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.
So far, so good! My last chapter was about twice as long, but I feel as if sometimes it's easier to read shorter (but not too short!) chapters, that way you don't have to process as much each time. Anyways... If you've made it all the way here, to the second chapter, I hope you like it! i mean, there's not much going on right now. Draco Malfoy is being very nice, I'm still not exactly sure why I did that, but I think his act towards Hermione might go on a roller coaster sooner in the story. If you're reviewing, what do you think I should do for the victors... same tasks, or different? I'm thinking another maze for the end... Enjoy!
Hermione was lost. She knew the castle like the back of her hand! But apparently, no such luck. She was pretty sure she had stopped on the 8th floor, just like her letter from McGonagall had instructed. Except, she may have taken a wrong turn. She was just about to ask a portrait where to turn next, when: "Lost, Granger?" Hermione whirled around, to come face-to-face with Malfoy. She became embarrassed, he always found her when she was figuratively and literally lost. "No," she claimed. "I was introducing myself to the portraits. They'll see a lot of us now that we're sleeping together in their floor." Somehow, Hermione turned an even darker shade of scarlet as she realized what she had implied. "Er, I-I mean..." Draco Malfoy laughed. A real, genuine laugh. "I know what you meant, Granger." He turned to walk away, but then looked back. "If you'd like to keep yourself from further embarrassment, I know where our portrait hole is." He didn't wait for an answer, and walked off in the direction that Hermione had decided against when she had gotten lost. She cursed herself silently as she started following him, and decided that she should be glad that he wasn't making fun of her more, or just plain out ignoring her. They passed many corridors, and finally, Malfoy led them to a stop right in front of a portrait that featured 7 men feasting on a roasted pig. Hermione wondered how that would work. Once they finished the pig, would another reappear? Would they never get to eat? What was the password again?! "Flubberwocky" Malfoy said to the portrait, making it swing open. He turned once again to Hermione, and asked, " Granger, are you going to stare at it all night?" Hermione was struck from her daze, and shook her head bluntly. She quickly followed him inside the hole to find their new common room.
It wasn't red nor green, but had a brown leather couch and chairs around a large fireplace, and two wooden desks on either side of it. Along the back sides of the room, the walls were covered in large, elaborate bookshelves which already had many books placed sporadically across them. In the two spaces of wall crammed between the bookshelves, there were two doors. Both mahogany, but differing with the crest that rested on them. One bore a Gryffindor's crest, the other a Slytherin's. Hermione was still slightly sacred of this new Draco Malfoy, the one that was actually pleasant, so she said her goodnight to him quietly, then bounded up the stairs. Hermione walked through a second door at the top of the staircase, which opened into a dorm which looked almost identical to the Gryffindor girls dorms, with the exception of only one bed. Hermione would miss being in a room with all the other girls, but it would be nice to have some privacy.
Hermione sat down on her four-poster bed and thought about the year to come. She wanted to relax, after the war of course, but the Triwizard Tournament intrigued her as well. She figured it wouldn't hurt entering her name into the cup, after all, it wasn't likely she would be picked with all other seventh year girls going against her. She decided that she would wait until the morning, when she was less delusional (and not implying sex with Draco Malfoy!).
The next day, Hermione woke up very early. She couldn't see outside of her window, she realized only after she had tried three different things that it was dark out. She smacked herself on her forehead, and cursed once again, for this would probably be another stupid, delusional day. She groaned, and got up from her uncomfortable place by the window and got dressed. She had missed the routines of Hogwarts, it gave her comfort every day that at least one thing would stay the same. Even if it was still only 5:30 in the morning, Hermione began to read her textbooks, and make an outline for herself of what she and her classmates would have this year. Advanced Arithmetic, Advanced Runes, Charm Theory, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, a History of Magic, and Muggle Studies (just for fun). She also had one free period, which almost anyone could guess the location in which Hermione Granger would spend it. The glorious, amazing, heavenly... library. Truly one of the best places on earth. She smiled in anticipation of when she could bask in the scent of old parchment...
By the time Hermione had finished daydreaming about the library, it was almost 7:00, time for her to meet up with her friends for breakfast. As if to signify that, her stomach grumbled loudly. Hermione took her time getting downstairs, she didn't want to see Malfoy after the previous evening. Luckily she didn't see him at all until she reached the Great Hall, when she glanced quickly at the Slytherin table. Looking away before her glance was noticed, Hermione sat down beside her three friends, but wasn't noticed due to the debate going on over wizard's chess. "Hey, Hermione!" Ginny smiled at the newcomer. "Do you know if you're gonna put your name in for the Triwizard Tournament?" Hermione sighed. It seemed that the only way to captivate the attention of them was the Triwizard Tournament, or Quidditch. And she definitely didn't want to settle for the latter. "I think so, actually. It could be fun." Hermione said this genuinely, and got three excited stares back. Ginny squealed."That's great! Imagine you and Ron got picked (At this she raised her eyebrows provocatively), it would be so romantic!" Hermione tried not to look grossed out by this. Her and Ron had tried their relationship the previous year, and they had decided just to be friends. Plus, Ron was now 'friends with benefits' with Lavender. "No, we decided to stay friends, and nothing more." Hermione said, looking to Ron ouot of the corner of her eye. He didn't look up from the staring contest he had started with the chess board. "It's too bad that we have to wait for the other two schools to come. I'd like to get it done and over with." Hermione stated.
Luckily, Hermione didn't have to wait very long for that wish, as Colin Creevey ran into the hall and shouted, "Beauxbatons and Durmstrang are heeeeeere!"