AN: I hope you all enjoy this next chapter! Give it a follow or favourite if you're so inclined ;) Keeps me motivated to continue! :D Anyways, on to the next part! If anyone has any suggestions, feel free to comment or PM me.
"I would like to take a moment of silence before this years sorting ceremony," the tall, slim woman announced, gazing at the conglomerate of students before he. Looking at her now, McGonagall looked almost out of place upon that gold plated podium. The last year had certainly been tough on her, and for the first time since he met her eight years ago, she appeared frail and drained.
She lifted one slender arm, her wand in hand, and the lights in the Great Hall dimmed and the chatter stopped. I looked around as all the staff and students slowly lowered their heads in a moment of reflection. There had been many lives lost in the battle of Hogwarts. The Great Hall, once bursting with laughter and almost over crowded, was barely half full tonight. What normally would be one of the happiest days for students, was somber and muted. It seemed as if everyone had aged significantly from the harrowing event.
The Slytherin table was the most vacant of all, with only about a dozen students seated there. From what I knew, many families had sent their children to the other magical schools to give them a fresh start after everything that happened. But not me. I was left here with nobody. God this was going to be a miserable year...
The lights brightened and slowly the children began to lift up their heads. McGonagall smiled softly, looking fondly down at the first years. She went and grabbed the rickety, three-legged stool, and placed the ratty old hat on top of it. The hat opened its mouth and a few first years gasped. I stifled a chuckle. The Muggleborns were so easy to impress, I mused. Speaking of Muggleborns, I glanced across the room to the table beside mine and my eyes immediately met with Grangers. I quickly adverted my gaze. Had she been staring at me? Or was it just a coincidence? I pursed my lips, didn't matter. She was nothing but a pain in my side. I had no need to waste my time thinking about her or anything she did.
Before I knew it, the sorting hat's song was finished and the first years were sent to their respective tables. There were no Slytherins this year, I noted.
The feast suddenly appeared on the table and there were many audible oohs and ahs. The house elves had done a marvelous job this year, even though I hated to admit it. There was plates full of chicken thighs and legs, corn, mashed potatoes, roast beef, lamb shanks, carrots peas, everything one would normally have for supper. My stomach growled at the sight and smell, so I quickly began loading up my plate. I wolfed down the potatoes and tore into the chicken like a wolf. This year, at least there was no one to judge my manners. I snickered to myself, glad I could stuff my face without Pansy's judgement.
After the stuffing dinner, dessert appeared. Cakes of every kind, cookies, tarts, brownies, fudge, etc. I bet the younger kids who already stuffed themselves at dinner were kicking themselves that they wouldn't be able to eat all of these tasty morsels. I grabbed a treacle tart and a sliver of chocolate cake, two of my favourites.
The cake itself was moist, and rich. It was perfect. I slowly savored each bite, scanning the room as I did. Granger was sitting alone. No Potter or pet Weasley to entertain her, I mused. From what I had heard, they were both Aurors now. I tapped my fork against my plate, thinking. I suppose she'd be lonely. She would certainly delve into her studies and be more insufferable this year, I noted trying to contain my eye roll. I glanced over at her and saw her quickly look down at her plate. Staring again hmm... I kept looking at her till she noticed and cocked one eyebrow in question. She looked like she had something to tell me.
The plates slowly began to clean themselves and McGonagall bid everyone a good night and instructed Prefects to lead their houses to their dorms. I stood up and began to shuffle towards the door when I felt a gentle tug on my robe. I whipped around and was face to face with that bushy haired witch again.
"Um Draco, McGonagall wanted me to show you where your dorm is this year," her honey brown eyes gazed into my steely blue ones for a moment before I nodded wordlessly.
"Since when are we on a first name basis, Granger?" I teased, following her up the stairs on the right hand side.
"Oh um, I don't know I thought it might be childish to continue bickering this year..." She trailed off as she reached the third floor and turned down the corridor. I followed a few steps behind her.
"Why aren't you mad I called you a Mudblood?" I demanded, curious in this change from her.
She let out a sigh and stopped beside a painting of a boar in a garden. "Because after everything that has happened, and how much I had to go through the past year, I am proud of being a muggleborn. Your insult does nothing but remind me of my accomplishments." She looked smugly at me before taking one slender hand and tracing the pattern of the walkway in the garden, and mumbling "Phoenix". A faint click sounded and the door swung inwards, revealing the dormitory.
The interior was decorated with two brown leather chairs in front of a roaring fire, with a wall of bookshelves on either side of it. There was a large, dark green carpet on the floor, and a small table and chairs beside a leaded stain glass window. There were three, large wooden doors on the left hand side. I stepped towards them and opened the one closest to me and found a bedroom with my trunk and owl set inside. I turned back to Granger but found her opening the door beside me instead
"Okay you can run along. You showed me where I'm staying," I said, annoyed at her continued presence. The door she opened had ended up being a crisp white tiled bathroom with black and gold accents. She ignored me and slowly walked around in the bathroom, observing the layout and humming her approval.
"Urg," I groaned, "Granger just get to your room already. You presence drains me." I shot her a glare.
"Malfoy, you know which room is yours. If I bother you so much, then YOU can go," she returned my glare coldly, and remained where she was.
Rolling my eyes, I marched out and walked towards my room. I slammed my heavy wooden door behind me, hoping to convey my displeasure with her. This was going to be a long year.
A/N: Ooooh, two former enemies now having to live in such a small space together! Stay tuned to find out what could possibly happen ;) I hope you all enjoyed this slightly longer chapter. I will try my best to post again tomorrow. Until then!