A/N: Thanks to Sk8ergirl, Elle-poohbear, DraconiaSummers, Felicity,
Alexandra, Marie, Lizzypotter13, and depth for reviewing!
bananafairy: thanks for reviewing! As far as advice, just keep them in character as best you can, and your story will be more successful. Once you start working on it, feel free to ask me for anymore help.
~*~
EXCHANGED Chapter 2
~*~
The next two days seemed to fly by, filled with frantic packing and many goodbyes.
Hermione, herself, had insisted on making a day trip to Hogsmeade for last minute supplies before the whole student body arrived for the feast. She bought a beginners guide to French and a few other items she didn't know if she could find at Beauxbatons.
The night after the Great Feast commenced, the students of Hogwarts, and their 12 new exchange students, 6 from Beauxbatons, 6 from Durmstrang, who'd arrived earlier, had assembled to send off the Hogwarts exchange students to their new schools.
Hermione, and the other eleven students about to depart, stood affront the entire school, awaiting a few farewell words from Dumbledore. All looked very anxious, with many of them fidgeting in place.
"We all wish you the very best on your journey," Dumbledore rose to addressed the students. "Hogwarts is very proud to have you representing it. Now, if you please, could those headed for Durmstrang come up and stand here next to Professor Snape and those heading for Beauxbatons, with Professor McGonagall." Dumbledore paused as he watched them move around the Great Hall.
The students seemed a bit flustered at how briskly Dumbledore spook and at the immediacy of their departure, but the obliged and separated into two groups, one with McGonagall and one with Snape.
"Very well then," Dumbledore continued once everyone was settled, "In precisely thirty seconds, the port keys that the Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape are handing you now will go off. I'd like everyone to place a hand on their port key."
Professor McGonagall handed Hermione a large, clear plastic ball and took a few steps away as the other students closed in and each placed a hand on the ball. As she waited, Hermione turned and glanced at Ron in the audience. He looked very sad indeed, losing both his best friends, and his sister, for his last year at Hogwarts.
A small tear rolled down Hermione's cheek. She'd promised herself she wouldn't cry, but it was extremely difficult facing the fact she wouldn't be with either of her two best friends for the entire school year. Not to mention, she was the only Gryffindor who would be attending Beauxbatons.
Next to her, Padma Patil waved furiously at her twin sister Parvati with free hand. On Padma's other side stood the other Ravenclaw, Lisa Turpin, who was also crying and waving goodbye to her friends and family. The only ones not crying were the two Hufflepuff boys, Ernie and Justin, and, of course, Draco Malfoy. Hermione hoped she might get so lucky as to room with either Padma or Lisa. At least then she'd have another Hogwarts student to talk to.
"Ten seconds," Dumbledore announced.
The six students looked around the circle at each other with nervous stares. With one last look, Hermione glanced toward the Durmstrang students. She saw Harry doing the same toward her and they both gave each other a small smile before Hogwarts melted away with a jerk to Hermione's navel.
Before she knew it, Hermione was in a heap on the floor along with the other Hogwarts students. They fumbled to detangle themselves from each other. As soon as they were successful, they stood and brushed themselves off. Before anyone had the chance to survey their surrounding, a powerful voice rang out around them. Hermione looked up to see Madam Maxine, the Beauxbatons Head Mistress, towering above them.
"Bienvenu a Beauxbatons," she announced merrily. "If you'd please follow me to our dining hall, you can meet your teachers, get placed in your houses, and have your duties outlined to you." With that, she began walking down a hallway. The six students scrambled to catch up and began following her.
The hallway they walked down was lavishly decorated with a light and airy look to it. All the walls were painted in pale pastels. Live plants adorned the corridors and a soft music could be heard wherever they went.
Two awaiting adult, teachers as Hermione presumed, waiting at two gigantic French doors. As Madam Maxine and the students approached, the opened the doors and stepped aside so everyone could enter.
The dining hall itself had brightly glowing candle chandeliers adorning the entire ceiling and covering the walls. Large windows, which stretched nearly fifty feet to the ceiling, were slightly cracked open, allowing a small warm breeze to enter which smelled sweet of flowers. It was like an extraordinary palace.
Hermione and the others followed Madam Maxine to the staff table where they were introduced to their other teacher, then fed dinner. It was custom to always eat before work was to be done in order to thoroughly enjoy the meal.
After dinner or, le diner, as everyone had called it, Madam Maxine began addressing her new students.
"We 'ave four 'ouses 'ere at Beauxbatons," she announced with her thick French accent, "just like at your 'ogwarts. Zey are Le Maison des Etoiles, Le Maison du Soleil, Le Maison de la Lune, and Le Maison de la Mer. Now, I'm sure you all understand that you will be replacing Prefects in zose 'ouses where zee students 'ave already left for 'ogwarts or Durmstrang. Now, where are Mademoiselle Granger, and Monsieur Malfoy?" she looked around as Hermione and Draco rose their hands.
"Ah, tres bien. I am very pleased zat you will be performing zee 'ead Girl and 'ead Boy duties 'ere zis year," Madam Maxine smiled at them.
A/N: When written, Mademoiselle is abbreviated "Mlle" and Monsieur is abbreviated "M."
"Mlle Granger," she continued, "Your primary 'ouse will be Le Maison des Etoiles. M. Malfoy, your primary 'ouse will be Le Maison du Soleil. Now as for zee rest of you, Mlle Turpin, you are to perform your Prefect duties in Le Maison de la Lune. Mlle Patil, you are in Le Maison des Etoiles."
Hermione smiled. She was happy to have another Hogwarts student in the same house as she.
Madam Maxine continued, "M. Finch-Fletchley, you will be in Le Maison du Soleil, and M. McMillan, you will be in Le Maison de la Mer. Now, I'd like to introduce to zee 'eads of your 'ouses. Zey are Monsieur de Ville, zee 'ead of Le Maison du Soleil, Mademoiselle de Barber, zee 'ead of Le Maison des Etoiles, Madam Noit, zee 'ead of Le Maison de la Lune, and Monsieur Bordeaux, zee 'ead of Le Maison de la Mer. Now if you please, follow zee 'eads of your 'ouses to your dormitories. You will find zat you things are already zere. You may 'ave zee rest of zee evening to relax. Tomorrow, breakfast begins at nine o'clock and we would be pleased for you to all join us. Bon nuit!"
With that, the Professors she had named stood and led the Hogwarts students to their new dormitories.
~*~
"Zis is zee entrance to Le Maison des Etoiles," Mlle de Barber announced, "Mlle Patil, you may stay 'ere with me. Zee rest, follow zee ozeir professors." She stayed with Padma who looked rather frightened to depart from the group.
Hermione was a bit confused as too why she wasn't staying also as Le Maison des Etoiles was her house too, but she kept going. Finally, it was only she and Draco left with M. Bordeaux.
He led them down a different corridor, stopping at a tall mirror in the middle of the hallway.
"Please announce your presence by stating your names," M. Bordeaux directed. He'd grown up in England also so he did not hold the French accent the majority of the other Professors had.
"Hermione Granger," she stated promptly.
"Draco Malfoy," he sounded a bit perturbed.
As they spoke, the mirror dissolved into a puddle-like hologram.
"Please step though and you will find your things," he motioned, turning to head back to orientate Ernie, whom he'd left alone a few minutes ago, to La Maison de la Mer, as he was the head of it.
"Um.Professor," Hermione hesitated before he could walk away, "Where are we?"
"Oh, I'm sorry. This is the Head Boy and Head Girl chamber. You can enter from this mirror, which only responds to your voices. There are also subsequent portals into your separate houses inside."
Hermione frowned, but entered through the swirling colors of the mirror anyway. As she stepped inside, she took a moment to look around. It was beautiful. An exotic waterfall flowed into a reflecting pool in the center of the room. Ornate flowers seemed to grow out of nowhere all around the pool. Off to the left, was a door labeled "Head Boy", to the right, one labeled "Head Girl". Hermione was still taking in the fabulous sights when a voice snarled behind her.
"Share a room with a Mudblood? I'd rather die," Draco glared, walking past her.
"That can be arranged, Malfoy," she spit back. All he had to do was open his mouth and she was tired of his presence.
"By whom? Potter is in Romania and Weasley is back in Scotland," he said with a smug grin as he continued walking toward his door. Stopping and turning around, he added, "What's the matter Granger? Afraid you'll have no one to protect you from little old me?" He laughed and continued walking into his room. The door shut behind him with a loud bang.
Hermione fled to hers. She didn't bother to notice how beautiful it was, she was too busy rifling through her bags. Pulling out to pieces of parchment, she began to write Ron and Harry of her plight. She missed them both so much and being stuck with Malfoy was about all the bad luck she could stand.
As she wrote, a small tear escaped down her cheek. She quickly brushed it off. "You have no right to waste your time here feeling lonely, Granger," she chastised herself. This was supposed to be the time of her life and she wasn't going to let anything or anyone ruin it, especially Draco Malfoy.
Looking up at her bed as she finished the letter, she noticed for the first time there were multiple sets of neatly folded robes lined along the comforter. She stood up and walked over to them to examine them. They were made of a thin, shiny fabric she couldn't identify. All of them were a pretty deep blue color with ribbons of strewn out silver sparkles, woven around within the blue, in long trails like stardust. On the chest, was a silver star, enchanted to give off small, shimmering twinkles and random moments. Hermione tried one on. It looked amazing. It was so much more delicate and delightful than her drab Hogwarts robes. It made her feel like royalty.
Staring more at her reflection, she noticed how nicely her straight brown hair flowed past her shoulders. She'd learned a straightening spell in her fifth year and preferred to keep in that way. Looking at her face's refection, she studied her makeup. Her blue eyeliner and silver eye shadow looked excellent with her new robes causing her to smile in satisfaction.
Hermione had grown into a very beautiful woman over her years at Hogwarts. Unfortunately and unbeknownst to her, no guy would go near her for fear of her two overbearing best friends, Ron and Harry.
Rummaging through her tousled Hogwarts robe, which she'd worn on the trip over, she dug out her "Head Girl" badge. Pinning it squarely on her new robes, she left to get a better look of the common room, hoping Malfoy had stayed in his room.
~*~
Draco hated it. He was stuck in a frilly, girly palace with not another Slytherin in sight.
He scowled at his reflection in the mirror. The bright orange robes with shiny, wide red ribbons down the sides looked ridiculous. He fathomed the flashy material looked like something Gilderoy Lockhart would have worn. On one side of his chest, there was an emblem of a sun. On the other side, his "Head Boy" badge.
"It couldn't be worse," he muttered to himself, turning away from the mirror, which was lined with ornate golden swirls, "and stuck here with Granger!"
He stormed out into the common room. Before he could go much further than the door, he stopped, catching sight of Hermione running her fingers along the surface on the reflecting pool.
At that moment, something unexpected happened. Draco felt his breath catch as his sight narrowed in on her. Much to his disgust, he couldn't stop staring at her. There was something about they way she was sitting, so peacefully and with oblivion to the world, that had his eyes fixed on her.
It must have been a few minutes of gazing on his part before she noticed his presence. She gave him a curious look as she pulled her hand from the water and folded her arms across her chest.
"What do you want, Malfoy?" she demanded bitterly, as her expression changed at the sight of him.
"Nothing from a Mudblood like you," he spat back as he regained his senses. When she turned away, he began smiling at the sight of her again.
'Stop it Malfoy!' he caught himself. 'She's a Mudblood! It's just that damn robe she's wearing,' his smile easily turned into a natural frown. 'Imagine, myself and Grang.No, no way in hell. You're just delusional from lack on Slytherins around you,' he laughed to himself. The idea was preposterous. He was not attracted to her, end of story.
~*~
OKAY, Here's the drill.Lots of reviews make me so happy, I just can't help but write more quickly! Just a hint ;) Thank for reading!
bananafairy: thanks for reviewing! As far as advice, just keep them in character as best you can, and your story will be more successful. Once you start working on it, feel free to ask me for anymore help.
~*~
EXCHANGED Chapter 2
~*~
The next two days seemed to fly by, filled with frantic packing and many goodbyes.
Hermione, herself, had insisted on making a day trip to Hogsmeade for last minute supplies before the whole student body arrived for the feast. She bought a beginners guide to French and a few other items she didn't know if she could find at Beauxbatons.
The night after the Great Feast commenced, the students of Hogwarts, and their 12 new exchange students, 6 from Beauxbatons, 6 from Durmstrang, who'd arrived earlier, had assembled to send off the Hogwarts exchange students to their new schools.
Hermione, and the other eleven students about to depart, stood affront the entire school, awaiting a few farewell words from Dumbledore. All looked very anxious, with many of them fidgeting in place.
"We all wish you the very best on your journey," Dumbledore rose to addressed the students. "Hogwarts is very proud to have you representing it. Now, if you please, could those headed for Durmstrang come up and stand here next to Professor Snape and those heading for Beauxbatons, with Professor McGonagall." Dumbledore paused as he watched them move around the Great Hall.
The students seemed a bit flustered at how briskly Dumbledore spook and at the immediacy of their departure, but the obliged and separated into two groups, one with McGonagall and one with Snape.
"Very well then," Dumbledore continued once everyone was settled, "In precisely thirty seconds, the port keys that the Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape are handing you now will go off. I'd like everyone to place a hand on their port key."
Professor McGonagall handed Hermione a large, clear plastic ball and took a few steps away as the other students closed in and each placed a hand on the ball. As she waited, Hermione turned and glanced at Ron in the audience. He looked very sad indeed, losing both his best friends, and his sister, for his last year at Hogwarts.
A small tear rolled down Hermione's cheek. She'd promised herself she wouldn't cry, but it was extremely difficult facing the fact she wouldn't be with either of her two best friends for the entire school year. Not to mention, she was the only Gryffindor who would be attending Beauxbatons.
Next to her, Padma Patil waved furiously at her twin sister Parvati with free hand. On Padma's other side stood the other Ravenclaw, Lisa Turpin, who was also crying and waving goodbye to her friends and family. The only ones not crying were the two Hufflepuff boys, Ernie and Justin, and, of course, Draco Malfoy. Hermione hoped she might get so lucky as to room with either Padma or Lisa. At least then she'd have another Hogwarts student to talk to.
"Ten seconds," Dumbledore announced.
The six students looked around the circle at each other with nervous stares. With one last look, Hermione glanced toward the Durmstrang students. She saw Harry doing the same toward her and they both gave each other a small smile before Hogwarts melted away with a jerk to Hermione's navel.
Before she knew it, Hermione was in a heap on the floor along with the other Hogwarts students. They fumbled to detangle themselves from each other. As soon as they were successful, they stood and brushed themselves off. Before anyone had the chance to survey their surrounding, a powerful voice rang out around them. Hermione looked up to see Madam Maxine, the Beauxbatons Head Mistress, towering above them.
"Bienvenu a Beauxbatons," she announced merrily. "If you'd please follow me to our dining hall, you can meet your teachers, get placed in your houses, and have your duties outlined to you." With that, she began walking down a hallway. The six students scrambled to catch up and began following her.
The hallway they walked down was lavishly decorated with a light and airy look to it. All the walls were painted in pale pastels. Live plants adorned the corridors and a soft music could be heard wherever they went.
Two awaiting adult, teachers as Hermione presumed, waiting at two gigantic French doors. As Madam Maxine and the students approached, the opened the doors and stepped aside so everyone could enter.
The dining hall itself had brightly glowing candle chandeliers adorning the entire ceiling and covering the walls. Large windows, which stretched nearly fifty feet to the ceiling, were slightly cracked open, allowing a small warm breeze to enter which smelled sweet of flowers. It was like an extraordinary palace.
Hermione and the others followed Madam Maxine to the staff table where they were introduced to their other teacher, then fed dinner. It was custom to always eat before work was to be done in order to thoroughly enjoy the meal.
After dinner or, le diner, as everyone had called it, Madam Maxine began addressing her new students.
"We 'ave four 'ouses 'ere at Beauxbatons," she announced with her thick French accent, "just like at your 'ogwarts. Zey are Le Maison des Etoiles, Le Maison du Soleil, Le Maison de la Lune, and Le Maison de la Mer. Now, I'm sure you all understand that you will be replacing Prefects in zose 'ouses where zee students 'ave already left for 'ogwarts or Durmstrang. Now, where are Mademoiselle Granger, and Monsieur Malfoy?" she looked around as Hermione and Draco rose their hands.
"Ah, tres bien. I am very pleased zat you will be performing zee 'ead Girl and 'ead Boy duties 'ere zis year," Madam Maxine smiled at them.
A/N: When written, Mademoiselle is abbreviated "Mlle" and Monsieur is abbreviated "M."
"Mlle Granger," she continued, "Your primary 'ouse will be Le Maison des Etoiles. M. Malfoy, your primary 'ouse will be Le Maison du Soleil. Now as for zee rest of you, Mlle Turpin, you are to perform your Prefect duties in Le Maison de la Lune. Mlle Patil, you are in Le Maison des Etoiles."
Hermione smiled. She was happy to have another Hogwarts student in the same house as she.
Madam Maxine continued, "M. Finch-Fletchley, you will be in Le Maison du Soleil, and M. McMillan, you will be in Le Maison de la Mer. Now, I'd like to introduce to zee 'eads of your 'ouses. Zey are Monsieur de Ville, zee 'ead of Le Maison du Soleil, Mademoiselle de Barber, zee 'ead of Le Maison des Etoiles, Madam Noit, zee 'ead of Le Maison de la Lune, and Monsieur Bordeaux, zee 'ead of Le Maison de la Mer. Now if you please, follow zee 'eads of your 'ouses to your dormitories. You will find zat you things are already zere. You may 'ave zee rest of zee evening to relax. Tomorrow, breakfast begins at nine o'clock and we would be pleased for you to all join us. Bon nuit!"
With that, the Professors she had named stood and led the Hogwarts students to their new dormitories.
~*~
"Zis is zee entrance to Le Maison des Etoiles," Mlle de Barber announced, "Mlle Patil, you may stay 'ere with me. Zee rest, follow zee ozeir professors." She stayed with Padma who looked rather frightened to depart from the group.
Hermione was a bit confused as too why she wasn't staying also as Le Maison des Etoiles was her house too, but she kept going. Finally, it was only she and Draco left with M. Bordeaux.
He led them down a different corridor, stopping at a tall mirror in the middle of the hallway.
"Please announce your presence by stating your names," M. Bordeaux directed. He'd grown up in England also so he did not hold the French accent the majority of the other Professors had.
"Hermione Granger," she stated promptly.
"Draco Malfoy," he sounded a bit perturbed.
As they spoke, the mirror dissolved into a puddle-like hologram.
"Please step though and you will find your things," he motioned, turning to head back to orientate Ernie, whom he'd left alone a few minutes ago, to La Maison de la Mer, as he was the head of it.
"Um.Professor," Hermione hesitated before he could walk away, "Where are we?"
"Oh, I'm sorry. This is the Head Boy and Head Girl chamber. You can enter from this mirror, which only responds to your voices. There are also subsequent portals into your separate houses inside."
Hermione frowned, but entered through the swirling colors of the mirror anyway. As she stepped inside, she took a moment to look around. It was beautiful. An exotic waterfall flowed into a reflecting pool in the center of the room. Ornate flowers seemed to grow out of nowhere all around the pool. Off to the left, was a door labeled "Head Boy", to the right, one labeled "Head Girl". Hermione was still taking in the fabulous sights when a voice snarled behind her.
"Share a room with a Mudblood? I'd rather die," Draco glared, walking past her.
"That can be arranged, Malfoy," she spit back. All he had to do was open his mouth and she was tired of his presence.
"By whom? Potter is in Romania and Weasley is back in Scotland," he said with a smug grin as he continued walking toward his door. Stopping and turning around, he added, "What's the matter Granger? Afraid you'll have no one to protect you from little old me?" He laughed and continued walking into his room. The door shut behind him with a loud bang.
Hermione fled to hers. She didn't bother to notice how beautiful it was, she was too busy rifling through her bags. Pulling out to pieces of parchment, she began to write Ron and Harry of her plight. She missed them both so much and being stuck with Malfoy was about all the bad luck she could stand.
As she wrote, a small tear escaped down her cheek. She quickly brushed it off. "You have no right to waste your time here feeling lonely, Granger," she chastised herself. This was supposed to be the time of her life and she wasn't going to let anything or anyone ruin it, especially Draco Malfoy.
Looking up at her bed as she finished the letter, she noticed for the first time there were multiple sets of neatly folded robes lined along the comforter. She stood up and walked over to them to examine them. They were made of a thin, shiny fabric she couldn't identify. All of them were a pretty deep blue color with ribbons of strewn out silver sparkles, woven around within the blue, in long trails like stardust. On the chest, was a silver star, enchanted to give off small, shimmering twinkles and random moments. Hermione tried one on. It looked amazing. It was so much more delicate and delightful than her drab Hogwarts robes. It made her feel like royalty.
Staring more at her reflection, she noticed how nicely her straight brown hair flowed past her shoulders. She'd learned a straightening spell in her fifth year and preferred to keep in that way. Looking at her face's refection, she studied her makeup. Her blue eyeliner and silver eye shadow looked excellent with her new robes causing her to smile in satisfaction.
Hermione had grown into a very beautiful woman over her years at Hogwarts. Unfortunately and unbeknownst to her, no guy would go near her for fear of her two overbearing best friends, Ron and Harry.
Rummaging through her tousled Hogwarts robe, which she'd worn on the trip over, she dug out her "Head Girl" badge. Pinning it squarely on her new robes, she left to get a better look of the common room, hoping Malfoy had stayed in his room.
~*~
Draco hated it. He was stuck in a frilly, girly palace with not another Slytherin in sight.
He scowled at his reflection in the mirror. The bright orange robes with shiny, wide red ribbons down the sides looked ridiculous. He fathomed the flashy material looked like something Gilderoy Lockhart would have worn. On one side of his chest, there was an emblem of a sun. On the other side, his "Head Boy" badge.
"It couldn't be worse," he muttered to himself, turning away from the mirror, which was lined with ornate golden swirls, "and stuck here with Granger!"
He stormed out into the common room. Before he could go much further than the door, he stopped, catching sight of Hermione running her fingers along the surface on the reflecting pool.
At that moment, something unexpected happened. Draco felt his breath catch as his sight narrowed in on her. Much to his disgust, he couldn't stop staring at her. There was something about they way she was sitting, so peacefully and with oblivion to the world, that had his eyes fixed on her.
It must have been a few minutes of gazing on his part before she noticed his presence. She gave him a curious look as she pulled her hand from the water and folded her arms across her chest.
"What do you want, Malfoy?" she demanded bitterly, as her expression changed at the sight of him.
"Nothing from a Mudblood like you," he spat back as he regained his senses. When she turned away, he began smiling at the sight of her again.
'Stop it Malfoy!' he caught himself. 'She's a Mudblood! It's just that damn robe she's wearing,' his smile easily turned into a natural frown. 'Imagine, myself and Grang.No, no way in hell. You're just delusional from lack on Slytherins around you,' he laughed to himself. The idea was preposterous. He was not attracted to her, end of story.
~*~
OKAY, Here's the drill.Lots of reviews make me so happy, I just can't help but write more quickly! Just a hint ;) Thank for reading!
