CH. 2
The rest of the train ride went without incident, and Hermione felt an increasing anxiety grow in the pit of her stomach. She had done her best to avoid any of her old classmates. She hadn't even laid eyes on Harry and Ron yet, and for that she was grateful. 'I can't talk to them yet. I'm just not ready,' she tried to convince herself. The truth, though, was that she wasn't like them anymore. She didn't think she could ever be the old- bookworm-following-in-her-friends-shadow Hermione that she was a few years ago.
She dragged her luggage off of the train, seeking the shelter of the carriages. She was so intent on getting out of the crowd, she didn't even see the figure bending down tying his shoe until she ran into him, knocking him flat, and sending her books and luggage flying. She scrambled to her feet, ready to apologize profusely, but when she looked down at whom she had just trampled, the words died in her throat.
"Oy! Watch where you're going, why don't you?" yelled Ronald Weasley from the floor, rubbing his head.
Hermione looked at him in a mixture of horror that she would have to face him, and fascination at how much he had changed. *Damn, he's tall! * "Umm.. Sorry about that," she said awkwardly.
He looked up, and his mouth dropped open. His cheeks reddened a bit, as he hustled to his feet. "Uh.no, I mean.I'm sorry! I wasn't watching. Uh, hi! I'm Ron Weasley." He stuck out his hand.
Hermione stood numbly as he shook her hand enthusiastically. He didn't recognize her either. *What is going on? *
"You're new, aren't you? You're going to love it here at Hogwarts. It's really great. Hey! Is that that a head girl badge in your bag? Wow, are you the new head girl? Gee, that's awesome! You must be really smart."
*Ron, stop rambling, you idiot* she smiled, a bit forcefully, and interrupted her friend's ranting, "Yeah. Well, I really must be going. Nice to see you." *.again* she added mentally. She started to walk away, not sure whether to break down in a fit of laughter or in tears. Was she really so different that even one of her closest friends failed to recognize her? She shook her head. This year is definitely going to be different.
~~~'~(@
With much trepidation, Hermione entered the Great Hall. She was acutely aware of the stares she was receiving as she walked down the aisle, but she chose to ignore them, refusing to look anywhere but strait ahead.
When she reached the front of the hall, she hesitated. Was she supposed to just find a seat at the Gryffindor table? Just like that? She looked towards the head table, and was to find all eyes on her. She scrunched up her eyebrows. It was quite unnerving to turn around and find all of your professors staring intently at you. Dumbledor had that telltale twinkle in his eye. Hermione was suddenly very uneasy. She had a feeling she was not going to enjoy the next few hours of her life.
The Headmaster nodded to the Gryffindor table, and Hermione complied by sitting in the nearest empty spot, but not before sending him a suspicious glare.
The students sitting around her all gave her curious glances, and Hermione resisted the urge to shrink into her thick new robes. She glanced quickly down the table at where her old friends had always hung out. *Yep, still there...And staring directly at me!* boy, this was getting irritating.
Ron was goggling over her again, but Harry was regarding her curiously. She glared back in return, and suddenly his whole face lit up.
Oh, fuck.
Harry stood up and started to head her way with a big smile on his face, when a loud burst of cheering came from the Slytherin table.
*Thank Merlin* Hermione sighed, but quickly changed her opinion when she looked over at what was getting the slytherins all worked up. Malfoy had just entered the Hall, strutting with all the grace and confidence in the world.
Hermione swallowed and mentally checked for drool.
After Malfoy sat down at the front of his table, Dumbledor stood and cleared his throat. "Welcome to yet another year at Hogwarts! In a few moments, the first years will enter and the sorting will begin. I would first like to welcome Professor Johnston as our new defense against the dark arts teacher."
Everyone clapped politely as a tall man stood at he end of the head table. His hair was a dark blonde, combed back away from his handsome, angular face and his dark brown eyes contrasted against his light features and pale face. His robes failed to hide his well-built body. Strength and power seemed to radiate off of him in waves.
Hermione could hear the sighing from the other girls, and she couldn't seem to stop herself from shivering, though not for the same reason. When she looked up at the strange man, she had a strange sense of foreboding, and couldn't help but distrust the man.
Dumbledor continued, "Now, would the new head boy and girl please stand up and be recognized."
*Shit, shit, shit, shit...* Hermione screamed silently as she reluctantly stood up. She could feel all eyes on her, and she felt her face go beat red.
"Now, if you have any problems, questions, or complaints, please refer to them. Now, I believe the first years are ready to be brought in." Dumbledor droned on.
Hermione sat down quickly and glared at the headmaster. *Oh, ha ha ha, Dumbledor! I know what you are trying to do. Well, sorry, I wont fall for your little game.*
He hadn't mentioned her name on purpose, knowing no one recognized her.
*Bastard* ~~~'~(@
(A/N) Hey, sorry that it took so long to update. School has started and when mixed in with my current stress at my house, after the loss of my mom, I hope you can forgive me.
More updates coming soon, as well as a new original story that I am currently starting.
The rest of the train ride went without incident, and Hermione felt an increasing anxiety grow in the pit of her stomach. She had done her best to avoid any of her old classmates. She hadn't even laid eyes on Harry and Ron yet, and for that she was grateful. 'I can't talk to them yet. I'm just not ready,' she tried to convince herself. The truth, though, was that she wasn't like them anymore. She didn't think she could ever be the old- bookworm-following-in-her-friends-shadow Hermione that she was a few years ago.
She dragged her luggage off of the train, seeking the shelter of the carriages. She was so intent on getting out of the crowd, she didn't even see the figure bending down tying his shoe until she ran into him, knocking him flat, and sending her books and luggage flying. She scrambled to her feet, ready to apologize profusely, but when she looked down at whom she had just trampled, the words died in her throat.
"Oy! Watch where you're going, why don't you?" yelled Ronald Weasley from the floor, rubbing his head.
Hermione looked at him in a mixture of horror that she would have to face him, and fascination at how much he had changed. *Damn, he's tall! * "Umm.. Sorry about that," she said awkwardly.
He looked up, and his mouth dropped open. His cheeks reddened a bit, as he hustled to his feet. "Uh.no, I mean.I'm sorry! I wasn't watching. Uh, hi! I'm Ron Weasley." He stuck out his hand.
Hermione stood numbly as he shook her hand enthusiastically. He didn't recognize her either. *What is going on? *
"You're new, aren't you? You're going to love it here at Hogwarts. It's really great. Hey! Is that that a head girl badge in your bag? Wow, are you the new head girl? Gee, that's awesome! You must be really smart."
*Ron, stop rambling, you idiot* she smiled, a bit forcefully, and interrupted her friend's ranting, "Yeah. Well, I really must be going. Nice to see you." *.again* she added mentally. She started to walk away, not sure whether to break down in a fit of laughter or in tears. Was she really so different that even one of her closest friends failed to recognize her? She shook her head. This year is definitely going to be different.
~~~'~(@
With much trepidation, Hermione entered the Great Hall. She was acutely aware of the stares she was receiving as she walked down the aisle, but she chose to ignore them, refusing to look anywhere but strait ahead.
When she reached the front of the hall, she hesitated. Was she supposed to just find a seat at the Gryffindor table? Just like that? She looked towards the head table, and was to find all eyes on her. She scrunched up her eyebrows. It was quite unnerving to turn around and find all of your professors staring intently at you. Dumbledor had that telltale twinkle in his eye. Hermione was suddenly very uneasy. She had a feeling she was not going to enjoy the next few hours of her life.
The Headmaster nodded to the Gryffindor table, and Hermione complied by sitting in the nearest empty spot, but not before sending him a suspicious glare.
The students sitting around her all gave her curious glances, and Hermione resisted the urge to shrink into her thick new robes. She glanced quickly down the table at where her old friends had always hung out. *Yep, still there...And staring directly at me!* boy, this was getting irritating.
Ron was goggling over her again, but Harry was regarding her curiously. She glared back in return, and suddenly his whole face lit up.
Oh, fuck.
Harry stood up and started to head her way with a big smile on his face, when a loud burst of cheering came from the Slytherin table.
*Thank Merlin* Hermione sighed, but quickly changed her opinion when she looked over at what was getting the slytherins all worked up. Malfoy had just entered the Hall, strutting with all the grace and confidence in the world.
Hermione swallowed and mentally checked for drool.
After Malfoy sat down at the front of his table, Dumbledor stood and cleared his throat. "Welcome to yet another year at Hogwarts! In a few moments, the first years will enter and the sorting will begin. I would first like to welcome Professor Johnston as our new defense against the dark arts teacher."
Everyone clapped politely as a tall man stood at he end of the head table. His hair was a dark blonde, combed back away from his handsome, angular face and his dark brown eyes contrasted against his light features and pale face. His robes failed to hide his well-built body. Strength and power seemed to radiate off of him in waves.
Hermione could hear the sighing from the other girls, and she couldn't seem to stop herself from shivering, though not for the same reason. When she looked up at the strange man, she had a strange sense of foreboding, and couldn't help but distrust the man.
Dumbledor continued, "Now, would the new head boy and girl please stand up and be recognized."
*Shit, shit, shit, shit...* Hermione screamed silently as she reluctantly stood up. She could feel all eyes on her, and she felt her face go beat red.
"Now, if you have any problems, questions, or complaints, please refer to them. Now, I believe the first years are ready to be brought in." Dumbledor droned on.
Hermione sat down quickly and glared at the headmaster. *Oh, ha ha ha, Dumbledor! I know what you are trying to do. Well, sorry, I wont fall for your little game.*
He hadn't mentioned her name on purpose, knowing no one recognized her.
*Bastard* ~~~'~(@
(A/N) Hey, sorry that it took so long to update. School has started and when mixed in with my current stress at my house, after the loss of my mom, I hope you can forgive me.
More updates coming soon, as well as a new original story that I am currently starting.