Chapter 5- Meeting Alexandra
There was a dozen or so teachers stood waiting on the platform. Professor Mcgonagall was stood at the front shouting out all kind of orders. The students began departing the train, now that they felt safe in the grounds, the gossip began. The students were buzzing.
"First years you will go with Hagrid here" Mcgonagall said pointing to the half giant next to her. All the first years with nervous looking faces began crowding round Hagrid who quickly lead them off to the small wooden boats that would take them across the lake. The well lit castle was reflected onto the dark water it looked beautiful from there Hermione thought.
"Ravenclaws you will be escorted to the castle by Professor Flitwick"
"Hufflepuffs you will be escorted by your head of house professor Sprout" she's waiting for you just up the hill.
"Slytherins you will be escorted by professor Vector, she will be taking Professor Snapes place" with this Hermione glanced round. No Snape.
"bet he was out with the death eaters" Ron muttered in her ear.
"Ron" Hermione said
"yeah, yeah Dumbledore trusts him, but what if Dumbledore's wrong Hermione"
"I trust him" Hermione hissed.
"Gryffindor you will be taken up by Madame hooch and Mr Ronald Weasley since he would rather talk than listen" and she looked at Ron with those piercing eyes. Ron's face flushed, he put his head down and walked towards the quiddict captain.
" I ask all prefects If they would remain with me and Madame Pomfrey to help any injured students" Hermione watched as the students began heading up towards the castle. She joined the others who were now gathered around her head of house.
Hermione was surprised to see Luna there.
"Luna you made prefect congratulations" Hermione said turning to Luna
"thank you" she said gently smiling. Turning from Hermione to Mcgonagall she said;
"Professor I think Neville needs the most help, he was hit with the an unforgivable"
"oh god heavens take me to the boy" and her and Mcgonagall sped onto the train. Hermione followed behind them.
Neville was still lying unconscious on the floor. All The Students had moved into two compartments, looking around Hermione saw how many people had been injured, there were some with minor burns, cuts, some with bite marks. She left the compartment as it was very crowded and Madame Pomfrey seemed to be dealing with most of them. Walking down the empty train she was shocked to find Ginny was snogging Michael. Michael taking the hex for her had been his way of caring. Hermione thought of Harry and how he would react. Not Good she thought. It was rather amusing to watch, Michael obviously was still feeling the hex as every few seconds his face would do a rather strange expression and his leg would cramp up. Hermione guessed Ginny was ignoring this. She shot a spell at his legs and the Hex was removed. They both looked up now. Ginny cheeks went a rosy pink colour and she looked down. Perhaps she was feeling guilty about Harry as well.
"Thanks Hermione, That was some amazing magic you did earlier, can you believe It death eaters attacking the Hogwarts express" Michael was talking very fast, obviously the excitement, adrenaline and hormones were too much for him to handle. Turner a deep shade of pink now Ginny muttered "thanks".
"No problem" Hermione said and she turned very quickly to leave. Staring at Ginny for one last time she realised this was the first time she had saw Ginny smile all summer. It also made Hermione feel lonely. She wanted to be with someone. It wasn't like she hadn't been asked. She had just been so dedicated to her school work and spent so much time with Harry and Ron that she didn't see a relationship working.
New goal for this year find a boyfriend she thought, her mind then instantly thought of Severus. Don't be so silly she thought to herself. He's a teacher, off limits and old. She also reminded herself that Snape was a grown man who could clearly take care of himself, but she had seen his pain and loneliness and she understood him a little better. Again she reminded herself that the man although saving her and her friends lives a few times did not particularly like her. She wanted to change this though, but how? Her thoughts were interrupted by someone sobbing. Hermione looked around to find a young boy sat on the floor crying, his head between his knees, his arms wrapped tightly around his body and his tears falling to the floor. He didn't't seem to be hurt, well no obvious injuries Hermione thought. She scanned the boy over looking at his robes, all in tact!
"are you alright?" she asked. He looked up at her, his eyes were red raw he had obviously been crying for a while.
"Go away" he replied to her. Hermione was a little stunned and hurt but she sat down next to the boy.
" I'm a Gryffindor, It's in my nature not too" he looked up at her then and smiled.
" what's wrong, why aren't't you heading up to the castle with everyone else?" she asked.
"I don't want to go to Hogwarts, I'm waiting for the train to go back to London" and he started sobbing again.
Hermione was shocked now and her mouth fell open. She had never met a student who didn't't want to be at Hogwarts.
"why not?" she asked.
"because I don't belong here, I don't want to be in slytherin and this" he pulled back his robe sleeve. There on his arm was the words you filthy half blood carved deep into his skin and It was bleeding a deep red. It went from his wrist to his elbow. Hermione now understood. She was called a Mud-blood by Draco Malfoy more than once and knew how it felt. She looked at the boy again and he pulled his robe back over it.
Hermione reached out for his hand, turned it looking at the cut from all angles, she waved her wand and some antiseptic wipes appeared from no where.
"What happened to you?"
"Bellatrix Lestrange doesn't like me much, when she was blown into our carriage, she did this to my arm, then all the other slytherins saw it and they laughed and made fun of me so I ran and hid" he looked down and added "most of my family have been put into slytherin"
"That's awful" Hermione said and he eyes began to well up with tears.
"Can I clean it?" she asked him.
" umm yeah" she pulled back his robes and was inspecting the deep cut more closely. It would definitely scar the boy. He needed someone to look at this, it was dark magic. She wiped over it with the wipes, the boy gasped when the alcohol touched the raw flesh "sorry" she said. She finished wiping up all the blood from around the cut.
She pulled out her wand and muttered "ferula" and a bandage shot out and wrapped around the boys arm.
"you will need to go to Madame Pomfrey but that should help until your ready to deal with it"
"okay" he replied.
"you know both my parents are muggles and I still do alright at school" she said putting a hand on his shoulder.
"Hermione, are you here?" Luna was calling down the train.
"Here Luna" Hermione replied. Luna came walking up the train with a very pale Neville, Ginny and Michael.
"We have to head to the castle the trains leaving now" so she stood up and followed the others.
She turned to the boy and said "are you coming?" and to her surprised the boy got up. He walked very close to Hermione and she guessed he was a little scared. He must be a first year she thought.
After making there way into a carriage, they headed for the castle. The theastle seemed to be going a little faster than usual. Unknown to others but they too could sense the danger that surrounded the castles barrier. They arrived at the castles entrance and made there way into great hall. By the looks of it they had missed the sorting hat and the feast had already begun. Luna and Michael made there way over to the ravenclaw table. Ginny and Neville took there seat at their table. Hermione was left standing with the boy.
"first years have to be sorted into their houses, would the young gentleman please step to the front" Albus Dumbledore had spoken directly to he boy stood next to Hermione. Everyone is the great hall turned and stared at the boy. The slytherins were now making fun. Hermione whispered to him "You can choose you house you know" and she walked towards the Gryffindor table and sat down next to Harry and Ron. Professor McGonagall called his name "Alexandra Lestrange Smith" everyone whispered now. Was he related to the Lestranges? Hermione now knew what he meant. The sorting hat was placed on his head. After about a minute it called out "raven claw" the boys face showed relief. He literally ran over to the table and was met with cheers. He looked over at Hermione and gave her a smile and a wave.
Dumbledore made a quick speech about the incident on the train, about some auroras that would be placed within the school for protection and a quick welcoming. Hermione looked over at the head table, Snape was not there. Where was he? She wondered. After having something to eat all the students began heading towards there houses. Hermione was extremely tired, she needed to sleep. Once in the common room she turned to Harry and asked to borrow his map and cape.
"Sure" he replied, he pulled it out of his bag.
"Thanks Harry"
"Hermione what do you need that for anyways?"
"err a house elf thing" both Harry and Ron rolled there eyes. They set up a chess board and began playing while discussing the events from earlier that evening.
"I'm off to bed, goodnight"
"night" and she headed off to the girls dorm.