Chapter 2: Devilish Smiles

Hermione stepped off the train and looked at the sky. The clouds were darkening the sky and threatening rain. She couldn't get the look that Malfoy had given her out of her mind. It was almost as if his eyes, as they had surveyed her almost naked body, had told her something…something that she doubted very many people experienced. She shook her head and tried to forget about it, chance were he had already.

She could see Hagrid showing the first years to the boats and smiled to herself, remembering the same trip she had taken herself across the lake 7 years ago. She almost wanted to follow them but instead she made her way to the horseless carriages.

She spotted Ginny and got into a carriage with her and Harry, but Ron was no where to be seen…

"Hi Hermione!" Neville climbed in after her and the door shut behind him, "congrats on becoming head girl! I knew it would be you! Who's head boy?"

"Draco Malfoy" Ginny said the name with a look that suggested she had just swallowed a slug

"Uh oh…" Neville said, looking sympathetic

"Hermione, I know I've already said this a hundred times but"

"It's alright Harry" Hermione said smiling, "I'll be fine"

"What?" Neville asked looking worried

"The head rooms are connected" Ginny said, "they have their own bedrooms and bathrooms but they have a connected common room and Harry-"

"Harry doesn't think it's a great idea" Hermione ended

"Well it bloody isn't! What's Dumbledore playing at anyway? We all know Malfoy and his family are death eaters and its common knowledge that you are on The Order's side, he could attack you! It's dangerous!"

Neville nodded

"Harry the only way to get out of it is if I give up my head girl position, and if I want to go to Merlin's Academy for Healers then I can't afford to loose that"

"I know, it's just…"

"She'll be fine Harry" said Ginny, linking arms with him, "Voldemort is loosing power daily and Dumbledore says it's only a matter of time until he leaves Britain and tries to gain power in other parts of the world"

"Exactly! So he's gonna be pretty desperate and he could order Malfoy to do anything!"

"Did you see Ron?" Ginny ignored Harry with the air as if she had had this argument with him too many times to continue it again

"No…I don't know what happened to him, the last I saw of him he was leaving the compartment to go change…" Hermione answered, her stomach knotting as she said it

"That's odd…" Ginny shrugged and began to draw circles on Harry's open hand. He allowed her to for a few seconds and then snapped it shut trapping her fingers and sending her into giggles

Hermione envied their closeness. This should have been her and Ron arriving together, cuddling closely. But Ron was still mad at her it seemed, and she didn't exactly know why.

Whatever.

The carriage bumped to a stop and she, Neville, Ginny and Harry tumbled out and joined the mass of students making their way into the castle and towards the Great Hall. She looked around for Ron's tall frame and red hair but couldn't see it and ended up knocking into Professor McGonagall.

"There you are Ms. Granger!" she said in startled surprise, "quickly now follow be so you and Mr. Malfoy can meet with Professor Dumbledore before the feast starts"

She nodded and noticed Draco standing to the left of her, pointedly avoiding her eye contact. She rolled her eyes and followed Professor McGonagall out of the entrance and around to a room she assumed was just off of the Great Hall.

She had never been in here before and noticed the comfortableness of it. There was one small table with four chairs, a fire, some paintings on the wall and a comfy looking armchair.

"This is one of the rooms that you will have access to as head boy and girl" Professor McGonagall said smiling her thin lipped smile, "you can use it at anytime of day which gives you the freedom to eat when you like and away from the Great Hall's busyness. Just simply say what you want to the plate and it will appear"

Hermione couldn't help thinking what extra work this probably would be for the house elves but she thought it best not to say anything

"I only ask that you dine with the rest of the school for feasts and important events"

Hermione nodded and noticed Draco shifting his weight from one foot to the other in a very impudently bored way. She heard the door click and looked around to see Professor Dumbledore entering the room. Old and wizened but his startlingly blue eyes never missing a beat

"Tired of being head boy already Mr. Malfoy?"

Draco straightened and said…with a touch of sarcasm, "no sir"

Dumbledore smiled and said, "as you know, the heads of houses share a common room and a password which Professor McGonagall will lead you to now before the feast"

Hermione and Draco nodded silently

"you both know the rules and responsibilities that are required of a head boy and girl and I assure you that I shall not hesitate to remove both title and privileges should either be breached or abused" Dumbledore said seriously "in these present times the students will look to you for guidance and an example of behavior so I expect that you will excel all expectations" He smiled, "alright Minerva, I think I've lectured them enough…you can take them to their rooms now" He nodded to them and exited

"come along, quickly now" McGonagall said, hurrying from the room with Hermione and Draco on her tail

Her stride was so fast and long that Hermione found it hard to keep up with her and soon found herself falling several paces behind. Draco was casually walking next to her, not hurrying at all. She couldn't stand the awkwardness of it…only a few hours ago he had seen her in her knickers for Christ sake! But no, she couldn't think about that anymore. He had already forgotten it, she assured herself. And besides, this would be exactly what he would want…to have her beat herself up about it. She was sure he had forgotten.

"Quite an example you set for our fellow students back on the train. Do you think they'd dismiss you for being a tease?"

Hermione jumped and turned beat red, unable to stop herself looking sideways at Draco as if hoping it had been someone else speaking. But who else? Professor McGonagall?

He wasn't looking at her, but rather ahead and down the hall, a devilish smile playing on his lips.

Hermione made an angry noise like a cat, as if about to say something but she was brought to an abrupt halt and almost ran into Professor McGonagall.

In front of them was a huge portrait of an annoyed looking yet beautiful lady in a white dress with a dove fluttering above her.

"This is the entrance to the head dormitories, and this is Venus" McGonagall said, gesturing to the woman "your password is 'equality' but you may change it whenever you like so long as both of you are here when you do"

"Please miss, can you please tell Filtch to paint this god-forsaken bird out of the picture…its driving me mad!"

McGonagall ignored her and said, "Equality"

Venus rolled her eyes, but swung open for them to reveal a short staircase. The three of them mounted it and entered a room decorated in purple with the Hogwarts seal on several tapestries. A fire was crackling merrily and Hermione dearly wished to curl up next to it with a good book and some peace. Like she was going to get any peace sharing a common room with Draco Malfoy.

"Off of this room are your separate bedrooms or bathrooms"

"Do we have individual passwords for them?" Hermione asked hopefully

McGonagall looked taken aback, "uh, no you don't Ms. Granger…but I trust as head boy and girl it wont be necessary…" she looked at Malfoy who looked like Christmas had come early, "am I correct Mr. Malfoy?"

"Absolutely" Draco said, grinning

McGonagall turned to lead them out of the dormitory and down to the feast and Hermione began to follow her, marching past Draco with an air of defiance which slightly faltered as he whispered in her ear, "tough break Granger, lets hope I don't walk in on you without knickers next time". He flashed her another devilish smile and followed McGonagall out of the room.

This, she decided, was going to be a tough year.

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A/N: look at me updating already!

How do you like it so far? Is anyone interested in seeing Draco's POV or should I stick to Hermione's and leave Draco a mystery? The more reviews the better!

Happy Holidays!

Luv Charlito