A/N: I know, I know, it took forever! But I had to use my time to finish my other fic before I could really get into this one, and it's finished! So now all of my writing time will be dedicated to this ficcy! Also, I've been kinda caught up in Christmas; writing was the last thing on my mind. And, just so you know, there will be several pairings in this fic, but I'm only concentrating on D/Hr. The others will merely be mentioned.
NOTE: In this fic, they don't have uniforms, because I don't remember J.K. ever mentioning them. They'll just wear muggle clothes underneath the robes and such.
IMPORTANT: I've been reading over the two first chapters, and I have so many mistakes. GRR, I have got to get a beta reader. Here are a few things that need to be cleared up:
Albany, Ashlan was sorted into Gryffindor in the first chapter. Scratch that; she was sorted into Ravenclaw.
Also, in the first chapter, Dumbledore said "As those of you who were here last year know, the Sorting Hat sent us a 'unique' message at the Welcome Feast" It's supposed to be two years ago, because they're in their seventh year.
In chapter 2, Division 7 is supposed to have the following students: Draco Malfoy (Slytherin), Hermione Granger (Gryffindor), Ashlan Albany (Ravenclaw), and Joseph Larkin (Hufflepuff).
Sorry about the mistakes!
Chapter 3:
~HERMIONE~
Hermione was the first to awake of she and Ashlan the next morning, which wasn't unusual, as it was 6 A.M. Most of the students didn't get out of bed until around 8; Hermione liked having the extra time in the mornings to prepare for classes.
After she showered, she slipped into a pair of khaki colored kapri-pants, a light yellow shirt with two buttons and a collar on it, and a white pair of sandals. It was her idea of a neat look. She applied very little make-up, just enough to cover any blemishes, and some light pink lip-gloss. She needn't wear blush, as her cheeks were naturally rosy. Last, she pulled up her long, curly hair into a pony tail, slipped on her robes, and made her way down to the empty common room.
A light fire was already going. She walked over to the portrait and pushed it open, stepping out into the corridor. A warm summer breeze was rushing through the windows, and she closed her eyes for a moment to breathe it in. The fresh smell of autumn scents intoxicated her nostrils; autumn had always been one of her favorite seasons because it wasn't cold, but it wasn't scorching. Everything was just right.
As she strolled through the corridors, Hermione was surprised to see that quite a few people were up and about that early. Maybe it was just the winds of change that influenced them to do so. And maybe the idea of this "plan" wasn't so bad after all...
When she reached the doors to the Great Hall, there was a small line of students waiting to get inside. Head Boy and Girl were standing up front; they seemed to be giving out instructions. Hannah was holding a basket, and Terry was holding a parchment in front of his long nose.
"What's going on?" Hermione asked the person in front of her, a girl with shocking red hair similar to the Weasleys' who she knew to be a sixth year Hufflepuff.
"They've divided the house tables," the girl answered with a disproving look. "Hannah told me that the Heads had a meeting with Dumbledore about it last night. There are twelve seats at each table, three Divisions to a table. Insane if you ask me..." She turned her attention back to the front of the line, leaving Hermione to ponder over what she had said.
Immediately, Hermione's mood towards the "plan" changed back to what it had been the night before. This is ridiculous! I can't even dine with my best friends!
The line moved quickly, and in no time, Hermione had reached the front. Several more people were behind her.
"Division?" Terry asked, not even looking up from the parchment in his hands.
"Seven."
His eyes scrolled down the parchment. "You'll be sitting at table twenty-five."
Hannah reached inside the basket and pulled out a round, orange sticker with the number 25 written in bold letters on it. She handed it to Hermione and said, "You will wear this at all times; for rule purposes. If you are caught sitting at another table during mealtimes, you will be punished. Hermione nodded, and Hannah stepped aside for her to enter.
She had to hold back a gasp when she saw what they had done to the Great Hall. There were two long rows of tables on each side of the room with a wide isle in between them. Above every table there were numbers floating, which Hermione supposed to be the table numbers. How much worse can this get???
With a heavy sigh, she scoped out table 25. It was located on the left side of the room, about in the middle of the row. She noticed four people, three girls and a boy at opposite ends, sitting there. The boy was a Ravenclaw 7th year, named something Hamilton. He had black hair, naturally tanned skin, and bright blue eyes, which made most of the girls swoon. Hermione though he was good-looking, but she didn't fancy sharing her feelings and thoughts with the other hormone-raged girls.
She approached the table and seated herself across from the boy. The benches had been replaced with chairs, and she was grateful. It was always so hard to kick your leg over the benches without flashing the whole Hall if you had on a skirt. Hermione began dipping herself a small portion of food. Breakfast had always been her least-favorite mealtime. It was always so sickening, and if it weren't for being healthier, she'd skip it completely.
"Is that all you're going to eat?" asked a voice when she'd gathered everything she wanted: a slice of toast, a spoonful of eggs, and a strip of bacon.
She looked up at the person across from her. He had an amused look on his face. She blushed. "I don't like breakfast food."
He grinned and said, "I can tell," before taking a sip of pumpkin juice.
"What do you mean?" She wasn't sure whether to be offended or not.
The boy shrugged and nodded toward her wrist. "Well, you're pretty skinny to be in seventh year."
Hermione looked down at her wrist; all of a sudden, it looked so frail and thin. Maybe he was right...But did her whole body look that way? She could feel her face turned a bright shade of pink as she thought of an image of herself; a thing, gangly body with skeleton-like arms trying to hold up a huge stack of books and parchments.
"But it's not a bad thing at all," the boy said, interrupting her thoughts. She looked back up at him, and he smiled. When he did so, it seemed as though all of his features were smiling...the curves in his face, his eyes...A herd of butterflies erupted in the pit of her stomach, and she couldn't help but smile back.
He suddenly reached across the table and held out his hand. "I'm Nicholas Hamilton."
She shook his hand and started to say, "I'm-"
"Hermione Granger," he interrupted. "I never forget a pretty face," he added with a small blush.
Hermione felt like her head was going to explode from the heat in her face. She folded her still tingling hand in her lap and picked up her fork with the other. What else was there to do? Tell him that he was pretty? She almost laughed out loud at the thought. Attention from any boy always made her feel giddy inside, and she usually managed to do something stupid. She just couldn't help it.
"So," Nicholas started, "which Division are you in?"
Hermione swallowed the bite of eggs in her mouth before answering, "Seven. You?"
"Four."
Her eyes lit up. "Isn't that the Division that Harry is in?"
"Harry Potter?" She nodded.
At that moment, someone sat down on Hermione's right, and a voice said. "Did someone say my name?"
She looked over to see Harry smiling down at her. "Harry!" she exclaimed, glad to have a friend at her table. "I'm s glad one of my friends is at my table!"
He nodded. "Me too; but Ron, the poor bloke, got stuck at a table with Pansy Parkinson." He pointed to a table, but Hermione didn't even bother to look.
"Well I'd rather be at his table than in the company of this one," she said in a disgusted tone.
"Hey!" Nicholas and Harry both objected, and she giggled.
Was that me giggling?
"Not you two." She lowered her voice and discreetly pointed to the other end of the table. "I just don't want to be in their company; not to mention the fact that Draco Malfoy is in my Division."
Harry's eyes widened. "What?" Hermione nodded sadly. Harry had already left with his Division after she was sorted into hers.
"He's already being a pain," she told them, thinking about his "warning."
Nicholas scowled and said, "I hate that bloody idiot. Thinks he owns the place, he does."
"Thank you for your kind words," drawled a voice behind them. They all turned to see Malfoy towering over them. "But if you don't mind, I'd rather you say them to me face; that way, I'll have an excuse for cursing you to oblivion."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Malfoy, do we look scared to you?"
Before he could reply, a loud feminine voice echoed through the Hall. "Students, may I have your attention please," Professor McGonagall said, causing everyone's attention to turn to her. "When your Division number is called, please come to the front to receive your new timetables. If a person or persons in your Division is not present, please be kind enough to take them to your table for them." She unrolled a scroll of parchment and began calling out Divisions.
Out of the corner of her eye, Hermione saw Malfoy take a seat as far away from them and the girls as possible, which meant he was in the very center.
~*~*~
~DRACO~
Draco scowled as he made his way up to the teachers' table with Granger and the other two members of their Division, who had showed up only moments before. He was already in a bad mood with the table arrangements, and Granger and her little buddies weren't helping.
When he reached the front, Snape handed him his timetable first, albeit Granger and the others had gotten there first. He smirked at them as he walked back to the table.
"Draco!" someone hissed to his left, just as he was about to sit down. He looked up to see Pansy Parkinson about three tables over. She was leaning across the table, waving at him avidly. To her left was Peter Rails, a sixth year Slytherin, and at the other end of the table was Ron Weasley (better known to Draco as The Weasel) and Dean Thomas, two seventh year Gryffindors. He hated both of them, but couldn't help but smirk at Pansy being stuck with them. He sat down in his seat without even acknowledging that Pansy had waved and unfolded his timetable, just as the others sat down.
Draco Malfoy-Slytherin-Year Seven
Monday: 9:00 A.M. – Potions with Professor Snape.
10:30 A.M. –Care of Magical Creatures with Professor Hagrid
12:00 P.M. – Lunch
1:00 P.M. – Defense Against the Dark Arts
Tuesday: 9:00 A.M. – Literacy/Calligraphy with Professor Eurike
10:30 A.M. – Herbology with Professor Sprout
Draco wasn't able to finish reading, as Professor Dumbledore stood and cleared his throat. By now, the tables were all full. "Students, as most of you may have realized, there is no Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher named on your timetables." He stared down at them all, eyes twinkling behind the half-moon spectacles. Draco scowled at the sigh of the old fool, albeit he listened to his every word. "That is simply because we are waiting for his arrival. If you are scheduled for a class with him today, please meet in the Library. There will be a teacher there to assist you."
Several murmurs passed through the hall. "Also," Dumbledore continued, "there are no houses listed for the classes. That is because they have been divided. No two people in this room should have the same schedule. In every class, members from all of the houses will be together." Draco could feel anger rising inside his chest. How much further were they going to take this??? Enough was enough! House unity...bull!
Several other people in the hall were exchanging glances, but no one was really surprised. After all that had happened so far, they wouldn't be surprised if they were instructed to all sleep in one dormitory. Not that that was likely; the teachers weren't stupid enough to put hormone-raged teenagers into one dormitory. But then again...
When Dumbledore had resumed his place in his seat, Draco got to his feet. Several of the students were heading back to their common rooms for books and such, including Granger. Not one to be outdone, he headed back as well.
~*~*~
Draco stared around the Potions classroom. It was odd having such a variety of students on a class, but it was better than having a whole lot of Gryffindors and a clinging Pansy (Luckily, she wasn't in this class.) The classes were smaller as well. There were eight students, two from each house, and the seats were assigned. Draco found himself sitting beside Terry Boot. The only other Slytherin was Michael Nott, but Draco had never gotten along with him. He was too much of a rival.
For the first time in seven years, Draco Malfoy hated his Potions class. Even Granger had that class...The only bonus was the fact that Parvati Patil was in it; he had plenty of "eye candy," even if it was a Gryffindor.
Almost as soon as the bell rang, Professor Snape stormed into the room and strode up to the front to stand behind a podium. There was an automatic silence. "Good morning, class," he drawled. Draco could tell by his grumpy expression that he didn't mean it at all. "Welcome to Advanced Potions..." He stared around the room, studying each and every one of them, as though measuring them up. Then he looked down at his podium, obviously reading something on a parchment.
"For the first three months of this year," he said without looking up, "we will be brewing over the Transformation Thalamus Potion. But...that isn't all. While they're brewing, we'll review for several smaller, simpler potions. After all, NEWTs are coming up, are they not?" He looked back up from the parchment, not really expecting an answer, and continued. "The person you are sitting next to is your partner, and it will not be changed unless something...happens."
He walked from behind the podium and stood before them all. "This year isn't going to be easy...In fact, I do not expect all of you to still be with us by the end of the term."
No one spoke nor moved.
"Well, what are you waiting for?" he snapped suddenly. Even Draco jumped slightly. "Get out your textbooks."
There was a shuffle as people scrambled to get out the heavy books.
~*~
~HERMIONE~
Hermione sighed and fell backwards onto a couch in the common room. They had had to sit in the library for the last class of the day, Defense Against the Dark Arts, and her bum was aching from sitting on the hard chairs. Not to mention the fact that the only open seat when she arrived was the one next to Malfoy...Professor Snape had met the class there. A double-dose of Snape and Malfoy in two classes had not been good for her nerves.
Joseph Larkin, a Hufflepuff third year, stumbled into the common room only minutes after she did and plopped down in an empty sofa. "Afternoon," he said politely with a nod.
She returned the greeting with a smile.
"How nice," said a cold voice from the corner. Hermione looked up. She hadn't even realized that Malfoy was in the room, and yet there he was, sitting at a desk in the corner. "The Mudbloods are getting along." He was leaning back in his chair, staring at them in amusement.
Hermione's eyes flashed angrily in his direction. "Shut your trap, Malfoy," she hissed, spitting his name out as though it were poison upon her tongue. "At least we know how to make friends."
He snorted and said sarcastically, "Nice comeback."
Hermione could feel her blood boiling. Oh, how she wanted to just hex him into oblivion. She stood up and ran up the stairs without looking back. The temptation was getting to be too much, and she feared of doing something she'd regret.
Once in her room, she dug her diary and a quill out of her trunk and sat Indian-style on her bed, writing hastily away, as she always did when she got worked up.
I don't know why I let that bloke get to me so much...Just the slightest thing he says gets me seething with anger! Maybe it's just a Malfoy thing... He always walks around, looking down on people and acting like he owns the place. It drives me insane! Plus, the sneers, smirks, and name-calling are beginning to annoy me more than ever. I just don't think I can take much more of his trash! I might end up doing something regrettable soon...
It was sooner than she thought.
~*~*~
"So, Hermione," Nicholas said after swallowing a bite of mashed potatoes, "what's your favorite subject?"
Hermione had been quite surprised when he sat beside her during supper. It was the seat that she had saved for Harry, but somehow she didn't mind... (Harry had sat at the other end of the table, because he refused to sit next to Malfoy, who was sitting in front of Nicholas. Therefore, Ashlan Albany had to sit in front of Hermione.) "Oh...Well, I like Arithmacy and Transfiguration. It's hard to choose... I like Potions too, just not the teacher." He chuckled. "What about you?"
He shrugged. "Defense Against the Dark Arts, I suppose. I've always had a thing for that subject." He smiled at her, and she felt more butterflies erupt in her stomach. She even had to look down at her plate so he wouldn't see her blush. She liked feeling this way...It had been such a long time. The last time she had felt like this was when she was with Viktor Krum during the summer after her fifth year. But like they say, long distance relationships never last.
"Aww, is the Mudblood blushing?" sneered Malfoy. Hermione felt herself go even redder as she looked up at him with a glare in her eyes. Oh, no you don't, Malfoy. Why did he always manage to embarrass her so? Every time something good was happening, he had to go and interrupt. She could feel several pairs of eyes on her, including Nicholas'. When she didn't say anything, he smirked. "Looks like the Mudblood has a crush on Hamilton here," he said loudly, causing several more people to look in her direction.
That was it. He had pulled the final string.
Hermione leapt to her feet and pulled out her wand, pointing it straight at his chest. "I'm sick of this!" she yelled angrily, not caring who was watching her. He had provoked her for year after year, and she didn't do much to stop it...But now, he would pay. "I'm going to teach you a lesson, you little ferret!" For an instant, she saw fear in his beady little eyes. And it felt good to have power over him.
Just as she was about to shout a spell, someone grabbed her wrist and turned it away from Malfoy. "That is enough!"
Hermione looked to see who had interrupted, and felt her stomach fall to the floor. Professor McGonagall was standing there with an angry expression, and Dumbledore was behind her. Realization hit her, and she realized what she had just done.
A/N: OK, so, kinda corny, but I'm working around to the point. And before anyone asks, YES, Hermione will have a "thing" with someone else for a couple of chapters. But if you'll notice, in the summary she's crying over someone else *cough*, so, ya... BUT IT IS D/Hr.