Chapter 1
It was a bright, sunny Saturday in July. Hermione Jean Granger rolled off her bed and stretched. She opened her eyes and blinked at the sunlight that streamed from her window. It had been about a month after the final battle against Voldemort. Nearly all of the Death Eaters were rounded up and sent to Azkaban for a life sentence. Those who fought on the light side had received many praise and awards for their courage. As soon as the battle had ended, Hermione immediately set out to find her parents to restore their memories. Nevertheless, the trust between them wavered. Although they knew that her purpose was to keep them safe, they feared Hermione for her power to change their memories. Recently, they had moved back in England and returned to their own cottage. He just turned one and started to crawl around and babble. She was overjoyed when she found out that her parents had given birth to a new baby boy, John. They sure had been busy during their stay in Australia.
The world was finally at peace.
She had not had a contact from her friends but that did not matter since everyone was busy rebuilding the Wizarding world to its former glory. Professor McGonagall was heard to be with Professor Flitwick, rebuilding the Hogwarts so that it would be ready for the school year.
A tapping noise was heard from the window. Jumping up from the bed in excitement, she flung open the window and hurriedly untied the letter from the owl's leg. When she flipped the letter over, she recognizes the Hogwarts seal. She ripped it open, excitement buzzing in her brain.
Dear Miss Granger,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been invited back to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to repeat your final year since the war may have hindered your education. You have been appointed as Head Girl. Your badge will enclosed in the letter with a list of all necessary books and equipment for you seventh year at Hogwarts.
Term begins at September 1. We await you owl by no later than 31 July.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Headmistress of Hogwarts
Jumping up and down with joy and squealing, she ran downstairs and quickly told her parents. With smiling faces, they congratulated her and she rushed back to her room to send an owl reply. She also wrote to Harry, Ginny and Ron, telling them that she was Head Girl and asking if either Ron or Harry was Head Boy.
The train whistled, signaling the near departure of the Hogwarts Express, as Hermione rushed on Platform 9 and 3/4, tightly gripping her trunk. She scanned the crowd for her best friends, Harry Potter and Ron Weasley. A familiar face peered through the sea of people. Harry Potter came striding up to her and gave her a hug. They have not seen each other for ages. "Hermione!" shouted Ginny as she ran over to hug the older woman. Hermione was happy that she could see her best friend again. She missed some girl times with Ginny.
After the battle, Harry and Ginny’s relationship continue to blossom and grow. She envied them. The brief relationship between Ron and her did no end well. As soon as the war ended, they broke it off since the whole Weasley family was mourning for the loss of Fred. Actually what happened was that Ron left without a note or word and disappeared from her life. He seemed to have taken Fred’s loss the hardes Hermione tried flooing to the Burrow or mailing him but he never answered her back. She cried for days as she finally realized that she had been dumped.
Snapping out of her reveries, she smiled at the mini crowd of flaming red hair. Harry and Hermione were greeted by the whole Weasley family. Well, everyone except for Ron. Behind Molly and the laughing Ginny, Hermione saw Ron skulking nearby. She was about to go over and talk but Harry grabbed her arm and said
"Don't bother him, Hermione. I know that you want to talk to him but just give him a bit more time. He will come through. Anyway, the train is leaving soon, get to the Head's compartment and see who the head boy is."
Swiveling around in shock, she exclaimed "Wait, you are not Head Boy? I thought that Headmistress McGonagall would have chosen the Chosen one."
A whistled sounded again, rushing everyone to get on the train. "Tell me later, okay?" Harry said as he dragged Ginny away to find a compartment.
Hermione sighed as she heaved her trunk and moved to the head of the train to find the head compartment. "Who is the Head Boy?" she thought." If Harry was not the Head Boy, who would it be? Ron maybe?" she suddenly thought how awkward if it was Ron, everyday living in the same dorm room as him and even going on their daily patrols. " No, it can't be… I saw Ron go after Harry and Ginny to find a compartment. It could be Anthony Goldstein from Ravenclaw. He was a very talented young man, second only to me…actually I am not sure." Her mind swirled around for other possibilities and at last she reached the door to the heads train compartment. She took a deep breath and slid open the door.
A tall, muscular yet slender, white blonde-haired boy was lounging on one of the couches in the Head's compartment. A face of shock crossed Hermione's face as she recognized Draco Malfoy. Before she could even retreat back outside to the hallway, he turned around. Draco sneered as he saw the Head Girl. "If it isn't the insufferable know-it-all… I should have guessed that the old lady signed you up as Head Girl."
"Why are you here, ferret? I thought you would be back home with your mummy since your daddy is in Azkaban." Hermione wittedly commented back.
Anger flashed in his eyes as he pinned Hermione to the closed door behind them, their faces inches between each other. "Don't even talk about my family like that, bookworm." Pleased with her shocked face he moved back. "And I thought you are supposed to be the brightest witch of our age, I'm the Head Boy, duh." He drawled, rolling his eyes as he sat on the couch.
Recovering from his shocked face, she spat "What you the Head Boy! Don't make me laugh. Why would Profe—Head Mistress McGonagall appointed you as Head Boy?"
"Read this bookworm. I didn’t choose to work with you, Granger."
He shoved a piece of parchment at her face, looking very similar to her own Hogwarts letter. She snatched it away from his hand and read:
Dear Mr Malfoy,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been invited back to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to repeat your final year since the war may have hindered your education. You have been appointed as Head Boy. Your badge will enclosed in the letter with a list of all necessary books and equipment for you seventh year at Hogwarts.
Term begins at September 1. We await you owl by no later than 31 July.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Headmistress of Hogwarts
"Oh dear, this is going to be a hell of a year." She murmured sitting on the opposite couch as she handed the letter back.
Avoiding Malfoy's face, she looked around, suddenly realized that she did not notice how beautiful the Head's compartment was, since she was too busy arguing with Malfoy. The compartment was beautifully furnished with lush couches and even a small table beside the window. It looked like some kind of first class train compartments instead of a Head's compartment. The train suddenly lurched forward, throwing Hermione on top of Malfoy. She looked in to the shocked stormy grey eyes of Draco Malfoy and suddenly realized that their lips were touching. Before they can move, they both heard a little voice coming from the door. "I was wondering if - oh, sorry am I interrupting something. Maybe I should come back later…"
