The Angel and the Devil

Sunlight flooded into the small, beautiful room. A certain brown, curly-haired girl was still sleeping in her bed. She felt warmth dance on her eyelids.

"Five more minutes..." she muttered.

"Hermione! Wake up, dear! I've made scrambled eggs!" a female voice called.

The girl woke up with a start. She lazily crawled out of her bed, yawned, and stretched out her arms. Hermione walked straight through the sunlit hallways and went into the bathroom to take a nice, quick shower. To think, school will be starting in a one week. I'm so excited! She smiled, walked out of the shower, and put on a pair of jeans and a pretty, light-green shirt. Hermione examined herself. She had grown a lot during the summer. Her body had curves in all the right places, and she'd grown to a height of 5' 8''. Her long, hazel hair had become less curly. Her large, brown eyes had thick lashes bordering them. Any boy could just look at her and say, "Wow."

"Hermione! Your eggs are getting cold! Are you done yet?" Her mother called again.

"Yes! I'm coming!"

Hermione quickly brushed her wet hair and applied a quick drying charm on it. She ran down to the kitchen and saw her mother washing dishes while her father read the newspaper. She couldn't have wished for a better day. Her father looked up at Hermione and smiled.

"Surprise, Hermione! The mail came; one from Hogwarts...and one from your two best friends."

Hermione couldn't suppress her grin.

"Mathew, let Hermione eat her breakfast first! Look at our daughter; she's becoming skin and bones!"

"Come on Katherine, let Hermione open her mail. She's been waiting for the whole summer."

He winked at Hermione and handed her the letters. Katherine pursed her lips for a few seconds, and smiled.

"Alright. You can open your letters, but let me make you a new meal first. Kids these days..."

Hermione had to constrain herself from completely tearing the first envelope apart. She found three letters in it from her school, Hogwarts. She carefully opened the first letter. It was all too familiar.

HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore

Deputy Headmistress: Minerva McGonagall

Dear Ms. Granger,

We are very pleased to inform you that your last year of Hogwarts will

begin on September 1. You'll be receiving your Time-Turner in school one day before class starts if you choose to attend all the classes. You are probably wondering why there are two other letters instead of one. Well, you'll find out soon enough.

Sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Hermione smiled and read it over again. She then opened the second letter indicating what books and materials she needed. Finally, she took out the last letter and opened it...

HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

Dear Ms. Granger,

We are overjoyed to tell you that you will be the Head Girl of Hogwarts School this year. Please take this responsibility seriously (we are sure you will). Mr. Malfoy has been assigned as Head Boy, and your new partner. We hope you will accept this. It is vital that we have an inter-house unity.

Sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Hermione stared at the piece of parchment in disbelief. What? I'm...I've been chosen Head Girl! She stood there, not smiling nor frowning, and continued staring at the word, Head Girl.

"Hermione? Are you alright? You look a little pale..." Her father was the first to speak.

"You don't think she has the fever, do you?" her mother asked in a concerned voice.

Hermione quickly snapped out of it. She said in the most normal voice she could conjure up, "Mum, Dad, I've been chosen as Head Girl."

The big grin that Hermione had been waiting for came. Her eyes had an odd glimmer in them.

"I'M HEAD GIRL!!!"

Her parents came over to her and gave her a tight hug.

"I'm so proud of you!" exclaimed Mrs. Granger.

"I knew no one but you would get position as Head Girl. You've studied so hard," Mr. Granger added.

Hermione couldn't stop grinning. She looked at the bottom of the parchment and saw a picture of a badge. The Head Girl badge was so beautiful; it almost took her breath away. The four house symbols were own it. The background was pure gold. At the top, it said in bold letters, HEAD GIRL. And her name was printed on the bottom. But...where was the actual badge? Hermione stared at the picture, and for a moment she thought she saw the badge move. Then, it came out of the paper, taking on a 3-D shape. Hermione couldn't believe her eyes. When the badge fully appeared, it flew and pinned itself onto her shirt. Hermione smiled even wider. Anything is possible with magic.

She read the short letter again, but this time, she frowned. Draco Malfoy? DRACO MALFOY??? She tried to hide the alarmed look on her face. Okay, Hermione...calm down. It's Malfoy. No, it can't be. He can't be Head Boy. He joined the Death Eaters. He can't be...no!

"Honey, what happened? You were smiling like the happiest person a minute ago," Mrs. Granger asked.

Hermione quickly put on a false smile.

"It's nothing. I'm just so happy, I'm still in a trance," she replied. What a stupid excuse! "If you'll excuse me, I'm going back to my room now."

"But Hermione, you haven't eaten breakfast yet." The disappointment in her mother's voice was unmistakable.

"It's okay, Mum. I'm not hungry."

Hermione walked quickly up to her room where she could read the letter from her friends.

Once on her bed, Hermione opened the letter excitedly. She almost shouted when she saw what she had waited for more than anything.

Dear Hermione,

I'm so excited to finally see you! I've been staying at the Burrow with Ron for almost the entire summer. It's great here. We've been having this delicious soup everyday and practicing Quidditch. My Firebolt is doing great also! (Hermione grinned. She remembered how much Harry cared for his broom.) And, I have great news. Ginny and I've gotten together. Mrs. and Mr. Weasley were so overjoyed; they started talking about our future. I hope future doesn't mean marriage. (It does) Well, Percy's still working for Ministry. He's changed a lot. He's practically the worst person I know, besides Malfoy. Anyways, I really hope you had a great summer (You don't know how wonderful it was.) Oh, yeah, Hermione, pack up your clothes right after you read this. And, don't read the letter a second time. Ron will tell you the rest.

Sincerely yours,

Harry

Hermione kept on reading...

Dearest Hermione,

I've been waiting forever to finally ask you over to the Burrow. You don't know how much I've missed you! (I have an idea...) Harry staying here with me is great. But it's not complete without you. Um, I'm sure Harry's told you to pack up your stuff. We're going to the Gringotts to pick up some money once we pick you up. Anyways...can you do me a favor? You know those Muggle candies? The ones called...Ket Kits? Or was if Kat Kits? Those were really good! Can you bring some to me please? They don't sell those types of chocolates in the wizard world. That's a real let down. (Hermione couldn't keep herself from laughing. How typical of Ron to ask for food. I wonder how tall he is now...) Anyways, Mione, I can't wait to see you! We'll be using Floo powder to get to your house. I hope you won't mind. We'll be coming in at 10:30 am. Bye, Mione!

Love You,

Ron

Hermione couldn't wait either. She missed both Harry and Ron, but she somehow had to admit that she missed Ron more. Ron...the boy she'd secretly had a crush on...even now. She read Ron's letter again. 10:30 am...but...isn't it...She didn't have time to finish her thought. There was a small explosion downstairs. Then, she heard dishes shattering on the floor, a scream from her mom, and her father yelling, "What in the world?" Hermione smiled. She quickly picked up the suitcase she had packed last week. And before she went downstairs, she took a box of king-sized Kit Kat bars.