Chapter 4- Two couples in two carriages
Ron walked further up the train with Hermione. They came to the head carriage (which was the carriage in the very centre of the train. They opened the door to find a lady dressed in a deep blue cloak. Her face was quite strong looking, and yet thin. She kind of reminded Ron of Professor Mcgonagal.
'Ah, you must be Miss Granger and Mr Weasley,' she said.
'Yes, that's right,' Hermione replied.
'Well, I'm going to give you your badges and then you will have to wait here until we arrive at Hogwarts. You will receive further instructions there.' She handed them two shiny gold badges. Ron looked at his. It said HEAD BOY and its letters seemed to be sparkling and changing colour.
The lady clad in blue left the carriage without another word.
'Here, let me pin it on you,' Hermione said. She brought him closer to her and opened the badge pin with her small, nimble fingers. Ron stood there, sheepishly, as she did up the clasp once more.
'There,' she said, stepping back with satisfaction.
'Now let me do yours,' Ron said. He took her badge and fumbled with it until he had finally got it undone. His hands shook as he fastened it on her collar. When he had finished, he looked at Hermione- she was smiling at him. He felt weak just looking at her.
'Um,' he cleared his throat. He sat down a little awkwardly. Hermione joined him. Ron was surprised at how close she was to him.
'So, you never told me how your summer was,' Hermione said.
'Yeah, it was ok. Percy is still sucking up to mum and dad since that year with the ministry and no one believing You-Know-Who was back.'
'I still can't believe that he could do that! I mean, the ministry over his own family,' Hermione said in disgust. Ron looked at her face. Even when she was angry she was still beautiful. They talked for quite a while about Hermione's holidays and about muggle matters and how they were looking forward to (Hermione's thinking) or dreading (Ron's point of view) their N.E.W.Ts. Ron's feeling of awkwardness melted away as he talked to her.
'We're friends, it's only natural,' he thought. Things started to get a little tricky, when Hermione drifted off to sleep. Ron couldn't help but look at her. He thought that she must have been having a nice dream because she kept smiling slightly every now and then. Ron examined the girl he loved. Her frizzy, yet beautiful hair, her eyelashes and pale face. Her calm expression and delicate looking figure. He wanted to hold her and express his feelings, but he didn't want to lose their friendship.
The train jolted every now and then. On one particular jolt, Hermione's head ended up on Ron's shoulder. He gulped and placed it gently upright again. He looked at her warily, hoping that she didn't wake. JOLT. Hermione's head was on Ron's shoulder again. He was going to wake her up, but he thought better of it. Besides, it felt quite comforting having her head on his shoulder and he was quite content. He gently leant his head on hers, careful not to wake her.
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Back in Harry and Ginny's carriage, there was lots of 'pleasant talk' happening (accompanied by a few awkward silences). Ginny kept moving slowly closer to Harry and Harry kept edging towards the window. Ginny frowned, she knew Harry was quite shy but she never knew that he was this shy. Finally, she had him cornered against the window.
'Nervous about your N.E.W.Ts?' she asked, trying to think of something to keep the conversation going.
'Yeah, particularly potions.'
'Oh, that Snape, he absolutely hated me. I think he hates all Griffindors really. I'm glad I didn't choose potions. Why did you choose potions anyway?'
'Well, I want to be an Auror when I leave school and you need to take potions class to qualify.' Ginny looked relieved for some reason once he had said that.
'Dad always says that you should get a job in the Ministry.' Ginny looked deep into Harry's eyes as if they were searching for something.
'Erm, really? I don't think I'd really like a job in the Ministry though. Not after everything with Fudge in fifth grade.'
'Yes, that's understandable,' Ginny said, looking down at the floor.
The train began to slow and the whistle blew. Before Harry knew what was going on, Ginny wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her lips against his. Then she leant back again to look at the expression on Harry's face (which was a shocked one I can assure you) and beamed.
'I guess I'll see you round,' she said brightly.
About ten minutes later (when Harry had finally recovered from the shock) he replied, 'Yeah, yeah, see you round.' He didn't even really notice that there was no one there.
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Hermione woke with a start as the train did a huge jolt and stopped. She looked up at Ron and laughed nervously.
'Oh, sorry. I didn't realise I.'
'It's ok, really,' Ron said. In truth, he had quite enjoyed the train ride. Ron had a sneaking suspicion that Hermione's face was moving closer to his.
'Well, we better go and find Harry,' Ron said, quickly getting up.
'Drat,' Hermione thought, 'I was so close. Maybe he really doesn't like me after all.'
'Yeah, ok' Hermione said, her tone sounding a bit 'down'.
But before they could get out of the carriage, the lady dressed in blue walked in a little breathlessly.
'Sorry,' she panted. 'You'd be surprised how intimidating a stampede of students is.'
Hermione smiled to herself. She knew the teacher must be new. She had tried to make a big impression by speaking so formerly to them when they first arrived at the Head carriage, but her true personality was already starting to show and Hermione kind of liked her.
'After the sorting is finished, you'll have to return to your house dormitories. However, I'm sure that Dumbledore will have a couple of words to say to you after the feast. Come now, you don't want to be late for dinner.' With that, she walked out once more, her cloak billowing out behind her.
After she left, Ron and Hermione went to find Harry.
'Harry,' Ron called out. They stopped at the carriage where the four of them had been sitting before and opened the door. To their surprise, Harry was still sitting there. His face was quite red and he was just staring into space.
'Harry mate, are you ok?' Ron asked a little worried.
'Huh? Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little shocked, that's all,' he said slowly.
'Shocked, what on earth for?' Harry mumbled something that Ron was unable to hear. That was when Hermione stepped in. She had a hunch that she knew what had happened and she was quite looking forward to talking to Ginny about it later. 'Come on Harry, we're probably already late for the feast.'
'Ok, coming,' Harry said, jerking back to his normal self.
They walked outside the train and found a coach. Harry shuddered when he saw what was pulling them (he still hadn't gotten over seeing them in fifth grade).
Soon they were in the entrance hall and could hear the loud babbling coming from the Great Hall. They quickly hurried to get inside, but bumped into Snape.
'Late as usual,' he said in a dangerously quiet voice. He stood in front of them for quite a while before walking off briskly.
Ron, Harry and Hermione looked at one another. After a while, they all ended up smiling and continued on, into the Great Hall. They quickly sat down at their house tables and waited for the sorting to begin.
The noise in the hall died down as Professor Mcgonagal led the nervous looking first-years in. She placed the sorting hat on the wooden stool (which was sitting on the steps leading up to the teachers' table) and soon, the hat recited it's verse for the year.
They call me the Sorting Hat,
I'm the brightest hat you'll find.
I'll sort you into your houses,
And leave no one behind.
You must ask yourselves,
In what house shall you be placed?
Well it all depends on your mind
A sorting must be well paced.
Hogwarts was built years ago,
By four that I can name,
Huffepuff, Ravenclaw, Slytherin, Griffindor,
Teaching magic was their game
So will you be in Hufflepuff?
The house that's honourable and fair?
They stand up for their friends and peers,
They're genuine people who show they care.
Or will you be in Ravenclaw,
The house of the most wise,
The house of most clever people,
Who see right through all lies.
Will you be in Slytherin,
The house of the sly,
They are strong and often powerful,
Their spirit will never die.
Or shall you be in Griffindor,
House to those who have courage; are brave.
The ones who are true and inquisitive.
That's the nature of the way they behave.
So put me on to find your house,
I won't hurt you a tat.
I'll help you find where you're meant to be
For I'm the Sorting Hat.
As soon at the Hat had finished reciting, the Great Hall erupted into applause. As one by one, the first years were sorted into their houses, Ron's stomach began to groan.
'Ron!' Harry said, trying to keep himself from laughing.
'I can't help it! Honestly,' Ron replied a bit bashfully. Hermione looked at him and gave him a smile, which he returned. Since they had arrived, Hermione and Ginny had been discussing something rather quietly and every now and then they would laugh. It was when Hermione started talking about Viktor Crumb that Ron started paying close attention to the conversation.
'You're still writing to that big oaf?' he asked sharply.
'Well, yes. As a matter of fact, I am. And he's not an oaf. You know that he's a famous quidditch player. After all, you yourself were trying to go about getting his autograph at the beginning of fourth grade.'
'Well, yes.but that is entirely different because.ah'
'Oh is it really?' Hermione asked with raised eyebrows. Ron stopped dead in his tracks, He didn't want to start an argument, and so he quickly changed the subject.
Once the feast was over, all the students began to file out of the Great Hall. Hermione and Ron walked together as they suspected that Dumbledore would probably want to have a few words with them-and they were correct. He was waiting just outside the door for them with his hands held politely behind his back.
'Ah, there you are. Miss Granger, Mr Weasley,' he said inclining his head. I just wanted to congratulate you on getting your position and also to inform you that it has been quite some time since we have had a head boy and head girl in the same house,' he smiled at them. 'Now, you best go up to your dormitories. The password is gorganalia by the way. And remember, that you are head boy and head girl so try to stay out of mischief this year.' His smile widened as he said those last few words and then he walked away. By this time, the entrance hall was completely empty. Ron and Hermione began to walk up to the Griffindor common room. On the way there Ron brought up the issue of Viktor Krum again.
'I honestly don't see what you have against him,' Hermione said. She had become quite angry with Ron.
'I just don't think that you should be talking to him. I mean, he's so much older than you and.'
'Ron, you can't just tell me what to do and who I am allowed to talk to!' She was furious with him now.
'But.'
'What do you want from me Ron? You tell me that I can't talk to a friend of mine when you don't even know what he's truly like and I have every right to talk to him if I wish.' They had reached the Griffindor common room entrance. Quite a few people had annoyed expressions on their faces as they had been waiting for quite a while, but when they saw the mood that Hermione was in, they decided not to say anything.
'Gorganalia,' Hermione practically shouted at the fat lady and straight after the portrait swung open, she stormed into the common room and then up into her dormitory.
Harry stayed behind everyone- who were anxiously walking into the common room. But before he could ask what had happened, Ron simply said, 'don't ask. Just don't ask,' and he too stormed into the common room and up to his dormitory.
-------Thanks for your reviews Jo, it's nice to know that someone likes my story. Anyway, I'll write another as soon as I can. And thanks to you as well Pearlyn. I appreciate both your reviews more than I can say (and I know that sounds sappy but.hey I'm just trying to be nice). So enjoy reading and until next chapter.Cheers (--
Ron walked further up the train with Hermione. They came to the head carriage (which was the carriage in the very centre of the train. They opened the door to find a lady dressed in a deep blue cloak. Her face was quite strong looking, and yet thin. She kind of reminded Ron of Professor Mcgonagal.
'Ah, you must be Miss Granger and Mr Weasley,' she said.
'Yes, that's right,' Hermione replied.
'Well, I'm going to give you your badges and then you will have to wait here until we arrive at Hogwarts. You will receive further instructions there.' She handed them two shiny gold badges. Ron looked at his. It said HEAD BOY and its letters seemed to be sparkling and changing colour.
The lady clad in blue left the carriage without another word.
'Here, let me pin it on you,' Hermione said. She brought him closer to her and opened the badge pin with her small, nimble fingers. Ron stood there, sheepishly, as she did up the clasp once more.
'There,' she said, stepping back with satisfaction.
'Now let me do yours,' Ron said. He took her badge and fumbled with it until he had finally got it undone. His hands shook as he fastened it on her collar. When he had finished, he looked at Hermione- she was smiling at him. He felt weak just looking at her.
'Um,' he cleared his throat. He sat down a little awkwardly. Hermione joined him. Ron was surprised at how close she was to him.
'So, you never told me how your summer was,' Hermione said.
'Yeah, it was ok. Percy is still sucking up to mum and dad since that year with the ministry and no one believing You-Know-Who was back.'
'I still can't believe that he could do that! I mean, the ministry over his own family,' Hermione said in disgust. Ron looked at her face. Even when she was angry she was still beautiful. They talked for quite a while about Hermione's holidays and about muggle matters and how they were looking forward to (Hermione's thinking) or dreading (Ron's point of view) their N.E.W.Ts. Ron's feeling of awkwardness melted away as he talked to her.
'We're friends, it's only natural,' he thought. Things started to get a little tricky, when Hermione drifted off to sleep. Ron couldn't help but look at her. He thought that she must have been having a nice dream because she kept smiling slightly every now and then. Ron examined the girl he loved. Her frizzy, yet beautiful hair, her eyelashes and pale face. Her calm expression and delicate looking figure. He wanted to hold her and express his feelings, but he didn't want to lose their friendship.
The train jolted every now and then. On one particular jolt, Hermione's head ended up on Ron's shoulder. He gulped and placed it gently upright again. He looked at her warily, hoping that she didn't wake. JOLT. Hermione's head was on Ron's shoulder again. He was going to wake her up, but he thought better of it. Besides, it felt quite comforting having her head on his shoulder and he was quite content. He gently leant his head on hers, careful not to wake her.
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Back in Harry and Ginny's carriage, there was lots of 'pleasant talk' happening (accompanied by a few awkward silences). Ginny kept moving slowly closer to Harry and Harry kept edging towards the window. Ginny frowned, she knew Harry was quite shy but she never knew that he was this shy. Finally, she had him cornered against the window.
'Nervous about your N.E.W.Ts?' she asked, trying to think of something to keep the conversation going.
'Yeah, particularly potions.'
'Oh, that Snape, he absolutely hated me. I think he hates all Griffindors really. I'm glad I didn't choose potions. Why did you choose potions anyway?'
'Well, I want to be an Auror when I leave school and you need to take potions class to qualify.' Ginny looked relieved for some reason once he had said that.
'Dad always says that you should get a job in the Ministry.' Ginny looked deep into Harry's eyes as if they were searching for something.
'Erm, really? I don't think I'd really like a job in the Ministry though. Not after everything with Fudge in fifth grade.'
'Yes, that's understandable,' Ginny said, looking down at the floor.
The train began to slow and the whistle blew. Before Harry knew what was going on, Ginny wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her lips against his. Then she leant back again to look at the expression on Harry's face (which was a shocked one I can assure you) and beamed.
'I guess I'll see you round,' she said brightly.
About ten minutes later (when Harry had finally recovered from the shock) he replied, 'Yeah, yeah, see you round.' He didn't even really notice that there was no one there.
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Hermione woke with a start as the train did a huge jolt and stopped. She looked up at Ron and laughed nervously.
'Oh, sorry. I didn't realise I.'
'It's ok, really,' Ron said. In truth, he had quite enjoyed the train ride. Ron had a sneaking suspicion that Hermione's face was moving closer to his.
'Well, we better go and find Harry,' Ron said, quickly getting up.
'Drat,' Hermione thought, 'I was so close. Maybe he really doesn't like me after all.'
'Yeah, ok' Hermione said, her tone sounding a bit 'down'.
But before they could get out of the carriage, the lady dressed in blue walked in a little breathlessly.
'Sorry,' she panted. 'You'd be surprised how intimidating a stampede of students is.'
Hermione smiled to herself. She knew the teacher must be new. She had tried to make a big impression by speaking so formerly to them when they first arrived at the Head carriage, but her true personality was already starting to show and Hermione kind of liked her.
'After the sorting is finished, you'll have to return to your house dormitories. However, I'm sure that Dumbledore will have a couple of words to say to you after the feast. Come now, you don't want to be late for dinner.' With that, she walked out once more, her cloak billowing out behind her.
After she left, Ron and Hermione went to find Harry.
'Harry,' Ron called out. They stopped at the carriage where the four of them had been sitting before and opened the door. To their surprise, Harry was still sitting there. His face was quite red and he was just staring into space.
'Harry mate, are you ok?' Ron asked a little worried.
'Huh? Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little shocked, that's all,' he said slowly.
'Shocked, what on earth for?' Harry mumbled something that Ron was unable to hear. That was when Hermione stepped in. She had a hunch that she knew what had happened and she was quite looking forward to talking to Ginny about it later. 'Come on Harry, we're probably already late for the feast.'
'Ok, coming,' Harry said, jerking back to his normal self.
They walked outside the train and found a coach. Harry shuddered when he saw what was pulling them (he still hadn't gotten over seeing them in fifth grade).
Soon they were in the entrance hall and could hear the loud babbling coming from the Great Hall. They quickly hurried to get inside, but bumped into Snape.
'Late as usual,' he said in a dangerously quiet voice. He stood in front of them for quite a while before walking off briskly.
Ron, Harry and Hermione looked at one another. After a while, they all ended up smiling and continued on, into the Great Hall. They quickly sat down at their house tables and waited for the sorting to begin.
The noise in the hall died down as Professor Mcgonagal led the nervous looking first-years in. She placed the sorting hat on the wooden stool (which was sitting on the steps leading up to the teachers' table) and soon, the hat recited it's verse for the year.
They call me the Sorting Hat,
I'm the brightest hat you'll find.
I'll sort you into your houses,
And leave no one behind.
You must ask yourselves,
In what house shall you be placed?
Well it all depends on your mind
A sorting must be well paced.
Hogwarts was built years ago,
By four that I can name,
Huffepuff, Ravenclaw, Slytherin, Griffindor,
Teaching magic was their game
So will you be in Hufflepuff?
The house that's honourable and fair?
They stand up for their friends and peers,
They're genuine people who show they care.
Or will you be in Ravenclaw,
The house of the most wise,
The house of most clever people,
Who see right through all lies.
Will you be in Slytherin,
The house of the sly,
They are strong and often powerful,
Their spirit will never die.
Or shall you be in Griffindor,
House to those who have courage; are brave.
The ones who are true and inquisitive.
That's the nature of the way they behave.
So put me on to find your house,
I won't hurt you a tat.
I'll help you find where you're meant to be
For I'm the Sorting Hat.
As soon at the Hat had finished reciting, the Great Hall erupted into applause. As one by one, the first years were sorted into their houses, Ron's stomach began to groan.
'Ron!' Harry said, trying to keep himself from laughing.
'I can't help it! Honestly,' Ron replied a bit bashfully. Hermione looked at him and gave him a smile, which he returned. Since they had arrived, Hermione and Ginny had been discussing something rather quietly and every now and then they would laugh. It was when Hermione started talking about Viktor Crumb that Ron started paying close attention to the conversation.
'You're still writing to that big oaf?' he asked sharply.
'Well, yes. As a matter of fact, I am. And he's not an oaf. You know that he's a famous quidditch player. After all, you yourself were trying to go about getting his autograph at the beginning of fourth grade.'
'Well, yes.but that is entirely different because.ah'
'Oh is it really?' Hermione asked with raised eyebrows. Ron stopped dead in his tracks, He didn't want to start an argument, and so he quickly changed the subject.
Once the feast was over, all the students began to file out of the Great Hall. Hermione and Ron walked together as they suspected that Dumbledore would probably want to have a few words with them-and they were correct. He was waiting just outside the door for them with his hands held politely behind his back.
'Ah, there you are. Miss Granger, Mr Weasley,' he said inclining his head. I just wanted to congratulate you on getting your position and also to inform you that it has been quite some time since we have had a head boy and head girl in the same house,' he smiled at them. 'Now, you best go up to your dormitories. The password is gorganalia by the way. And remember, that you are head boy and head girl so try to stay out of mischief this year.' His smile widened as he said those last few words and then he walked away. By this time, the entrance hall was completely empty. Ron and Hermione began to walk up to the Griffindor common room. On the way there Ron brought up the issue of Viktor Krum again.
'I honestly don't see what you have against him,' Hermione said. She had become quite angry with Ron.
'I just don't think that you should be talking to him. I mean, he's so much older than you and.'
'Ron, you can't just tell me what to do and who I am allowed to talk to!' She was furious with him now.
'But.'
'What do you want from me Ron? You tell me that I can't talk to a friend of mine when you don't even know what he's truly like and I have every right to talk to him if I wish.' They had reached the Griffindor common room entrance. Quite a few people had annoyed expressions on their faces as they had been waiting for quite a while, but when they saw the mood that Hermione was in, they decided not to say anything.
'Gorganalia,' Hermione practically shouted at the fat lady and straight after the portrait swung open, she stormed into the common room and then up into her dormitory.
Harry stayed behind everyone- who were anxiously walking into the common room. But before he could ask what had happened, Ron simply said, 'don't ask. Just don't ask,' and he too stormed into the common room and up to his dormitory.
-------Thanks for your reviews Jo, it's nice to know that someone likes my story. Anyway, I'll write another as soon as I can. And thanks to you as well Pearlyn. I appreciate both your reviews more than I can say (and I know that sounds sappy but.hey I'm just trying to be nice). So enjoy reading and until next chapter.Cheers (--