(A/N: Hey guys! Thank to all the readers who remained patient with the slow progress of the story. I have a legit reason for not updating; I've been super busy during the school year with all my AP classes. Seriously, guys, I was completely miserable. I had no time to relax let alone update this fic. Aside from dying in school, here's what happened since I last updated: I auditioned for my school's show choir and I made it! My semester grades improved! I became more obsessed with more bands (guess which ones)! I'm practicing my driving skills. I got better at playing my uke. Illiteracy ftw! Anyway, this chapter is a little bit on the short side, because I'm suffering from major writer's block and I just wanted to update because you guys were so patient, so thank you. I realize that there are a few grammatical errors and plot inconsistencies, but right now I'm waiting for my favorite band to do a livestream. This chapter isn't the best, but it will get better. Remember to leave a nice review, favorite, follow, and message me! Enjoy! ^_^)

Chapter 10: Back to School

A week later

"'Mione, can we go back to Hawaii now," Ginny whined, frowning and hunching her shoulders.

Hermione looked up to face Ginny. The youngest Weasley was currently making her bed. Hermione rolled her eyes and shook her head, "Gin, we just got back," she pointed out. "Besides, school starts tomorrow and we have to get all of our supplies."

Ginny cringed, "Please don't remind me."

Their conversation was interrupted by Molly opening Ginny's bedroom. "Just wanted to tell you that breakfast is ready," she announced.

Hermione opened her mouth to speak, but the sound of her grumbling stomach cut her off.

"Well, it looks like I finished cooking just in time," Molly giggled. "A second longer and you're stomach might be engaged in a rumbling match against Ron's black hole of a gut."

"We'll be down in a bit," Hermione finally spoke, clutching her empty tummy. The girls brushed their hair and changed into jeans and t-shirts before making their way downstairs.

The aroma of sizzling, crispy bacon filled the air. Seconds later, Harry and the Weasley boys scurried down the stairs and plopped themselves into the chairs at the table.

Mrs. Weasley appeared in the kitchen doorway with a bowl of scrambled eggs in one hand and a large plate with bacon covered with napkins in the other. She placed the food down at the center of the table and the boys took no time in letting the food cool down. While the young witches threw confused glares at the boys, Mrs. Weasley retreated back into the kitchen to bring out more food. After the boys finished picking out the servings of food, Hermione and Ginny served themselves whatever remained of the meal.

A few bites of bacon and a few more spoonful of eggs later, Harry decided to ask the girls about their trip. "So, ladies, how was your vacation?"

Ginny's eyes lit up with excitement and her grin grew wide. "Hawaii was amazing. We-"

"YOU WENT TO HAWAII WITHOUT US," Fred and George wailed loudly. "WE'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO GO!"

Ron spoke up, "Can you blame them? Bloody hell, you guys would've made all the islands smell like your Dungbombs."

"Or made everyone on the islands get nosebleed because of the Nosebleed Nougats," Harry added, nodding in affirmation.

"Oh who asked you two," George retorted.

Fred chimed in, "Yeah, I mean, look how humid it is over there. Wouldn't the victims just blend in on account the humidity causing nosebleeds?"

Ron turned to face Fred. "You big twat," he blurted. "Please continue, Ginny."

Ginny exchanged glances with Fred and Ron and continued. "Anyway, Hawaii was so beautiful. Sunny skies, warm breezes, and soft, white sand. And he was so nice to let us stay in his house."

The Weasley brothers snapped their heads up in Ginny's direction. "Who is this 'he,'" Ron questioned, ears turning red.

Hermione stepped in, "Guys, relax. She was talking about my cousin. Ginny isn't some little kid, so get off her case!"

"Thank you, Hermione. Like I was saying, the places we went to were amazing. We went to the different beaches, ate at the local restaurants, and visited the tourist attractions," Ginny bragged. "I think I want to live in Hawaii after I graduate!"

"Relax, Gin," Hermione soothed. She turned back to the boys, "We brought back some souvenirs for you guys. I'll go get them." She left the table and ran up the stairs to retrieve the gifts.

A few minutes later, Hermione walked down the stairs with a big, brown box filled with baskets of Hawaiian food. As she sat down at the table she handed each person their gift.

"'Mione, what is this," he asked holding up a can of food he's never heard of before.

"It's Spam, one of the main exports of Hawaii. It's really good you should try it."

George popped a macadamia nut into his mouth and chewed. "These macadamia nuts are amazing. Freddie, we should make new sweets using flavors from these gifts."

"Sure thing. We'll get right on it soon," Fred agreed, reaching for another piece of bacon.

"Fred, is that the last piece of bacon," Ron asked with a mouth full of eggs.

Reaching for the remaining slice of succulent, crispy bacon, Fred smirked at his little brother, knowing that he could easily manipulate him. Fred's smirk grew into a sadistic grin as he grabbed the bacon and took a large bite.

"What the hell, Fred," Ron boomed.

George chuckled, "Honestly, Ron. You make it seem like you're never going to eat again. You eat so much food so qui-"

Suddenly, Errol came flying through the window with letters in his beak and landed on top of Ron's still full plate, much to his displeasure. Ron sighed heavily, grieving over his food. As Errol stood up and looked him in the eye, Ron asked "How are you not dead yet?"

Harry giggled at Ron's misfortunes and Ron snapped, "Shut up, Harry!"

The dark owl dropped the letters on the table and flew away.

"It's our Hogwarts letters," Ginny pointed out, handing out everyone's respective letter. Each of them opened their letter and read the contents silently.

Hermione opened her letter and began reading with a grin.

Dear Miss Granger,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been chosen to take the Head Girl position at Hogwarts. Your academic abilities and leadership skills as a Prefect show us that you are more than capable of handling such a position. You and the Head Boy are in charge of organizing prefect meetings, planning and advertising school events, patrolling the school at night, and most importantly; show inter-house cooperation. On the train ride to Hogwarts you and the Head Boy will meet with the Prefects and discuss the rules and regulations for being a Prefect and set a first meeting date.

Attached is a list of supplies that you will need for the school year. See to it that you obtain all of these items by the first day of school. We wish you the best of luck on your final year at Hogwarts.

Yours Sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

Hermione finished reading the letter and poked her finger inside the envelope. Upon feeling a smooth, cold, metallic object, she took it out and held it up to the light. It was her Head Girl badge.

"I knew you'd get Head Girl, Hermione," Harry began. "I can't imagine anyone else being in your position." The dark-haired boy reached across the table and gently shook Hermione's arm. "You'll be a great Head Girl."

The newly appointed Head Girl beamed at Harry and listened to everyone congratulate her.

"Oi, 'Mione," George called.

"'We know that you're Head Girl, but does this mean we can't sneak in and sell our products anymore," Fred finished.

"That's exactly what it means," Hermione confirmed, beaming.

"But what about-"

Before Fred could finish his sentence Hermione cut him off, "And no, you cannot test your products on anyone."

"Not even first years," George asked with a hopeful look.

Before Hermione could say anything, Ginny turned to her brothers and interjected, "Do you two really think she's going to let you guys do that?"

Fred and George turned to each other and shrugged. "Worth a shot," they chirped at the same time.

Hermione chuckled and walked away. She trekked up the stairs and into the room she was sharing with Ginny so she could get ready. Digging through the drawers, she found the diary she used to write to her admirer. Absentmindedly, she began fiddling with the locket around her neck, appreciating the cool metallic feel against her skin.

"Hermione?"

Ron's voice brought Hermione out of her daze. She abruptly threw her diary back into the drawer, closed it, and turned to face Ron.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you," Ron apologized with a sheepish grin. "Just wanted to say that I'm really happy that you got picked to be Head Girl."

Hermione's features soften, "Oh, thank you, Ron. I don't know if I can do this." Unhurriedly, Ron walked over to where she was standing and gave her a tight hug. "Don't worry about a thing, Hermione; you can do this. No one else is capable of this job. Look at it this way: you've done so much for me and Harry. Bloody hell, you've saved our arses so many times throughout the years. If you can do that, you can do this." Ron paused and looked into her eyes. "I believe in you," he whispered as he moved in closer.

Her eyes fluttered closed, waiting for their lips to meet. She could feel his hot breath on her face and his lips ghosting over hers. Suddenly, his lips met hers and they began moving in sync.

Draco attached the last of his new strings onto his guitar and played a few chords to test the sound. Satisfied with this work, the blond set his instrument down on its stand and sat on his bed.

His head snapped towards his bedroom door when he heard a faint knock. "Yes," Draco asked.

Narcissa opened the door and replied, "Draco, your friend Theodore is here to visit you." Draco glanced behind his mother and found one of his best mates smiling at him. "I'll give you two some privacy. Let me know if you need anything, okay?"

"Thanks, mum," Draco finished. After Narcissa closed the bedroom door, Theodore Nott turned to face his friend. "So how have you been, Theo?"

"Oh I've been alright, thanks for asking. How about you, mate," Theo voiced.

Draco smiled and answered, "I've been okay. It's good to see you, mate." The two boys exchanged quick hugs and playfully punched each other. "If you don't mind me asking, why did you visit on such short notice?"

Theo sat down on top of Draco's bed and smirked, "Well I heard from Zabini that someone has the hots for a girl."

Draco's eyes grew wider as he said to himself, Well, shit. How is he even okay with me crushing on Hermione? Slowly, Draco sat himself next to his classmate. The blond's already pale skin became paler, trembling as he prepared himself for the worst.

Upon seeing his friend's reaction, Theo sought to ease Draco's uneasiness. "Calm down, Dray. Blaise didn't tell me who this girl was, except that she's from another house."

"I was so close to yakking," Draco admitted as he rubbed the back his neck and shook his head.

Theo placed his hand on his friend's shoulder. "Look mate, I really don't care what house she's from or her blood status, because let's face it; times have changed," the dark-haired boy began. "It's shit like that that got our pathetic excuses for fathers in Azkaban."

He looked into Draco's grey orbs and saw them soften into a subtle shade of blue, a feature he never knew existed. "Thank you , Theo. I don't know how I can thank you enough," Draco sighed.

"It's just a friend helping another friend. You can tell me who it is whenever you're ready, just know that Blaise and I are going to support you no matter what," Theo added.

Draco grinned at Theo and stood up. "Oi, mate, I'm getting a drink. Do you want anything," he offered.

Nott shook his head stood up and walked around Draco's room. "Room's changed a bit since I last saw you," he said out loud. Near Draco's desk were giant posters of muggle bands that Theo never heard of. He took a close look at each one of them and read off the names of the bands as he passed by them. Blink-182. The Cure. Fall Out Boy. Green Day. The Smiths.

"What kind of names are these?"

Within a few minutes, Malfoy returned with a glass of water. "Enjoying my posters I see," he pointed out, walking towards his friend.

"They any good?"

"The best," Draco confirmed. "Oh before I forget, I need to ask you something."

Theo nodded his head and urged his friend to continue.

"I don't want to be obvious about my feelings for this girl, so what is the most effective way of keeping up a cool façade?"

After listening to his friend's question, Theo roared with a hearty chuckle. A deep shade of red crept up on his facial features.

Unamused, Draco stared at his best friend, who was currently doubled over on the floor laughing like a mad-man. "And what is so funny, Nott?"

"Do my ears deceive me? Is Draco Malfoy, the Slytherin Sex God, asking me for tips on girls?"

"Is there a problem with that," Draco grumbled, clearly annoyed.

"Well you had girls in your pants almost every other day last year and I just think it's funny how you're acting so new to stuff like this," Theo answered, clutching his stomach.

Draco exclaimed, "That's because I never cared about the girls I've bedded like the way I care about my angel."

Theo's face morphed into an expression of minor disgust. "Okay, mate, you have to figure this stuff out on your own. I can't help you there, I mean, you're already mentioning her using terms of endearment."

"I can't help it, Nott. She has this effect on me."

Theodore raised his eyebrows and ran his hand through his hair and sighed. "Okay, Malfoy, look at yourself; you've gone all soft like a bloody custard!"

The blond's face turned red and warm with anger and the subtle shade of blue in his eyes turned cold and grey. "I have not gone soft," Draco growled through gritted teeth.

"Whatever you say, mate. You just need to show it more. This little love-sick puppy isn't a very cute look for the captain of the Slytherin Quidditch team."

Despite his state of rage, Draco realized that Theo was right. He needed to uphold his position in the Quidditch team; because who would listen to a blubbering, mushy fool? His team would never let him live this crush down. "You have a point. Okay I'll try to be inconspicuous."

"Alright, mate. Try not to beat yourself up over this," Theo advised.

"I'm going to Diagon Alley for my supplies, you coming?"

"Yeah, let's go!"

The two Slytherins joined hands and apparated away, both feeling that tugging feeling in their stomachs.