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Chapter 4: Comments and Criticism: Prt.1

Draco Malfoy was looking out the window of the compartment. Watching as the sun was being replaced with the moon. An hour or so and he'd be back at Hogwarts with Crabbe, Goyle, and Parkinson. Why he still hung around them, he didn't know. Crabbe and Goyle were probably the dumbest students at Hogwarts and Parkinson, well she was all over him and he hated it. He wished that she would listen to him and back off.

Zabini, who was Draco's childhood friend was of course the only one he could stand out of all the Slytherins. Maybe even out of all of Hogwarts or even the world. Zabini was the only true friend Draco had, even though they called each other by their last names. If one was in trouble the other would back them out and vise versa. Zabini even knew that Draco didn't support the Dark Lord and Zabini didn't either. Though, their parents were true followers, they never saw the point in killing muggles or muggle-borns.

Draco was pulled out of his thoughts, as the compartment door opened and Granger walked in with a shocked expression upon her face. Draco saw that her shockness wasn't caused by him, for she looked like her mind was far off on some other plain.

"See you back at Hogwarts Ms. Granger." Professor McGonagall said. "Mr. Malfoy, you as well." She stated and then with a 'pop' she was gone.

Hermione sat across from Draco and Draco just stared at her. Wondering why she was in this state. Hermione would usually roll her eyes in disgust or give him an evil smirk that would match his own just by the sight of him.

Then it hit him. He saw her robes. Her usually red-maroon and gold tie was now green and silver and the patch on her robes that usually had the Gryffindor crest on it was now the Slytherin crest.

"You have to be joking." Draco scoffed.

Hermione looked at him her shocked expression still present. "That's exactly what I said." She told him without the disgust tone that was usually present on the lioness.

Malfoy was now the one shocked, "You mean to tell me that your in Slytherin. But, you're a...a mud...muggle-born." He stammered.

"That's what was going threw my head when the sorting hat resorted me." Hermione said, now looking at her hands. 'I'm talking to Malfoy. I'm having an actual slight conversation with Malfoy.' Hermione thought. 'Wait was he stammering? And did he call me a muggle-born and not a mudblood?'

"But, how in bleeding hell is that possible." Draco asked with a bewildered look.

"I have no idea."

Suddenly Malfoy smirked, "Wow, little Ms. Know-it-all-Granger, finally doesn't know something."

Hermione's head shot up and looked at him; a sad look present on her face, 'Just when I thought he might actually be a little nice' Hermione thought. She knew that if she was in the mood that she would shoot some nasty comment back at him, but she wasn't up for a fight. She just took a deep breath and leaned her head back against the cushioned seat.

Draco saw the sad looked and for a moment he regretted saying what he said,

but only for a moment.

-

Hermione was looking out of the window, about thirty more minutes and she would be at Hogwarts. Thank the gods. But, then again to hell with the gods, for she was now a Slytherin and had to sit at the Slytherin table. 'Oh, bloody hell! What are Harry and Ron gonna think!?!' Hermione thought.

Ron would criticize her forever and Harry would probably always look at her with that disapproving look. "Oh, gods kill me know, why don't you?"

"What was that?" Hermione heard Malfoy ask. She looked up at him. Had she just said that out loud?

"Oh, nothing." She told him without any emotion present in her voice or features, "Just thinking out loud."

"Well, since your in Slytherin now, I best tell you not to do it much. Some will think your a crazy hag, others might take advantage of you." He told her.

Hermione's brow furrowed, "And why are you giving me advise? I thought you hated me. Hated mudbloods."

Draco flinched when she said that, "Please, don't say that." He asked his eyes closed and his guard down.

Hermione looked him up and down. Had he just flinched when she said 'mudblood'? Why? He called her that all the time, ever since second year. "And why not? You've been saying it since second year, maybe even before that."

"Just be careful." Draco said, eyes open and a glare pointed in Hermione's direction.

For a moment Hermione thought she would smile. 'Dra...Malfoy, wants me to be careful'. She just looked out the window, "Thank you. For the advise and I will be careful." She said not surly understanding what was going on between them and their conversation that was now put to an end by the screeching sound of the train slowing. They both could see Hogwarts out the window.

-

Hermione had made sure no one saw her and her new robes as she had gotten into one of the carriages with Malfoy. He laughed at her worried expression. Hermione gave him a deathly glare.

"What if you were resorted into Gryffindor and nobody, but the twinkling eyed Headmaster and your old Head of House new?" She asked and smiled to herself as Malfoy had shut up with nothing to say back.

'Hell, what would I do?' he asked himself as the carriage started moving. 'Me? In Gryffindor? I would die within the day! Thank the gods I wasn't resorted'.

-

The carriage had stopped and Malfoy got out first and without thinking, held his hand out to Hermione to help her. Hermione gave him a questioning look, but decided quickly to stuff the questions and just take his hand. When she got out she was faced with two bemused faces.

"Harry! Ron!" Hermione squeaked and Malfoy smirked a little, but then the feeling of remorse came over him. He didn't know what he'd tell his friends if he was ever resorted into a new house. But, then again this was his seventh year and if Dumbledore wanted to resort him he would have already done it. So, he had nothing to worry about, except he felt that if Potty and Weasel said anything mean to Hermione he would be more then proud to crutio them into the next generation.

"What the HELL are you wearing!" Ron yelled which made many heads turn towards them. With only those words, Hermione felt the tears begin to prick the corners of her eyes.

"Uh...well...I was...well I was...um" Hermione stuttered. She looked to Malfoy for a moment. In hopes that he might help, but her hopes were put down when she realized that Malfoy was Malfoy. He would never help her.

"Um...Um...Are you going to answer or just stand there stuttering?" Ron asked with fury.

Hermione felt as a few tears were gently falling down her face. Then she saw Ginny walking up to her and glare at Ron.

"Ron, shut up!" She yelled at her older brother. Malfoy smirked, he liked the Weaslette, she had spunk. Ron just stood there open mouthed. Ginny turned to Hermione, "Are you alright?" she asked and Hermione nodded, "You don't have to answer Ron's question if you don't want to ok." Hermione nodded again.

"Like HELL!" Roared Ron and he grabbed Hermione's arm, "Why the HELL are YOU wearing SLYTHERIN ROBES!" Hermione winced as Ron grabbed her arm.

Hermione was now crying hysterically and this only made Ron madder. He started yelling at her so loud and his words came out so fast that nobody new what he was saying.

Suddenly Ron's grasp was torn away from Hermione and he was now on the floor. When Ron looked up he saw a raged Malfoy. Harry went for his wand, but Malfoy had his out within the blink of an eye and pointed it at Harry. "If I so much as see your hand in your pocket Potter, I'll throw the Crutiatus Curse at you within seconds." He said with a evil glare, "Now, you." Malfoy was now looking and pointing his wand at Ron, "If you ever, grab, glare, or even look at her with unpleasant thoughts, I will be your worst nightmare. Do you understand?"

Ron, scared out of his wits nodded and then Harry helped him up. Malfoy's wand now pointing at the both of them. Meanwhile, Hermione was watching from behind Malfoy. She had never seen Malfoy so angered even though he was always mean nor had she ever thought he would have helped her out.

"Good." Malfoy said and put his wand away, still glaring at the both of them and not really understanding why he was sticking up for Granger. "Oh, and that will be 50 points from Gryffindor for the both of you."

The Gryffindors who were listening in; all groaned and someone yelled out, "That's not fare, Ferret-Boy!"

Draco was about to speak, when Hermione chimed in, "That'll be another 50 points from Gryffindor. For name calling the Head Boy." Draco looked at her and she gave him a small smile.

"Hermione, are you trying to give our House a heart-attack." Harry finally spoke.

Hermione tore her eyes away from Malfoy and looked at Harry, "I'm not in Gryffindor anymore as you can see, Harry. Dumbledore has resorted me into Slytherin." she said and many gasps could be heard.

Suddenly, a 'pop' sounded the area and Professor Snape was there. "Hello. I'm here to escort you to the Great Hall before McGonagall sees to it that the First Years are sorted into there rightful houses" He said looking at Hermione with that last part. "Follow me."

Snape turned around and walked into the castle. All the student following him. Hermione kept eyeing Malfoy. Smiling and blushing when he met her gaze.

Snape stopped and stepped to the side as they approached the old oak doors that led to the Great Hall. After a few moments, when the student didn't go in he said, "Well, go in." And with that, second to seventh years started piling up into the Great Hall, taking their seats. When Hermione went to walk into the Great Hall, Snape had stopped her, "Dumbledore wanted me to talk to you before you presented yourself at the Slytherin Table." Hermione looked away for a moment, knowing that this year was going to be hell with Snape as her Head of House. Hermione knew that he was going to say something about her being a know-it-all. But what he said was really a shock, "I'm proud to have you in Slytherin. Ever since your first year, with your intelligence in Potions and your attitude, I knew the sorting hat had got it wrong. Slytherin is your rightful house." Hermione looked him straight in the eyes, 'Was this a joke,' She thought.

"Professor Snape." McGonagall's voice rang out and Hermione and Snape looked to her, seeing many First Years behind her. "May you let Ms. Granger into the Hall now, for we have a bit of sorting to be done."

Snape smirked, glared and then opened the doors to the Great Hall. Snape walked in first and then Hermione, followed by Professor McGonagall and the First Years. Hermione was about to join the Gryffindors, when she remembered and walked to the Slytherin Table. Not knowing where to sit or who to sit by.

She sat in a seat that wasn't taken infront of Malfoy. She listened in on the conversations and didn't join in, afraid that maybe she would be shunned.