Of all the rotten luck. Hermione pinched herself several times, checking that she wasn't stuck in a nightmare. Why him? What had he ever done that was so good? He must have paid them. That's the only way McGonagall would have chosen him. But surely she wouldn't accept a bribe from Malfoy.

Hermione was rooted to the spot, her thoughts reeling.

"Miss Granger? Is something wrong?"

Hermione's head snapped up at the sound of the Headmistress' voice.

"I'm fine. Sorry."

"I must say, you aren't making a very good first impression. Please, pay attention." Hermione lowered her head.

A snicker came from across the room. Draco Malfoy. The blonde ferret. Hermione snarled at the boy.

"Mr Malfoy and Miss Granger will make up a four week roster. There are three different shifts. The morning shift includes checking that everyone has left their dorms by eight thirty. The evening shift is to check that everyone is in their dorms and lights out at curfew. The last shift is the weekend shift. The people on duty will do room checks as well as organising mini-events for their houses.

"This year we're trying something new. We want to give the Heads more responsibility and that will start by them having to Hogsmeade trips." She looked over the top of her glasses at Hermione and Malfoy before continuing. "It's not a great deal of effort. You just have to choose dates and, along with the Prefects, keep the rest of the students in order, as there will be fewer professors accompanying you all."

A stack of parchment handed out two pages to each student.

"This has all the information you will need. If you have any problems, talk to the Heads. Oh, before you go, one last thing. If you are doing anything that sets a bad example, you will get a pink slip. Three of those and you get your post taken from you. That's all."

Hermione stood up to leave when McGonagall called her back.

"I have to talk to you two," she said, waving Malfoy back. "I know that the both of you know about separate bathrooms for Prefects, but there is also a dorm. It's only for the Heads. After the feast, the Prefects will show the first years to their dorms and I will show you to yours. You may go now. There's only five minutes until we reach Hogsmeade Station, so get into your school robes." She pointed at Hermione's Muggle outfit of dark jeans and a purple long sleeved shirt and Malfoy's black robes.

Hermione gave a slight nod in the direction of the professor and left the magnificent carriage, Malfoy hot on her heels.

"This is going to be interesting, Granger." Malfoy chuckled darkly and shoved her out of the way with his shoulder.

Hermione glared at the blonde and stalked off to where her friends were waiting. She entered the apartment to find Ginny and Harry curled into each other in the corner of the compartment, Ron in another corner staring out the window, and Neville trying to ignore the couple and depressed boy he was with.

"So who's Head Boy, Hermione?" Neville asked while opening a chocolate frog.

Hermione grimaced. "Malfoy," she spat.

The frog slipped out of Neville's hands and hopped away. Everyone in the compartment, including a silent Ron, stared at Hermione, stunned.

"You're kidding, right?" Neville asked nervously. Hermione shook her head.

"How, in the name of Merlin, are you going to deal with that?" Ginny managed to spit out.

"You must have been traumatised!" Harry scooped some sweets off the seat and held them out to Hermione. "Here, have some sugar. You're going to need the energy."

Hermione looked unsurely at the treats. There wasn't any way to get out of the Feast and it was surely going to put her intake over her daily limit if she accepted. She shook her head and stared out the window into the glossy black night.

"Please welcome our new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, Professor Winston." A middle aged man of average height with cropped brown hair stood up and a round of applause rang throughout the Great Hall. "Now, enjoy your meal." Professor McGonagall ended her short speech and sat down.

Hermione surveyed the food around her. Roast beef, chicken, and an assortment of salads and soups were the closest things to her. Meat was out, much too fatty. There was chicken, tomato, vegetable and lamb soup. The warm aroma caused Hermione to reach out and spoon tomato soup into her bowl. She held her spoon up to her lips savouring its heat.

"Is that all you're going to have?" Ginny asked a half hour later when Hermione set down her spoon.

She glanced cautiously up at her friend, unsure of her intentions. "Yes. Why?"

Ginny shrugged and went back to her plate of assorted food. Hermione shuddered at the food and looked away, up at the ceiling. It was hidden in heavy, dark clouds. Drops of rain fell, then disappeared before they got close to the people in the Hall. She grinned and looked back down at her friends. The awe of the Hall was never lost on Hermione.

A sharp clap pulled the attention of the chattering students to the staff.

"Before you all leave for your beds, I have one more announcement. That is, the Head Boy and Girl. Most of you have probably already found out but this year's Heads are Mr Draco Malfoy of Slytherin and Miss Hermione Granger of Gryffindor. Congratulations and goodnight." McGonagall nodded her head and walked to the front of the Hall to show Malfoy and Hermione to their dorm.

The three were silent on their long walk to the painting of a chipmunk lounging against a tree.

McGonagall turned to them with a stern look on her face. "I know this will be difficult for the both of you, but there is no reason for you to not get along. I know you will figure out your issues. Now, there is no password for this painting yet, but you will set that soon. Also, you have passwords for your rooms. To set them, all you have to do is tap, with the knuckles of you left hand, three times on the right of the frame and think your password and it will set itself. Goodnight." She strode between them and left.

"What shall the password be?" Hermione asked, trying to control the anger inside her.

Malfoy shrugged and stared at the painting. She rolled her eyes at him.

"You could at least try to be helpful!" she shouted in exasperation. "Fine, whatever. The password is going to be Bloomsbury." She tapped three times on the frame of the painting and thought the password.

The painting opened to reveal a hole in the wall, just small enough and high enough that Hermione knew that any way she tried to get in wouldn't look dainty. Sighing, she lifted her leg and struggled to maintain her balance as she climbed through. She hopped a few times on the leg that was already through the hole, then fell forward, flat on her face. Groaning, she lifted herself off the floor and gasped. She found herself in a huge, living room. On the left, a green and red three seater couch faced a roaring fireplace, along with two plush chairs, similarly decorated. A striped rug with gold and black tassels lay between the lounge and the fire. A floor to ceiling bookcase filled the wall that Hermione was standing against. On the opposite wall was a grand staircase, wide at the base and slimming at the top. To the right was a doorway.

Hermione entered the room and smiled. A modern straight line kitchen stood before her, coloured in white and red. The fridge and cupboards were filled with food. Plans to get out of eating began to form in her mind. She swivelled and found herself eye level with Malfoy's neck. She blushed and looked up into his stormy grey eyes. They widened, staring back, until Hermione straightened her robes and walked out of the room, trying to retain any dignity she had left. She climbed the stairs and turned right, heading towards the door that said Head Girl.

A four poster bed lay in the middle of the room with gold, silk pillowcases and red blankets covering it. There was an oak desk and chair set with an ink bottle and a notepad directly opposite the bed. A full sized mirror set in an oak frame rested on the wall to the left of the door and a dresser to the right. There was another door next to the mirror that led to a spacious white bathroom. It had a bath tub that was the size of a small backyard swimming pool with many different taps, a shower taking up the majority of the front wall and a bench and sink spread across the opposite side of the room, next to another door that presumably opened to Malfoy's room. A white porcelain toilet was tucked between the end of the bench and a wall.

Hermione's luggage lay at the end of her bed and she flicked her wand to put it all away. The clothes flew to the dresser and her books sat on her desk in a pile. She pulled out a pink short sleeved shirt and blue track pants. She quickly got dressed and ran down stairs to sit in front of the fire with her journal. Hermione lay on the floor and started to write.

First day back at Hogwarts. It's nice to be back here. It's so comforting. I still can't believe I'm Head Girl. My dorm makes it harder to believe. It's absolutely amazing! I just can't figure out how I'm going to stand living here for a whole year with Draco Malfoy. No one is even sure how he came to be Head Boy. It's ridiculous. I understand McGonagall's point though. With Voldemort gone and his Death Eaters trying to kill Harry and anyone who has anything to do with killing Voldemort and his followers, the school needs to be stronger; otherwise anyone could get in and hurt us. I wonder if this will actually work.

Hermione jumped as a slight noise broke her concentration. She looked up to see Malfoy walking across the room to the kitchen. He was wearing black track pants and a tight fitting shirt that stretched across his toned stomach. She got up off the floor and made her way back to her room, yawning. She climbed under the sheets, hoping for a peaceful sleep.

Hermione dressed in her white school shirt, black skirt and tie after taking a quick shower. She shoved her wool jacket into her bag with her books then made her way down the stairs. Malfoy was just about to leave and she called out to him.

"What do you want?" he spat at her.

Hermione glared back. "We have to make up to roster soon. I think we should do it today."

Malfoy mumbled something that sounded like, "Yeah, whatever," and left the room. Hermione narrowed her eyes and started off for the Great Hall.

She was once again met with the sight of Harry and Ginny not hiding their relationship, Ron not saying a word, but eating, and Neville still ignoring everyone and delving into the food placed before him.

"'Morning, Hermione. How's it living with the ferret?" Harry jerked his head in the direction of the Slytherin table.

Hermione shrugged and took a seat next to Ginny. "He doesn't talk much. It doesn't bother me at all." She grinned and poured herself a glass of pumpkin juice.

"What does the dorm look like?" questioned Ginny.

"Oh, it's extraordinary!" She went on to explain the dorm in detail. "The kitchen-"

Ginny suddenly looked up and Hermione followed her gaze over to where Ron hadn't even glanced up at Hermione saying, 'kitchen.'

Hermione locked eyes with Ginny, who was most definitely worrying even more about her brother than she had previously. A bell rang and Hermione jumped up, ready for class. She'd already memorised her timetable.

Harry laughed. "What have we got?" he asked at the same time Hermione said, "Time for D.A."

Ginny frowned and pulled Harry's arm. He turned around and gave her a peck on the lips. "See you soon, Ginn."

"Hurry up, Harry. We're going to be late." Hermione frowned at him. She knew that she was jealous, but she also knew that it had nothing to do with Ginny and Harry being a couple, but more to do with the fact that Ginny had a boyfriend and she didn't. Hermione sighed and walked off to Dark Arts, Ron and Harry trailing behind her, completely silent. She rested against the wall outside the classroom, waiting for Professor Winston along with the majority of the large class. Just as the new professor rounded the corner, the Slytherins appeared around another corner. Hermione pushed herself of the wall and entered the classroom after her friends. She took a seat next to Lavender Brown who smiled at her, as though they were friends. Hermione smiled in what she hoped was a convincing manner before looking away.

"Welcome, all, to Defence Against the Dark Arts for the Seventh Years. I am Professor Winston and I hope I can help you all to pass your NEWTS with flying colours. I understand that you have had a different professor for every year. Quirrel, who was possessed by Voldemort, Lockhart, who was a fake, Lupin, a werewolf, Crouch Junior pretending to be Mad-Eye, Umbridge, who taught you nothing, and Snape, who killed Dumbledore. Most of them have ended up dead too. I hope I don't end up like them." He paused, obviously waiting for some laughter, yet the class remained silent. "Anyway," he continued, clearing his throat, "you may have noticed that Voldemort's 'chums' aren't too happy about his death. Those Death Eaters may come for revenge. I'm here to teach you how to defend yourself from them and, if necessary, attack. First for some theory," a groan escaped from the class, "and then we'll have a go at it." Winston flicked his wand and writing appeared on the board. "Page 25, Defensive Spells. Read the entire page and then have a go at all of the questions."

Hermione pulled out her books and quill and started to answer the questions, having already read most of her books before school started.

The morning block went by in a blur for Hermione. At lunch, the trio went to grab lunch from the Hall, then Ron, Harry, Hermione and Ginny went to sit outside in the warm sun.

"How was your morning, Ginn? Have you had Winston yet?" Harry asked his girlfriend.

The four were lounging on the grass. Hermione was lying on her stomach, watching the students walk by. Ron was sitting cross legged next to her eating a sandwich. Harry was also sitting with his legs crossed, but with Ginny's head in his lap.

"It wasn't bad. I'm so glad I don't have to take Divination anymore. It's made my life so much more bearable." She smiled up at Harry. "I think I have Winston this afternoon. Is he any good?"

"He's alright, but he likes to bag out our old professors. I don't think he knows what Snape did yet. In fact, I don't think he knows that Lupin passed either. It irritates me the way he disses everyone, but his teaching is good. He looks like the kind that has a dark side, so I'm not going to tell him. I'll leave it up to someone else. I've had enough trouble for a life time." He grinned and picked up a strand of Ginny's bright red hair, twirling it around his finger.

Hermione glanced in his direction, then at Ron, but she knew it was a bad idea. Both of them knew that they'd gotten over their crushes on each other after just a couple of months of dating the year before. It hadn't turned out well. It was awkward and unsettling. Hermione settled for boy scouting in the courtyard.

On her way to dinner, Hermione was intercepted by Malfoy, who wanted to know if they were going to make up the roster soon.

She glared at the boy. "Did you not listen to a word I said this morning?" she hissed. "I told you that we were going to make it up sometime today. Do me one favour, Malfoy?"

She paused for a moment, then continued when he raised an eyebrow, knowing she had the boy's attention. "Actually listen to what I'm saying to you. When I talk to you, it's because I want to actually keep my role as Head Girl, not because I want to make conversation. Listen for once in your life! When dinner's over, go straight to the dorm, alright? No side stops to visit your girlfriends or whatever. Straight there. We'll do it then." She huffed and strode to the Hall, trying to get all her anger out before she sat down. She needed her head if she was going to lie her way out of another meal.

She sat down on the bench and gathered a few pieces of lettuce, ignoring the cheese in the neighbouring bowl. She wrapped some carrot gratings in the lettuce and ate it as though it was a tortilla.

"Hermione," Ginny said after a mouthful of pasta, "Do you ever eat? Like, eat real food?"

Hermione scrambled for words. "What, carrot isn't real food?"

"Not the way you eat it. Are you okay? Are you coming down with something?"

Hermione sighed. "You're starting to sound like my mum, Ginn. I'm fine. I have a kitchen in my dorm so I can eat whenever I want." She was about to go back to her food when she paused, registering what Ginny had said. "What do you mean, 'the way I eat it'?"

"Look at your plate! It's all fallen out of the lettuce, so you aren't really eating it, are you? Are you sure you're alright, Hermione?"

"What do you want me to do, Ginn? Here, pick something and I'll eat it." Hermione instantly regretted it. She was surely going to choose something with a high calorie intake. She was right. Ginny grabbed a toasted cheese sandwich and sat it on Hermione's plate.

Hermione looked down at the sandwich. Pure fat. Cheese is filled with the stuff. A single slice of white bread could be ninety calories. Hermione glanced back at Ginny and knew she had to eat it, before she became suspicious. The smell was alluring and she couldn't help but eat it in a rush.

"Thanks, Hermione." Ginny grinned and went back to her own dinner.

Now that Hermione had started, she found it hard to stop. When the plates refilled themselves, she grabbed another cheese sandwich, along with a bowl of pasta. She ate it all just as quickly as she'd eaten the first sandwich. The dessert appeared and she took a glass of chocolate mousse, then a slice of ice cream cake and finally, a slice of banana bread. It wasn't until she'd stuffed the last crumb in to her mouth that she realised what she'd done. She froze in her seat, scared to move, to make it all real.

When everyone around started to get up to head back to their dorms, Hermione still sat in her seat. Suddenly, her mind set into motion and she dashed to the girls' bathrooms that nobody used. The one haunted by Moaning Myrtle. Kneeling over the closest bowl, Hermione shoved her fingers down her throat, forcing up her dinner. The bright yellow colour of cheese and butter eventually made its way into the bowl, and Hermione knew she was done. She slowly walked over to the basin to wash her hands and to get the bits of vomit out of her hair. The mirrors were covered in grime and she couldn't tell if she'd washed away the red in her eyes and cheeks. She gargled some water and spat it back into the sink.

"Is it a bug? A deadly bug? Are you going to die?" The unmistakable voice of Myrtle floated down around her.

"Nothing's wrong with me, Myrtle. I'm not sick anymore."

"Nobody ever asks if I'm sick. Never, ever, ever. It gets tyring asking if people are going to die when they walk in here, throwing up." Myrtle flew down to sit on the edge of a cubicle wall.

Hermione was stunned. "H-how are you going, Myrtle?"

"Oh, just swimmingly. Everything's fantastic when you're dead," she said sarcastically.

"That's great, Myrtle," Hermione replied, ignoring the sarcasm. "You said it gets tyring, right? So does this happen often?"

"It doesn't happen to too many people, but when it does hit someone, they're in here all the time. Don't think I don't know what you're doing, little girl." Myrtle screamed and dove into her toilet.