Disclaimer: Harry Potter is not mine..(sadly lol)
Chapter 7: Fresh Start
I was sitting in the back of the car, facing the door so I could see who was coming in. Mainly I wanted to watch Hermione walk in. I was going to try to gauge her reaction, to see how much of a chance I had. I heard McGonagall say something about me being head boy, and as soon as she said that the car door opened and I heard the Weasley girl say "Oh my god." I looked up into the eyes of Hermione. She didn't look mad, or disappointed, just kind of shocked. Understandable, seeing as I am the guy who used to torment her all the time, and someone she couldn't get along with. I nodded to her and Weasley. McGonagall then said, "Welcome Miss Granger, you can go and sit with Mr. Malfoy, as you are both Heads. Miss Weasley, sit anywhere else." Hermione sat beside me, and I could smell her. She smelt of a fragrant meadow with a million different flowers, and clean air. I could smell her for hours, and would never get enough. It was overpowering where you wanted to scoot away to get some fresh air, but it was a little understated where you wanted to get closer to smell it better. About that time McGonagall started talking again. I had to force myself to listen and not think about how close Hermione was sitting to me. "Welcome to another year. Now I usually am not on the train, but seeing as this is my first year as Headmistress, I thought I would have a nice introduction for my Heads and Prefects, and personally tell you all about some changes at Hogwarts. Since the war destroyed a good bit of the castle, we saw this as the most opportune time to remodel a bit. The dormitories have been rearranged so the older students have rooms on the left side, and the younger is to the left. Now of course they are still separated for ladies and gentlemen. The ladies are at the top, and the men are at the bottom. There are also showers in each dorm, so four in total over all. There is also a Prefects bathroom at the very bottom of the tower, and it is the Gryffindor Prefect bathroom. Each house has their own. Now the majority of the classrooms are the same. Potions still in the dungeon, Astronomy still in the tower and so on. Now, if you don't already know, you will be paired up with someone from a different house to do your nightly rounds. The two Heads will obviously be paired together," as soon as McGonagall said that I looked over at Hermione to see her reaction. Besides her eyes getting large, she didn't react. She did look over at me, and I gave her another nod, trying not to give away anything yet. This was exactly as I hoped, that we would be paired together. McGonagall droned on about the rest of the pairs, but honestly I didn't care anymore what she said. I was paired with the person I really hoped, and nothing else to spoil my mood. "Now the only significant change to the classes is that all last year students will have a class together. Every house will be included. This is just like prep for adult life. We will teach you skills you need out in the career world, and help get you on the path you want for the rest of your life. No pressure. We will also be offering extra tutoring for NEWTS, and OWLS. The professors will be helping with that. Now I believe that is all, so begin on your cabin rounds, and I will get of this accursed train." With that she disapparated from the train.
I looked over at Hermione, "Well Granger, let's get this over with." She sighed and nodded. She looked out over the rest of the Prefects and said "Alright people, me and Draco will handle the rounds today, since it's just the train, you all go back to your friends, and we will see you later!" They dispersed, talking amongst themselves. Ginny walked up to Hermione and whispered something in her ear. Hermione turned tomato red, and slapped Ginny on the arm. She then turned to me and gestured out the door. We walked out from the front of the train just kind of looking in each car to make sure nothing was going on. I looked over at Hermione and said "So since we are paired up together, I figure we should make this easy on us both by being friends and not fighting all the time. I have let go of past grudges on you, and I feel you should know that I have changed my way of thinking, so I will no be harassing you with name-calling. I would also like to apologize for my behavior in the past." I looked over at her and saw that her jaw had dropped open. She looked at me like I had grown a second head. "Uh, well, okay, I guess. Nothing really I could say to make that any clearer. Thanks Malfoy." We didn't really talk the rest of the patrol. She just kind of kept to herself and it looked like she was in deep thought. I just looked ahead, wondering how this year was going to turn out. It seemed to be going good so far. I was paired with Hermione, I had told her that I didn't plan on being a total ass all year, she didn't run screaming when I told her sorry for the name calling previously, and she seemed comfortable around me. Once we got to the Slytherin end of the train, she turned to me, "Well, regardless if we are getting along, I still don't feel comfortable or welcome in the Slytherin car, so I will let you finish in here, and I will see you later at school." She then turned around and walked off to wherever she was sitting. I opened the car door and went to my seat by Blaise and Crabbe. I could hear Pansy Parkinson in the background whining and be bloody annoying about something to somebody. Thankfully it wasn't me. That girl was so obnoxious; I couldn't even stand her, which is saying something. I leaned over to Crabbe and Blaise and said, "Well I guess Parkinson didn't change any over the summer. Still as annoying as ever and trying to hang all over the first poor sap who looks at her. I will deffinetly be staying away from her this year." Blaise rolled his eyes and Crabbe snickered. Maybe this would be a good year.