The Duties of Being a Prefect

Hermione Granger is totally infatuated with Draco Malfoy. However, she believes that he hates her, what with the names he calls her, and the things he does. Will she discover that she is wrong?

Hermione always seemed to have the worst luck when it came to Draco Malfoy. According to her, Draco is arrogant, narcissistic, foul, and an abhorrent bully. But then she had to go and fall for him. She could never tell her best friends this, though. Harry, and Ron would never look at her the same way again, after all, Draco was their least favourite person - apart from You-Know-Who of course. She did tell Ginny though, when she was in third year. Ginny couldn’t comprehend how anyone who wasn’t friends with Malfoy could ever like him, but she didn’t judge, or ridicule her for it. Crushes happen.
There have been a few instances where Hermione thought that perhaps he could change. That he would redeem himself, but of course he just got worse. She had liked him since she saw him, and she thought that maybe, just maybe he could like her too. That is until he called her a mudblood. That was the point where Hermione realised that he would never respect her.

Many years since they first met, they were made prefects. This meant that they would be seeing much more of each other. Hermione was unsure as to whether or not she liked the idea. Surely Draco has outgrown his childish ways, and has begun to realise that he can’t treat people the way that he has?

“What are you doing here, mudblood?” Apparently not.
Draco swaggered over to the desk Hermione was sat at.

“I’m a prefect, Malfoy. Just like you.” she told him. “It isn’t hard to understand. Well, maybe for you it is. When you were transfigured into a ferret, your brain may have stayed the same size.” she gave him a bittersweet smile, and looked down to her books.
She had her timetable slotted into a diary which was filled with notes, and dates to remember. She had to be extra prepared for this year if she was to be a prefect!

“Ouch, that hurt, Granger. You ought to be nicer to me. I’m not that bad, y'know?” Draco said, hand over his heart, as if Hermione had pierced it. He smirked down at her as she sighed and looked up to him.

“You called me a-” her voice faltered. “A mudblood as you entered. I’d say that’s quite bad.” She got out her quill, and dipped it in ink. “Draco, its high time to grow up. You’re 15, for Petes sake! You should start to act it.” With that she went back to her diary, and wrote in ‘Meet with R & H at Hagrid’s’.

Draco huffed, turned around, and walked away to Pansy, who was waiting patiently at another desk. As soon as he got to Pansy, Hermione glanced up, to see him staring back at her. Their stare was cut short, however, as a late Ron Weasley tripped into the room.

“Sorry I’m late.” he said, as he hurried over to sit next to Hermione.

“I did tell you that we were meeting here, Ron.”

“Yeah, but I forgot. I was talking with Harry in our room. Got a bit sidetracked, 'Mione.” Hermione let out a small smile as she shook her head in disbelief.

“Well, now that you have graced us with your presence, Ron, we can begin.” the Head Girl said.

After the boring spiel that talked about Prefect duties had finished, there were three previously blank pages filled with notes in Hermione’s diary, Ron had a mark from his fist on his face due to leaning on it, and Draco had been tapping his fingers on his desk throughout the whole thing. Hermione had even wrote

'if you keeping tapping your fingers, I’ll break them off’

along with her notes. She quickly noticed what she had done, and put three lines through it so it was hardly distinguishable. Ron stretched out his arms above his head, and let out a yawn.

“I’m going to take so many points from Slytherin.” Ron said.

“You can’t?”

“What? Why not?”

“Weren’t you listening Ronald? They told us that we can only take points from our own house. You can’t do that to Slytherin. Even if you could, it would be horrible.” An exasperated Hermione explained.

“Well, I think that is stupid. Those vile snakes deserve it.”

“Ron! Honestly, just because you don’t like some of them, doesn’t mean that you can hate the whole house.”

“Why not? I bet you that Umbridge was a Slytherin. You-Know-Who was too.” Ron whispered.

“What would it matter if she is? We barely know her. We’ve only seen her at the initial feast. She seems happy enough. Even if she is from the Ministry.” Hermione retorted. “Andromeda Tonks was a Slytherin. She isn’t like most of her family. Quirrell was a Ravenclaw, and he harboured You-Know-Who on the back of his head!” Ron scoffed, and got up.

“I’ll see you in charms.” he was shaking his head as he left.

Hermione started to pack up all of her equipment. She dried the bottom of her quill, and ensured the ink was dry before she closed her book.

“Hey, could you two make sure that you lock the room before you leave? Thanks!” The Head Boy said as he rushed out.

You two? Hermione questioned.

“Why don’t you just use magic to pack up?” the other person in the room queried. Malfoy.

“Because I prefer to do it this way. I like to know where everything is. Besides, I’m used to it from school in the muggle world.” she told him. “Why are you still here?” she asked, studying him.

He had packed up, and was leaning on the wall next to the door. He had half-rolled his shirt sleeves up.

“Can’t I wait for you?"This stunned Hermione.

"Why would you wait for me? It’s not as if you’ve done this before. We aren’t exactly friends.”

“Well rather than listening to everything they were saying I was-” he was cut off by an annoyed Hermione.

“You want my notes, don’t you?”

“No, no. That’s not it.” he said as he jumped up from the wall, and stuck out his free hand in defence. “I was thinking about what you said. That I should grow up.” Hermione furrowed her brow.

“Well, I think that the first step to that is to apologise. I’ve been an ass. Especially to you, even though it’s Potter I don’t like. So, I want to make amends, if you are willing to accept my apology. Of course you don’t have to accept.” he took a breath.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry for the names I’ve called you, and the things I’ve done to you, and your friends. Although with how they take you for granted, I don’t see how you can tolerate them - Sorry. That probably isn’t what I should say.”

Hermione had to take a step back to realise what is happening. Draco Malfoy. Draco. Malfoy. Is apologising. Draco Malfoy.

“I accept your apology, but it doesn’t make sense. I thought you hated me? And what’s this about Harry, and Ron taking me for granted?”

“They always use you for your brains. I’ve overheard them talking about not listening, or understanding a lesson, and you jump right in, and help. Do they do the same to you? I doubt it.” he said. “Sorry, it isn’t really my place to say. I don’t know what happens behind the scenes.” His grey eyes were striking as he stared into Hermione’s brown ones.

“Oh. Right.” she said flatly.

“They don’t understand that you’re more than just brains. Let me guess, they wonder why you were sorted into Gryffindor rather than Ravenclaw?”

“Yeah, they’ve asked once or twice before…”

“And they can’t see you as being a brave, or courageous person?”

“Well, I don’t think that’s true. Ever since our first year there has been something disastrous happen. I’ve always helped them - even when I was paralysed! -, and they have always been grateful. I went into the Shrieking Shack, stood in front of Sirius Black - albeit he is actually a really nice person, but this was when we thought he was a murderer who was trying to kill Harry - and a werewolf all in our third year! Even though I wasn’t there in the graveyard with Harry last year, I helped him throughout the tasks, so much so that Rita Skeeter thought that we were dating! Harry always thanks me. He helps me too, you know?”

“What about Ron?” Hermione looked taken aback.

“I admit, Ron could probably be more supportive, and show his gratitude, but he isn’t as bad as you think him to be. You need to see the real him, rather than glimpses, and glances."Hermione didn’t think that her friends ever took advantage of her, or took her for granted. They were her best friends, and she wouldn’t change them for the world.

"Yeah, you’re right. Of course, sorry again.” he said, looking down at his feet, looking almost - flustered?

“You don’t have to keep saying sorry. I do forgive you.”

“Yes, but I feel awful.” he stared into Hermione’s eyes once again.There was a brief silence. They both just looked at each other. Hermione noticed that Draco had one of his knees bent, one of his shoes was crooked, facing the straight one. He had one arm hold his singular book firmly to his chest, the other one draped over it. Hermione was standing straight, with her hands to her side. Her books were still on the desk.

“Can I walk you to your common room?” Draco broke the silence.

“Is this some sort of joke?” Hermione said abruptly. “Surely you haven’t changed your mind so quickly all because I told you to grow up? You hate me, remember? Did you and Pansy come up with this elaborate plan to make me defenceless, and then shoot me down?” Draco’s face contorted.

“No. No of course not. I know I can be horrible, but I’d never do that.” he stood up straight, and began to walk towards Hermione. “I have been thinking about this for years, but every time Potter, and Weasley look at me, they give me the worst grimace I’ve seen, and I become resentful, and say something nasty. I know that I can’t blame them for my wretchedness. I needed a push, and you gave it to me. Thank you, Hermione.”
Him saying her name filled her stomach with butterflies. Him walking towards her made the butterflies explode into fireworks.“Hermione. I don’t hate you.” With that, all of her senses went numb.

He took another step forward, and as he did she took one backwards. She bumped into her chair, and fell down onto it. She knew that her cheeks would be turning red, but she didn’t care. Draco was being a good person. He was being polite. He was apologising. He didn’t hate her.

“I never hated you. I hated Potter for being with you. He is always the hero. The hero always gets the girl. And he did. Last year. At least, I thought he did.”

Why would Draco hate Harry for being with me? I was never with Harry. Hermione thought.

“I assumed that Rita Skeeter was telling the truth for once, and when I saw the photo, I lost control. But, you two didn’t date. You aren’t dating?”

“Harry is my best friend. I don’t think I could ever see me being with him romantically. It’s just platonic. Only platonic.” she explained. The hardened features on his face softened with relief. She stood up, her face awfully close to his. She moved to the right so she was standing between Draco, and the desk. This way she couldn’t fall down.

“Why - Why would you care if I was dating him anyway?” She wasn’t sure if she wanted to ask, but she did. She wanted to know. She needed to know.

“Because I-” he appeared stunned. “I guess I-” he couldn’t get his words out. “I like you.” Hermione bit her lip as she smiled.

She looked down at her feet so that Draco wouldn’t see how happy she is. He lightly grabbed her chin with his right hand, placing his book down on her desk with his left.He looked down into her eyes.

“Is it okay if I…?” he asked, while moving in for a kiss. Hermione answered him by leaning in, closing her eyes. She steadied her breathing as their lips touched. Draco’s left hand held onto her back, as his right left her chin, and caressed her cheek.

Hermione’s hands went to the back of his head. Draco was the first to pull away, but only to admire her face, especially her eyes. He had never been this close to her before. He leant back in and kissed her again, this one sweeter than the last. They both pulled away, and smiled at each other.

They stayed like this for a while, Hermione pressed against the desk, gazing into Draco’s closed eyes, whilst he had his hands on the desk, propping himself up. He dropped his forehead down onto hers.

“I didn’t know you felt like this about me.” Hermione whispered.

“I didn’t know you felt the same way.” Draco whispered back. He had his eyes closed so that he could feel close to her, not wanting to have his eyes trick him.

“My answer is yes, thank you, by the way.” Hermione said, causing the blonde to give her a confused look. “Yes, thank you. It would be nice if you walked me to my common room.” she smiled. He stood up, grabbed his book, and stood to the side for Hermione to get her things.

“Lead the way.” he said as he gestured towards the door with his empty hand.

She smiled at the ground, as she started to walk ahead of him. She stopped as he locked the door - although it isn’t hard to unlock it anyway.

When he was ready, they walked off together, receiving glances from other students.

Hermione always seemed to have the worst luck when it came to Draco Malfoy, until the day, however, when they learnt the duties of being a prefect.