So here's chapter 3. I hope you like it. :-)
Disclaimer: I do not own anything.
The next morning, Hermione pondered what to do. She didn't want to lose time and she wondered if Madam Pince was in the castle so she could do some research in the library. Of course, she could stay in her room and use her own library, but she preferred losing herself through the countless bookshelves and enjoying the library atmosphere. She dressed casually, in her muggle jeans, white t-shirt and her gray pullover to protect herself from the chilly air of the castle and then went to the kitchen to get some food before walking to the library. On her way, she thought about her conversation with Malfoy. He truly seemed changed and she hoped that it wasn't just a pretense.
In another part of the castle, the Slytherin Draco Malfoy stood in front of the mirror with a preoccupied look on his face. To an outsider, he was just staring at himself in the mirror, but it wasn't just any mirror. This particularly one was different. This one can show someone his deepest desires. Draco was taken aback with the reflection. There, in the Mirror of Erised, stood he, along with the Insufferable know-it-all, Hermione Granger. They were in their common room, on the couch in front of the fire. They just sat there, side by side and each of them reading a book. Draco let out a snort. That was his deepest desire? Sure, after the war, his point of view had changed and she was much more than the mudblood he so much hated not so long ago, now that word seemed so… wrong, but still, he saw nothing more in her than a fellow student, a brilliant one. She was his roommate now, but that hadn't changed anything. He was not secretly in love with her nor did he deeply desired her friendship. He let out another snort and then turned on his heels and got out of the room.
Hermione lost track of time in the library so she was stunned to see that it was nine in the evening. She decided that it was enough for the day and she took her pile of books to Madam Pince so she could borrow them and then walked to her quarters, carrying the pile of books. As she walked slowly through the corridors, Hermione thought about Harry and Ron. She wanted to know how they where, what were they doing and she wondered if they missed her as she missed them. She hoped they did, especially Ron. She and Ron were together for almost a year and she was surprised when he told her that he won't be returning to Hogwarts. Part of her understood his decision, given the fact that his brother had died not so long ago there, but if Ginny would return, he could too, so that probably wasn't the case. Of course, she knew that for him, school, education, wasn't such a big deal, which is why he chose Quidditch over it, over her, but she knew that he loved her, she had no doubt about it. She was distracted from her thoughts by a noise. She listened for a second and realized that it was the sound of footsteps. She quickened the pace and after a few steps she tripped, scratching her knees and hands. She closed her eyes in pain and she opened them when she realized that her books weren't on the hard floor with her. There, in front of her, the pile of books were levitating and behind them stood a dark figure. She narrowed her eyes to see through the darkness and when she realized that it was Professor Snape who was standing in front of her, she jumped on her feet, embarrassed.
Snape, still in charge of the pile of books stood there, silent with a glare on his face. "I thought that the brightest witch of her age knew how to cast a simple levitating spell, Miss Granger." He said and then withdrawn his wand and before Hermione could react, the books fell to the ground with a loud crack. "But it seems that I could not have been more mistaken."
"I know how to cast a levitating spell" she argued.
"Clearly not" he replied in his low baritone voice.
Hermione collected the books and then levitated them off the ground with a satisfied smile on her face and added:" Clearly I can. "
He let that go with an irritated look on his face and then started again "And why is it that I find you on the floor after curfew?"
She blushed at the memory and shot him a glare as she realized what he said. "After curfew?" she asked, "But Sir, the school hasn't even started!"
"It may not, but rules are still rules. You are in this castle and you must follow them. The rules are valid any time of year, school or no school." He stated.
"I understand, but I thought that the Head Girl, the Head Boy and the Prefects could spend a little more time after curfew." She negotiated.
"They have half an hour past nine. After that half an hour, the curfew concerns them as well". He finished with a smirk on his face.
Hermione sighed and he continued "So, Miss Granger, what will it be? Deducted points or perhaps detention? I'm sure your fellow Gryffindor would not mind starting the year with lesser points..." he smirked as he watched her.
She pondered her two options. "What could be worse? Starting the year with a negative amount of points, having her whole House suffer or a detention with him, scrubbing Merlin knows how many cauldrons?" She thought. Finally, she answered with her head held high "I will have the detention, Sir."
He thought for a second and being the snarky bat that he is, he answered "Deducted points it is, then!" He smirked as he continued "fifteen points from Gryffindor!" And with that, he stormed off, his robes billowing behind him dramatically.
Hermione just stood there, stunned by what had happened."That man is is wicked" she thought and she started walking tiredly to her quarters. She was still angry with Snape when she got there and she slammed the door behind her so hard that Draco, from his place on the sofa, nearly raised his wand in defense.
"Is everything ok?" He asked concerned.
Hermione replied angrily "Beside the fact that your beloved godfather just took points from my House for staying five minutes after curfew? And in case you haven't noticed, the school hasn't even started!"
Draco took a step back to protect himself from the angry Gryffindor. She was still going on about the lost points when he finally got the courage to interrupt her. "Well, you know my godfather, I don't know why are you so surprised about his behavior..."
"I know, but I thought that after all the things that we've been through, after all the things that he's been through, he finally changed if only a bit." She answered with a sigh and she collapsed into the sofa.
"I don't think that he will ever change" Draco voiced his thoughts and he too collapsed into the couch.
They sat in silence for about five minutes before she bade him goodbye and went to her room. He took her example, went to his room and in about ten minutes he was soundly asleep.
With Hermione it was another story. She couldn't sleep so she took a hot bath to relax and then wrote Harry and Ron a letter. After that, she was finally able to sleep.
The next day, Hermione was invited by McGonagall to chat over tea and she accepted the invitation. when she got to McGonagall's quarters she was surprised to see that she wasn't alone. The snarky bat was there as well.
"Come in, my dear" Minerva greeted Hermione. "Severus was just leaving" she continued.
The man rose from his chair "Yes, I was. Minerva, Miss Granger..." and he left the room.
The woman started again "Come, sit, my dear" and she motioned her the chair that the professor occupied just a minute ago.
Hermione complied "Thank you, Professor" and she continued "and thank you for your invitation as well."
"I think it's me who should thank you. As you see, all my company is Severus and Albus. It's good to talk with somebody else." She said while she poured Hermione a cup of tea.
Hermione just smiled, she didn't know what to say.
"So, my dear, Severus tells me that last night you've been staying after curfew and he was forced to deduct points. What happened?" She asked with a concerned look on her face.
"Well, I spent my day in the library and the Professor found me as I was heading to my room. It was after curfew, but in my defense, I didn't know that the rule applies on holidays as well. I am sorry, Professor. It's my fault and my House lost points because of me." She said with a sigh.
"Don't worry, dear, I'm sure that you will have the opportunity to regain the lost points. As for the rule, I think that Severus explained you that it does apply at any time... next time, you just have to be more careful not to get caught" she finished with a devilish look on her face.
Hermione was stunned "Next time, Professor? I don't think that I should spend any more time after curfew..."
"Nonsense, my dear" the woman replied. " I'm not saying that you should make a habit out of it, but as long as you have a good reason behind it, the library for example, you shouldn't be worried. As long as you spend that time studying."
Hermione didn't get the chance to open her mouth and the Professor continued "When I was your age, I was just like you. I spent most of my time in the library and it was often that I found myself on the corridors after curfew. I lost points as well, but in time, I was able not to get caught." Minerva finished with an amused look on her face.
Hermione didn't know what to say. Her Head of the House just told her that it's ok to break the rules. Well, that rule, but still...
"So, my dear, all you have to do is be more careful." McGonagall told her with a smirk.
Hermione let out a small laugh. "Of course, Professor...".
The two of them spent almost two hours chatting and laughing before Hermione finally returned to her room. On her way, she thought about what her Head of the House had told her. She smiled at the thought and she made a mental note to write Harry a letter and ask him if he could borrow his Map and the Invisibility coat. Maybe the woman was right after all. It wasn't like she was doing something wrong. She was just studying. After curfew. Outside her room. Surely nothing could happen, right?
The next few days passed in a whip and now, Hermione found herself in the Great Hall along with the Prefects , waiting for the other students to finally return to school. A couple of Prefects were called by her Head of the House to go greet the first years. A few minutes later, the Great Hall was full of people and after she helped Minerva with the Sorting Hat, she went to her old place at the Gryffindor table next to her friend, Ginny.
The two girls hugged and then they sit at the table, chatting. Hermione was so happy to see the redhead... she missed her so much.
After Dumbledore's speech the students ate and then each of the prefects collected their group of first years and took them to their Towers. Hermione went back to Gryffindor Tower to catch up with her friend, Ginny.
"Oh, Ginny… I've missed you so much…" Hermione started "tell me how you are? And your parents and Harry and Ron?" she questioned breathlessly.
"Hermione! Take it slow, dear." The redhead laughed. "I am very well, thank you. I missed you and I somehow missed this school as well. As for my parents, I think that they are finally recovering after my brother's death…" she answered with a frown, but her expression suddenly changed when she started again "Harry and I are better than ever. He is still in Auror training. He's in Ireland right now. I miss him so much… Harry and Ron came home for the weekend. They miss you, you know? Especially Ron" at that, Ginny had a devilish look on her face. "How are you two? Is he treating you well? If not I will be more than happy to take care of him for you…"
Hermione let out a laugh "Ginny! Of course he's treating me well. It's Ron we're talking about. We are fine, except that I haven't seen him since I came here…"
"Don't worry, Hermione, I'm sure that he will pay you a visit. He and Harry promised to come to Hogsmeade once in a while."
"I hope they come. I miss them so much…"
"They will, you'll see" she reassured and then continued: "So… how's being the Head Girl?" the redhead questioned.
Hermione thought for a second before answering "It's ok, I guess… I haven't had the occasion to truly experience it yet since the school just started, but it sounds promising."
"And you really have to share the quarters with Malfoy?" Ginny asked.
"Yes, but it's not that bad…" Ginny made a face at that and Hermione continued "He's… changed"
"It seems hard to believe, but if you say so, then it must be true." She voiced her thoughts.
"It is. We've even had some peaceful conversations."
"I'm glad then." The other girl replied with a smile and then continued, realization hitting her "Hermione? Why are we starting with a minus of fifteen points?" she asked with a frown.
Hermione blushed at that and answered slowly "I may have been caught after curfew…"
Ginny laughed at that "Let me guess. The library?"
Hermione nodded: "Yes, but I didn't think that the rules apply on holidays as well… sorry."
"It's ok, we will gain them back." Ginny laughed.
Hermione looked at the watch on the wall in front of her and rose to her feet when she saw that it was almost nine o'clock. "Look at the time! I'd better go… I don't want other points taken from us."
The redheaded girl laughed at that and rose to her feet, giving Hermione a hug and adding "Off you go, then. And please do come back soon. It will be weird not seeing you here every morning…"
"Don't worry; I'll come as often as I can. Bye then. See you at breakfast." Hermione said and then returned to her new Tower. On her way there, she encountered a little Hufflepuff girl who was almost crying.
"Hello, there, are you lost?" Hermione asked in a friendly voice as she got closer to her.
The girl only nodded and Hermione thought she was about to cry.
"Don't worry; I will take you to your Tower. I'm Hermione by the way. What's your name?"
"Harriet." the girl answered in a small voice.
"Nice to meet you, Harriet." Hermione replied with a friendly smile.
When they got closer to the Hufflepuff Tower, a blonde girl, the Prefect designated to watch over the Hufflepuff new years, ran over to them. "Here you are! Thank Merlin." She said relieved. "Thank you, Head Girl; I don't know how I managed to lose her from my sight".
"Please be more careful next time" Hermione told her in a firm voice and then turned to Harriet with a smile on her face "Take care, Harriet" and the little girl smiled back.
As Hermione was heading back, she heard once again steps behind her and she watched her watch. It wasn't nine thirty yet and she exhaled relieved. After a few seconds, the footsteps were next to her and she wasn't surprised to see Professor Snape with a smirk on his face.
"Late again, Miss Granger?" he started "but I must say…it is such an improvement since I don't find you on the floor this time."
Hermione narrowed her eyes in frustration. "It is not after curfew, Sir."
"Not yet, but it will be in about five minutes" he replied wit a satisfied smirk.
Hermione glanced at the watch on her wrist and added "Well then, professor, as much as I enjoy our encounters, I must leave you to it" she said breathlessly and before he had a chance to reply, she started almost running to her Tower.