'Allo 'allo.
Hey everyone. I'd like to say thanks to the people who read the first chapter and reviewed!
And this chapter is dedicated to you, the people who reviewed and put this on story alert. Thanks very much to:
Bleeding Writer
AthenaRowena
diamondsr4evr
witchhunterlady
Lone.17
tjPCfreak
You guys rock my awesome socks.
And remember, reviews are like cookies to the Gods.
DISCLAIMER: Do not own Harry Potter, but Audrey, Catherine and Russell are mine, Teanna is TJ's. Also, Anara Academy, which you will get eventually, is of TJ and my own creation. (You steal and we'll Avarda Kadava you!!)
HermPOV
After our brief discussion – okay, it was more like me being psychotic and yelling at him for a minute – Draco and I didn't speak again for the remainder of the trip. I focused on reading my book, The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor; a book that had been recommended to me by my friend Teanna.
She enjoyed reading almost as much as I did… almost.
Draco stayed directly opposite me for the whole time, staring distractedly out the window.
I'll admit right now that he is gorgeous and every bit the Slytherin Sex God the other girls say he is, but he is still Draco Malfoy, and he did try to kill me. Twice.
DracPOV
I've never really taken the time to watch the countryside fly by me on this trip, although I have taken it many times before. It was surprisingly refreshing to have company, but not have to be sociable and make polite conversation. Hermione just sat across from me totally immersed in her book.
I could have stripped down to my boxers and I doubt she'd notice.
I only left the compartment once and when I returned a sixth grade Ravenclaw was in my seat, talking to Hermione, who appeared completely uninterested in what he had to say. The boy looked up when the door slid open and said goodbye to Hermione and scurried out of the room. I raised my eyebrow at her and she just shook her head.
Silent contemplation isn't something I usually engage in but my previous thought of having Hermione in my life permanently was starting to scare me.
Sure she had been there since I was eleven, could it be that I had possibly developed some feelings for the witch?
I've admired her since she had the guts to hit me in the face in third year – even though it did hurt - she's obviously smart, very beautiful and she has the tolerance to deal with her so called 'friends'.
I pushed all those thoughts out of my mind; I couldn't deal with this right now.
The occasional person walked past and looked in, obviously surprised that the former Slytherin King and the current Gryffindor Queen were sharing a compartment but I couldn't have cared less - and apparently, neither could have Hermione.
About half an hour after that, the train stopped and we got off the Hogwarts Express.
Hermione started to walk faster to catch up to her friends but they got into a carriage and shut the door. She turned around to face me with a smile on her face, but it didn't reach her eyes. Even if her smile had been more convincing I had seen her shoulders droop with disappointment.
Despite my conclusion that I couldn't deal with this, I wanted to reach out and pull her to me, hold her close and tell her that it was alright, that she had me. But I didn't. I wanted to yell that she didn't need her friends, that if it was just the two of us it would be okay, that I would take care of her. But my mouth wouldn't let me. I settled for grabbing her hand and pulling her to a carriage. When we were inside I didn't let go of her hand just waited for her to realise that she was still holding on to me. Waited for her to shriek and drop my hand like it had burnt her, but that never came.
HermPOV
I held onto Draco's hand for the entire time the carriage was moving, pulled by the Thestrals that had once been invisible to me. When I did let go it was only to get out, for which I needed both hands. A moment of disappointment flashed across Draco's features, could that have been because we were no longer touching?
He had walked ahead of me and I ran to catch up, grabbing his hand when I reached him and locking our fingers together. He turned to face me, his eyes flying to mine, surprise etched into his features. He opened his mouth to speak, and then closed it again.
He shook his head and said "Hermione if you are not prepared to walk into the Great Hall like this you better let go of my hand right now. Because unless you are willing to admit that I asked you to go on a date with me..."
I stood there gaping at him with my mouth open for a few seconds before registering that he was asking me out.
"Well, I'm thinking that we should go into the castle now so I can tell Teanna I have a date coming up" I replied and he smiled at me. Not smirked, smiled!
We began the walk up to the castle, not knowing what to expect when we got there. Although I could probably wager a few gallons that most eyes would be directed at us.
When we got inside people were staring at us holding hands, whispering to their friends and we just ignored them.
If only I had been able to bet someone.
When we got into the Great Hall there were seven tables instead of four.
By the looks of things Dumbledore had abolished the houses and we were sitting by grade.
Draco and I went to the seventh grade table and I slipped in next to Teanna who was talking to Neville on the other side of her.
I looked down the table and saw Harry and Ron looking at me incredulously.
I turned my attention back to the person I was sitting next to.
Teanna James who was one of my closest friends, outside the ones that are now talking loudly about how Draco must have confounded me or put me under the Imperius Curse.
Teanna is the same age as me, well a few months older because she had to repeat third year, but that never bothered either of us - and why should it?
She turned to me, her messy dark brown hair barely brushing her shoulders as her wide eyes met my calm ones.
"Hey, I couldn't find you on the train! You had me worried sick, I kept thinking of the time I missed the train!" She leaned over and whispered. "I found your friends after I literally ran into Luna as she was exiting the compartment they were in."
I couldn't help but chuckle under my breath as I imaged her slamming into little Luna.
"I can't wait to show you my new badges I got." Her odd blue-green eyes lit up with excitement as she started explaining the badges she had brought during the holidays.
I wasn't paying attention to any of it though, my mind had wandered to Draco the second he started playing with my fingers under the table.
"What's your friend's name?" He asked in his impossibly alluring voice.
Still that voice couldn't stop how shocked I was.
Teanna was pretty well known around the school. Mostly for arriving to class late, running into everything and her odd dress style – which included her countless pairs of converse shoes and colourful beanies, both of which she would wear around the school even though it wasn't uniform.
"Teanna James, pleasure to make your acquaintance." She replied, bowing an imaginary hat. "And no need for introductions on your part Draco. However I must express my surprise at seeing you with my dear Hermione here." She flung her arm around my shoulders and smiled, showing a smile my parents would be proud of.
"I must assume you were the little blighter who kept her hidden from me all trip eh?"
"Sorry." Draco started to apologize but the rest of his sentence was cut short when Professor McGonagall gestured for everyone to be silent.
DracPOV
I've never found Dumbledore's Welcome Back speeches to be particularly worth listening to, but for some reason this year I found myself paying attention, maybe it was now that the rest of what was previously know as Slytherin House had disowned me that I suddenly felt inclined to take in what the old fool was saying. Everyone stopped talking and turned to the front of the room as Dumbledore rose to speak.
"To our new students, Welcome. To our old students, Welcome back. As you can see we are no longer separated by house, now only by year. Over the summer Hogwarts under went some renovations so now each year will have their own dormitory, complete with common room and all. Also, instead of each house having a Head Teacher, each year will now have one. Professor Hagrid will be head of the seventh grade,"
"WHOO!!" Teanna yelled out causing everyone to turn and look at her before laughter broke out amongst both students and teachers.
"Well at least everybody knows Miss James is excited about the changes." Dumbledore chuckled but silenced the hall as he began speaking again. "Professor Snape will take charge of sixth, Professor Binns in charge of fifth, Professor Trelawney in charge of fourth, Professor Black in charge of third, Professor Lupin in charge of second and Professor McGonagall in charge of first."
Chatter erupted as everyone looked up to the staff table and there they were, Sirius Black and Remus Lupin sitting up there, the former looking rather smug.
I could only just hear Teanna complaining about not being able to have both that oaf Hagrid and Lupin. Hermione of course giggled at something Teanna had whispered in her ear that I was unable to hear.
"Now, now quiet please. You will be able to discuss our new staff as you eat in a few moments. As Professor Flitwick retired at the end of last year and we were once again at a loss for a Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, I asked Remus Lupin to fill his previous position, and I asked Sirius Black to fill Professor Flitwick's tiny shoes and become the Charms teacher." Both Professor Lupin and Black waved at the crowd as Dumbledore motioned to the both of them – who sat side by side.
"And finally, I am pleased to announce that Hogwarts has three transfer students from Anara Academy in Australia. Please welcome Catherine, Audrey and Russell Granger!"
And that my friends is chapter two.
Review, constructive critisism.
No abusing the writers because we do that to ourselves enough! :P
If you review/story alert I'll dedicate a chapter to you.
AlliSTAR
xoxo.
Edited: Changed some stuff, TJ
