Chapter Three: Settling In
Once Harry calmed things down enough to get everyone else out of the Head's Compartment; he, Ginny, Draco, and Hermione only remained in the lavish space. The foursome talked about their plans for after they finished their last year at Hogwarts . Harry was, of course, planning to be an Auror, Hermione was still trying to decide which part of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement she wanted to work in, and Ginny was planning on training as a Healer. Hermione was surprised when Draco said that he was thinking of going into Healer training as well.
Harry just laughed at Hermione's bewilderment and asked if she ever paid attention to the classes that Draco took, after all, they were all the prerequisites for a career in Healing. They passed the rest of the journey amicably discussing the coming term. Harry, Hermione and Draco were happily discussing their upcoming Newt Classes as Ginny listened, understanding that she would not be taking the exams for another year. All the seventh years were going to be in the same classes this year since there weren't enough of them to warrant separating the classes by house anymore.
Harry and Ginny went ahead to save a carriage for Hermione and Draco, who were supervising the underclassmen to their carriages and boats. Hagrid was there, as always, to escort the first years by boat to the castle. As he corralled the smaller students, he gave Hermione and Draco a curious look at their amicable relationship, but still called out that he would see them at the castle. Once they got everyone else settled they joined Harry and Ginny in their thestral-led carriage, and the four friends journeyed the rest of the way to the castle.
Harry helped Ginny out of the carriage and with a conspiratorial wink at Draco set off for the castle leaving Draco to escort Hermione. He jumped down and turned to assist her from the carriage. Instead of just offering his hand, he put both of his large hands at her small waist to lift her down from the carriage. He set her on her feet and gave her waist a quick squeeze before winking at her and then offering his arm. The two Heads made their way to the castle in a comfortable silence, each giving the other bashful looks under their lashes.
They entered the Great Hall and stood next to Harry and Ginny, with Ron standing off to their side. It was the first time the Golden Trio had appeared publically together since Ron broke Hermione's heart.
"Just breathe Hermione; don't let them know that this upsets you," Hermione muttered to herself, only loud enough for Draco to hear.
Draco took her hand, gave it a squeeze, and then went to step aside, but he felt her hand tighten on his and pull him closer to stand with her, Harry, and Ron.
"Please stay," she whispered, "I can't do this alone."
Draco smothered a rising smirk, squeezed her hand in return, and stood proudly by her.
Ron was gritting his teeth so hard Ginny could hear his grinding. She turned to him and said, "You are the one that pushed her away. You could have grown old with her, but you chose Lavender. You are going to have to live with the thought of the two of them living alone in their private dormitory. It would serve you right if she fell for Draco."
He shot his sister a glare full of venom, and stalked off dragging Lavender with him to the end of the Gryffindor table.
Harry, Ginny and Hermione began to make their way to the middle of the table. Draco walked Hermione to the table, and gave her hand one last hand squeeze before setting off towards the deserted end of the Slytherin table. Most of his former housemates hissed at him, but his fellow seventh years, Blaise, Daphne, Millicent, and Theodore, joined him down at the end. He gave them a rare smile before directing his attention to the Headmistress.
Minerva McGonagall looked out at all of her returning pupils and let her heart weep at the thought of those students and staff not be returning this year, having paid the ultimate price in the final battle. Taking a calming breath, she signaled for Professor Sprout to bring the first years in for their sorting to begin. She watched them with a smile as the first years were sorted into their respective houses. Once the sorting was over and Professor Sprout took the stool and hat away, she held up her arms for quiet.
"Welcome back, my friends, to a new year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I would like to open this school year with a moment of silence for those friends and loved ones who fell in the battle last term." After the silence, she continued, "As I explained in your letters, last year is not being considered a valid school year. As such, I would like to introduce our Head Boy and Girl, Draco Malfoy of Slytherin and Hermione Granger of Gryffindor. I would like to turn over the floor to our new Head Boy who would like to say a few words."
Draco made his way up to McGonagall and said, "I asked Professor McGonagall if I could have the pleasure of introducing our new professors this year. Please welcome, Professor, Remus Lupin, resuming the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts." He paused as the Gryffindor table erupted with applause as the shy man took his place at the head table. Draco cleared his throat to quell the excitement and continued, "And taking the post of Transfiguration Professor, Bill Weasley. Professors, please allow me to welcome you to Hogwarts on behalf of the entire student body. I, for one, am very excited to learn from such brave heroes, as you both."
At this, Draco paused and caught Hermione's gaze quickly before continuing. "I would also like to take this opportunity to apologize to each and every person in this Hall for my actions before and during the war. There are not words to express my sorrow for blindly allowing my pureblood prejudices to sway me and follow The Dark Lord. I take responsibility for the death of Hogwarts' greatest Headmaster. I was responsible for allowing the Death Eaters to gain access to the school." Draco paused for a moment, and looked at Remus and Bill and said, "I can never make it up to you or give back what was taken from you and your families, and I apologize for the part my family had in all of it. I intend to dedicate the rest of my life to making up for the atrocities committed by The Dark Lord and his followers."
When he finished speaking he looked over towards Hermione only to realize that she was no longer sitting at the Gryffindor table, he let his eyes roam the Great Hall before they found her. She had made her way up to the head table near the podium to stand with Harry, Ginny, Remus, Bill and the entire staff.
Professor McGonagall walked up to him smiled, and said in a loud, clear voice. "Draco Malfoy, we want you, and anyone else here who may wish they could go back and make a different choice to know, that the war is over and the only way we can heal as a society is to forgive each other. You are showing a lot of courage standing up here and taking so much blame onto yourself, Draco, and you are truly a young man who embodies everything that the Head Boy should be."
The Headmistress paused, took a deep breath and looked out into the Great Hall and said, "As of this moment, we go forward and our actions now are what is going to matter. We cannot erase our mistakes, but rather, learn from them."
In a lower voice she said, "It took a lot of courage to come up here in front of the whole school and say what you did. You really have changed haven't you, Draco?"
Addressing the rest of the school the Headmistress said, "Well, I believe that is all for now. Enjoy the feast."
Draco went to make his way over to his seat at the Slytherin table but he found that his hand was being tightly held by Hermione. He smiled down at her and allowed her to bring him over to the Gryffindor table. Ravenously, they both tucked in.
At the end of the feast, the Headmistress addressed the school once more, "Prefects will now escort their houses to their dormitories. Please take note of the castles many changes, so that you don't get lost. Now, if the Head Boy and Girl could please come to the teachers' table, I would be most appreciative. Good night."
With that, Hermione and Draco said good night to Harry and Ginny and made their way to McGonagall.
"Mr. Malfoy, Miss Granger, Professor Weasley has asked to escort you to your new dormitory. Being a former Head Boy, himself, his first-hand experiences will be valuable to you both. I will see you both in the morning at breakfast," and with those words, the Headmistress left them with Bill Weasley.
"Follow me please and I will show you to the best part of being a Head," Bill said with a grin. He led them up the many magical staircases, and through two fake walls to the seventh floor corridor near the Room of Requirement, and down a long hallway to a picture of the Four Founders of Hogwarts.
"This is your dormitory, you will set the password yourselves, and you are to wait until I leave to say it please," said Bill. "Your common room has four doors leading off of it. Those two," he gestured right and left "are your bedrooms," he shifted his arm straight ahead and said, "that one is the communal bathroom, which has two more doors leading into it from your rooms, and the fourth on the left of the fireplace is the door to the Prefects' Meeting Room. Your bedrooms are also password protected. You can set them, again, once I leave. Also, a third door in each of your bedrooms leads to your house common rooms. Now by the end of this week, you are responsible for setting the prefects meetings and patrolling schedules. Do either of you have any questions for me?"
They both replied, "No," so Bill left the two standing in front of the four founders with an awkward silence permeating between them.
Hermione looked at Draco and asked, "Do you have any ideas for the password?"
"How about, Slytherin Rules?" he teased.
"Ah yes, dear boy, I think that would be a delightful idea, don't you agree Godric?" said Salazar Slytherin.
"Honestly, Salazar," intoned Rowena Ravenclaw with a huff, "You would think so, I remember your passwords, 'Salazar is the smartest wizard in the land,''Salazar is a god,''all witches should bow down to Salazar's greatness,' I think the boy suggested a horrible password. You Slytherins are all the same."
Hermione could barely contain herself listening to the two founders bicker back and forth, but she was tired and anxious to see their room, so she rolled her eyes and said, "Honestly Draco be serious, we need a password that I will actually use."
Godric Gryffindor was quick to praise Hermione's cheek. "Ah, a true Gryffindor, never one to back down from a challenge. Job well done lass. That is exactly how you put a man in his place. I always hated having to praise Salazar whenever I needed to have a word with him."
Draco was trying to keep the founders from seeing his mirth, "OK, if we must pick a boring password for Granger…let me think…'the library is heaven on Earth?'No, that is not quite right, what about'Madame Pince is my hero?' No, that doesn't sound right either…" he trailed off. Finally, he dropped his sarcastic routine and suggested, "How about 'Unity' then?"
Helga Hufflepuff cut in over the indrawn breaths of the other founders and spoke to the Draco, "That is a truly wonderful password, dear. In truth, if we could have unified during our time, then we could have saved the world a lot of heartache. Indeed, 'Unity" should be the password." She looked to each of her fellow founders, and said, "Odd, isn't it that it took having a Slytherin and a Gryffindor as Heads, for true unity to finally come to Hogwarts."
"Alas, you speak the truth dear Helga," said Salazar, "Now, children, it is time for you to say the password and enter your new home for your last term at Hogwarts. The four of us are expecting great things from the both of you. You are two of the brightest students ever to come out of Hogwarts."
Draco and Hermione were no longer feeling the need to laugh at the antics of the founders. Helga's words were too sobering for that. So they turned to the painting and saw the Founders looking at them and waiting. "Unity," Draco said, and the portrait swung open to reveal the most luxurious room either could have imagined at Hogwarts. It was decorated in red and green with gold and silver accents for both of their houses. There were big green couches like the ones in the Slytherin dungeons and red Squashy armchairs like in the Gryffindor common room. All were arranged around the enormous fireplace. On the right side of fireplace were their desks and shelves upon shelves of books.
Hermione looked up at Draco who was standing next to her and said, "I suppose that we should probably turn in for the night. We have a very busy day tomorrow."
"Yes you are probably right," he said while looking down into her lovely amber eyes.
They continued to stare into each other's eyes, drawing closer with each tick of the clock, until Draco finally leaned down and pressed his lips lightly to hers in a soft goodnight kiss.
Hermione seemed to hesitate for a moment before standing up on her toes to get closer and deepen the kiss.
He could hardly believe it. Hermione Granger was allowing him to snog her! He had been dreaming of this moment ever since the Yule Ball when she walked in on Krum's arm. He pulled her closer, wrapped his arms around her, and slowly deepened the kiss further. He let his left hand travel up her side to rest on the side of her breast, and as he did, he suddenly felt her tremble in his arms before she pulled back with a gasp.
Draco looked down into her eyes. He registered her wide-eyed look of surprise and stepped back to apologize. "Hermione, I…I'm sorry, I didn't intend to…" he trailed off when she stepped close again and reached up and kissed him softly again.
He held her in his arms for a few moments more before releasing her.
Hermione looked up at him and voiced her concern, "Please don't be angry Draco, but it is just that Ron hurt me so badly, and I need some time to be sure that this is something that I want. Ron is already being unreasonable about us being nice to each other, can you imagine what he would be like if we got involved?"
"Draco smiled down at her and whispered, "We can take this as slow as you want. I would just like to have a chance. I know that I have a lot of making up to do, and I intend to start now. I am grateful just to be able to call you and Harry my friends. As for Ron, he had his chance and he blew it on that slag, Lavender Brown.
"But you are right; we will have a busy day tomorrow, so we had best get to bed. Good night Hermione."
Hermione replied in kind and the two went up to their rooms and readied themselves for bed, both knowing that they would get little sleep that night.