*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"You can see straight through me
Never thought you'd do me
The way you do
How could anyone be so cruel?
When you know I love you
Misunderstood
Turned your back on me and left me lonely
I wish I could open up my heart
So you can know me"'No Love' Erykah Badu
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Draco slumped lazily down the stairs late on a Saturday night. Eva stood at the bottom of the staircase beaming up at him.
"Don't tell me you've been sleeping all this time!" Eva exclaimed excitedly, Draco rubbed his eyes wearily and yawned. He looked at the exquisite grandfather clock in the main foyer of the Manor. It was three in the morning, Draco groaned when he realized he had been sleeping since four o clock in the afternoon.
"I'm sorry Eva. I lost track of time." Draco said sullenly as he reached the bottom of the staircase. Eva smirked at him and pulled him into a bear hug.
"Well that's ok babe! Because the party has arrived." Eva shouted. Draco sighed, she smelled heavily of alcohol.
"Are you drunk?" Draco asked flat out. Eva stepped back and scowled at him.
"What the fuck Draco! Do you know how long it took me to get here? To visit you on our last Saturday of freedom, and your asking me if I'm drunk?" Eva shouted lethargically. Draco sighed; he had grown used to Eva's late night visits in the middle of the night. Draco could rarely remember a moment when she was not wasted. Eva opened her mouth to say something else before she slumped over into Draco's arms. Draco picked her up and walked up two flights of stairs to his room, grateful that his parents were attending a charity event that weekend.
He kicked open the door of his room and dropped Eva unto his four-poster bed. Draco beckoned a house elf to retrieve a glass of water for Eva. Then he sat down in his luxurious desk chair and turned around to look at Eva. She had sat up on the bed, her hair lying in a bundled heap upon her head. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small canister, and took a large sip of it. She hiccupped and fell back onto the bed again.
"Really Eva you need to stop this." Draco said bluntly. Eva sat up on his bed again, her eyes were glossed over, and her makeup was running.
"He broke up with me Draco." Eva said out of nowhere, her voice dripping with melancholy. Draco sighed, he had known Eva for only two months, but they both had shared their deepest thoughts and feelings with each other. Eva often spoke of Francisco, an older poet who Eva had met a year prior vacationing in the Swiss Alps. The couple had a tumultuous relationship, and Eva meeting Draco did not help improve her relationship with Francisco. Draco exhaled softly, made his way to his bed, and plopped down beside her. Eva fell back into his lap and started sobbing uncontrollably. Draco pulled her up and embraced her.
"He said I was spending all my fucking time with you. We don't spend that much time together, do we?" Eva asked in between sobs. Draco did not answer. Eva's whimpering continued until she set up suddenly and reached for her canister again. Before it even touched her pale pink lips Draco grabbed it away from her.
"This shit isn't going to help you feel better Eva." Draco said insipidly. Eva avoided his piercing stare, by turning her head down.
"And what the fuck would you know about this kind of thing. You don't know how this shit feels." Eva said harshly, she paused before continuing. "You don't know how much it fucking hurts to put so much time and devotion in a relationship, and then have it all blow up in your fucking face." Her voice had risen, and her face had reddened. Draco stared at her blankly, her words felt like a dagger in his heart. Draco wished he could have told Eva about his relationship with Hermione, but he was afraid. He was afraid if the words were spoken, the whole situation would finally be solidified. If Draco told her, he could no longer imagine that the whole romance had been a figment of his overactive imagination. He was too terrified to make it tangible. Draco could feel his eyes begin to water.
"You don't know how I feel Eva." He said, struggling to keep his composure. Eva noticed this and started to sob harder, clutching on to Draco's pajamas. Her face buried into the nook of his neck.
"Draco." She managed to whimper. Draco squeezed Eva harder as she sobbed. "I…I…" she stammered. Draco attempted to shush her, but she continued to stammer something incomprehensibly. She looked up and kissed Draco. He was shocked at first, but returned the kiss, as it became steamier. He began to claw at Eva's clothes ravenously in her brief moment of weakness. Deep inside himself, Draco knew he was doing wrong. The voices within his head were screaming out for him to stop and to not go any further, their voices so loud to the point where it was earsplitting. But his fervor for intimacy with anyone drowned out the voices.
Hermione Granger
*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~*~*~
"I kind of always knew I'd end up your ex-girlfriend
I kind of always knew I'd end up your ex-girlfriend
Your wildness scares me
So does your freedom
Said 'I can't stand the Restrictions'
I found myself trying to change you
But if you were meant to be my lover
Than I wouldn't have to
And I feel so mean
I feel in between
Because I'm about to give you away
For someone else to take
Am I making a mistake?"
'Ex-Girlfriend' No Doubt.*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Harry!" Hermione exclaimed. She stood up from her train seat next to Sam and embraced her best friend Harry Potter. He had grown several inches taller over the long summer, and his hair had grown longer and more out of control. Hermione could not stop beaming. She was aboard the Hogwarts Express, with her two best friend's Ron and Harry, and her new close friend Sam Austin. Hermione suddenly remembered Sam, who as still seating quietly in his seat. After the incident in his apartment, Sam could not speak for several days, but now that his tongue was back to its normal size, he had returned to his normal jovial self.
"Harry… Ron this is Sam Austin. He's from Sydney, Australia." Hermione exclaimed, still grinning from ear to ear. Sam stood up, smiled and took Ron's already outstretched hand.
"Hello mate!" Sam exclaimed grabbing Ron's hand and pulling him into a hug. Harry glanced at Hermione once before giving Sam an odd look. Harry hesitantly stuck out his hand. Sam started at it a split second before taking it, opting not to give Harry a hug. Hermione, who had just witnessed this odd exchange shrugged it off and sat back down on the bench in the corner of the cabin.
"So what did you two do all summer?" Hermione asked reaching for her trunk.
"Oh… we played Quidditch basically." Ron replied. Harry remained silent, his eyes occasionally resting on Sam. Sam noticed this and scooted closer to Hermione on the bench. Hermione reached into her trunk, grabbed a package of chocolate frogs, and tossed them across the cabin to where Ron and Harry sat.
"Oh thanks Hermione!" Ron said excitedly, tearing opening the bag greedily.
"Where's Ginny?" Hermione asked curiously. Sam had reached over and grabbed her hand, and Hermione instinctively squeezed his hand.
"Next cabin." Harry replied blandly, his face contorted into a scowl. Ron was still happily chewing on his chocolate frogs.
"Want one 'arry?" Ron asked, his mouth full of candy. Harry shook his head and continued to stare at Hermione and Sam. They sat in silence until Ron finished off the chocolate frogs.
"So, what year are you in Sam?" Ron asked getting more comfortable. Harry had pulled out an issue of Quidditch Weekly. Sam, who was still holding Hermione's hand, leaned back into the cold bench as the train started to move.
"Sixth year." Sam replied. Hermione changed position in her seat, but Sam's grip around her hand tightened.
"Sam's transferring here from his school is Australia." Hermione piped in, not bothering to tell Harry or Ron about Sam's father or his profession or the fact that he had attended a Muggle school. Ron nodded as they sat in silence. Harry was going to say something when the door of the cabin swung open, Crabbe, and Goyle walked in. Hermione felt a lump rise in her throat. Wherever there was Crabbe or Goyle, Draco Malfoy should not be too far behind. She felt her grip tighten around Sam's hand. Goyle turned and flashed Hermione a suspicious look before exiting the cabin. Hermione, realizing she had been holding her breath; exhaled and relaxed again.
"What were you going to say Harry?" Hermione asked brightly. Harry's face remained expressionless.
"I was wondering what house Sam would get sorted into." Harry said dully, his head still in his magazine.
"What house? Huh?" Sam asked confused. Hermione rolled her eyes; obviously, he had not been reading Hogwarts: A History. She opened her mouth to explain the arrangement of houses in Hogwarts when Ron cut her off
"Let me explain this to you before Hermione drills you on the history of Hogwarts." Ron paused. He leaned forward in his seat. Sam let go of Hermione's hand and did the same. "See, the student body of Hogwarts is separated into four groups, or Houses. You go to class, eat, and live with these groups. The four houses are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and," Ron paused, the tone of his voice lowering. "Slytherin." Sam nodded.
"What house are you in?" Sam asked Ron curiously. Ron sat back in his seat, and casually propped his legs up on his trunk.
"The best house. Gryffindor." Ron smirked. Hermione snorted, and Harry looked up at Ron a split second before returning to his magazine.
"Well, what decides what house you'll be in?" Sam asked, leaning back into his seat. Hermione, suddenly feeling tired since she had woken up at five in the morning, rested her head on Sam's shoulder.
"This ratty old hat Dumbledore has in his office. Every year it sings a clever little song about the four houses. You stand in line an alphabetical line, then they put it on your head, and based on your personality and your qualified, it sorts you into a house. It's called the Sorting Ceremony." Ron finished, proud that he had filled in an ignorant Sam.
"My dad never told me about that." Sam said quizzically. Hermione had shut her eyes, and stopped listening to the conversation.
"Your dad went to Hogwarts?" Harry asked. He had been so quiet; Hermione almost forgot his presence in the cabin.
"Yep." Sam smiled proudly.
"What house was he in?" Ron asked. Sam seemed to furrow his brown in thought. Ron had reached inside his trunk to pull out a can of soda pop that him and Harry snagged at King's cross station. He opened it loudly and began to gulp it down.
"I think…" Sam paused again; he seemed to be running through the name of the houses. "I- I've seen his old banners and stuff from his Quidditch playing days, they were silver and green." Sam finally said. Ron nearly choked on the fizzy soft drink he had been gulping down, Hermione shot up as if she had been struck by lightening, and Harry's head jerked up abruptly from his magazine.
"Your father was in Slytherin." Hermione said incredulously.
"Yeah… I'm pretty sure." Sam said, confused at the reactions of the three other adolescents.
"But.." Hermione began to stammer in disbelief. "Your dad's an auror." Hermione finished.
"Yeah… what's gotten into you lot all of a sudden? What's wrong with Slytherin?" Sam asked, scratching his head in confusion.
"What's wrong with Slytherin? How about everything!" Ron retorted, his voice dripping in sarcasam.
"Wait, your father's an auror?" Harry asked inquisitively.
"Yes." Sam replied slowly. "Why won't you lot answer my question? What's wrong with Slytherin?" Sam asked loudly in frustration. As if this sent out an invisible radar signal, the door of the train car swung open and in stepped Blaise Zabini, Pansy Parkinson, and Draco Malfoy, his arm around a tall black haired girl. Hermione could feel her chest constrict as she struggled to breathe. Draco looked amazing. He was dressed in his school robes. He had grown drastically over the summer. It appeared to Hermione that he was well over 6'5', and his body had grown more muscular. His light blonde hair was styled into a sensual bed head style; given him, a cool clean cut appearance. Hermione's eyes quickly shifted to the girl at his side. Even in her school robes, she looked gorgeous. She had long black hair cascading down her back. She had an olive skinned complexion, and she was laughing. Draco was smirking until he locked eyes with Hermione.
The tension in the room was so thick you could cut it with a butter knife. Hermione wished she were made out of radioactive material so she could melt away into her surroundings. Draco's eyes were boring in hers, the beautiful girl still hanging from his arm. Draco finally tore his eyes away from her and sneered at Harry and Ron.
"Potter. Weasley." Draco spat. Harry stood up, his face contorted into a scowl.
"I'm warning you Malfoy you fucking filthy git. Say one more fucking word to us, and I'll make you regret the day you were ever born." Harry said crudely. Hermione stared at Draco fearful of what he might do. She saw the girl at Draco's side whisper something into his ear. Draco listened then continued to glare at Harry with a potent deadly stare. Draco appeared as if he was going to back down and exit when Blaise Zabini stepped forward in between Harry and Draco.
"Who the fuck do you think you are Potty?" Blaise spat.
"All of a sudden you think you're the shit. You think you're the man?" Blaise asked coldly. Harry stood strong, but did not speak.
"Eh Potter? Do you think your going to hurt someone now?" Blaise asked again, jabbing his finger into Harry's chest. Harry still did not speak.
"That's what I fucking thought. You stupid piece of shit." Blaise paused, as he took a step forward. "Stupid pieces of shit like YOU. Harry Potter, always trying to save the day, always trying to be the hero. Do you know where they end up Potter?" Blaise asked. Hermione's eyes were beginning to tear. Draco stood motionless, the girl at his arm was staring on in disbelief, and Pansy was smirking. Ron still sat behind Harry, cowering back in fear. Sam had suddenly stood up, a look of contempt upon his face. Blaise looked around the cabin and smirked, he turned back to Harry and spoke.
"Six feet under with their piece of shit Muggle loving parents, and their traitor piece of shit godfathers." Blaise finished. In a split second, Harry went from a calm demeanor to pure rage.
"I'll fucking kill you Zabini!" Harry roared; his normally calm green eyes were giant emerald pools of anger. Harry pushed Blaise furiously; Blaise stumbled to the ground but quickly stood up. He was going to resort to the barbaric Muggle way of fighting; instead of reaching for his wand, his arm reared back, but before he had the chance to attempt to strike Harry, Sam had stepped in the way, grabbing Blaise's arm's forcefully and pushing him away. Harry attempted to storm forward when Sam pushed him back quite forcefully, sending Harry to the ground.
"Now that I've gotten your attention." Sam paused to glare at Blaise who was sprawled over the ground, then at Harry. "I suggest that you lot." He looked at Draco, the mystery girl, Pansy and Zabini. "Leave our cabin before anyone else loses their temper." Sam finished. Draco, who was now scowling, walked towards Zabini.
"Get up you stupid prat." Draco barked at Blaise. Blaise quickly crawled to his feet.
"This isn't over Potter." Draco spat at Harry. Harry still lay on the ground, his face a crimson red. Hermione watched the four storm out of the cabin, fighting back her tears. Sam returned to her side and gave her a reassuring hug, when he released her; he continued to rub her back. Harry stood up and began to pace the room, trying to walk off his pent up frustration. Ron sat perfectly still, his jaw dropped. Finally, Ron spoke.
"That is what's wrong with Slytherin." Ron said, his voice barely above a hushed whisper.
The four teens sat in silence all the way, until they reached Hogwarts. When it was time to un board the train, Hermione suddenly felt afraid. She clutched unto Sam's hand, up until they were stepping off the train at Hogsmeade. Hagrid stood by the door, instructing the first years into a separate line. He saw Harry, Ron, Hermione and Sam, and gave a joyous grin. He walked up and smiled.
'Ello there Harry, Ron, Hermione." Hagrid smiled. He turned and looked at Sam, who was staring up at him in awe.
"And who is this?" Hagrid asked, sensing the tension between the youths.
"Sam Austin. He's new here." Ron finally piped up. Hagrid gave them all a weary smile before speaking again.
"Well Sam, yer going to have ter come with me." Hagrid said. Hermione looked down sadly, she needed Sam to be near her to keep from falling apart. Hermione bit on her lower lip nervously. Sam whispered a small goodbye before kissing her on her cheek softly. He nodded towards Harry and Ron before making off with a small group of first years who were looking at him strangely.
"I'll see yer three at dinner eh?" Hagrid asked, he patted Harry strongly on the back, and bid adieu to Ron and Hermione before making his way towards the boat. Hermione sighed before grabbing Crookshank's small cat kennel and making off towards the horseless carriages. They all piled into the carriage and sat there in silence for a few minutes before Ron spoke up.
"Hermione, I don't mean to be rude or anything but," Ron paused, his face flushing a bright pink color, the shade contrasting with his bright red hair. "Is there something going on between you and Sam?" Ron asked. Hermione stared at Ron; she opened her mouth to speak. Harry who had been looking out at the dark castle looked over at her.
"Is Sam your boyfriend Hermione?" he asked in a gruff tone. Hermione looked down, surprised that Harry would use such a tone with her.
"But, why would you guys think that?" Hermione asked naively, even though deep down inside of herself, Hermione could see why they were wondering about Sam and her's relationship. She was attached to Sam since they had first stepped onto the train.
"You were hanging all over him that's why. Look is he your boyfriend or not Hermione?" Harry snapped again. Hermione still looked down at her school robes, afraid to answer.
"No." she finally squeaked. Harry looked at her harshly before shifting back to stare out the window again. Hermione looked up at Ron, who mouthed a small apology before looking away from her sad stare. They were silent until they reached the castle. Hermione suddenly felt an immediate rejuvenation as she laid eyes on her favorite place. The school was immense. An ancient castle stood on a hillside in the middle of the British countryside. Beside it lay a gorgeous lake, and a dark looming forest that went on for miles, hiding the school from any Muggles. Students began pouring into the Great Hall as their carriages reached the castle. Hermione inhaled deeply the fresh air of Hogwarts, dropping a sleeping Crookshanks on top of a giant pile of school trunks and owl cages. Harry and Ron gloomily did the same as they reached the Gryffindor table. Hermione finally spotted Ginny seated at the table next to a fellow 5th year Gryffindor.
"Hermione!" she smiled, waving her over. Hermione walked towards Ginny and took the empty seat besides Ginny. Ron sat beside Hermione, but Harry glared at them before sitting several seats down next to Neville Longbottom. Hermione avoided his stare until Dumbledore finally rose up to speak.
"Hello! And welcome back to the new term here at Hogwarts!" Dumbledore laughed joyously, the students cheered.
"Before we begin the sorting ceremony, I'd like to make a few announcements. We once again have a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, however he has taught here before. Remus Lupin." Dumbledore looked back at a smiling Remus Lupin.
"Also, The Forbidden Forest, as always is off limits. Any student caught venturing into the forest will be receiving a weeks worth of detentions with our castle caretaker and points will be docked from their houses." Dumbledore smiled as a few groans came from the student body.
"Let the sorting begin!" Dumbledore announced. Hermione's eyes drifted to the line of first years, frantically looking for Sam. He stood last in line, behind the dark-haired companion of Draco. She can't be a first year. Hermione thought to herself in disbelief. The sorting hat sang its annual song, this year it had a cute twist. The students applauded before Professor McGonagall took to the stage and began to call out the names of the first year, skipping over Sam's last name.
"Why haven't they sorted Sam?" Ron whispered when they reached Jones, Adam.
"He's a transfer student, their doing the first years first." Hermione snipped. "Hufflepuff." The hat barked. Hermione could feel her stomach lurching as each name was read. Finally, after ten new first years joined the Gryffindor table, Professor McGonagall paused as she shifted to another piece of parchment.
"Harrison, Eva." McGonagall said quickly. Hermione watched the girl walk to the stage. Hermione's eyes jumped over to the Slytherin table. Draco sat next to Pansy, his face expressionless, and the seat next to him empty. Hermione suddenly felt a flutter of envy. She realized what house Draco wanted this Harrison girl to be sorted into. The sorting hat paused before calling out. "Gryffindor." Hermione's jaw dropped in awe as the girl flashed Draco a sad look before making her way to the Gryffindor table. Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas pushed a second year forcefully out of her seat across the table from Hermione.
"You can uh- sit here." Seamus said in his thick Irish accent. The girl smiled and introduced herself to Seamus and Dean. Hermione looked over to find Ron smiling goofily at her. Hermione could feel herself start to scowl as the girl looked up at her for a split second before looking over her shoulder at Draco. He was staring at her with a vacant expression on his face.
"Austin, Sam." Professor McGonagall finally said. Sam hesitantly walked to the stool. Filch, Professor McGonagall frowned at him before placing the sorting hat on his head although Sam had removed his lip ring and eyebrow ring. (Hermione had forced him too.) His ears were still full of all his elaborate earrings and studs. Sam locked eyes with Hermione a split second before the Sorting Hat was placed on his head. The hat appeared to be talking to Sam in a hushed tone. Sam sat under the hat vacantly, still staring at Hermione. Finally the hat spoke.
"Slytherin." Hermione nearly fell out of her chair; she turned to look at Ron whose fork had dropped, and Harry who started at her with a look of loathing on his face. "What did you expect?" Harry mouthed before sitting back in his chair and picking up his conversation with Neville.
Hermione felt like screaming at the top of her lungs. She felt like jumping up and demanded the sorting hat change it's mind. But it was done. Sam hesitantly walked over to the cheering Slytherin table. He sluggishly took a seat next to Millicent Bullstroad. Hermione had never seen him looking so out of place, which was not quite that difficult for someone like Sam. She then stared at Draco, who for a split second, looked like he was smiling at her.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
So yeah! That was Part Three. I nailed that out just today. I'm trying to write as much as possible before I start my Semester paper for my English class at school. Sighs. I'm pretty sure that will be taking up my time. I'll try to write tomorrow.
ALSO, the song Sam was singing in the LAST part, I forgot to mention, is "The Sun" by Maroon5. (Have you guys noticed I'm obsessed with Maroon5 and Jason Mraz yet?" But yeah it's good stuff!
I'd like to thank all my reviewers! Your words are really good motivators. I have never written this much in a LONG time! Thanks!
Also, please don't hate me for putting Sam in Slytherin, and Eva in Gryffindor, surely you saw it coming? OR at least I THINK you saw it coming…
~Alisha~
