Draco and Hermione both exited the Head's Carriage rather quickly and separated ways so that they could meet up with their friends.
Draco quickly spotted his friends and made a beeline for them whilst pushing younger students out of his way.
'Drakie! I hope that Mudblood didn't contaminate you with any of her diseases!' said Pansy loudly as Hermione passed by. Hermione pretended to not hear her and followed Ron and Harry into the Entrance Hall. (Ginny had gone in with her friends)
Draco smirked. The Slytherins stayed outside, bullying any other students who came in their way, swearing loudly at each other and basically just making a big racket about nothing.
XxXxX
Hermione climbed across the sitting bench and sat down alongside Harry and Ron, which made her in the middle of the both of them. Hermione smiled to herself, something about the two of them made her feel safe. Hermione glanced across the Hall. They were a few empty seats across the Great Hall. Mostly from Slytherin, she noticed. 'Probably pestering younger students,' she thought with disgust.
The Golden trio chatted for awhile. Two minutes before Professor McGonagall was going to begin the sorting ceremony, the Slytherin gang led by the Head Boy himself strutted inside the Great Hall.
'Stupid Slytherins…probably want to make a grand entry…' whispered Harry.
Nearly everyone in the Great Hall, apart from the other Slytherins, shot death glares at them.
Professor McGonagall had seated the three legged school in front of the first years that looked ready to faint because of all the attention. Hermione smiled a weak smile. She remembered when it was her standing up there, waiting to be sorted into a house. She had been so young…so naïve. 'Now Head Girl…' she thought.
On top of the stool stood the very old and battered hat, the Sorting Hat. Suddenly the brim of the well known hat opened and it began to sing:
What shall you say?
How will you act?
Will you be afraid?
When I announce this horrid fact?
I have told you before,
Who can defy that I have not,
Shall you deny it?
Then you shall rot.
For if you do not accept it,
It will be too late,
The time has come
Cos' awaits us this painful fate.
Whether you be Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff,
Put your differences aside,
Or Gryffindor and Slytherin
None cares about your pride.
Friendships broken,
Families torn apart,
Can you hear it?
The voice from your heart.
It is telling you to forget,
Begging you to forgive,
This pain is not needed
Life is to live.
This year is for learning,
Realise your mistake,
Keep your beliefs
Friends; try to make.
This is the warning,
Please do not fight,
If you do
We can not unite.
If you argue,
Then you should fear,
The end of your life
Since war is here…
The end of this song, more like warning, was greeted with silence. No one did or said anything. Surprisingly, even the Slytherins. It was silent. It was more than silent. It was as if you can see the clogs working in peoples mind, trying to figure out what the hat had tried to warn the students about. Obviously it was the war. But there was something more to it…
After awhile, the Gryffindors started clapping along with the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws, even a few of the Slytherins joined in.
'Now if you all will settle down, we can begin the Sorting Ceremony,' said Professor McGonagall. Although her voice was strict, her eyes seemed to have gone watery. She wasn't the only one though. Most of the female population had gone glassy-eyed. The boys obviously had tried to comfort them but had failed.
Hermione moved closer to both boys and held their hands. Hermione couldn't bear to think about not having the boys. She couldn't live without them… they turned to face her and gave Hermione a small smile, saying without words that everything would be alright. Gradually the Hall became silent.
'Thompson, Jessica!' called Professor McGonagall in a clear voice. The blonde haired girl slowly moved towards the stool and placed the hat upon her head.
After awhile the hat declared, 'RAVENCLAW!' The girl happily hopped off the seat and ran over to the Ravenclaw table who welcomed her with cheers.
'Martin, Robert!' shouted Professor McGonagall.
'HUFFLEPUFF!' shouted the Hat. The dark haired boy scuttled off to his table.
'Hall, Andrew!'
'RAVENCLAW!'
'Brooklyn, Kate!'
'SLYTHERIN!' Loud cheers erupted from the far side of the Hall. The brown haired girl walked proudly over to the Slytherin table.
'Bartlett, Jamie!'
'GRYFFINDOR!' The loudest of cheers exploded after the mention of the girls' name. The girl quickly scurried over to the Gryffindor table, blushing like mad.
Hermione and her friends screamed themselves hoarse every time a first year was sent to their table. She felt great, like all the other times when there was no trouble at all, 'When was that again?' she thought. After the Ceremony had ended a little tinkling sound could be heard. Professor McGonagall had gotten up. The speech was about to begin. Hermione hushed up any of the students from Gryffindor who were talking so she could here what the Professor had to say.
'Welcome students to another year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I hope that everyone this year will enjoy and learn a great deal. Although Hogwarts had been through a rough time these past few months, we are proud to say that everything is under control,' Professor McGonagall's eyes swept the Gryffindor table and landed on the Golden Trio who stared back at the Professor.
Professor McGonagall cleared her throat and carried on, 'Now I would like to remind all our older students and inform our new students that the Forbidden Forrest is indeed forbidden. Anyone who shall trespass this territory would be delt with seriously, especially at circumstances at hand.
'Anything from the 'Weasley's Wizard Wheezes' is also prohibited. All owls shall be checked, so it would be unwise of you to try and smuggle any item of theirs into the school grounds. If you would like the full list of prohibited items you may see Filch the Caretaker or you may contact any other teacher as well as myself,' she paused and looked around to see if everyone understood.
'I would like to take this opportunity to introduce our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Juliana. A soft murmur of applause was heard through out the Great Hall. Hogwarts had never had a female teaching Defence. Professor Juliana stood up from her seat and gave a small smile. She had strawberry blonde hair and looked quite fun to be around with. She didn't look older than twenty-three.
'Professor Juliana has also been positioned as Head of Slytherin,' Professor McGonagall continued. Almost instantly the cheering had stopped although the Slytherin table were cheering like mad with catcalls, whoops and whistles which came mainly from the male population.
'There shall be many activities taking place this year which hopefully you all would enjoy. There would be Balls and special Programs held for our older students. Therefore, I would like all students from sixth and seventh year to remain behind. Now to the two people who shall be organizing these events: The Head Boy, Draco Malfoy from Slytherin' there was a few moments of half-hearted clapping from the students as Draco lazily stood up to acknowledge this position. The Slytherins clapped as hard as they could possibly manage although most of it went unheard because of the boo's emitting from the Gryffindor table.
'…and our Head Girl, Hermione Granger from Gryffindor!' Hermione truly thought that she would go deaf. It seemed that everyone including the staff members, excluding the Slytherins, cheered for her. They were clapping, shouting, screaming, whistling…you name it! The Slytherins hissed at her, but she didn't care. Hermione stood up, her cheeks turning bright red as she smiled a beautiful smile. She felt awfully light-headed at all the attention she was receiving. 'So this is what I have been working for all these years…paid off hasn't it?' Hermione thought.
Ron and Harry smiled at her proudly. Hermione sat down as the cheering died down.
Professor McGonagall cleared her throat, 'Ok…now that you know who your Heads are this year I would like to inform you that they both have the right to give or take points from your house. I would like you to treat them with great respect,' the Professor looked around the Hall, 'I shall remind all the sixth and seventh years to stay behind after the Feast.' With that the Professor sat down after a rather long speech.
As soon as she sat down, food had appeared on the table. Both the boys sitting beside her looked as if they hadn't ever seen food in their life before, although they have been attending the Welcoming Feast at Hogwarts for seven year, some would have thought that they would have gotten sick of it; obviously not. Hermione and Ginny shared a look which plainly meant that they disapproved of their behaviour. However they both knew that telling the boys would not work. So they continued eating with bits of chatter. Until finally they had finished with dessert.
Professor McGonagall stood up, 'I would like all students from first to fifth year to depart the Great Hall in an organised manner. The fifth year Prefects, please make sure that the first years find their way to their Common rooms.' She paused and waited for all the younger students to leave the great hall until it was just her, the Professors and the sixth and seventh year students.
'Ok. I would like to announce that this year at Hogwarts…we will be hosting the 'Future Life Program'. Before anyone could interrupt her she carried on, 'This program is designed for young adults to work together and discover the positives and negatives of Parenthood. With the war approaching, the staff members and I think it very important for you all to have some sort of idea of what life would be like outside of Hogwarts,' she stopped for awhile and looked around the room to see if everyone was paying attention. Surprisingly the Slytherins were also listening carefully.
'This idea mainly came from our newly appointed staff member, Professor Juliana. Therefore, she would be the teacher and advisor for this Program. Professor Juliana has a few words to say to you all…' with that Professor Juliana stood up and walked forward, a few people half-heartedly clapped for her. Hermione was amongst them.
'Good evening students. Just to add to what professor McGonagall has said, I would like to say that this Program is also to create inter-house companionship,' with this said she glanced over at the two far ends of the Hall, the Gryffindor and Slytherin tables.
'This event will take up most of the school year in which you all would have to live with a partner in your own little dorm,' she continued with a slight smile, 'your partner and yourself will have to raise a child for the remaining of the school year. You will all learn to cooperate with your partners whether you like them or not. We will be meeting on a regular basis in the Health classroom, which is now located in the West Wing, so that we can discuss the progress of your 'project'.
'There will also be a Ball in the middle of the year, which you must attend with your partner and your child. You will have to take your child shopping out to Hogsmeade and all the other normal stuff an average family of three would do. You will be given an amount of money which you will use to cover the needs of your family. You will be required to take pictures of special events and write in journals which are to be handed to me at the end of the year.
'Tomorrow will be a normal day with classes, but precisely after dinner I would like to meet you in the Health Classroom. If you have any other questions you may contact any one of the staff members or you may come and meet me in my office. That is all from me tonight…Goodnight' with that speech over everyone looked like they had heard the news of Voldemort professing his undying love to Harry. It was simply…weird.
'Students, thank you for waiting so patiently for the end of this speech. If you could all exit the Great Hall and go to your dorms so that you can wake up early for your lessons tomorrow,' Professor McGonagall said.
'Blimey…' whispered Ron. He had an unbelievable look on his face.
'Yeah…' trailed on Harry.
'Umm…guys. I have to go meet up with Malfoy and Professor McGonagall. So I'll see you guys in the Common Room later…' Hermione said as she walked off. She doubted that the boys heard her since both of them had dreamy looks on their faces.
Hermione made her way towards the Teacher's table. Professor McGonagall spotted her and walked to her.
'Have you seen Mr. Malfoy?' Professor McGonagall asked annoyance stinging her words.
'Umm…no Professor I haven't. He'll be here in awhile,' Hermione said although she didn't believe it.
After about 10 minutes, Draco swaggered into the hall and strutted towards them.
'Mr. Malfoy, you are late. I will not accept this type of behaviour in the future. If I ask you to come after the feast and announcements, you are to come as soon as they have ended,' the Professor said in a strict tone.
'I'm sorry Professor…' Draco said although anyone could tell that he didn't mean it.
'Alright. Now the both of you follow me,' with that she was off, leading the way. Hermione was right behind the Professor with Draco behind Hermione. She took them to an empty corridor on the third floor. She stopped at a portrait which had a picture of a three year old boy playing with his toy broomstick. There were two people standing behind the boy, a man and a woman. Hermione figured that these were his parents smiling fondly at him. Hermione smiled at them and they waved.
'Mr. Malfoy, Miss. Granger this is Mr. and Mrs. McCartney and their son, Justin. This will be the portrait which conceals your dorm,' the Professor waited for it to come.
Malfoy who had been using the wall as a stand to lean on nearly fell down when he heard what the Professor said.
'Umm…excuse me Professor, but I don't quite understand what you meant by our dorm,' Hermione said nervously.
'What I meant was that you both will be sharing a dorm for this year…'
This time no one waited.
'That's it you've lost it!'
'But Professor, you just can't!'
'I will not spend the rest of this year stuck with her!'
'For once I am actually agreeing with Malfoy…I can't spend the rest of the year with him!'
Professor McGonagall raised her hand. Instantly the two teenagers stopped shouting.
'Now…this tradition has been in Hogwarts for as long as anyone can remember. I will not have you two ruin it!' she said in a tone which meant that she wasn't joking.
'I have told you once; don't make me tell you again. This year is going to be very different. I'm not going to ask you to be friends, but at least try to be civil when you're near other students.'
She paused for awhile. Hermione was starting to agree with it. She didn't have to talk to him. She'll just try to avoid the common room whenever she can.
'Alright Professor…' she said.
Professor McGonagall turned to look at Draco.
'Fine!' he said with venom. After all he was tired and wanted to go to bed. This had been a long day. And the both of them had to rest and think things over.
'Good. Now the password to your dorm room is unity. Have a goodnights sleep and think over the things I have just told you. Goodnight' and with that she was off. Leaving the two of them in silence glaring at each other. The only sound which can be heard was the soft gurgling sound which came from the little boy in the portrait as his mother rocked him to sleep.
'If you don't mind…we would like to get some sleep, so if the two of you would kindly step into your dorm room…'trailed off Mrs. McCartney.
'Oh yes…sorry,' Hermione said, 'Unity.' The portrait swung open and she stepped inside.
Hermione's breath caught in her throat. The room looked simply, well, breath taking. The common room was decorated in the colours of all the houses of Hogwarts. Each house colour for each wall. The four founders slept peacefully in their portraits which were hanging on the walls.
The common room had a cozy looking couch which was placed in front of a very large fire place. They had a small kitchen with a fridge, stove and microwave. Hermione was pleased to see the muggle appliances. They also had a small dinner table which was made out of jarrah wood. Hermione could see a staircase leading up to two bedrooms.
'Probably the best thing you've ever seen, eh?' Draco said with a smirk. Draco obviously had seen better, what with living in a mansion…this was nothing.
'Goodnight Malfoy. I don't feel like talking, especially to you,' she climbed the stairs and was met with two rooms to her left and right. The right one had a lion on the front door and was crimson and gold. The on her left had a snake hissing at her and was green and silver. The one on her right was obviously hers.
She opened her door and went into her room. It was HUGE! She had a queen sized bed which was red with golden pillows, in the middle of the room. She was glad to see that she had her own personal bookshelf which went from the top of the ceiling all the way to the bottom; and let me tell you the ceiling was very high. She opened her wardrobe to see all her school robes and casual clothing already stacked. She smiled, one less thing to do.
Hermione yawned. She grabbed her night gown and walked towards the bathroom which was located at the far end of the corridor.
She opened the door before she quickly shut it. Hermione Granger had seen Draco Malfoy half naked! She had seen him in only a pair of boxers brushing his teeth! Blushing furiously she started to walk towards her bedroom when she heard the usual drawling voice, 'Ever heard of knocking Granger?' Malfoy asked as he began to walk towards Hermione.
'Ever heard of locking the door Malfoy?' she surprised herself by asking. The retort just seemed to have slipped off her tongue and she wasn't complaining. So she turned around and walked into the bathroom and made sure to lock it. Leaving a very bewildered Malfoy behind.
XxXxX
Draco had seen the look of shock on Hermione's face as she walked in on him in the bathroom. She had blushed, Draco smirked. He had that effect on the ladies. With that thought in mind he walked into his room and laid down on his bed which was green and silver in colour.
Draco knew what was coming. He and granger would most probably be paired up for that stupid Program. Everything else he had to do with her, so he'll have to do this one with her as well. It was a perfect opportunity to show inter house unity. 'Unity my foot!' he thought. This year was already getting onto his nerves…he wondered how it would end up.
With that thought in mind he drifted off to sleep...
XxXxX
After Hermione had gotten inside the bathroom she made sure to lock the door. She remembered how he was standing near the sink in only his boxers. Hermione blushed at the thought of his chest. She noticed in his reflection in the mirror that he had a rather well toned chest, 'What with all those Quidditch practices…' she thought. Hermione scolded herself for thinking such thoughts. To rid her mind she stripped and climbed into the pool sized bath tub. She put in as many bubbles as she could possibly manage and let herself sink into them. After 20 minutes she got out of the tub, dried herself, put her night gown on and brushed her teeth.
She quietly tip toed into her room and threw herself onto her bed. After a few minutes, she fell into a peaceful slumber…yet she didn't know how hectic this year would be.
XxXxX
A/N: Hello my wonderful readers! Thank you all for the reviews you have given me through out the time I have been writing this fic! Reading you reviews just wants me to write more and more.
That is why I have rewarded you guys with this extra, extra long chapter. I bet you guys know the plot now…if you don't just ask me in a review and I promise to reply. I have had time to write these chapters these days since it's been school holidays for two weeks, here in Australia. I'll be getting back to school on Monday and I'll try and post a chapter a week…if you're lucky I might even post two...hehe
So tell me if you did or didn't enjoy this chapter in reviews! And feel free to leave any suggestions you think will help with this story.
Now a very BIG thank you to all these people for reviewing!
Isabella Heart- my first ever reviewer! Thankyou so much!
taxism-my lovely friend! I hope you liked my character 'Hilda'…Hilda…L0L
WhiteKisses- Thankyou so much for thinking that this story would be great…and I hope it does turn out great! I'm glad you enjoyed the story so far!
wildforwentworth- SAFAA! My rather LOUD friend! Thankyou for ummm…reviewing? L0L…nahh…whenever I read your reviews I'll end up rolling on the floor laughing! I can't wait to see you at school…P.S. I'm so glad that you read the whole story…I'm so proud of you Wipes tear L0L
firebirdflame- Thankyou for reviewing my story. I know at the beginning the chapters were quite short but now they've been going up to 9 pages on Microsoft Word…so I hope you're pleased…love to hear from you soon!
CaScAdEd-TeArS- thanks a lot for reviewing… I h0pe you're enjoyin the story so far!
read this 2040- hell0! Thanks for reviewing…and I have taken into account what you have said about this story…I know in the beginning I made it like a really sweet happy story where everything turns out right…but that's just the beginning…wait till you get to the middle…then it'll begin…laughs evilly keep reading! And feel free to leave any suggestions…
chakka09- Thankyou for reviewing I'm glad you found it interesting!
Kay-Kay1231- Hey! I l0ve you for l0ving my story! L0L…Hopefully you will keep on loving it…haha and Thankyou for wishing me luck in my exams. It is now the holidays and I'm eagerly waiting the results when I get back to school…until then keep reviewing!
MHxxPAPER DOLL- Thankyou for reviewing my story! And yes Draco is a pretty boy…a very pretty boy at that…More like very hott, pretty boy…or maybe he's a hott, pretty, smart, did I forget to mention hott…yes he's a very HOTT pretty boy...Loll anywaiz Thankyou for stating the known…loll…k33p reviewing!
blackbeauty92- Hanaa, Hanaa, Hanaa pauses for dramatic affect I'm telling you that I am not an abusive pressurer! I'm telling you to review because if you don't…there'll be no more 'The Wonders of Life'…and we wouldn't want that now would we?… and you neva noe…someone might die...it mite be Hermione…Draco or it might even be you!...if you don't keep the reviews coming…ok maybe I am an abusive pressurer…but it's for a good cause..L0L…until then! Enjoy!
P.S. I'm serious about the dying this…stares at you with a Draco worthy smirk L0l
Satannpink- Hey! I'm glad you liked this story. I like Draco Hermione pairing as well…Ron and Hermione mite look cute together…but Hermione and Draco just look HOTT together…Loll keep reading!
dreammist4ever- hey…Thankyou for l0ving my story! Loll I will keep ritin…coz I love ritin…and also coz...umm…your saneness depends on it? L0L stares at you weirdly Loll yes I do care for the crazy people…like my friend Safaa (wildforwentworth) L0l nah jkz…she's K00L
r0manticr0ses- Hullo! Thankyou for reading and reviewing my story! And I updated quickly for you! I h0pe to hear from you soon! Smiles at you
