Holy moly, sixteen reviews, does anyone ever tell you guys how amazing you are? Because you are. Seriously, you guys have no idea how much your praise means to me. I'm so lucky to have you and trust me I know.
Moving on I'm sorry for the delayed update, I had some crazy stuff going on. Please forgive me. But you especially have WolfEyedAlice to thank for this chapter because she personally PMed me to ask me to update again soon. So, ask and you shall receive.
As always check the bottom of the chapter for your individual thanks!
Disclaimer: I (sadly) own nothing. Except maybe some of the plot.
Girl, I think we got something good, going on
Despite bad times, we still holding on
I guess that's what makes this so strong
It's sure, yes it is and no we can't go wrong
Gotta make it work girl 'cause you're my world
I hope you know, I care for you
My days ain't the same when you're not there
I need something, I need you with me
-You're My World ft. Gigi (The DNC)
"You know Granger, I could get used to you in this position."
Hermione grabbed the badge she had just discovered and jumped up turning around to face him, contemplating the pros and cons of stabbing him in the eye with the pin of her badge. However, before she could open her mouth to retort a loud train whistle echoed down the cars. They had arrived at Hogwarts.
Hermione watched Malfoy pull open the door and stalk out, his ever present smirk on his pale thin face. For once she was honestly lost for words, having been startled by the whistles of the train. Frustrated with herself for not being quicker on her feet, especially when it came to Malfoy, she stormed out of her compartment joining the throng of students making their way to the horseless carriages.
The carriages stood silently, the thestrals calmly awaiting the students to board so they could take them to the castle. Hermione felt a shiver go down her spine. She still was attempting to adjust to being able to see these strange creatures she only half believed existed. Since fifth year and seeing Sirius's death, she had truly learned why people believed these creatures were evil; they looked like the devil himself rode them to hell and back.
Hermione pushed those thoughts from her mind trying instead to focus on cheerful things such as finally returning to Hogwarts after the long summer she had. She soon found Harry, Ginny and Ron sitting in one of the carriages waiting for her and as she settled herself next to Ron, she soon found her negative thoughts pushed from her mind. Ron apparently had managed to make it through second chapter of "Hogwarts; A History" and had decided to inform Harry and Ginny of everything he had just read. Loudly.
"Did you know that Hogwarts is hidden to Muggles? If a Muggle looks at it, they see an old ruin with a sign saying: "DANGER, DO NOT ENTER, UNSAFE." Ron almost shouted this last fact in the small carriage, making sure to glance at Hermione afterwards just to make sure she had heard him.
Harry shot a secret grin to Hermione before turning to Ron a look of seriousness on his face. "You know Ron, that does sound vaguely familiar, I think Hermione might have said it once…or twice."
Hermione giggled causing Ron to blush, "Umm… Well yeah, of course she said it. I was just reminding you in case… umm. In case it was important or something." He stammered.
He was saved further embarrassment by the carriage rolling up the large grand doors of Hogwarts, stepping through the doors and into the Great Hall they made their way to the Gryffindor table. Harry and Ginny sat next to each other across from Ron and Hermione. Ron immediately attempted to engage Hermione in a conversation about what he had read; unfortunately Ron's definition of a conversation was to repeat the facts he had managed to memorize word for word. Hermione tried to interrupt Ron and actually have a conversation, but he cut her off every time and finally Hermione surrendered, zoning out and making sure to nod in a few places like she was paying attention.
It was times like this she wondered what she saw in Ron. Sure there were some things she admired in him, he was a good friend, a good brother, he loved his family and he was definitely brave. Yet, sometimes she thought that maybe she was forcing herself to like him more than she actually did. She had thought that changing herself to make herself more noticeable and pretty would be a good thing, but she was finding it more of a pain in the butt. Plus, now that Ron seemed to have amped up his annoying level and turned into a blithering idiot whenever she was around she was finding it hard to stay attracted to him.
"Yearrrrr…" rang out the Sorting Hat finishing it's song as the hall broke into applause. Hermione jumped at the sudden onslaught of noise, she had missed the song. She hadn't even heard it sing, plus to top it all of she had still been nodding absentmindedly she probably looked like an idiot. She glanced around surreptitiously trying to figure out if any of her friends realized she had been nodding at nothing, none of them seemed to have noticed. She breathed a silent sigh of relief; they had probably thought she was nodding along to the hat's song. She wished she had heard the song; it was something she looked forward to every year as it usually carried an important message. However, she couldn't very well ask what the song was about without admitting that she had zoned out, sighing she turned her eyes to watch the sorting.
The sorting this year seemed to contain fewer students than usual. She had noticed a slow decline over the past couple of years, first due to rumors of Harry and Dumbledore's insanity and then due to fear when the ministry had been forced to admit that Voldemort had returned. With that thought, Hermione glanced over at the Slytherin table, though the first years had decreased, the Slytherin's still seemed to have retained most of their students. This surprised her as she had assumed that more parents would have taken their children away, especially from that house in particular. Her eyes landed on Malfoy, who seemed to be engaged in a deep yet amusing conversation with a dark skinned student next to him. Hermione recognized the student as Blaise Zambini, Malfoy had seemingly ditched Crabbe and Goyle for a more intelligent partner in crime.
As though sensing her thoughts, Malfoy glanced up, his piercing gaze interrupting her train of thought as she quickly glanced away.
As the last name was called, "Zadeck, Andre", Dumbledore rose from his seat to address the students. "There is much to say, and even more to do, yet that can wait until after you eat. In the words of my Great Uncle Harrliberg, DIG IN."
Ron rolled his eyes as he spooned a large helping of mashed potatoes onto his plate, "I swear, the old bat gets crazier and crazier every year." Hermione smiled slightly, her mind still miles away with her thoughts, before she too began to pile her plate high with food. She found that she was famished having somehow forgotten to eat on the train, probably because both the patrols and Malfoy had distracted her.
As the meal drew to a close, Dumbledore once again rose from his chair, raising his hands for silence. "Welcome back students, to what I am sure will be a long and eventful year. My first order of business is to introduce our newest head girl and boy, our head girl; Hermione Granger of Gryffindor." The crowd of students burst into applause as Hermione stood up smiling, ignoring the jeers and catcalls from the Slytherin table. "Our head boy is no other than Draco Malfoy of Slytherin." Polite applause this time from all the houses except Slytherin who erupted into loud cheers and applause. "Now, you will notice this year is marked by some changes…" Dumbledore began as the applause died down relaying to his students what McGonagall had told the two heads on the train. As he finished his speech he added as an afterthought, "If the two heads could see me on their way out, that would be most appreciated."
Slowly the students stood up, whispers of Occlumency lessons, but even more so of the Halloween Ball flitted around the room. As the students made their way out of the Great Hall Hermione pushed herself through in the opposite direction to reach the dais on which the main table sat. She reached it as the same time as Malfoy and the two shoved each other around a bit before standing almost five feet apart to await the headmaster's instructions.
Dumbledore turned towards them from his conversation with Professor Snape with a twinkle in his eye; the little shoving match had not gone unnoticed. He chose to ignore it instead saying, "Ah, Mr. Malfoy, Ms. Granger, I believe you two still need to be shown to your new rooms, yes? Follow me."
He moved out of the Great Hall and into the hallway that was now devoid of students, the heads followed close behind, attempting to trip each other up behind the headmaster's back. After three flights of stairs and four long corridors the headmaster stopped in front of a large painting.
The little girl in the painting hopped down from the swing she had been sitting on, her blonde curls bouncing and glistening in the ever-present sunlight of her portrait. "Ah, Annabelle, these are our two new heads, Mr. Malfoy and Ms. Granger." The portrait girl nodded her brown eyes glistening with unvoiced laughter. The headmaster turned to face them. "Now then, your password is pigmy puff. It will, of course, need to be changed once a month and…" he said with a sideways glance at Malfoy, "it does need both of you to change it. I suggest you two come up with some way to work through things, as it will probably make for a very long year if you two insist on shoving each other when you think myself or the other professors aren't watching. Although, you might find that the curse will take care of that for you." With that Dumbledore turned on his heel floating down and disappearing into the dimly lit corridor.
Malfoy turned to Hermione, looking puzzled, "curse?" He seemed to have forgotten for the moment that they hated each other choosing instead to make use of her know-it-all brains. Hermione though seemed to have other plans and she merely smirked turning towards the portrait. "Pigmy Puff."
The girl in the portrait giggled, shaking her head, blonde curls bouncing and brown eyes shining. "No." She said, finally speaking for the first time, he voice quiet and airy, much like Luna's. "No, you two must say it the first time together and every time you change it afterwards. It's what makes the password work you see."
Hermione turned towards Malfoy, "Well?"
He smirked, "It seems we've come to an impasse. However, since I am feeling generous today I will make a deal with you. You tell me about this "curse" and I'll say the password with you."
Hermione sighed realizing that it was better just to give in this time than risk a fight in the hallway, besides she was exhausted and wanted to get some reading done before bed. "Fine you prat, I'll tell you, but first lets go inside, I'm getting cold."
Malfoy nodded and turned to the portrait, surprising Hermione who had expected more of a fight, he must really want to know about this curse. Together they said, "Pigmy Puff." Malfoy cringing at the idea of saying such an adorable word and together they disappeared through the portrait hole.
Annabelle smiled in her portrait as she closed behind them. "Oh, it's only a matter of time for them," she whispered, her voice like a little girls, but her thoughts like an old woman. "The seeds are already there, they just need to be sown."
Bum bum bum. I finished this just in time for old school 90's Nickelodeon on TeenNick! So, who is Annabelle, and what's going to happen next? You shall see…
To my lovely reviewers:
marana1: I'm so glad you like it! Hopefully, you enjoyed this chapter too.
Lingo10: Hahahah. Yes, I agree. With both comments.
JasperWhitlockRocks: As I was writing it I knew it was just what he would say. Teehee.
mydirt09: The movie was AMAZING. Definitely my favorite yet, other than a couple minor details.
ellenloveforever: Thanks lovely! 35 already! I feel so loved.
cherryluvsdraco: I'm glad you love it, it means a lot to me that people like my writing. I also always contemplate the pros and cons before stabbing someone in the eye. Haha.
foreverkake: Thank you darling.
FBFan: Thank you! I feel like the characters are my babies, I'm so attached to them and what they do. Haha.
tsukiko94: Bwhaha, Draco will have a lot of comments about Hermione's outfits, you shall see.
Star-Of-Hearts: Aww, cut Ron some slack, he doesn't know what he does. Probably like your ex-boyfriend. Haha.
AccioTrouble: I surrender, I don't want to die, maybe this will appease you.
More: Yes More, I sense the urgency. Haha.
Eye of The Tigress: Thank you! Also, keep in mind Hermione doesn't have much to hold against Malfoy… yet. Bwhahahah. And yes, Fred and George shall return, but that's all I'm saying for now.
Thelovelykay: Aww. Really? I'm your favorite? I'm blushing right now.
Ontrose: I'm so glad you're enjoying it!
