"Malfoy!?" Ron sprayed fragments of whatever food was in his mouth across the table. "What was Dumbledore thinking choosing that slimy little git?"
"Ugh Ron, I would have thought by now you would have learned how to eat food with our spraying it across other people's faces." Hermione grumbled angrily wiping the crumbs of her face. "But yes, I cannot believe Dumbledore didn't exercise better judgement."
"Maybe Malfoy's father paid him." Harry muttered darkly.
"Oh come on Harry!" Hermione laughed. "You couldn't possibly think that Dumbledore would ever allow something like that to happen. It makes sense now that I know he has the best scores in the year, but I still would have thought given his behavioural issues…" She trailed off.
"Malfoy has the best scores in the year?" Ron and Harry both stared at her incredulously.
"It would appear so." Hermione sighed as she stared into her plate of pudding.
"No way, I just don't believe it." Harry stated, his forehead crinkled with worry. "Well, don't worry Hermione, I will go talk to Dumbledore as soon as the feast is over."
"You will do no such thing!" Hermione exclaimed. "McGonagall gave us the biggest lecture about being examples to the school and that's what I am going to do. With any luck he will screw up and lose the position before I know it."
Hermione smiled as she saw Ginny skipping up to her playfully. "So Hermione, who will you be sharing a common room with this year, anyone cute?" She wiggled her eyes at her suggestively.
"Hmmm, if you think obnoxious, slimy blonde Slytherin idiots are cute then you are in luck!" Hermione responded sarcastically.
"You're kidding!" She exclaimed as she plonked herself next to Harry and planted a kiss on his cheek, Hermione started giggling as she watched Ron's face immediately turned bright red. "There is no way that I would ever believe that Malfoy is head boy."
"Believe it." Hermione's gaze fell on the Slytherin table and made eye contact with Draco who smirked before leaning over and muttering something to his friends who all turned towards Hermione and laughed. She snorted in disgust before continuing. "At least the days where he could get under my skin are behind me, all he does is sling the same tired old insults."
Ginny started rubbing her hands together mischievously. "Just think Hermione, of the tricks we could play on the ferret since you're so close to his living space and belongings.'
'Oh yeah!" Harry looked at her in awe. "I bet we could come up with some awesome pranks."
"Don't you dare even think about it! I can't afford to start an all-out war with the Head Boy, they could take our badges." Hermione looked at them scathingly. "And besides, he is hardly worth it. I think I will have more pressing things to worry about this year then Draco Malfoy. He may be completely irritating, but he is generally harmless."
"I don't know Hermione, his father is a death eater." Ron stated as a matter of fact. "I would be careful around him."
On that grim note the foursome were interrupted by Dumbledore dismissing everyone to get to bed.
"I hope that we get good schedules tomorrow," Hermione turned to the others. "This year is so important! I can't believe I stopped focussing on school for the last few hours!"
The other shared knowing looks with each other. "The term hasn't even started Hermione," Ginny laughed. "You will have plenty of time to focus on school, I promise."
"You might think it's funny Ginny, but our future careers depend on this year! I think I'll go read over some of my text books tonight." Hermione started to walk towards the staircase. "Goodnight!" She called over her shoulder.
"Hermione wait!" Harry called after her. "Do you want us to come with you? You know make sure Malfoy doesn't try anything?"
Hermione looks at him scathingly. "Do you really think I can't handle that idiot on my own? Do you think I have no magical skills whatsoever? Honestly have we met before Harry?" Once Harry was looking embarrassed enough she turned around and hurried back to her dorm.
As she was walking through the corridors, she was running through her mind speculation about her schedule and what possible subjects that each subject may start the year with.
"Hello." The boy in the portrait grinned down at her as she walked up the corridor.
"Oh, Hi," Hermione replied. "I'm Hermione, what's your name?"
"I already know who you are," he responded. "I'm Evon."
"Nice to meet you properly this time, Evon." Hermione smiled, committing his name to memory. "Felix Felicis."
"Hmmm you're a lot nicer than your Head Boy counterpart." With that the portrait door swung open and Hermione who was laughing climbed through.
"You know Granger, my friends and I have a bet." Draco raised one eyebrow at her over the book he was reading by the fireplace. "A bet on how long you are going to last as Head Girl this year, you see, as I am going to make your life a living hell, I have now decided. But don't you worry, if you get kicked out, I am sure you will have an aspiring career as a toilet brush, with that ridiculously bushy hair of yours."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "I'd like to see you try Malfoy. Seriously, what have I ever done to you?"
"Oh, your existence as a Mudblood is enough, I assure you." He smirked at her and put down his book and walked over to her. "Do I really need more of a reason than that?"
Hermione subconsciously took a step backwards as he approached her, hand reaching slowly for her wand. "Well a person who had evolved further than that of an ape would need more a reason, I assure you." She gritted her teeth with her hand gripping her wand.
"Uh, uh," Draco tutted moving his face too close for comfort, Hermione suddenly found herself short of breath. "I'd be nice to me if I were you, you have no idea what I am capable of."
"What, you'll get your death eater pals to pay me a visit? I'd like to see them get past Dumbledore."
Draco grinned down at her. "Again let me emphasise this, you have no idea what we are capable of."
Hermione pushed Draco back with as much force as she could muster and pointed her wand as close to his face as their faces had been a second before. "Just try me ferret."
"Oh no," Draco stepped away looking as relaxed as ever, which infuriated Hermione to no end. "I am a firm believer in the element of surprise. If I hexed you right now, I wouldn't have the entertainment of all the psychological damage of you having to watch your back at every turn waiting for an attack."
"Merlin, Malfoy!" Hermione shouted. "Why can't we both just let each other do what we have to do, and stay out of each other way? Can't you just grow up and give it a rest?"
Malfoy narrowed his eyes at her, his mood switching instantly. "Why don't you grow up and realise someone like you isn't fit to go to this school, let alone be the head of it. So no, to answer your question, I won't give it a rest."
"You're a pig Malfoy." Hermione spat at him and stomped up the stairs to her bedroom, thinking to herself that she never had, and never will, meet such an awful excuse for a person. Hours later she lay in her bed still fuming, she was angry at herself, because despite her earlier sentiments, she let Malfoy get under her skin, and schooling was the furthest thing from her mind.