Heir
Unapparent: Chapter Four - Feasts, Foes
and Friends
When
they disembarked and climbed into the horseless carriages that would take them
to the castle, they spied a familiar figure rounding up the first years.
"Hiya
Hagrid!" Harry called out, waving.
Their
giant friend waved back enthusiastically. "All righ', Harry? See yeh
at the feast!"
As
they reached Hogwarts, there were many students milling about before its huge
oak doors, which stood wide open in welcome.
Draco
Malfoy made his swaggering way over to Hermione, who was waiting with Ginny and
her brothers to enter the Great Hall. "So, Granger, I hear you're aspiring to those above your little
Mudblood lot in life."
Ron
stepped in quickly and put his arm around Hermione's waist. "Clear off, Malfoy!"
Draco
opened his eyes wider. "Well,
well. Isn't this cozy, Weasley? And what will Viktor Krum say, I
wonder?"
"What's
that supposed to mean?" asked Hermione indignantly.
"Only
that the Krums are more suited to Slytherin company than Griffindor,
Granger. Still," Malfoy paused,
looking her up and down. "He could
do worse, I suppose. You're looking
tolerably well, Granger. Looks like
some time with those who practice the Dark Arts has done you some good."
Ron
stepped between them. "Leave her
alone, Malfoy!" he hissed between gritted teeth.
Hermione
brushed off Draco's would-be compliment. "Don't you dare accuse Viktor of associating with the Dark
Arts, Draco Malfoy!" she cried indignantly.
Malfoy
sneered at her. "You're so thick,
Granger. He's from Durmstrang, isn't
he?" He leered at her again. "My, my, so many suitors. Maybe I should take you on myself; wouldn't
mind a Mudblood pet of my own…"
Hermione
tried to push past Ron to slap the leer off Malfoy's face but Ron beat her to
it, flattening him with a punch that connected neatly with his pointed
chin. Standing over the prostrate
Malfoy, Ron rubbed his knuckles and spat, "You touch her and I swear
I'll tear you apart with my bare hands, you son of a…!"
The
twins stepped between their brother and Crabbe and Goyle, who were advancing on
him while rolling up their sleeves. Harry pulled at Ron, who had put both arms around Hermione.
"What's
all this, then?" asked a cold voice that froze them all at once.
Professor
Severus Snape stalked forward. "Ah, Potter and company. I
might have known. Fifty points from
Griffindor, Weasley. I believe this
sets a new record."
"He
called her a… a Mudblood pet!" protested Ron angrily.
Malfoy
grinned as Crabbe helped him regain his footing. Snape's icy glare quickly wiped the smile from his face. "Indeed. How very quaint. Twenty
points from Slytherin, Malfoy."
Malfoy
was stunned; Snape had never failed to take his side before. "But…"
Snape
grabbed him by the collar of his robes and hissed, "There is much at stake
these days, boy. I should think you
would understand that. Now is NOT the
time for your schoolboy pranks." He turned back to the group. "Inside. NOW!"
They
obeyed swiftly. "What do you make
of that, Harry?" asked Ron as they took their seats at the
Griffindor table. Again, he encircled
the back of Hermione's chair with his arm, which was becoming his Standard
Sitting Procedure.
"Dunno,"
mused Harry, mystified. "Never saw
him go off on one of his own before…"
"Maybe
Malfoy isn't one of his own," whispered Hermione severely, warning
them to lower their voices. "Don't
you remember last year, when Dumbledore made Snape and Sirius shake
hands?"
They
thought about this for a moment before she added, "I just hope he's more
careful. Lucius Malfoy won't stand for
his little boy being crossed, especially by someone he considers a
comrade…"
Ron's
arm slid from back of the chair to her shoulders. "Snape was right, for once. How dare he call you a… a PET! Listen, Hermione, stay away from that guy."
"As
if I ever go near him, Ron!"
Ron
shook his head. "I'm serious,
Hermione. I don't like the way he
looked at you."
Harry
agreed. "Remember what Sirius told
us. We need to stick together..."
"Hiya
Harry! Hiya!" Turning, Harry was
interrupted by Colin Creevey and his little brother Dennis, who had taken seats
next to him and proceeded to pay their annual Opening Feast Homage.
Ron
took the opportunity to pursue The Viktor Issue. "Um, Hermione? What
exactly is there between you and Kr… Viktor?"
Hermione
blushed and looked down, avoiding his gaze; she'd been waiting for this. "He likes me, I guess."
"That's
obvious. But how do you feel
about him?"
"I
like him too."
Ron's
arm around her stiffened. "How
much?"
"Very
much."
"Better
than me?"
She
raised her eyes to his and he smiled with relief at what he saw there. "Okay then. Just as long as you like me best."
For
once, Hermione Granger had no words. Instead, she kissed him lightly on the cheek. He wanted to extend that kiss, but the Great Hall was no place to
do so and Professor McGonagall had just placed the Sorting Hat on its little
stool in front of the faculty table. A
long row of timid looking first years filed in behind her. Turning in her seat
toward the teacher's platform, Hermione felt Ron's hand against her arm where
it rested on the table. She smiled and
felt warmer inside than the hot apple cider could account for.
One
by one, the first years sat on the stool, pulled the huge hat over their eyes
and heard a little voice audible only to their ears. The hat then blared aloud the name of each house. Harry noticed there were more Slytherins
than usual, and this troubled him.
After
the last youth had been sorted, Albus Dumbledore stood up and regarded the
assembly. Harry thought he looked
tired, and wondered how he had spent his summer. He could hazard a guess that it had not been a restful holiday…
Albus
Dumbledore sighed deeply as he regarded the young upturned faces. So many, so young and all entrusted to his
care in these darkening times. It would
be a very challenging year. "My
friends, on behalf of the faculty of Hogwarts, let me welcome you to another
year of what I hope will be full of learning and insight."
"As
many of you will recall, we ended last year's feast on a sad and somber
note. I would ask you all to stand now
and raise your glasses, once more, to our late friend, Cedric Diggory."
As
one, the assembly stood and solemnly toasted, "Cedric Diggory." Many of the first years looked around in
confusion but followed the example of their seniors.
Harry
looked at Cho, whose lowered her eyes betrayed her sorrow. There were no tears this time, but he knew
her life had been forever scarred by the loss. As had his.
When
the students had reseated themselves, Dumbledore continued. "I am very proud to announce, on behalf
of the Diggorys, the Tri-Wizard Tournament Fund and the International Quidditch
Foundation that we will be sponsoring the Cedric Diggory Memorial Quidditch
Tournament, which will become an annual Hogwarts tradition. In spring, Hogwarts shall welcome student
Quidditch teams from around the world," A great deal of chatter amongst
the students at this announcement. George, Fred and Harry exchanged thumbs-up gestures. "Assisting us
in this new endeavor are many acclaimed professional Quidditch players, who
will be serving as 'guest coaches' to our Quidditch teams throughout the
year. Among them, we are delighted to
welcome Viktor Krum, who has agreed to co-chair the event with Madame Hooch and
will be joining us throughout the year, as his professional schedule
allows." There were loud hurrahs,
especially from the Quidditch players, at this news. Hermione felt many eyes turning to look at her and she blushed
crimson. She also felt Ron's long
fingers close reflexively over her upper arm and sighed. Well, Viktor had asked if he could come to
visit. She never dreamed it would be
school sanctioned and regularly, however.
"To
continue. The faculty and I have agreed
that we wanted to start this year on a more positive note. I am therefore pleased to announce that we
shall be having a Halloween Ball."
More
cheers and conversation followed this announcement. Albus waited for the glee to subside before he cleared his throat. "Our younger students will be pleased
to hear that they will be allowed to attend, and many of you will be relieved
that you needn't have partners…" Harry could have sworn Dumbledore looked
directly at him and smiled. "But you are all expected to wear
costumes! There, is that everything,
Minerva?"
Professor
McGonagall shook her head and nodded towards her left, where Professor Snape
sat. Harry thought Snape looked, well,
smugger than usual.
"Ah,
of course! I would forget my beard if
it weren't glued to my chin! I am
pleased to inform you that Professor Snape will be acting as both Potions
Master as well as instructor of defenses against the Dark Arts." Snape did not stand; he merely inclined his
head slightly in the direction of the students. Dumbledore grinned. "And now, I believe we should eat!"
Harry
and Ron rolled their eyes. "Oh
grife! Snape twice over? This is gonna be awful!"
Hermione
shook her head, looking toward the teachers. "This must be part of Dumbledore's plan against… well, you know
who…"
Harry
suspected that Hermione was correct, but it still made his stomach lurch.
After
the huge feast, the students started to file from the hall to their respective
houses. Hermione and Ginny were smiling
at the boys who were discussing the Quidditch business with great
animation. "That kind of puts the
Halloween Ball on the back burner, doesn't it?" commented Hermione dryly.
Suddenly
Draco Malfoy was standing directly between Hermione and the doorway. "A Halloween Ball, eh, Granger? Why don't you come as a poodle? It would suit you; I'll buy you a nice
rhinestone collar and a leash. What do
you say?"
Hermione
was glad that Ron did not hear this. She glared at Malfoy and said through her teeth, "It seems to me
that you're the dog here, Malfoy."
Malfoy
smirked at this. "Now, now, be a
good little pet and I'll be sure to give you a biscuit. Or maybe you'd like something more…
personal?"
Hermione
sniffed and pushed past him. Ron was
right; he was up to no good this year. She almost wished for her overbite again, although she found it hard to
believe Malfoy could find her attractive, what with her being "beneath
him" as a Mudblood.
Ginny
followed her out and joined her as they made their way to the Griffindor
portal. "Hermione, I don't like
Malfoy's new… "attitude" towards you…"
Hermione
nodded. "I don't either. But, Ginny, don't mention what he said to
Ron, okay? I don't want him getting
into any trouble over that little creep."
Ginny
agreed but reiterated what her brother had told her earlier. "Just keep as far away from him as you
can, okay? I don't trust him further
than I could throw him!"
Hermione
had to concur. Damn it, why did
everything have to be so complicated for her? Her course load was heavy enough this year, what with preparing for
O.W.L.s and all. Now she had to dodge
the likes of Malfoy too?
"Do
you… do you really like Ron, Hermione?" Ginny's shy question
interrupted Hermione's angst.
They
had just reached the stairs of the girls' dormitory. Hermione smiled warmly at the youngest Weasley. "Yeah, I really do, Ginny. That okay with you?"
Ginny
grinned and threw her arms around her older friend. "Oh, Hermione, I think it's great! Ron better know how lucky he is…"
Hermione
laughed softly as they climbed the stairs. She was glad to have Ginny's approval. Harry seemed pleased as well. Now if she could only find a way to tell Viktor that they could be only
friends. She sighed. Surely he had plenty of girls, in Bulgaria
and beyond. He was, after all, an
internationally renown Quidditch seeker…
To
be continued, of course…