It's summer vacation so now I can update my story more often. Expect a new chapter every few weeks. Thank you to all readers who have been so loyal!
Forbidden Love
By: Nerwen Felagund
Written: 6.30.04
Chapter 7 – Different
"Welcome old and new students. I am now the Headmaster of Hogwarts. I will not tolerate nonsense from any of you. Mr. Filch has been promoted to dean of all students because I will not have enough time to be dean with all of my new duties. There will be many, many changes. You can see some of them already. In the position Mr. Dumbledore was in he could but did not punish students that badly needed to be disciplined. I may not be your potions teacher but that does not permit you to test me," said Snape with malice. "Unlike our previous Headmaster, I will not take any time to introduce the new teachers. I've had so much trouble selecting and gathering them. I refuse to go over any more issues. I must remind all students that any disobedience will be awarded with harsh punishment. You may feast."
"How dare he call him Mr. Dumbledore! Snape has some nerve," whispered Harry furiously.
Usually students took their time to enjoy the meal but after Snape's speech no one wanted to be stuck in the Great Hall with him. The Hall was pretty much silent except for the sounds of eating. Filch looked around from the staff table with satisfaction. He would be able to do things that Dolores Umbridge let him do last year.
Harry, Ron and Hermione were some of the first few that raced out of the Great Hall. They arrived at the portrait of the Fat Lady. Something about the painting looked different. It had an aura of malevolence.
"Password or no entry," she said with disdain.
"Great! Even though we're prefects we don't have the password to our house," said Ron to Hermione. " How do they expect us to spend the night? Sleeping outside the common room on the cold, hard floor?"
"I was thinking about that but it's really nice that someone actually likes the idea," said Snape who had suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
"Professor Snape?" shouted the three in surprise.
"It will be Headmaster Snape from now," he corrected them. "Potter! You come with me now. I have special quarters set up for a special boy. Come along."
"What about us?" asked Hermione.
"It isn't even the first day of lessons. Do I have to take points away from your house Miss Granger?" inquired Snape. "You and Mr. Weasley will stay here until you receive the password."
He grabbed Harry's shirt and half dragged him to the "special quarters."
"What do you reckon we should do?" asked Ron.
"I don't really know. No one seems to be coming. I wonder where the other Gryffindors are. I guess we should just sleep here until someone comes," replied Hermione.
"Tell me you're kidding," said Ron.
Hermione gave him a glare that evoked memories of McGonagall when she asked for Ron's missing homework. They tried to make themselves as comfortable as they could on the uncomfortable marble floor. Within minutes both were asleep.
The next day…
"Hey look! It's Weasel and his lover the Mudblood girl!" shouted someone.
Loud laughter followed the statement. Hermione rubbed her eyes and sat up. She found out what they were laughing at. A blanket and Ron's arm were covering her. She delicately removed his arm but shook him awake roughly.
"Is it room service?" asked Ron sleepily.
"No but it is the Slytherins," replied Hermione in a whisper.
"Hey Weasel! Do you wish that it were night again? I see you enjoy romantic naps with the Mudblood," said a Slytherin from the back of the crowd.
Ron's face turned maroon. Hermione raised her wand and threw off the blanket. She strode towards the back of the crowd. She pointed her wand directly at the speaker. Hermione looked straight at him.
"State your business Malfoy," she hissed. "I believe we have been in this situation before but this time I'm not afraid to use my wand."
"Granger, we can talk about these matters without the wand in my face some place else. By the way, aren't you late for class?" asked Draco seriously.
"Are you daft Malfoy? Lessons have been cancelled," shouted someone from the other side of the stairs.
Ron pulled Hermione away from Malfoy. Hermione slowly lowered her wand. The Slytherins whistled as she walked pass them. Her pace quicken until she reached Snape's office. She grabbed the knob. She would have twisted it if a hand had not stopped her. She looked up.
"You do not want to step into Snape's office," said Harry.
"What stops me from complaining about the Slytherins to Snape?" asked Hermione.
"He has never and will never listen to any of your complaints. Remember when he was just a potions teacher who loved deducting points from us? Now that he's Headmaster, he can live his dreams of expelling us. He has dreamt of this ever since he met us and nothing will stop him from doing it except for the fact that the Ministry is monitoring him. They're still a bit wary of him because he went crazy in front of Fudge after Sirius's escape," said Harry. "His plans to torture us are just beginning. Last night he did bring me to my special quarters. He bewitched the room to make me suffer. It was even worse than the punishments that Umbridge did to me."
"No wonder you look so awful. Let's just go down to breakfast," said Hermione sympathetically.
To be continued…