It was a relief to sit at a table in the warmly lit Great Hall of Hogwarts, once more. After the solemn train ride and silent carriage trip to the castle, the candlelit hall was a welcoming sight.
Hermione looked around at the other students that had returned to complete their education. They numbered twenty-two. Harry and Ron, of course, were not present. It appeared as though the entire Ravenclaw class had returned as well as several Hufflepuffs. Fay, Parvati, Neville, and Dean with Hermione made up the Gryffindors and then there was Draco, the only Slytherin. He sat alone at the far end of the table.
Headmistress McGonagall and Professor Slughorn stood at one end of the student table. The table at which the professors typically sat was empty.
"Good evening, students. Welcome back to Hogwarts. I've asked you here a day earlier than the rest of the students because the school governors and I have decided to separate you from our traditional houses.
"Your purpose here is to learn; you will not be prefects, you will neither earn nor lose house points, and you will not participate in Quidditch."
Hermione was rather pleased to hear that her activities would be limited solely to school work; she was surprised at the lack of outrage from the others but reasoned that they must have goals similar to hers to have returned.
Headmistress McGonagall turned her attention to Professor Slughorn.
"Hogwarts is home to untold secrets. During last year's battle, a lost set of house rooms was unearthed. It was a failed attempt at a fifth house. At the start of a forgotten war, it was built and populated by those that did not wish to be sorted for one reason or another. Some students did not wish to join a house as it would declare their allegiance, in a way. The fifth house fell as the war brewed to its pinnacle and sides sprouted or were forced upon sons and daughters by their parents."
The attention of every student was on Slughorn. Hermione had never heard of a fifth house at Hogwarts; failed or otherwise. She wished she had parchment and quill to take notes.
"Your house will dissolve after you've completed your education – we will forgo a name, colors, and mascot. The entrance to your house is through the tapestry of Lord and Lady Mormont behind the grand staircase; we'll affix a password if it becomes necessary."
Hermione's hand shot up.
"Yes, Ms. Granger?" Slughorn asked with a pained look.
"While I fully support that our focus should be on learning-" someone snickered and Hermione ignored them.
"I think it would inspire camaraderie among us to have colors, mascot, and name."
"This is a temporary house, Ms. Granger. If you students wish to make those decisions amongst yourselves that would be fine," the headmistress curtly replied.
"Now, follow me and I'll show you to your rooms. Your belongings are waiting for you."
The next morning, Hermione was not welcomed by the students of the Fifth House and she found herself at the end breakfast table, across from Draco Malfoy. He glanced up at her a few times but said nothing and Hermione kept her attention on her plate.
The night before had been a disaster. Hermione had attempted to facilitate reasonable discussion and decisions on symbols for their unique house. However, the other students didn't take her seriously and she ended up with ridiculous suggestions and debate that lasted longer than her patience. Defeated, she went to bed. Overnight, Hermione had become something of a joke; The Boy Who Lived was no longer around to keep order and normalize her brilliance.
Hermione Granger realized that if it hadn't been for Harry and Ron, she would not have had many friends. As she nibbled her toast, she wondered if Ginny and Luna were friendly to her by association. She caught Draco glancing at her, again.
"Black on black and the Hogwarts' 'H,'" he said and then got up and walked away.
Hermione stared after him. It was perfect. She'd spell-up some patches and leave them in the common room. Maybe knit some scarves and hats, too…
The rest of the Hogwarts students wouldn't arrive for hours. Hermione intended to spend her day reading her new textbooks and settling into her room; however, the number of girls giggling and gossiping was too much for her. She decided to claim a quiet chair in the common area.
Historically, the spots farthest from the fireplace were the most frequently empty and Hermione discovered that fact still to be true. Others had taken over the warmest places. Hermione happily sank into a squishy chair with her book, far from the fire. She was about to crack it open when she spotted another fan of the unpopular seating in one across from her; Draco. Hermione might have attempted a conversation about his suggestion for Fifth House colors and symbol, but he was working very hard to ignore her, his nose in a book. Swallowing a grin, Hermione delved into 'Unraveling Alchemy.'
At the Welcoming Feast, Hermione enjoyed a happy reunion with Ginny Weasley and Luna Lovegood. She hadn't seen much of them over the summer; once Hermione and Ron had split up, Hermione had been politely excluded from Weasley family activities. It didn't matter that their split had been mutually amicable.
Hermione wondered if anyone else appreciated the irony as Draco sat down across from her. It seemed they would share ostracism in the Fifth House. That suited Hermione, fine; she had no interest in wasting her time with the narrow-minded.
Headmistress McGonagall welcomed everyone and explained the temporary Fifth House returning students. New students were sorted; Hermione was surprisingly uninterested in them. They were few in number and looked smaller than she thought they ought.
Hermoine rejoined Ginny and Luna and they lingered in the corridors to catch up. Hermione told them about her immediate unpopularity. Ginny sympathized but Luna commented dreamily on Hermione sharing exile with Draco. Not knowing how to reply, which happened in conversations with Luna, Hermione changed the subject.
It was late when the witches parted for bed. Hermione's step was lighter. She chuckled to herself for entertaining the idea that the two were friends with her because of her association with Harry and Ron. Hermione pushed aside the tapestry entrance to the Fifth House but froze at the sound of a male groan. Blinking in the dimly lit common area, Hermione's gaze finally found the source; a witch was kneeling before Neville, performing fellatio. Stunned, Hermione spun on her heel and smacked right into someone about to enter.
Blushing furiously, Hermione excused herself and looked up to find none other than Draco Malfoy. She glanced heavenward. Why was it always him?
"I wouldn't go in there," she warned.
Draco lifted a brow at her; Hermione felt her cheeks fill with deeper color. She saw that her reaction was amusing him and attempted to explain.
"There's a couple in there… You know," she emphasized.
"Shagging?" Draco drawled, obviously entertained by Hermione's discomfort.
"Er, something like that," she answered, gaze skittering away from Draco's face. He stared at her as if she was gushing secrets.
"Surely that's nothing new to you," he hedged.
Hermione didn't bother to reply but she narrowed her eyes at him. He broke into a grin as if he'd just solved a puzzle.
"Night," he said and stepped past the tapestry.
Hermione fretted and paced for thirty minutes before peeking around the hanging, once more. There didn't appear to be movement so she hurried as silently and quickly as she could for the girls' dormitory.
In the morning, Hermione paused only a moment before taking her customary seat at the end of the house tables. Draco glanced up at her and Hermione experienced a dart of something unexpected at meeting his grey eyes: attraction.
"Morning," he offered.
Hermione responded with a hushed greeting that made Draco give her a second glance.
"Quite a show last night," he announced conversationally.
Hermione felt her cheeks flush, once more. She was not accustomed to speaking about matters between the sexes – particularly with a member of the opposite.
"Quite," she agreed in a low tone.
Draco leaned back on the bench, giving Hermione a smug grin. She slowly filled her plate, feeling his gaze all the while.
"You're staring," she finally hissed.
Draco lazily lifted his shoulder in a partial shrug, still considering Hermione but with less intensity.
Hermione was not unaffected; she grew self-conscious and could not eat. With a last suspicious glance at Draco, she shoved her plate aside and got up, exiting the Great Hall. In her haste, she almost knocked over Professor Flitwick. A spell summoned back his pile of parchment.
"Your class schedule, Ms. Granger," he chirruped, holding out a piece of parchment.
"Thank you, Professor. So sorry for that," she offered lamely.
"Are you alright?" he asked, peering at her over his glasses.
"I'm fine," she affirmed. She took herself towards the house at a more sedate pace.
"You don't hate me, do you?"
Hermoine jumped a mile. She'd been picking up the book for her first class from her trunk when the male voice hailed her.
Yes, it was Draco. He stood in the doorway to the girls' dormitory.
Hermione shot him a sharp glance as she retrieved her book.
"What do you want?"
"Let's come back to that, later," he answered, looking pleased with himself.
"So, do you?"
"Do I what?"
"Hate me," Draco patiently repeated, effectively blocking her exit.
Hermione stared at him, trying to figure out his angle but reasoned that unless she answered, she'd be late for class.
"I don't waste my energy hating anyone, Malfoy," she said, moving close.
"And you?"
He grinned at her.
"I don't care about anyone enough to hate them."
Hermione huffed as if she wanted to laugh but suspected he was telling the truth.
"No more 'death to Mudbloods?'"
"I never said those words," he snapped, spinning away and marching through the tapestry over the door.
"There is something wrong with him…" Hermione muttered reviewing his behavior on the way to class.