Hearts Combined
~* Yet another chapter in the same day! I'm on a roll! Don't forget to review and tell me what you think! *~
Disclaimer ~ I own the Prefects - Tony Waters, Allison Ashby, Mitchell Taylor, Samantha Daily, Joel Reiley and Phillip Cassady. I also own Anivatria, who will make an appearance in an upcoming chapter, and I own every made up 6th year that appears in this Fic. Everything else belongs to the brilliant, beautiful JK Rowling.
Chapter 3 ~ Draco's Surprise
The next morning, Hermione awoke to Quinton hooting. It was seven o'clock in the morning, and Hermione still didn't know if there were classes on today or not. She got out of her bed, made it, and pulled the curtains open. Crookshanks came bounding over, he had been trying to claw Quinton, which would explain all that hooting. Crookshanks bounded onto Hermione's bed, and curled up into a little ball.
Draco rolled over in his sleep and let out a small grunt. He obviously didn't want to get out of bed just yet. Hermione grabbed her school robes, and got changed in the bathroom. She brushed her hair, and grabbed her hair straightener. Half an hour of straightening later, she rested her hat on top of her neat hair, pinned her Head Girl Badge neatly onto the front of her robes, and stepped out of the bathroom. Draco had gotten up, and gotten dressed in less than half the time it had taken Hermione to get ready, and he had already gone into their Common Room.
Hermione said good morning to the picture of Harry, who said good morning back, and he waved. Hermione felt happy, and glad that Dumbledore had gone to all the trouble of putting the life sized picture of Harry in her side of hers and Draco's room. She headed down the stairs and into her beautiful Common Room.
Each Prefect was sitting on their side of the loveseats that were dedicated to them. One Prefect however, was missing. Samantha Daily. Hermione looked around the room for the blonde girl, but had no luck in finding her.
Hermione sat down gently on her loveseat, and said good morning to Ginny, Luna, Tony and Phillip, who were in the loveseats on either side of hers. They all replied with a 'Good morning Hermione.'
'So are we just going to sit around here all day, or are we going to go down to breakfast?' Samantha said, coming into the Common Room from hers and Joel's staircase. That got everyone moving. They all jumped up, and headed out of the Common Room and into the Corridor.
Hermione walked with Ginny and Luna. She looked over her shoulder and saw that Draco was walking with Samantha and Joel. They were all talking about something discreet.
'So Hermione, what does your room look like?' Ginny asked her. Hermione told Ginny every detail of her room, and her beautiful bathroom, and Ginny looked shocked.
'That's nice, really nice Hermione, you're lucky!' Luna said.
'You really have a life sized picture of Harry? And he talks to you?' Ginny asked.
'Yes,' Hermione replied. 'And you should read the note that he wrote me before he died.' Hermione said, her eyes misting over, remembering back to when she had read that letter, and to when she had cried. Draco had comforted her. It had seemed impossible, but there he was, hugging her. Comforting her. She had no idea why, but it was nice.
'Harry wrote you a letter? Before he died? Wow Hermione, you're so lucky!' Ginny said. 'Would it be alright with you if I came into your room sometime and talked with the picture of Harry? It'd be just like old times, sort of. . .' Ginny said.
'That would be fine Ginny, I would be happy to have you in my room sometime.' Hermione replied with a smile.
'Great!' Ginny said as the three friends walked into the Great Hall. Hermione and Ginny waved goodbye to Luna, as they went to the Gryffindor table, and she went to the Ravenclaw table.
Ron was waiting with Parvati and Lavender, for Hermione and Ginny. He waved as the two girls approached.
'Hermione, Ginny, where were you two last night? I went to bed at about midnight, and you still hadn't come back from your meeting.' Ron said curiously.
'Hi Ron.' Ginny said, and headed over to her 6th year friends, leaving Hermione to explain the new Common Room.
'Oh Ron, it's beautiful!' Hermione exclaimed as she sat down next to Ron. Lavender looked at Hermione curiously.
'What's beautiful Hermione?' She asked.
'Well, you know how there has been a lot of changes this year?' Hermione started. Lavender, Ron and Parvati nodded. 'Well, we have a brand new Common Room, and bedrooms for the Head Boy, Head Girl and Prefects.' Hermione said, and went on to describe the beautiful Common Room, and her bedroom and bathroom.
The three seventh year Gryffindors watched and listened to Hermione, as she explained each and every detail of the new Common Room. Every so often, Lavender and Parvati would gasp, and coo over Hermione's description. When Hermione had finished explaining, Lavender and Parvati were completely jealous, even Ron had to admit he was a little jealous.
'Oh Hermione! That's so beautiful, you're so lucky! Are we allowed to come and visit you sometimes?' Lavender said, but Parvati's eyes were filled with tears.
'What's wrong Parvati?' Hermione asked as a single tear fell out of Parvati's right eye, and trailed down her cheek.
'Y-Y-You have a life sized picture of H-H-Harry in your room?' She said, trying to hold back her tears, and sobs, but they came out freely, making Parvati quite annoyed with herself.
'Oh Parvati, you can -' Hermione began, but she was interrupted by Parvati.
'Why couldn't Dumbledore have given m-m-me one like that? Didn't he know about me and H-H-Harry, you know, before he-he-he. . .' Parvati couldn't seem to bring herself to say it. Lavender put a comforting arm around Parvati's shoulder.
'But Parvati -'
'Shut up Hermione! I know you were in love with Harry! I hate you! You always get the best of everything. You are a spoilt little brat!' Parvati screeched, now standing up. Her hair was matted and all over the place, instead of it being straight and perfect. Most people in the Great Hall had turned to watch, Hermione flushed slightly, she couldn't do anything to retaliate to Parvati, or she would be stripped of her Head Girl Badge and title.
Lavender looked between Hermione, and Parvati, with a scared look on her face. She knew she should support her best friend, but Parvati was way out of line.
Hermione looked up at Parvati with shame in her eyes.
'Parvati, honestly, you should have more respect. I didn't love Harry, well, yes I did, but as a friend. You think that I'm not really upset about his death? I am.' Hermione said, trying to stay as calm as possible given her situation.
'How can you just sit there and say that he's - that he's, DEAD? You say it as if you were flicking away a piece of dirt from your arm!' Parvati screamed, tearing at her hair, and crying openly. If there were people who weren't watching this argument before, they certainly were now.
'Parvati, understand, I am very cut up over Harry's death, but there's nothing we can do to bring him back. Nothing.' Hermione said calmly.
'You have some nerve! Sitting there like that, discussing Harry's passing like you would talk about a Quidditch match! You bitch! You deserve to die!' Parvati screamed.
'Parvati, please, sit down. You're making a spectacle of yourself.' Lavender said softly, pulling on her friend's arm. Parvati, however, was clearly not ready to sit down. She yanked her hand free of Lavender, and stormed out of the Great Hall. Everyone watched her retreating form.
It was at that moment, Dumbledore decided to come over. He had been hanging back, waiting to see where this fight was headed. Dumbledore reached Hermione, who was quite shaken up at the whole experience.
'Professor, I'm sorry.' Hermione said, shaking rather badly. Dumbledore put a comforting hand on her shoulder.
'Don't apologise Miss Granger, that most certainly was not your fault.' He said. 'I know that you are upset about Harry's unfortunate passing, we all are. Even those who weren't friendly towards him are already missing him.' Dumbledore continued. Hermione's eyes watered with tears.
'Thank you Professor.' She said, and returned to her toast. Dumbledore went back up to the teacher's table, and cleared his throat. Everyone fell silent. Whenever Dumbledore cleared his throat, he always had something important to say, so everyone was listening intently.
'Students, I am pleased to announce that lessons are postponed until tomorrow morning. You will receive your timetables this evening, which your Prefects will be bringing to your house Common Rooms. Today will be reserved for houses finding Quidditch Players for this season. The first Quidditch game commences not this Saturday, but the Saturday after.' Dumbledore said. Cheers rose up from all house tables. Everyone loved Quidditch. Dumbledore sat down, and proceeded to eat his breakfast.
Back at the Gryffindor table, Lavender glowered at Hermione.
'What did I do Lavender? Parvati made a spectacle of herself, I tried to calm her down. It's not as if I can help Dumbledore giving me a life sized picture of Harry.' Hermione said, tears streaming down her face.
'Lavender, she's right you know.' Ron said, with a mouthful of bacon. Ron swallowed the bacon and continued. 'You can't possible take Parvati's side, she was way out of line there.'
'Some things never change Ronald Weasley.' Lavender said, and stormed off out of the Great Hall, most likely to find Parvati.
'What does she mean by that, exactly Ron?' Hermione asked curiously, wiping the tears off her face with a napkin. Ron's ears went slightly pink.
'Well, it's not much, but um, when Harry was still, you know, alive, and dating Parvati, I kind of told him to break up with Parvati because she was cheating on him with Terry Boot. I saw them kissing one afternoon. Anyway, Parvati completely denied it, and there was this big argument over the whole thing.' Ron stopped to munch on a piece of toast. 'Anyway, Parvati said that I had seen Padma, and not her, but I'd seen the red on her school robes. Harry believed her, but I never trusted her after that.' Ron swallowed the piece of toast he was chewing while talking to Hermione.
'That's terrible Ron! Why didn't you tell me? I would have cursed her.' Hermione said, outraged at the fact that Parvati would cheat on Harry.
'Don't say anything to her, Hermione. She does seem genuinely upset about Harry.' Ron said.
'Anyway, we've got the whole day off, what do you want to do?' Hermione asked, standing up.
'Sorry Hermione, I've been made Captain of the Quidditch team, and I have to find players.' Ron had improved greatly over the past year, and he almost matched Oliver Wood.
'Congratulations Ron, I knew you could do it!' Hermione said happily, bending down to wrap her friend in a big hug. Ron went slightly red in the face.
'Thanks Hermione.' He said. Hermione let go of Ron.
'I'm off then, good luck with finding a team!' Hermione bounded off to find Phillip, Allison, and Samantha, who she knew didn't play Quidditch. Luna had joined the Ravenclaw team when one of their Chasers, Loretta McNullen, in 4th year, had dropped out after being hit in the face with a bludger.
~***~
Phillip Cassady was sitting at the other end of the Gryffindor table with Ginny, and their friends, Colin Creevey, Julia Thorn, Maria Brently and Cassandra Chambers, who were all in 6th year. Hermione swung her legs over the chair, taking her seat next to Ginny and Julia.
'Hi Hermione.' Ginny said happily, and waved at Hermione. 'Guys, this is Hermione.' She continued as if introducing them for the first time. Maria rolled her eyes.
'We know Hermione, Ginny.' Maria said. 'She tutored me in Transfiguration last year! Thanks Hermione, I wouldn't have passed without your help!' Maria added, smiling warmly at Hermione.
'No worries Maria, it was a pleasure to help you.' Hermione said.
'So Hermione, what brings you to the 6th year section of the Gryffindor table?' Phillip asked. That year, each house table had been split into seven sections, 1st years, 2nd years, 3rd years, 4th years, 5th years, 6th years and 7th years. This separated friends in different years, but Hermione was sure Dumbledore had his reasons for this change.
'I was just coming over to tell you that Ron's captain of the Quidditch team, and I think he's having trials for the Gryffindor team.' Hermione said to Ginny.
'I tried out for keeper in 4th year.' A 6th year boy named Boyd Thompson said, listening in to what Hermione was saying. 'They gave it to Ron though.'
'And for good reason too! Look how he improved throughout last year!' Cassandra Chambers, another Gryffindor 6th year, piped up.
'True.' Said Marcy George, who was also in 6th year.
'This new seating arrangement in the Great Hall sucks.' Said Julia, as she picked at her toast. 'I wanted to sit with my boyfriend Dean.' She complained. Hermione looked stunned.
'Weren't you with Dean, Ginny?' She asked.
'At the end of last year, we broke it off. It wasn't working for either of us.' Ginny replied.
'When were you planning to tell me, young lady?' Hermione joked. Ginny cracked a smile.
'Well, I'd better be off to Quidditch, are you coming Boyd, Marcy, Matthew?' Ginny motioned towards Boyd Thompson, Marcy George and Matthew Watson, who were clearly trying out for the Quidditch team. The four 6th years got up and left the Great Hall.
Hermione turned to Phillip.
'Hey Phil, I found a Wizard Chess Set in the Common Room, would you like to come up and give me a few games?' Hermione asked the brown haired Prefect. Phillip blinked.
'Okay, I guess. But I can't stay all day, I need to go and see my girlfriend Tania Michelle, a Ravenclaw 6th Year.' Phillip said.
'Okay, that's not at all a problem.' Hermione said, but a skinny girl with light brown hair, and green eyes walked up behind Phillip and put her arms around him.
'Hi Phillip.' The girl said. Phillip turned around, and smiled.
'Hi Tania, how are you?' Phillip said.
'I'm not at all bad.' Tania said. 'I would be better though if you agreed to spend the day with me?' She twirled a lock of hair around her pinky finger.
'Oh, I've just said to Hermione that I'll go and play Wizard Chess with her -' Phillip began, but he was cut off by Hermione.
'I don't mind, Phillip. You go off with Tania, I'll be fine.' Hermione said quickly.
'You sure Hermione? Oh thanks! You're the best! No matter what that Parvati girl says.' Phillip let Tania lead him out of the Great Hall, and Hermione was left with the painful memory of Parvati calling her a bitch.
When the Great Hall had cleared out a bit more, Hermione spotted Draco, sitting by himself at the Slytherin table, reading a copy of the Daily Prophet. Hermione wandered over to the Head Boy, who was sitting so contently, not trying to make anyone's life miserable.
'Hi Draco.' Hermione said, and sat down at the Slytherin table. Draco glowered a small bit at a Gryffindor sitting at the Slytherin Table, but said nothing on the "problem".
'Good morning Hermione.' He said, and went back to reading the Prophet.
'I see you're not out trying to make someone's life a living hell these days.' Hermione said.
'Yeah.' Draco replied.
'Did you do some growing up over the Summer?' She asked.
'No, it's just that, well - never mind.' Draco said, and he continued to read the paper, using it to hide from Hermione.
'What?' Hermione pushed.
'Harry wasn't the only one to die last year.' Draco said, almost sadly. Hermione felt a pang of guilt building up in her stomach.
'Oh, alright, well, I'd better be off now.' Hermione said, standing to leave.
'Sit down Hermione.' Draco said, but not in a pushy voice. Hermione looked at him curiously. That was the first time he'd called her by her first name, and not used her last name, or worse, "Mudblood". Hermione sat back down.
'What is it, Draco?'
'I'll tell you what happened over the summer.' He said, placing the newspaper carefully on the Slytherin table and looking into Hermione's brown eyes.
'Go on, I won't interrupt.' Hermione said kindly.
'Well, there's not much to tell, but, my mother died.' Draco said, and his eyes fell to the table. Hermione gasped.
'Oh, Draco, I'm so sorry.' She said sadly. 'I'm sad to hear that.'
'It's alright, I've learnt to deal with it, but father, well, he made a massive change.' Draco continued.
'What?'
'Well, there's no point denying it now, but he was a follower of Voldemort, you know, before Harry killed him, but now, father's made a complete change. He's being nice and everything. I guess an entire summer of not being yelled at and punnished kind of makes you not want to make other people's lives a misery, so that yours looks good.' Draco said.
'Oh, I had no idea.' Hermione said, her heart swelling with sadness.
'It's okay, not many people know, only Pansy, Millicent and now you.' Draco said.
'Come on then, I'll give you a game of Wizard Chess in the Common Room?' Hermione asked.
'Um, yeah, oh, no, sorry I can't, I have to go to the Slytherin Quidditch trials.' Draco said uneasily.
'Gryffindor has the pitch for another two hours.' Hermione said. 'Surely you can squeeze in a few games of Wizard Chess with me before you get the Quidditch Pitch?'
'Oh, alright then.' Draco said, and they both headed up to the Prefects, Head Boy and Head Girl Common Room.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*
~* What did you think of that chapter? Who likes Parvati? Not me! Padma's alright though, and Lavender's alright, but Parvati's horrible. Anyway, please review and let me know what you think of this! *~
~Gryffindor Gal~
~* Yet another chapter in the same day! I'm on a roll! Don't forget to review and tell me what you think! *~
Disclaimer ~ I own the Prefects - Tony Waters, Allison Ashby, Mitchell Taylor, Samantha Daily, Joel Reiley and Phillip Cassady. I also own Anivatria, who will make an appearance in an upcoming chapter, and I own every made up 6th year that appears in this Fic. Everything else belongs to the brilliant, beautiful JK Rowling.
Chapter 3 ~ Draco's Surprise
The next morning, Hermione awoke to Quinton hooting. It was seven o'clock in the morning, and Hermione still didn't know if there were classes on today or not. She got out of her bed, made it, and pulled the curtains open. Crookshanks came bounding over, he had been trying to claw Quinton, which would explain all that hooting. Crookshanks bounded onto Hermione's bed, and curled up into a little ball.
Draco rolled over in his sleep and let out a small grunt. He obviously didn't want to get out of bed just yet. Hermione grabbed her school robes, and got changed in the bathroom. She brushed her hair, and grabbed her hair straightener. Half an hour of straightening later, she rested her hat on top of her neat hair, pinned her Head Girl Badge neatly onto the front of her robes, and stepped out of the bathroom. Draco had gotten up, and gotten dressed in less than half the time it had taken Hermione to get ready, and he had already gone into their Common Room.
Hermione said good morning to the picture of Harry, who said good morning back, and he waved. Hermione felt happy, and glad that Dumbledore had gone to all the trouble of putting the life sized picture of Harry in her side of hers and Draco's room. She headed down the stairs and into her beautiful Common Room.
Each Prefect was sitting on their side of the loveseats that were dedicated to them. One Prefect however, was missing. Samantha Daily. Hermione looked around the room for the blonde girl, but had no luck in finding her.
Hermione sat down gently on her loveseat, and said good morning to Ginny, Luna, Tony and Phillip, who were in the loveseats on either side of hers. They all replied with a 'Good morning Hermione.'
'So are we just going to sit around here all day, or are we going to go down to breakfast?' Samantha said, coming into the Common Room from hers and Joel's staircase. That got everyone moving. They all jumped up, and headed out of the Common Room and into the Corridor.
Hermione walked with Ginny and Luna. She looked over her shoulder and saw that Draco was walking with Samantha and Joel. They were all talking about something discreet.
'So Hermione, what does your room look like?' Ginny asked her. Hermione told Ginny every detail of her room, and her beautiful bathroom, and Ginny looked shocked.
'That's nice, really nice Hermione, you're lucky!' Luna said.
'You really have a life sized picture of Harry? And he talks to you?' Ginny asked.
'Yes,' Hermione replied. 'And you should read the note that he wrote me before he died.' Hermione said, her eyes misting over, remembering back to when she had read that letter, and to when she had cried. Draco had comforted her. It had seemed impossible, but there he was, hugging her. Comforting her. She had no idea why, but it was nice.
'Harry wrote you a letter? Before he died? Wow Hermione, you're so lucky!' Ginny said. 'Would it be alright with you if I came into your room sometime and talked with the picture of Harry? It'd be just like old times, sort of. . .' Ginny said.
'That would be fine Ginny, I would be happy to have you in my room sometime.' Hermione replied with a smile.
'Great!' Ginny said as the three friends walked into the Great Hall. Hermione and Ginny waved goodbye to Luna, as they went to the Gryffindor table, and she went to the Ravenclaw table.
Ron was waiting with Parvati and Lavender, for Hermione and Ginny. He waved as the two girls approached.
'Hermione, Ginny, where were you two last night? I went to bed at about midnight, and you still hadn't come back from your meeting.' Ron said curiously.
'Hi Ron.' Ginny said, and headed over to her 6th year friends, leaving Hermione to explain the new Common Room.
'Oh Ron, it's beautiful!' Hermione exclaimed as she sat down next to Ron. Lavender looked at Hermione curiously.
'What's beautiful Hermione?' She asked.
'Well, you know how there has been a lot of changes this year?' Hermione started. Lavender, Ron and Parvati nodded. 'Well, we have a brand new Common Room, and bedrooms for the Head Boy, Head Girl and Prefects.' Hermione said, and went on to describe the beautiful Common Room, and her bedroom and bathroom.
The three seventh year Gryffindors watched and listened to Hermione, as she explained each and every detail of the new Common Room. Every so often, Lavender and Parvati would gasp, and coo over Hermione's description. When Hermione had finished explaining, Lavender and Parvati were completely jealous, even Ron had to admit he was a little jealous.
'Oh Hermione! That's so beautiful, you're so lucky! Are we allowed to come and visit you sometimes?' Lavender said, but Parvati's eyes were filled with tears.
'What's wrong Parvati?' Hermione asked as a single tear fell out of Parvati's right eye, and trailed down her cheek.
'Y-Y-You have a life sized picture of H-H-Harry in your room?' She said, trying to hold back her tears, and sobs, but they came out freely, making Parvati quite annoyed with herself.
'Oh Parvati, you can -' Hermione began, but she was interrupted by Parvati.
'Why couldn't Dumbledore have given m-m-me one like that? Didn't he know about me and H-H-Harry, you know, before he-he-he. . .' Parvati couldn't seem to bring herself to say it. Lavender put a comforting arm around Parvati's shoulder.
'But Parvati -'
'Shut up Hermione! I know you were in love with Harry! I hate you! You always get the best of everything. You are a spoilt little brat!' Parvati screeched, now standing up. Her hair was matted and all over the place, instead of it being straight and perfect. Most people in the Great Hall had turned to watch, Hermione flushed slightly, she couldn't do anything to retaliate to Parvati, or she would be stripped of her Head Girl Badge and title.
Lavender looked between Hermione, and Parvati, with a scared look on her face. She knew she should support her best friend, but Parvati was way out of line.
Hermione looked up at Parvati with shame in her eyes.
'Parvati, honestly, you should have more respect. I didn't love Harry, well, yes I did, but as a friend. You think that I'm not really upset about his death? I am.' Hermione said, trying to stay as calm as possible given her situation.
'How can you just sit there and say that he's - that he's, DEAD? You say it as if you were flicking away a piece of dirt from your arm!' Parvati screamed, tearing at her hair, and crying openly. If there were people who weren't watching this argument before, they certainly were now.
'Parvati, understand, I am very cut up over Harry's death, but there's nothing we can do to bring him back. Nothing.' Hermione said calmly.
'You have some nerve! Sitting there like that, discussing Harry's passing like you would talk about a Quidditch match! You bitch! You deserve to die!' Parvati screamed.
'Parvati, please, sit down. You're making a spectacle of yourself.' Lavender said softly, pulling on her friend's arm. Parvati, however, was clearly not ready to sit down. She yanked her hand free of Lavender, and stormed out of the Great Hall. Everyone watched her retreating form.
It was at that moment, Dumbledore decided to come over. He had been hanging back, waiting to see where this fight was headed. Dumbledore reached Hermione, who was quite shaken up at the whole experience.
'Professor, I'm sorry.' Hermione said, shaking rather badly. Dumbledore put a comforting hand on her shoulder.
'Don't apologise Miss Granger, that most certainly was not your fault.' He said. 'I know that you are upset about Harry's unfortunate passing, we all are. Even those who weren't friendly towards him are already missing him.' Dumbledore continued. Hermione's eyes watered with tears.
'Thank you Professor.' She said, and returned to her toast. Dumbledore went back up to the teacher's table, and cleared his throat. Everyone fell silent. Whenever Dumbledore cleared his throat, he always had something important to say, so everyone was listening intently.
'Students, I am pleased to announce that lessons are postponed until tomorrow morning. You will receive your timetables this evening, which your Prefects will be bringing to your house Common Rooms. Today will be reserved for houses finding Quidditch Players for this season. The first Quidditch game commences not this Saturday, but the Saturday after.' Dumbledore said. Cheers rose up from all house tables. Everyone loved Quidditch. Dumbledore sat down, and proceeded to eat his breakfast.
Back at the Gryffindor table, Lavender glowered at Hermione.
'What did I do Lavender? Parvati made a spectacle of herself, I tried to calm her down. It's not as if I can help Dumbledore giving me a life sized picture of Harry.' Hermione said, tears streaming down her face.
'Lavender, she's right you know.' Ron said, with a mouthful of bacon. Ron swallowed the bacon and continued. 'You can't possible take Parvati's side, she was way out of line there.'
'Some things never change Ronald Weasley.' Lavender said, and stormed off out of the Great Hall, most likely to find Parvati.
'What does she mean by that, exactly Ron?' Hermione asked curiously, wiping the tears off her face with a napkin. Ron's ears went slightly pink.
'Well, it's not much, but um, when Harry was still, you know, alive, and dating Parvati, I kind of told him to break up with Parvati because she was cheating on him with Terry Boot. I saw them kissing one afternoon. Anyway, Parvati completely denied it, and there was this big argument over the whole thing.' Ron stopped to munch on a piece of toast. 'Anyway, Parvati said that I had seen Padma, and not her, but I'd seen the red on her school robes. Harry believed her, but I never trusted her after that.' Ron swallowed the piece of toast he was chewing while talking to Hermione.
'That's terrible Ron! Why didn't you tell me? I would have cursed her.' Hermione said, outraged at the fact that Parvati would cheat on Harry.
'Don't say anything to her, Hermione. She does seem genuinely upset about Harry.' Ron said.
'Anyway, we've got the whole day off, what do you want to do?' Hermione asked, standing up.
'Sorry Hermione, I've been made Captain of the Quidditch team, and I have to find players.' Ron had improved greatly over the past year, and he almost matched Oliver Wood.
'Congratulations Ron, I knew you could do it!' Hermione said happily, bending down to wrap her friend in a big hug. Ron went slightly red in the face.
'Thanks Hermione.' He said. Hermione let go of Ron.
'I'm off then, good luck with finding a team!' Hermione bounded off to find Phillip, Allison, and Samantha, who she knew didn't play Quidditch. Luna had joined the Ravenclaw team when one of their Chasers, Loretta McNullen, in 4th year, had dropped out after being hit in the face with a bludger.
~***~
Phillip Cassady was sitting at the other end of the Gryffindor table with Ginny, and their friends, Colin Creevey, Julia Thorn, Maria Brently and Cassandra Chambers, who were all in 6th year. Hermione swung her legs over the chair, taking her seat next to Ginny and Julia.
'Hi Hermione.' Ginny said happily, and waved at Hermione. 'Guys, this is Hermione.' She continued as if introducing them for the first time. Maria rolled her eyes.
'We know Hermione, Ginny.' Maria said. 'She tutored me in Transfiguration last year! Thanks Hermione, I wouldn't have passed without your help!' Maria added, smiling warmly at Hermione.
'No worries Maria, it was a pleasure to help you.' Hermione said.
'So Hermione, what brings you to the 6th year section of the Gryffindor table?' Phillip asked. That year, each house table had been split into seven sections, 1st years, 2nd years, 3rd years, 4th years, 5th years, 6th years and 7th years. This separated friends in different years, but Hermione was sure Dumbledore had his reasons for this change.
'I was just coming over to tell you that Ron's captain of the Quidditch team, and I think he's having trials for the Gryffindor team.' Hermione said to Ginny.
'I tried out for keeper in 4th year.' A 6th year boy named Boyd Thompson said, listening in to what Hermione was saying. 'They gave it to Ron though.'
'And for good reason too! Look how he improved throughout last year!' Cassandra Chambers, another Gryffindor 6th year, piped up.
'True.' Said Marcy George, who was also in 6th year.
'This new seating arrangement in the Great Hall sucks.' Said Julia, as she picked at her toast. 'I wanted to sit with my boyfriend Dean.' She complained. Hermione looked stunned.
'Weren't you with Dean, Ginny?' She asked.
'At the end of last year, we broke it off. It wasn't working for either of us.' Ginny replied.
'When were you planning to tell me, young lady?' Hermione joked. Ginny cracked a smile.
'Well, I'd better be off to Quidditch, are you coming Boyd, Marcy, Matthew?' Ginny motioned towards Boyd Thompson, Marcy George and Matthew Watson, who were clearly trying out for the Quidditch team. The four 6th years got up and left the Great Hall.
Hermione turned to Phillip.
'Hey Phil, I found a Wizard Chess Set in the Common Room, would you like to come up and give me a few games?' Hermione asked the brown haired Prefect. Phillip blinked.
'Okay, I guess. But I can't stay all day, I need to go and see my girlfriend Tania Michelle, a Ravenclaw 6th Year.' Phillip said.
'Okay, that's not at all a problem.' Hermione said, but a skinny girl with light brown hair, and green eyes walked up behind Phillip and put her arms around him.
'Hi Phillip.' The girl said. Phillip turned around, and smiled.
'Hi Tania, how are you?' Phillip said.
'I'm not at all bad.' Tania said. 'I would be better though if you agreed to spend the day with me?' She twirled a lock of hair around her pinky finger.
'Oh, I've just said to Hermione that I'll go and play Wizard Chess with her -' Phillip began, but he was cut off by Hermione.
'I don't mind, Phillip. You go off with Tania, I'll be fine.' Hermione said quickly.
'You sure Hermione? Oh thanks! You're the best! No matter what that Parvati girl says.' Phillip let Tania lead him out of the Great Hall, and Hermione was left with the painful memory of Parvati calling her a bitch.
When the Great Hall had cleared out a bit more, Hermione spotted Draco, sitting by himself at the Slytherin table, reading a copy of the Daily Prophet. Hermione wandered over to the Head Boy, who was sitting so contently, not trying to make anyone's life miserable.
'Hi Draco.' Hermione said, and sat down at the Slytherin table. Draco glowered a small bit at a Gryffindor sitting at the Slytherin Table, but said nothing on the "problem".
'Good morning Hermione.' He said, and went back to reading the Prophet.
'I see you're not out trying to make someone's life a living hell these days.' Hermione said.
'Yeah.' Draco replied.
'Did you do some growing up over the Summer?' She asked.
'No, it's just that, well - never mind.' Draco said, and he continued to read the paper, using it to hide from Hermione.
'What?' Hermione pushed.
'Harry wasn't the only one to die last year.' Draco said, almost sadly. Hermione felt a pang of guilt building up in her stomach.
'Oh, alright, well, I'd better be off now.' Hermione said, standing to leave.
'Sit down Hermione.' Draco said, but not in a pushy voice. Hermione looked at him curiously. That was the first time he'd called her by her first name, and not used her last name, or worse, "Mudblood". Hermione sat back down.
'What is it, Draco?'
'I'll tell you what happened over the summer.' He said, placing the newspaper carefully on the Slytherin table and looking into Hermione's brown eyes.
'Go on, I won't interrupt.' Hermione said kindly.
'Well, there's not much to tell, but, my mother died.' Draco said, and his eyes fell to the table. Hermione gasped.
'Oh, Draco, I'm so sorry.' She said sadly. 'I'm sad to hear that.'
'It's alright, I've learnt to deal with it, but father, well, he made a massive change.' Draco continued.
'What?'
'Well, there's no point denying it now, but he was a follower of Voldemort, you know, before Harry killed him, but now, father's made a complete change. He's being nice and everything. I guess an entire summer of not being yelled at and punnished kind of makes you not want to make other people's lives a misery, so that yours looks good.' Draco said.
'Oh, I had no idea.' Hermione said, her heart swelling with sadness.
'It's okay, not many people know, only Pansy, Millicent and now you.' Draco said.
'Come on then, I'll give you a game of Wizard Chess in the Common Room?' Hermione asked.
'Um, yeah, oh, no, sorry I can't, I have to go to the Slytherin Quidditch trials.' Draco said uneasily.
'Gryffindor has the pitch for another two hours.' Hermione said. 'Surely you can squeeze in a few games of Wizard Chess with me before you get the Quidditch Pitch?'
'Oh, alright then.' Draco said, and they both headed up to the Prefects, Head Boy and Head Girl Common Room.
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~* What did you think of that chapter? Who likes Parvati? Not me! Padma's alright though, and Lavender's alright, but Parvati's horrible. Anyway, please review and let me know what you think of this! *~
~Gryffindor Gal~