Draco, From Durmstrang
Hermione Granger was seated at attention in her normal spot at the long Gryffindor table. Her best friends beside her, safe but wary of what their fourth year would bring them. Mere weeks ago, they all survived the attack at the Quidditch World Cup. The experience had shaken her to the core, bringing to light the very real possible outcome for witches and wizards like her. She knew she belonged in this world, and she would prove it to everyone else just the same. Hermione Granger passed every test she has ever taken and this would be no different.
Harry and Ron had entertained her for a little while on the train ride, before she ventured to other compartments before visiting some other housemates. Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil were giggling about how tall Ron had gotten over the summer, which she had admittedly noticed as well. Neville was intensly debating with Dean Thomas about the merits of a lily pad being soaked in Love Potion to increase the effects of the potion before being ingested. Vaguely she thought that could explain the old fairy tale of The Frog Prince and it made her smile. Magic never ceased to amaze her. Ginny was quickly becoming one of her good friends, but she was busy with a few witches from her year, so she walked the corridors, and chatted with others from her year before arriving at Hogwarts.
At present, Headmaster Dumbledore had lowered the lights and magnified his voice by pointing his wand at his throat and muttering a quick "Sonorous".
"Now that the Sorting Ceremony has finished, I have a few beginning of term announcements. This year, Hogwarts will host this year's Triwizard Tournament. This tournament will bring three schools together in which each will have a champion. These champions will compete in a series of tasks, designed to test each attribute you all hold dear. Courage, cunning, intelligence and friendship will be what it takes to win the Triwizard Cup. On that note, please welcome our distinguished guests. I trust you will treat each other with openness and acceptance. And now, Headmistress Madame Maxime and her girls of Beauxbatons!"
Hermione turned her head towards the enormous doors leading into the Great Hall to see the newcomers. As she did, she noticed Ron's, and Harry's, and Seamus's, and even Neville's eyes glass over. And then she felt it. The pull of a Veela, though it was not very strong. She'd recognize it anywhere, it's in the curriculum they would be learning about this year which of course she has already read about. She rolled her eyes and let the boys come back to the Earth. A full blooded Veela would have everyone at their mercy just by being present. But since Hermione recognized the symptoms, she was able to push through them logically.
The girls all flitted and tuttered towards the front of the Hall where Dumbledore stood. Following them was the most gigantic woman Hermione had ever seen, obviously part giant. She briefly looked over to where Hagrid sat at the professor's table and smirked when she saw the look on his face. Hagrid deserved happiness and she hoped it would work out for him.
Once the ladies of Beauxbatons were sat at their own table, Dumbledore stood at the podium once again.
"And now, the proud boys of Durmstrang!"
The doors opened and in rushed a group of strong, disciplined, and athletic boys. As they marched down the aisle of the Great Hall, she vaguely heard Ron exclaim, "It's him! Viktor Krum!" But her attention was drawn to a very tall boy with silver blond hair and a sharp jawline. She suddenly felt very hot and made it her mission to look anywhere but him. She knew her face was red and she couldn't risk locking eyes with him, not now.
The boys took their places at their own table before McGonagall took to the podium.
"This year and this tournament will be about bringing different cultures together, in the most trying of times. This is your chance to make a difference of the world you are a part of. I suggest getting to know one another, and supporting each other the way Hogwarts has always supported you. Ladies, Gentlemen, please pick any place to sit amongst our students. We have prefects who will help you out as we adjust our schedules. We are here to help, and I trust my students will not let you down." She ended her small speech with a piercing gaze along each of the tables. She meant business and Hermione was ecstatic to be most welcoming to all. It's all she had wanted when she arrived at the imposing castle.
Once the other students found some places to sit, they were told of the rules of the competition. Hermione was most relieved to know she could just be a spectator, as being seventeen was mandatory to even apply for the tournament. Maybe this year would be quiet and fun, and she'd have time to further her studies even more. Harry and Ron were both grumbling about it but honestly, how could they even want to participate? With everything they've been through and everything coming their way, she just couldn't fathom their logic. Internally, she rolled her eyes. Boys. They will never make sense to her.
The conversations during dinner quickly turned to the Quidditch World Cup events. Hermione wanted to do anything other than talk about it. So she did what she did best and opened up a book to her last page she was browsing. She'd already read it once, but she needed to be prepared for anything this year. She could process that there were conversations going on around her, but she was quickly focused on the chapter about Vampires and Common Uses of Their Venom and soon was just completely ignored.
As she reached for her goblet of Pumpkin Juice, she briefly looked up and had to do a double take. That boy, with the blond hair was looking directly into her eyes. She flustered for a second and looked around, thinking maybe he meant to be looking at the Ravenclaw behind her. But as she looked back, he was still staring. Well, she wasn't a Gryffindor for nothing after all. She matched his stare, unwavering. In her peripheral she noticed he had an open book in front of him as well, and no one was paying him much attention. She softened her features and felt a kindred sort of bond. At least someone else in this castle could appreciate their studies. She took a small sip from her goblet, keeping eye contact the entire time. By the time she set it down, she saw a small smirk tug at the corner of his lips. She quickly looked back down and started reading again. She resisted the urge to look back up at him, though barely.
After the plates had been cleared away and the first years led up to their dormitories, Hermione sat in her favorite armchair in the common room, soaking up the heat from the fire. She allowed her mind to wander. She was excited about this year. It felt different, more grown up. Her life was changing, and there was a war looming, but she felt alive. She resolved this night, her first night of her fourth year, that this year would be different. She would be different.
Little did she know, two floors down in a newly created dorm for the guests, Draco Malfoy was coming down from a panic attack. He knew his name held weight in England and at this school. He should've been here after all. He should have been in Slytherin, carrying on with tormenting Gryffindors and soaking up the special treatment from the potions master and his godfather, Severus Snape. But all he could think about was the girl at the red table. He didn't even know her name, her blood status (not that he gave a shit about that), or what kind of person she was. But he felt a pull to her that he could not ignore. Something monumental was coming, he could feel it. He had a lot to make up for with his family's role in the First Wizarding War and this was his chance to make a difference.
McGonagall was right, this was their world and they had a responsibility to each other to ensure it survives. He resolved this night, his first night in the castle he was meant to grow up in, that this year would be different. He would be different.