Chapter 2
Hermione blinked a couple of times and then sat down opposite Malfoy saying "Not at all". Malfoy snorted it was of course a lie. Hermione had never expected this and at thought of having to share living quarters with him her heart sunk.
"So mudblood like what you see?" Draco sneered at her. Hermione glared at him. Why is he such an obnoxious prat? She thought. Hermione looked out of the window at the scenery passing by. He is good looking though. Her thoughts surprised her. No he's not he's a ferret. Hermione tried to shake herself out of these thoughts. Luckily Professor McGonagall walked into the compartment with the list of Head duties etc.
"After the feast you will meet me in the entrance hall and I will take you to your living quarters." She said finally and then left the compartment. Hermione, not wanting to be in the same compartment as Malfoy for more than was necessary got up quickly and made for the door.
"Where are you going mudblood?" Malfoy asked with a sneer.
"Back to my friends." Hermione said coldly and left the compartment.
Draco sat back in his seat. Why did he have to be so mean to her? It was his final year and he wanted things to change. He wasn't the malicious boy he once was. His mother had made him see that his father had made him like this. He didn't want to become a Death Eater he just wanted to be Draco. But he had to save face in front of his friends. He couldn't change without losing his reputation.
Finally they arrived at Hogwarts and Hermione, Ginny, Harry and Ron all climbed into a carriage that would take them up to the entrance hall. As soon as the huge castle came into view Hermione felt a warm glow inside of her. She loved the castle it looked so bright silhouetted against the night sky with lights coming from all the windows. She couldn't wait for the school year to start.
The Great Hall was packed full of students chattering away about the previous summer. Hermione caught Draco's eye across the hall and he smirked at her. She glared at him and turned to talk to Ginny. Five minutes later and the doors to the Great Hall opened and silence descended on the students. Professor McGonagall was leading a group of very small, timid looking first years.
As the sorting progressed Hermione could hear Ron muttering to Harry about how he wished it would hurry up. She frowned at them but ten minutes later she was beginning to feel the same way. The feast was as good as usual and at the end when every last morsel of ice cream and treacle tart had been cleared away Dumbledore stood up.
"Before you all go up to your dormitories I have a few start of term notices. First years please note that the forest on the edge of the grounds is forbidden to all students. Also our caretaker Mr Filch has asked me to tell you that he has added another ten items to the list of objects forbidden in the corridors. This I believe brings the number of forbidden objects to 234. And finally to celebrate Halloween there will be a masquerade ball organised by the head boy and girl and the prefects. Keep an eye out for more information but for now let us say Goodnight". He sat down and the hall immediately filled with chatter. Lavender and Ron who were the Gryffindor prefects started to line up the first years and Hermione remembering she had to meet Professor McGonagall in the entrance hall hugged Harry and Ginny goodbye and then left the Great Hall.
Malfoy was leaning casually against a pillar. "So looking forward to sharing a living space with me mudblood. Of course I am dreading it but I thought you would be looking forward to having the privilege of sharing with someone superior." He finished the sentence and at the look of hurt on Hermione's face instantly regretted it. Why did he have to be so mean? Hermione was saved replying by Professor McGonagall arriving and beckoning them to follow her.
They followed her to the third floor and to a portrait of a sunset. "luna" she said clearly and the portrait opened and they stepped inside.