Chapter 2
Smoke is all I can see. The smoke was so powerful so thick that I couldn't see a thing through it. I felt a trail of fear crawl up my spine. The smoke made my eyes burn, it clogged up my air way and it was so hot, little sweat drops were falling down my face. It didn't matter how hard I tried to get away from this smoke. It was everywhere. I felt panic rise in my chest and I ran as fast I could. It felt like I was running with my eyes closed, my senses going wild when I thought I heard something or felt something brush past my arm or leg. I looked through my burning eyes, tears streaming out because of the burning sensation, and all of the sudden I felt myself fall and my body crashes against the cold, hard floor. I lay on the floor, catching a blur of the thing that tripped me. I picked myself up and slowly walked towards it. As I was walking over to it, a small beam of light made my eyes burn more than the smoke. My mind wandered off from the thing that tripped me and I walked towards the light. With every step I took, the light got bigger and brighter, causing me to cover my eyes a bit. As I got closer I noticed that the light happened to be fire. I stopped right in my tracks.
-Something's on fire.
I dreaded the steps that I continued to walk. My mind was telling me to stop but my body told me to go. The smoke got less intense and I saw what was on fire. Well, what I thought was on fire. At first I didn't recognize whose house was on fire because it was in such a mess. But as I took a step closer, the flames so close to me now, the little details of the house reminded me of whom it belonged to. Me.
-No!
I watched as, before my eyes, the fire burned down the last remains of my home. The white marble balconies broke down into pieces and fell to the ground, the branches and leaves of the parallel ten foot-tall bushes leading to my front door burning down and leaving a heavy smell that made me cover my nose, and the ceiling-high glass windows cracking as the pressure kept rising. I took a few steps back, my feet now at the middle of the entrance pathway. I stared at the windows, noticing every single crack that started at the top of the window and made a trail all the way to the bottom of the window. I took a couple more steps back. The next few moments moved in slow motion. Right before my eyes, an explosion blew away the glass windows, the fire moving rapidly towards me as I ran to the black gravel road that passes by my home. I dropped to my stomach and covered my head with my hands and lay there. I felt the fire just a few inches above me, burning my back, the intense pain magnified by the broken glass pieces as they pierced my whole body. I couldn't stand it anymore; as the fire died down I got up and ran, but then I fell- again. This time I looked down and I now wish I didn't. I looked at the figure that tripped me twice and stared at it. It was a body. I analyzed the back of its head, dreading to know who this was. I slowly turned it over to look at the face. A face that looked way too much like mine.
-No! This can't be!
I ran as fast as I could away from my burning house, away from all of the memories that I had in that house, and away from my dead body. I ran without thinking, my eyes fixed at the smoke in front of me. I didn't know where I was going, but as long as it was away from here, I'd be fine.
I woke up heaving, with sweat running down my pale face. I sat up and rubbed my forehead as I took in my surroundings. I looked and realized that I was in the place where I was supposed to be, the Heads compartment. With my head still dizzy from my nightmare, I looked out my window and noticed that it was already nightfall and that we had arrived at Hogwarts. I stood from the couch, grabbed my bag, and walked towards the door. As my hand touched the handle I heard a moan behind me. I looked over my shoulder and saw that Granger was still sleeping. I hesitated a bit, looking at the door and back at Granger.
-What are you waiting for? She can wake up by her self.
-I can't just leave her.
I walked up to her and saw the look on her face was peaceful, and a small smile was forming from her lips. Something about her looked graceful and delicate.
I touched her shoulder gently.
"Granger, we're here. Wake up."
"Five more minutes," she murmured. I looked down at her. Her curly hair was all over her face, sticking to her skin because of her sweating.
-What? She had a nightmare too?
Now she rolled to her other side, her face facing the couch and her back to me.
"We don't have five more minutes. Let's go," I said, a little louder than I attended to.
"No."
After a few more attempts of waking up this sleeping beauty, she finally woke up and sat up on the couch. With her eyes closed, she lifted up her hands and started to do this overhead stretch. I looked from across the room, not looking at her face or her arms, but my eyes instead lingered on that small area of skin that happened to be exposed around the hipbone. Her shirt began to lift higher and higher as her hands kept moving upwards. I now had a full view of her belly button and if she raised her arms higher she would be exposing an area she very much wouldn't want me to see. My eyes now moved away from her belly button and now started to linger higher up to her torso, my eyes stopping at her chest. I don't know what made me look there; maybe it was the soft, smooth appearance that her skin gave away or maybe the way her body had transformed throughout the summer.
"What are you staring at?" she asked.
I quickly snapped out of my daze and came back to reality to see that her little stretch was now done and she had her bag in her hand.
"Nothing."
I slid open the door and stepped out of the compartment first, not bothering to hold the door for her.
~Hermione Granger~
I walked down the hall to the Gryffindor' table, watching every couple reunite with their loved ones, and I watched those not so lucky single students just reuniting with their friends. I took my seat in between Harry and Ron. I looked to my left and saw Harry in a deep conversation with Ginny about this being Harry's last year.
-Wow, poor Ginny. She has this one last year to be with Harry at school.
And I looked to my left to see Ron shoving pumpkin bread into his mouth.
"Hewy, Harwany," Ron said with his mouth full.
I gave him a disgusted look that was followed by a smile.
"Chew with your mouth closed, Ron," I said playfully to him. Ron smiled at me with his full mouth and then took a sip of water to help the food go down his throat.
Ron was just about to ask me a question, but then Lavender Brown came into the picture. She sat down right across from him and leaned across the wide table with her body just barely touching the food so she could place a little peck on Ron's cheek.
"Hey Ronnie," she cooed.
I suddenly felt my insides heat up when the thought of her being with Ron ran across my mind: Lavender with her dark brown curly hair, her big brown eyes, her annoying whining voice and not to mention her obsession over Ron; she thought she could get him back, did she? I was just about to interrupt those two from their small talk but then Harry tapped my shoulder.
I quickly turned to face him.
"Yes?" I asked.
"So, you never told me who the Head Boy is."
-Do I tell him that it's our worst enemy Malfoy, or not?
Ron seemed to hear this and he turn to face me to hear who it was. Lavender did the same.
"Umm…" I hesitated.
But then I heard Professor McGonagall's stern voice, which quieted the Great Hall.
"May I have your attention please?" said Professor McGonagall. She stood behind the Professors' table with a calm look on her face. She looked the same as she always did throughout the seven years I'd known her.
"It's my honor to announce our headmaster, Professor Dumbledore."
She sat down as Professor Dumbledore appeared into the room. My emotions disappeared as I saw him. I could hear in the distance as forks and spoons fell down from the students' hands and landed on the glass dishes with a loud crack. I focused my attention to Professor Dumbledore and studied him. Unlike other ghosts you couldn't see through him as much. He still looked the same from last year and had the same voice.
You could tell he was a ghost by the fact that he wasn't standing, but floating. As everyone stopped their soft mumbling, he floated to his post and began his speech.
"Welcome to all new and returning students. The threat of darkness that once plagued these halls and the world outside these walls is no longer imminent. Tom Riddle perished at the hand of our own Harry Potter and I must say that I am very proud of his accomplishments. Without the threat of death to his person I expect great things from him and all seventh years. This year is about renewal and placing petty hatred behind us for we must honor those we lost in the War. If we cannot move forward we dishonor their memory. We have much to be thankful for today and each day going forward. I would like to announce that our distinguished Potions Master Severus Snape survived injuries sustained in the Final Battle and will resume his post," he said while positioning his arm to face the great hall doors.
Professor Snape limped his way slowly towards the front of the hall. As he did that everyone was quiet. This time not even a spoon or a fork broke the silence. Professor Snape finally made his way up the stairs and into his seat next to Professor McGonagall.
"We have the quick actions of Mr. Potter and Ms. Granger to thank for getting Professor Snape into the capable hands of Madame Pomfrey." Dumbledore paused, his eyes assuming their ever present twinkle despite the fact they were virtually transparent, and looked to his left at Madame Pomfrey and then back at us.
With that, the entire Great Hall turned, looking at us. Sensing a story involving the "Golden Trio" and Professor Snape. What they didn't know wouldn't kill them, despite the fact that I now squirmed uncomfortably in my seat, wanting nothing more than to forget the image of Severus Snape lying broken, bleeding, and utterly devoid of life on the floor of the Shrieking Shack. I shuddered and immediately found something more interesting to look at in my lap, flicking a piece of lint from one of my pleats. Nothing would change. Expecting Snape to suddenly become the Easter Bunny with all the fluffiness that went with it would be like expecting Lord Voldemort to court me good and proper. An unladylike snort escaped my lips before I could catch it, causing my fellow Gryffindors to turn sharply in my direction. Another piece of lint caught my eye and once again I was in my own little world.
"I would like to present our Head Girl, Hermione Granger from Gryffindor!"
-Great, just great.
I stood up uneasily and faced my classmates. Through out all of the awkward silence and the surprising news, the Great Hall clapped for me, which was flattering. I sat back down on my seat with a smile across my face.
When the clapping silenced down, Professor Dumbledore continued to announce the Head Boy.
"And I would like to present our Head Boy, Draco Malfoy from Slytherin."
The hall went quiet, too quiet. I looked over my shoulder at Malfoy. I saw him stand up behind his seat firmly and with no expression on his face. After the sudden shock that came to the Great Hall, students picked up their hands and started to clap.
-Wow.
I turned my head back to the table and didn't bother to watch him sit back down.
"Finally, I would like to announce that a Masquerade Ball is planned in December in celebration of Yule. Sixth and seventh years will be allowed to attend. Further information will be forthcoming once the Head Boy and Girl meet with House Prefects. I wish you all a wonderful year! Please continue enjoying the feast!" finished Professor Dumbledore and made his way to his seat. As I watched him do this, I noticed that when he sat down, there was no plate of food for him.
"I can't believe Malfoy is the Head Boy," muttered Ron. "You'll have to spend your every waking time with that ferret."
"And sleeping," I said quietly.
"What do you mean by that, Hermione?" asked Ginny.
I lowered my head to hide my now burning cheeks.
"We're sharing a dormitory," I mumbled.
"What!" yelled Ron as he got up and slammed his fists on the tables, causing the plates to shake and making our fellow Gryffindors look over at us in confusion.
I gave Ron a look and he jumped back on his seat with a thud.
"So the Masquerade Ball. Fun," said Harry sarcastically as we all turned back to our plates and started to continue eating our food. I noticed that Harry was looking at me while he said that.
-Bless him for changing the subject.
~Draco Malfoy~
After the damn humiliation I experienced while the old coot was announcing the Heads, the glares people had been giving me while I was eating, and when the feast was finally over, I walked to Professor McGonagall, who was talking to Granger in the entranceway of the Great Hall, while the hall was completely abandoned.
"There has to be a way!" she said pleadingly and I could hear her echoes coming off the walls. Granger was gesticulating her arms in a way that looked like she was flapping them. I laughed.
-She must really hate me. Too bad I don't give two shits to even care.
"Miss Granger!" McGonagall frowned severely as she regarded her favorite student. "The decision has been made. In the interest of house unity it is imperative that you place any petty differences you may have aside and come to some form of understanding with Mr. Malfoy. I expect more from you, Miss Granger, than this display fitting of a first year."
I strolled behind Granger and came close to her ear.
"Don't fight the odds, Granger. Think of all of the benefits that we will be having. Don't mess it up," I whispered sternly.
With that, Granger closed her mouth and folded her arms.
"Now that you've seen fit to join us, Mr. Malfoy, we shall be on our way," said Professor McGonagall.
Granger and I walked behind Professor McGonagall and followed her up four floors. I heard all the students talking among their friends as we passed them. I ignored the looks people gave me and to my surprise so did Granger; better yet, she didn't even take a look or say a word to me. While looking at the floor, I suddenly bumped into Granger.
I looked past Granger and saw a portrait of a woman that looks way too young and beautiful to be dead. The woman stood on a balcony that had a full view of the Hogwarts Lake and woods during sunrise. The woman's long wavy blonde hair flowed in the movement of the breeze. Her hair fit perfectly well with her outfit as her waves slid down midway of her silk gray short sleeved, knee high dress. Her dark blue eyes looked at us with a smile and her red lips formed to say, "Password?"
"Uh..."
"Forbidden Lily," replied Granger.
I scoffed.
-Of course she remembered it.
"Nice job, Ms. Granger. Ten points for Gryffindor," said Professor McGonagall.
We stepped inside and we inspected the dormitory.
The first thing you saw was what you could say was a living room. Walls were painted red and green. It had two couches, a glass table that had two chairs, and in front of the couches stood a seven-foot tall ten-foot long bookshelf stuffed with books on subjects that I wouldn't even bother to read, and there was also this huge fireplace. There were two hallways. One was leading to a bathroom while the other was leading to two bedrooms. We walked towards the bathroom. The walls were covered in green marble tile with chalk colored subway tiles breaking the color halfway down the wall. The showerhead was oil rubbed bronze and the bathtub was the same chalk white as the subway tile and big enough to fit an entire Quidditch team. Just the thought of sinking into it after a long day of class made bunking with Granger worth the pain. A floor to ceiling mirror, unusual in the wizarding world, hung on the back of the bathroom door. It had an ornate bronze border with images of lions and snakes entwined in some elaborate pattern. Someone's idea of House Unity, I guess. I couldn't help but roll my eyes at the lunacy of it all. Snakes and lions. That would be the day.
Professor McGonagall led Hermione to her room. Right across from her room was mine. I opened the door and the first thing I noticed was the king size canopy bed. The wood was a very dark wood. It had a stick of wood in all of the four ends; and at the top it didn't have a roof but four pieces of wood connected each other; it also had white curtains. There was a wardrobe and two dressers. One of the dressers had a full-length mirror. The walls were painted dark green and snakes were engraved at the corners of the ceiling.
- I sure am going to stay in this room more often.
While walking around, I didn't notice that my luggage was on the floor, so I tripped over it.
"Damn!"
"Mr. Malfoy!" Professor McGonagall exclaimed as she heard my use of colorful language, "I will not tolerate such language from the Head Boy! Ten points from Slytherin. Express your frustration using more appropriate words. It sets a poor example to the lower years."
I sneered while getting up to dust off my shirt.
I walked across the hall and entered Granger's room. She had the same exact furniture as me; the only difference you might recall is the fact that her walls were painted red and bronze and a lion was engraved at the middle of the ceiling.
~Hermione Granger~
The Next Morning:
The thought of moving a muscle made my brain howl in protest. The bed felt so good with its down comforter and mattress you could sink into. Day one of seventh year. If I didn't know any better I'd think I had been kidnapped and replaced by the anti-Hermione because surely I wanted to get to class. Right? Right? Not wanting to analyze my own thoughts before I had a strong cup of tea, I decided to throw off the covers and force myself to begin my morning routine. I got out of my bed and as I opened my door to go to the bathroom, I opened it at the exact time Malfoy did. I looked at him and the only thing he was wearing was green boxers. His hair was messy, but his body image was outstanding. I saw him looking at me and I started blushing as I remembered what I was wearing; black underwear and a red tank top, sadly without a bra. I crossed my hands over my chest. After a moment of awkward silence we both realized that there was only one bathroom. And just like that we sprinted down the hall way to the bathroom. We both made it at the same time so we started pushing each other out of the way.
"Move, Mudblood!" he yelled.
"No, you move ferret!"
"I came here first!" he yelled.
"Did not. Now move, haven't you ever heard of ladies first?"
"Sorry but I don't see a lady in front of me. All I see is Chewbacca with a bad hair day!" he yelled.
I blushed.
-That's it! Drastic times calls for drastic measures.
I bent down a little and I pulled down Malfoy's boxers. I closed my eyes the entire time as I did that. I quickly straightened up and looked at Malfoy's face, not wanting to look down below. His face was frozen in pure shock. I smiled. Just then my eyes lingered from his gray eyes, to his buff chest, down his tempting hipbones, and then at his crotch. I quickly lifted up my eyes and I felt my checks burn up. Before Malfoy could say another word I ran towards the door and slammed it door shut. I leaned against the wood door and let my mind go off.
-I can't believe I just did that and saw his-
My mind got interrupted as I felt the door shake as Malfoy started to pound on it.
"Granger! You're so dead when you come out of there!" Malfoy yelled.
I ignored him and looked at the mirror. My hair was a mess. I turned on the water and started my long bubble bath. As I sank down deeper and deeper into the warm soapy water, I tried to think about my classes and friends but I kept getting lost in my thoughts about what I saw. I mean, I knew I shouldn't be thinking about Malfoy. I knew that some girls in this school would accept this opportunity in a second just so they could be in the same room with Malfoy. He wasn't gruesome looking, but instead he actually fits the description of the Slytherin Prince, as he liked to call himself. His perfect blond hair that your fingers would like to get tied up in, those astounding gray eyes that you can't help but get lost in, those soft lips that seemed to never be formed in a smile that kept you wondering if he was actually ever happy, that high body physique with all the muscles that you couldn't help but touch and not to mention his-
-Whoa, take a step back, Hermione. Do you know whom you just technically called hot?
I swayed my head to get all of those thoughts about Malfoy out of my mind. I stepped out of the bathtub and wrapped a white fluffy towel over me. As I dried my hair in the towel I noticed that I happened to forget some very important things.
-Shit! I forgot my clothes!
I hesitated for a moment and figured that the best way to make it to my room was to run like hell. I opened the door a crack and took a deep breath.
I opened the door and started running.
The next thing I know I'm on top of someone.
"What the-?" I looked down and apparently I'm on top of Malfoy. My hands were on his triceps and I couldn't help but feel how strong he was. I felt his hands on my hips through the towel that was wrapped around my torso.
"Damn, Granger, watch where you're going."
I started blushing when I realized that he was still in his boxers.
-At least I still have my towel.
As we were about to get off of each other the main door burst open after a few knocks.
"Good morn-"
Professor McGonagall walked in on the scene with the most disturbed look on her face.
"This is not what it looks like," I said, trying to sound convincing.
But even I knew that if I were in Professor McGonagall's place I wouldn't believe a word that was coming from my mouth.
As I got off Malfoy, I tried to explain what happened to her.
"I was-"
"In all my years of teaching I have never been met with such a blatant display! I am ashamed of both of you! Fifty points from both Gryffindor and Slytherin. This petty bickering, and yes, Miss Granger, I am fully aware that your precarious position is not what it appears to be, must cease immediately. You are the leaders of this student body and I expect you to act accordingly."
There was awkward silence when we looked at each other.
"That's what you get for pulling down my boxers, Granger," said Malfoy. He placed his towel over his shoulder and made his way to the bathroom.
-This is going to be one interesting year.