Masquerade (Dramione)

Masquerade

Hermione POV

When I got the letter I was so excited! I mean its Hogwarts, Why wouldn’t I be excited? I had been so worried that I wouldn’t graduate because Harry, Ron and I had skipped our seventh year so that we could hunt Horcruxes and defeat Voldemort. After that of course everyone in the Wizarding world was willing to give us any job we wanted. But I don’t think I would feel like I deserved it if I didn’t have my degree first. Besides I really did like school. Which is why I was so excited when Headmaster McGonagall invited everyone back to retake the last year since with the war going on a lot of the students didn’t really get a quality education. Like me Harry was very excited to be going back to Hogwarts but Ron had received Letters from Quidditch recruiters across the world and felt that his best interests were served outside of the classroom. It was just as well, we had been growing apart lately and I really didn’t want to have to run into my Ex every day.

                Along with my letter I received a note from McGonagall asking me to be Head girl this year. It had been one of my Life’s dreams and now it was coming true. Real leadership opportunity! This wasn’t like S.P.E.W or any of my other silly ideas. So really altogether I was just so happy when I walked onto platform nine and three quarters that day. Another year of Hogwarts, it was precisely what I needed before settling into the perfect job.

                As I pulled my trunk across the platform my spirits flew as high as the clouds. Harry barely kept up while talking to Ginny. They’d been practically inseparable lately. It had been okay while I was with Ron but now it was just kind of awkward seeing them be so… cuddly. I hoped that the “New Relationship” feeling would rub of soon so that I could hang out with Ginny more. Sometimes I just needed another girl to talk to and Ginny was one of my best friends. I finally decided to abandon their “Love bird” presence and go find a seat for us on the train. I made my way down the aisles until I came to an empty compartment.

                I swung my trunk into the luggage compartment and curled up to read my worn copy of Pride and Prejudice, my favorite novel.  I had probably read it a hundred times. I had always had a thing for Mr. Darcy because even though he was rich and seemed stuck up and arrogant. On the inside he was a kind and generous man. Of course, men like that were made for the Elizabeth Bennett’s of the world, not the Hermione Grangers.

                My brief swooning was cut short by the sound of the compartment door opening. A small boy stepped in. He looked to be maybe a second year.

                “Hello” he said “I’m Cornelius O’Connell” He said his name with a grandeur that mixed with his short stature had a rather comical effect.

“I am here to deliver a message from Headmistress McGonagall.” He continued “She requests your presence in compartment A1 for the head of house meeting.”

I had forgotten that the Head boy and head girl always had a meeting with the prefects on the train. We had to organize them so that they would be prepared for their duties when we arrived.

A sigh escaped my lips. I had been looking forward to losing myself in a Jane Austen novel. Oh well, I smiled and stood up. Leadership required responsibility. It wasn’t about what I wanted. It was about the good of the school and its students.

“Lead the way?” I asked him. He quickly shook his head and mumbled about having other students to talk to. For some reason he seemed shaken. I didn’t bother thinking about it for very long. He was probably just shy.

I stopped by the restrooms to change into my uniform before I began to make my way down the train towards A1. I had always been slightly nervous on the train because I between each car there was a small separation with a door for people to get on. As the train picked up speed the doors were left open for late students to have the opportunity to hop on. I walked passed each door hesitantly, but all my effort came to nothing in the end. While I was on my way past the last separation, the train gave a sudden lurch of speed that sent me stumbling out the door. My hand caught on the handle and I free hung off the train while a scream built up in my lungs. Pure terror filled my throat, holding the sound back. So this is how I’m going to die? But I had so many things to do and so many places to see. It might sound cheesy but my life literally flashed before my eyes and my only thought was; I’m not ready!