Disclaimer: – I do not own anything from the Harry Potter world JKR does, clever lady…

A/N; This is my second story, but on a new name, this time I'm writing alone and a little scared. I've nearly finished chapter 2, but I don't want to post until I know you like the story, so for the good of all of us, please review xx

Hermione put her head back on the wall of the carriage, slipping her shoes off to relax finally, having made it safely onto the Hogwarts Express.

She breathed out and enjoyed the quietness of the carriage in comparison to the hustle and bustle of the platform. Soon Harry, Ron and Ginny would be arriving, so she took advantage of the space while it lasted, by putting her feet on the seat opposite.

She unfurled a piece of scroll that had been hastily shoved into her pocket earlier that morning. She looked at it admiringly, hoping against hope it was either Ron or Harry that had the counterpart document. After a few more minutes of Hermione bathing in the sunlight that was filtering through the train window, she began to close her eyes and drift off into her own little world.

"Wakey wakey sleeping beauty", Hermione heard a voice call. She smiled as she opened her eyes to see the face of her best friend Harry leaning over her.

"Come here you," she replied pulling Harry into a big hug and kissing him on the cheek. "How have you been? Good summer? Did you eat enough? Your aunt and uncle treat you ok?" She queried quickly on after the other, then realising she wasn't giving him chance to speak.

"Ok, yes, not nearly enough and fine." He answered a smile on his face. He knew she cared about him a lot, but sometimes she needed to calm down, he was capable of looking after himself.

Then Ginny and Ron walked in, pulling their big trunks behind them.

"I honestly didn't think Mum was gonna let us go this time!"

"Oh Ron, she means no harm you know that, she's getting lonely at home now Fred and George have moved out." Ginny replied.

"Oh did they finally find an apartment?" Hermione asked, knowing the twins had been trying to find a place of their own for sometime now. Trying to start a business was beginning to get tricky with Mrs Weasley continually checking up on them.

"They sure did, it's awesome, a right bachelor pad! Anyway, never mind them, how are you Hermione? We didn't get to see you all summer!" He pulled her out of her seat into another hug, quickly followed by Ginny after he finally let her go.

"Alright guys! You're suffocating me! I've missed you too. But yeah, my summer was amazing, I feel like I've travelled the globe!"

"You only did a small part of Europe Hermione! But still, you look like you've definitely benefited from it," said Ginny giving her an approving look up and down.

Hermione blushed under their inspection.

"Stop it guys! Sure I look different, but you know me, same old bookworm Hermione."

Hermione had definitely changed over summer; she had slimmed down a little, what with all the walking she had done over her travels, and a distinct lack of junk food. She had decided to grow her hair out, finding that it had developed a more manageable curl. It had also been highlighted into an auburn colour under the intense sun, which had moreover given her a healthy tan.

"So where about did you end up? What did you like the most?"

"Oh there's so much…. Um France, working in the Vineyards was definitely such a wonderful experience. I've learnt so much French! And all the wine I could drink, how could you disagree with that?" They all laughed. "But Venice was my favourite city by far; it's just so unique and peaceful. But at the same time so thriving."

"Wow, you've got to take us with you next year," Ron suggested.

"Oh absolutely! That would be brilliant!" Hermione gushed. "Anyway how about you lot, how were your summers?"

Soon they were deep in conversation about the rest of their summers, comparing tans and hearing more of Hermione's travels, passing the day away in the carriage until they had exhausted the conversation and just sat enjoying each others company. Hermione sat, still by the window in the sun, legs up on the opposite seat, Ron's head in her lap. She read her new book she had picked up at King's Cross whilst waiting for the train on the Muggle platform. Ginny and Harry sat opposite, Hermione kept glimpsing at them, catching their shared glances. Watching them slowing move closer and closer, their hands 'accidentally' brushing against one another's. 'They're going to have to face Ron some day, better sooner than later. I'll have to remember to talk to Ginny later.' Hermione thought.

………………..

Draco Malfoy was one of the first onto the Hogwarts Express this year. He combed the train for the furthest, solitary empty carriage. He was about to enter the most perfect carriage, when he abruptly dropped the arm that was reaching for the handle.

"Granger," he growled under his breath. She had once again stolen something from underneath him. If it wasn't top marks, it was best attendance or something else massively impressive she'd done to out do him once more!

When his father had been around this was a great annoyance to Draco, for he was constantly reminded by his father that he was being outsmarted by a pig brained mudblood.

But now Draco's father resided in St. Mungo's, in a special ward, along with Neville's parents. For Draco's father had too suffered from an unforgivable. But this was from the Dark Lord, not just some amateur follower; he had been inflicted with the cruciatus curse so badly, his mind was like a child's.

This was no big news for Draco to handle; he and his father had never gotten along. Draco had never seen the plus side to working for the Dark Lord, if he was to turn to dark magic, it would not be to benefit some hyped up old man.

Fortunately for Draco the Order of the Phoenix had destroyed Voldemort in one last battle early last school year, before he was made to honour any promises his father had made about him joining the 'Dark' side. Since then everyone's lives had resumed to almost normal, excluding the occasional Gryffindor-Slytherin tension often leading to some sort of scuffle.

Draco settled for a carriage a few doors down; it was darker because it was at the other side of the train, perfect for brooding. Draco made him self comfortable and closed his eyes and reflected.

These past few days had been hectic, trying to arrange time to visit his father, pack his things and spend his last few days of this year with his mother. Finally he had time to himself to think.

After about half an hour after the train had started moving Draco's door opened.

"Hey Drake, how're you doing?" Draco's old friend Blaise's head had appeared in the gap in the door and made to move inside the carriage.

"Unless you're going to be quiet, you can leave now Blaise." Draco answered, his eyed remained closed.

"Alright old man, calm down. I just came to check on you. Didn't hear from you all summer man, I understand you're going though some stuff right now though."

"Blaise," Draco exhaled and finally opened his eyes. "Come on man, we're not into this mushy stuff, we don't walk about feelings." He tried to end the conversation at that, but realised Blaise wasn't leaving until he got some sort of ok from Draco. "I'm fine! This summer was rough yes, sorting out the estate and my mother and visiting my father hasn't been easy. But they don't put us in Slytherin for being a push over do they?" He cocked an eyebrow at Blaise, and put on his familiar smirk. "I'd thank you to not mention this again, now, tell me about the action you got this summer."

He sat up in his seat, prepared for a colourful series of events that had occurred over Blaise's summer, bearing in mind only to believe about 50 of what came out of this boy's foul mouth.

"So I was in Italy at my parent's villa, you know the place, we went to in third year, and I met these twins in this bar…. Draco, I swear blind I have never seen two of the same gorgeous lady, and still be sober…. So anyway, once we were back at the villa…." Draco settled back in his seat and grinned at his friend, they had a lot of catching up to do.

…………..

"Welcome all of you once again to Hogwarts, and a pristine welcome to our new first years!" Said Dumbledore cheerily across the great hall. "I do not wish to keep you from this glorious food any longer… dig in." Ron sighed gratefully as food instantly appeared all over the table and he began to consume vast amounts of food.

"I completely forgot to ask you two on the train, I got this," She produced the scroll that had resided in her pocket all day. "This morning, I was wondering if either of you two did?" Harry plucked the scroll from her hand with a frown on his face, which quickly lightened when he read the news.

"Head girl Hermione! Well done! Not that it's any surprise, no I didn't get head boy if that's what you mean, what about you Ron?" Ron muffled an answer, as his mouth was still full of food, but it was obvious when he shook his head, that he had also not received any head boy news this morning.

"No? Oh well, I wonder who it is then? I'm sure it won't be anyone I can't get along with, I'll be living with them for a year, so I hope not!" Hermione laughed nervously. Ginny patted her arm soothingly,

"It'll be fine Hermione, who are they gonna give head boy to, some random Slytherin? I think not, it's something you have to work hard toward and earn; it's not something they're capable of."

Just then a note fluttered from out of nowhere into Hermione's up turned hand.

'Head's are to escort their houses to their form rooms, head girl to give Ravenclaw's password and head boy to give Hufflepuff their pass word. Then both of you return to the entrance hall to be shown their living quarters.'

"My first task as head, this year is going to be so much fun!" Hermione grinned. She glanced around trying to see which boy had been given a note as well, but was quickly distracted by Ron as he into Harry and said,

"This can't be too bad for us either, being on the good side of the Head girl, goodbye detentions!" Harry frowned to show his disapproval in front of Hermione, who had overheard Ron, but once she had looked away he gave Ron an excitable thumbs up.

…………………….

Once Hermione had given the Ravenclaw prefects their new password and escorted the Gryffindors to their common room, she said her goodnights to Ginny, Harry and Ron and made her way back to the entrance hall.

Then once she entered her heart stopped. 'No' she thought, 'It can't be, that's not fair.'

Lo and behold, stood in front of her waiting expectedly, his habitual smirk in place was Draco Malfoy.

"Please tell me you've gotten lost on your way to your common room and that you are not the new head boy!" Hermione pleaded with Draco.

"No such look mudblood, we're in this for the long run." He retorted casually. Just as she was about to scorn Draco for his abrupt use of language, Professor McGonagall appeared from the great hall to show them to their new living quarters.

"Congratulations Miss Granger and Master Malfoy on your new titles, as head boy and girl. I assume you now know you are setting an example to the entire school and we expect you to be on your best behaviour. I'm not going to lecture you on how to behave, you are not first years, but be warned any word of either of you stepping out of line and repercussions will be far greater than you ever imagined." She finished this speech with a rather stern look on her face, which she was mainly aiming toward Draco.

"Yes Ma'am," they both replied.

"Good, now…. Linctus citrius" she said, surprising both Hermione and Draco, as she had rather unexpectedly stopped in front of a portrait of two Labrador puppies and said the password.

The portrait slid open and they could see a lavish sitting room inside, Draco began to step forward when Hermione cut across him into the living quarters.

"Ladies first," she smiled pleasantly at him and slipped through to the rooms inside. Draco's face looked thunderous at first, and then he remembered the Professor was standing watching him.

"Goodnight Professor." He nodded politely and entered his new home. Shutting the portrait he turned to see Hermione standing, looking apprehensively, waiting for his next move. He moved toward her and slammed her into the nearest wall, his face inches from hers, his breath tickling her neck. She squirmed awkwardly underneath him.

"Stay away from me Granger. Stay away and this will be a lot easier for you." He stood a few seconds longer, smirking. He enjoyed making her feel powerless and defenceless; he breathed her scent in, making her more nervous, and then left as quickly as he had leapt on her, hurrying off to his room.

Leaving Hermione a little scared and bewildered in the middle of their new common room. She sat by the fire, trying to warm up and shake herself back into focus.

"So much for someone I get along with, looks like this is going to be a long year." She exhaled, sitting back into the sofa for a minute, recuperated and when to explore her new bedroom with new anticipation.

………………………..

Draco paced his room, anger burning up inside of him. 'I'm such a jerk, why did I do that?' He thought heatedly. 'She needed putting in her place. Argh you sound like your father you monster.' Draco had had many conversations like this in his head for the past few weeks. He no longer knew where he stood on the Muggle debate, he wasn't for them, that was for certain, but he no longer saw them as the enemy that his father had made out for all these years.

His head still in disarray he left his dormitory in search of some release, in the one place he knew he'd find it…Pansy.

…………………………….

When Draco re-entered the heads quarters a couple of hours later feeling quietly contented, he was disgusted to hear giggles coming from the sofa by the fire. Even worse than that the giggles were coming from Hermione, he was outraged that she was taking the entire common room for herself. He slipped past them quietly trying to make it to his room unnoticed; he was shocked to then hear a male voice was accompanying Hermione.

'Granger with a male that's not Potter or Weasel? What is the world coming to?' Draco glimpsed back at the sofa trying to catch a glimpse of her male accomplice but with no avail stepped into his room and slammed the door.

…………………………