The Kindling Fire Between Us

The rest of the ride was uneventful. When they neared Hogwarts they all changed into their robes. Hermione was tempted to see if Draco was looking at her, but decided against it. It would just antagonize her urge to ask him why he was checking her out. The train slowed and everyone walked off. She could hear the buzzing of the inquisitive first years and the drone of the seventh years. None of them seemed too excited about another year. She had been this morning, but her mood had changed drastically while on the train.

She began walking to the carriages with Harry and Ron, who were still talking in a hush-hush tone when she heard someone calling her name. The calm yet loud voice was coming from Professor McGonagall.

\" Hermione Granger! Hermione Granger!\" the teacher said, almost irritably now.

Hermione looked at her two best friends, who were confused as she was. She shrugged, told them she\'d see them later, and made her way through the crowd.

\" Yes, Professor?\" Hermione asked when she finally reached the teacher.

\" Oh, there you are, dear. I\'ve got quite exciting news for you. You have been chosen to be Head Girl,\"

Before Hermione could ask any question or even show her gratitude, Professor McGonagall started again.

\" Draco Malfoy! Draco Malfoy!\" The teacher yelled, looking out over the mass of children, considering she was much taller than most of the students.

\" Um, mam. Sorry for asking, but why are you looking for Draco?\" Hermione inquired.

\" Oh, well, Hermione, I know you might get a bit upset over this, but I know you\'ll be able to work through it...Draco is Head Boy,\"

Hermione felt her heart drop. She was so happy that she was becoming Head Girl. She was receiving the one thing she really deserved and longed for since her first day at Hogwarts, and yet she couldn\'t be happy. She didn\'t think anything would be able to ruin her becoming Head Girl, but she now realized the one and only thing that could and would: Malfoy. Her hate for him was now amplified by a thousand. He ruined this for her. He was always ruining things for her. Her temper rose. She wanted to call him every bad word she knew in the English language right to his face. But she knew she couldn\'t. She knew she had to be strong. She knew that doing all those things would just give him the satisfaction of her downfall. She\'d just have to, in Professor McGonagall\'s words, work through it.

Hermione straightened up from her former sulking state and watched Draco make his way through the younger students. When he had almost reached them, he suddenly jerked forward and fell to the ground. At first Hermione was confused, then realized he had tripped over a first year\'s luggage. Draco quickly got up and looked around, hoping no one had seen. But the damage had been done. Hermione had already seen it and was clutching her stomach trying to hold back the rounds of laughter that were dying to be let out. If it wasn\'t for the Professor, who would definitely disapprove of laughing at a classmate\'s fall, she would have already been on the floor laughing until she cried.

The Professor looked at Hermione, who was covering her mouth and turning partially red.

\" Hermione, are you alright? You look like you\'re about to throw up,\" Professor McGongall asked with a bit of concern in her voice.

\" No, no, I\'m fine,\" Hermione reassured her then turned her attention back to Draco. He was now standing before them giving Hermione a cold stare. He knew she saw.

\'Stupid Mudblood. The one time she\'s not reading a damn book she has to see me fall. Stupid first year. Doesn\'t even know the luggage will be taken up for him. Why is she looking at me like that? Ooooooh, stupid Mudblood wants to laugh. She\'ll pay for it later......Wait, why is she here? And more importantly, why am I here?....\'

\"Professor, you wanted to see me?\" Draco asked still starring at Hermione, who then gave him an innocent look.

\" Yes, Draco, I have very important for for you. You are the new Head Boy,\"

\" Then why is Granger here?\"

\" First of all Draco, I will not have you referring to any of the female students here by their last names. Second of all Hermione is the new Head Girl.\" the Professor noticed Draco opening his mouth, ready to protest, when she cut him off, \" As I told Hermione, you will just have to work through it, together. You will be spending a lot of time together this year. With you two living together and all,\"

At tthe the both of them protested, first at Professor McGonagall, then at each other. Threats were being spewed all over the place and both were already reaching for their wands.

\" Stop this NOW! I expected more from the both of you. You two are acting like children! You will get along, whether or not you want to, you will. This is going to be a long year. I know it will be hard, but it will work out. If you two don\'t want to have a horrible, miserable last year, I suggest you begin to get along! Now, the carriages are over there. You two will be sharing the first one. After the sorting ceremony, I will meet both of you in the front entrance. From there I will bring you two to your new living quarters,\" With that the Professor quickly strode away, her dark red cape bellowing behind her, as if matching her mood.

The two turned to each other.

\" I don\'t care what that old wench says. I am not going to get along with anyone I don\'t want to get along with, especially with a Mudblood like you,\" Draco spat, putting extra emphasis on the word \'Mudblood\'.

\" Don\'t think I\'m exactly going to enjoy your company either Malfoy,\" Hermione then crossed her arms and looked away, trying to convince herself that it was all a dream gone horribly wrong.

\" Are you sure about that Granger?\" Draco said, raising his left eyebrow a little.

\" Yes...why?\" Hermione asked, trying not to focus on how sexy he looked with one eyebrow raised.

\" Well, by the looks you were giving me on the train, I think you want me,\"

\" Dear God, Draco! You\'re disgusting! Why would I want a whinny, annoying, spoiled, ferret-resembling, mamma\'s boy like you?\" (Ouch!)

There were now starring at each, with only a few inches parting them. Hermione thought her last comment had actually hurt Draco. He seemed a little less confident as he was a few moments before. She actually was beginning to regret saying that he resembled a ferret. She knew it wasn\'t true. She began to open her mouth and try to take back the thing about looking like a ferret, when his trademark smirk appeared on his face. That was enough to drive her insane. Not only had he not been affected, but he was actually laughing at how mad she was getting.

\" Tsk. Tsk. Granger, don\'t get your knickers in a twist. We all know your two little golden boys do enough of that already,\" Draco let out, sneering.

\" Ahhhhh!\" was the only thing Hermione could let out as she threw her hands up in frustration and walked quickly toward the carriage.