I'm feeling VERY good about this story and to make SURE I don't give up too fast I've been writing a few chapters at a time to delay any writer's block :D Hermione's in Slytherin O.O Interesting, yes? Let the story move on.
"Hermione, wake up," a voice said in Hermione's head. She groaned and turned.
"Hermione, you great lug, get up!" the voice repeated, louder.
She opened her eyes to see Pansy shaking her.
"What're you doing?" she moaned.
"It's time to go down for breakfast, genius," she replied with an annoyed roll of her black eyes.
"I got no sleep whatsoever," Hermione whined.
"Too busy thinking about a boy?" Pansy suggested cheekily.
All Draco remembered seeing from below was Pansy running out of the Girls' Dormitory, her head narrowly escaping the blow of a pillow thrown from inside.
Hermione dressed in her white button up shirt, grey cardigan with Slytherin tie tucked in, grey skirt, black stockings, and black Mary Janes. She grabbed her things and looked in a mirror. Her chestnut brown hair was puffed out as usual and the bangs falling on her forehead were okay. There wasn't much that could be done, she knew. She shrugged and walked down to the common room.
"I want pancakes," she heard Crabbe saying dimly as he exited with Draco and Goyle.
"Honestly, why do you even like him?" Hermione asked Pansy, meaning Draco.
Pansy watched the blonde haired boy walk out then bit her lip.
"I don't know," she admitted.
Hermione didn't say anything but started to walk. She wondered what schools would be participating in the tournament, and most importantly who the champions would be. Because whoever they were… they were in danger this year. She knocked into a couple of first years on accident while walking.
"Please, don't hurt us, we didn't see you," a girl in plaits pleaded.
Hermione furrowed a brow. Why would she hurt them?
"Excuse me," she mumbled walking past. Why so much prejudice to her house? Sure, a lot of people in Slytherin house had gone bad but that didn't mean everyone in it was a monster. It felt insulting to be honest. She entered the Great Hall and found a seat at her table. She looked over at the Gryffindor table where Harry was sipping some Pumpkin Juice. She smiled at him and he smiled back, releasing the juice from his mouth onto himself. She laughed and he smiled awkwardly. Hermione wondered where that had come from all of a sudden.
"Attention students! Our visitors will be coming in now!" Dumbledore announced.
She turned towards the doorway and in came a bunch of girls dressed in blue silk uniforms, twirling around and dancing towards the front. In back was a rather large woman who sported a tight bun and fancy clothing. Hermione looked at Harry and noticed Ron practically drooling at the girl in the back who wore the uniform but had a different aura than the other girls. She seemed to glow and she exhibited stunning beauty. Veela, Hermione thought quickly. She glanced at Harry and he was watching another girl prance by, awestruck. A monster tore at Hermione's insides and she gripped her fork tightly. She felt irritable. Who cared if the girls were pretty? They probably didn't know their Doxy Fairies from their dresses.
They parted at the front and stood aside as another group entered the doorway. A tough looking group of boys with heavy furs and intense expressions stood there and in the front their headmaster as Hermione guessed. They quickly began a difficult looking routine, banging heavy staffs on the ground and grunting. Hermione peered closer and noticed one of the boys had a familiar look about him. Heavy eyebrows, a strong jaw, dark eyes? She realized it was Viktor Krum. She'd seen him at the Quidditch Cup! She clapped once their performance ended and as if planned, Viktor looked over at her. She felt her cheeks burn as he gave her a bit of a smile. To cover it up she looked down at her toast.
"Looks like Mr. Serious has a thing for you," Pansy whispered from Hermione's left.
The latter rolled her eyes and listened to Dumbledore.
"…those well executed performances were courtesy of Beauxbatons Academy of Magic and Durmstrang Institute, each being from France and Bulgaria. Thank you for joining us for such a momentous occasion!"
Clapping ensued. Hermione glanced at the clock. Her first class was Ancient Runes and she didn't want to be late. Finally the arrivals left to probably go back to their dorms and breakfast restarted. Hermione picked up her bag and walked out, heading for the specific classroom. She sat at a desk and began to pull out her things.
Class went smoothly, Hermione getting a paper back halfway in. Of course it was the top mark. It ended soon and she continued her day, working hard in her classes. Once it was nearing dinner she met up with Harry.
"Hermione, I'm dead," he told her.
"And why's that?" she asked in a very amused tone. His theory was pretty much right considering last years events, and the year before that, and the year before that…
"Well, I- we have that Potions assignment due Thursday and I need your help, because otherwise Snape will have a reason to give me detention," Harry replied looking scornful.
Hermione laughed.
"Don't worry, I'll help you, it is a rather difficult potion he wants us to write about," she admitted.
His face relaxed into a smile and they entered the Great Hall. She was turning to go towards her table when she ran into someone.
"Hey, watch where you're going!... Oh, it's you, Granger," she heard the person sneer.
She looked up and found herself looking to the face of whom else but Draco.
"How very polite of you," she said coldly. What a git! He had no manners whatsoever.
"Yes, well, might I remind you, you ran into me," he replied with a smirk.
"I know that you idiot," she retorted.
"Whatever, why don't you go back to your little pathetic Gryffindor friends?" he suggested.
"What are you talking about?"
"Well, well, for once I'm the one who knows all," Draco said in amusement. "You aren't even a real Slytherin, you spend all your time with all those pathetic other students, most of them Mudbloods!"
"Need I remind you most of those Mudbloods," she spat, "have more brains then you do."
Draco gave a short, humorless laugh.
"At least I'm safe if You-Know-Who comes back," he told her.
She finally had nothing to say back. What if he did come back? But then she mentally shook her head. Harry had defeated him their first year. He was gone!
"Whatever," she finished lamely. She swept away to the seat farthest from him and plopped onto it. Sometimes she wished she could strangle him, the idiot. She propped her chin on her hand and looked over at the wall, hardly paying attention. Her eyes shifted for just a moment and met Harry's, who had also been spacing out. He smiled at her but when she didn't smile back, his face wrinkled in concern. She shook her head and looked away again. Dinner began and she ate half-heartedly, hardly tasting the delicious food that had been prepared so well.
"You know, you're supposed to eat it," someone said sarcastically from next to her.
She turned her head and found herself looking at Draco again.
"What do you want?" she asked.
He rolled his eyes.
"Calm your knickers, Granger, I was coming to apologize," he admitted.
Hermione's fork slid out of her hand. Draco Malfoy apologizing? Impossible.
"This is a setup, isn't it?" she asked suspiciously.
He laughed and slowly she found herself smiling, her cheeks heated.
"It can be whatever you want it to be, but I'm only saying sorry once," he told her, "and I just did."
Even though it could hardly be considered an apology, Hermione smiled at him.
"Fine, but next time you act stupid I won't be so lenient," she warned jokingly.
"I swear I won't then," he promised.
"You wouldn't be Draco if you didn't," she replied.
They both laughed.
Over at the Gryffindor table Harry was pondering why Hermione had looked so down. What had happened? He turned around again to check. This time he saw Draco Malfoy sitting next to Hermione, smiling and laughing. He glanced at her. She was laughing too! Something in his head was telling him to chuck his knife at Draco's head.
"You alright mate, you look like you want to cast an Unforgivable on someone," Ron asked, watching Harry's expression. Harry tore his eyes away from the scene and looked at Ron.
"Never better," he replied through clenched teeth. Ron shrugged and went back to shoveling corn into his mouth. Harry flicked his head around one last time. Nope, they were still enjoying themselves over there. Damn. He rolled his eyes in annoyance and continued to eat.