Hermione Granger and The Secret Fire

Chapter 1-The new student

Platform 9 ¾ was quite busy on this first day of September. Hermione passed through the pillar with ease, this being the beginning of her seventh year, as she carried Crookshanks' cage and her trunk. As she walked onto the Hogwarts Express, she was greeted with many happy voices talking excitedly. Hermione walked the length of the train looking for any sign of Harry or Ron. Not finding them, she wandered back looking for an empty compartment for their annual ride to Hogwarts. She found one close to the front that allowed her the opportunity to watch other students as they boarded the train.

Hermione started unpacking Crookshanks for the long ride and stored her trunk under the seating booth. Every couple of minutes a new group of people passed by, some saying hello, as they found their way to their friends. Hermione couldn't help but notice that as she watched the groups go by, she felt some longing to be a part of a larger group. In the past year and ahalf Hermione found herself growing away from her male companions. Her best friends were still Ron and Harry, and she loved them more than anything in the world. But she missed the closeness that only a girl could provide. Hermione craved a deeper bond with a female that she could really relate to. Hermione had almost no true girl friends, except for Ginny, although they could hardly be called close friends. Hermione's relationship with Ginny was very friendly, but they did not have a lot in common as she was a year younger and much more immature than Hermione.

Ginny was more like her roommates than like her. Hermione's roommates the past six years were just that, roommates. Hermione realized that the girls' lack of interest in academics and obsession with fashion, boys and makeup wedged a rift between them that probably would never be able to be drawn together. Hermione was exceptionally glad for her friendship with the boys, but she felt she was missing something by not having a female friendship. And while she enjoyed her bond with Ron and Harry, she couldn't exactly discuss her (lack of) boy troubles with them. Things just were not the same with male friends.

The sixth year had brought a lot of changes to the Gryffindor gang. Harry appeared to return from summer vacation greatly altered. He was moody and incensed. Hermione and Ron knew that Harry was angry with Dumbledore and other members of the Order, but they still did not know why. Anytime Ron or Hermione broached the subject, Harry growled at them to leave it alone. The Order had tried to help him work though his emotions, and many people pitched in with the training of the DA. Harry's mood failed to improve, but they all seemed to manage anyway. Thankfully, Voldemort's absence that year provided him time to heal emotionally. Ginny Weasley had paid a lot of attention to Harry during the year, and her persistence finally convinced him that he was worthy of being loved. The two had been an item ever since and that alone had helped Harry heal and almost return to his usual self.

Ron and Hermione started dating midway through the sixth year, only to realize that they were better off as friends. While the two had always thought they would end up together, actually being together had proved to be more of a problem than not. Hermione realized that the little things that Ron did that irritated her as friends were amplified when they became a couple. It seemed to them (and to everyone around them) that all they did was fight, so the two decided they would just be friends. Ron had started dating a Hufflepuff fifth year by the name of Kirian McDonahugh. She was from Ireland, which made his parents happy.

Hermione had still not found anyone to date. Given her experiences with Victor Krum and then Ron she figured she should probably just focus on her studies and not bother with love. Hermione had found between the two relationships that she was an emotional person. She felt most emotions fully and both times she had been burned by the lack of emotion in the boys. The boys, it seemed, were more interested in the physical aspects of the relationship. Both boys seemed to want to snog constantly while Hermione wanted deep conversations. The conversations did not have to be purely emotional or purely cerebral, but she would have like a combination of both. It wasn't that Hermione was against snogging (she was a teenager, after all) but she did not understand why that was all the boys were interested in. Her few girly conversations with her roommates proved that all boys were that way. Parvati had once commented that if Hermione wanted good conversation, that was what her girl friends were for. If she wanted a boyfriend, she would have to get used to snogging or shagging. It seemed that Hermione would never understand how to bridge the two worlds together.

"Hi Hermione! How was your summer?" Seamus Finnigan asked, interrupting Hermione's thoughts while she reminisced on the train. "This is my cousin, Misten."

Hermione looked up and looked at Misten Finnigan. What she saw was a definite sight, even for another girl. Misten was taller than Seamus with waist length chestnut brown hair that was the thickest Hermione had ever seen. She had the most incredibly beautiful ice blue eyes that were wide and enveloping. Hermione found herself almost getting lost in their depth. But most striking of all was Misten's wide smile. She had perfectly straight teeth that were so white Hermione wondered if there was a spell on them.

"Hi, Hermione is it?" Misten said as she walked toward Hermione. Not three steps later, she tripped over Crookshanks who had found a nice sunny spot on the floor near the middle of the compartment.

"Oh. Oh. Sorry!" Misten fumbled as Crookshanks hissed and ran out of the compartment. "I am such a klutz." Misten got to her knees and looked out the compartment window. "Ohhh...who's that handsome thing?"

Hermione looked out to see Harry and Ron board the train. She found herself watching them with some covetousness. Those were her best friends after all. Who was this girl?

"Which one?" laughed Seamus. He obviously found it extremely entertaining that anyone could find Ron or Harry attractive.

"Hermione! Seamus and...?" Harry exclaimed as he entered the room. He had grown over the summer, Hermione noted. Harry was not only taller, but seemed to be growing into his looks, also. Harry's body had filled out in all the right places. His arms were strong and curved as his muscles took shape. His shoulders had broadened and he had lost what little 'baby fat' had been left on his face. His nose didn't seem as large and his glasses seemed to accentuate his features. He wasn't dressed in Dudley's clothes, but in jeans and a Puddlemere United t-shirt that actually seemed to fit his frame.

"Harry, this is my cousin. She's from America and is also a 7^th year," Seamus said while patting Misten on the back a little too hard. Misten stumbled into Hermione's lap; covering her from the looks Harry was giving Misten.

"Well what do we have here?" Ron interrupted as he sauntered into the compartment. Ron still looked a little like a kid in a grown up body. His body seemed to be maturing at a faster rate than his face and definitely faster than his brain, judging by the goofy expression it held.

"I was just being introduced to Harry" Misten stated, climbing off of Hermione's lap. Harry seemed to have lost his tongue as he stared at Misten like she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. Ron was unable to remove his gaze from this beautiful creature before him, and he suddenly found himself sharing Harry's dumbfounded expression.

Misten looked back and forth between the boys and a sexy smile spread across her face. It was obvious to Hermione that she was used to boys looking at her the way Harry and Ron were. "I am Misten."

"I am Har...Har...Harry" he stammered. "This is Ron."

"Harry. Ron. Nice to meet you." Misten smiled at the boys and Hermione could see that she was wrapping both boys right around her finger. She also could see that Ron was still ogling at her and hadn't spoken a word. "Hermione, I am glad we met and I'd love to talk, but I need to find someplace to start reading Hogwarts: A History if I expect to be on any kind of even playing ground when I meet the professors this week. Seamus said that if I have any questions, you were the person I should ask. Would that be okay?

"Of course, Misten. I'd be happy to help you," Hermione answered in her typical 'I love that I am knowledgeable and can help people' way. "I'll be in here if you need any help."

As Misten and Seamus exited the compartment, Hermione turned to her friends and said with a giggle, "Okay boys. Pick up your tongues and put them back in your mouths."

~~~***~~~

Hermione, Ron and Harry got to work catching each other up on everything that was happening in their lives in the few short weeks since they had seen each other last at the Burrow. Harry had spent the better part of the summer getting ready for the seventh year of his education. Aunt Petunia had taken Harry to get new clothes, since Dudley weighed almost twice what Harry did. Of course, she refused to pay for anything, but since Harry had the money from his parents and the money from Sirius, it was not a problem for him to replace many of his overgrown and overused items. Hermione loved hearing their stories and loved them dearly, but she once again wished for some female connection.

The boys began talking about Quidditch after getting some treats from the cart that sold chocolate frogs, Bertie's Beans and such. Hermione thought that this was the perfect opportunity to find Misten and see if she had any questions.

Hermione left the compartment and began walking toward the back end of the train where she imagined Seamus and Misten would be sitting. She looked at her watch noting she only had 30 minutes until her Head Girl meeting with McGonagall. She had no idea who the Head Boy would be, but she was secretly glad that she would have at least one new friend this year in whoever that person was. She imagined that she might even find herself liking the man in a non-platonic sort of way. Hermione blushed at her own thought, knowing that her love life left something to be desired and truly not knowing whether or not she should risk her heart again.

Hermione found Misten and Seamus in one of the last cars she came to. Seamus was sleeping and snoring rather loudly. His head was back and his mouth was open as if he was trying to catch rainwater. He snored in and made a noise like gagging as he breathed out. Hermione couldn't imagine how Misten could study with that noise and she said so as she sat down.

"It's not so bad. My dad and my brothers snore very loudly and I am kind of use to the noise. At least I know he's still alive," she giggled as she closed her book.

"So you are from America?" Hermione asked trying to think of someway to make this girl feel comfortable. After all, she was Head Girl and she needed to be kind to new students.

"Yes," Misten answered excitedly. "I am from a small town outside of Chicago. Do you know where that is?"

"Yes," Hermione responded, thinking about her Muggle map of the World that hung on her wall at home. "I hear it is quite nice."

"Oh it is! I love being so close to a big city, while being able to still have a small town feel."

"Did you go to school there?"

"In downtown Chicago there is the Professor Mordicus Egg School for Witches and Wizards. He was the author of a book you may have read, The Philosophy of the Mundane: Why Muggles Prefer Not to Know. Of course the Muggles just think it's a History Museum, so not many of them even come into the building. They don't even notice the magic going on around them and we're able to hide ourselves in plain sight with all the historical props and exhibits."

"Well then why are you going to Hogwarts this year?" Hermione asked inquisitively, "Not that we mind having new students," she added when she realized how rude her question sounded.

Misten turned bright red. She stammered, "Um...well...you see..." Suddenly Seamus let out an extremely loud "Snoccaaa" and whistled out as he turned into his sleep. The humorous noise seemed to derail Hermione's train of thought, much to the pleasure of Misten.

"Hey, I have a question about Hogwarts: A History," Misten asked making a poor attempt at changing the subject. "What does it mean that the stairwells move? Do they physically move?"

"Uhhh...that is something to be seen." Hermione answered with her face turned into her typical small scowl. She glanced down at her watch and saw that her Prefect/Head meeting started in ten minutes. She wanted to get back to Ron and Harry and tell them about her conversation before meeting with Professor McGonagall and whoever the new Head Boy was. Hermione said goodbye and made her way back up the train.

As she passed by the compartments, she noticed how young the 1^st years seemed. Was she ever that small? How were they going to react to her being Head Girl? As she shook her head in wonderment at the thought of being a role model, she was knocked down from behind.

"Watch it Granger!" scowled Draco Malfoy as he pushed past her walking down the length of the train. "They should not let Mudbloods on this train!"

"Malfoy, you bastard!" Hermione responded using a Muggle term as she stood back up, careful straightening her robes. Hermione had found that using Muggle terms to describe Malfoy thrilled her classmates and enraged Malfoy.

Malfoy turned on his heal and headed back to Hermione with a look of fierce determination and anger. "What did you call me?" he spat.

"A bastard. You do know what that is don't you?" Hermione repeated with anger not noticing that many of the first years that she was so excited to mentor were now looking out of their compartments at the fight that was ensuing.

"How DARE you!" Malfoy screamed his eyes closing to slits as he spit while speaking in her face. As Hermione got ready with her next round of invectives and abuse, she noticed that Malfoy was slowly turning red with anger and starting to shake.

"How DARE you think that you can even speak to me much less call me a name like that. I am Head Boy this year and you are going to have to learn to do what I say, when I say it!" Malfoy spun back around and stomped down the hall, muttering under his breath every foul word he could think of.

Hermione's mouth dropped open to the floor as she stared at Malfoy. First she was shocked by the amount of anger she had been able to produce in Malfoy. They had always bantered back and forth with mean and hurtful comments. For Gods sake they had been practicing the art of angering and even hurting the other person with their words for six years! Why had this brief encounter gotten Draco so angry? She had never seen him shake with anger before.

But as she was thinking this, his words came back and hit her full force 'I am Head boy this year and you are going to have to learn to do what I say, when I say it'. Could it be? Could Malfoy be her Head Boy? But that would mean that they would have to spend a lot of time together coming up with schedules for completing their duties, planning appropriate punishments for students who broke rules and ...Oh my God! I am going to have to share a suite with him, a common room with him and a bathroom with him. On top of all the classes Slytherin and Gryffindor shared, she'd never see the end of him! What the hell was Professor Dumbledore thinking putting her with Draco? Draco, the Muggle hating prat with whom she had nothing but contempt for. Draco, the person with whom she could never be friends with after all the horrid things he had said to her and her friends, done to Harry, Ron and even Hagrid, and on top of that, was evil to the core. Draco, who was a Slytherin for God's sake. How could he possibly have any qualities that Professor Dumbledore would think would benefit the school? Could this be any worse?

As she hurried back towards Harry and Ron to share this horrible news, she ran into Professor McGonagall. "Hermione, might I have a word with you before the Head meeting? Something has come to my attention that I think you should be informed of." Professor McGonagall turned her around with a gentle hand and led her back toward the end of the train. Hermione wanted to say no, feeling she needed to tell Ron and Harry was had just happened. But she was Head Girl after all, so her duties overtook her wishes and she agreed.

Hermione found herself sitting down in Professor McGonagall's compartment and accepting a cup of tea. Her mind kept wandering back to Draco's anger and revelation of being Head Boy.

"Ms Granger, I am extremely pleased that you have been named Head Girl this term," began Professor McGonagall with a smile. "I am not certain if you have heard, as we did not include in the Head Girl and Boy letters this year who your counterpart will be because Professor Dumbledore thought it was in the best interest of all involved that this remain quiet until the students returned to school."

Hermione gulped as she thought about how right the Headmaster was. Ron and Harry were not going to be pleased, as well as the rest of Gryffindors, that the Slytherin Prince had been named Head Boy.

"This summer several things have come to the attention of the Order. 'You-know-who' has been gearing up attacks that will be most likely carried out this term. Because of that the Headmaster took a lot of time thinking about who would be named Head Boy this year. Obviously Harry could not be named because of the nature of attacks being mentioned and the fact that he must continue training."

Hermione was following what Professor McGonagall was saying, but she was having difficulty understanding the thought process behind Malfoy's appointment.

"Just so you are aware, Draco Malfoy has been named Head Boy. Mr. Malfoy, while not the first choice of many people involved in the process, has been named due to the Headmaster's knowledge of what is to come. This summer, however, Mr. Malfoy had to deal with a lot of life changing events. I am sorry to say his mother, Narcissa, was fatally poisoned in July." Hermione gasped in surprise and although she hated Malfoy, her compassion for the loss overtook her.

"No suspect has been officially named by the Department of Magic, but many people have speculated as to the members responsible for her death. At this time most are specifically looking at her sister Bellatrix Lestrange. With his father still imprisoned at Azkaban, Draco has had quite a difficult summer and I am expecting that to impact him this term. His tasks at his home and in his life have grown incredibly since last term and the team feels he will be able to handle all of the responsibilities of being Head Boy.

But Hermione, you are in no way to let that boy make all of the decisions, turn all the consequences or bully his way around the houses. We named you because we feel you have the personality to assist Mr. Malfoy in learning the appropriate ways to handle situations. This is a great honor, Ms Granger and I must tell you that the Headmaster has great plans for you depending on how well this year goes. I cannot tell you how proud I am of the young woman you have become and that this terms Head Girl comes from my house. Congratulations," Professor McGonagall finished as she wiped a tear away and stood to give Hermione a hug.

"Awww, what a touching scene," Malfoy drawled with a scowl on his face as he walked into the compartment at seeing his least favorite classmate and teacher hugging. Hermione noticed he didn't seem to be as surprised as she was at seeing who his counterpart would be. "I am so glad I wasn't here for that little experience," he snorted.

"Mr. Malfoy," Professor McGonagall began as she broke away from Hermione. "While being Head Boy provides you with several exceptional privileges this year, being disrespectful to faculty or the Head Girl is not one of them. Please take a seat."

Malfoy took a seat opposite of where Hermione had sat down and was busy scowling at her when Professor McGonagall handed both of them large packets fill with information sheets.

"Ms. Granger and Mr. Malfoy, congratulations on being named the Heads for this school term. I know that it goes without saying that this is a great honor that is not to be taken lightly. It is going to be your responsibility to be honorable members of the student body and set appropriate rules and regulations. Enclosed in your packets are the main school rules that you will need to enforce as well as create consequences for. I must warn you though, as the Heads of our school you must be fair and impartial. Choosing one house over another or having different punishments for different people will not be tolerated.

However, I must remind you that you two have the prime responsibility of keeping our school and our students out of harm's way from the goings on of misbehaving students. It will be a great challenge for both of you, but one that I hope will be rewarding. Because the Heads come from two different houses, Professor Snape and I will be your mentors. I want both of you to feel free to come to either of us, not necessarily just your Head of House, to provide any assistance you may need."

As Hermione smiled at Professor McGonagall to let her know she had heard what she was saying, Malfoy made a noise like 'Harrumph' and rolled his eyes.

"Once we arrive at Hogwarts, you are to follow me to your new accommodations which will be near the Astronomy tower. It has come to the attention of many of the faculty that this has become quite the area for young lovers." Hermione felt her cheeks going pink as she thought of the times she heard that people had been up there. She noticed Draco's mouth falling open, probably because that had been one of his favorite hangouts. His reputations precede him in most cases, but this particular reputation had reached greatness among the girls.

"We will be having a prefect meeting here in less than five minutes. As you know this year we will be naming one male and one female prefect due to the increased enrollment of students this year. We have over 200 new students who will, no doubt, be needing assistance from everyone they can. The names of the prefects are from Ravenclaw: Mandy Brocklehurst and Stuart Ackerly, from Hufflepuff: Elanor Branstone and Michael Corner, from Gryffindor: Ronald Weasley and Parvati Patel, and from Slytherin: Millicent Bullstrode and Theodore Nott."

Hermione couldn't help but inhaling sharply when she heard Millicent's name. To say she was surprised that Millicent was considered much less chosen for the honor of being a prefect would have been a massive understatement, especially since Pansy Parkinson had been a prefect for the past two years. Hermione thought about when Millicent partnered with her at the Dueling Club at Professor Snape's direction. She had opted to put Hermione in a headlock despite the standard "no contact" rule of wizard dueling, leaving some black hair on her robes in the process. Hermione had saved them for use in her Polyjuice potion. Unfortunately, the hair was not Millicent's own, but her cat's hair. But she didn't have long to consider her feelings before Malfoy spoke up.

"Professor McGonagall, I find it repulsive that I not only have to work with Granger but Weasley, too?" he spat as if just saying the names cause pain.

"Mr. Malfoy, you not doubt remember that you have no choice as to who is to be named for this honor. And I should need not remind you of my warning earlier about respect."

As Professor McGonagall got ready to leave the compartment to make room for the prefect meeting, she smiled at Hermione. "I should think the two of you would have much to discuss before the prefects arrive. Remember to tell them about the longer sorting ceremony and their responsibilities once it is over."

"Okay Malfoy," Hermione began as she looked over their official paperwork, "I think..." but she was interrupted as Malfoy interjected, "Oh that's rich. As if you think!"

Hermione looked at Malfoy and was about to respond with an insult of her own when she remembered the news Professor McGonagall had given her. She resolved right there to be a bit more understanding to Malfoy even if he was a pain in her arse. "Um, well...maybe you should take the boys aside and explain their role with the male students and I'll do the same with the females."

"What? No comeback? No bite behind that bark?" Malfoy snapped.

Hermione had to remind herself to be nice to this oaf. "Come on Malfoy. It'll be a long enough year without an insult around every corner. Let's just get to work."

~~~***~~~

The rest of the ride went by without conflict and the feat took place much as it had the years previous. The only surprise as far as Hermione was concerned was when Misten was sorted into Gryffindor. The house choice was not as much as a surprise as what the Sorting Hat said as she was sorted. It sounded remarkably strange and Hermione couldn't help but wonder if it wasn't a forewarning of what was to come. "Umm...good mind this one. Smart enough for Ravenclaw for certain. Sly and sneaky enough for Slytherin though. Even patient and hard working enough for Hufflepuff. But I think her gallantry and bravery are the strongest traits ...Gryffindor!"