Chapter 2

I sit in the main auditorium of the Academy. On one side of me sits Padma, on the other Harry. The room is filled with the entire Senior class; students studying Science, Engineering, Technology, and Military. There are easily three-hundred of us. It's another sea of green Elites.

Padma looks around the room. She's searching for a face.

"Don't bother," I say to her, knowing who she's searching for, "G is pretending to have food poisoning for the rest of the day."

Padma shrugs, "What if she places top of Science?"

Harry and I both stare blankly at her.

"…it could happen," Padma adds.

I know G is hiding away in her room because her room is my room; G's my roommate. That's one of the upsides of being an upper classman at the Academy; I only have one roommate. Prior to taking the Primary exams, it's a dozen girls to a room. Six bunk beds crammed into a tiny dormitory room. All non-Elites of course. Once you pass the Primary exam, and most of the existing Primaries fail and go to work at their assigned job, it's four girls to a room. Then Core exams are taken at age eighteen. And if you pass, in addition to not getting placed in Core status and Core job placement, you finally progress to a room with only a single roommate! The past four years with G as my roommate have been semi-private bliss. To think I'm only days away from getting my own house! The excitement builds in me.

Chancellor McGonagall walks onto the stage. She approaches a podium to speak. With her stand the four department heads of each field of study: Science, Engineering, Technology, and Military.

"Thank you for joining us," She says to us, "Tomorrow you will receive your final exam scores and job placements. But today, we recognize the top students in each area of study. In addition to being top of your class, you will receive an invitation to the Annual Elite Celebrations. Any girls who place top of the class, are invited to the Elite Ladies Celebratory Ball which occurs tonight. Any top boys are invited to the Elite Men's Gathering, which is being held later in the week. You will be the guests of honor at either event."

My heart races. I want to be the guest of honor! I think to myself.

Chancellor McGonagall nods her head to her Core assistant, a plucky young man in yellow, who stands just off stage. He sees the gesture and rushes to her side, handing her envelopes. Just as quick as he appeared, he scurries out of sight.

Chancellor McGonagall adjusts her small spectacle as she opens the first envelope.

"For Technology, the top student is…" She announces, "Jonathan Davis."

We all clap. An Elite boy stands and walks to the stage. He shakes the hands of all the department heads, and stands beside the Head of Technology.

Chancellor McGonagall opens another envelope.

"For Engineering, the top student is…." She begins. I can feel Harry's anxiety. He's a double major; both Chemistry and Engineering. He could place at the top of either field, or both.

"George Marks." Chancellor McGonagall announces.

Everyone claps. I can feel Harry's disappointment as George, another Elite boy, walks to the stage.

"The top student for Military is…" She begins opening the envelop.

"Draco Malfoy."

The Elites in the room roar as he walks to the stage. I am not surprised. He's the son of our President. Nepotism at its finest. I think.

"Finally, the top student in Science is…" She opens the envelop. My heart races. Padma grabs my hand and squeezes it tightly. Chancellor McGonagall hesitates a moment.

"Hermione." She says loudly. My mouth drops. There isn't a sound in the room. Padma and Harry both look at me, stunned. I can't even move. I can't think.

"Hermione?" Chancellor McGonagall says again loudly.

Padma and Harry erupt in happy screams as they force me to my feat. The small smattering of Primaries in the room stand and cheer enthusiastically- a measly eight of us in total. Easily identifiable by our faded red robes. I begin my walk to the stage. My head feels light. Not only did I pass the final exam- I placed at the top of the class!

I'm overwhelmed as I take the stage. I feel my eyes well with tears. I'm filled with a feeling of shock, relief, and euphoria. I shake the hands of all the department heads. I look out into the crowd of my fellow classmates. I'm crying.

"That concludes the ceremony. The rest of you may disperse." The Chancellor says to the room.

I make eye contact with Padma and Harry as they stand in the back of the auditorium. Everyone else exits around them. We trade silent looks of 'I can't believe this is happening!' and 'Is this a dream?' and 'We need to celebrate!' The other Primaries and even most of the Cores stand back with them. They're all waiting for me. They are just as excited as I am. Then I realize, this is bigger than me- one of us made it.

The Chancellor approaches me and the other three top students. She seems taken off guard.

"Congratulations to you all." She turns to me, "I suppose you can accompany me to tonight's Ball."

Her voice is unsure. As if she doesn't believe the words she's saying.

"Be ready to leave at six o'clock." She says before she and the other department heads leave.

Draco turns to me, annoyed, "You shouldn't go to that Ball. You won't fit in."

"Yes, I will." I respond to him confidently.

"You don't belong there. You never will." He says to me coldly, "Stay home." His voice is serious and low.

I open my mouth to respond, but am interrupted by Harry who has picked me up. He's carrying me down the stage to the enthusiastic group waiting for me. Draco's nasty comments are thrown from my mind, as I am quickly surrounded by splendor.

"We need to celebrate!" A Core girl, Angelina, announces to the group.

"To the Dining Hall!" A Core boy, Dean, proclaims. The group cheers.

"Only for a short time- I need to get ready for tonight!" I say as I lead us all towards the Dining Hall.

After a few hours of celebrating in the Dining Hall, I retreat to my room to get myself presentable for the title of Guest of Honor.

I walk into my room. G jolts out of bed.

"I can't believe it!" she squeals.

"Neither can I!" I reply.

"I have the perfect dress for you to wear!" G says as she tears through her closet. She pulls out a pretty white dress with a green overlay.

"G, you know I can't wear that." I start.

G rips off the green overlay and hand me the white dress. She walks over to my closet and shifts through red items before pulling out a red shall.

"We'll wrap this around you like a skirt!" She announces. She then grabs a red cardigan sweater, "And you'll bring this in case you get cold."

"Are you sure the white dress isn't too white compared to the red?" I say nervously. Only Elites can get away with wearing so much of a neutral color. I've spent my life head to toe in red- no black, white, or anything of the sort.

"Just try it on!" G demands. I can tell from her tone of voice there is no deterring her.

Within a minute I'm in the white dress. G wraps the red shall around my waist. It drapes around me like a skirt. The white dress still peeking through. I look in the mirror.

"G, it's perfect!" I admire it, "It's so much prettier than what I was going to wear!"

"What are you going to do with your hair?" G asks.

"Can you help me?" I ask her.

She stares blankly at me, "Hermione, I'm probably not the go to hair person."

We laugh. Hair is what bonded us in the first place; my bushy brown hair was not match for G's matted red mane. After year of her mother nagging her to brush it, she took the scissors to it herself. It now is shorter than most of the boys.

There's a knock on the door.

"Come in!" G yells.

In steps a Core student. He looks about seventeen years old.

"Chancellor McGonagall needs to speak with you," he says to me.

"Alright, I just need to change first—"

"No," he interrupts me, "It's a pressing issue."

I nod my head and leave with him.

"In the meantime, I'll find someone who can do your hair!" G shouts as I walk down the girl's dormitory hallway.

Soon I find myself sitting before the Chancellor. She sits behind her grand desk. Her office is richly appointed. I've only been in here one other time. It was five years ago. That was the day I gave Draco Malfoy the divot on his nose. I remember my heart racing. I thought I was being expelled and sentenced to a life as a Primary. An assault on the President's only son would surely land me with the job placement as a Primary subordinate; the worst job anyone can be assigned. Subordinates spend a lifetime doing the lowest level of work; The dirtiest, dangerous, most revolting job imaginable.

It's strange. The Chancellor looks just as serious and severe now as on that day five years ago. She lets out a loud sigh and hands me a paper.

"Something serious has come to my attention," She says. Her tone is a mixture of angry and disappointed.

I read the paper in my hands. It's a handwritten letter addressed to the chancellor. I read it quickly.

Dear Chancellor McGonagall,

I have come across information that Hermione, age 22 Primary student within the Science-Medical field, cheated on the final written exam. She stole a copy of the exam prior to the test. I implore you to search your dormitory room. There you will find the copy of the exam hidden away.

My cheeks are hot. I'm filling with rage.

"This is just not true!" I say with piercing certainty.

"There is a student searching your dormitory as we speak. If the copy of the exam is not found, you will be assumed innocent." She assures me.

We wait for what feels like a lifetime. And then finally, the same young Core student that knocked on my door appears in the doorway. He walks in and hands Chancellor McGonagall a small packet of papers.

"I found this the desk drawer of her dormitory room," he says.

I'm shocked. What could that be? An old test? Old reading materials? Chancellor McGonagall flips through it. She looks up at me.

"This is an exact copy of the final written exam," she says sternly.

I'm dizzy. I can't even respond. She turns to the Core student.

"You may tell Pansy Parkinson that she is first in Science. Tell her to be ready by six o'clock and I will escort her to the Ball as the honored guest." And with that the Core leaves the room.

"I did not cheat!" I say firmly, "Someone set me up!"

"Who would do such a thing?" Chancellor McGonagall asks me with a tone of clear disbelief.

"The same person who wrote this anonymous letter!" I say gesturing to the paper in my hand.

"Hermione, the evidence is against you—" She starts.

"Please! Chancellor McGonagall! I did not cheat!" I say. She raises a hand to silence me.

"I am not daft. I do recognize you are the first Primary to place at the top of the Senior class in the Academy's history. Therefore, I am not obtuse to the idea of a fellow student sabotaging you. That being said, I can not have you attend the Elite Ladies' Celebration Ball as an honored guest with such serious allegations and evidence against you!"

"Surely, you can investigate further! And find out who did this!"

The Chancellor lets out a sigh, "The ball is in an hour. There isn't enough time. But, Hermione, I promise you this will not affect your graduation placement. And that's what truly matters. Your status and job assignment upon graduation."

"So, that's it? I just…don't get to go?" I ask. My voice shaking.

"I'm afraid that is what is best." She says.

"For who?" my voice quivers. She doesn't answer.

I stand. The letter still gripped tightly in my hand.

I walk in a cloud of confusion and depression back to the Common Room that leads to the dormitories. A small handful of Elite girls are all dressed and ready for the ball. The eye me with judgment as I walk past.

"Isn't that dress a little too white for you to be wearing?" One sniggers at me. I barely hear the comment- consumed in sadness.

I walk into my dormitory room. I'm greeted by Harry and G.

"There you are! I've been looking for you!" Harry says.

"What did Chancellor McGonagall want?" G asks.

I can't even speak. I hand them the letter. They read it together. Their faces turn from happy to confused to furious.

"What bullshit!" G yells.

"What does this mean!?" Harry asks.

"It means no Ball!" I say, erupting into tears. I'm embarrassed to be crying over a party.

"What about graduation?" Harry asks, concerned.

"It won't affect graduation." I say.

Harry lets out a sigh of relief. He walks to me and puts his arms around me in a tight hug. I cry quietly into his chest.

G looks at the letter, "Who would write this?"

"It could be any Elite." Harry says.

I pull away from him quickly realizing, "G, the Core who searched our room and found a copy of the exam! Where did he find it?"

"No." G says confused, "That boy never searched our room."

"Yes, he did. Right after he came and got me. He came back and searched my things and found the test-"

"Hermione, I've been here the whole time. He never searched anything." She says.

"He was lying then! He had a copy of the exam and pretended he found it in my room!" I announce, "Did you recognize him?"

G shakes her head, "The only person I know from his class is Luna."

"If he works for the Chancellor as a Monitor, that means he's most likely Military field."

"Pansy Parkinson!" I realize, "She placed second in Science. She's going to the Ball at the honorary guest!"

G looks angry, "Her five siblings are all Military focused!"

"Are you sure?" Harry asks.

I nod.

"She's constantly talking about how special she is," G scoffs, "That dirty, manipulative bitch! She must have paid him off!"

G rage walks out our door. She's on a mission. I follow in heated pursuit. G bangs on a dormitory door; the door of Pansy Parkinson. It cracks open, and G pushes herself in.

"Did you write this!" G shoves the letter into Pansy's face.

I step inside. Pansy is wearing a beautiful, green gown. Her hair is styles in a perfect updo.

"Get out of here, G! And take the Primary with you!" she says in annoyed tone as she walks over to a mirror and puts on earrings.

"You look exceptionally nice tonight, Pansy," I say to her.

"The guest of honor needs to look exceptionally nice," She mocks me.

"So, you admit to it!?" G asks.

"I'll admit that she doesn't belong at the Ball, let alone as the guest of honor." Pansy says as she takes a last look in the mirror, "Now if you excuse me. Chancellor McGonagall is waiting for me."

She leaves. G starts after her, but I grab her arm.

"No. We should just let it go." I say to her.

"And let her get away with it!?" G is upset, "What is I go to the Ball? And I ruin her dress!? Or—or-I can humiliate her in some way! And expose her for the horrendous person that she is!"

I smile at G, "You'd do that for me?"

"Of course!" She replies. Her cheeks hot with anger.

"How about we just hang out in the Common Room instead? You've never ditched the Ladies' Ball before. All the Elite girls are gone for the night and we have quite the party of our own here." I say as I lead her out of Pansy's room.

The next few hours are spent with the other Primary and Cores girls in the upper class, aged eighteen to twenty-two, partying and celebrating in the common room. G is the only Elite girl left in the entire Academy. In what usually is a sea of green robed girls with a few red and yellow cloaks in the corner, is now the opposite.

We play music and dance. On occasion an Elite boy walks through the Common Room to get to his dormitory, but this is the one night they don't linger. We run the Common Room tonight! Even Harry and the other Primary and Core boys don't stay for too long.

Half-way through the night, we're mid dance. G spins Padma around like a ballet dancer in a jewlry box. Padma laughs.

And then, BOOM! We hear it. It's in the near distance. A second later, the Academy walls shake. A clock falls from the wall and shatters. BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! We all fall to the floor. The walls tremble. The furniture shakes. I'm on my knees. I try and get up, but BOOM! I can't keep my balance.

The Academy alarm begins to ring. BOOM! I hear girls scream and gasp. We are under attack. We need to take shelter in the basement. BOOM! BOOM!

After a few seconds, the dust settles. We all get to our feet. The boys rush into the Common Room from their dormitories.

"Down to the basement!" One barks at us. We all begin to head that way. I hear a girl crying loudly. Padma, G, and I stay together. The hallways are filled with underclassmen from other dormitories making their way to the basement as well. I look for my sister in the crowd. I can't find her. Professors line the hallways and usher us.

"Go slowly," They say with clear voices, "Don't step on anyone!"

Padma squeezes my hand. I squeeze back. I don't want to lose her. Once we are in the basement, my eyes scan the room for Luna. There's more than a thousand students in the basement; ages seven to twenty-two. The younger students cry loudly, tears streaming down their small faces.

Then, I spot her, "Luna!"

I rush over to her and embrace her tightly.

"I'm fine! I'm fine!" She says. Her sweet voice trembles.

"Was your side of the Academy bombed?" I ask urgently.

"No. No. I just heard it. And the walls shook!" She begins to cry. I rub her back and console her.

G and Padma take seats with us. Padma consoles a young Primary girl. She's beginning to hyperventilate.

"Cup your hands like this and put them over your mouth," Padma instructs the young girl, "Now, deep breath in and deep breath out."

The little girl does as instructed, cupping a hand over her mouth and taking in deep breaths. Neville spots us and rushes over. He hugs Padma.

"We're ok." She reassures him. They take seats on the cold basement floor.

As I console Luna, I take a moment to look around the basement. We're all safely inside. I realize most of the students I have never seen before. Sometimes I forget that such young children attend the Academy. Upperclassmen rarely interact with underclassmen. I only see my sister once a week, when her class eats dinner at the same time as my class on Tuesdays. I look around the chaos of the basement and I realize there isn't a single Elite girl besides G. G is the only girl in green. Close to three-thousand students and faculty in the basement, and only one Elite girl. With all of the students together for the first time, I realize, we are a sea of red and yellow. I had almost forgotten how outnumbered the Elites really were by us.

After a few minutes the chaos has settled. We all just wait for instructions.

"So, you didn't place first in Science?" Luna asks me.

"It's complicated. I did…but it was taken away from me" I explain.

"What does that mean?" She asks.

"It means that I'm definitely graduating at the top of the class, with Elite status. Which means next year—"

"I'll be Elite status!" She says with a smile.

Her smile then drops, "Unless I'm not here next year."

"Don't say that, Luna! You're very smart," I reassure her.

"I'm not as smart as you! If I failed my annual exam, I'll be most likely placed as a Core."

"You didn't fail, Luna. Remember, most students who fail, fail during the main three exams: Primary exams, Core exams, and Elite exams. It's next year's Core exam you need to worry about the most. Many people fail that and don't get to continue on for the next four years!" I say to her.

"But what about Ron?" She asks. Hearing the name makes my heart jump.

"True. Ron failing last year was…unexpected," I say, before adding a reassuring, "But exceedingly rare. All the annual exams in between the main three exams, are just to make sure you aren't completely slacking off for years at a time. And you aren't slacking off! So, you don't need to concern yourself."

Luna nods at me with a smile. Her long, blonde curly hair hangs over her face. Her bone structure is so much daintier and more feminine than mine. Luna is an exceptionally pretty girl. But a pretty face on a Primary girl is worthless in Meridian.

Harry approaches us.

"Harry!" Luna exclaims as she greets him with a hug. He smiles at her. I can tell from his expression something is wrong.

"What is it?" I ask him.

"It wasn't an attack on the Academy," he says in a low, hushed voice to us, "It was an attack on Malfoy Manner."

"That's where the Elite Ladies Ball is held!" G interjects. Her tone is worried.

"Harry, do you know that for sure?" I ask.

Harry hesitates, "I heard it straight from Elite Military seniors. They're being called in to assist. It's...bad,"

I turn to G. Her face registers concern and shock.

"…My mother." G says quietly.

"G, we don't know any details. They could have evacuated the Ball before the attack." I reassure her.

G doesn't respond. She stares at the opposite wall. Her eyes, solemn.