Author Note:: SO, this is my second chapter, and as promised it is longer then the first.
Julie – Thank you for your review! I am glad you enjoyed it =]
Ms. Geek -- I'm glad you enjoyed it, and thank you for pointing out my mistake. Yes, it was meant to say Hermione, I think I was distracted slightly when I wrote that part =] Your other question will be answered in the 3rd chapter =]
Again, I hope you enjoy this chapter, everyone
The laughing voices filled the air as all the students made their way up the stairs and into the Entrance Hall. Hermione was relieved to note that through the mass of black robes there were a few splashes of colour from people in her year returning. Just as she stepped up on tip-toes, straining to see Harry or Ron, she heard the loud call for 8th years. Finding the source of the voice was McGonagall, she and Lavender made their way over.
Reaching the small group, she looked around and noted who was there. 12 in total: herself, Lavender, Ron, Harry, Neville, Luna, 3 Ravenclaws she didn't recognize, 2 Hufflepuffs she vaguely remembered and, to her surprise, Draco. As Hermione looked at all the faces Harry smiled at her a little.
"Where were you?" He mouthed as shed appeared after the rest of them.
"Later," she mouthed back, turning her attention to McGonagall.
"… and welcome back to Hogwarts. Some of you may know, but some of you may not, I am now Headmistress, and as such if you have any problems you will need to go to our new Deputy, Professor Meles," McGonagall said, gazing around and making sure that everyone was paying attention. "Now you are 8th years there will be a few changes, Firstly, you have your own table next to the staff table. Secondly, your Common Room is located on the 5th floor—"
"Sorry, why aren't we in our Houses?" Draco said interrupting, his tone of voice suggesting he was disbelieving.
"Well, Mr. Malfoy, the reason is you n longer belong to houses. From now on you 12 do not have a house, and so I expect you to put previous rivalries behind you," she replied, her voice stern and her eyes roaming over them all as she spoke. Hermione saw Harry visibly stiffen and glare at Draco as McGonagall said the last part.
"As I was saying, your Common Room is on the 5th floor behind the portrait of the hunter. Your password is 'Panthera Pelt'" the elder woman said. "You each have your own dormitory with an optional password. When you go up you will find your robes already laid out for you and your possessions waiting."
There was a pause then as McGonagall looked around at the 12 returning students, a hint of pride in her eyes but also tinges of sadness and grief. Hermione knew where the sadness was coming from. Looking around at so few of them it wasn't hard to remember how many had been lost during the war, or how many had fled and never returned. The Headmistress seemed to shake it off quickly, she noted, and replaced it with a small smile for them.
"Now, all of you go enjoy the feast and get a good night sleep. We have more to discuss tomorrow." She finished, gesturing towards the Great Hall with her arms.
As one, they turned and headed into the hall, walking in behind the last dawdlers from the carriages. As they made their way up to their table, Hermione could feel many eyes on them. Not only for their lack of robes, but a few recognized her and the two boys that were walking just ahead for their role in the war. For most, however, they had more important things to talk about. Reaching their reserved place in the hall, Harry motioned to the empty spot beside him on the small table.
At first it was awkward sitting at their table, separate from the rest of the school, but they were distracted when the first years were brought in, bright eyed and fresh off the boats. She smiled fondly as she watched some of them marveling at the enchanted ceiling and floating candles. She sighed then, wishing she could go back in time, back when everything was simple and the war hadn't forced them to grow up and stolen their innocence. She was pulled from her thoughts by Harry tapping her on the shoulder.
"So, where were you? We waited around but you never showed," as asked her, a small trace of concern in his voice.
Hermione smiled fondly at her best friend of 8 years. He hadn't changed much over the summer, and fortunately the war hadn't gone to his head. He still retained his kindness and protectiveness of his friends. Unlike Ron who'd decided, since the break up, that he was Gods-gift to women due to his 'Hero Status; after the war. She had to restrain herself from rolling her eyes just thinking of her immature ex.
"I was held up." She simply answered before going into more detail, telling him about the dark-eyed girl that she'd had a run-in with. She did, however, step-over the part where for some strange reason she couldn't get her out of her mind. Harry looked thoughtful for a second before a mischievous smiled spread across his face.
"Was she good looking?" He asked, chuckling a little. Hermione replied by smacking him on the arm. "No, seriously, I don't think it's anything to worry about. Just a rude 4th year or something." He assured her.
Hermione smiled at him. "Yeah, you're probably right." She replied, shrugging it off. Even though she brushed it aside, focusing on the Sorting and then catching up with everyone, she couldn't help but glance around the Hall, hoping to spot those dark eyes again. After they'd all eaten their fill, McGonagall stood up and sent them all to bed, adding a note to the 8th years to assemble in their common room at 10am. And with that they all made their way to their new residence. They followed the Gryffindors and Ravenclaws as they made their ways to their respective Houses, the calmer tones of the elder years all mixing with the excited ones of the first years as the paintings came to life to great them all. Hermione smiled at them again, remembering that feeling. But after everything they had seen during the war she was convinced that she'd never feel that excited wonderment ever again.
She focused on what they were doing again as they reached their portrait. The small group all gathered around the portrait, studying it for a moment. In the aging frame was a young hunter, slime but well built, with a bow and drawn arrow in his hands and a dog by it's side that appeared similar to a foxhound, although slightly smaller and muscular. Upon spotting the group, he smiled widely and lowered his bow, hushing his dog all the while who'd become excited and had begun to bark loudly.
"Welcome 8th years! I'm sure we'll all get along like my dog and a hart," he said jokingly before winking and letting out a booming laugh that was disproportionate to his size. Everyone looked at each other, not really knowing how to react. Finally one of the Hufflepuffs spoke up.
"Er… Panthera Pelt."
The hunter laughed again. "Sorry and ex-Gryffindors," he said as he swung open, leaving everyone but Hermione confused. She knew that 'Panthera' was Latin for Lion, but she wasn't going to her hung up about it, knowing it would probably do no good to bring it up with the mischievous-looking hunter. Climbing through the portrait hole, she heard others exclaiming before she saw the room for herself. Down a short hallway, the room opened up into a long rectangle shaped room decorated in warm colours. Black and red sofas and comfy chairs were dotted around with a few near the unlit fire. Along one wall there was a book shelf, followed by an elegant looking desk by the window complete with parchment and fresh quills.
Hermione looked around; taking in how comfortable and beautiful the room looked before her eyes focused on the bookshelf. She wandered past the sofas and stopped besides Neville who'd beaten her to the punch and was already flicking though a book on Herbology. As she stepped up, he gave her a friendly smile and a wave before turning back to his book. She smiled back; glad to see she wasn't the only one enjoying the whole wall of books.
The calm was broken then by Draco walking in looking disheveled with a nose blood. Without breaking stride, he walking through the room and down another hallway that Hermione hadn't noticed before. Frowning in confusion, it quickly turned to annoyance when Harry and Ron walking in laughing.
"…and did you see the way he just ran?" Harry laughed, showing a rare glimpse into his arrogant side. Ron laughed along with him but became quiet when she saw Hermione walking over.
"I'm guessing you two had something to do with Malfoy's state." She accused, looking between the two.
"Oh, come on, Hermione. Don't tell me you're actually defending that little weasel?" Ron said back, a red flush spreading though his ears, a sure sign that he was getting annoyed.
"Yes, I am. Didn't you hear McGonagall? She said we have to put rivalries behind us!" She exclaimed. "Ad here you two are picking up where you left off before you even got into the Common Room."
Ron went to open his mouth, but luckily Harry stepped in, sensing an argument coming. "Look, Hermione, we know what she said, but we're not going to buddy up with Malfoy after everything he done," he said, stepping up between his two friends.
Taking a deep breath to calm herself, Hermione glared once more at the two boys before turning on her heel and heading in the same direction Draco had gone, guessing this was where the dormitories were. Her guess was right, luckily, as the corridor lad to a wider one dotted with doors which each had a name on. She passed two bathrooms, on for the boys and one for the girls, before reaching her room. It was right at the end and next to a blank door. She glanced at it for only a moment before pushing the door open.
The room looked even better then the Common Room. It was decorated in chocolate browns- the colour of her eyes- and creams, including the rug that covered part of the stone floor. She had her own bookshelf and desk, as well as a two seater sofa. In the other end of the room there was a double bed along with a matching chest of draws and wardrobe. Her trunk and such were already there with a set of robes and a letter on top.
Hermione frowned at the letter, confused. Hadn't they already been told everything they'd need to know before tomorrow? Strolling over, she picked it up and carefully broke the seal before reading it.
Dear Miss Granger,
Welcome back to Hogwarts. We are glad to have you have.
The reason we have written is that you have been chosen to help mentor a new student to the school. This is a sensitive case, and so we need a very level headed student. If you are interested then please report to my office tomorrow after your meeting with Professor Meles.
I hope to see you there.
Sincerely,
Headmistress McGonagall.
After reading the letter for the 5th time, and having more questions than answers, Hermione folded it back up and put it aside. She dug her toiletries out and got ready for bed before climbing in and closing her eyes, spending a restless night full of dreams still converging around those dark eyes she'd seen by chance on the platform.
What did we all think? I hope you liked it =]