Head Duties

Five

I starred at the professor. This was the woman who was standing in Severus's memory. I absorbed absolutely nothing of what she said but I'm sure it was less than important seeing as it was the first day. Snape was never my favorite teacher but he had helped me through some rough times when it came to the Dark Lord.

I looked over at Hermione who sat a row in front and four seats to the left of me, the professor apparently thought seventh year need to be alphabetically seated. She didn't seem to be listening either.

Everything she's done has surprised me these past two days. 

"Mr. Malfoy?" I turned my head to the teacher in a lazy fashion and simply raised an eyebrow. I could feel Hermione's eyes on me. "Mr. Malfoy, are ya' paying attention?" I shrugged and I heard a few snickers. "Well if ya' don't mind I'd appreciate it if ya' starred at the board and not Miss Granger whilst in my class."

"It's not my fault she's more attractive to look at then the board." Again with the not thinking! I could feel Hermione's smirk from where I sat. I kept my face neutral even as the class erupted in laughter. 

The professor gave a small chuckle, "Oi, a smart one aren't ya'? Is anyone here paying attention?" There were a few tentative 'no's' about the room and her smile faded into something more thoughtful. "Aye well, listen up." She looked to the board and then back at us. "Ya' all have the syllabus, this is potions and this year we'll be workin' off the stuff ya' learned last year and learnin' to make more advanced potions from it. And that's it." The few heads which weren't looking at her shot up. "You don't need to sit here any longer hearin' stuff you've already heard so to hell with class today." A kid behind me hollered in excitement. "Now get out of here, go have some fun! I know it's weird being back but the war is over, so your only homework is to enjoy yourselves again. Go!" The room roared with cheers and the movement of paper and chairs. I got a few claps on the back but I stayed at my desk until most of the room was clear. Hermione sauntered towards me "Well aren't you cool, getting class excused with that 'Slytherin wit'" she laughed.

"Well you kinda helped me out," we walked out of the classroom and towards the lake.
"Yes that's right- you think I'm attractive" Hermione smirked at me but I kept a straight face as looked her in the eye,
"I only said you were more attractive than the board to look at." She playfully hit me in the arm but I knew this time the tinge I saw was a blush.
"Wow Hermione, you've lost a bit of muscle since third year.." She looked at me confused until she remembered and started laughing. I grinned.
"I'm sorry-" she tried to hide her laughter with her hands, "but you were a bit of an ass!"
"No I totally deserved it," we reached the lake and stopped at its shore. "In fact, I wish you would've punched me a few more times, maybe I might have woken up and realized what I was doing."
She nudged me with her arm. "It's not your fault Draco." I didn't answer but looked off into the lake. She sat down on the grass and I instinctively followed suit.
"Hermione?" She made a noise, a small grunt almost. I took it as she was listening. "What's changed? With you I mean. I guess, I don't know, you're just not-"
"The bookworm nerd I used to be a year ago?" I chuckled.
"Not exactly what I meant but I do believe you get my question."
She stretched her arms behind her. "Yeah." She leaned back, revealing her face to the sky. "Well, I mean being muggle-born, I had a bit of a different point of view coming to Hogwarts. Have you ever thought about what you would do if you lost your power?"
"I'd do anything for it."
"Exactly. I was given the opportunity to be a fairytale- that's, it was, I can't even explain it.." I looked over to her and she continued. "Anyways, that's why I worked so hard, I didn't want to take the chance of losing it. I couldn't be invaluable. But then when we left... Well, things changed. I realized I didn't need books or professors to teach me to be good- I was already good. 

"Fighting that night, well I proved myself, I proved I was good enough but most importantly, I realized I had made it to the end of my fairytale. It's sounds a bit narcissistic, but you know what I mean." I nodded though I'm sure she couldn't see it. "Living with Harry and Ron for almost a year loosened me and tightened me all at the same time. I guess I learned to live while you can. There's not much reason to hold back, not when people around you are dying every minute. When I was given the opportunity to come back, I thought maybe being here would make me rediscover that drive to be the best. I thought it would bring back my normal. But it hasn't."

"Our normal has changed," I concluded for her.

"And being here is like trying to recreate the good memories- it will never quite be the same. Hell, we'll never quite be the same. There's not a soul in that castle who wasn't affected by the war. I mean did you see all the new paintings of professors on the walls? Did you see all the new faces in the halls?"

"Did you see all the faces that aren't there anymore?" I hung my head but Hermione moved a hand to rest on top of mine as if she was gripping and holding all of my pieces together. "There's so many, Hermione." I looked away as my voice caught. 

"I know. And we're expected to just leave them behind." She pulled away and my hand felt cold.