The next morning, Gemna woke up Hermione around 7:30am. "Good morning, Hermione," she said, putting a vase of fresh flowers by her bed. "I thought I'd pick some flowers to match your bed set. I think it really brings the area to life." Hermione sat up and rubbed her eyes. As she looked around, she saw that Gemna was right; something as simple as flowers really did make her part of the dorm look more stylish and welcoming. Hermione got out of bed and changed into her robes, noticing Gemna was wearing a dress similar yet a different design then the one she wore the previous night.
"Thanks for the flowers, they're lovely. When did you ever find the time to get them?" Hermione asked, tying her shoes.
"Oh, I was up at 5 o'clock this morning. I like to be up with the sun. Of course, the sun didn't come up until 6:15am today. But by that time I had already gotten dressed, read the assigned book for Defense Against The Dark Arts, rearranged the furniture in the common room according to the art of Fung Shui, and was by the lake picking flowers," she explained calmly as Hermione's jaw dropped. And everyone thought she was an over-achiever.
"W-wow," Hermione stuttered. "You didn't have to go through that trouble, especially picking me flowers." The two girls headed down to the common room.
"But I wanted to," Gemna said as they descended the stares. "I feel it is important to let everyone know that you care about them as individuals." Hermione was about to respond to this, but she stopped in the middle of the first word when she saw the room. It was absolutely gorgeous. Flowers on the tables, chairs arranged both for socialization and privacy, curtains retied to let in more light, scented candles smelling of vanilla on the fireplace…it was unlike anything she'd ever expected in this school.
Just as Hermione, still speechless, and Gemna sat down, the guys and Ginny came down the stairs. "Whoa! This room has never looked better!" Ron exclaimed. "Who did this?"
"Gemna did," Hermione answered for her. "She also got ahead on studies for our first class on Monday and picked flowers for our room, all before sun rise. Isn't she cool?"
Harry and Ron looked at each other while Ginny sat down next to Gemna and discussed her inspiration. "Didn't they hate her just yesterday?" Harry whispered.
"That's what I thought." The two boys sat down with the girls and tried their best not to daydream of Gemna.
"Did you boys sleep well?" she asked them. They were pleased that she was finally speaking.
"Um, yeah, I guess so. I had the oddest dream about a flaming duck running around in circles and quacking. I think that new password may have something to do with it," Harry said as everyone else laughed.
A few minutes later, they all headed down to the Great Hall for breakfast. Everyone looked at them as they walked in. They could hear clips of whispers as they headed to the table such as "…must be a model," and "…look at that dress!" When they sat down, they quietly served themselves breakfast before picking up the conversation.
As Gemna began eating a chocolate chip muffin, Ginny asked, "So where would you like to go first? We have no classes for two days and you haven't seen much of the school yet at all."
Gemna answered quickly after swallowing the muffin. "I'd like to go see where the other houses are. That way I can hopefully meet some of the other students."
Harry and Ron both had the same thought: 'Oh great, another year of Draco Malfoy and his planet-sized ego.' It hadn't occurred to them that he would be furious after what happened at the end of last year. "Well, okay, if you want to. But if we run into anyone rude and obnoxious, we apologize; Malfoy was born that way." Everyone laughed at Ron's joke except Gemna who simply finished her breakfast.
About fifteen minutes later, the five of them headed towards Ravenclaw. Harry didn't realize his mistake in leading them that way until he saw Cho. "Oh, hi guys. I love your dress…Gemna, was it? I'm Cho," she said. Harry was shocked at how calm and friendly she was being.
"Nice to meet you," she replied with a smile and curtsy. "I'm glad the headmaster said I could wear it. I despise being denied the right to self-expression in clothing. Speaking of which, those earrings are gorgeous! They match your eyes." Ginny, Hermione, Harry, and Ron just stood there in shock that the two of them had hit it off so easily.
"Thanks! I know what you mean about the clothing thing. Hey, maybe we can meet up later? I'll look for you at dinner. See you guys later!" Cho turned and walked away as the others stared at Gemna.
She looked around and asked why they were staring. "How did you just become instant friends with Cho like that? I went out with her and she never talked to me like that," Harry blurted out.
"I guess I'm just one of those girls," she answered as her and the other two girls headed towards Hufflepuff.
"I'll say," Ron whispered to Harry as they followed.
When they got near Slytherin, Harry's heart started to pound. Though he knew he could easily defend himself, he feared Malfoy coming out from behind a wall and attacking him. Though he did walk out from behind a wall, Malfoy didn't even threaten him. He was without his friends and looked happy. "Hello, it's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Rodemlovt," Malfoy said, pushing the others out of the way and kissing her hand. "I'm Draco Malfoy. If you ever get tired of them, and you certainly will, I'll be more than happy to provide company, or anything else you wish."
"Enchanted to meat you, as well, Draco," she replied with another curtsy. Four jaws dropped once again. Hermione almost collapsed. He had just introduced himself to her and already Malfoy was treating Gemna like a royal princess. He was treating someone in Gryffindor with kindness. More so, she had called him Draco. No one called Malfoy by his first name.
"I was wondering if perhaps you'd like to join me for a walk by the lake after dinner tonight. I'd love to find out more about you. You sounded so fascinating the way Professor Dumbledore described you yesterday, though the lighting there didn't do you justice." Ron squinted at Malfoy with such hatred and jealousy that he was shocked not to have torn him to shreds right there.
The others waited anxiously for her to answer. After a moment, she said, "That sounds lovely. That lake is so gorgeous in the sunset. I saw it yesterday before the train arrived and it inspired me. I immediately set off to make a painting of it, which I gave to Professor McGonagall. She hung it in her class right away, so we will see it on Monday in Transfiguration. Meet me at the Gryffindor table when you're done eating tonight."
"Can't wait. See you then," Malfoy said, going to the Slytherin common room.
The four students were completely speechless. Ginny's eyes widened as much as Ron's had narrowed and Harry couldn't move from how hard Hermione was unintentionally digging her nails into his arm. "Maybe we should just go back to the dormitories now. I think I need a nap. A nice, long nap." Hermione managed to say. The other three agreed.
"I'll meet you guys there. I want to go talk to Myrtle," Gemna said, starting to turn away. However, Ron stopped her by grabbing her shoulder.
"Myrtle? Moaning Myrtle? The girl killed by that snake thing?" Ron questioned.
She laughed. "Yes, that's her. She has such lovely stories and she knows so much about that beautiful lake. Catch you guys at Gryffindor!" Before the others could think of a response, Gemna took off toward the girls' lavatory that Myrtle not so peacefully resigned in. The four of them walked back to their dorms, trying to explain to themselves what had just happened.