AUTHOR'S NOTE:
First: I'd just like to say that I'm expecting this story to have pretty short chapters, so please don't complain. I'm been very busy lately and hardly ever get time to write.
Second: Just realized that I sounded quite hostile, sorry about that.
Third: This idea came upon me when my English teacher was telling us about her daughter's college initiation, where the sophmores made the freshmen do all this crazy stuff. Of course, I had to wonder what it would be like if it was Potter-fied...
Fourth: J.K. Rowling owns Harry Potter.
Fifth: I still have no idea what the pairings will be for this, but hopefully by the time I finish this chapter I will. You will probably already know from looking at it when it's already been written. Lucky ducks...
Sixth: Also, the updates will likely be hectic, as I could write two chapters one day and none for a week, so I shall apologize in advance.
Seventh: Why am I even numbering these? Maybe because it's easier to read or something, not quite sure.
Eighth: On with the story!
Ninth: I Just remembered, this story will be a bit AU (Alternate Universe). Voldemort actually did die when he attacked Harry- in baby form- but don't worry. The Slytherins are still big meanies, although not Death Eaters.
Tenth: Is this the longest author's note you have ever read? Most likely, I assume. Sorry about that.
Eleventh: I am going to shut up now.
Hermione Granger was relieved, after all of that worrying about the sorting, it had been easy, almost. And now she would head off to her new dormitory to what would hopefully be a nice long sleep. She had to be nice and awake for tomorrow, as it was hard to pay attention in class if you were asleep-she had learned this from experience.
She followed the Head Girl's herd of first years that included Lavender Brown, Parvati Patil, Padma Patil, and a few other girls, too. She saw the boys and a prefect enter Gryffindor tower through a portrait of a rather large woman, assuming that they would do the same. She was wrong.
A large group of Gryffindor girls- mostly second and third years, Hermione thought- descended upon them, and they were suddenly all surrounded by a swirl of red and gold and black. There were anxious whispers and exuberant laughter everyone; it was very confusing. She felt herself and the rest of the group being herded along the halls of Hogwarts. Hermione, of course, took note of every corridor and set of stairs she saw, as it would not do to get lost on her way to class.
They were all rushed into an empty classroom; there were no desks, it was just empty space. They were instructed to sit down on the floor, while the older girls impaciently paced back and fourth throughout the room. One girl, the Head Girl, stood with a kind of magesty and leadership that was instantly recognizable. She was at the front of the room, waiting for everyone to be quiet. This had to be quick, or else a male teacher could come along and give them all detention.
The Head Girl took out her wand, flicking it in the air. A cold draft went through the room, and all was quiet, then. They all looked to her, and she said, loud and clear, "What we are about to tell you is one of the most secret secrets of this school, of the Magical World, even. If you breathe a word of this to any male or other house member, be they muggle, squib, wizard, witch, or animal, you will suffer the consequences." She sounded quite stern, and Hermione was staring at her with widen eyes, a bit frightened. What could possibly be happening?
The Head Girl cleared her throat and began again, saying, "Every Gryffindor female to ever walk the grounds of Hogwarts has had to do this, as will you. Welcome," she said with a dazzling smile, "to the official Hogwarts Gryffindor Girls Initiation!" The room suddenly erupted into whispers, but the cool wind came again and they were all silenced. The Head Girl continued, "No other house has ever been known to do this, though a few muggle schools have done variations. First, you will be split into four groups of four each, and your leaders will go on from there."
Ten minutes later, after names had been called out many times, the groups were settled. Hermione was with Parvati Patil and two girls who she did not yet know the names of. There were four older girls, two second-years and two third-years, they had told her. The older ones, one of whom was called Katie Bell, another Angelina Johnson, explained it all to them.
The Initiation was a tradition that was very, very old. The idea was that, since Gryffindors were known for their bravery, they would each have a "Master." Each Master, a second or third-year girl, would give her "Slave" a task once a day, and they were almost always told to do crazy stunts. There were rules, however. If a Task involved a professor, it would have to be one from Gryffindor. Currently the only one was a Ms. Minerva McGonagall, who was told to be stern, but had always secretly loved participating in the Initiation. No Task could alert an Un-Believer- males or other house members, as previously stated- to what was happening. No major violence, though minor was acceptable.
After a while first-years grew weary of the endless list of rules, so their Masters cut to the chase, announcing the Slave and Master pairings. Hermione was to be slave to Katie Bell, who was apparently a Chaser on their house's Quidditch team. She was a third-year, and was known for her insanely fun Taks; a few girls grinned at Hermione in anticipation. What would this poor girl have to do? There was an entire week to do this, which meant seven dares. This was sure to be interesting.
The first day had just started, and Katie got closer to Hermione, trying to decide which of her Tasks would be best suited for the girl. Katie asked, "Is there anybody so far that has appeared to be someone worthy of hatred? You seem to have a lot of wrath in you, anyone?" Hermione took mere seconds to think about it, as one memory stood out clearly against all the others. Sure, Ron Weasley and that Harry Potter had been quite irritating, but she could easily deal with them. No, there was only one person that seemed unlikeable, if not hateable.
"Draco Malfoy," blurted Hermione, narrowing her eyes at the memory of him and his mocking smirk. She had heard someone say that he was "dateable" on the train, some slutty Ravenclaw. More like hateable, thought Hermione with a wry smile in her mind. He was just so mean! "He's an arrogant...I can't say it," she confessed, "but it's a bad word."
"Just once," urged Katie, "To get it out of your system."
"He's a bloody prat, that's what he is," whispered Hermione, finding that it felt quite satisfactory.
"Your Task..." Katie mused, lightbulbs flashing on and off in her head. What to do, what to do...And then she knew. "Your Task, Hermione Granger, is to ask this boy that you hate, Draco Malfoy, to marry you." Katie grinned at her idea, she was just so creative, wasn't she! Perhaps she was better suited for Slytherin, but she was too brave for that.
"Excuse me?" asked Hermione, an arrogant lilt in her voice. "I refuse to do such a thing."
"Ah, but do you know what happens if you don't?" taunted Katie.
Hermione's eyebrows shot up, and she quivered, "What?"
"Terrible things..." replied Katie mysteriously, pleased that the girl actually believed her. No one really knew what happened if you refused a Task, death was rumored, along with curses and the such. "Now, get to work. This has to be memorable. Oh, and one more thing? I'll have to Magic-Tape it, you need to have it documented or else who knows what will happen to you."
"Okay," squeaked Hermione, clutching the book she had been holding to her chest. She turned to leave, to follow everyone else, when Katie called her name again. She stopped.
"Take this," said Katie, tossing her a cheap ring she had purchased, just for the occasion, of course. Hermione dropped it as she caught it, but swiftly stuffed it in her pocket. Sure, it wasn't the most appealing of Tasks, but she was a Gryffindor, and brave, at that. She would pass this Task with flying colors. And then a terrible thought struck her like lightning:
What if he said yes?
Twelth: Should I continue, my friends?
Thirteenth: Reviews appreciated, hint, hint.
