Disclaimer -- Harry Potter and all related characters, spells, etc, are the creation of J. K. Rowling.

A/N: This is my first attempt at a fanfic. I hope you all will be patient with me! If you see any errors, either in the grammar or in the plot, please let me know and I'll try to fix it.

Chapter 2-- The New Term

The mob of students made their way into the Great Hall. They seated themselves at their respective tables and waited, talking noisily among themselves. This year, the Slytherin table was looking sparse. Most of its students had either dropped out of Hogwarts after Voldemort was defeated, or transferred to Durmstrang.

Soon, the group of first years came in, led by Professor McGonagall. The amount of new students this year was tremendous, at least twice as many as last year. It seemed some parents' faith in Dumbledore had increased after last year.

They all stood in the back of the hall looking nervous and unsure of themselves. Harry remembered how he had felt when he was that age and felt sorry for them. The Sorting seemed to take for ever, and Harry's mind kept wandering. He thought about the upcoming Quidditch season, making a mental note to organize a meeting for the Gryffindor team right away, and the feast and how hungry he was, but mostly, his attention was directed at the blue eyes and fiery red hair across the table. Ginny caught him staring once or twice and gave him a questioning look, prompting him to smile and look away. Ginny wasn't the only one who noticed Harry's prolonged gaze. Ron wondered if what he was observing was just his imagination, or if he was going half crazy from the hunger.

After the Sorting, Dumbledore stood up. The last of the cheering for new housemates died down when he cleared his throat.

"We are beginning today a new year, here at Hogwarts," he said solemnly. "A new era, hopefully. We no longer must fear the Dark Lord, and that is cause for quite a celebration." He paused, waiting for the applause finish. "The tournament for the Quidditch Cup, after being canceled last year due to the circumstances, will be held again this year." A large roar of approval broke out from the students and Dumbledore smiled. "The first trip to Hogsmeade will be the last weekend of this month, open to third years and above who have completed the permission slip," Harry could've sworn Dumbledore winked at him at that last part. "and no students are permitted in the Forbidden Forest, and no magic in the halls. That's everything, I think. Good. Now, we can eat!" Dumbledore sat down, and suddenly the gold plates in front of them were filled with food. When everyone had had their fill, the crowd in the Great Hall began to break up.

Hermione led the new Gryffindors up to the common room, introducing them to the Fat Lady and telling them the password-- bubble bath. Harry and Ron followed, preceding the rest of the Gryffindors. Harry and Ron, and Hermione and Lavender, the other Gryffindor Prefect led the new students to the boys and girls dorms, respectively. After completing their Prefect duties, Ron and Harry wearily climbed the stairs to their new dorm room. The Prefects' dorms were much more spacious and luxurious than the others. Ron and Harry pulled off their robes and laid down in the scarlet velvet bed coverings.

"This is pretty posh, eh Harry?" Ron said into the darkness.

"Yeah." yawned Harry.

"You tired?"

"Yeah."

"The food was good."

"Yeah"

"'Specially the chicken."

"Yeah." Harry's responses were getting slower.

"You really like Ginny, huh?"

"Yeah."

Ron chuckled to himself.

"G'night, Harry." This time, there was no reply.

After Ron and Harry had taken showers, they made their way down to the Great Hall, finding Hermione, Brynna and Ginny had beat them to the breakfast table; Hermione was spreading jam on her second slice of toast. "Morning, Harry, Ron," she said to them between bites.

"Hi, Harry," Ginny said shyly.

"Er-- good morning. How'd you sleep?"

"Fine," she replied. "Have some cereal."

"No thanks," he said, looking at the lumpy mass she offered him. "I'll just stick with the toast."

Professor McGonagall strode up to the table. "Harry."

"Yes, ma'am?"

"Wood, the Weasleys, and the rest of the team have graduated. That leaves you as captain. I know we haven't played for the Cup in two years, but we are still defending champions, and I expect you to find me an excellent team. I'll leave it to you to plan try outs and practices."

Harry gulped. "Yes, ma'am."

She smiled at him. "Don't worry. You'll be a fine captain." She turned and walked off to the teachers' table.

"Harry!" exclaimed Ron. "When are tryouts?"

"Er--" stammered Harry. "Well, I guess this Saturday is good."

"Do you think I have a chance for Keeper?" asked Ron.

Harry smiled mischievously. "Now Ron. You know I couldn't pick you over everybody else just because we're friends... but if you're the best one, I have no choice, now, do I?"

"What time on Saturday?"

Harry looked at Ginny in surprise. "Why do you ask, Gin?"

"Well, er-- I thought maybe I'd try out for Chaser." Ginny blushed at Harry's scrutiny.

"You'd be great, Ginny," Ron interjected. "Harry, you should see her, she's amazing."

Ginny's reddening face stopped Harry from voicing his doubts. Hermione saved Ginny from further embarrassment. "Did you guys see your schedule yet?"

Ron and Harry shook their heads no, and pulled them out of their back pockets.

"Care for Magical Creatures with Slytherin this morning," announced Brynna before they could open them.

Harry groaned. "And Potions with Slytherin this afternoon."

"Why do we always get stuck with Slytherin?" grumbled Ron.

"Two sides of the same coin, don't forget," Hermione chirped. "We'd better get going, though, we've got to go all the way to Hagrid's."

"'Bye, Ginny," they said, getting up from the table.

"Have fun with Professor Flitwick," added Harry.

The ground was still covered with dew, so Hermione put a charm on their robes to keep them from getting moist. Ron and Harry walked a little bit ahead of her, discussing the Quidditch tryouts. "'Lo, Granger."

Hermione turned toward the soft voice behind her. "Draco!" she said in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

"You didn't notice on your schedule that we have Hagrid's class together?" he asked mockingly.

Hermione turned a little pink. "I meant... well, why are you here, talking to me? No more Crabbe, or Goyle? Or Pansy?" she added the last name a bit timidly.

"Crabbe and Goyle realized last year that their loyalties lie in a different place. They're going to Durmstrang this year."

"Oh," she said.

"And I've been trying to escape Pansy since we met on the train. Her attention is, well..."

"Smothering?" guessed Hermione.

"Unwanted."

"Oh," she said again.

"I prefer to spend my time in the company of people with a higher intellect. With people whose goals are a little more ambitious than to marry rich," Draco paused, as if thinking. He glanced at Hermione, who had no reply.

She stopped abruptly, and Draco turned his gaze and realized they had reached Hagrid's hut.

The beginning of the lesson went uneventfully; Hagrid described his course outline for the year. Hermione was impressed. It sounded as if he had put a lot of planning into the class. After he had finished, Hagrid took them around the back to introduce them to their first project. There were a few dozen eggs under incubators. He explained how they would raise phoenix from the egg, and how baby phoenix were very rare, even more so than the adult of the species. From the "oohs" from the classes, Hermione could tell everyone was impressed. She was, too. The eggs were beautiful, blue and green and red and gold swirling flecks, almost hypnotizing.

"Now I don' have enough fer all o' yeh to have one, so yer're gonna have tuh get into pairs," said Hagrid.

Hermione looked around and saw Brynna and Ron standing next to each other, giving her regretful looks. Harry was with Neville, who looked relieved to have a partner. Lavender and Parvati had paired up, so had Dean and Seamus. She'd have to be paired with a Slytherin. Hermione frowned. Even though there had been cooperation between the four houses last year during the reign of Voldemort, she still wouldn't classify Slytherin and Gryffindor houses as being on friendly terms.

"Who hasn't got a partner?" asked Hagrid, surveying the group of students. "Malfoy. Anyone else?"

Hermione slowly raised her hand. "Ok," he said. "Malfoy, you can work with Hermione." He gave Hermione a sympathetic look. "That's it for now, next class, we'll learn what to do when the eggs hatch. You're dismissed."

Hermione looked at Draco, and he looked at her. She thought she saw a little bit of a smile, but she wasn't sure.

"Sorry, Mione," said Ron, as they were walking back to the castle.

"Yeah, sorry," echoed Harry.

"Ugh. You are not sorry. You're just glad you grabbed each other before you had to work with Malfoy." She pretended to look angry with them. Ron and Harry saw right through her, however, and snickered.

"Is it really that bad?" asked Brynna.

Hermione sighed. "You don't know Malfoy like we do. He's never called you Mudblood." She sighed again. "I just would rather work with one of you guys, but it's not a big deal. It's only some silly little project."

Harry looked at her in surprise. She normally took her schoolwork so seriously. "Whatever you say, Mione," he said.

They had some free time before lunch, and Harry and Ron were going back up to the Common Room for a game of Exploding Snap. They invited Hermione to join, but she declined, saying she was going to the library. She claimed she was going to do some research on phoenix eggs, but truthfully, she just wanted to be alone to think for a little while.

"Is it just me, or is this a little bit much on the studying, even for Mione?" asked Ron in a hushed tone as she walked away.

"I dunno," said Harry. "Maybe she's mad at us for the Malfoy thing. She didn't seem to mind that much, though..."

"Probably going off to meet some guy," joked Brynna. "Bubble bath."

They climbed through portrait hole. Brynna decided to go up to her room to read. As Harry and Ron sat down in front of the fireplace, Hedwig swooped down and landed on the arm of Harry's chair. He took the letter off of her leg and smoothed the feathers on her head. She hooted softly and flew out a window, presumably back to the owlrey. Harry opened the letter and read it slowly.

Harry,

Dumbledore has found a new place for me to stay. I'm sorry, but I won't be able to see you for a while; it's too dangerous. I will stay in touch. Take care of yourself, do your homework, stay out of trouble, and say Hi to Ron and Hermione for me.

--Snuffles

"Who is it, Harry?" asked Ron.

"It's Sirius." Harry read the note again. "He's gone back into hiding. He says he doesn't know when he'll be able to see me next. It's not fair! He's my godfather, and I never get to see him. All because of Fudge. If I could get my hands on that slimy git..." Harry's face had gone from disappointment to anger.

"Well, at least you can talk by post," said Ron. He didn't see why Harry was making such a fuss about not seeing Sirius. He had always had the trouble of too much family, so he was usually glad when they spread out a bit, like Bill and Charlie had.

Ginny walked over, saving them both from the embarrassing silence. "Ginny, want to join Harry and me in a game of Exploding Snap?" asked Ron, grateful for the interruption.

"I'm heading down to the Great Hall a little early." She shot a look at Harry.

"Ok, then."

"Er, Ron, if you don't mind, I think I'll go with her."

"Ok. I'll see if Seamus wants to play," he said it more to himself than to Harry, who was already lost in conversation with the petite red-head.

Hermione sat down at a table in a far corner and put her head in her arms. The tears were just starting to fall when she heard a voice above her.

"Intent on your studies already, Granger?" She quickly recognized the voice that no longer referred to her as "Mudblood" but still refused to call her by her first name. She looked up, startled.

"What do you want, Draco?"

The look on her face had caught him by surprise, too.

"Er... I was wondering if, er, what's the prob-- er..." Hermione put her head back down as he stared at her, stammering. Draco glanced around briefly before sitting down. "Hermione, what's wrong?"

"Oh, nothing. Just looking forward to our project together," she said lightly, trying to laugh. She sniffed and wiped at her eyes.

"Glad to see you're so anxious to begin our partnership." Draco handed her a tissue. "Really, though. Where are Potter and Weasley? Did you three get into an argument?"

"No." Hermione sniffed again. "I... I... er--- this is extremely awkward." She suddenly looked suspicious. "Why are you here, anyway? Why did you sit down? Why would you care what's wrong?"

Draco mumbled inaudibly.

"What?"

"I said, I just thought you might want to do some research on the phoenix eggs with me." He paused, looking at her. "I really am glad that we're working together. At least I know that I won't end up doing everything, like usual with Crabbe or Goyle." She gave him an unbelieving look, but he went on. "I tried to get your attention after class, but you were busy with Golden Boy and Weasel." He paused again as she rolled her eyes at his names for her friends. After another hesitation, he laid two books on the table. "I went and got these."

Hermione picked them up. "Famous Wizards and Their Familiars and 101 Potions from our Feathered Friends," she read skeptically.

"Well," Draco began hastily, "A phoenix is a pretty good pet-- Dumbledore has one, you know-- and I figured that book might have some information about famous phoenix and then the other one has a whole section of potions made from phoenix feathers, egg shells, tears, etc."

"Good idea," said Hermione, quite impressed. "I wouldn't have thought of something that subtle... right away."

"So now that you know why I'm here, would you answer my question?"

"And which question would that be?"

Draco growled. "Don't play dumb with me. You know what I'm talking about."

"I'm sure you don't want to hear about a Mudblood and her Muggle family's problems."

"What about your family?" he pressed, without missing a beat.

She sighed. "Really. It's no big deal."

"Obviously it's big enough to get you worked up about it."

"Touché..." she thought for a moment, chewing on her lip. "My parents are getting a divorce."

Draco hadn't expected that. He looked at her in bewilderment. "Is that all?" he asked.

"Is that all? Is that all?" Madam Pince shot a warning look in their direction, but Hermione's volume steadily increased. "Is that all! I never should've told an insensitive brute like you!" she grabbed her sack and hurried out a side door, but not before Draco noticed more tears forming.

He sighed. "Malfoy, you git. Stupid!"