Title: New Year, New Ways
Disclaimers: I own nothing except a new character. The rest belongs to the very brilliant J.K. Rowling.
A.N. Ok, this is reposted.
CHAPTER ONE
A New Year
Harry Potter stood beside Platform 9 3/4 on September 1st, waiting faithfully for his best friend Hermione. Ron was already on the train, situating his luggage, and stuffing Harry's somewhere.
Harry saw Hermione turn the corner and kiss her mother good-bye. He took a deep breath and attempted to actually mess up his hair even more. He realized that he was acting like his father and stopped.
"Harry!" Hermione exclaimed. She dropped her luggage and ran towards him, hugging him with all her might. Harry hugged her tightly, for some reason not wanting to let her go. When he did let her go, she hurried to get her luggage and joined him back at the platform.
"It took you forever to get here. I mean I've been waiting for over a half an hour, and-"
"Oh that's so sweet, you waited for me," She said jokingly. Harry felt like smacking himself in the face. He once again rumpled his hair, and then stopped himself. He really needed to stop rumpling his hair like that.
"So, how was Spain?" asked Harry. Hermione got a look of disgust on her face.
"Terrible." She said. "I got a sunburn do bad that I had to wait two weeks before going outside again."
"You don't look sun burnt to me." Harry replied.
"Believe me, I am..." She said, rubbing her bottom. Harry chuckled.
"Well, let's get on he train." Said Harry. He voluntarily took her luggage for her and she made her way for the platform. She walked in front of him, and he then realized she was already wearing the skirt for her uniform. 'Too bad it's down to her knees...' he thought to himself. Wait a minute...was he checking out his best friend's ass? He shook the thought and raced into the platform right behind Hermione. They joined Ron on the train about five minutes later.
"Finally!" he exclaimed. "Seemed like I was waiting forever!"
"Well, we had some catching up to do," Said Hermione, plopping down in the seat across from Ron. Harry sat down by the window.
"Ah, I see. Catch up, did you?" Ron said, staring obviously at Harry. Harry rose and eyebrow at him and shook his head in confusion. "How was Spain, then?" Harry and Hermione looked at each other then laughed. "Did I miss something?"
"You missed nothing! It was terrible. I got so sun burnt that I can barely sit without discomfort." She said. Harry laughed with her, though Ron seemed not to understand. He laughed anyway. "I'll be right back." Said Hermione, standing up.
"Where are you going?" asked Ron
"To the bathroom, Ron." Se replied, patting his head.
"Have fun." Said Harry, without having a clue why.
"I beg your pardon?"
"I don't know. Just go to the bathroom. Ignore me." He replied. She walked out of the compartment with a confused and rather disgusted look on her face.
"Good job." Said Ron. Harry groaned. "You're making it too obvious, Mate."
"What am I making too obvious?"
"Oh, come on. I'm your best friend, you can admit it to me."
"Admit what, Ron?"
"That you've got it bad for our best friend. Don't try to deny it."
"Ugh! Oh please..."
"You do! You want her SO bad. Come on, just say it, you want her."
"Shut up, Ron!"
"Just say it!"
"No!"
"Why? Why won't you admit it?"
"Why should I? It would only make you happy. And we all know what that can do."
"Oh come on, you're still not on about our fifth year?"
"I've seen you overly happy before, and it's not pretty."
"Just admit it Harry, come on!" just then, Hermione walked back into the compartment. "Have fun?" said Ron. Harry rolled his eyes. Hermione glared at Ron. If looks could kill, Ron would've been dead and six feet under the tracks.
Hermione sat down closer to the wall than she had been before. Harry looked at her side profile and thought about what Ron had said. But Harry didn't REALLY feel like that, did he? Harry didn't know, but Hermione was beautiful, he had to give her that. Even if she was stubborn.
"You two should change into your uniforms. You know, like I was doing in the bathroom." She was pissed.
"Good idea." Said Harry quickly. He grabbed his uniform out of his trunk and raced to the bathroom. He changed quickly and came back. He saw the 'Head Girl' badge on Hermione's vest and wondered who the Head Boy of Hogwarts was.
"Hermione?" he said cautiously.
"Malfoy." She replied.
"What?"
"Malfoy is Head Boy."
"How did you know-"
"I know when someone is staring at my chest, Harry."
"But I wasn't-"
"Oh, look!" said Ron. "Hogwarts. This is our last year here. Can you believe it?"
"No." replied Harry. He got that dazed look on his face like he always did when he saw Hogwarts. Hermione looked at his face and suddenly realized how cute her best friend was. She had felt this way since she was fourteen, and now felt bad about snapping at him.
The three friends stepped off of the train together and looked up at the castle. This was the last first day back they would have here. It almost made them sad to think that come June, they would all be off on their own.
They rode along in the carriage pulled by the horses that only a select few could see, and talked about how fast the years had passed. The carriage suddenly came to a halt and the door flew open. Draco Malfoy stood outside the door with a rather disgusted look on his face.
"Head Boy and Girl have to ride together." He said simply to Hermione. She got the same look on her face and climbed out of the carriage.
All the carriages stopped just outside the castle and the students second year and up made their way for the Great Hall. Harry could see the small boats out on the lake and the large form of Hagrid. He smiled at the thought of seeing Hagrid again.
They took their seats at the Gryffindor table and were soon joined by Hermione, who had an even more disgusted look on her face than before.
"What happened?" asked Ron. Hermione took a deep breath.
"He came on to me!"
"What?!" exclaimed Harry.
"That pig of a wizard came on to me!"
"No!" He replied.
"Yes!"
"Shhh!" hissed Ginny. "The sorting is starting." The Hat sang its song and Professor McGonagall set the three-legged stool upon the stage. She began to read off the list, which was surprisingly short this year. Only twenty-six new students. The final eleven-year-old, who was named, "Zaborski" was sorted into Ravenclaw. Then Dumbledor stood up to make his speech.
"Welcome, first years! And welcome back to those of you who have returned. Start of term announcements are briefly these; Head Boy this year is Draco Malfoy of Slytherin. (Applause from Slytherin table.) And Head Girl is Hermione Granger of Gryffindor. (Applause from Gryffindor.) Note to first year students that the Dark Forest is strictly forbidden. And we would like to welcome back Delores Umbridge as our Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."
"What?!" shouted Hermione. The entire hall turned to look at her.
"He's not serious." Muttered Ron. But, alas, there was a rather short and stout toad-ish looking woman with a large pink bow in her hair sitting up at the staff table.
"He is." Replied Harry.
"Anyway..." said Dumbledor. "We have one more student to be sorted. She is from America, and she is sixteen years old. We are the only school that could actually pick up her magical vibes, and that was not until the middle of last year. And now, students, here is Astrid Cooke."
"Astrid...what a dorky name." Said Ron. "She probably has a crooked nose."
"Ron!" exclaimed Hermione. "Astrid is not a dorky name, its elegant. And who the hell cares if she had a crooked nose?" but Ron didn't answer. He was almost drooling. There was nothing crooked about that girl. Even her blonde hair was perfectly strait, as were her pearly whit teeth. She was curvy, but not crooked. Every guy's jaw in the Great Hall dropped, including Harry's. She was beautiful. Every male in the room (well, every male seventeen and under) wanted her to be sorted into their house.
Astrid sat down on the stool and placed the hat on her head. It seemed to take forever, but the Hat finally called out, "GRYFFINDOR!" and whistles and cheers greeted Astrid. Her deep blue eyes scanned the table, and then she chose a spot between Hermione and Ginny. The boys on either side of them scooted closer to where she sat.
"God damn it, do you mind?!" exclaimed Ginny. They all scooted off slightly. "Thank you. Hi, I'm Ginny Weasley." She said, sticking out her hand. "I'm in sixth year, too." Astrid smiled and shook her hand.
"And I'm Hermione Granger." Astrid smiled at her and shook her hand as well. "I think my friends can introduce themselves." Harry snapped out of his daze and stuck out his hand.
"I'm Harry Potter." He didn't know if she knew who he was. And apparently she didn't, either that or she was really good a holding in excitement.
"Nice to meet you all." She said, and then her gaze fell upon Ron. "And what is your name?" Ron didn't say anything. A droplet of drool slipped out of his mouth and hit the table. Astrid laughed, and that snapped him back.
"I'm Ron Weasley, Ginny's sister-I mean brother." He said quickly. Harry, Hermione, and Ginny all laughed at that. Astrid didn't even smile; she just shook his hand and stared at him. They ate their feast, and then headed up to their dormitory. Hermione walked alongside of Astrid, and Ron and Harry walked a couple paces ahead of them.
"So, are you and Harry involved?" asked Astrid.
"Me and Harry? No, no way. Why do you ask?"
"Well, it's just the way that you look at him. Are you sweet on him, then?"
"Well, uh...you see..."
"I understand. He's pretty good looking. But that Ron character...now he's a charming one." Hermione rose and eyebrow at that one.
"Ron? I never really thought of him as charming, but now that you mention it..."
"He has a nice walk." Said Astrid, cocking her head to the side slightly.
"Ok, we're talking about my best friend here, I'm getting mental images that need not to be seen in the mind of his best friend..." Astrid nodded in agreement. Ginny joined the two, and then showed her up to the sixth year girls' dorm when they reached the common room.
Harry and Ron were seated on a couch in front of the fireplace. Hermione plopped down in between them and sighed.
"I swear," she said.
"What?" said Ron.
"You guys look at her like she's a chicken wing."
"I don't like chicken wings." Retorted Harry.
"Well, you look at her like you've never seen a pretty girl before."
"We've seen plenty of pretty girls." Said Ron.
"Name a few." She replied.
"Fleur Delacour." Said Ron.
"Oh God." Said Hermione.
"Cho Chang." Harry pointed out.
"That girl was a jealous little prat."
"True..."
"The Patils." Said Ron.
"Please..."
"You..." said Harry. Ron snorted and Hermione snapped around to look at him. "Are so silly, Ron. Honestly, the Patils..." Hermione shook off what she had just heard and stood up from the couch. She said her goodnights to them and ran up the stairs to her new 'Head Girl' dormitory.
She changed into her pajamas and climbed into her bed. She turned off the lights, but couldn't get to sleep for at least an hour.
When she finally did fall asleep, she dreamt of Harry.
Disclaimers: I own nothing except a new character. The rest belongs to the very brilliant J.K. Rowling.
A.N. Ok, this is reposted.
CHAPTER ONE
A New Year
Harry Potter stood beside Platform 9 3/4 on September 1st, waiting faithfully for his best friend Hermione. Ron was already on the train, situating his luggage, and stuffing Harry's somewhere.
Harry saw Hermione turn the corner and kiss her mother good-bye. He took a deep breath and attempted to actually mess up his hair even more. He realized that he was acting like his father and stopped.
"Harry!" Hermione exclaimed. She dropped her luggage and ran towards him, hugging him with all her might. Harry hugged her tightly, for some reason not wanting to let her go. When he did let her go, she hurried to get her luggage and joined him back at the platform.
"It took you forever to get here. I mean I've been waiting for over a half an hour, and-"
"Oh that's so sweet, you waited for me," She said jokingly. Harry felt like smacking himself in the face. He once again rumpled his hair, and then stopped himself. He really needed to stop rumpling his hair like that.
"So, how was Spain?" asked Harry. Hermione got a look of disgust on her face.
"Terrible." She said. "I got a sunburn do bad that I had to wait two weeks before going outside again."
"You don't look sun burnt to me." Harry replied.
"Believe me, I am..." She said, rubbing her bottom. Harry chuckled.
"Well, let's get on he train." Said Harry. He voluntarily took her luggage for her and she made her way for the platform. She walked in front of him, and he then realized she was already wearing the skirt for her uniform. 'Too bad it's down to her knees...' he thought to himself. Wait a minute...was he checking out his best friend's ass? He shook the thought and raced into the platform right behind Hermione. They joined Ron on the train about five minutes later.
"Finally!" he exclaimed. "Seemed like I was waiting forever!"
"Well, we had some catching up to do," Said Hermione, plopping down in the seat across from Ron. Harry sat down by the window.
"Ah, I see. Catch up, did you?" Ron said, staring obviously at Harry. Harry rose and eyebrow at him and shook his head in confusion. "How was Spain, then?" Harry and Hermione looked at each other then laughed. "Did I miss something?"
"You missed nothing! It was terrible. I got so sun burnt that I can barely sit without discomfort." She said. Harry laughed with her, though Ron seemed not to understand. He laughed anyway. "I'll be right back." Said Hermione, standing up.
"Where are you going?" asked Ron
"To the bathroom, Ron." Se replied, patting his head.
"Have fun." Said Harry, without having a clue why.
"I beg your pardon?"
"I don't know. Just go to the bathroom. Ignore me." He replied. She walked out of the compartment with a confused and rather disgusted look on her face.
"Good job." Said Ron. Harry groaned. "You're making it too obvious, Mate."
"What am I making too obvious?"
"Oh, come on. I'm your best friend, you can admit it to me."
"Admit what, Ron?"
"That you've got it bad for our best friend. Don't try to deny it."
"Ugh! Oh please..."
"You do! You want her SO bad. Come on, just say it, you want her."
"Shut up, Ron!"
"Just say it!"
"No!"
"Why? Why won't you admit it?"
"Why should I? It would only make you happy. And we all know what that can do."
"Oh come on, you're still not on about our fifth year?"
"I've seen you overly happy before, and it's not pretty."
"Just admit it Harry, come on!" just then, Hermione walked back into the compartment. "Have fun?" said Ron. Harry rolled his eyes. Hermione glared at Ron. If looks could kill, Ron would've been dead and six feet under the tracks.
Hermione sat down closer to the wall than she had been before. Harry looked at her side profile and thought about what Ron had said. But Harry didn't REALLY feel like that, did he? Harry didn't know, but Hermione was beautiful, he had to give her that. Even if she was stubborn.
"You two should change into your uniforms. You know, like I was doing in the bathroom." She was pissed.
"Good idea." Said Harry quickly. He grabbed his uniform out of his trunk and raced to the bathroom. He changed quickly and came back. He saw the 'Head Girl' badge on Hermione's vest and wondered who the Head Boy of Hogwarts was.
"Hermione?" he said cautiously.
"Malfoy." She replied.
"What?"
"Malfoy is Head Boy."
"How did you know-"
"I know when someone is staring at my chest, Harry."
"But I wasn't-"
"Oh, look!" said Ron. "Hogwarts. This is our last year here. Can you believe it?"
"No." replied Harry. He got that dazed look on his face like he always did when he saw Hogwarts. Hermione looked at his face and suddenly realized how cute her best friend was. She had felt this way since she was fourteen, and now felt bad about snapping at him.
The three friends stepped off of the train together and looked up at the castle. This was the last first day back they would have here. It almost made them sad to think that come June, they would all be off on their own.
They rode along in the carriage pulled by the horses that only a select few could see, and talked about how fast the years had passed. The carriage suddenly came to a halt and the door flew open. Draco Malfoy stood outside the door with a rather disgusted look on his face.
"Head Boy and Girl have to ride together." He said simply to Hermione. She got the same look on her face and climbed out of the carriage.
All the carriages stopped just outside the castle and the students second year and up made their way for the Great Hall. Harry could see the small boats out on the lake and the large form of Hagrid. He smiled at the thought of seeing Hagrid again.
They took their seats at the Gryffindor table and were soon joined by Hermione, who had an even more disgusted look on her face than before.
"What happened?" asked Ron. Hermione took a deep breath.
"He came on to me!"
"What?!" exclaimed Harry.
"That pig of a wizard came on to me!"
"No!" He replied.
"Yes!"
"Shhh!" hissed Ginny. "The sorting is starting." The Hat sang its song and Professor McGonagall set the three-legged stool upon the stage. She began to read off the list, which was surprisingly short this year. Only twenty-six new students. The final eleven-year-old, who was named, "Zaborski" was sorted into Ravenclaw. Then Dumbledor stood up to make his speech.
"Welcome, first years! And welcome back to those of you who have returned. Start of term announcements are briefly these; Head Boy this year is Draco Malfoy of Slytherin. (Applause from Slytherin table.) And Head Girl is Hermione Granger of Gryffindor. (Applause from Gryffindor.) Note to first year students that the Dark Forest is strictly forbidden. And we would like to welcome back Delores Umbridge as our Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."
"What?!" shouted Hermione. The entire hall turned to look at her.
"He's not serious." Muttered Ron. But, alas, there was a rather short and stout toad-ish looking woman with a large pink bow in her hair sitting up at the staff table.
"He is." Replied Harry.
"Anyway..." said Dumbledor. "We have one more student to be sorted. She is from America, and she is sixteen years old. We are the only school that could actually pick up her magical vibes, and that was not until the middle of last year. And now, students, here is Astrid Cooke."
"Astrid...what a dorky name." Said Ron. "She probably has a crooked nose."
"Ron!" exclaimed Hermione. "Astrid is not a dorky name, its elegant. And who the hell cares if she had a crooked nose?" but Ron didn't answer. He was almost drooling. There was nothing crooked about that girl. Even her blonde hair was perfectly strait, as were her pearly whit teeth. She was curvy, but not crooked. Every guy's jaw in the Great Hall dropped, including Harry's. She was beautiful. Every male in the room (well, every male seventeen and under) wanted her to be sorted into their house.
Astrid sat down on the stool and placed the hat on her head. It seemed to take forever, but the Hat finally called out, "GRYFFINDOR!" and whistles and cheers greeted Astrid. Her deep blue eyes scanned the table, and then she chose a spot between Hermione and Ginny. The boys on either side of them scooted closer to where she sat.
"God damn it, do you mind?!" exclaimed Ginny. They all scooted off slightly. "Thank you. Hi, I'm Ginny Weasley." She said, sticking out her hand. "I'm in sixth year, too." Astrid smiled and shook her hand.
"And I'm Hermione Granger." Astrid smiled at her and shook her hand as well. "I think my friends can introduce themselves." Harry snapped out of his daze and stuck out his hand.
"I'm Harry Potter." He didn't know if she knew who he was. And apparently she didn't, either that or she was really good a holding in excitement.
"Nice to meet you all." She said, and then her gaze fell upon Ron. "And what is your name?" Ron didn't say anything. A droplet of drool slipped out of his mouth and hit the table. Astrid laughed, and that snapped him back.
"I'm Ron Weasley, Ginny's sister-I mean brother." He said quickly. Harry, Hermione, and Ginny all laughed at that. Astrid didn't even smile; she just shook his hand and stared at him. They ate their feast, and then headed up to their dormitory. Hermione walked alongside of Astrid, and Ron and Harry walked a couple paces ahead of them.
"So, are you and Harry involved?" asked Astrid.
"Me and Harry? No, no way. Why do you ask?"
"Well, it's just the way that you look at him. Are you sweet on him, then?"
"Well, uh...you see..."
"I understand. He's pretty good looking. But that Ron character...now he's a charming one." Hermione rose and eyebrow at that one.
"Ron? I never really thought of him as charming, but now that you mention it..."
"He has a nice walk." Said Astrid, cocking her head to the side slightly.
"Ok, we're talking about my best friend here, I'm getting mental images that need not to be seen in the mind of his best friend..." Astrid nodded in agreement. Ginny joined the two, and then showed her up to the sixth year girls' dorm when they reached the common room.
Harry and Ron were seated on a couch in front of the fireplace. Hermione plopped down in between them and sighed.
"I swear," she said.
"What?" said Ron.
"You guys look at her like she's a chicken wing."
"I don't like chicken wings." Retorted Harry.
"Well, you look at her like you've never seen a pretty girl before."
"We've seen plenty of pretty girls." Said Ron.
"Name a few." She replied.
"Fleur Delacour." Said Ron.
"Oh God." Said Hermione.
"Cho Chang." Harry pointed out.
"That girl was a jealous little prat."
"True..."
"The Patils." Said Ron.
"Please..."
"You..." said Harry. Ron snorted and Hermione snapped around to look at him. "Are so silly, Ron. Honestly, the Patils..." Hermione shook off what she had just heard and stood up from the couch. She said her goodnights to them and ran up the stairs to her new 'Head Girl' dormitory.
She changed into her pajamas and climbed into her bed. She turned off the lights, but couldn't get to sleep for at least an hour.
When she finally did fall asleep, she dreamt of Harry.