Chapter 2: Hogwarts


The first thing that happened when all of the first years arrived at the castle was formal introductions. Hermione had wondered how they would communicate with each other, but that was taken care of in short order. Professor McGonagall, and the many first years who didn't know the others were introduced. Hermione had to be presented to everyone except Lord Harry and Lord Ron. There were several other Lord's in her class, but quite a few Mr's and Misses. Hermione had wondered at the difference and Lord's Harry, and Ron had laughed, saying they'd explain it all later, but it was too complicated to explain it now.

Most of the people she met were kind, however maybe a little too curious about her. She deflected all sorts of very personal questions. However when one blond boy named Lord Draco Malfoy—what kind of name was Draco anyway—asked her why she was Lady Hermione. Hermione had smiled politely and informed Lord Draco, and all who were listening, that her father was Earl Granger, and part of the peerage.

"The peerage? What is that?" Lord Draco asked, raising his nose in the air. Hermione glared at him. Usually, she didn't give much thought or attention to the fact that she was of the peerage, but this boy rubbed her the wrong way.

"I'm part of Muggle royalty. Thirty-sixth in line to the throne, if you must know," Hermione sniffed.

Lord Draco scowled and turned away. Hermione didn't know what that action meant, but she rather thought it meant she'd won. Did her being an Earl's daughter make her rank higher than his? He seemed so pompous but sulked like that was the case. Hermione couldn't wait to find out more about wizarding society and how it was structured differently than Muggle society.

The sorting ceremony and accompanying feast were magnificent, Hermione had ended up in the same house as Lord's Harry and Ron, Gryffindor house. Several of Lord Ron's brothers were also in Gryffindor, and Lord Harry had commented that both his mother and father were also Gryffindor's.

After the feast, Lord Ron's brother, Lord Percy guided them and the rest of the Gryffindor first years up to the tower that served as the house for all Gryffindors. Along the way, Lord Percy explained that the boys and girls slept in different towers and that after eleven in the evening, the common room was always cleared out by their prefects or Head of House, ensuring that the girls and boys stayed in their dormitories until morning again. Hermione was relieved to have heard this, she had worried about her reputation, in sharing a house with so many boys she was not related to.

Once all of Gryffindor house had assembled in the common room, another round of formal introductions took place, this time introducing the first years to everyone in the house they did not know. Again, Hermione had to be presented to everyone. There were many more prying questions, but Hermione didn't mind as much. Everyone in Gryffindor was exceedingly lovely.

It was after formal introductions of Gryffindor house that Hermione finally received the lowdown on the Lord and Lady versus Mr and Miss address among wizards. There were thirty families, called the Sacred Thirty, who were descended from the best wizarding stock Britain had to offer. Anyone who was a member of one of those thirty families, whether by their mother or fathers side was addressed as Lord or Lady. Weasley and Potter were apparently part of the Sacred Thirty, as was Malfoy.

"So the Sacred Thirty is similar to the Muggle peerage," Hermione had mused.

"Similar, yes," Lord Harry responded, "Each member of the Sacred Thirty has a seat on the Wizengamot, the wizarding equivalent to Parliament, rolled into the court system as well. However, our Minister is an elected official from members of the Wizengamot."

"Sounds awfully similar to the Muggle system," Hermione replied.

"We don't have a king or queen," Lord Ron said. "That's what is different."

"Can families who aren't part of the Sacred Thirty have a Wizengamot seat?" Hermione asked.

"No," Lord Harry shook his head. "Although there are some who think that should change, my father among them."

"Mine too," Lord Ron nodded. "But there are others, like Lord Draco's family, who disagree."

Hermione nodded, she could see how similar it was to the Muggle parliament with their House of Lords. Maybe when she was older, she could help introduce something similar in the wizarding world? That had been the Muggle compromise after all to the House of Lords, by creating the House of Commons. Her conversation with the two boys—who were fast becoming her friends—gave her a lot to think about as she headed to bed.


Hermione was loving her first year. Everything about it was magical and inspiring, everything except Lord Draco Malfoy. He was a prat, and she told him to his face on more than one occasion. For some reason, every class the first year Gryffindors had—they shared with the first year Slytherins. She wished they shared just one class with the Hufflepuffs of Ravenclaws, but it was not to be. And in every class, Lord Draco Malfoy was seated directly behind her. She had thought the boys and girls would take separate classes, but things were much more equal in the wizarding world, and the idea delighted Hermione.

She hated, as a child, never being allowed to express her opinion—or even have an opinion in some circumstances. Things were different in the wizarding world, and Hermione loved it.

The only complication was Lord Draco Malfoy and his ridiculous friends, Mr Goyle and Mr Crabbe. They were brutes who flanked Lord Draco and followed him everywhere he went. The first time Lord Draco pulled on her braids, Hermione had been incensed and had ratted him out to Professor Snape.

"Yes, Lady Hermione?" Professor Snape said dryly.

"Lord Draco keeps pulling my braids," Hermione complained.

"Nonsense, how can you tell when you wave your hand around so profusely?" Lord Draco countered.

"It appears Lord Draco is correct, Lady Hermione. Please refrain from your needless hand-waving."

Hermione blushed and didn't raise her hand for the following fortnight in Professor Snape's class.


Hermione's second year at Hogwarts was very similar to her first, the exception being that this year they were invited to join the dueling club.

"Even the girls?" Hermione had asked Professor McGonagall after she'd announced it.

Most of the girls in the class looked at Hermione strangely, but Professor McGonagall smiled at her warmly.

"Yes, Lady Hermione, even the witches participate in dueling. In the wizarding world, witches and wizards are on much more equal footing than in the Muggle world."

Hermione was so inordinately pleased with that statement that she walked around the rest of the day with a broad smile on her face. Dueling! Something she'd only ever heard whispered about, or read about in the novels her mother tried to hide from her. She couldn't wait to see her first duel! Or even, to be in her first duel! What she wouldn't give to wipe the perpetual sneer off Lord Draco's face.

Dueling Club turned out to be just as exciting as Hermione had anticipated. She'd even been paired with Lord Draco, whom she'd come to think of as her nemesis. At least in school. He was always almost tied with her for grades, and again sat behind her in nearly every class this year. At least they had a few classes with other houses, but every class they had with Slytherin House, Lord Draco sat behind her to pull her hair. Hermione had mostly gotten used to it.

"Well, this will be easy," Lord Draco snickered to his friends when the pairings were announced.

Hermione narrowed her eyes at him, "I know more spells than you, Lord Draco."

"Ah, yes, but I've actually witnessed a proper duel before."

Hermione felt herself redden in embarrassment and turned away from the unlikeable boy. She wanted to stomp her foot but held off, knowing how childish that action was.

"Now, now! We're aiming to disarm only! The spell is Expelliarmus. With a flick and point. Say it with me now… Expelliarmus!" Professor Lockhart, this year's Defense Against the Dark Arts professor announced.

The dueling club all shouted along.

"Expellermiss," Ron shouted.

"Honestly, it's Expell-ee-AR-mus. Not Expell-ER-miss," Hermione corrected him. Ron rolled his eyes but went on to practice saying the spell correctly.

"Alright, everyone, get with your pairs," Lockhart directed.

Hermione glanced around to find Lord Draco on the other side of the Great Hall, apparently expecting her to come to him. How he'd gotten over there so quickly, Hermione wasn't sure. She narrowed her eyes at him and waited, a gentleman never made a lady move more than was absolutely necessary. It was clear that Lord Draco was unaware of some of the finer rules of etiquette. Hermione felt a small smirk form on her lips; perhaps she'd enlighten him. With a short flounce, she turned and made her way to where her partner was standing.

"Ready, Lady Hermione?" Lord Draco asked with a sneer.

"Perhaps," Hermione replied. She was itching to tell him how he'd failed at treating her properly like a lady, but decided maybe she'd hold back for a better time to hold that over his head.

"Assume your stance!" Lockhart shouted.

Hermione squared off against Lord Draco, and they bowed to each other.

"Expelliarmus!" Hermione shouted.

At the same time, Lord Draco shouted, "Serpensortia!"

Hermione almost screamed as the huge black snake erupted from Lord Draco's wand and headed right for her. She probably would have if she'd gotten any closer, but luckily Harry and Ron had followed her over.

Harry began hissing at the snake. The snake hissed back and curled up into a tight coil right between Lord Draco and Hermione.

"That wasn't the spell you were supposed to use!" Hermione scolded Lord Draco. "And what did you do to it, Lord Harry?"

Harry shrugged, "Just told it to stay still and not bother anyone."

"You can speak to snakes?" Ron asked. "Wicked."

Professor Lockhart hustled over then, to check in on the commotion. "Ah, who conjured the snake?"

"I did," Lord Draco smirked. Hermione longed to wipe the smirk off of his face.

"Well, it was very well done, despite being against the rules. Five points from Slytherin."

Hermione found herself sneering at Lord Draco for once.


Third year brought more classes with the Slytherins. This time it was Care of Magical Creatures—which they had with Professor Hagrid, who had just been promoted that year. Hermione was unsure about the class; however, she loved animals of all sorts and this year had just adopted her first familiar; a half-kneazle, half-cat named Crookshanks. So she was excited to learn about the types of creatures to be found in the magical world. And the class was highly enjoyable, even if they did start with something as dull as the flobberworm. It was now spring, and they were getting to the more interesting creatures in the book. Hermione couldn't wait to see what Professor Hagrid had for them today. Maybe unicorns!

"Come 'round, come 'round!" Professor Hagrid shouted, leading all the children toward a paddock behind his cottage. There were several large hippogriffs in the paddock, Hermione's eyes were wide as she looked at them.

"Now, who can tell me what this is?" Professor Hagrid said as he slapped the neck of one of the hippogriffs.

"They're hippogriffs, you dolt," Lord Draco sneered.

Hermione narrowed her eyes at the rude boy.

"Right you are Lord Draco!" Professor Hagrid said, who acted like he didn't hear the last half of Lord Draco's statement.

"Alright, get into your pairs. You'll each take one."

Hermione groaned, she was paired with Lord Draco for this class. But since they were already standing next to each other, at least she didn't have to go far.

"Now, hippogriffs are very proud creatures," Professor Hagrid said. "They have rules on how and who can approach them. First, bow and do not make eye contact! Wait for them to bow back to you. If they do, you can approach and give them a pat on the neck; if they don't, back away quickly, but without startling them. It's alright if they don't bow back; as I said, they're proud creatures."

"I'll go first," Hermione told Lord Draco. "You'll probably scare it off."

Lord Draco didn't say anything, so Hermione approached the hippogriff they were assigned to. It was huge, towering over her. It had the head and front legs of an eagle, with the body and hind legs of a horse. Its huge orange eyes stared at her.

She bowed low to the hippogriff, just as Professor Hagrid came over.

"That's right, Lady Hermione, well done. This one's named Buckbeak."

Buckbeak stared at Hermione for a moment, and she thought she was going to have to back away. But then out of the corner of her eye, she saw Buckbeak fold his forelegs and bow to her.

She stood up and grinned.

"There you are, come give him a pet," Professor Hagrid grinned at her.

Hermione stepped forward and reached a hand out. His feathers were so soft, and Buckbeak leaned into her touch.

"He likes you," Professor Hagrid said then moved on to someone else.

"Oh, what an ugly brute," Lord Draco snorted.

Hermione moved away from Buckbeak with one last touch of his feathers and turned to Lord Draco.

"He's not a brute! He's gentle and kind and obviously a good judge of character."

"Pah, he's an ugly thing," Lord Draco sneered, now directly in front of Hermione.

"Take that back!" Hermione shouted, suddenly feeling very defensive about Buckbeak.

"I won't! It's the truth," Lord Draco sneered.

Hermione had just had enough of Lord Draco, always sneering at her and her friends. And she was just so sick of him and his superiority. Her face felt hot, and she was sure the blood was boiling in her veins as she looked at the twisted sneer on Lord Draco's face. She pulled her hand back and slapped him right across the face. His head turned with the slap and Hermione could see a red hand print already forming.

"You're the brute," she huffed to Lord Draco then ran away back to the castle. Not even caring that she missed the rest of the class, she was just so angry.


It wasn't until dinner that night that Hermione had heard about what happened in Care of Magical Creatures after she had left the class. Buckbeak had attacked Lord Draco. Harry and Ron assured her that it wasn't that bad and that Lord Draco had deserved it, but Hermione still felt a little bad about it.

It's how she found herself standing before the doors of the hospital wing. She hadn't brought him anything; she just wanted to see for herself that he was alright. Taking a deep breath, she pushed the door open and began peering around curtains, looking for Lord Draco.

When she found him, he was sleeping, and his right arm was wrapped in a bandage from shoulder to wrist. He looked almost angelic lying here in the hospital bed. His hair was spread across the pillow, and his face was relaxed, not sneering for once.

"Oh no," Hermione breathed and stepped closer. The location of the wound wasn't visible, as the bandage was completely white. Hermione supposed that was a good thing; it meant that Madam Pomfrey had been able to stem the bleeding. Hermione touched it lightly with her fingertips. She didn't want to wake him up.

"I'm so sorry, Lord Draco," Hermione muttered, and touched his unbandaged hand lightly. She shouldn't be touching him at all, but she felt really guilty about what had happened in class earlier that day.

Lord Draco's fingers tightened around hers imperceptibly, "S'alright," he mumbled, and Hermione darted her eyes to his face to find he was still sleeping. She breathed a sigh of relief and squeezed his fingers once more before scurrying out of the hospital wing and back to her common room.