Chapter Two
Hermione
Oh, how he infuriated me. I was so thrilled when I got the position of Head Girl. It was a goal I had set when I was in my first year, and I had finally achieved it. I stopped thinking it would happen with the war and everything else that had been going on. But after this summer, after everything that had happened this summer, it had. I couldn't have been happier. I didn't care who the Head Boy would be because I didn't think it would be a Slytherin, and that was all that mattered to me. Even if it was, by some crazy chance, I knew there were some in there who were dedicated to learning and didn't care all that much about partying like the rest of them. Dumbledore would surely pick one of them.
But no, of course not. It was Malfoy. How precious.
Fuck him.
Walking down the hallway on the train, checking everything out to make sure the students were okay and that everyone knew what was going on, it was a little mind numbing, something that I guess was good for me. I realized, by about the 10th compartment I checked, that I definitely should have properly apologized to McGonagall. I hated Malfoy, but she didn't deserve that kind of treatment from me.
I saw the compartment the boys were in, together with Luna Lovegood, Neville Longbottom, and Ron's younger sister Ginny. Our trio had grown quite a bit over the years. I vowed I would stop in there last so I could rant before I had to be separated to a different dorm for this year. Plus, Ron was a prefect (somehow…) so I had to make sure he was adjusting well.
It took me almost the full hour to scour my half of the train. I hadn't run into Malfoy, so I was hoping he took the other half. If not… Oh well. It happens. After interrupting 5 snogging couples and 2 more that already had their clothes off, I wasn't quite in the mood to look in any more compartments. When I opened the door to the compartment my friends were sharing, I was immediately greeted with smiles and Ginny saying, "Tell us everything."
So I did, and that lasted until we got to school. I forgot I had to talk to Ron, and it was already too late with everyone bustling around. I made another vow that I would get to it when the insanity of the first night was over.
When I stepped off the train, I could see the lights of Hogwarts flickering off in the distance. My breath caught in my chest for a minute; I had forgotten how much this place felt like home to me. After the last few months, I needed to feel it's security wrap around me. I only snapped out of my daydream when Ginny nudged me to tell me the carriages were here.
The feast went off without a hitch. Dumbledore gave his usual opening speech, warning about the Forbidden Forest, welcoming all the first years. It was nice, familiar. He then touched on the one thing all the students had waited for, the announcement that the war was over, and that this year was a time to celebrate. I glanced at the Slytherin table in the midst of the applause that had exploded around us all. There were fewer students there than ever before, but still more than I had expected. The kids that were there were the ones trying to pretend their family wasn't in jail for supporting the Dark Lord, or dead, or worse. It was like we were all just trying to get on with it and be normal for the first time since the Dark Lord had made his official appearance.
I realized I was still glancing over there when a pair of silver eyes latched on to mine. I almost couldn't pull away, but then I saw the familiar sneer. Malfoy was going to be the death of me this year, especially if he made me keep having these mood swings.
When the feast was over and we helped get everyone where they needed to go, McGonagall came over to where Draco and I waited, on ends of the entry to the hall. She led us both up a flight of stairs and down a hallway that was mostly abandoned classrooms. It was mainly the floor that teachers stayed on. The portrait they stopped at was of a summer field. It had one tree off to the side, and a young woman sat beneath it, almost sunbathing.
"Password?" the woman chimed in a clear, high pitched voice.
"Cassiopeia," Professor McGonagall said in a clear, teacherly tone. The portrait swung open revealing a spacious common room that had a fire already lit and books lining the walls. It was gorgeous. McGonagall led us into the space and said, "Now, Miss Granger, your room is to the left. Mr. Malfoy, yours is on the right. You share a bathroom, and there is a door in each of your rooms that leads to it. Your trunks are already upstairs. There is a kitchen, as you can see, and a large enough common room for the both of you. I ask that you respect each other's space, and figure out arrangements for visitors. You are both allowed to have them, of course. If you ever want anything in particular for the kitchen, leave a list on the table. A house elf will be by every Friday to tidy up and get the list and what not. Do either of you have any questions?"
When we both shook our heads, she bid us goodnight and left.
"Well, Granger, looks like this is it. I have some rules you have to follow- "I rolled my eyes, but he continued, "If there is ever a robe on my door, you are not to even consider knocking. You are not to touch any of my things, and all company must have at least a day's worth of notice before they come over. I take my showers in the morning, so you can work around that. Understand?"
"You plan on following your own rules except with regards to me, right? Don't touch my things, warn me about company…"
"Yes, Granger, I don't want this any more fucked up than it already is."
"Then, no, I don't have any more questions."
"Good."
He stalked off to his room, leaving me alone to ogle everything around me. It was a beautiful place, except for the one glaring problem: Malfoy was there as well.
