A/N: I do not in any way claim ownership over the world and characters of Harry Potter, they belong to J.K. Rowling and no one else. All I am doing is using her masterpiece and making my own small creation. This story I thought of the other day and thought... Well, why not write it out? In this story the wizarding war happened in the end of the trio's sixth year; so it has already happened. This is my first story, I'd appreciate any advice or fixes that you have. Enjoy!
It was a typical first day of school in the wizarding world, nothing out of the ordinary. Every one in wizarding England over and under the age of twelve was at the King's Cross Train Station, parting either with children, parents or siblings. Outside, Hermione Granger was getting out of some sort of muggle transportation device, with her parents and a large trunk in tow. She couldn't believe it: it would be her last year at Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry.
The August after she had turned 11, Hermione had received a letter informing her and her parents that she was in fact a witch. Her mother was a kind woman, and had made sure to support her daughter, finding stories that would revolve around her boarding school and why she left when she was 11. Her father, however, was more a man of justice. He wanted to know what happened, where it happened, why it happened, and anything and everything about "this Hagwirts school". The two together loved Hermione very much, and made sure she was very prepared when she had left on her first day. Hermione had been ecstatic and scared, but ready to show what she could do. After all, she had read all of her textbooks over at least 3 times (Hogwarts: A History did not count in this equation, she had read that 5 times!).
Hermione couldn't help but think about that first time she showed up at King's Cross. Without the magic, it had still been Magical.
When the trio of Grangers entered the front gates, Harry, Ron, and a hoard of Weasleys greeted them.
"Ready, Hermione dear?" Molly Weasley asked inquisitively, always being a mothering figure. Hermione looked back at her parents, smiling and hugging them, and then nodded to who acted as asecond mother to her, and they parted with Mr. and Mrs. Granger.
As Hermione had been chosen as Head Girl, she got to sit in a specific compartment on the train. "Aw, c'mon 'Mione. They can't make you go... we were gonna buy half of the trolley cart again. Please stay?" Ron whined for Hermione to stay, and it was obvious that Harry wanted the same by the face he was making. "No, Ronald. I don't want to get on the bad side of McGonagall by not following her wishes. It's also the first day! I want to, guys, but I can't." Hermione looked down sadly, then stood up straight, said her quick farewells, and off to the Head's compartment she went. Hermione was curious to see who had been appointed as head boy. She didn't think it was anyone else in Gryffindor, the Headmistress had taken it upon herself to provide house unity that year. It could be... honestly, Hermione didn't know too many other 7th year boys other than Harry and Ron. Wait- there was Malfoy too, but Hermione sincerely doubted that Malfoy would be the Head Boy. That would be ridiculous, she thought as she made her way through the aisle way of the Hogwarts Express. Utterly preposterous. Stupid. Absurd. Ludicr- "Hello, Granger." Hermione looked up from opening the door of her supposed compartment. Silly her, she had walked into ferret-boys compartment. "Sorry, Malfoy. Was trying to find the Head's compartment." The thought suddenly dawned upon her, right as he explained, "This is the Head's compartment, stupid." Malfoy said snidely, looked not too pleased that she would be sitting with him. Hermione paled, and cursed herself for thinking all of that. She had jinxed herself. Malfoy glared up at her. "Are you going to sit down? You're blocking my view of the window." Hermione side stepped, and sat down, diagonal from him. She kept her eyes low, not making and form of contact with him.
As the next few minutes slowly passed, Hermione noticed that Malfoy didn't show any hate towards her while they were sitting quietly. "So..." Hermione broke the silence, "Did you hear about the dragons that escaped in Greece?" She said the first that popped into her mind. "Yes." That was all he said, but it was enough. He began to say something else, but then shut his mouth. Hermione tried again, seeing his failed attempt. "You like reading, don't you?" Malfoy nodded slightly, looking at her thoroughly, to see if she was attempting to make some sort of joke. "Read anything good lately?" Hermione proceeded in poking the sleeping dragon, to see how he would come back. Surprisingly, Malfoy went on explaining about a book series he had discovered over the summer holidays.
Hermione almost pinched herself: she, Hermione Granger, was having a civilized conversation with Draco Malfoy. Of all people. She supposed this wasn't something terrible, he turned out to be an actually decent human being. Right as they plummeted into discussing another author they found they both adored, the train whistle blew, signifying that they had reached Hogwarts. They both looked somewhat disappointed that they had to desert their discussion. "Well, Granger. It has for some reason been pleasant talking to you. I'll see you in our dorm." With that, Malfoy walked off, and Hermione couldn't help but think that they could be friends. In some alternate universe with no house prejudices or Harry and Ron... She thought to herself as she tried to find the two in sea of teenagers. "Hermione!" Someone called, making her turn around to decipher who the cry came from. She spotted a waving Ginny, her auburn hair seeming ablaze in the descending autumn sunlight. As she made her way over to her friends, Hermione passed by a group of Slytherins and caught the eye of Malfoy. He didn't glare or sneer, but he didn't smile or wave either. Hermione was glad that they had gotten the chance to put their rivalries behind them, even if she still had Harry and Ron against him. She continued walking, making it all the way to complete her circle of friends. "So.. who is it?" Ginny asked excitedly, "Anyone handsome? Which house? Is he-" "Gin, it's Malfoy." Hermione cut her off. She figured she couldn't tell her friends anything else about it, she felt sorry that she couldn't deflect some of their comments for him. "WHAT?" Ron exclaimed. "You have to share a dorm with that...that-" "Low-life, jerk-faced ferret?" Harry came in with an answer for him. Hermione stared at them angrily. Why couldn't they just stop being jerk-faced themselves! "You know, we actually talked, and he's not so bad. You should stop being so prejudiced, guys." The two stared back at Hermione as if she had told them she wanted to marry Malfoy. "Well you have to admit, he is cute." Ginny added this before the two boys could get angrier at Hermione.
They all got into a carriage, Ron still flustered in the face. Because of the slight anger still floating around in the air, the ride up to the castle was silent. They got out of the carriage quickly, and entered behind the sixth years. To Hermione, Hogwarts held a special place in her heart. It was where she found her first real friends, it was where her first kiss happened, even if it was a sloppy mess. And because she was a muggle-born, she had always found that Hogwarts was like a fairy tale: something she had read about in books. Hermione also loved how the Great Hall was always illuminated brightly, always from a different source. Tonight it was lanterns of different colours floating a few feet above the students' heads. Harry, Ron, Ginny and Hermione all walked over to their 'usual' spot at the Gryffindor table, closer to the front so they could speculate McGonagall's first speech as Headmistress. As the first years gathered around the front of the hall, Hermione remembered what her conversation with the sorting hat had been like...
Hermione was nervous, she was maybe so nervous she might be on the brink of a panic attack. Her mother had told her to breathe deeply when she felt like this, and so she did. As the first girl called up sat on the stool, Hermione began to grow curious as to why the hat was moving. It was then she realized that this was the sorting hat, the one she had briefly read about in Hogwarts: A History. Then, her panic attack faded. Hermione grew the urge to go up to the hat and try it on. Lucky for her, her surname was closer to the beginning of the alphabet. Six other people were called up, and then finally: "Granger, Hermione." The strict-looking woman searched the crowd of 11 year-olds to find the bearer of this name. Hermione slowly stepped forward, ready for what was to come. This would decide her life, her friends, how she was supposed to act, how she was seen in this strange, new world. She sat upon the tall wooden stool, and gratefully helped place the hat on her head. Suddenly, everything around her seemed foggy. "Hermione Granger. Smart, witty, but brave." Hermione jumped slightly at the voice in her head. "You could do well in Slytherin, of course, due to your slyness and wit. On the other side of you, you could belong in Hufflepuff, you always choose what's right, and not necessarily what's easiest. But I think you would do well in Ravenclaw. Though maybe even Gryffindor. What to do, what to do..." Hermione didn't know what she thought she would be good in, although from the sounds of it, Slytherin didn't sound too good. "Now, my dear, you must not judge a house by some of the rumors or even the people in it. There will always be someone who makes a bad choice." Hermione was starting to like this hat. "Well, for your courageousness, I think you'd be good in-"
"GRYFFINDOR!" Hermione smiled as the young girl beamed and ran off towards what seemed to be group of friends at the other end of the table. Hermione looked across to Ron and Harry, but they seemed to still be mad at her about the Malfoy thing. Hermione decided that if they were going to act like that with her, she would act like that with them. She looked away, and waited patiently for the rest of the sorting to be over. She was eager to hear what the Headmistress would have to say for this year.
McGonagall stood up to address the crowd before her. She cleared her voice, and it amplified across the hall as if she had an invisible microphone in front of her.
"Good evening former and new students!" She started pleasantly, smiling at the few children that waved. "As you know, this year holds many differences than those of our past. This includes our school rules, as well as restrictions. As always, the Forbidden Forest is, well, forbidden to all first and second years, unless permitted by a teacher or caretaker." She paused and looked knowingly at Filch, who nodded back appreciatively. "Your prefects will explain any other details you need to know about the school and grounds. Now for the more exciting news. As most of you very well know, Hogwarts hosted a Triwizard Tournament about three years ago." By now, most of the school was murmuring about what had to do with the Triwizard Tournament. "And, of course, it did not go as planned (Harry nodded sadly at this). And so, the Ministry has decided that for the second time this century, Hogwarts will be holding a Double Triwizard Tournament!" She paused once again and looked throughout the crowd of excited, smiling students. "However!" She said, making it silent once again, "The same rules must apply. You must be over the age of 17 before December to submit your name into our new goblet, and you must not have participated before. Now you all must be wondering; what does Double Triwizard Tournament mean? Two make it more friendly towards house unity and genders, a male and a female - each from different houses in our case - will be selected, and they will work as a team. Once again we will be opening our doors to the wonderful Beauxbatons and Durmstrang Academies!
"And as well, we will have a ministry member watching our games and rule keeping. Now, everyone dig into our beautiful feast, and off to bed with you all! Durmstrang and Beauxbatons will arrive tomorrow afternoon!"
By this time, Harry and Ron had forgotten all about what was formerly making them angry, and looked at Hermione delightedly.
"So Hermione," Ron exclaimed while scooping mounds of mashed potatoes onto his plate. "What do you think? You gonna enter into it?" Hermione looked thoughtful for a moment. "She had always loved a little competition, and she definitely thought that entering into this tournament could be great fun, if not eye-opening to all the people who thought she was an introverted know-it-all, and nothing else. "I don't know. But I'm really tired, guys. I think I'm gonna go to bed." With this, she said goodnight to her fellow Gryffindors, and walked off in search of her new Head's dorm.
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