Hermione POV
The Hogwarts Express slowly came to a halt as the engine roared signalling for everyone to leave. As everyone stepped off the train, students ranging from first years to eighths, Harry, Ginny and Hermione got on a carriage that was pulled by a black and skeletal horse called a Thestral which were invisible to everyone except for the people who have been truly touched by death. This used to be quite rare, but ever since the war, pretty much everyone in the school could see them.
"Wait...Where's Ron", Ginny slowly turned around with a confused expression on her face.
"He'll probably catch up to us later" Harry shrugged.
"Hey Hermione, what did Ron say to you on the train when he pulled you out? You came back like...half and hour later without him. We got kinda worried"
Hermione felt her heart sink as she heard the question. She had been hoping to avoid this topic, on the off chance that Ginny would forget about it but clearly not...
"Oh, he broke up with me", she whispered, looked down at the ground, not daring to meet her friend's eye.
Time seemed to freeze as Ginny processed the information. Then Ginny exploded.
"HE DID WHAT?"
People in the carriages before and after theirs poked their heads out the window to try to understand what was going on. Harry gestured quickly for Ginny to quieten down.
"The next time I see that bloody bastard, I swear to Merlin I'm going to hex him to the oblivion!", Ginny said menacingly, her voice now deadly quiet. She pulled out her wand but then shoved it back in her robe pocket as she restrained herself.
Harry had a bewildered yet disappointed expression on his face and furrowed his eyebrows. "But why would he do that?"
"Because I'm ugly, boring and I work too much, according to Ro-"
"Which is complete utter nonsense, you know that right?" Ginny quickly cut in.
"Thanks Ginny", Hermione said, summoning up a smile.
"I can never tell a lie."
Time passed rapidly as they were catching up with each other, talking about the summer holidays and what their plans were for the new term, and before they knew it, a beautiful, glowing castle was standing right before them surrounded by the giant lake that was reflecting the full moon. Hermione could just make out the shadow of the giant squid lurking just under the shimmering ripples of the Black Lake. Hogwarts, she thought, had never looked so beautiful and full of new beginnings.
The Great hall was blazing with light when they finally got inside the castle. Peeves was nowhere in sight, and the ceiling in the Great Hall was patterned with pinpricks of white, where the stars shone through the inky black of the night. Hermione, Ginny and Harry wound their way between students, before finally reaching the Gryffindor table. Hermione couldn't help wondering who was Head Boy. She would have to work with them for an entire year, so whoever it was, they had to be prepared to buckle down. She saw Ron walk in and immediately stared down at the table to avoid eye contact. Ginny gave an unladylike snort and muttered under her breath about something along the lines of 'stinking bastards' and 'make him pay'.
Up at the staff table, Professor McGonagall rose, and began to speak, her Scottish voice filling the now silent hall.
Suddenly, the door creaked open with Hagrid leading a bunch of nervous looking first years, stumbling across the middle of the Great Hall as they looked up to the bewitched ceiling that looked like the night sky. One by one, they were called out for the sorting ceremony and each house cheered every time someone new came to join them. Hermione noticed one girl who looked smart and wary and hoped that that girl would join the Gryffindors, but as soon as "Finching, Madeleine" was called, the girl was elected to join Ravenclaw.
After that, a few mutters travelled round the hall, and McGonagall surveyed them sternly before a tiny smile broke out on her face.
"Well, students, I hope your journey was pleasant and that you all are prepared to work hard this year."
"But before all that, you must be starving, so...," she gestured around at the tables, which were now laden with food, "Let the feast begin!"
Chatter rose up again as people began serving themselves. Harry, after glaring in Ron's direction, picked up a dish of roast potatoes.
"Potatoes, Hermione?"
"Yes please." Hermione said, and soon began eating.
*****
A few minutes later, Ginny and Harry were having a discussion about Seeker tactics which Hermione was paying no attention to. Suddenly, a short, brunette girl came up behind her. It was Lavender Brown.
"Hi Hermione!"
Why did she look so smug?
"I was wondering if Won won and I could have the dish of roast pork?"
Oh.
Ginny snarled at Lavender, making the other girl jump.
"No, you may not. You and my pig of a brother have enough food where you are."
"But we would like the roast pork." Lavender persisted.
"Well, tough luck. You're not getting any of it. I want it." said Ginny.
"All of it?" Lavender stated incredulously.
"All of it." scowled Ginny, and put her arms around the platter. She narrowed her eyes at Lavender as if the girl was going to try and snatch it from her. Lavender frowned, then walked back to Ron, who was looking grumpier by the second.
"Ginny Weasley!" Hermione spluttered. Harry was choking with laughter.
"What?" Ginny said. "I wasn't going to let that hag get my roast pork!"
*****
McGonagall had just finished giving her normal 'what not to do' speech and was finally, finally, moving on to appointments.
"This year, the choice for Head students has been difficult. Each year we get a new year of students who are willing to prove themselves. But in the end, two did prevail. So, this year our Head Girl is... Hermione Granger!"
Hermione stood up and walked to the front of the hall, blushing desperately. There were cheers and lots of applause, particularly from the Gryffindors - apparently since the war she had become very popular. She shook McGonagall's hand and put on her new badge. McGonagall began speaking again
"And our Head Boy is... Draco Malfoy!"
Hermione jolted back, stunned. Most people were surprised and stayed silent however there was a more tumultuous applause, particularly, Hermione noticed, from the girls. So Draco had been telling the truth when he said he was a catch. She didn't exactly see it herself.
Draco made his way up to the front of the hall, shook headmistress's hand, and took his place next to Hermione.
"You didn't say anything on the train!" whispered Hermione, rather annoyed. The clapping continued.
"Well sweetheart, neither did you." Draco said, smirking.
She didn't have anything to say to that.
*****
It was after the feast when she saw Ron again. Draco and her had to sit at a separate table due to the teachers deciding that the Heads of school needed a 'more active part' in school life. They had just been assigned their duties: look after first years, sort out disputes, do a couple of rounds in patrol, then go to bed. Hermione was arguing with Draco about who was going to have to sort out the little boy who had spilt bubotuber pus all over him. She had no clue how he managed to get his hands on bubotuber in the first place. Hermione had just made an irrefutable point - that boys were Draco's job and she had to sort out a first year girl who had started crying in the entry hall, when a rough hand pulled her away from Malfoy and to the side. Hermione whirled around, wand out, to face Ron, his face and ears a brilliant red.
"What are you doing?" Ron said furiously. Hermione was confused.
"Um, just doing what I'm supposed to be doing." she said. Ron snorted.
"Oh I'm sorry, I must have missed the part where the Head Girl's job was to flirt with Draco Malfoy." He spat. Hermione drew back, flabbergasted.
"Flirting - what - RON!" She spluttered. Ron narrowed his eyes.
"Don't try to hide it. You were, I saw you. Merlin's beard, we've only stopped dating for-" he checked his watch "two hours and you have already moved on? To a SLYTHERIN?" He shouted the last bit. Hermione couldn't help it. She began to laugh hysterically. Ron got angrier and angrier.
"WHAT ARE YOU LAUGHING AT?" He shouted.
"Ron, you think I'm with Malfoy? You are such a loony," she said, marvelling at how stupid Ronald Weasley could be. Ron didn't seem to think it was funny. Actually, he made a grab at Hermione, looking like who would kill her. Hermione drew back, suddenly scared. Ron almost reached her, but was knocked aside. He turned, scowling ferociously, to face -
Draco Malfoy.
Malfoy had a smirk on his face.
"Ronald Weasley." He said, fake shock in his voice "Is this how your mother brought you up? Attacking defenceless girls?"
"I'm not defenceless." Hermione piped up, though she had been petrified. Draco smiled.
"I know that sweetheart, but he doesn't." he said, smirking at her. Ron went from red in the face, to purple.
"I don't see how any of this is your business." Ron shouted. He has a point... Hermione thought grudgingly. However, Malfoy looked completely unruffled. Actually, his smirk broadened.
"That's where you're wrong. As Head Boy of the school, your behaviour is under my responsibility, and therefore your punishments are under my jurisdiction."
Hermione blinked. She knew that Draco was smart, but jurisdiction was an uncommon word even among Ravenclaws. Ron blinked too, although that was probably just because he didn't know what jurisdiction meant. Malfoy rolled his eyes.
"To dumb it down for you, Weasel: A. Week's. Worth. Of. Detention. For. Attacking. Another. Student." Malfoy stated, enunciating his words carefully. Ron snarled.
"PISS OFF MALFOY!" He shouted. Draco continued to look calm, and focused his gaze just behind Ron's head. Ron and Hermione turned to face McGonagall, who was looking extremely cross.
"Good evening, Professor," Draco said smoothly. "How was the journey for you?"
"Very good, thank you Malfoy. Unfortunately, I am being forced to punish a student on their very first day. Not a good start to the year, Mr Weasley. I believe Mr Malfoy has already given you a week's worth of detention. I'll make it two."
Ron spluttered. "But, Professor-"
"Is that backchat? A month's worth." McGonagall said her lips thin and white with anger.
Hermione smiled. She couldn't help it. She caught Malfoy's gaze. He was looking very pleased with himself. She shook her head. Professor Mcgonagall turned and smiled at the new Head Boy and Head Girl.
"Enough of that. I think it's time to show you two where the Head Boy and Girl's common rooms are." She said.