A/N: Well, as you can see, this story is going to be my take on the tried and tested HB/HG scenario. ;)
My chapters are comparatively short because I can't get rid of the habit of writing them as one-shots. Word count might only increase gradually.
Hope you like the next chap :)
Chapter 5
Harry's black mood permeated from his skin in the form of thick waves of destructive fury as they made their way to Gryffindor commons. Ron had long started feeling lethargic now that his hunger was satiated and the misleading quickness in his step gave away his eagerness to fall into bed.
Hermione skimmed through the list of her Head Girl duties which were apparently not as simple as she had imagined.
Throughout the years, the Head students of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry have been elected on the basis of their intelligence, academic excellence, by virtue of leadership, and a fine moral character. In addition, the Heads are required to bear patience, discipline and serve as model examples for their fellow students.
Following are the duties and responsibilities of a Head Boy/Girl:
1) Supervision of the entire body of existing prefects. You are to hold regular weekly meetings in the Heads' Office and oversee their duty/conduct.
2) Provision of a weekly patrolling rota which shall include: name, year, house and floor of the prefect(s) assigned.
3) Holding charge for all Hogsmeade visits; collection of forms of guardian's informed consent belonging to Third year students.
4) Patrolling of open grounds. (Date and time of patrols are to be cross-checked by the House Heads)
5) Assignment of detentions; keeping an accurate record of detentions served in the Infirmary, the Owlery, Quidditch grounds, and the Forbidden Forest.
6) Confiscation of any unidentified magical/non-magical object and providing a written report to the caretaker.
7) Distribution of a copy of timetables to the students.
8) Displaying of academic/extra-curricular/regulatory notices on the student notice board.
9) Submission of review to the House heads and the staff teachers; recording the existing number of house points on a weekly basis.
10) A monthly report is to be submitted to the headmaster in person.
Note:
The list of duties is tentative and subject to the approval of the headmaster.
Head students shall be granted a private, password regulated, single person dormitory in their respective house commons.
These rooms shall connect to a common Heads' office.
Access to the Prefects' Bathroom situated on the Fifth floor.
Head persons reserve the right to deduct House points from the prefects.
Hermione wondered if she was going to have any time for herself and her reading for N.E.W.T.s, in between juggling duties and the pending research for Horcruxes. The looming threat of her partnership with the ill-tempered Head Boy weighed down heavily upon her, if the train ride was any indication. She had an ominous feeling that she was going to have to do it all alone. Just like always.
"Trust the slimy git to get his hands on something he doesn't deserve." Ron muttered next to her, as if reading her thoughts, as they entered the Gryffindor common room situated on the seventh floor.
"What else could you expect from Snape?" Harry grunted "Probably part of his grand scheme to bring his master over to the castle and take over. What was Dumbledore thinking?"
"Harry…"
"Don't, Hermione. I'm sick of this elusiveness. It's almost like he deliberately keeps dodging me to go off for one of his crazy missions. Well, here I am trying to learn a bunch of spells and try to get a hold of my magic while Voldemort prepares to destroy the whole bloody country! I don't care if he snoops in my head! I don't care if he's got an army of dementors or trolls or those inferi! I want to fight him. And I want to know how!"
"Harry, you're being ludicrous. I don't want to be the one to say this but Voldemort has killed and tortured hundreds of people. Your parents weren't killed for nothing, they died saving you. How can you blame Dumbledore for wishing what's best for you?"
"I don't need his wishes. I need answers!"
She sighed. "Then you should talk to Professor Snape. You heard what he said an hour ago."
"But why do I have to? Why did he leave? Why couldn't he tell me for once?"
As smart as she was, she held no answers to her friend's naïve questioning. Dumbledore's agile mind operated on a plane different from other lowly mortals and nobody could tell what it had brewing. But she trusted him more than anyone and she knew that his plans would unfold once Harry realized that it was not solely about himself.
"You've just got to sleep on it, mate. Talk to the old bat in the morning. He's probably waiting for you to show up, banging at his door. Why give him the pleasure?"
Strangely enough, Ron's advice seemed to have the desired effect. Harry nodded thoughtfully and began trudging up the stairs to his dormitory.
Baffled, but not beyond belief, she stared after them. Boys.
She glanced at the parchment in her hand and looked around. The common room stood empty save for a few Third Years who dozed on the sofas.
Her searching gaze zeroed upon the narrow passage beneath the stairway leading to the girls' dormitories. It was lit by a single torch. Suddenly Hermione felt very lonely. She walked down the carpeted hallway which was devoid of the common room's rich warmth and stopped in front of a red drapery. Its shimmery contour reminded her of Harry's Invisibility Cloak.
She extended one probing finger towards it. At her touch, the curtain parted with an elegant swish to reveal an equally elegant portrait of a handsome knight dozing softly in a chair. He had golden, wavy hair and something about his refined features made her think of…
No, that couldn't be right. Godric Gryffindor's hair was light brown which had always been covered by a velvet wizard's hat, the same one which sat in the Headmaster's Office now known as the Sorting Hat. She took in his half-closed eyes, sculpted cheekbones, bow shaped mouth and fine clothing. His sword rested beside him. Why did he look so familiar?
Merlin, she was staring at Sir Leonard Gryffindor, his younger brother!
As she watched, the knight's eyes opened fully and an alluring smile lit up his face.
"You seem to have reached the correct conclusion, miss." He spoke in a deep, rich voice.
Her eyes widened. "Can you-?...did you just read my mind?"
He chuckled. "No, I saw the realization upon your face."
He gave her person a cursory glance. "And what do they call you?"
She debated if there was anything improper about his manner but couldn't bring herself to care.
"I'm Hermione Granger."
He cocked his head to the side thoughtfully.
"Granger…muggleborn I presume. You have that transcendental look about you."
"It favors you", he added glancing at her frown. She smiled.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Sir."
"Do call me Leonard."
She stayed silent.
"Well, I give you my heartiest congratulations for the esteemed position. What do you wish your password to be?"
His voice was doing a number on her already tired brain.
"I…I think 'Gryffindor' will be fine."
He grinned.
"So 'Gryffindor' it shall be. Goodnight, Hermione Granger."
Hearing her own name in such a way made heat crawl up her face.
"G'night…Leonard."
The portrait gave way to reveal her new room. She climbed inside and slowly made her way to the bed. She heard the portrait door closing. Five minutes later, she realized that her heart had now returned to its normal pace. Laughing at her own idiocy, she took in her surroundings for the first time.
The room was ornate and spacious. It was bathed in an orange glow from the fireplace. Done in wooden panelling, the walls gave way to reveal a ceiling similar to the Great Hall's. The maroon tapestry stretched wall-to-wall and complimented the queen-sized bed on which she sat. She stretched her hands to feel the red and gold comforter, marveling its lush texture.
The ensemble was complete with a mahogany desk, an armchair and a bay window with seating. She spied two doors. One was opened slightly to reveal a small, built-in bathroom. She stood up to inspect the second one, expecting a long stairway beyond it, leading to the Heads' office. Instead she found another narrow hallway. This one was significantly colder. Twenty steps later, the passage widened into a brightly lit room.
She gaped in disbelief. She now stood in the Heads' common office which, by common knowledge was known to be located on the first floor. Another wonder to add to the castle's magic. Looking around, she saw three similar hallways which must be leading up to the other Houses.
A throaty giggle made her look over.
Oh, Lord.
Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson already occupied the wide central table, actively making out. Pansy's head was thrown back with her long, black hair spread out like the medusa's snakes. Malfoy was sucking on her neck, his hands unhurriedly inching up her skirt and his blond hair appeared mussed. They must have been doing this for some time.
Well, time up.
She picked a thick hardbound book from a nearby shelf, walked up to them and dropped it on the table.
The noise made Pansy jump out with a yelp, making Malfoy fall back on his ass.
"OW!"
"Hello, I've been calling your name for a while, didn't you hear me?," she inquired sweetly.
"You stupid, mudblood BITCH!" He screeched up at her.
Ugh.
She turned to Pansy.
"Get out before I deduct a thousand points."
She must have been quite dazed from her session, as she sped out without a word of protest. She noticed that she used the main entryway and not the one to Malfoy's room.
Satisfied at her deed, she looked down at him.
"If I catch you fooling around one more time-"
"What?" He interrupted, "Pissed because you aren't getting any?"
She snorted at his ignorance.
"This is an office, Malfoy. In case you forgot, you've got an independent room much suitable for your debauchery."
He ignored her.
"I'm right, aren't I? You're jealous."
"Whatever floats your boat, Malfoy. I don't particularly care. Just keep it all away from me."
"We were plenty away from you, Granger. You're the one who walked in sniffing after me. Well, you've got your heart's wish-" he grinned maliciously, "complete with a visual."
She stared at him, uncomprehending.
"Well, go on…Go up your little room."
His nasty ferret speech was getting on her nerves.
"You look quite nice at my feet. I suppose you should stay that way. Petrificus Totalus."
His smirk froze on his face.
She nodded back at him, and made her way back to her room.
Her fatigue must have finally caught up to her. Sleepily, she changed into her pyjamas and slipped into the bed. The warmth cocooned her instantly. Breathing in the subtle smell of fresh bedding, she fell into deep, peaceful slumber.
Tell me what you think!