CHAPTER 1 – House Unity
8th Year Hogwarts, Post war.
Steam trains just didn't seem to do it any more for Hermione. Neither did the abundance of rolling green hills, and open blue skies in the distance as she drifted past. In fact, nothing really did it for Hermione anymore.
Nostalgia flushed through Hermione's veins as she gazed around the familiar train carriage. Her two best friends sat across from her, just like they did that first day on her journey to Hogwarts. Although the situation held a familiarity that warmed her bones, it held a somber darkness that weighed down on her. They had all seen too much to be the same kids they were that legendary first day.
"Class hasn't even started and you're planning your study regime." Ron joked.
A small smile was all he received back from Hermione, which was all she managed to muster at the thought of laughing.
"I don't even know how you convinced us to come back, Hermione. Any Auror agency would have hired us. I mean, we are the infamous-"
"Oh, the infamous trio? You need more than status to become an Auror, Ron. Do you even know how to brew half the potions we learnt in 6th year?" Hermione scoffed.
Ron's face flushed a beetroot red, and he looked away.
Most of their conversations seemed to follow that path, nowadays. Hermione just didn't understand Ron's humor, nor did Ron understand her severity. They had grown apart, in more ways than one.
But Hermione just couldn't push herself to end things with him, because that would change things way too much. What would their friendship be, then? Would she lose Harry, as well?
With a deep sigh, she turned her head and gazed out the window. Maybe she was better off alone, she thought.
Cold. Cold was all she felt. And the grimy feel of someone's hand latch on to her arm. She whipped her head around, and stared right at a death eater's mask. Or was it? It was almost like a blank face, but Hermione could feel it staring at her, penetrating her mind.
She tried to run, but her feet didn't move. Run, she urged herself. Run!
She broke away from the death eater's grip, and ran. She saw that she was near Hagrid's shack, and the war was still waging at Hogwarts. Without thinking, her feet carried her towards the Forbidden Forest.
The world around her was a midnight blue blur, as she fled towards the wall of trees in front of her. She finally broke through, and all of a sudden, things were eerily quiet. And still.
Nothing seemed to be moving in the forest, the trees didn't sway, nor was there the noise of various bugs scuttling. Hermione turned around.
The face was there again, sitting atop a cloaked body, as well as an army of the same creatures.
Hermione let out a piercing scream. Everything went black
"'Mione, wake up! Oh bloody hell, may as well just leave her on the stupid train." Hermione heard a voice call to her. Was it the death eaters?
She opened her eyes, and Ron and Harry were gazing down at her. In her frightened haze, she fumbled to retrieve her bag and hurry of the train, Harry and Ron in tow.
"Hermione, what on Earth has gotten into you?" Harry blurted, unsure of Hermione's sudden mood swings. Merlin, Hermione was even unsure of herself at this point in time.
She slowed down and sighed. "I don't know, I just had awful dreams."
Ron placed a gentle hand on her waist, and she flinched away. She didn't like it when men touched her, not since… not since the war.
Harry studied Hermione carefully. "You've been having them for a while, 'Mione. Maybe you should go to the hospital wing?" He suggested kindly.
Hermione shook her head violently. "No, I'll be fine. We all suffered in that war, Harry. Of course we'll all have a few battle wounds, but they'll heal. C'mon, we'll miss the sorting feast."
"I'm sure after a few classes our Hermione will be back to her bossy, raging, study freak!" Ron chuckled.
Although the comment was slightly insulting, Hermione couldn't help the smile that spread across her face. They truly were here best friends.
The great hall was definitely the most extravagant and magnificent place Hermione had ever laid her eyes on. Words couldn't quite describe the feeling that one felt when taking in the gorgeous chandeliers, charmed roofing and the elaborate feast laid on the four grand – no wait, five grand tables.
"Guys, why are there five tables? Usually there's only four…" Hermione voiced, to no one in particular.
As they sat at the Gryffindor table, Headmistress McGonagall rose to the podium, about to start the sorting speech.
"A horrendous year has passed, and the damage done to you students, will never be repaired, even though the castle has been. Bravery, honor, courage and hope were all displayed by the students at this school, and for that I am most proud. As well as forgiveness, to those who took a little longer to choose the correct side." She glanced over at the Slytherin table, where Draco Malfoy, Blaise Zabini and several other surviving Slytherins were seated. Hermione groaned internally.
"But nonetheless, the world must go on. And we must contemplate what it is that went wrong in the wizarding world, and my belief is that disunity can only cause strife, and at this point in time, that we must avoid. So now, we shall encourage house unity."
"What is this old loony going on about?" Ron whispered. Hermione shushed him, and listened harder.
"To my students returning for the optional 8th year at Hogwarts, I ask you to stand, and make your way to the fifth table to your right. This will be your new house, and you will demonstrate to the rest of the school the importance of working together and accepting your differences, as you have learnt in the war. You will be attending the normal 7th year classes, but will have a separate dormitory and common room. Thank you."
All of the tables broke out into a noisy whisper. Or, Hermione thought, chaos.
"I am not sharing a table with those gits from Slytherin. They can't actually expect this can they?" Ron huffed, turning red.
Hermione stood up rashly. "Ronald Weasley, we all fought in a war together, we can damn share a common room with them. Now, are you going to be a brat or get off your arse like everyone else?"
Ron was shocked at Hermione's language, and gave a nervous chuckle. She smiled at him. He took that as an invitation to place a kiss on her cheek, and head off to their new table.
Sitting with the rest of the houses felt odd, but wasn't hard to be accustomed to. The sorting finished and the feasting begun, and the great hall was once again alive with chatter and laughter. Hermione gazed down the new table.
Luna sat next to Neville, and she seemed aloof and happy, like always. Neville seemed happy that a girl was finally speaking to him, and Hermione smiled. It was a sweet thing, and Neville deserved it.
Seamus and Dean were laughing as usual, but with a heavy look in their eyes. Like everyone else, they'd seen too much.
She kept looking at her peers, happy to see them all. Then there were the Slytherins.
Pansy Parkinson sat with her band of Slytherin girls, Daphne Greengrass and Millicent Bullstrode. They were gorgeous, but they were as mean as they were pretty.
She couldn't help but land her eyes on Draco. He still had the silver blond hair that glowed and the pale skin to match, but his grey eyes seemed different. Dark circles shadowed them, almost like Hermione's. Maybe he was losing sleep as well.
He met her gaze, and his face hardened quickly, then fastened into a smirk. Did seeing her really irritate him that much?
"See something you like, Granger?" He taunted.
She scowled at him, turning away. She heard the Daphne girl mutter something, but all Hermione heard was 'mudblood'. This made her stiffen.
She glanced back at Draco, hoping in some sick sense that he'd be annoyed at that remark. He did, after all, watch his crazed aunt burn that word into her arm, and he seemed bothered by it then. But Hermione was disappointed to see him laugh at Daphne, and she flicked her beautiful chestnut locks over her shoulder, emerald eyes blazing.
"Just ignore them Hermione, they're childish." Harry comforted, but it was to no avail.
She just hated that stupid word! She was sick of feeling dirty, feeling like filth. That stupid snatcher sure made her feel that way at the Malfoy Manor, when he… Oh just stop thinking about it!
Hermione was staring at her full plate of dinner, unable to finish it, when the Headmistress stood at the podium once again.
"Now, for something I'm sure all of you have been waiting to hear… The announcement of Head Boy and Head Girl!" The hall erupted in whispers.
"Head Boy this year is from Gryffindor house… Ronald Billius Weasley!" Now that was a shock.
Ron flamed red, and walked up to the podium, where McGonagall charmed a badge on Ron's robe, then returned to his seat.
"Congratulations Ron, mate who would have thought!" Harry laughed, clearly happy to see his friend in the spotlight for once.
"And now Head Girl… This year she is from Slytherin House… Pansy Parkinson!"
Hermione's jaw felt like it hit the floor. Pansy? She was silly to have assumed she wouldn't have gotten it but… wasn't there anyone else?
Pansy strutted up to the podium, long curls of ebony hair trailing behind her. She twirled around after her robe enchantment, and dazzled everyone with a brilliant smile. She then waltzed back to her seat, throwing a catty glare at Hermione. She was stunning, and even Ron's eyes trailed her figure as she walked.
Hermione felt pained at this. Was she not good enough? Was her dull brown hair not enough to satisfy Ron? Did her muddy brown eyes not twinkle in the light?
With a deep sigh, she returned to her untouched dinner.
The night was fairly uneventful, and she left dinner early to see her new common room and dormitory in the east wing, without anyone else bothering her.
She was informed that the entrance was through a portrait of the Forbidden Forest, which she found with ease.
This confused her, though. How was she supposed to give a password to… trees?
She took a breath. "Albus Dumbledore."
The portrait evaporated and there was suddenly a gaping whole in the wall, and Hermione stepped through it, the wall closing inn behind her. She didn't like that, but she guessed she'd have to get used to it.
The common room was lovely, she had to admit. There were the banners from all of the houses decorating the room, with plush grey couches taking up the centre of the room, facing a large, elaborate fireplace. There were tables to study on and a rather large bookshelf, where Hermione made a mental note
of exploring later on. There was a shared male bathroom as well as a female, and staircases leading up to the gender oriented dormitories. It was, by all means, a gorgeous living space.
"I thought I'd be alone here." A voice startled Hermione, and she glanced to where it came from - the stairs leading to the boys' dormitory.
Draco Malfoy. "I had thought you were enjoying your dinner with your band of followers." She responded drily. She mad her way to the bookshelf.
"Would have been much better if we didn't have to share a table with some pathetic Gryffindors. Hence why I decided to explore my new living quarters. Quite drab, don't you agree?" He sneered. His eyes ran over the simple yet elegant decorations, as if they were beneath him.
"Well it might not be your luxurious manor, but it's comforting. Maybe you could learn something with all these house unity ideals being taught." She scoffed.
Draco's already unpleasant facial expression contorted into one of malice. "I did think you rather enjoyed the manor, from what I remember. My aunt Bellatrix can be quite hospitable."
Hermione's breath caught in her throat. That foul, loathsome-
She couldn't help the tear that trickled down her cheek. Draco looked surprised, as if he didn't expect that reaction, but quickly hardened. He snickered nastily under his breath.
She stood up in a huff, and stormed up the stairs straight to her bedroom. She didn't bother taking in the scenery of her new bedroom, instead she murmured a swift enchantment that carried her off to an easy, dreamless sleep.
Or so she'd hoped.
Thank you for reading the first chapter! Please review, it's what motivates me and helps me know what you want/don't want in the story! Hope you enjoyed xxx
