AN:
Ok everyone! Here is chapter 1! I really hope you enjoy!!! Don't forget to r/r! Oh, and, unfortunately, I do not own Harry Potter...only this plot.
"Hey Hermione! I've found an empty compartment for us." Harry Potter called over his shoulder to his best friends.
"Harry, have you forgotten already? Again? I've told you and Ronald both at least a dozen times since this morning that I have to go sit in the Heads' compartment until after we meet with the Prefects! And even then I might not be able to sit with you guys until we sit down in The Great Hall!" Hermione shook her head and sighed heavily. "Boys." She mumbled under her breath.
"Oh come on, Hermione, we aren't THAT bad." Ron said from beside her.
Hermione smiled and kissed him lightly, chastely, on the lips. "Most of the time." She said, smiling at Harry too. "Alright, go on, and I'll try to meet you later on. If not then I'll see you two at Hogwarts!" Hermione said, beaming at them before turning to walk away. "Oh! And behave, won't you?" Hermione threw over her shoulder as an afterthought. She knew that Malfoy had come back, though there wasn't the same animosity between the Slytherins and Gryffindors anymore. But still, Harry and Ron just attracted trouble like magnets.
Ten minutes later, Hermione stood in front of the Heads' compartment, forcing herself to be calm even though she knew who was waiting behind the door. "Bloody hell, Granger, just come in already. If I have to hear you saying 'just stay calm' through that blasted door one more time I'll go crazy." Malfoy's voice drifted through the door, a little muffled but still clear. Hermione blushed. She hadn't realized she had been telling herself to be calm out loud . She shook her head and walked into the compartment, coming face to face with Malfoy.
"Insanity must run in the family then, for something so small to make you crazy." Hermione said as she glared at Malfoy. Malfoy flinched and looked at the floor, saying nothing. A surge of guilt flooded Hermione. "Malfoy...I'm sorry. That was uncalled for and cruel. I'm sorry." Malfoy raised his eyes to hers, but remained silent. "I'd make up an excuse about being nervous about being Head Girl, but you wouldn't buy that, so all I can honestly say besides I'm sorry is that you bring out the worst in me." Hermione said, looking at Malfoy evenly, surprised that she didn't feel the old burning hate for the boy before her like she usually did. She actually felt sorry for him.
Malfoy waved his hand as if waving off her apology. "It's fine, Granger. I guess I deserved that after...after everything I've done...to you and everyone else." Hermione could feel her jaw drop, but couldn't seem to close her mouth, so she just stood there, watching him in something akin to awe. Was THE Draco Malfoy apologizing? To HER? Malfoy sat down and took a leather-bound notebook out of his trunk. Malfoy cleared his throat. "Listen, Granger, I've been thinking since I found out that you and I are the Heads, and while I don't particularly think you will agree to this after everything that has been said and done between us, I have a proposition for you." Hermione shook her head and managed to regain control of her mouth, snapping it shut.
"And what exactly are you proposing?" Hermione asked warily. Draco Malfoy was well known for his ability to twist everything to his benefit.
"I am proposing that, for the sake of our positions, we at least attempt to not fight in front of the Prefects. Of course, I can understand if you don't agree."
"I'll agree if you agree to try to be civil to Harry and Ron too." Hermione said after a moment.
Malfoy's eyes captured hers, and Hermione could see the hate in his eyes. "I'll be civil to Potter, because you asked me to and I had planned on it at any rate, but not Weasley. I refuse to even attempt to be civil towards him. The Weasley girl is fine, but not him, Granger."
Hermione huffed her annoyance but agreed. "Fine, then please just ignore Ronald. Actually, he hates that more than anything."
"So, I assume that you have been planning the Prefect meeting in an hour. Mind sharing?" Malfoy said suddenly.
"Oh, well, ummm.... I have been planning it, haven't you?" Malfoy nodded. "Good, then how about we just lay everything out on the table there and go over it all together?" Hermione said, pointing to the large table next to the window.
"Alright, just let me copy all this on some parchment." Malfoy said as they moved to sit at the table across from Hermione. A few seconds later and a neat stack of parchment sat in front of him. Malfoy gestured for Hermione to help herself after she handed him her own parchment of plans.
"Ok, who are the Slytherin Prefects?" Hermione asked about twenty minutes later. Draco looked at a piece of parchment before answering.
"Pansy Parkinson and Blaise Zambini. Would you like me to read off the others as well?" He asked, even though he was sure Hermione had only asked for verification of what she already knew.
"No, no that's fine. I was thinking though, since Professor McGonagall said that we all need to patrol in pairs that we should pair the Prefects with other house Prefects, and possibly rotate them, but I'm not certain..."
"Well, that may mean more work for us, since we would have to work out the rotation schedules, but I think that's a good idea. Who are the Gryffindor Prefects? Besides the weasel, I mean."
Hermione didn't look up at his remark. "Actually, Ron told McGonagall he didn't want the position, because he wasn't actually any good at it. He doesn't know how to discipline anyone. So Ginny and Dean Thomas are our Prefects this year."
"Hmm. I didn't think Weasley would ever willingly say he wasn't good at something. Even if he was right about it." Draco said quietly. "At any rate, you and I will still have to patrol together, but otherwise I think we should ease them into the pairings. Possibly Gryffindor and Ravenclaw and Slytherin and Hufflepuff first, what do you think?"
Hermione thought for a second and then nodded. "Who are the Ravenclaw Prefects? Ashley and Jason Montgomery, right?" Draco nodded. "Ok then, I think I've got the schedule figured out. Take a look."
"I think that's fine, but how long will they be paired this way?" Draco asked as he looked over the parchment.
"I'm not actually sure just yet. But we can figure that out later. The Prefects should be here soon." Just then the door opened and Ginny walked in, Dean following behind her.
"So, what have you got for us?" Ginny asked immediately.
Hermione opened her mouth to tell her to wait but Draco beat her to it. "I'm afraid that the meeting does not begin until all Prefects are present, Miss Weasley, however, if you would like to offer any ideas for this year you are more than welcome to do so now." Ginny raised her eyebrows at him, but shrugged her shoulders and turned to Hermione.
"What the bloody hell has he done with the real Malfoy?" She whispered in Hermione's ear.
"Later." Hermione whispered back, grinning when Ginny pouted.
Before long all of the Prefects were gathered in the Heads' compartment, and though the meeting was relatively short, it felt like it went on much longer since Pansy refused to patrol with anyone who wasn't a Slytherin. Draco finally had to put his foot down. "Pansy, shut it. You will patrol with anyone Granger and I say you will, and if you can't, then you can just turn in your badge now. Got it? Now, meeting's over. Go patrol."
The sorting went quickly. Most parents were still loathe to let their children out of their sight, much less to Hogwarts, where the Final Battle had been fought and won. Before Hermione knew it, Professor McGonagall was leading her and Malfoy to their private Heads' dorm. "The password is 'Acceptance'. Have a good night." McGonagall said when they reached a portrait of a young girl. Hermione gasped.
"Arrianna!"
"Hello Hermione. It is good to see you again. Mr. Malfoy, a pleasure to meet you. I am the guardian of your dormitory. Please speak the password together to fully accept your role as Head Boy and Girl." Arrianna said softly, smiling at them.
"Acceptance" Their voices mingled together, and then the portrait swung open, revealing their common room. It was decorated in dark greens and glimmering golden hues. It was tastefully done, much to Hermione's surprise. The couch and matching recliners in front of the fireplace looked very comfortable. There was a balcony, and even a small kitchen. A staircase led up to their private bedrooms and the bathroom that they had to share.
"Thanks...for today. Goodnight Granger." Draco said as he opened the door to his own room.
"No problem. Goodnight Malfoy. And don't forget that we have to meet with McGonagall on Thursday after classes." Hermione said as she gave him a weak smile.
"Yeah, sure thing. See you tomorrow then."
"So, what've we got today?" Ron asked as he piled his plate high with food at breakfast the next morning. Hermione sat down beside him.
"Sorry I'm late, I was up late last night." She said, reaching for her schedule. "Looks like we still have Potions with the Slytherins." Hermione said, raising an eyebrow at the curious look she was getting from Ron. "What?" She asked.
"Aren't you going to eat?" Ron asked. Harry rolled his eyes and shook his head.
Hermione blanched. "Um, no. I'm not hungry. Hurry up before we're late for Potions!"
Ron shot Harry a quizzical look after Hermione took off, but Harry just shrugged his shoulders. "She's probably just nervous about being Head Girl." He said simply. Ron nodded hesitantly.
Earlier that morning:
Hermione woke later than she had planned, and ended up rushing around her room to get ready. Five minutes later she arrived downstairs, a little surprised to find Draco already there, holding out a cup of coffee to her. "I thought you might like a cup of coffee." He said simply. Then the smell hit her. Clapping her hand over her mouth, Hermione ran back upstairs to the bathroom where she promptly vomited in the toilet.
"Bloody hell Granger, are you ok? If I had known coffee made you sick I never-" Draco said from the doorway. Hermione hadn't had time to close it in her mad dash. "That's not it." Hermione gasped, clutching her stomach. "I love coffee in the mornings. I don't know what's going on."
Draco was surprised to find himself helping Granger up from the floor. It wasn't like him to offer his help. To anyone. But then again he HAD said he'd be civil to Granger. "Take some Pepper-up Potion. It's it the cabinet over the sink." He said, stepping back to the doorway.
"Thank you, Malfoy. For the coffee, and for helping me. I appreciate it." Hermione smiled weakly before reaching for her toothbrush.
"Anytime, Granger."
AN: Alrighty, there's chapter 1! R/r! -Temperance
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