Author's note: Hi there. Thanks for reading. Harry Potter belongs to J.K Rowling, blah blah blah. Don't sue. You've all heard it before. I hope you enjoy my first chapter of my first fanfic. Please review getting feedback would make my day! :)
-Jilly
Chapter 1
A Deal with a Slytherin
Hermione Granger had devoted seven years to the greater good. From the moment she befriended Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley, her life had been one dangerous adventure after the next in order to rid the world of a dark wizard. She had suffered through countless losses, but Hermione knew that if given the choice she would not change a thing.
Despite the hardships she suffered, Hermione treasured every one of the years she had spent at Hogwarts, because during those years she had learned more about friendships, love, and destiny than anyone else.
As she sat at the gryffindor table in the Great Hall and watched the last sorting ceremony she would ever see, Hermione waved a silent goodbye to her past and welcomed her future. She planned to spend her final year alongside friends who loved her, without the impending threats of loss, prejudice, and hatred. She would embrace the year and finally allow herself to just float.
She glanced sideways at her friends. They were sitting beside her, and were engaged in a conversation about the upcoming quidditch season, but Hermione was not really listening. Harry smiled, and his wire-rimmed glasses caught the light as he shifted in his seat in order to hear Ron better. The two continued on with their easy conversation and Hermione could not remember a moment where she had felt happier.
Her attention was diverted as Headmistress McGonagall rose to address the students. She quickly nudged Harry and Ron who stopped their talking and rested their gazes on the teacher's table.
"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." McGonagall's voice resounded throughout the expansive room. "First and foremost I would like to introduce our esteemed Heads of the student body, Neville Longbottom and Luna Lovegood."
There was scattered applause from every house table except from slytherin. A few students glanced quizzically at Hermione, but she just smiled good-naturedly. Many had expected Hermione to be Head Girl, and although she had been offered the position, she had turned it down because she did not desire to increase her workload during her final year.
McGonagall gave a tight smile before her face turned grave. "If I may have your attention once more, I have some less than desirable business to explain." A sudden hush fell over the students as she continued. "Now that the war has finished and Voldemort has been eradicated, we have the chance to repair old wounds. You are the defining generation of Hogwarts, and it is of the utmost importance that you put aside differences for the sake of future students. That being said, we must take drastic measures in order to ensure unity between the houses."
The students began to shift uncomfortably in their seats as the entirety of the headmistress's speech dawned on them. A few began to shoot nasty looks in the direction of the slytherins.
"That is why I have decided that it is necessary to move seventh year students to different houses."
An uproar broke out as the students began shouting about the unfairness of the situation and Hermione's heart sank. Mcgonagall had specified seventh year students. That could not mean Harry, Ron or her, could it? Surely, the headmistress understood how important gryffindor was to the golden trio.
McGonagall's icy glare immediately silenced the students. She pulled out a piece of parchment from her robes. "I have compiled a list of four students who will be trading houses. If you would all be silent, I could begin reading them and this nasty business could come to an end much sooner." The Great Hall was filled with a tangible quiet. "Very well then, I will continue." She adjusted her glasses so that they rested more comfortably on the bridge of her nose. "The first transfer is our Head Girl, Luna Lovegood, of ravenclaw and she will be switched to gryffindor house."
Luna did not seem saddened by the new arrangement and skipped from the ravenclaw table to a vacant seat beside Neville at the gryffindor table. Her Dirigible Plum earrings bounced as she did so.
"The next transfer is Wayne Hopkins of hufflepuff to ravenclaw house." Wayne rose from his seat with a dismayed look upon his face. He waved goodbye to his friends in Hufflepuff and made his way to a place at the ravenclaw table.
"Third, we have Astoria Greengrass of slytherin house who will be transferring to hufflepuff house."
Astoria stood from her seat at the slytherin table with a look of pure fury upon her face. She stormed over to the hufflepuff table where she glared down at a couple fourth years who shrunk away out of fear and made room for her. Hermione had to suppress a snort of laughter at Astoria's behavior.
"Finally, we have Hermione Granger of gryffindor as a transfer to slytherin."
The Great hall fell silent as Hermione stood shakily from her seat. Harry and Ron looked up at her, horrified, as she stumbled away from the gryffindor table. She sent them a forlorn, apologetic look before turning to face the slytherin table. She held her chin high as she walked, determined not to let the slytherins' cold glares brake her.
As she approached the table she could hear the word mudblood dripping from the mouths of the students in green who flanked the sides of the table she approached. Hermione took the vacant seat beside a third year slytherin who recoiled at her presence. He muttered something distasteful under his breath and his mates snickered at his snide comment.
Hermione was too distraught to listen as McGonagall finished her speech. When the feast finally appeared, Hermione felt too sickened to take a single bite. Instead, she resolved to sit in silence as everyone surrounding her ate.
After what felt like hours, the students were finally dismissed from the feast. She tried to find her way through the see of green robes that blurred her vision and searched in vain for the familiar familiar faces of Harry and Ron. She did not find them however, and was swept away as the students in green began to pour out of the Great Hall.
A moment later, the headmistress's voice rang out like a bell, "I would like all of the new transfers to immediately report to my office for further instruction." she said.
Hermione moved robotically as she exited the Great Hall and walked beside the other transfers as if in a trance. The whole situation felt surreal. She just could not seem to wrap her mind around the concept of leaving gryffindor.
After a moment of waiting restlessly in front of the gargoyle that blocked the entrance to McGonagall's office, it finally leapt aside, revealing a winding staircase that climbed upwards. when the walked into the office they found McGonagall sitting with her glasses perched upon her nose. The bespectacled women, addressed each of them sternly before launching into a quick speech about how they should behave in their new houses.
"I know switching houses must be difficult for you. I would never have done this had there been a better way to promote house unity."
McGonagall then proceeded to explain where they would find they're new dormitories and she gave each it them their passwords.
"You will sit with your houses at the Great Hall. You will not spend time with your old houses. You will sleep in your new dormitories and take classes with your new classmates. You will earn points for your new houses and cheer for their quidditch team. You will wear the colors of your new house. Your new school robes have already been placed in your dormitories."
The students opened their mouths to protest, but the headmistress waved a dismissive hand. "I'm sorry it had to be this way. Now please go to your new dormitories."
A small tumult began in the office as the students became hysterical. The full weight of the situation had finally dawned on them. They were no longer part of their old houses. They were not aloud to spend time with their old friends. Hermione could no longer call herself a gryffindor. The headmistress finally subdued them with a glare. She shoved each of them out of her office and down the stairs.
After one last glance at her forlorn classmates, Hermione stumbled down a couple flights of magical stairs whilst remembering to skip over the occasional trick step. She soon found herself in the massive labyrinth beneath Hogwarts that was the dungeons. It was dark and dreary as she walked. Her way was lit only by the occasional torch, its fire licking the stone high stone walls that enclosed the hallways. She repeated the directions McGonagall had given her like a mantra. "Turn right, turn left, right, right, then left again."
It took her awhile to find her destination but eventually, she arrived in front of the entrance to the slytherin common room. A large portrait of a rather mean looking man stared down his cruel nose at her.
"Leave mudblood. Your presence in dirtying the air around my canvas."
Hermione narrowed her eyes at him. "Is that so? Well I'm awfully sorry, but it appears that you will have to get used to it, as I will be spending a great deal of time down here."
"I hardly believe that to be so. Surely the slytherins will tire of your sinfully filthy self and remove you as soon as they discover the worthless mudblood you are lurking outside their dormitories."
"You lot really need to come up with better insults. It's a pity the majority of your house lacks the brains to do so. 'Mudblood' is getting a tad boring." she yawned.
"Dirt! Filth! Vile little creature! Leave at once or I shall-"
"Shall what?"
"Or I shall inform the headmistress that a gryffindor is trying to sneak into the slytherin dormitories to cause mischief!" barked the painting.
"Gryffindors don't cause mischief. I believe that such childish antics are a characteristic of your house. Besides, I'm the new transfer to slytherin house. McGonagall would allow me entrance despite what the rest of your house has to say about it."
"You don't look like a slytherin."
"Are you daft? I just said I'm the new transfer. My new uniform is in the dormitories. If you would let me in I could change." huffed Hermione.
"Prove that you're part of slytherin house."
"I know the password."
The portrait's cold eyes widened. "Is that so?"
"Yes."
He smirked, "Then pray tell me what it is?"
Hermione wrinkled her nose and spit out, "Pure-blood."
The portrait frowned at her but reluctantly swung open, muttering, "I hope slytherin house chews you up and then spits you back out into the dirt where you belong."
The slytherin common room was bathed in a predictable green glow. It came from the hearth, where a fire with green flames flickered dangerously. Dark green drapes hung over windows that showed the depths of the black lake and elegant dark wood furniture with green upholstery was placed meticulously throughout the room. A few other silver finishings dotted the mantle completing the overall slytherin personality of the room. Hermione had never felt so uncomfortable and out of place as she did in that moment. It was as if everything in the room felt an inherent hatred towards her.
As her eyes scanned the furnishings she spotted a flicker of movement out of the corner of her eye. A hand, with long, pale fingers, gently swirled firewhiskey around in a glass. As the caramel colored liquid sloshed around the glass, Hermione's eyes trailed up the arm adorned in a white dress shirt and emerald cuff links. When she finally laid eyes upon the contours of the familiar face and the white blonde hair that fell messily around his eyes, she stiffened. Draco Malfoy sat on a green couch in front of the fire, whose green flames reflected in the depths of his silvery eyes.
Silently, Hermione tiptoed toward the stairs that led to the slytherin girl's dormitories. The last thing she wanted that night was a heated confrontation with Malfoy, and she would be damned if she let him verbally attack her when she was in such a vulnerable state. She crept forward slowly, all the while watching his back for any sudden movements.
A low chuckle sounded and Hermione nearly jumped out of her skin. Draco did not turn his head as he spoke. "Trying to sneak past a slytherin Granger? Surely you didn't think I would let you pass without a quick chat?"
Hermione glanced around the common room and put her hand on her wand. "Where are the other slytherins?"
"I sent them away." he drawled.
"And they just did what you told them? They left?"
She watched the back of his head as he nodded.
"Bloody lot of drones you all are."
"Language, Granger." he mocked.
"What do you want Malfoy?" Hermione bit.
"I want to make a deal."
This surprised her, and Hermione found herself drifting towards the couch he lounged upon so she could look him square in the eye.
"A deal with you?" she spat incredulously as she watched him swallow the rest of his firewhiskey.
"Yes." he sneered, enjoying her discomfort.
"Why would I ever want to make a deal with a bloody prat like you Malfoy?"
His cool eyes shot up to meet her scarlet brown ones. A slow smirk stretched across his face. "I happen to know that you have found yourself living in your worst nightmare." he stroked the rim of his empty glass with index finger.
"Worst nightmare? Ha! I can put up with you lot anyday!"
"Maybe so," he said complacently, "if you have Potter and Weasley with you."
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying, Granger, that you are nothing without your friends."
"That is not true!" Hermione shouted indignantly.
"Oh but it is." he smirked again. "Do you really think you would fare well in a place where everyone hates your very existence? Admit it." he rose from his place on the chair so he stood mere inches from her. "You loathe feeling out of control."
Hermione was silent as she stared up at him. She hated feeling like an open book.
"Without my help, slytherin house will tear you apart."
"What is it that you propose then?" she stuttered.
"I will tell the slytherins not to mock you, trick you, or hurt you in any way,"
"They won't hurt me? Just like that?"
"Just like that."
"If?" she questioned.
"If you agree to help us in our predicament."
Of course there was a catch. "And what might that be?"
He began to pace. "After the war, we slytherins have encountered some...difficulties. The rest of Hogwarts, including the faculty, believe we are inherently evil, and whether or not that is true, it is causing problems for my house. We slytherins are well-known for our unyielding ambition, and being slighted by professors is not helping us achieve our ends in the least. I think that having one-third of the golden trio on our side will not only work as a shield against the other houses because they don't want you harmed, but that you may also be able to help us drag our names out of the mud in the eyes of the faculty." he paused, "My proposition is that you forget about your friends Potter and Weasley and make new ones here in slytherin. In exchange for your collaboration with us, I can assure you that no harm will come to your person."
"So basically, if I fully become a slytherin and ditch Harry and Ron, you won't hurt me." Hermione summarized. "That sounds like a threat."
"It absolutely is."
Hermione glared at him. Despite the smirk that graced his lips, his demeanor was cold and unyielding. If she did not agree, then her final year at Hogwarts would be hell. On the other hand, if she did, she would have to leave Harry and Ron behind with her gryffindor past. Was it worth it to sacrifice her relationships with her best friends for her own safety? Logic and books could not help her wriggle out of the predicament she now found herself in. It was an ultimatum devised by the devil himself. Out of fear and on a whim, Hermione made her decision.
"Fine." she said, "Consider me a slytherin."
Then she stormed from the common room and up the stairs to the slytherin girl's dormitories, leaving Draco Malfoy below with a most devious expression plastered onto his pale features.
Author's Note: Thanks for reading! Now click that sad looking review button to make it happy, OR THIS FANFIC WILL MAKE YOUR COMPUTER EXPLODE.
(not really) But seriously. Click it.
-Jilly