(a/n) First off, disclaimer: Nothing, no characters, buildings, anything, belong to anyone other than the wonderful J.K. Okay, that is a little too general, but mostly everything belongs to her except several characters and places… oh and the plot.
Now that that's out of the way, this is my first ff, so I hope you like it. Constructive criticism is always welcomed. So here it is, chapter one:
Standoffs and Namings
The soft summer breeze gently lapped against the many bodies at Kings Cross Station. It was finally that time of year when several hundreds teens, ushered by their parents, would be making their way toward Platform 9 ¾ and the Hogwarts Express; Hermione Granger, accompanied by her two best friends Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley, was no exception.
As the three teens made their way through the barrier, their jaws, once again, dropped. The bright red steam engine sat in front of them, a light stream of steam escaping the stack at the front. The trio exchanged look and continued forward.
Hermione took a hand from each boy and gave it a light squeeze; this was the last time they would step on the train and head toward Hogwarts.
Once on the train, the Gryffindors made their way to the back in search of an unoccupied compartment. After finding one, the three carried their trunks and went inside, soon to be followed by Ginny Weasley, Neville Longbottom, and Luna Lovegood.
Five minutes after the friends were settled into the compartment, the train lurched forward and the trio's seventh and final trip to Hogwarts began.
Twenty minutes had passed when Hermione caught a glimpse of Harry's wrist watch. "My Heads meeting!" she exclaimed, hastily standing and exiting the compartment.
She made her way to the front of the train where she arrived at a compartment labeled "Heads." She then straightened out her clothing, opened the door, and entered the compartment.
The newly-made Headmistress, Minerva McGonagall, and the Head Boy were already seated, but it appeared to Hermione that they had just arrived too.
Hermione, although uneasy about it, was not surprised to see Draco Malfoy as Head Boy. As she walked in, the boy quirked and eyebrow and smirked as if to say, "you're life is going to be hell this year."
McGonagall seemed to notice the rivalry when she said, "Hermione, dear, please sit and join our little chat." Hermione obeyed the woman and sat next to her.
"Mr. Malfoy and I were just exchanging our 'hellos' so you arrived with perfect timing," she said smiling. Hermione smiled back and leaned against the back of her seat.
"Now, as I am positive you have noticed, the two of you have been chosen as Head Girl and Head Boy this year," she began. "I must admit, this choice was a very easy one for me to make: there was next to no competition at all!" Hermione blushed and bowed her head toward the floor.
"As you know, Head duties aren't just a walk in the park: work is actual work involved. Once we arrive at Hogsmeade, for example, you two will be in charge of getting the first years to the boats, the second through sixth years to the carriages, and the seventh years staying just outside the train," she gave a slight smile in both students' direction. "There is a special treat for seventh years this year."
Hermione and Draco exchanged momentary looks of confusion when McGonagall stood and left the compartment with a simple "goodbye."
The two Heads sat in an awkward silence not speaking and not daring to look at the other.
"Well, mudblood, looks like you get to be honored with my presence until we get to Hogsmeade," Draco drawled in his normal, cocky tone.
Hermione rolled her eyes and scoffed. "As if, ferret boy. I'm going back to my compartment to change."
Draco faked hurt as he winced at her words. "That was biting, Granger. Really, where do you get such… great comebacks?" She asked, a trade mark smirk playing on his face.
"You asshole!" was all Hermione managed to say before leaving the compartment and heading toward the compartment full of her closest friends.
Once arriving, she opened the door and was hit by a wall of laughter. Unaware of what had just happened, she took a look around. By the looks of it, something had happened to Ron; his cheeks were as red as his hair and his head hung low in shame.
"What's so funny?" Hermione question, only to find the laughter grew louder after asking. "FINE! Don't tell me! I only came here to change anyway!" She said, annoyance growing with every word.
She walked over to her trunk and pulled out her school uniform. After telling her friends not to look, she pulled off her hoody and jeans and pulled on her uniform and robes.
Once changed, Hermione left the compartment without even saying goodbye. She headed back toward the Heads compartment, hoping Draco had already left.
She was disappointed to find him in the same spot he was when she left him.
"What, mudblood? Friends don't wan you anymore?"
"No, ferret, I just wanted to nap and there wasn't room. Why aren't you with your friends? Or don't you have any?" She snapped. Draco merely shrugged as a response.
Several minutes later Hermione was half asleep on the bench when Draco stood abruptly.
"Whas this 'bout?" She asked with only one eye open.
"I have to change, we're almost there. Close your filthy eyes and don't peak." Hermione grunted. "I know, I know, I'm irresistible, but really, it's just not proper." He smirked and changed into his school uniform as well.
The train came to a halt causing Hermione to roll off the edge of her bench and onto the floor of the compartment. As she hit the ground she jolted awake and looked around. Draco was sitting on his bench laughing hysterically at the event he just watched occur.
Hermione blushed a deep shade of red and stood up.
As she stood, she noticed Draco's laugh grow louder. She turned to see what was so funny when she realized her skirt had become bunched from her fall, revealing her undergarments and her legs.
"Geeze, Granger!" You love showing off your disgusting mudblood body, don't you?" Hermione gave him a confused look so he continued. "First your tits and stomach, now your ass and legs."
Hermione blushed deeper and fixed her skirt, "'tits and stomach?'"
"Yeah, next time you change in a compartment, make sure you shut the blinds." Draco clutched his stomach he was laughing so hard.
Hermione was so embarrassed that she practically ran from the compartment to help the students make it to their proper places.
Once all the students, except for the seventh years, were on their way toward the castle, McGonagall cleared her throat and began to speak. "Now, as you all know, this will be your final year at Hogwarts. This year we've decided to try something new, an experiment, if you will." A low murmur spread through the students until McGonagall called for silence. "You students will be our guinea pigs.
"This year, every seventh year student will receive a slip of parchment with the name of a first year on it. This name will be the name of the student you will mentor, tutor, and show around the school this year." Another buzz ran through the crowd. "Also, because you will be devoting so much time toward this child, no seventh year will have classes on Fridays, extending your weekend by a day for the benefit of your studies." A small ripple of excitement made its way around the station.
"I'm now going to distribute the slips and then we will head toward the school for the sorting and the feast."
The headmistress then walked around the students tapping the palm of their hands with her wand so a slip of parchment appeared.
Hermione stood at the back of the crowd with Ron and Harry. They were patiently waiting their turn when they heard, and felt, Draco pushing his way through the crowd. As he passed her, Hermione stuck out her foot, causing him to stumble and fall to his knees. Several people near by clapped and cheered as Hermione, Harry, and Ron laughed their way to tears.
Draco got to his feet and brushed off his robes. Once he was straightened out, he turned toward Hermione and glared at her.
"Filthy mudblood, how dare you touch me!?" She spat.
"Filthy deatheater, how dare you talk to me!?" She shot back. A dead silence hit the crowd as they waited for Draco's reaction.
He smirked and took several steps closer so that his mouth was mere inches from Hermione's ear. "You just wait mudblood," he said just loud enough for her to hear. "I'll get you for this; oh I'll get you back." He finished through clenched teeth before turning on his heel, receiving his slip, and walking away.
Hermione let a triumphant smile tug at her mouth as McGonagall tapped her palm and a slip of parchment appeared. Hermione then turned toward Ron and Harry, waiting for them to receive their names.
The trio made their way to the castle without much talking. But, about halfway there, Hermione stopped in her tracks.
"What's up?" Ron asked as he too stopped.
"We haven't looked at our slips yet," she responded as she unfolded the square of parchment in her hand.
"Lillyana DeGarche," Hermione read out loud, "sounds very Italian." The two boys nodded in agreement.
"Ryan Bones. I wonder if he's related to Susan." Harry wondered aloud.
"Maybe," Ron said as he opened his own parchment. "Aaron Creevey." He looked to Harry, "at least you didn't get the third Creevey!" The three laughed all the way up to the castle.