"Galbraith, Wendy." Professor McGonagall's voice rang out across the Great Hall. Hermione tensed in her seat and began to shiver. Her House Head looked up from the list as a pretty blonde girl tried the Sorting Hat on. While everyone watched Wendy, Hermione drew her wand and discretely pointed it at the scroll of first years. "'Admetus.'"

After Wendy went to Slytherin, McGonagall called the next name without thinking about it very much: "Granger, Hermione." The whispers spread like bluebell fire as Hermione rose, carefully not looking at the Slytherin table. She jammed the hat on head, opening her reasons to it.

Draco had been trying to catch Hermione's eye ever since he noticed some of the school governors seated at the staff table. Hermione, however, was completely focused on the Sorting, as they had agreed she should. Draco watched as her name was called. The Sorting Hat didn't dawdle.

'Hmm. Excellent memory. Infinite capacity for trust and thoughtful actions. We've been through this before, haven't we?'

'Yes, but I got it wrong that time.'

'You got it wrong? You never get anything wrong.'

'Oh yes, I got it quite wrong. Now I'm going to get it right. In Ravenclaw.'

"RAVENCLAW it is, then."

Hermione took the hat off and, not looking at anyone, walked to the Ravenclaw table. Most of the House thought she should have been there since Year One.

The next five letters passed without incident, and then McGonagall hit the M's. Draco watched his father in deep discussion with Professor Snape. He hardly noticed when Madison, Irene joined him, as his eyes were rooted on McGonagall, Minerva.

Hermione whispered Draco's name onto the list just before Mahoney, Gene became a Hufflepuff. Professor McGonagall adjusted her spectacles, coughed, and called irritably, "Malfoy, Draconis." She did not like surprises.

Draco did not see his father leap up like he'd been burnt, or Professor Snape stop mid-sentence, because he was already on the stool with the Hat jammed over his ears thinking 'Ravenclaw, Ravenclaw, Ravenclaw.'

The hat protested. 'How rude.'

'Ravenclaw, Ravenclaw, Ravenclaw.'

'Oh all right' "RAVENCLAW"

Draco doffed the Hat in time to get a panoramic view of the outrage written across his father's aristocratic features. Lucius looked from his son to Ravenclaw's other transfer and back hawkishly. He had been a Slytherin and knew a plot when he saw one.

Hermione scooted over to allow Draco onto the end of the bench. They clasped hands under the table as she followed his gaze to where Professor Snape had got Lucius seated again.

"My father is here," Draco finally got out.

"I know."

"He's going to kill you, and then enroll me in Azkaban."

"There's nothing he can do here," She tried to be comforting, for his sake. "The Sorting Hat put us in Ravenclaw

"Hang the Sorting Hat, this is my father, 'Mione!" Hermione shut up and concentrated on warming his icy left hand.

When McGonagall finally carried the Hat away, Professor Dumbledore rose to make his customary beginning of term remarks. After announcing that the Forbidden Forest was 'still' off limits, he introduced the new DADA master, whom everyone already knew, as Professor Snape had finally gotten his dearest wish and was as close to beaming as anyone had ever seen him. The new Potions teacher was a slim red-haired woman who looked so like Harry's mother that he hadn't taken his eyes off her all evening. "And may I conclude by presenting this year's Head Girl and Boy, Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy," they stood, " both of whom have seen fit to make a change in House this evening." Dumbledore looked down his long, crooked nose at them. "I should like to see both of you in my office after the feast." He clapped his hands and food appeared on all of the tables.

Hermione took a bit of everything and began to rearrange it, while Draco stared down at his empty plate. "Eat something," she said, but didn't.

A bright-eyed boy with messy brown hair passed Hermione the chipolatas and introduced himself. "I'm Terry Boot, and you're Hermione Granger." She nodded, smiling in spite of everything. "Have you picked a language yet?"

"I bought all the books, but Parseltongue sounds by far the most interesting. Of course, one year only lets you study the very basics."

"I don't know, House-Elvish would be very useful, if you've got them."

Hermione shrugged. "What about you, Draco?"

"Pixie," he spat, "it's the only one I don't already know."

"You're kidding." A bit of potato fell out of Terry's open mouth. "Parseltongue takes years to learn."

"I know. Started when I was seven."

Terry muttered. "Must be a Slytherin thing."

Draco hissed something at him and then translated. "Just a Malfoy thing."

Terry rolled his eyes. "Whatever you say, mate." No one had every called Draco Malfoy 'mate' before.