A/N So... it's been a while. Sorry. I have a vague plan for this story but major writer's block. Yeah. Also, I decided to just write my own Sorting Hat song. Cause why not! (sarcasm.) I think it's awful, but anyways... Please tell me what you think about this story.
Onwards and upwards...
Hermione jolted awake with a start as the train pulled into the station. Students were filing out, lugging their bags with them. She spotted Luna's long blonde hair and hurried to catch up with her.
"Oh, hello, Hermione. Did you have a nice break?"
"It was alright. You?"
"Oh, Daddy and I went to Transylvania."
"Isn't that – oh, never mind," Hermione sighed.
They chose an empty carriage and Luna gave the thestrals an absent-minded pat. The two girls sat in companionable silence for about four seconds before a loud voice rang out, muffled slightly by the large cauldron cake stuffed into his mouth.
"-so I told her that I was sick of her acting like an octopus. She actually started crying!" There was a snort of laughter. Ron had obviously broken up with Lavender - again.
The two boys sprawled themselves into the carriage, languidly waving off first years begging for autographs. Luna smiled vaguely off into the distance, apparently oblivious to the awkward silence settling over the other three. Harry cleared his throat. "So… er…" He trailed off.
They were silent for the rest of the drive.
Hermione sat at her usual spot on the Gryffindor table – at one end with a two seat radius around her. She watched as the new first years trailed in, anxious and huddling. The Sorting Hat burst into song:
Oh welcome one and welcome all
To Hogwarts School today
The things you'll learn within this hall
Will help you on your way
I'll sort you in the houses four
I've never yet been wrong!
Since, when a hundred years - or more
Dear Hogwarts first begun
You could belong in Hufflepuff
Where live the just and kind
And loyalty will be enough
Acceptance you will find
It may perhaps be Ravenclaw
Where they most value knowledge
The smartest, with sits love of lore
Your brains they will acknowledge
You may belong in Gryffindor
Where dwell the brave of heart
Bold natures mean they never bore
Of always taking part
Or yet it could be Slytherin
Those shrewd and cunning friends
Ambition means they often win-
Any means to meet the end
So pull me right upon your head
And I will find your kind
Please, don't feel the least bit of dread
As I look through your mind!
There was a round of applause and the poor first years looked even more terrified than before. Hermione couldn't help herself, and smiled kindly at them. She watched as each child's name was read out and they were placed in a house. Eventually they came to the last child (Zhang, Henry) and Professor Dumbledore stood.
"I know you are all excited and hungry, so I will say only this: To the new students, welcome! To the old students, welcome back!"
There was loud cheering from Ron as hundreds of dishes appeared on the previously sparkling empty plates. All the new students gasped, and Ron chewed.
Hermione served herself some food and ate quietly, observing the conversations around her. Lavender, Parvati and a few other seventh year girls were giggling about something. Ron and Harry were discussing Quidditch – as usual. Many of the first yeas were staring wide-eyed at the ceiling, the ghosts, and the food on the previously empty table.
Hermione sighed. She was losing confidence about her formerly firm decision to make some friends.
Once they had all eaten enough, the plates disappeared and Professor Dumbledore stood again. "Ahem. Just a few more words now that we are all fed and watered. I have a few start of term notices I wish to announce. The first years should note that the Forbidden Forest is strictly prohibited to all students, as is the village of Hogsmeade to all below third year. Mr. Filch, the caretaker, has also asked me to tell you that the list of objects banned inside the castle have this year been extended to comprises some seven hundred and fifty-two items, I believe, and can be viewed in Mr. Filch's office, if anybody would like to check it.
"First years, please follow the prefects to your new dormitories – and could the Head Boy and Girl see me in my office." The Headmaster resumed his seat.
Hermione's heart sank. This was not going to go well.
Hermione sat before Professor Dumbledore's desk, Malfoy on the other side of the room. He had just explained – extensively – how they needed to display cordiality and unity. Hermione was skeptical.
The Professor cleared his throat over Malfoy's dark mutterings. "Professor McGonagall will lead the way to your new rooms. The password is pacem."
"Peace," Draco scoffed under his breath, "what a joke."
Hermione and Draco stood silently before the portrait that was the entrance to their common room. Hermione was irritated. The whole living together situation was ridiculous. She had hoped that maybe the Head Boy might just only partially dislike her. But, of course, it had to be Malfoy. The president of the Hating Hermione club. She didn't think there was such a club but if there were, he'd be the president. She took a deep breath before turning to him, about to speak. He scowled at her and then said, "Pacem."
The painting swung open and revealed a common room that reminded Hermione of Christmas. The fire was roaring and the whole room was green and red.
Malfoy waved his wand and all the red in the room turned silver. Hermione didn't know how he could do nonverbal magic so well - or such advanced magic. She tried to ignore his pettiness, instead taking a closer look around. There was a whole wall devoted to a bookshelf. Hermione sighed contentedly. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad. There were several chairs, tables and two desks. All in all it looked like a smaller version of the Gryffindor common room, just in Slytherin colours.
On the opposite ends of the room were two portraits, one featuring a female, one a male. The Professor had explained that to change the password, all one needed to do was say permutoand then say the new password with one hand on some part of the portrait. For their main entrance they would both have to place a hand on the portrait and say the same password.
Hermione walked quickly over to the red and gold portrait on the right, saying the password that Professor Dumbledore had told her. The portrait swung open revealing a four-poster bed, her trunk and another bookshelf all in red and gold. One of Hermione's frustrations with this school was that everything was segregated – even colours. Everything was always decorated in red and gold. Her favourite colour was actually green, not red, but to say that would be social suicide – probably the only low she had not reached.
She thought back to when she shared a room with Parvati and Lavender. At least now she would have peace and quiet. She was hoping that she and Malfoy wouldn't have to have much to do with each other - an unlikely occurrence but still possible if she tried.
Hermione flopped onto the bed. It was much comfier than her old one, or her bed at home. It was then that she saw a door on the opposite side of her room. She held her breath as she walked slowly over to it. She assumed it was a bathroom, but the question was not whether it was a bathroom, but whether it was hers…
She had heard of nonsense like shared bathrooms and the only thing more ridiculous than letting two horny teenagers share a bathroom would be to let two horny teenagers share a common room. Luckily for Hermione, she was not by nature a particularly… promiscuous girl, and Malfoy seemed to prefer those with large chests and revealing clothes.
Hermione reached over to the doorknob cautiously. She twisted it as gently as she could and warily opened the door. She heaved a sigh of relief when she saw only the basic bathroom amenities. So the rumours had been just that.
She had a quick shower before collapsing back onto her bed, hoping that a good night's sleep would give her some comfort.