Hermione sent Harry off to meet Remus. As she walked back to the castle, she felt...empty. She so wanted to help Harry on his hunt. But she was stuck at the school....just her and-

"Miss Granger!" Hermione turned to see the Headmistress, McGonagal, headed towards her.

"Hello Professor." Hermione waited for her to catch her breath. McGonagal heaved for a few minutes, then regained her composure.

"Miss Granger, I am to understand that Mr. Potter shall be leaving us."

"How did you know?"

"Remus told me. Now, I have....er...managed to find a replacement Head Boy. I met him coming off the Quiddich field. And he struck me as a...well, a changed person."

"Who is it Professor?" Hermione asked, curious.

"I shan't say another word. He's in your Common Room. Do be nice to him. I know you two haven't got along so well in the past. But you're grown=up now, and should be able to put a few childhood squabbles in the past."

"Professor, WHO?"

"Mustn't say, good luck Hermione. There are a few more things I need to take care of. It appears that Professor Sprout has conjured up another set of deadly bowtruckles."

"Bowtruckles?"

"Yes...it appears that whenever someone touches them, they explode. Don't know how she managed that..." McGonagal wandered off, muttering to herself. Hermione shrugged her shoulders.

"Whatever." Hermione walked back to her Common Room, still wondering about the new Head Boy. She opened the door to find...DRACO MALFOY??

*****

Draco jumped ten feet in the air when Hermione shrieked. He got pretty scared himself, until he saw who it was. He was just sitting there, reading the paper.

"Oh, hello Granger." Draco said, rustling his papers. Hermione's face went bright red.

"What on earth are YOU doing here?" Hermione had never been so mad.

"Well, it just so happens, McGonagal asked me to be Head Boy...at least until Potter comes back. So we're bunkies!" Draco grinned.

"Oh no you don't!" Hermione marched over to him and hauled him out of the chair. "You're going back to the Slytherin Common Room. I'd rather have Moaning Myrtle!"

"Aw babe, you don't mean that!" Draco protested as Hermione thrusted him out into the hallway.

"Yes I do! And don't call be 'Babe'!" Hermione yelled, and closed the door. Draco sighed.

"I guess I'm sleeping out here tonight."

*****

Hermione gasped for air. Never had she been so mad. Or nervous. What was McGonagal thinking? Draco Malfoy....it was unbelievable!

"What could she have been on?" Hermione muttered to herself. She glared at the door and gave it a kick. Then she unlocked it.

"He might wanna come inside.....after all, he's the new Head Boy...." Hermione spat on the ground, then felt tears spring to her eyes.

Draco Malfoy.....the one boy she had been trying to forget....had found a way back to her....and into her heart again.

I love writing fight scenes!

Katie