Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

Flashback:

Her excitement at her first day of Hogwarts. She had read all of her books already and had learnt several spells. Then meeting Harry and

Ron on the train. She had thought Ron was a bit foolish with that dud of a spell. Being sorted into Gryffindor. Fighting the troll but ending

up being friends with Ron and Harry. Fast Forward. Making Polyjuice Potion and turning into a cat. That odd blank in her memory when

she had been turned to stone. The mixed emotions of disappointment and relief when the exams were canceled. Fast Forward. The fear in

their 3rd year of Sirius Black. Their first great Defense against the Dark Arts Teacher, Lupin. Their bizarre journey down under the

weeping willow and to the Shrieking Shack to find out the truth about Sirius, Lupin, Peter, James, and Snape. The dangerous excursion

with illegal time tuning to rescue Sirius and Buckbeak. Fast Forward. The excitement and terrifying confusion of the World Cup. Harry's

strange entry into the Triwizard Tournament. Meeting Viktor Krum and dating him for a while. The Yule Ball in all its bitter sweetness.

Finding out about Moody's false identity. Fast Forward. The loads and loads of homework for the ever-approaching OWLS. Harry's

mysterious pains in his forehead. Ron's dad being bitten by the snake. The giant named Grawp. Professor Umbridge in all her slimy

toadness. Flying to the Ministry on Harry's whim only to be confronted by Death Eaters deep in the heart of the Department of Mysteries.

Fast Forward. And of course, consenting to Ron. Agreeing that, yes, she would be his girlfriend. If she didn't like it after all, she could

always leave right? Wrong. Wrong wrong wrong. Of course Ron had been all sweet and charming about it. Flowers and sweets, notes

and adoration were showered unceasingly upon her. She never saw it for what it was though. An overload of sweet charm and cunning

lies. Hmmm. Better luck next time. And there would be a next time. If she could just get herself out of this one. Of course, if and when the

time came that she was free, she didn't know if she ever wanted to have another thing to do with men ever again. End Flashback.

Hermione walked in through the double doors. It was good to be back here at Hogwarts.

Professor McGonnagall came up and said she needed a word with her and Mr. Malfoy immediately after the feast. Probably Head duties,

Hermione thought.

She thought of Draco and how it would be to have to work with him all this year. A shiver went down her spine that she suspected had

nothing to do with the cold. Or nerves.

Putting it from her mind, Hermione wound through the mass of students in the Great Hall and finally made it to the Gryffindor table. Ron

motioned her over to a seat right next to him. Yay.

"What did McGonnagall want?" Ron asked in his prying way. "Oh, nothing really. She just needed to see the Head boy and me after the

feast. Probably Head duties." Hermione replied.

"I see." Said Ron. Hermione hated when he said things like that in that tone of voice. She was always unsure of what he was feeling or

thinking. He probably planned it that way.

Professor Dumbledore stood up. The hall gradually went silent. "I want to welcome you all to a new year at Hogwarts." He said. The hall

clapped its appreciation. "Now, for our first years, a few basic rules. The Forbidden Forest is off limits to all students. There is to be no

magic in the hallways between classes. There is a very long list of items not permitted on the school grounds of which you can view in

entirety in Mr. Filch's office." There was a bit of laughter. "I would like to introduce our new Head Boy, Draco Malfoy and Head Girl,

Hermione Granger." They both stood up. Hermione cautiously glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. He was looking right at her.

Her heart gave an uninvited jolt. She hoped Ron hadn't seen her glance. They sat back down. "They do have the power to take points

away and will be patrolling the halls at night. So you would do well to keep out of trouble." Dumbledore went on to introduce the prefects

and after a few more statements, ended and the feast began.

Hermione was glad to be able to finally eat. After helping herself, she began to eat quietly not feeling much like conversing.

"You're strangely quiet, Hermione." Quipped Harry. "Is something wrong?"

"No. I'm just tired. Being Head Girl is going to be difficult." Hermione said. "Not that I regret it." She added quickly.

Harry laughed. "The day you regret extra work will be the day I renounce Quidditch."

Hermione threw in a halfhearted laugh. The feast was winding down. Soon, she would be in a nice cozy bed and could just sleep sleep sleep.

The feast finally ended and Hermione was about to make her way over to McGonnagall when Ron caught her arm. "When you're done,

come by Gryffindor tower. I want to see you before you go to bed." Thanks for saying please. Or at least asking if I wanted to.

Inconsiderate jerk. Hermione had some justifiably rude comments drifting across her brain. I hope this doesn't have anything to do

with my glancing at Draco. "Ok. I'll be there as soon as I'm done with McGonnagall." "Bye." And she left for McGonnagall's office.

Hermione was walking along the corridor lost in her own thoughts when she ran unexpectedly into Draco. "Watch where you're going,

Granger." Wow. A biting remark.

"Malfoy!" Hermione said angrily. But then decided against saying what she wanted to.

They resumed walking and soon reached McGonnagall's door. It was locked.

"She must still be in the Great Hall." Hermione said. After a pause, Draco said, "I'm rather bored just sitting here."