"Ahem." Dumbledore cleared his throat. "May I have your attention please."
In the Great Hall, every student looked up. The sorting had already been finished and the feast had begun. "This year, we have a very special circumstance. There will be a transfer student joining us for the rest of her school years. She is a 6th year, and I expect all of you students to treat her respectfully."
"That puts her in our year!" Ron exclaimed. "I hope she's going to be with us?"
"Hermione D." The sorting hat called as she made her way down the dining hall. She had sleek, wavy brunette hair, a pale complexion, piercing green eyes, slimly built, and was definitely someone you call beautiful.
"Wow, now I'm with you on that one Ron. She better be in Gryffindor." Harry whispered as he got a whiff of her French vanilla perfume.
"Oh come on guys, she's not even part veela!" Ginny rolled her eyes.
"Shush, I want to hear her house!" Ron hissed .
Hmmm. Coming for Durmstrang huh? Definitely not a Hufflepuff. You're a tough one, I see glimmers of Gryffindor… but… at heart you're a …. "SLYTHERIN"
Hermione beamed and sauntered over to the Slytherin table and was immediately welcomed.
"Oh come on!" Ron groaned.
"That doesn't mean you can't talk to her." Ginny shrugged.
"Um, conversing with snakes is not going to go well for us." Harry sighed.
Meanwhile, Hermione was happily chatting away with her new house.
"See, you had nothing to worry." Pansy laughed. "There was no way that you'd end up anywhere but here."
"God forbid, my dad would have my head if I ended up anywhere else!" Hermione shuddered.
"Well, I've missed you. I wait too long to spend summers and holidays with you." Draco pouted and Hermione giggled.
"You could've transferred to Durmstrang you know, but your mother clearly wouldn't be happy."
"Whatever, you guys can get a room and catch up later." Blaise rolled his eyes. "Look, the schedules are coming."
"Aw man, double potions with Slytherins in the morning! Ugh, what a way to start the day!" Harry groaned.
"Hey, that means we get to see the new girl." Ron grinned.
"Yeah, who is in the snake pit."
"Maybe she isn't that bad!"
"Do you hear yourself? All Slytherins are bad!"
"Merlin wasn't." Ginny jutted in and Harry slouched in defeat.
"So this is our common room." Pansy started. "How do you like it?"
"I can get used to it." Hermione shrugged. "It does remind me a little of Durmstrang."
"Right, anyways, our dorms are this way. Slytherins are special, as in we all have a room to ourselves instead of sharing." She smirked and flounced down the hall. "Don't forget potions in the morning tomorrow, but Snape favors us, as you already know."
Just then, the fireplace spat out an envelope.
Hello Dear,
We are hoping that you are finding the transition well. You should have no problems fitting in and I'm sure your friends will make you feel welcomed. We do hope that you haven't forgotten about your assigned task, and that it shall be carried out swiftly and successfully. Of course, we are aware that the post is currently empty – No need to be confused, keep your eyes and ears open for any new changes. Please throw this letter back into the fire so we know you've read it.
Regards,
Your proud parents.
Hermione let the flames eat the piece of parchment and sighed. This will be easy anyways. Half of this school is filled with righteous idiots.
"This way to the classroom." Astoria giggled as Hermione was about to head the opposite way.
"Oh, oops." She blushed a little at her mistake. "Heads-up, it's with the Gryffindorks."
"Hmm, that must be a Weasley." Hermione hissed as she spotted the red head and Astoria nodded.
"Hello. I'm Hermione, as you've probably already heard. Nice to meet you." She stuck out her hand and the red-head, although taken by surprise, automatically grabbed it.
"Ron Weasley, nice to meet you too!"
"Hey, back off of him girl."
"No need to fret Harry, she was just introducing herself." But Harry still glared at her.
"Harry? Must be the famous Potter then. A pleasure to finally meet you." She gave a childish laugh.
"And you are Hermione…"
"I do prefer you call me by my first name. It's much friendlier and I'm not one for formalities." She shrugged, leaving both boys dumbfounded.
Potions passed quickly, with a couple of explosions here and there. Hermione, no surprise, was a natural and being partnered with Draco, they easily and perfectly executed their potion.
"So what are you scheming here?" He whispered behind her as they filed out the classroom.
"Why do you think I'm always up to something? Can't I just make new friends?" She asked innocently but the wickedness stayed in her eyes.
"With Weasel and Potterhead? That's a new low."
"Oh you know me, always trying to be that all inclusive girl." She smirked.
"Bloody hell. Watch where you're going Weasel!"
"I could say the same to you ferret." Ron glared but then softened a little when he saw Hermione.
"Oh, I do believe we've met prior to class." Hermione gave an all too cheery smile. "And who is this?" She asked, eyeing a lanky boy.
"Ne-neville.."
"Ah, Mr. Longbottom. Why, a group full of legends here aren't we." She smiled sweetly.
"Lions in the snake pit I see." Blaise drawled as he stepped out the classroom.
"Finally, one would've thought you've gotten lost at the door." Draco rolled his eyes. "Any later and I'd be catching Weasley freckles." All three of them sauntered off to their next class, leaving the boys in their place.
"I can't believe she has the nerve to talk to us!" Harry grumbled.
"Lighten up, she was actually being nice."
"That means she's scheming, Ron."
"I think she's too new of a student to be scheming."
"I think she knows more than she lets on…." Neville whispered nervously.
"Ok, logically speaking, who doesn't know who Harry is? And Neville, your parents were famous aurors, anyone who seems as smart as she is would know. And besides, she… actually didn't know who I was…" Ron looked down as he said the last part.
"Don't you find it funny that she didn't tell us her last name?" Harry asked.
"Well, maybe she didn't want us to address her that way." Ron suggested.
"Did the sorting hat even say her last name? I can't remember, I only know it starts with a D… Anyways, I think she's a red flag."
"Harry, you can't be serious. You think everyone is suspicious!"
"So, you want to tell me why you are actually befriending those nut-heads?"
"Same reason why you are trying to fix that cabinet."
"How did you-"
"Doesn't matter. Can we talk about this stuff later and cuddle in peace?"
"Oh, I don't think so." He let out a low growl and pushed her onto the bed. "I think we've been apart for a little too long." He trailed kisses along her jawline before meeting her lips, holding her hands above her head.
"Mmm… I think you've lost your game." Hermione smirked but then let out a soft moan as he nibbled her earlobe.
"Really?" He whispered into her ear with a hint of mischievousness in his voice.