Only Ones Who Know

The Prefects

The school year started like any other. Same platform. Same train. Same three friends that have spent the last four years together. The only difference was Harry. After the TriWizard Tournament, something changed within him. Hermione thought he had already been through too much and just wanted one school year without anything going horribly wrong. She knew that would be too good to be true.

Hermione thought about what dangers lie ahead for them. She knew that whatever was out there would be much worse than the three-headed dog, the basilisk, or the murderer who was loose in Hogwarts the years before. Now that Voldemort returned, anything could happen. Hermione was surprised that Harry even bothered coming back to Hogwarts.

The train stopped with a jolt letting the students know they had reached their destination. They all seemed to lose track of time because none of them had changed into their robes yet. Harry, Ron, and Hermione grabbed their luggage and made their way out of the compartment, and started for the castle.

From behind, Hermione heard an unmistakable snarky voice. It was no other than Draco Malfoy who was verbally abusing Harry once again. Maybe he would be the worst thing that happens to Harry this year. Hermione chuckled to herself doubtfully. Draco Malfoy was the biggest coward she knew.

Draco nudged his way past her as he threatened Harry. Nothing new. Before he turned to walk away, he linked his eyes with Hermione. This was the first time he had looked at her without calling her a filthy mudblood. She figured the name-calling was behind him even though she knew he still very much thought it.

Once they all got to the castle, they hurried to the washrooms to change. Hermione looked at herself in the mirror proudly as she clipped on her prefect badge. She had waited for this moment for a long time but always sort of knew it was going to be her. What she didn't expect was that Ron was one as well. This year, Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson were made prefects for Slytherin. Along with, Anthony Goldstein and Padma Patil for Ravenclaw, and Hannah Abbott and Ernie MacMillan for Hufflepuff. All of them made perfect sense but the fact that Ron somehow made it on the list was beyond her. Perhaps it was because she was the one who did most of his assignments last year.

All of the prefects were allowed to share a common room. Hermione felt like an adult for the first time in her life. She thought about her new responsibilities, her own dormitory, and not to mention holiday parties they would have together. She didn't really mind that Draco would be bunking there too. Maybe they would all put their differences aside and get along. Hopefully, Ron could be able to contain himself and go one year without attempting to knock his lights out.

Hermione walked through the Great Hall doors and found a seat next to Ginny. She was just in time for first year sorting. She felt nostalgic as a little girl with messy hair was placed into Gryffindor. She reminded her of her younger self. So innocent and still expected the best.

The tables were full once again and the feast began. Oh, how Hermione missed the variety of meals that magically appeared in front of her. Mountains of meat and overflowing desserts. She always wondered what happened with the leftovers. There was no way two hundred students could finish all this food. She finished her plate as quickly as she could. She couldn't wait to escort the new Gryffindors to their common room. After that, she would see the prefect's common room for the first time.

Ron and her led the first years through the castle and up the changing staircases. They explained carefully not to get lost or they would end up in a place they wouldn't want to be. They laughed as they remembered the time when they winded up face to face with Fluffy their first year. They went along giving them advice until they approached the portrait of the fat lady. They told them the password which was 'Baubles' this year and sent them to bed.

The two of them left for the fifth door down the hall where the prefect's common room was. They reminisced about their previous years and talked about how worried they were about Harry until they made it to the end of the hall. Through the door was a spiral staircase that led to the common room. They walked up and into a breathtaking living area decked out in scarlet red, emerald green, royal blue, and golden banners. It was twice the size of the other common rooms. Hermione squealed. She could hardly contain her excitement. She jumped up and wrapped her arms around Ron.

"Brilliant," A sarcastic voice interrupted their embrace. "Just what we need. A mudblood and a weasel to disrupt the peace."

Hermione glared at Draco. Ron's face turned a dark shade of pink. Hermione saw him clench his fist. She turned to him and reminded him that it wasn't worth it like he had told her once before. Ron relaxed and excused himself to his dorm before he did something he would regret. Hermione followed him.

"Malfoy." She said in a snooty tone as she passed him.

"Granger." He responded in the same voice as her.

She ignored him and went to inspect her new room. She couldn't believe her eyes when she opened the door. It was modified just for her and even had H. Granger engraved on the front of her door. Her bed had a gorgeous golden headboard and a flower detailed comforter that matched her Gryffindor colors. She also had a massive antique wardrobe that held all her robes from fall to summer style. She laid down on her bed taking it all in. She couldn't wait for classes to start tomorrow.