"What are you doing here?" Hermione hissed. She had dragged Draco out into the hall by his sleeve. 

Draco took another bite of his muffin. "Well, I am the co-head, I'm pretty sure I need to be at the meetings." He smirked. "Although it might have helped if you had told me, instead of my dear old mother getting a reminder from McGonagall."

Hermione just glared. "Well, I didn't get a chance to, now did I?"

"That's right, you stormed out so quickly. What's wrong, Granger? Has McGonagall finally figured out you aren't Little Miss Perfect?"

That one stung. Hermione looked away, then took a deep breath. "Fine, whatever." She muttered, taking out her phone. "What's your number?"

"Aww, Granger, all you had to do was ask." He winked, reciting his number. 

Hermione texted him her schedule. "If you're going to be a part of this, you have to learn to rules of the trade. So you'll be sticking with me the first week." Hermione paused at this, swallowing her irritation. "Study the schedule I sent you. If you have questions, ask me at the meeting on Monday, before school. Don't be late, Draco."

Draco just shrugged, hiking his bag up on his shoulder. Hermione took that as an invitation to leave. She spun around, about to enter the room and explain things to the others. But she paused. 

"Oh, and Draco?"

"What?"

"Lose my number."

  ❀ DYHAP ❀     

 Hermione had a headache, which was a very rare occurrence. 

After Draco left, she walked into a room of chaos and outrage. Draco... he was notorious. Every hall monitor had to deal with him at one point, and many of them (particularly the girls) had been left in tears after an encounter with him. 

There were a million questions flying at Hermione like knives, and she felt the beginning pulses in her head. 

"Everyone, be quiet!" she yelled, and they all shut up in shock. Hermione never  yelled. 

She sighed, loathing Draco Malfoy for making her like this. "I'm sorry guys, just... look I know the situation sucks. Trust me, I know. But we're just going to have to make it work for the time being. McGonagall spoke, and we have to listen. I... I'm sorry." 

The bell chose that moment to ring, and Hermione internally dissolved in relief. Her fellow hall monitors left, muttering, and Hermione began to clean up. She felt a tear seep out, but wiped it away furiously. No more crying. Not because of him. He already made her break her vow yesterday...

"Draco? Draco, please open the door. Please." Hermione's voice trembled, and she felt hysterical tears streaming down her face. She pounded at the door, falling to her knees. Her legs no longer felt like legs, but like wobbly stilts. 

"Draco, please," she sobbed. "Don't go. I'm sorry for whatever I did. I'll do better. I promise."

Draco didn't answer. 

"Draco... you're my only friend. You're my best friend. Please. I... I love you."

The air was suddenly too thick, too full of silence, and Hermione scrambled up and ran blindly back to her house, stumbling up to her room. 

She cried for hours. And when she finally opened her crusty eyes, there were reinforced steel barriers around her, and no one was getting in. Not Draco, not anyone. She would never shed a tear for another person again.

Draco Malfoy would never break her again. 

Hermione blinked, then looked at the clock. 

"HOLY FUDGE STICKS!"

She had two minutes to get to class.

She grabbed her back and sped walked down the hall, hating that her first period class was across the school. Hermione glanced at her watch, begging the seconds to slow down. This could not be happening. 

Hermione walked faster, terror striking her. She could see the door. It was just down this hallway. She was going to make it. She was going to make it. Her hand touched the doorknob and... the unthinkable happened. 

The bell rang. Hermione Granger was late.

Mr. Snape's sharp face was at the door in a flash. He smiled a cruel smile, and locked the door. He pointed in the direction of the office. 

"Mr. Snape, please!" Hermione squeaked, feeling nauseous. "No... don't close the blinds... don't close the-"

He closed the blinds. 

Hermione was locked out of her Physics class. 

She wanted to just run away and never return, but she forced her legs to take the walk of shame to the office. She cursed Mr. Snape with all the curses she could think of. He hated her for no reason. She always turned in her assignments on time and did as much as she could, but he unfairly took off points. He ruthlessly picked on her in class, calling her a teacher's pet and a know-it-all, and Hermione took it with grace. But this... this was a whole new low. She was always early to the class,  but when she arrived a second late to class one day, and he sent her to the office? 

Snape was almost worse than Draco to Hermione and her friends. She supposed Harry had it worse, as he was naturally terrible at science. He had to take summer school classes in order to pass sophomore year. Snape and Harry... they were natural born enemies. Snape almost acted like his hatred for Harry was... personal. 

Hermione was quickly approaching the office, and she found it harder and harder to make her legs move. She reached the door, and had to take a deep breath before she opened the door. 

Mrs. Norris was talking to her brother, the head janitor Mr. Filch. When Hermione entered, they both glared at her, and Hermione's face heated up. 

"Um... I need a tardy pass," Hermione mumbled to her feet. 

"We're busy, the principal's that way," Mr. Filch spit (literally), and pointed to McGonagoll's office.

This had to be the worst day in the history of first days. Hermione's eyes burned as she walked to her principal's office, memories of yesterday's talk flooding her mind. She knocked softly, hoping she wouldn't answer, but a moment later, Hermione heard a faint, "Come in."

Hermione cracked opened the door. McGonagoll was working on paperwork and didn't look up. "I... I need a tardy pass," Hermione squeaked, looking down at the floor. Lovely carpeting. 

"Ask Mrs. Norris, dear."

"She... she told me to come to you."

At this, Hermione felt McGonagoll look up. Hermione didn't meet her gaze. 

"Why, Ms. Granger..." The surprise in her voice evident. "Come in, sit down."

Hermione reluctantly entered the office, perching on the edge of her seat. She sat on her hands to keep them from fidgeting. 

"Ms. Granger, I do hope this isn't an act of rebellion because of the... circumstance with Mr. Malfoy." 

Hermione's eyes flew up to meet McGonagoll's stern gaze. "No, Mrs. McGonagoll.... never!" she gasped out. What had she done to deserve this level of distrust from her principal?

"I had to ask. Explain, please, Ms. Granger." She took off her glasses and rubbed her eyes.

"Nothing happened. I just... I lost track of time after the meeting cleaning up. I was only a couple seconds late really, but Mr. Snape locked me out." There was a lump in Hermione's throat. 

"Speaking up the meeting, Hermione... did Malfoy make it?" 

"Yes, he did. I... I gave him my schedule. But that does mean he'll be missing fourth period."

"I'll work that out in his schedule, he has a free period as well, but later in the afternoon."

This was news to Hermione. She knew Draco was smart, but it had taken her months of hard work to get a free period. She didn't think Draco capable of that kind of work ethic. 

"Hermione... I do want to apologize for how harsh I was to you. But I do expect more of you than other students. You have to understand... there are more forces at work here than... I feel like only you can help Mr. Malfoy. That's all I can disclose. Don't think I am being unnecessarily hard on you, Hermione. But... I have faith in you."

Hermione was conflicted. The last thing she wanted was more impossible expectations to meet, but she was glad to still be on McGonagoll's good side.

"I understand. Could I go back to class, now?"

"Yes, and I'll talk to Severus personally so the tardy won't go on your record," Mrs. McGonagoll said, writing a pass for Hermione. She exhaled in relief.  

Hermione left the principal's office with much more hope than when she entered. It had been a long morning, but Hermione was feeling loads more optimistic. 

That is until the text came in. 

It was from an unknown number. There was a picture of a soaked dog in a toilet. It was captioned with 'Hang in there.'  

Saw this and thought of you, the message said, maybe you could take some notes on how to style your hair ;-) -Draco

It was the first of many.