As soon as Harry got over the initial shock that was Draco Malfoy, he began his revenge. Before anyone could utter a sound, Harry punched Draco square in the face. Since Draco wasn't as strong as Harry obviously was, it took him a few moments to get off the floor. As soon as he did, though, Harry punched him again, this time in the stomach; knocking the wind right out of him.
Now, Hermione hated Malfoy as much as the next person. But she also hated fighting in a school environment...it was a misuse of education. "Harry stop!" she screamed, tugging on his shirt, pulling him from within reaching distance of Malfoy.
"Oh, does Potty here have a girlfriend to help him?" Malfoy smirkly commented.
"Shut up ferret!" Hermione snidely remarked.
"Oh, hit a sore note did I?" Malfoy questioned, quirking an eyebrow. When Harry and Hermione only stared daggers at him, his suspicions were confirmed. "Thought so."
Harry tried to get out of Hermione's grip, "Let me go 'Mione, he murdered Dumbledore!"
"For your information, Potty," Malfoy spoke up, "I never murdered anyone."
"Y-"
But before Harry could retort, the prefects started to file into the compartment. Hermione let go of Harry just as a Huffelpuff greeted them with a wave. Malfoy took this as a sign to slip out of Harry and Hermione's prying eyes. He quickly found a seat towards the back of the compartment where Pansy Parkenson was currently occupying and was enveloped by the shadows.
Harry, after exchanging some polite 'Hello's with the other prefects, searched the compartment for the ferret. Nothing. "Shit," he mumbled to himself. He then heard Hermione speak from beside him.
"Welcome prefects. May I be the first to say congratulations on your positions. But with great power comes great responsibility...as said in Spiderman." Hermione got a look of confusion from the crowd. But beside her, she heard Harry chuckle, which gave her the strength to continue, "I am Hermione Granger, and this" -she motioned to Harry- "is Harry Potter, and we will be your Heads this school year."
Hermione's speech was brilliant, in Harry's opinion. But, he was still stealing glances around the room, wanting to spot Draco in the crowd. He was pulled out of his expedition by Hermione's voice, "Would you like to add anything, Harry?" she asked, looking in his direction.
"Um...no...no, I think you covered it all, 'Mione." Harry said, smiling at her direction. She nodded and continued to speak;
"I have your patrolling schedule's, so see me before you leave." Hermione made her way to the door of the compartment, and handed each prefect his or her schedule. Draco, unfortunately, slipped by and wasn't seen nor heard by either of them.
"Where is the ferret?" Harry angrily asked, when the last prefect left the compartment.
"Just let it go, Harry. We'll see him at the feast." Hermione put a re-assuring hand on his shoulder. They both felt a tiny shock being sent through their bodies at the contact, so Hermione quickly pulled away.
They both had a moment of realization of what they had done just ten minutes ago...how awkward. They also both come to think what would've happened if Malfoy hadn't of come...oh what a pickle they were in.
"Umm...we should go back to the compartment." Harry suggested lightly.
"Y-yeah." Hermione shakily replied.
So they silently made their way down the narrow corridor, and passed compartments filled with anxious students awaiting the departure at Hogwarts. When they arrived inside the compartment, Ron and Luna were arguing about Thestrals and Ginny had her face in a Witch Weekly magazine. Harry and Hermione were noticed a few moments later when the three's attention was drawn to them.
"How was the meeting?" Ginny asked, her eyes just barley seen over her magazine.
"Fine." Harry and Hermione said in unison.
Ginny only nodded and got back to her reading. Luna spoke next, "Are you sure...you look a bit flushed."
Ginny, again, lifted her attention from her magazine to Harry and Hermione. Sure enough, they were slightly scarlet...at least in the cheeks. Ginny also noticed that Hermione's neck...appeared a purple spot...a bruise? No... Ginny thought to herself.
"Um...I'm fine...you 'Mione?" Harry answered, turning towards Hermione. He, also, noticed the hickie on her neck and became wide eyed. Harry swiftly scratched the right side of his neck.
Hermione was completely clueless until Harry scratched his neck. She saw it all the time in muggle movies; she had a hickie from her and Harry's heated snog session. She quickly moved her hair so that it covered the mark on her neck and answered Harry's question. "Yeah...why wouldn't I be?" she also answered with a question.
"I was just wondering..." Luna defended. Harry shook his head and Hermione rolled her eyes, they both took seats by their friends; Harry by Ron and Hermione by Ginny.
As Ginny felt the cushion beside her sink slightly by Hermione's weight, she thought, She is in so mutch trouble...
The rest of the train ride for Harry and Hermione was full of daring glances at the other. But every time they caught each other's eyes, they turned away and blushed. Nobody noticed this interaction...nobody except for Ginny. Harry and Hermione were both replaying their 'moment' in their heads, and they both thought about what might happen if Malfoy hadn't interrupted...
"We're here!" came Ron's voice, pulling Harry and Hermione out of their trance. Without another word, the foursome got off the train and headed for the Thestral-drawn carriages.
"Harry, wait!" Hermione whispered urgently to Harry. He felt the hair's on his neck stand up when Hermione's warm breath tickled his ear, but he answered nonetheless. "Yeah?"
"We are supposed to monitor everyone getting off of the train...ya know, show them their way and stuff." Hermione informed Harry.
"Oh yeah." Harry answered, even though he didn't know what there duties were. To be honest, he was too shocked at the discovery of becoming Head boy...
They both bid their friends farewell and headed off, standing in the middle of the platform and helping the younger years get onto the carriages and the boats. Harry looked down at the first and second years, and thought out loud, "Were we ever that small?"
Hermione was startled when Harry spoke. She answered nonetheless, but scarcely quiet, "We were..."
"Hard to imagine..." Harry spoke again, trying to engage her in conversation.
"Not really...after all...our first year was very memorable." Hermione said with a giggle present in her voice.
Harry couldn't think of anything to say...'Yeah, getting the Sorcerer's Stone out of Quirrel's hands was very exciting' didn't sound like such a smart remark. So, Harry just smiled back and continued to direct the first year's towards Hagrid...although he was kinda hard to miss. For some time they remained in silence, only exchanging an awkward look or two. When the platform was clear of all student's, Harry and Hermione found the carriage that contained Ron, Ginny, and Luna.
After ten minutes of small talk, and knowing glares from Ginny, the four students arrived at Hogwarts. They all flocked to the Great Hall and were welcomed with the same floating candles above their heads. But, instead of Dumbledore sitting at the head of the table, Pro- I mean, Headmistress Mcgonagle was occupying the seat.
Harry, Hermione, and Ron all found their usual seats at the Gryffindor table and waited until the first year's came into the hall. After about five minutes, they all heard the large doors to the Great Hall open, and about fifty first years came into the hall. Professor Sprout was leading them all in, glancing back every so often and giving the new students friendly smiles. The sorting hat was placed on the three-legged stool and Professor Sprout began to speak. "Now, when I call your name, you will come up here and be sorted into your houses." The first years glanced around, as the Great Hall fell silent.
"Allison, Danielle" Professor sprout said, and a scrawny little girl, who had curly blond and very pale skin. Harry found himself dosing off during the ceremony, despite constant nudges from Ron. Finally, after about thirty minutes of sorting, the last name was called, "Zillinski, Noah", he was sorted into Ravencalw.
"Now, I know that we are all very hungry, and with that I say...tuck in." Professor Mcgonagle said, raising her voice so that she was heard throughout the whole hall. After the last word was mentioned, she clapped her hands twice, and the feast began. Despite the gasps of the first years, the hall was quiet for a moment, but filled with conversation after everyone was finished picking what they wanted to eat.
Harry looked at Hermione more than once, admiring the way that she cut her food so delicately with her hands, lifted up to her mouth, and chewed it with her teeth. Oh how he wanted to be that peice of chicken...
"Harry?" Ginny asked from beside Hermione. At the sound of Harry's name, Hermione's head shot up, and she hastily swallowed her chicken that was currently in her mouth.
"Yeah?" Harry asked, his gaze turning to Ginny.
"Are you okay...you seemed to be st-"
"I'm fine." Harry cut-in, stopping Ginny mid-sentence. Ginny was startled at what Harry did, but shook it off when she noticed Ron was also listening into the conversation. So, Ginny nodded and went back to eating her second helping of green beans. Hermione and Harry's eyes met, and seem ed to connect for a moment, until they both looked down, so that no one would notice their strange behavior.
An hour later, Mcgonagle spoke once again, "Prefects, would you please lead your houses to the dormitories. And I would like to have a word with the Head Boy and Girl."
Harry and Hermione smiled at Ginny and Ron and headed to the heads table while pushing through the students heading in the opposite direction. They reached Mcgonagle after a few minutes of being pushed and shoved.
"Congratulations to both of you." Mcgonagle said with a smile, "As you are well aware, you both have to share a dormitory this year. And I bet you are wondering where that will be...so follow me." Mcgonagle started to walk at a hurried pace, so Harry and Hermione had to literally jog in order to keep up with her.
They reached the 3rd floor corridor, past the fat lady, and down a few more hallways, until they reached a portrait of a maiden in a deep violet dress. Mcgonagle spoke again while Harry and Hermione gripped their sides, "You may set your password as anything you please, just make sure it is secret...and don't tell anyone, unless you truly trust them." They both knew that she was talking about Ginny and Ron, she continued, "I trust that you will not abuse your power of having a shared dorm..." with that said, she turned and left.
"What did that mean?" Harry cluelessly asked.
Hermione smiled knowingly, but didn't reveal to him what she knew...too awkward. "What do you want the password to be?" she asked, changing the subject.
"Uhh..."
"How about Harmony?" Hermione asked, not giving Harry any time to think. Harry stared confusingly at Hermione before speaking.
"Huh?" was all he could muster.
"Uhh...I just like the sound of it is all," Hermione explained dumbly.
"Oh, well...sure...why not?" Harry said, "I can't think of anything." Harry said, smiling in her direction.
Hermione blushed and turned back to the portrait, "Harmony." The portrait nodded and opened itself up. Hermione and Harry both did a double take when they entered the room. It was all scarlet and gold, from the carpet to the bewitched ceiling (which was now currently a starry night side). The over-stuffed couches and chairs were lining the fireplace in a circle, wile the fire was burning a deep orange. There was a kitchen in the corner with a single table and two chairs, a counter and a scroll. Hermione picked it up and inscribed in neat calligraphy was 'Please place your order by writing down your food choices, allow two to five minutes for food to appear.'
At the front of the dorm was a single set of stone stairs that Hermione started to climb, followed by Harry. When they reached the top of the stairs, they came upon three sets of doors, the first had Hermione Granger engraved into it, the second was just a blank door, and the third had Harry Potter engraved into it. Hermione went into hers, Harry still on her trail. "Wow" they both said at once.
The room had polished a wooden floor with a violet ornate rug covering twp-thirds of it. The walls were a deep shade of lilac with posters of famous wizard authors on them, followed by a select few Quidditch posters. Her bed was on the far-right side of the room, a dark wood one with satin violet covers and pillows. There was a desk whose wood matched the bed and was stacked with books and a single lantern. Her wardrobe was on the opposite side of the room, already packed with her clothes.
They both noticed a door on the right side, a few feet from her bed and opened it slightly. It led to a washroom that was completely wood and stone. It was medium-sized, slightly larger then her bathroom at home in width, but it was fairly long in size. The only reason that was, was because of the long counter, at which two sinks were placed a meter in length. Hermione's washroom supplies on one side, and Harry's on the other. There was a single stone shower, with a sliding glass door, and an in ground bath.
On the end wall of the washroom, they noticed another door. Harry went first this time, opening it and gasping. Hermione followed close behind and also gasped. It was Harry's room. His room was almost the exact same as Hermione's, but his walls, bed, and carpet were all different shades of green to match his eyes. The walls were aligned with pictures of he, Hermione, and Ron, and Quidditch posters too. Right at the end of his room was a very large window that indented into the wall so that he could sit down...Hermione thought she noticed one like that in her room. On the left of the window was a cage for Hedwig, big enough for her to fly around.
"Welcome home." Harry said.
"Yeah...home..." Hermione said, "Uhh...Harry can we talk?"
"Sure."
He said, sitting down on his bed and motioning her to sit next to
him. You
can do this
she thought to herself, you
were put in Gryffindor...don't be a coward.
"Hermione"
"Harry"
They said each other's name in unison. "You first." Hermione said, she didn't want to speak right now...she will later...when Harry's done.
"Okay..." You can do this... He thought to himself. "It's about what happened on the train..."
"With Malfoy?" Hermione asked, her eyes furrowed.
"No, before that..."
"Oh." Hermione said, blushing.
"What I'm trying to say is..." Harry gathered up all of the courage he had one more time, and let it all out, "I think...I love you."
