*Chapter Five*





Gasps of wonderment filled the Great Hall as the first years followed Professor McGonogall into the room. Hermione had to smile at the wide-eyed looks the enchanted ceiling was getting. She remembered her first viewing of it and how she had sprouted off that the ceiling wasn't really the night sky blah, blah. It had filled her with as much wonder as the others, but she'd felt the need to hide her awe behind her knowledge. Why she had felt the need to do that, she wasn't sure. She supposed it had been easier to hide behind books and facts, rather than face the fact that she was frightened out of her mind. After all, it wasn't every day that you learned the stuff of fairytales was real.

While the first years got situated in the front of the room to wait for their turn with the Sorting Hat, Hermione had the opportunity to look around a bit. The Great Hall hadn't changed at all in the last seven years. Not that she really expected it to. Four long tables stretched out in front of the main table, the flags of each House floating high above them. The tables were empty of food at the moment, but once the sorting was over and announcements had been made, the platters and plates would overflow with everything you could ever possibly want to eat. The thought of the food had her briefly wondering how the house elves were doing. She also wondered if she'd be welcome in the kitchen, since her S.P.E.W. venture hadn't been received very well by the elves.

She was surprised to find that she was hungry after the emotionally stressed day that she'd had. Hermione could feel Ron's eyes on her from across the length of the table. She had felt them since she walked into the hall. She refused to look down at him, however. She was hurt and angry and more than a little frustrated. She just didn't know what to do about him. So, she ignored him. A plan that was made easier to execute by the fact that he was seated next to Snape and she was between Professor McGonogall and Harry. She knew instinctively that Ron would be less than pleased with the seating arrangements.

Serves him right! She decided. Anger had quickly replaced her confusion while she was in the bath. How dare he think that, after the way he'd treated her, that she would just fall back into bed with him? Despite the fact that the thought of doing just that caused a thrill to shoot up her spine, she was determined not to give in. She was in love with him, yes, but she had her pride. If they resumed their relationship, it would be on her terms. Which meant this time more would be involved than just hormones. She just had to remind him of what they had been to each other. The hard part, was deciding how to go about it. She also wasn't sure if she'd be able to penetrate the bitter and hard shell Ron had erected around himself. She didn't know why, but she was sure that there had to be SOMETHING left of the man she'd been in love with. She hoped she was right because she didn't think her heart could take another break.

"When I call your name, please come forward so we may sort you into your houses." Professor McGonogall's voice pulled Hermione out of her thoughts. Filing the puzzle of Ron away for later perusal, she leaned forward to watch the sorting.



~*~*~



Ron could think of about a thousand different things he'd rather be doing right now. He was angry, bored and as tense as a strung bow. There was no way that seated here-next to SNAPE of all people-watching the sorting and being actively ignored by Hermione, not to mention being constantly glared at by Ginny, was going to alleviate any of it. He was still stinging from his earlier encounters with both women and it had done nothing to improve his mood.

So, here he was. Bored, pissed and sitting next to Snape. Could his night get any worse?

He knew he was tempting fate asking himself that. But, at the particular moment, he couldn't imagine a worse way to spend an evening. If he was honest with himself, he would have realized, that some of his ire had to do with the fact that a tiny part of him, thought that the girls had been right. He had no right to expect Hermione to fall into his bed, and he had no right to try and run Ginny's life. Especially since he hadn't really been in either of their lives for a very long time. He hadn't gone after Hermione when she'd left, despite his heart screaming for him to do so. And he had cut himself off from his family, only showing up at the odd holiday if he was around.

Knowing it, and being rational about it was two very different things.

Ron stared glassily at the fresh faced children that were being sorted without seeing them. He heard the Hat shouting out the House name, and the applause that followed, but, it seemed distant. What he really wanted to do, was head back to his room, and finish off that bottle, so he could wake up in the morning walls firmly in place. It didn't do to care too much. He'd learned that the hard way.

Women, he though vehemently, Too much bloody trouble. Even as this thought was running through his mind, he leaned forward a bit and turned his eyes to Hermione. He was more than a little annoyed that she was ignoring him so well. Looking at her, now, he could almost think that what had happened between them in his room, hadn't transpired at all. He didn't have any idea how she could recover from it so easily. He was still twisted up in knots over it. But, there she sat, her curls smoothed into a bun at the nape of her neck, her glorious body hidden beneath a royal blue robe, her face a study of calm. What he wouldn't give to wipe that look off her face and have her begging for him.

This train of thought will get you no where. He decided. He didn't bother wondering why Hermione's rejection stung more than Ginny's words. Maybe because he thought he was right where Ginny was concerned. He knew she was angry with him, but, he knew they would work it out. Weasley's always did. It didn't stop what she said from hurting, but it did seem to make the ache a little less pronounced. Watching Hermione walk out the door, without looking back, however, had caused a panic to well up that he had no clue how to handle.

Bugger. Ron thought with a sigh. Apparently, his inner turmoil and resulting fidgeting were annoying Snape. He caught sight of the Potions Professor glaring at him and turned to scowl back. He felt a zing of victory when Snape looked away first. He looked down at the table again, but this time, Ginny's slight attempts to get Harry's attention had caught his eye. He almost smirked at how oblivious the man seemed to be. He was staring straight at the last of the students getting sorted, fingers idly playing with a knife. Then, he realized, that Harry was ignoring the youngest Weasley as much as Hermione was ignoring him. A righteous fury rose up in his chest for his sister, in spite of his earlier warnings for Harry to do just that. He didn't like the pained expression that she wore, but when he saw anger flash across her face before she sat back with a huff, he had to smile. She was a tornado when set off, and he didn't like Harry's chances.

With a sigh, he sat back in his own chair as the sorting drew to a close. Professor McGonogall was putting the Sorting Hat and stool off to the side and walking to her seat. Once she was next to Hermione, Professor Dumbledore stood. A hush came over the students that had been chattering excitedly a second before.

"Welcome, welcome to another year at Hogwarts. I have a few brief announcements, then the feast will begin. Firstly, the first years should note that the Forbidden Forest is off limits to everyone." Ron, Hermione and Harry had a distinct feeling that the Headmaster was speaking to them in particular. "No magic is to be used in the halls between classes. The prefects will advise you to the rest of the rules. My second announcement concerns the newest additions to our teaching staff. You're new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor, is Mr. Ronald Weasley." A burst of polite applause rang out, interspersed with the older students telling the new student how that position was cursed. "Ms. Hermione Granger will be taking over the Muggle Studies course. "And -" He pause for the next smatter of applause to cease. "The new Flight Professor and Quidditch coach is Mr. Harry Potter." You could have heard a pin drop as all eyes riveted to the quiet man none of them had taken notice of before. Their gazes all sought out and landed on the scar that while faded with time, was still very visibly on his forehead. Then, wild applause and screaming erupted throughout out the hall.

Ron looked down at Harry to see the slightly strained smile he flashed to the sea of over excited children. In the years since he had left Hogwarts, his fame had only grown, much to his bemusement. He'd never wanted all the attention that came from being The-Boy-Who-Lived. But he had found a way to live with it.

It was a good five minutes before the noise finally settled down and Dumbledore was able to speak again. His eyes twinkled merrily as he looked out at the students who were staring back at him expectantly.

"Let the feast begin." Almost as soon as the last word fell past his lips, the plates started to fill with every wonderful treat imaginable. Amazing smells permeated the air, followed by the 'oohs' and 'ahhs' of the students. Then, it was a free- for-all. Food started disappearing off the platters as fast as hands could grab it. Satisfied that all was well, Dumbledore sat down and the teachers began to eat as well.

For a time, the only thing heard in the Hall was the sounds of eating with occasional whispering. Forks hitting plates, glasses being set down on tables and children's voices filling the air. Everything froze the second the first, terrified scream cut through the dinner noise. The second scream had Hermione, Ron, and Harry launching over the table and flying into the throngs of students that were screaming and scrambling away from tables, upsetting plates, and knocking over the benches in their haste.

At first, the three couldn't see what was causing the riot. Then, something-or rather, several somthings-scampered across Hermione's feet. She looked down and promptly screamed, much to her embarrassment. Cockroaches, the size of rats, were weaving their way through the feet that were trying to stomp them and that wasn't all. After Hermione kicked away the creatures crawling over her feet, she looked around in horror to see that the elegant feast had been replaced. Snake's now writhed and slithered off the gold platters where the mounds of turkey had been. Beetles surged out of the fruit bowls in a flow of shiny black. Mice scurried out of the pitchers, and-much to Ron's displeasure-spiders crawled from the tart trays.

The three former friends paused long enough to glance at each other, deciding with their eyes who would go in which direction. Then, moving as if they had never been apart, the three jumped into the fray. Ron let out a war whoop as he started happily zapping spiders, mindful of the students still desperate to get away. Most of them had managed to make it out, before the doors became so clogged with bodies, no one would get anywhere. Harry took on the snakes-obvious choice, since he was a parselmouth-trying to convince them that biting the children that had stepped on them in their panic was not a good idea. Then, he transported them out of the hall, hopefully to the forest. He couldn't be sure, since he really didn't have time to aim correctly. Hermione was tending with the roaches and beetles. They could hear Dumbledore behind them, alternating between helping with the pests scrambling around the room, and trying to calm the students before anyone got hurt. He finally had to enlarge the doors, so the rest of the students could leave without injury. Snape had jumped up and was dealing with the mice, throwing some control spell at them and marching them out of the room and through the main doors outside. The other professors were on the floor as well, transporting the vermin out through the windows.

Hermione had a chance to catch a glimpse of Ron. He seemed to have discarded the use of his wand, and was stepping on the spiders, his face full of malicious glee. He had a bad moment, when a snake-its mouth open wide, fangs glistening-advanced on him. But then Harry was there, the soft hiss of his voice begging off the snake and with a wave of his wand, the snake disappeared. Hermione had to smile at the look on Ron's face, before he begrudgingly thanked Harry. Then he was back to stomping spiders and Harry was off to round up the last of the snakes.

A grin split Ginny's face as she helped Hermione round up the bugs. Even with the gravity of the situation, she was having the time of her life. Since she worked in the library, it wasn't too often that she actually got to prove that she was a witch. Not for the first time she wondered if she'd made the right choice in her career.

Working togethe,r Harry, Hermione, Ron, Ginny and the rest of the teaching staff managed to empty the Great Hall of the creatures. When they were done, silence descended on them, as they realized the prankster had struck again.

"First day back. He isn't wasting time." Ron said to no one in particular.

"Yes, and it seems that he slipped right past the three that are here to save us." Snape sneered. Ron, Harry and Hermione each shot the man a glare, but didn't respond.

"Severus, please. The Head's of the houses should go check on their students. Make sure that those that need to see Madame Pomfrey do so. The rest of us shall make sure that there are no more unwanted guests in the castle. Ms. Granger, Mr. Weasley, and Mr. Potter, we leave you to investigate." Dumbledore said, his voice now weary. They all noticed how shaken the man was, and even Snape decided not to argue. One by one, the teachers left, leaving the three standing in the middle of the ravaged Great Hall. Ginny gave them each one last glance before she left, worry evident on her face.

"As of right now," Harry started, staring after her. "We work together. The past is behind us, and we can't let it cloud what we came here to do." He then turned to look at them, his wand still clutched tightly in his hand. "Those snakes were poisonous. Whoever is doing this, is not playing anymore. Together we can find him, and make him pay. Separate, we are sitting ducks." He waved his empty hand around the over turned tables, upset benches, and broken dishes. "We make peace, now."

Hermione and Ron stared at him, then glanced at each other. They knew he was right. Hermione was more than willing, but Ron had a war waging inside of him. Longing to recapture the friendship of his youth raged against resentment he still felt. Blue eyes clashed with green when he looked up at Harry. Hermione unconsciously held her breath, waiting for them to come to blows or make a pact.

"When this is over," Ron started. "You and I WILL have it out." Harry seemed to consider this for a second, before giving a jerky nod. "Then, peace it is." The red head said with a nod of his own. Hermione was torn between happiness that-for a brief time at least-things wouldn't be so strained anymore, and wanting to hex them both for being such typical men.

"Hermione?" Harry asked her. She glanced between the two, thinking that this was the first step in repairing the damage that had been done.

"Very well." How she managed to keep all emotion out of her voice she would never know.

"All right then, we should search the castle, question the house elves and see what we can find out. We'll meet in my room when we're done. Say, two hours?" This was met with silent nods of agreement.

"All right, guess I'll head down to the kitchen's again, although, all those house elves want to do is feed me instead of giving me answers. Maybe you should go, Hermione? I'm sure they'd LOVE to see you again." Ron teased, striding toward the door. Hermione's fists came up to plant on her hips as she glared after him.

"Honestly!" She huffed, before storming out after him. That left Harry, shaking his head and trying to fight the smile that threatened to curl his lip. He stifled a groan when he saw that Mr. Filch was on his way toward the Great Hall, a bucket and mop clasped in his hands, scowl firmly in place. Mrs. Norris eye- balled Harry as she walked by, and he had to resist the urge to kick her. In all his days, no animal had ever wrung that reaction out of him.

"Should have known you'd be about with something like this going on." The custodian growled, glaring at Harry.

"Nice to see you again, too, Mr. Filch. We must do this again sometime." He then left quickly, not wanting to have to talk to the man for longer than necessary. Might as well start with the Slytherin's. He thought, trotting down the stairs to the dungeons. He was unaware of the tiny figure he passed on the way down and the hateful way it stared after him.



~*TBC*~