Really hope you like it. I've wanted to write a Draco/ Hermione fic for a while now. :) Please review.
Chapter 1:
Hermione grinned at her best friends. They were finally going back to Hogwarts and she couldn't wait. Ginny joined them on the platform, putting her hand in Harry's. They had at long last gotten back together over the summer. They had so far managed to keep it hush hush – although none of the friends knew how they had managed it. Instead everyone was talking about Ron and Hermione's supposed love affair. They were trying desperately hard to ignore all the rumours and articles but it was becoming increasingly more difficult. The truth was that there had been one awkward kiss during the battle and that was all. Hermione had tried to reason with people, "We thought we were going to die. It doesn't mean anything… We're just really good friends… It was like kissing a brother."
Eventually she had given up and left people to their gossip. It wouldn't last much longer. Ron had moved on. He was now seeing Luna Lovegood and Hermione was the only single one left amongst her friends. Neville had asked her out rather shyly over the summer break, stuttering as he said, "I know everyone is say-ying that you are with Ron but would you… could you… ever… I think… I really like you Hermione."
Hermione frowned. The poor boy looked like he might pass out from fear. She tried to be gentle, "I'm sorry Neville. I just don't feel the same way."
Not that it mattered. The following week even Neville had a girl friend; a pretty fourth year Gryffindor who had fallen in love with him when he saved her life last June. Hermione was happy for her friends. She only wished she understood the attraction. She had yet to meet someone who she liked enough to… well… settle. She was always wondering if there was something better out there. It was probably stupid but she didn't want something meaningless. She pinned her new Head Girl badge to her uniform and jumped aboard the train. She waved briefly to her mother before making her way towards the prefects' carriage. So much had changed in the last year. It seemed so bizarre to be returning to Hogwarts now. She tried her best to stay excited, only she felt incredibly guilty leaving her mother alone. Hermione's father had been killed by death eaters at some point during the last month of the war. They had somehow managed to track them down and he had sacrificed himself so that his wife might survive. He had commanded her to run as soon as he saw the strange hooded men at the front door. Hermione was incredibly proud of her father's bravery but she missed him very much. Her excitement at returning to Hogwarts was tainted by her grief but also by concern for her mother. She sighed as she wandered down the train. She couldn't help but wonder who was going to be the new Head Boy. She knew that Ron hadn't received the badge because he'd complained about it for several hours when he learnt that Hermione had. She could only hope that it was Ernie Macmillan and not Anthony Goldstein or worse Malfoy.
She opened the door to the compartment and found Draco Malfoy sat comfortably looking out the window, "Alright mud – Granger."
Hermione frowned, "You…" She began angrily but stopped quickly when she realised that he hadn't insulted her. He had stopped himself. She raised an eyebrow at him, "Why didn't you call me… a you know what?"
"It's against the law," he shrugged.
"Oh ok…" Malfoy couldn't help but grin at Hermione's relieved expression.
"Don't worry Granger – I've not gone soft."
"Still a jerk then?" She asked.
"Indeed – I just need to be more imaginative with my insults now," He gave her his best smirk – the one that left every girl in Slytherin swooning.
Hermione nodded before changing the subject, "Do you know who the new Head Boy is?"
Malfoy grinned as he pointed to a new badge upon his chest.
"It's you?" Hermione spat.
"Indeed," Malfoy replied sarcastically, "sorry to disappoint – I guess you were hoping it would be your precious weasel of a boyfriend."
"What?" Hermione frowned, confused. "What boyfriend?"
"Weasley," Malfoy replied matter-of-factly.
"Oh… he's not my boyfriend," Hermione laughed, "we're just good friends."
They waited in silence after that. After several long, awkward minutes the other prefects came into the carriage, laughing and joking together excitably as they shared stories of their summers. Hermione stood to welcome them and Draco just put his feet up and yawned. "Hello everyone. Malfoy and I have been made Head Boy and Girl this year so if you wouldn't mind paying attention for a moment or two." The prefects quickly quietened down and listened happily. "Welcome to our new fifth year prefects," she smiled at the youngest of the prefects. They were all beaming with pride. "As you should know prefects are allowed to take House points from any student from their own house that is behaving in a less than acceptable manner. You also have the authority to give detentions as a form of punishment but you cannot take points from one another or from students outside of your own house – they are within the jurisdiction of their own prefects. This year we have more prefects than ever before but do not become complacent, we also have more students than ever before."
"Today you will patrol the corridors of the train. I have prepared a rota." Hermione began handing out pieces of paper to each of the prefects. Malfoy muttered something under his brief about being a control freak. When she gave him the rota he frowned.
11:00 – Prefects Meeting
11:30 – All Prefects
12:00 – Slytherin 5th Year Prefects/ Ravenclaw 8th Year Prefects
12:30 – Hufflepuff 5th Year Prefects/ Gryffindor 8th Year Prefects
13:00 – Head Boy and Girl
13:30 – Slytherin 6th Year Prefects/ Ravenclaw 7th Year Prefects
14:00 – Hufflepuff 6th Year Prefects/ Gryffindor 7th Year Prefects
14:30 – Head Boy and Girl
15:00 – Slytherin 7th Year Prefects/ Ravenclaw 6th Year Prefects
15:30 – Hufflepuff 7th Year Prefects/ Gryffindor 6th Year Prefects
16:00 – Head Boy and Girl
16:30 – Slytherin 8th Year Prefects/ Ravenclaw 5th Year Prefects
17:00 – Hufflepuff 8th Year Prefects/ Gryffindor 5th Year Prefects
17:30 – Head Boy and Girl
18:00 – All Prefects
"Granger are you bloody serious?" Malfoy swore.
"What do you mean Malfoy?" Hermione frowned.
"We have to patrol four times?" He demanded.
"Er… no… Six times actually."
"Excuse me?" Malfoy looked at the bushy haired girl angrily, "Are you taking the piss?"
"Er… no." Hermione felt confused. Her face flushed but she resolved herself to carry on. "I have also prepared a rota for Hallways Patrols for at the Castle. It is only temporary and will be updated in the next week or so." She handed out a second piece of paper.
Monday – Gryffindor 8th, Ravenclaw 6th, Hufflepuff 7th and Slytherin 5th.
Tuesday – Gryffindor 6th, Ravenclaw 7th, Hufflepuff 5th and Slytherin 8th.
Wednesday – Gryffindor 7th, Ravenclaw 5th, Hufflepuff 8th and Slytherin 6th.
Thursday – Gryffindor 5th, Ravenclaw 8th, Hufflepuff 6th and Slytherin 7th.
Friday – Gryffindor 5th, Gryffindor 8th, Ravenclaw 6th, Hufflepuff 7th, Slytherin 5th and Slytherin 7th.
Saturday – Gryffindor 6th, Ravenclaw 7th, Hufflepuff 5th, Hufflepuff 6th and Slytherin 8th.
Sunday – Gryffindor 7th, Ravenclaw 5th, Ravenclaw 8th, Hufflepuff 8th and Slytherin 6th.
Malfoy sighed in relief until he noticed an astrix at the bottom.
*Head Boy and Girl will patrol for half an hour each week night and an hour on weekends.
"Bloody hell – Granger, you really can't be serious."
"And why not?" Hermione asked crossly.
"Every night?" Draco asked angrily. "Don't you have a life?"
Hermione ignored the blonde boy and smiled at the other prefects, "fifth years will escort the first years to the common rooms tonight. Thank you very much and goodnight."
"Haven't you forgotten something Granger?" Malfoy laughed bitterly.
"No. I don't think I have," Hermione replied heatedly.
"Prefects bathroom – password is Hoccus Poccus," Malfoy told them all before releasing them all from the meeting. He turned to Hermione, "See Granger – I'm not so stupid after all."
"Bloody git," Hermione muttered under her breath as she pushed past him into the corridor.
"Wait up – Aren't we meant to be patrolling together?" Draco couldn't keep the laughter out of his voice, especially when he saw Hermione's livid expression.