner than you'd like," Draco replied.
Hermione answered with amusement and sarcasm, "Unfortunately," as she walked away.
Draco smirked, "Right back at ya," although he didn't really mean it. He could tell this year was going to be eventful with the two of them as Heads.