Undertow

Disclaimer:

The characters the places and the spells all belong to J.K.Rowling I'm just playing with them for a bit. So no-one shout at me please.

Prologue: The Sorting

Hermione looked around the Gryfindor table neither Harry nor Ron were there, they hadn't been on the train either. Fred and George had said that they'd just been right behind them when they went through to the platform.

Hermione turned her attention to the sorting she spied who must be Ginny at the very end, her flaming red hair distinctive amongst the line of first years. Another pair drew Hermione' eyes twins one with short black hair and a sneer not unlike Malfoys and what must be her sister she looked identical except for the long black hair reaching down to her waist and the look of sheer terror apparent in her eyes. Hermione smiled she remembered her sorting the fears that she wouldn't be placed or that she'd fail.

The hat finished it's song and the sorting began she listened with half an ear to the proceedings, she was only interested where Ginny ended up and it was a sure thing that she would follow her brothers into Gryffindor.

"Weasley, Virgina" The hat had barely touched her head when it screamed Gryffindor.

Hermione smiled at her as she sat down. Dumbledore said his usual speaches and introduced Lockheart they began to feast.

Hermione and Ginny talked about whatever until Hermione heard Pecy and some other prefect talking.

"It was weird you know, you'd think that they'd go into the same houses."
"It' not too uncommon for families to be split but a Gryffindor and a Slytherin I wouldn't want to be in their house at Christmas." Percy laughed,
"I hope that she deserves to be in Gryffindor we are supposed to be the brave house she looks as meek as a kitten."
Hermione looked down the table. She saw the twin with the long hair, pushing food round an almost bare plate. Hermione smiled at her.
"Welcome to Gryffindor" Ginny chirped from besides her. "I'm Ginny Weasley"
The girl smiled "My names Niveus Lumen" She raised her head slightly from looking at the plate,
"Who' that tall dark man next to the new teacher?"

Hermione looked up. Snape was next to Lockheart and looked like he dearly wished to throttle the man.
"That's professor Snape he teaches potions." Niveus' face fell
"Oh it' just that he doesn't look nice, I really like potions and was hoping that I'd be able to spend some extra time on them."
"Well you could ask." Fred looked up,
"Yes just take some protection with you, Snape the greasy git hates all of us Gryffindors" George grinned.
"Yeah ask him if you can spend extra time in dungeons with him and he might turn you into a Guinea pig."

The girl laughed and tossed back her hair, Hermione was struck by how pretty she was when she didn't look so

Guarded

Like she was hiding something from the rest of the world.