What Now?

Chapter 3: Goodbyes & Back at Hogwarts Again

September 1st, 1998

Hermione woke up the next morning at 8:30, grabbed some clothes, and went to take a shower. After her shower she got dressed in a pink t-shirt, jeans, a black jumper, and tennis shoes. She pulled her hair into a ponytail and put on her Head Girl badge before levitating her trunk downstairs and feeding Crookshanks. It was 9:30 when Ginny and Molly came down and 10:00 when Ron & Harry came down. After breakfast Molly spoke.

"I think you are all old enough to get to Kings Cross by yourselves."

They all nodded as George, Molly, Arthur, and Bill (who spent the night) said goodbye to Ginny and Hermione before they apparated to Kings Cross. Ron and Harry put their girlfriends trunks in trollies before they all went through the barrier.

"Well we got here early," Ron pointed out as he looked at his watch. It was 10:20. The train arrived 20 minutes later as the trio and Ginny talked about random things. Hermione was dunking in and out of the conversations looking around for the Head Boy. However, it wasn't until 10:45 when she finally saw a Head Boy badge. The problem was it is attached to Draco Malfoy.

"No way," Ron & Hermione said at the same time.

"Granger, Potter, Weasley's," Draco said coming up to the four of them.

"Malfoy," Ron, Ginny, and Harry said glaring at him.

"You're Head Boy," Hermione asked panic filling her voice.

"Yep."

"This is a joke right," Ron responded wrapping an arm around his girlfriend's shoulders.

"No Weasley, McGonagall made me Head Boy. I'll see you in the compartment Granger."

It was 10:50 when the shook sort of wore off while they realized it was time to say goodbye. Ginny hugged her brother wishing him luck at Weasley's Wizard Wheezes while Hermione hugged her best friend wishing him luck with Auror training. After saying goodbye to Harry she took Ron's hand and pulled him away from Ginny and Harry to say a quick goodbye. She wrapped her arms around Ron's neck pulling him in for a hug before pulling away and kissing him. After a minute he pulled away locking eyes with her.

"I love you," he said.

"I love you too," she replied giving him a quick kiss before letting him go. Before she left his sight he called back to her.

"Wait Hermione," he said running up to her.

"Yeah?"

"Here," he began handing her his favorite jacket. "It won't be the same as having me with you but it should help especially if you have a nightmare."

"Thank you."

He pulled her in for one last long kiss before she said "goodbye" and "I love you" again and ran to the train. She hugged the jacket to her chest and smiled. As she walked to the Prefects/Head Boy & Girl compartment she prayed that Ron would come visit her at Hogwarts because if she has to go 4 months without seeing him she'd go mad.

At Hogwarts

The sorting didn't last long considering that there are only 100 first years. 10 in Slytherin, 20 in Hufflepuff, 30 in Ravenclaw, and 40 in Gryffindor. Before the food was sat out Headmistress McGonagall stood up and began to speak.

"Hello everyone. Welcome back or to Hogwarts. Before the feast begins I'd like to introduce you to two new professors, Professor Marge for Transfiguration and Professor Thompson for Defense against the Dark Arts. Now that the war is over we should have a safe, peaceful, and normal year. First – Third years your curfew is at 8:00, Fourth-Six years your curfew is at 9:00, and Seven years your curfew is at 10:00. Enjoy the feast, classes begin tomorrow morning, and after dessert our Head Boy & Girl, Ms. Granger from Gryffindor and Mr. Malfoy from Slytherin, will lead you to your dormitories. Thank you."

After dinner and dessert the Headmistress pulled Draco and Hermione aside.

"I need you two to follow me. Hagrid watch the students please."

"Yes mam."

"Is everything alright Headmistress," Hermione asked.

"Fine Ms. Granger."

She led them to a portrait of a young girl maybe 13 years old.

"Hermione, Draco, Lucy is the portrait of your guy's new room."

"What," they both shouted.

"The Head Boy and Girl have their own room."

"Since when," asked Hermione.

"Last year. Let me show you the room really quick. Prankspout."

Lucy swung open as she sighed. McGonagall, Hermione, and Draco walked in to see two beds, a bathroom, and a large window. They also saw a couch, their trunks, two dressers, and a table and chairs. It was like a cross between their dormitories and common rooms except with a bathroom. One side of the room had Slytherin decorations while the other had Gryffindor decorations. Around the beds were curtains while their trunks sat in front of their beds.

"Wow," Hermione started looking around. "but you expect me to live in here with him for nine months?"

"Yes. I know you two don't like each other but you have to learn to get along with being Head Boy & Girl. Besides you aren't allowed in each other's common rooms."

"But you want me to live with her?"

"Yes Mr. Malfoy."

They looked at each other and shuttered.

"This will work out great. Now please get back down to the Great Hall and led the houses to their dormitories.

After McGonagall left they turned to face each other.

"You take the Slytherins and Ravenclaws. I'll take the Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors," she said as he nodded.

They walked back to the Great Hall in silence.

"Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors come with me, Slytherins and Ravenclaws you're with him."

She took the Hufflepuffs first and then the Gryffindors. Ginny, however, stayed behind to talk to Hermione.

"So, what happened?"

"What do you mean?"

"McGonagall pulled you and Malfoy out after dessert."

So she told Ginny everything and Ginny being the great listener she is gasped in all the right places.

"I should head back now. Try and figure all of this out."

"Yeah."

"I'll see you tomorrow," she said giving Ginny a quick hug before heading back to her new room. After getting in she saw Malfoy on his bed.

"We have to figure this out," she told him taking a parchment and quill out of her trunk.

"Why?"

"Because McGonagall said so."

They set up a shower schedule and about thirty rules. After that she began to unpack, putting her books in a certain order in her trunk, her clothes in the dresser, letting out Crookshanks, giving him food, water, litter box, and laying out his bed, and taking out four pictures. One of her, Ron, and Harry, one of her and Ron, one of her and her parents, and one taken with her, Harry, and all the Weasley's. She looked at them for a minute before putting them on her dresser and putting spells on and around them so Malfoy couldn't mess with them. After she finished unpacking she stuck her class schedule and the books she'd need tomorrow in her bag before taking out her p.j.'s and putting a special locking spell on her trunk and dresser. She put her p.j.'s and Ron's jacket on before climbing into bed, putting the silencing and protecting charms around her and her bed, putting her wand under her pillow, closing the curtains, and falling asleep. (When you read did her nightly routine, those last few sentences is what I'm talking about)

The Next Morning

She woke up early the next morning to hear Draco in the shower. She got dressed and began to write a letter to Ron.

Dear Ron,

The sorting went well. We got 40 new Gryffindors, 30 new Ravenclaws, 20 new Hufflepuffs, and 10 new Slytherins. However, after the feast things took a turn for the worst. You know how Draco is the Head Boy right? Well, McGonagall came up with this new thing where the Head Boy and Girl have to share a room. Yeah, I have to share a room with Malfoy for 9 months. Wish me luck already. The room is really cool, looking at the bright side, and we've even got our own bathroom in the room. My sides covered in red and gold decorations and there's so much more space. Am I glad McGonagall took me out of a room full of girls that don't like me and stuck me with Malfoy instead? No! But I'm going to make the best of it. I hope you aren't going to be to upset. Whelp I've got to head out. Breakfast and then class you know. Oh and your jacket and the silencing charm around my bed so Malfoy wouldn't hear me helped a lot last night. Say "Hi" to everyone for me.

Love & already miss you,

Hermione

She put the letter in an envelope and grabbed her bag before feeding Crookshanks and heading to the Owlrey to send the letter and then the Great Hall to eat breakfast. She sat across from Ginny as the food started popping up.

"So how was last night," Ginny asked putting some waffles on her plate.

"Fine. We came up with rules and a schedule, unpacked, and went to bed."

"Do you really expect him to follow those?"

"Of course not. I've got back up spells."

"What's our classes today," Ginny asked changing the subject.

"Defense against the Dark Arts, Potions, and Double Transfiguration."

"Why do we still have to take Defense against the Dark Arts? I'm pretty sure we've proven that we can defend ourselves from the dark arts."

"True but it's required."

It was after breakfast and classes when Ginny and Hermione meet up again. Hermione was hanging out with her in the Gryffindor common room.

"Listen up Gryffindors," Ginny shouted getting everyone's attention. "Quidditch tryouts will be in two weeks. I have a parchment here with the four positions. When you sign up please put your name under the position you are trying out for. Remember there are only 6 spots so don't get too upset if you don't make the team. Thank you."

She put the parchment up while a large group of students lined up to sign it. Hermione and Ginny took a walk around the school after that.

"The new teachers aren't bad," Hermione pointed out.

"Yeah. Professor Thompson seemed rather nervous though."

"Yeah well Defense against the Dark Arts hasn't exactly been Hogwarts strongest class these past few years. Maybe now that Voldemort is gone Defense against the Dark Arts can finally have some good luck."

"Besides Lupin all the previous Defense against the Dark Arts teachers have sucked."

"Quirrel and Umbridge being the worse."

"Oh absolutely. What happened to her anyway?"

"Who knows? Who cares?"

"True. What do you think of Professor Marge so far?"

"She's like the exact opposite of McGonagall I'm not sure if I like it."

After dinner Hermione walked back to her room with a lot of things running through her head. For example, why McGonagall would make Draco Head Boy or how Ron would react when he reads the news. It was 10:30 when Hermione did her new nightly routine, cleared her head, and went to sleep.

A Few Days Later

As she predicted it took Ron a few days to write her back. Rodger (the school owl she used) dropped the letter in front of her that morning at breakfast. She opened it faster than she thinks could ever be possible.

Dear Hermione,

40 new Gryffindors! The common room must be packed. I'm glad to read that the Slytherin house is getting smaller. Speaking of Slytherin, YOU HAVE TO SHARE A ROOM WITH MALFOY! WHAT THE BLOODY HELL IS MCGONAGALL THINKING! I'm sure if you knew you had to go through this as Head Girl you would it down in a heartbeat. I'm sorry you have to go through this sweetie. The room seems nice though. How was your first few days of classes? How are the new professors? I was sure the jacket would help a little. I wish I was there with you. Anyway George needs me back now. Oh and everyone says "hi" back. Tell Ginny I said "hi".

Love and already miss you too,

Ron

"Ron says hi," she told Ginny who was staring at her curiously.

"Forget that. What did he say about the whole room thing?"

"Oh he freaked."

"Let me see."

Hermione showed it to her and Ginny read it in awe.

"He took it better than expected."

"Well in the letter. Who knows what he did when he read it."

"True."

After classes Hermione went to her room to write Ron back.

Dear Ron,

The common room does seem pretty packed and yeah it's great that the Slytherin house is getting smaller. It's fine baby, really. I'll only talk to him about work plus I use a charm around me when I'm sleeping so he doesn't mess with me plus a special locking charm that only I can undo so he doesn't get into my stuff. I like the feeling of being Head Girl and Malfoy isn't going to take that away from me. The new professors are alright. Professor Thompson (Defense against the Dark Arts) is still a little nervous but I say just give it some time while Professor Marge (Transfiguration) is like the exact opposite of McGonagall. I'm still a little uneasy with it. I hope things are going well in the shop. Like I said this is going to be an interesting year.

Love,

Hermione

That's chapter three. I have chapter four almost written and will post it as soon as I can. Read and review please! Also check out my other two Harry Potter stories.

Chapter four preview: Hermione's worse birthday ever! Or is it? ;)

Shoutouts: Daddysgirl11 ~ Thank you for the review. Thank you and yes the Head Boy is trouble. Chamber of Secrets was alright but I did not like Goblet of Fire at all! Anyway I hope you keep R&Ring

JeanAndBilius ~ Thank you for R&Ring. I really appreciate it.

QOTC: Least Favorite Movie?

Goblet Of Fire - They didn't include Winky or Dobby, messed up Ron & Harry's fight, and so many other major details!

Brittney Out! : P 3