CHAPTER 1:

SOMETHING NEW

The train pulled in, people scattering off and heading up the steps to the huge castle. The first years took their natural trip with Hagrid, they all piled into boats and glided across the night water. While they all packed into the great hall, Dumbledore entered with a rather sad look on his face. Harry looked at him in wonderment; he wanted to ask what was wrong. He just sat there, hoping everything was alright, he didn't want to disturb him after all.

Hermione sat to his side and Ron sat across from him. They talked about their summers and Harry complained, as usual, about how horrific the Dursley's were. They were in deep conversation when they hear a slight ting, Dumbledore hit the side of his glass, and everyone looked at the doors that entered the great hall. Watching closely, the doors opened with a creak and the first years slid in.

"They look horrified." Hermione pointed out with a slight laugh, watching these kids try and hid in their robes.

Harry and Ron nodded in agreement and turned their heads the other way. They watched closely as the new students were sorted into houses. A young girl, who was just sorted in to Gryffindor, sat on the bench next to Ron. She had long blond hair and bright blue eyes that sparkled when she blinked.

"Hello." Ron said as she took a seat. She smiled lightly and returned to looking at her empty plate with a sigh.

"Hi." She sighed again and she looked to face Harry and Hermione. Her bright blue eyes gazed at the scar on Harry's head. "You're Harry Potter." She smiled lightly.

"Yeah." He looked at her a bit confused and covered his scar with embarrassment. She smiled.

"Then that means you're Hermione Granger." She pointed and Hermione nodded. She looked at Ron "And you're Ronald Weasley." She smiled.

"Yes but" Ron started and then looked at the girl "How did you know our names?" Ron asked a little confused.

"Well I'm…" She stopped as she was interrupted by Dumbledore.

She shrugged and looked up at the man. She blinked a few times as she waited for him to speak. Dumbledore stood up with a slight smile on his face and cast his hands into the air to have everyone quiet down.

"Welcome…" he started with a smile and set his hands on his sides. "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts and welcome to those that are new." He smiled. "This year we have a changed in plan. We are combining the houses but only with a few students in sixth year." Everyone gasped.

"I hope I don't have to be with Mr. Ferret man." Ron joked; remembering when Moody turned Draco into a ferret. Dumbledore continued on with his speech.

"This year the sixth year students will pick a girl and a boy from each house. These people with proceed to the dungeons right after dinner. I will then explain everything there." He smiled as people began a conversation on who was going to go. "They must be chosen by the house prefects, and if the house agrees to it then a prefect may be one of the chosen people."

"Great…" Ron said in a low sarcastic voice. He rolled his eyes and sighed wondering who he would pick.

"One more thing," Dumbledore started "I want Hermione Granger to be one of the chosen people for Gryffindor." He winked at her as her face turned a mere pink. Dumbledore raised his glass and spoken in a happy voice "Now, let's being the feast!." He smiled as the food suddenly appeared from the table tops.

The new students let out a 'woah' sound; they had never seen anything like this before. They all started digging in but Hermione looked at her lap. She didn't touch anything, just stared at her hands placed on her lap as she twiddled her thumbs. Harry looked over with a small concerned look.

"What's wrong?" he wondered as he grasp his goblet that was now full of Pumpkin juice. Hermione turned to him.

"Why does Dumbledore want me to be the chosen girl for Gryffindor so badly?" she wondered and Harry looked down to see her hands shaking.

"Why are you so worried? I bet it's nothing." He laughed as he placed a hand on her shoulder. "Calm down, and eat something." He smiled lightly.

"I guess your right." She smiled and Harry removed his hand slowly. She smiled and looked around and then looked at Ron "Ron, we are suppose to pick the other one right?" she wondered.

"Yeah" He said as she was stuffing his face with a fresh batch of chicken wings.

"Maybe we should choose Harry." She smiled and Harry began chocking on a cookie.

He brought his hands to his chest and hit him self hardly. A piece of chocolate cookie flew from his mouth and landed in Ron's goblet of pumpkin juice. He took a sip of his own and took a deep breath and looked at Hermione.

"What?" He asked, panting hardly. Hermione laughed as she watched Ron drink for his goblet, not know Harry's half digested cookie was in it. Harry was still panting.

"I want you to help me out in this thing." She smiled lightly and sort of excited as she watched Ron in disgust.

"Ok, I'll agree to have him be the boy." Ron said as he kept drinking his pumpkin juice.

"YAY!" Hermione shrieked and waited for Dumbledore to announce who else was chosen.

When dinner was over Dumbledore stood to make his last announcement before they could leave the great hall. Hermione was still a little nervous and Harry felt overly embarrassed that Hermione would need him there with her, he was curious to know why it had to be him.

"Attention!" Dumbledore smiled and everyone got silent and looked around. "Overhearing, I've been informed that from the Gryffindor house the students will be Miss. Hermione Granger, and Mr. Harry Potter. For Hufflepuff: Mr. Justin Flinch–flechly and Miss. Susan Bones. From Ravernclaw: Miss Padma Patil, and Mr. Terry Boot. From Slytherin: Miss. Pansy Parkinson and Mr. Draco Malfoy." He smiled as those people stood and lined in front of the head table. "Meet me in the dungeons." He winked and they started to leave, picking up their stuff on the way.

People watched snickering at the fact that Draco had to be with Hermione. Draco walked out with an evil smirk on his face as Harry was glaring at him. Once they all were gone and out of sight Dumbledore spoke again.

"Have a nice year and see you at breakfast!" he smiled happily as people removed from their seats. Dumbledore followed the eight students down to the dungeons where they sat, eagerly waiting for his arrival.

"Professor, what exactly are we doing?" Hermione asked as Draco glared fiercely at her.

"I'll explain Miss. Granger, but for now I just need you to listen." He spoke and gave her a wink and she smiled and took a seat on a bench in the corner.

"I brought you here because we are trying something new." He smiled and he looked at each one with a wink. "We are trying a new program called the Interaction Course. Also know as TIC." He laughed and returned to explaining. "You all will be joined into one common room and you will have separate bedrooms. Your task is to find fun activities the houses can compete in that has nothing to do with Quiddich, I know that would be an option." He spoke with a chuckle and then stood there silently.

"I have a question Professor." Hermione said and Dumbledore nodded, waiting for her question. "Why did you want me to be involved in this?" she wondered, tucking a lock of her thick hair behind her ear.

"Maybe cause he's gonna kill you in your sleep, that is if I don't get there first." Draco spoke under his breath. Too quietly that no one put Pansy heard; she let out a shriek of laughter.

"Because Miss. Granger, I need you to set things right if things get out of hand." He smiled and she gave him a confused look. "See, if things get out of hand then the smartest student in the school would be able to take care of it." He winked at her as she blushed and Draco's mouth fell open in amazement.

"It's not that amazing." Pansy said, rolling her eyes as she pushed Draco's jaw to his upper layer of teeth. She giggled and Hermione turned around with a cold glare.

They all entered their new room. It had light blue colored walls with a black rug. Hermione walked in as she looked up and saw a chandelier, with magnificent layers of diamonds and jewels. She gasped at the beauty and turned her head to eight doors. They were separated in sections of two.

Above two doors it was labeled "Slytherin" on the next set it was labeled "Ravenclaw" and then "Hufflepuff." But what really caught Hermione's eyes were on the last set of two doors that stood next to each other. Above them a label saying "Gryffindor" and the set of doors were right next to Slytherin. She rolled her eyes as she walked to one. In gold letters in said "Hermione Granger – Prefect." And on the other is said "Harry Potter."

"Harry… look!" Hermione said, pointing at the doors. Harry walked over with a nod and at the same time they opened their doors. Hermione's walls were a light pink color with a white rug. Harry's room was a darkish Orange and a silver rug.

Hermione walked into hers and set her books on her bed. She walked around, looking and examining everything. She had a balcony that was nicely crafted and her attention was dragged to a bright purple gem that was laid, and attached to the wall. She took her hand and placed it on the gem lightly, to feel it. She blinked as it vibrated beneath her fingers and soon part of her wall opened and there she saw Harry sitting at the edge of his bed, looking into his picture book.

"Hey." He said lightly as her looked at where she came from. "How did you do that?" he wondered, setting his book on his bed and walking over to her.

"This gem." She said, turning to the wall to show him. "All I did was set my hand on it and-" she did it again and the wall closed and then reopened as she set her hand on it again. "Do you think Dumbledore knew about this?" she asked.

"Probably, considering it's quite annoying that he knows almost everything." Harry laughed and looked over his shoulder.

On the other side of Hermione's wall, another gem sat, but this time it was black. She didn't place her hand on it and walked out her normal door and then back in. She looked around it and saw a tiny switch and flipped it to the opposite side "hopefully that locks it" she mumbled.

"Why do you want it locked?" Harry asked with a confused look, like always.

"Because, it leads to Malfoy's room." She sneered at the door.

Author's Note:

First chapter so not that great but I hope you enjoy anyways! And about the mysterious girl in the chapter (The blond haired girl from the beginning) You'll learn about her later… so I didn't forget ;)

Airalynn