All in My Head

Chapter One - Hermione

Bellatrix Lestrange smiled evilly at the trio of teenagers and approached the boys. 

"Let's put the boys in the cellar!" She yelled, grabbing Harry and Ron by their hair and pushing them towards Narcissa Malfoy, who shoved them down the stairs toward the cellar. Bellatrix then walked back to Hermione and got an inch away from her face and said, "And we will have a chat, GIRL TO GIRL." 

Hermione's breath grew ragged as Bellatrix shoved her to the floor. "You stole that sword out of my vault at Gringotts, how did you get it?" She whispered, once again an inch away from her face. Hermione begged, "I didn't take anything. Please." Bellatrix seemed to take pleasure in Hermione's pain. "You lied! Don't lie to me! CRUCIO!" Bellatrix screamed. Hermione screamed as loud as possible as pain racked her body. "CRUCIO!"

As the pain from the curse wore off, Hermione felt another pain on her lower arm. She screamed even louder, as it hurt worse than the curse. Bellatrix cackled as tears ran down Hermione's face.

"You aren't as smart as everyone thinks, you filthy little mudblood."

Hermione woke up breathing very heavily. Sweat gleamed on her forehead and she felt the scar on her forearm prickle. She didn't dare look down at the name that she was once called by all of the Slytherins. Her alarm read 6:00, which was forty-five minutes earlier than she normally would get ready for work.

She kicked her feet over the edge of her bed and walked slowly toward her closet. She decided to wear something that she normally would not wear. It was a blue blouse with a black pencil skirt. The brown-haired girl walked into her bathroom and put her hair up into a simple bun.

"Well don't you look professional?" Ginny Weasley said, apparating suddenly into Hermione's apartment. Hermione jumped and turned around to see Ginny smiling at her. "You can't just apparate into my flat whenever you feel like doing so," Hermione said as if she was talking to a child. 

"I can do whatever I would like. But anyway, back to your hair and outfit. I think the skirt is fine. But you should change into a green blouse because green suits you. And I want to do your makeup and hair," Ginny said. "Ginny Weasley, it's six in the morning and I am just going to work there is no need to get all dressed up," Hermione said, pushing Ginny out of the way and walking into her kitchen.

"Please, just this once. You look like a professor, I want you to look like a sexy office worker for once," Ginny said. Hermione turned around and said, "Fine, but only once and make it quick." She sighed and followed Ginny back into her bathroom. She took a seat on a chair and Ginny began to redo her hair.

After about ten minutes, Ginny began on Hermione's makeup. Ginny did it quicker than she normally would have but made sure it looked presentable. "Hermione, you seem a little bit off this morning. Are you all right?" Ginny asked her friend. "I had another nightmare last night. This is the fourth night in a row," Hermione confessed. "Was it another one about Fred?" Ginny asked. Hermione shook her head.

"What was this one about  then?" Ginny asked her, hoping Hermione wouldn't shut her out. "It was about Malfoy Manor when Bellatrix gave me that scar," Hermione sighed. Ginny muttered an oh and continued on Hermione's face. 

Once Ginny was done, Hermione took a good look at herself. She was now wearing a dark green blouse that was seethrough, with a camisole on underneath, but a little bit of cleavage showing, the same black pencil skirt, a pearl necklace, and a curled bun. Hermione did not feel like herself. Ginny chose black heels for her to wear, also. Hermione's makeup was winged eyeliner, a little blush, and ruby red lipstick. 

Hermione thought she looked too classy for work but it was too late to change anything. "Oh! I am going to be late!" She yelled and grabbed her purse. "Bye Ginny! Thank you, I think!" Hermione said to Ginny before apparating to the Ministry. "Hermione!" She heard someone yell from behind her. 

She turned around to see her school best friend, Harry Potter. "Harry!" She yelled and hugged him. "You look great today," he said looking her up and down. "Thank you, even though this is NOT what I normally wear. Thanks to your girlfriend," Hermione said to him, as they walked together to the Auror headquarters. 

"Yeah, I've got good news and bad news. What do you want first?" Harry said as he scratched the back of his neck nervously. Hermione hated Harry's bad news. But she wanted to hear the good news first. "Good, please."

"You can't call Ginny my girlfriend anymore."

Hermione's heart nearly stopped. They could not have broken up! It wasn't possible! And how was this the good news?

"HARRY JAMES POTTER! WIPE THAT SMIRK OFF OF YOUR FACE THIS IS SERIOUS!" Hermione screamed. She smacked Harry hard on the arm and reached for her wand. "Easy, Granger. Don't want to hurt anyone and ruin our good girl reputation, now do we?" A cold, familiar voice said. Hermione whipped around and saw her childhood enemy. 

Draco Malfoy.

"If you don't mind, Draco, Hermione and I are having a conversation. Could you please stand outside for a few minutes?" Harry said casually. "Fine with me, Potter. But I don't appreciate all the dirty looks I have been getting from people out there," Draco said and walked out of the office, lightly closing the door behind him.

"Muffliato," Hermione said once the door was shut. "Harry Potter! You listen to me, why in the world would you break u-" she was cut off by Harry pressing his finger to her lips. "Break up? You think that I would break up with Ginny? Hermione, if you are truly the brightest witch of her age, then you should at least be able to connect the dots."

Hermione's facial expression softened. "Then what happened?" She asked, backing off of Harry. "Well, we went out to dinner in Hogsmeade. No, not at Madam Puddifoots," Harry said. Hermione laughed. Harry continued, "We ordered our usual, butterbeers, and I may or may not have asked her a question that will change our entire life."

"YOU PROPOSED!" Hermione said, jumping up and down. Then she suddenly fell. Her heel had broken. She muttered a curse word and then heard the lock on the door click just as she bent down to pick up her shoe. "Damn, Granger. You must be asking for it," a voice at the door said. 

Hermione stood up quickly and was about to throw her heel right at Draco's nose. But right before she could, Harry grabbed her arms. "Violence isn't the answer," Harry whispered into her ear. "It is always the answer," she whispered back to him. Draco put his hands up in surrender and sat down in the chair closest to the door. 

Hermione shot him a look. Why was he in her office? "Get out, you have no business being in my office," she snapped at him. "Actually, I have all the business in the world to be in here, shoe-less," he said to her, looking at her feet. Her face flushed.

"Reparo," she muttered to her heels and slipped them back on. "And here goes the bad news," Harry said to Hermione with forgiving eyes. Hermione looked at Harry, questioningly. "Kingsley Shacklebolt has assigned us cases to find hidden death eaters that have been active in the dark arts recently. He has assigned partners to everyone and since Draco has had experience in the dark arts, he has been asked to work with one of us."

"Wait, so you and Draco are partners? Then who is mine?" Hermione said quietly. "No, my partner is Dean Thomas."

"Yours; however, is Draco."