A/N: Okay, everyone this chapter is going to be my LONGEST EVER!!!! It's like two chapters in one !! HOORAY!!! Oh, and please excuse any strange things in this chapter, I was listening to HAMSTERDANCE!! GO HAMPTON!!!
The next morning, Hermione woke up to an empty room for the second time in two days. She sighed, and looked over at the seemingly untouched other beds.
'Damn my pigheadedness. But I've never, ever backed out of an argument before, and I'm not about to do it now.
Ron woke up early, and decided not to wake Harry. He got ready quickly, and went down to the common room to stare at the fire until everyone else woke up. Ron always thought his best when he had a roaring fire to gaze at.
He saw right away that Cory was sleeping peacefully in a chair.
'Something even better to stare at.' he thought.
He sat down next to her, and listened to her calm breathing. He reached for her hand and the moment they touched, her eyes burst open.
"Huh!" she said, her clear eyes darting around the room.
"It's okay." said Ron, removing his hand as fast as he could.
"Was I having a nightmare or something?" she asked innocently.
"Why do you ask?" he demanded nervously.
"Well, you were holding my hand." she replied.
"Oh, -er- no, I was just taking your pulse to see if you were still alive." said Ron desperately.
Cory looked at him, her wide eyes fluttering, and she began to laugh. Slowly at first, but than faster and louder.
Ron joined in, thinking 'Good cover Weasley. Good cover.'
Hermione came down the stairs and flopped down.
"What's so funny?" she asked.
Cory stopped laughing. "Nothing really."
Ron nodded .
"Where's Harry?" Hermione inquired.
"Still sleeping." said Ron glumly, daring to steal a side glance at Cory.
Hermione didn't notice Ron's somewhat strange behaviour. "I'll go wake him."
"Hermione, your not allowed in the boy's dormitories." said Ron, surprised.
"Term hasn't started yet." she replied, uncharacteristically.
Ron's mouth formed a small 'O' as he watched her walk up the stairs.
Cory looked at her calmly, her mouth a thin, straight line. "That Hermione, she's always breaking the rules."
Ron looked at her, puzzled. "What?"
"Well, yeah, we always used to pull pranks on people. Total disregard for authority." she said, not realising that Ron was astonished.
"Well, not anymore. For as long I've known her, Hermione has been uptight."
"You're kidding, right?" asked Cory.
Ron shook his head no.
"Oh. Well, I guess that she's changed." said Cory, feeling lost.
'If what he says is true, it's more like a personality transplant.' thought Cory. 'Well, at least we're our own people now. And I think I can do enough rule breaking for the two of us.'
*** Boys Dormitories ***
"Harrrrrrrrrryyy." called Hermione softly, sitting on the edge of his bed. "Harrrrrrrrrryyy."
Harry mumbled something, and sat up, his eyes opening slowly.
"Hermione?" he mumbled, looking over at her.
"Yes, it's me." she said.
He smiled, rubbed his eyes, and said "Hermione, you're not supposed to be in here."
"Oh, who cares!!! I'm just waking you up!!! I won't get in trouble for being an alarm clock." she cried, flustered.
"Oh, so all you're doing is waking me up, eh?" he said, grinning.
"Yes, that's all I'm doing......" she trailed off because just then Harry pulled her in to an intense kiss.
After a while they pulled apart. She looked at him meaningfully for a couple seconds, then found her voice and said "See, now that's something I don't want to be caught doing in your room."
He laughed, and said "Let's go."
Hermione went down to the common room to let Harry get dressed and Harry joined everyone down there a couple minutes later. Cory had gotten changed in them meantime, into deep purple robes with a long slit and purple contacts to match.
They walked down to breakfast, finding the hall full of chattering teachers. McGonagall was there, along with Sprout, Flitwick, Snape, Hagrid, Dumbledore, and a couple teachers Harry knew from sight only.
When Snape turned around, he shot Harry an evil glare, only to begin to chuckle.
"Why is he laughing? He's never laughed before." he whispered to his friends.
"Maybe it's because you and Hermione are holding hands." snorted Ron. Cory
giggled right along with them.
Harry and Hermione looked at their joined hands. They hadn't even noticed. They blushed, and Hermione was letting go, until Harry whispered into her ear "Let them see. Snape has already noticed, they'll hear it soon enough anyway."
Hermione smiled, and they all sat down at the High Table , filling in the empty seats.
Dumbledore stood up and said " Welcome, staff, and and er- Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Coral. I would just like to announce that after breakfast, all of you may go settle in, but at 2:00, we shall have our first staff meeting of the year. Everyone should be here by then. Harry, Hermione, Ron, I would like to see you after breakfast. He sat down and everyone began to eat. Harry, Hermione, and Ron, looked at each others faces to see if they all still agreed. Harry nodded slightly, and they turned to their delicious food. Cory noticed their exchange, feeling extremely unwanted.
'Should of expected to be left out.' she sighed, and began to eat.
After breakfast, Harry and Hermione were walking slowly out of the Great Hall, holding hands again, when someone came in the entrance.
He had golden hair and tan skin. He was wearing vibrant red robes, and he smiled at them.
"Hermione, who is this charming young man that you've attached yourself to?" he asked, smiling.
Hermione dropped Harry's hand and turned bright red. "Uncle Myles! I wasn't expecting you! "
"Obviously not." he replied. Cory was still at the table. She saw her uncle, and ran to give him a great big hug.
'That's her uncle?' thought Harry, turning a little red too. 'How embarrassing. Imagine if my uncle saw me holding hands with someone. Well, that's not the best example, but still...'
"Uncle Myles!! I'm so glad you're here!! Did you bring Merry?"
"Yes, of course." he said. There was a pure white cat at his ankles. Cory squealed, and scooped up the cat, exclaiming "Merry!!"
Myles smiled, and stepped forward. "Hermione, you still haven't told this young man's name."
Harry was still a tad red, but he manage to stop blushing and say "I'm Harry Potter."
Myles shook his hand, and not once did his eyes drift upwards, to his scar.
Ron stepped forward too, and said "I'm Ron Weasley."
Myles shook his hand also, and announced "I'm Myles Goldore. You should probably call me Professor Goldore."
Harry and Ron nodded, and Dumbledore came walking up behind them.
"Myles! You're here! We were just about to have a meeting. Care to join us?" she said grandly.
"Yes, Professor." said Myles politely. "I'll be right there, I only need to put my belongings in my quarters."
Harry, Ron, Hermione and Dumbledore walked up to his office, leaving Cory
with her cat. Myles went off in a completely different direction.
They all settled in comfortable chairs in his office, and he said "So, have you accepted?"
Hermione nodded, Ron said "Yes, sir." and Harry said "Yes, Professor."
Dumbledore looked pleased. "Good." he said. "Now, when Myles gets here..."
As if on cue, Myles came walking through the door breezily.
"As I was saying, when Myles gets here, he will answer all of your questions." said Dumbledore. "I must be off. Myles, perhaps you can show them your office and the training room."
Myles nodded. Dumbledore escorted them out of the office, and Myles began to lead them to his office.
"How was your trip, Uncle Myles?" asked Hermione.
"Just fine, Hermione. Have you seen Kenway at all during your time here?" he questioned.
"Yes. Cory was petting him, yesterday."
"Cory babies him." chuckled Myles.
It was hard for Harry to imagine such a huge creature as a baby, let alone being babied.
They came up to a red door with 'Myles Goldore' written on it.
"This is my office." he said, opening the door.
His office was a medium sized room with a large window. It was a beautiful day outside, the sun was shining and the birds were chorusing together. He had pictures all over the wall. Pictures of Cory, himself and Cory, Hermione, some little boy, and a full grown woman. There were also pictures of an older man and woman.
"Ooh, Grandma and Gramps!" exclaimed Hermione. "And, Tommy, and me and Cory, and you and Aunt Claire!!" she was examining all of the photos, many of which didn't move. She paused at one of her and Cory at around 9 years old. They were the sweetest looking little girls that Harry had ever seen They looked a lot alike, except one had warm brown eyes, and the other had bright grey eyes.
Hermione turned away and sat down, shielding her face from the picture. Myles noticed her expression and sighed, Harry and Ron sat down, and Myles said "So, does anyone have any questions?"
Ron raised his hand patiently.
"Yes, Ron."
"Well, umm, shouldn't you, know, Cory be trained too? Because you, know, she was almost kidnapped too." he said nervously.
Myles looked at him fiercely, then began to laugh.
"I see I'm going to have a tough year protecting my nieces form suitors. No, Ron, she is very prepared, and well, I can't really tell you, but she's not in as much danger as you three."
Hermione raised her hand.
'God, it' weird to raise my hand when I want to talk to him!' she thought.
"Yes, Hermione?"
"Well, what exactly are we going to do?"
He started to tick of things on his fingers. "First, we'll do some placement tests, then we'll do curses, protection spells, strategy, creatures, and well, we may do some real missions for experience. But not for awhile." he answered.
Ron brightened when he heard about the missions.
'Maybe those will impress Cory!' thought poor, poor, clueless Ron.
"Any more questions?" posed Myles.
No one said anything.
"Fabulous. On to the training room, then." said Myles.
Myles led them out into the hall by his office, which was in a very secluded
hallway. He looked turned to a portrait of a large pig sipping tea.
"Password?" oinked the pig.
"Hohsi." said Myles, in a voice barely louder then a whisper.
The portrait swung open, revealing a large room. It was bare, except for one wall which had a blackboard on it.
They stepped inside and shut the portrait behind them.
"The ground is enchanted so that you can't hurt yourself if you fall." announced Myles.
Hermione threw herself on the ground.
"I didn't feel a thing!" she shouted.
Harry glanced at her, took at running start, and threw himself on the ground.
It didn't sting one bit.
Ron jumped on the ground, landing on his head.
Well, that kind of hurt. But not much!
"Harry stood up and asked "When do we start?"
"I'm happy that you're so eager. We'll start one week from today, on Sunday.
That'll give you guys a chance to settle in to school. Then the lessons will be on every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday." answered Myles.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione nodded.
"Well, I have a lot of work to do." said Myles. "You three may stay in here for a while, but Hortence may have trouble letting you back in."
"Hortence?" demanded Ron.
"What? Oh, Hortence is the pig in the portrait."
"Of course." said Ron.
Myles left. and Harry, Ron and Hermione stayed in the room all morning, throwing themselves on the ground for a couple minutes but then discussing the training.
The conversation went on for awhile, and Hermione soon remembered what Myles had said in his office.
"Ron? You know how Uncle Myles said that he would have trouble protected me and Cory this year? Well, he usually has really good intuition about this stuff. Do you umm.. like my sister?"
Ron gawked at Hermione. He didn't know what to say.
'Should I tell the truth? I dunno.....' he thought.
He looked at Harry pleadingly.
"I'm sure Ron will tell us when he's ready." said Harry.
Ron smiled gratefully.
"Oh, that's okay. Him not saying anything told me what I wanted to know." replied Hermione.
Ron was very uncomfortable, so he suggested "Let's go to lunch now."
Harry and Hermione once again clasped their hands together lovingly. Ron
sighed, and followed them down to the Great Hall.
The teachers were already there, including Myles, who was sitting next to Professor McGonagall, laughing. When Harry and Hermione came, in, Myles frowned, and Snape pointed, showing Flitwick and the other teachers around him. They all turned and looked.
"Oh, really now, grow up!" said Hermione.
Harry nudged her. "Let's really give 'em something to talk about."
"No!!! I would never, ever to that in front of all these teachers! Harry, Snape is right over there."
"Oh, yeah." he said, scratching his head.
They sat down next to Cory and began to eat their lunch. The house-elves were obviously putting more effort into it now that there were some more teachers there.
They ate slowly, all of the teachers filing out of the room to make their way up to the Staff Room for their meeting.
Soon, they were the only four people left. Harry and Hermione were acting lovesick, so Ron turned to Coral and said "Do you want to go for a walk?"
She looked remotely surprised, but nonetheless, she agreed. The departed outside, and started to slowly stroll around the lake.
"Are you okay?" demanded Ron.
She looked up at him.
"Yeah, I mean, I feel a little left out, you guys are so close. Plus, Hermione hates me."
"She doesn't hate you. And, I know who you feel. I feel left out too, because Harry and Hermione are, you know, together now." replied Ron.
"That's the second time you said that." said Cory.
"Said what?"
"That you know how I feel. Remember, at my house when I told you why I left?" she answered and questioned. (A/N: YEAH!!!)
'How could I forget?' he wondered.
"Oh, yeah. I remember. It's true though." he replied.
She stopped walking and looked at him, gazing into his hopeful eyes.
'He just feels sorry for me.' she thought.
"Well, that's what makes you a good friend. You can relate with me." she said, continuing to walk.
'Friend?' thought Ron, disappointed.
They continued to walk, speaking of nothing more than mindless activities.
Meanwhile, Harry and Hermione were talking and laughing, and there was an occasional kiss. They were having so much fun, that they didn't realise that it was already time for supper. They ran down so they wouldn't be late, and found Ron and Cory sitting next to each other. On the other side of Cory was Hagrid, and they were in the middle of a very interesting conversation.
"Yeh mean that yer dragon actually ate from yer hand?"
"Well, only when she was little. She was so cute, I'm telling you..."
Ron looked overjoyed to see Harry and Hermione.
"HI guys." he said. He was smiling, but he also seemed kinda sad.
'I wonder what's wrong with him.' mused Harry silently.
They sat and ate, Harry and Hermione still joking. Ron joined in, but he was somewhat detached.
The rest of the day was so typical, it doesn't seem worth mentioning. They went up to the common room and played Exploding Snap, and Wizard Chess. Eventually, when they were done playing and very tired....
"Well, I'm going to bed." proclaimed Harry.
"Me too." said Ron, and they both headed for the stairs, Harry pausing to give Hermione a quick peck.
Hermione yawned and started for the girl's stairs when she turned to Cory, who was sitting on a chair, getting ready to fall asleep.
"Aren't you coming?" asked Hermione.
"Well-" started Cory.
"There's no sense sleeping in a chair." said Hermione.
"I just don't want to get settled in somewhere where I might not be staying." Cory said loudly.
Hermione looked surprised. "You don't think that you'll be in Gryffindor?"
"I can't be sure." replied Cory.
"Whatever. Good night." said Hermione, and ran up the stairs.
'Of course she'll be in Gryffindor.. where else could she be?' thought Hermione.
***The Next Day!!***
Harry and Ron both woke up at the same time. They went downstairs, where Cory and Hermione were sitting, tapping their fingers on the chairs and not speaking to each other.
Harry and Ron shrugged, and they all went to breakfast.
All of the teachers were their, including Professor Trelawny. Professor Trelawny noticed Harry and Hermione holding hands, and come over.
"I foresaw this." she said. "Would you like to know how many children your going to have?"
Ron and Cory burst out laughing, and Hermione looked rather pained.
"No thank you. The doctor already told us it's triplets." answered Harry calmly.
Hermione eyes opened wide, and Professor Trelawny stalked away.
"Harry!" shrieked Hermione. "That wasn't funny!"
Ron and Cory could barely breath, they were laughing so hard. Harry desperately wanted to give in and laugh, but he was afraid that would get him in more trouble. Hermione gave a tiny giggle, and Harry knew then that it was okay. He bellowed all the way to his place at the table. They had to eat at the Griffindor's table, because there was no more room at the Head Table. Cory looked uncomfortable when she realised that she would have to eat at the Griffindor table. She didn't really feel like she belonged there. It was as if she was intruding on her sister. She ate as quickly as possible, and when upstairs to drag her trunk down the stairs. She just didn't want to look to sure of herself.
Ron, Harry, Hermione, and eventually Cory waited in the Great Hall for everyone to show up. Cory was very nervous.
'Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god, oh my god.' she thought, trying to keep the expression on her face natural.
"So, Cory, I guess you must be nervous." said Ron.
'Is he a mind-reader?' she wondered.
"Yes, a bit." she replied.
They talked and laughed, and before they knew it, the rest of the school came through the door.
"Hi, Harry! Hi, Ron! Hi, Hermione." People were coming up and telling them how happy they were to see them alive, and all of the things they did over the summer. They were crowded around them. Neville, Seamus, Dean, Lavender, Parvarti, everyone on the Griffindor Quidditch team, some Ravenclaws, some Hufflepuffs, and Ginny, along with several of Ginny's friends. Cory was sitting by herself at the table. No one noticed her.
When everybody sat down and the first years lined up at the wall, Cory jumped up and said "Well, I guess thats my cue."
It was then that they other Griffindor noticed her.
"Good luck, Cory." called Ron.
"Cory?" "Who's Cory?" "She reminds me of someone.." Murmurs came from across the hall. Cory got at the end of the line.
The Sorting Hat sang a song that was almost exactly the same as Harry's first year.
Cory listened carefully to all of the options 'Brave? Well, I'm kind of brave I guess. Studious? Ha!! Hard-working? No, that's not really me either. Ambitious? Well, yeah...'
Mc Gonagall began to go through the list of first years. All of the short little kids were deathly white.
"Badgerly, Thomas....... Hufflepuff!"
"Carmichael, Laura.......... Ravenclaw!"
"Diggory, Cristin.............. Gryffindor!"
Mc Gonagall's voice faltered when she said 'Diggory', and Harry turned as pale as the first years. He looked guilty, and the carefree look he had worn for the past two days disappeared. Hermione took his hand and squeezed it, which gave the other Gryffindors something else to talk about.
"Did you see that? Harry and Hermione are holding hands!" Murmurs went down the table once again.
Finally, the only person standing there was Cory. Mc Gonagall stopped and put down the list. Dumbledore stood up and announced "Students, we have a new student. She will be in the fifth year. Her name is Coral Granger.
"Granger?" "Hermione, is that your sister?" Questions without answers rippled throughout the hall.
Cory walked up to the hat and put it on her head.
"Hello." said the hat.
"Uh, hi." thought Cory. (The hat could read thoughts, as we all know.)
"Where shall I put you?" mused the hat.
"Look, I've been thinking it over and I'm not smart enough for Ravenclaw, I'm not dopey enough for Hufflepuff, and I can't go in Gryffindor because I'm not wanted. So..."
"That only leaves one house. Very well, better be SLYTHERIN!!!"
The hat said the last word loudly, and it echoed across the hall.
Cory took the hat off, and walked over to the table, sitting next to a boy with silvery blond hair and a smirk.
Hermione looked grim, Ron looked depressed, and Harry had already gotten enough of a shock, what with Cedric Diggory's, well, relative.
The boy with silvery blond hair leaned over to Cory and asked "Are you Granger's sister?"
"Yes." answered Cory.
The boy put on a small, evil smile. "We don't take to mudbloods very kindly in Slytherin."
Cory, stood up, grabbed her wand, and muttered a curse. Draco's eyes widened in surprise. He managed to duck the curse, whatever it was, and he too, leapt up. He grabbed his wand and sent a curse flying at her.
"Expelliarmus!" he cried.
"Stupefy!" she yelled.
They both blocked the curses coming at them, and looked up in surprise at the commanding figure of Albus Dumbledore standing next to them. They had both forgotten that they were in front of all the students... and the teachers....... and the Headmaster.
All of the students and teachers had been watching them warily as Albus Dumbledore stomped over to remind them that they had company and take them up to his office.
'One day, just one day, lord, without all of this going on!' he wished.
He dragged Cory and the boy with silvery blond hair who was so obviously Draco up to his office and said "50 points from Slytherin. What could of possibly made you two want to duel without even having met?"
Cory stole a glance at the boy, who actually seemed somewhat amused.
"We just wanted to test out our wands Professor. No harm done." said Cory cheerfully.
Dumbledore looked at Cory warily.
"That's absolutely right Professor. Just testing them out." said Draco.
Dumbledore looked very suspicious. "You two will both serve detentions."
"Great, I've never had a detention before." said Cory. She was feeling so, exhilarated. The boy had a look on his face, describing exactly how she felt inside.
Dumbledore sighed. "Back to the feast. I'll be there shortly."
Cory and Draco walked out of his office, chuckling. Draco turned to her and said
"I'm Draco Malfoy. We ought to do that again sometime." He extended his hand, which Cory took and shook slowly.
She laughed harder. "We're going to have to, because we didn't get to finish."
Draco sneered, but continued to chuckle. They walked in to the Great Hall laughing, and turned as many heads as they had when they were dueling.
Dear PEEPS,
A/N: What did I say? Is this long or what? I could of easily made it two chapters, but I decided to give you guys a treat. I was going to have Cory break her plate over Draco's head, but I made it a duel instead. I hope Draco didn't seem too fluffy, because believe me, he's not going to be. Finally, I put Cory in Slytherin because it just had to be done. We can't have all the cool people in Gryffindor. Slytherin is such a funny house! And so is Ravenclaw! Hufflepuff.... well, at least it's funny sounding. hufflepuff. tee hee hee. Anyway, it's not like anyone actually gave me their opinions or anything. :( But I would like some advice on whether or not Ron and Cory should get together or what. There is going to be an in-depth look at Slytherin society. It's cool!! Omigod, I just checked the word count. This really is twice as long as it usually is!
Love ,
Katy.
P.S. Please review. I made this chapter nice and looooooonnnngg!!