For Harry, Hermione, and Ron, the feast seemed to last for days. Having their backs turned the more that half of the student body at Hogwarts, they could feel the gazes from the Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff students burning into their backs throughout the meal. Little was said between the three friends, though there was no shortage of attention being sent in the direction of the new Gryffindor.

"We need to get out of here before the feast ends." Hermione decided. "I'm sure the last thing we need is to get ambushed in the main hall by a bunch of curious adolescents."

"Good idea, Mione." Ron looked down the table at Bram who was still sitting alone, and he hadn't said a word since he'd entered the Great Hall to be sorted. "If we can get him into the common room before the rest of the house comes up for the night, maybe we can get some information out of him. Find out if he's up to anything."

"This is a school Ron, not a police station or the Ministry of Magic." Harry whispered. "We don't have the right to interrogate him. If he wants to talk, then we'll talk. Don't try and force anything out of him."

Hermione gave Ron a light slap on the arm. "Honestly Ron! Why must you be so impulsive?" She scolded. "We don't know anything about him. If he's not our enemy, we don't want to be rude. If he is our enemy we don't want to engage anything. We don't know what he's capable of."

Ron looked down the table at Bram, who was clearly finished eating. "Alright then. Now seems like a good of a time as any to get out of here." Ron looked to his right. "Well, what are you waiting for? Go on."

"What?" Hermione protested. "Why me? Why not you?"

"Didn't you just say that I was too impulsive?" Ron grinned. "If you're so clever and level headed, then I think you should be the one to approach our new house-mate." He leaned to the right and looked past Hermione. "Harry?"

Harry laughed shook his head. "This argument is between you and Hermione. But really," Harry leaned into Hermione's shoulder. "before you go throwing insults, you may want to evaluate your situation."

"Damn." Hermione mumbled. Harry was right. She made her bed and now she'd have to sleep in it. She slowly got up from the table and made her way over to end where Bram sat. "Hi." She smiled, trying to maintain control of her voice and hide the fact that she was scared out of her wits. "I'm Hermione Granger, Gryff…"

Bram cut her off. "I know who you are." His voice was extremely cold and void of any kind of emotion. The indifferent tone sent a slight chill down her spine. He turned his head and looked up at her. "I know who all of you are."

Hermione gasped when their eyes locked. His eyes were an extremely electric shade of blue, and they pierced straight through her. Until now, only Harry's eyes had caught her off guard like that. He was extremely fair skinned with a head of hair blacker than Harry's, a contradiction which accentuated his eyes even more.

"Um… well… then," She stuttered. "We… Ron, Harry, and I, that is; We thought that it would be best if we left now and walked you up to the common room. That way we could avoid any situations out in the hallway with the other students."

"Situations?" He asked, narrowing his eyes. "What kind of situations."

"Well, you know," She continued, somehow managing to maintain her composure. "this is the first time anything has ever happened like this at Hogwarts. We've never had a new student who didn't come in first year. I was just concerned that we'd have quite a scene to deal with if we waited until we were dismissed and left with the rest of the school."

"I see." Bram nodded slowly. "If you feel that's best. After all, you are Head Girl."

Hermione narrowed her eyes at him. "Amazing! How did you know I was Head Girl this year?"

Bram rolled his eyes as he stood. "Your badge."

Hermione blushed furiously. He knew how uncomfortable this situation was making her, and he continued to push and poke at her mercilessly. "Well, if you're ready," She continued, changing the subject. "We'd best be going." She looked behind her and motioned at Harry and Ron and then turned back to Bram. "Okay?"

Bram nodded. This girl is completely nuts. He thought, grabbing his bag off the table and taking a quick glance up at the high table. If these guys are anything like her, we stand absolutely no chance.

"Alright then, lets go." Hermione spun quickly and looked over at Harry and Ron, shooting them the look of a thousand deaths. She was obviously angry that they'd placed her into that situation, and they were going to pay for it later. "Follow me please."

Bram followed behind Hermione, and Ron and Harry filed in behind him. The noise in the hall fell silent as the students realized they were leaving. Again, they could feel the burn of the eyes focused solely on them. All four students kept their gazes foreword toward the exit, not making eye contact with any other students as they went.

Hermione lead them out of the Great Hall and turned straight to the left, bumping into someone as she made her turn. Caught off guard, Hermione lost her balance and fell back into her friends. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry…" She began.

"Save your breath, mud blood." A familiar voice snickered. "I'm not here to talk to you."

Hermione recognized the voice instantly, and her eyes narrowed in anger as she raised her gaze to meet Draco Malfoy. She struggled to get to her feet, but Ron and Harry held her still. They'd witnessed first hand what had happened once Hermione had run out of patience for Malfoy, and they weren't about to let her cause a scene in front of the Great Hall, where the rest of the school was still eating.

As always, two large figures stood with Draco. Vincent Crabbe on the left, and Gregory Goyle on the right. "You were out here waiting for us, weren't you Malfoy?" Ron shouted, still holding his grip on Hermione.

"Nothing gets by you Weasley." The blonde fixed his gaze onto Bram, who was standing as calm and as unaffected as ever. "What kind of Slytherin Prefect would I be if I didn't give our new Gryffindor a proper welcome?"

"Let us pass, Malfoy." Harry warned.

"Or what?" Draco laughed. "You're going to unleash Granger on me?"

"I knocked you on your ass once Malfoy." Hermione shouted, pulling furiously trying to escape Harry and Ron's restraints. "I'll do it again."

"That's enough." Bram's voice was filled with anger and had lost its tone of indifference. "Let us by Draco. Or I swear, I'll move you myself."

"All three of us?" That cocky grin spread across his face again.

"No Draco," Bram's body stiffened and he crossed his arms firmly over his chest. "just you." Bram took a few steps foreword, closing the gap between himself and Draco Malfoy. "Just you." He repeated slowly.

Draco's eyes narrowed in anger for a second before snickering, taking a step back, and heading around the four of them, back toward the Great Hall. "Don't think this is over Adair. This is my school. I will get you." Draco turned and walked into the Great Hall, Crabbe and Goyle right on his tail.

"Ignorant little git, that one. Always has been." Bram mumbled. He walked over to Hermione and knelt at her side, offering his hand to help her up. She took it and he helped her to her feet.

"Shall we continue?" He smiled, but the angry tone in his voice was gone as fast as it had arrived. He was once again nonchalant

Hermione was a little taken back by the extreme shift in his demeanor, but continued to lead the way. "You know Malfoy?" She questioned him, seeing Malfoy as a way to uncover some information.

"Somewhat. His father and my father were acquaintances a long time ago. Draco and I crossed paths every now and again." Bram shook his head. "Some things never change, and not everything improves with age. He's still as inconsiderate and conceited as he was as a child."

The four began their ascent up the changing staircases to Gryffindor Tower. "So you aren't friends then?" Harry raised his eye brows inquisitively.

"Did that seem like we were friends?" Bram's eyes scanned the walls as they walked. "He never liked me and the feeling was always entirely mutual."

Hermione snorted a short laugh. "Welcome to the club. The only one of us that Draco has ever had any time for was Harry, and that only lasted about five seconds. He offered to be friends with Harry, but insulted Ron at the same time. Harry rejected him and Malfoy's been out for blood ever since."

"Really?" Bram shifted his gaze between the three of them. "What does he have against you two then?"

"Well, I'm a muggle born." Hermione began. "The Malfoy's are pure bloods and they believe that muggles shouldn't be allowed to practice magic. In other words, he believes he's above me."

"I figured as much. I heard him call you a mud blood. The term mud blood," He turned his gaze over too Hermione, who had cringed. "no offense, isn't exactly a term of endearment." He raised his eyebrows at Ron. "And what about you? What's Malfoy have against you?"

"I'm from a pure-blood family, but my family isn't as wealthy as the Malfoy's. Plus my dad works for the Ministry in the Muggle department. He oversees raids and things like that. Mr. Malfoy hates my father so, naturally, Draco hates me." Ron shrugged. "I try not to let him get to me."

"Maybe you need to try a little harder." Hermione suggested, trying to stifle a laugh.

"Oh, shut up, Hermione." Ron shot back.

Bram shook his head. "I have no time for those who disregard others due to monetary or social standings, and it's really a shame. I feel bad for Malfoy sometimes."

"How could you possibly feel bad for him?" Ron looked puzzled. He'd experienced several emotions at Malfoy's expense, but he doesn't recall pity among them.

"He's a sheep. He thinks the way he thinks, talks the way he talks, and acts the way he acts because it's expected of him. He's too afraid to tell his father what he really wants." Bram explained. "Ever since we were kids, his father called the shots and Draco did as he was told without a second thought."

"Then why come to Hogwarts?" Hermione asked, now looking as puzzled as Ron. "If he hates having this so called persona, why come to a place infested with witches, wizards, and professors who know of your family? Why not go to another school where you can do as you please for 8 months out of the year?"

"The Malfoy family has been coming to Hogwarts for years. I'm not sure exactly how long, but at least for six or seven generations. Lucius would never allow anyone to break that tradition." Bram shook his head.

"The Malfoys are all about tradition. You're expected to do exactly what those before you had done." Harry added.

"Exactly." Bram agreed. "Draco puts on a brave front around here because he's terrified by the thought of what will happen should word get back to his father that he's breaking traditions, associating with the wrong kinds of people, disgracing the family name, or things of that nature." Bram peered over the side of the railing down to the floors below. The school was still virtually deserted in this area, which meant the feast was still in full force. "Though his actions say different, I'm not thoroughly convinced Draco's happy."

"Did your parents come to Wizarding school?" Hermione asked.

They reached the landing of the 7th floor and pulled open the huge door that led into the corridor where the Fat Lady portrait was. Bram looked down the hallway, covered with paintings and suits of armor. It took his eyes a second to adjust to the dimly lit corridor. Covered in the blackness of the dark night, the only source of light was by the various torches and lanterns.

"My mother was a muggle… well, sort of. But yes, my father did." Bram answered with a small nod. He knew what question was coming next and he wasn't convinced he was ready to open that can of worms.

Hermione picked up the pace. She was extremely tired and couldn't wait to plop down into a chair. The Fat Lady grew larger as they approached the entrance to the common room. "Did your father come here? Ron and Harry's parents did."

"No." Bram lowered his head as they walked.

The four of them stopped outside the portrait and the Fat Lady turned to face them. "Good evening children." She greeted them. "You are the first to arrive tonight. It's nice to see you all again." The four of them nodded at her in response. "May I have your password?" She asked.

"Gryffindor had better win the Quidditch Cup this year." Ron said with a small laugh in his voice.

"Think McGonagall is trying to tell us something?" Hermione asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

The portrait swung open the Gryffindor's climbed the stairs to the common room. As per usual, there was already a roaring fire crackling in the fire place. Hermione took a seat on the leather couch next to Harry, and Bram and Ron occupied one of the chairs on either side of them.

"So not Hogwarts, huh mate?" Ron asked, closely eyeing the assortment of cookies and various sweets that had been set out on the coffee table in front of them. "So where did he go then?"

Bram closed his eyes and bowed his head. He uttered but one word that elicited simultaneous gasps from Harry and Hermione, and caused Ron to drop several of the cookies he'd chosen.

"Durmstrang."