Ü chapter 3 Storytelling Ü
Days sped up. Before they knew it, it was the 1st of September. After packing all her stuff—books, robes, muggle stuff, and her adorably cute fur ball, Crookshanks, she held the portkey (which was a toothpick) and stroke it gently.
She shut her eyes as everything spun around her for about 5 seconds and when she opened her eyes, she came face to face with Malfoy.
"Sod off, Malfoy," she shrugged.
"Don't be too bitchy, mudblood."
He hated being like this. Even though it's not in his nature, he simply needed to go with the Oh-I'm-a-Malfoy-I'm-an-asshole attitude.
"If you would just step away, dickweed, I may stop being bitchy," she replied, gesturing quotation marks with her fingers, emphasizing on "bitchy".
"If I only knew, you have the hots for me, mudblood," he said. 'Why did I say that? Why the fuck did I say that?!' he thought.
"Yeah," Hermione blurted out while flapping her eyelashes. "In fact, I've been waiting for 6 years to fuck you, you muscle man! Oh, and that big dick of yours, I will eat that! Alive!"
Draco always enrages every time someone turned cynical on him. He was utterly speechless. He never expected Hermione to be this... tough.
"Like I said, sod off," Hermione repeated. She was so cool about this conversation that it pissed Draco's ass off. He immediately walked through the crowd and disappeared.
'What a whorebag!' He thought. 'Nobody—even that hottie—could ever talk to me like that. I'll show her the makings of a Malfoy.' All his dream girl fantasies of Hermione vanished in his mind.
'What a dickhead!' She thought. 'No arrogant jerk—even that hottie—could ever talk to me like that. I'll show her the makings of a fully-armed muggle-born witch.' Erase the strong biceps and the 6-pack abs. To her, Malfoy's dirt.
With raging anger in her head, Hermione went inside a compartment where her girlfriends sat.
"Why the fiery face, 'Mione?" Parvati Patil asked.
"It's that dickhead, Malfoy."
"Ooohh.. boys," Lavander Brown said while sitting up straight. "Let's hear all about it."
"You guys, haven't you heard Hermione?" Ginny Weasley interrupted. "She said he's a dickhead. Which means, trouble."
"You know what I've heard?" Lavander leaned closer. "He has a great 6 inches!"
"LAVANDER!" Hermione shrieked.
"What?! I'm just telling the truth."
"You are such a gossipper!" teased Ginny.
"There's no such word, Ginny dear. But thank you, It's a pleasure to bring you the latest news." She sneered.
Even though their group is kind of insane, they felt cozy and comforted at each other's presence.
"Hey guys, I've got to tell you something," Hermione blurted out. "Guess who made Head girl."
"No doubt about it, 'Mione," said Parvati.
"Oooh! Exciting!" shrugged Lavander.
"Well, who's head boy?! I'm sure it's Harry 'cause Ron didn't," Ginny said.
"But I think it would be better if Malfoy was the Head Boy," Lavander said. "Then you could tell us how big—his you know is." She giggled. (She's a maniac)
"Oh Lavander! Get a grip! You already have Dean!" Parvati said. Dean Thomas, another Gryffindor and Lavander have been dating for almost 2 years now. Parvati shifted her gaze from Lavander to Hermione."So, who's Head Boy? I hope it isn't Malfoy, then you'll have a pain in the ass when you're with him. Even though he's so hottt."
"Funny you should say that," Hermione shushed.
"Malfoy's Head Boy?!" the three of them shrieked, a mixture of lust, excitement, and anger in their eyes. She just nodded.
"Well, good luck," said Parvati. "He was my partner in double potions once, with the anti-pus ointment. And he added something to it and he "accidentally" spilling some of it on my face." She looked at them with a very spooked face. "I had pimples all over my face and it took me weeks to get over it."
"So that's why you were hiding from us," Ginny teased.
Hermione gulped. "I know, I know. I hope it was a Gryffindor. I wouldn't want to share a dormitory with a Slytherin, not especially Malfoy."
"Oh, you're sharing dormitories, I forgot about that," Ginny said.
"What an opportunity!" Lavander shrieked. "Keep us updated!"
Hermione just rolled her eyes.
"You know," Parvati started. "I heard he has The Body."
"Absolutely. So perfect," said Hermione.
"You've seen him naked?!"
"Yeah, nearly." she responded, shocked of her sudden outspokenness, causing all 3 pairs of eyes to widen. "I mean, I accidentally went in his room in the Leaky Cauldron and he was coming out of the bathroom, wearing a towel over his waist."
"Well?!" the three said in unison.
"He has the biggest biceps and the built-est 6 pack!" Hermione said not realizing that he was so into her story. "Much, much more better than Josh Hartnett's!"
For the past 3 years, a big poster of a topless Josh Hartnett (which didn't move) was displayed in the girl's dormitory and every guy's body was always compared to his body.
All four of them screamed but was shushed down by the trolley lady. "Anything of the cart, dears?" the dimpled woman asked.
"No thanks," said the 4 in unison.
"Well, I better go check on Ron and Harry," Hermione said. "See you at school."
"Ok."
Meanwhile, Draco, having a heart of stone was trying to have a "good conversation" with his friends.
"Malfoy," Blaise Zabini began.
"That bitch!" muttered Draco. "That stupid bitch!"
Pansy, who was seated between Crabbe and Goyle tried to stand up but was squeezed even harder on her seat.
"Let me up you pigs!" she hissed. "Draco," she began while fixing her hair and her short skirt. She placed her hands upon Draco's shoulders. "What's the matter, baby? Did someone hurt my Drackie?"
"Get your hands off me, Pansy," Draco hissed. But she ignored him; instead, she put her arms around Draco's neck and began to suck it, leaving purplish- red hickeys. "Pansy!" he cried.
"What?!"
But since Draco was too preoccupied being angry with Hermione, he didn't argue with Pansy.
"Who's the whore, Malfoy?" blurted Zabini.
"That mudblood, Granger."
"She dumped you didn't she?" Blaise smirked.
"I've got no interest in that mudblood, Zabini. You know that."
"Yeah! He's interested in me!" said Pansy.
"Yeah right," snorted Crabbe and Goyle.
"Oh, I didn't know pigs could talk!" cried Pansy.
"I didn't know dogs can talk, either!" said Crabbe and Goyle was laughing so hard.
"Oh, shut up, Porky."
"Like I could be shushed by a mongrel."
"You amateurs!" shouted Blaise. "Draco's problem?"
"Never mind. That mudblood's not worth my thoughts anyway," said Draco.
"But then, I heard she's the sexiest girl in the whole school," said Goyle.
"Yeah, and I saw her this morning. She's so damn pretty!" added Crabbe.
"I saw her wearing a very revealing gown, and wow! She's ho-ho-hot!" said Blaise. "I bet she has The Body underneath those robes."
"Liposuction, Guys. Haven't you heard about it?" blurted Pansy who wasn't noticed by any one of them.
"I know. She looks like that muggle actress in one of Dean Thomas' wallet pictures!" Goyle said. "Her cheekbones are so, symmetrical!"
"What do you know about symmetry, Goyle?" said Pansy. "And besides, I suppose she had a face lift."
"You're just jealous Pansy," Blaise teased. "Because she gets all the attention and you, obviously, don't."
"No I don't! And otherwise, my Drackie is still into me, right, Baby?"
"I know! She looks so fantastic!" Draco said, not minding his words, which left a shock in Pansy's pug-like face. She looked more "bulldoggier" than her usual dog-like face. "You're right Blaise, that's one amazing body under the thick clothes." He said, with eyes on the ceiling as if day dreaming (can you imagine him?!).
"You've seen her naked?!" the three of them asked him with eager faces, moving closer to Draco. Pansy, who was standing in front of them, was thrown behind them, landing on the chairs (lucky for her there were cushions!).
"Yeah, well, nearly," he answered them with delight. "She accidentally went in my room in the Leaky Cauldron and when I came out from the bathroom, I saw her lying in my bed only on her top and cyclings. She was sort of drunk and thought it was her room."
"She didn't go there without intention, Draco!" Pansy shouted. "She's just trying to seduce you! That bi— "
"Don't call her that, Parkinson!" said Draco. "For your information, she looks a million times better than you!"
They could already hear Pansy's whines. "I can't believe you're defending that two-faced slut!"
"I told you," Draco flared up. "Don't call her a slut, slut."
Draco didn't understand why she was defending Hermione. But whatever driving power he's feeling, he didn't like it.
The coming of the trolley lady broke all the commotion. "Anything of the trolley, dears?"
Pansy, who now calmed down, stood up. "I'll take 10 chocolate frogs and 3 slices of Pumpkin Cake."
"Ooohh.. food," said Crabbe, reaching his hand over the collected food.
"This is mine, Crabbe," said Pansy, who was now putting all the food on her arms. "Buy your own."
"Who's the pig now?" murmured Crabbe to Goyle, who giggled.
The rest of the trip was smooth. Hermione, Ron, and Harry slept in their compartments. Harry and Ron's heads rested on her lap, the redhead on the left and scarboy on the right. And by the time they woke up, the train was already nearing Hogsmeade.
All the first years rode on the boat accompanied by Hagrid for a long trip to the castle while the rest of them went in the carriages.
When they reached the Great Hall, the students were everywhere. Some were searching for friends and the others just attempted to hush them all up. But to their displeasure, they only became more and more intolerable.
"SILENCE!" yelled Snape. Then everybody rushed to their seats and shut their mouths.
"Now students, the First Years will be coming in at any moment now, and I expect that you won't give them a wrong impression about the students that this school creates," said Dumbledore calmly.
When the new students entered the Hall, all the students, from 2nd year to 7th year, quieted down, acting as if they did not exist.
After the sorting and the feast, it was time to announce the year's heads and new teachers.
"This year's Head Boy and Head Girl, Ms. Hermione Granger and Mr. Draco Malfoy. Please come up the table," announced Dumbledore and there was a huge round of applause.
Hermione and Draco stood up and walked through the aisle separating the two tables. A rush of exhilaration filled the two newly acclaimed victors. Students from Gryffindor and Slytherin stood up and clapped their hands. Ron and Harry, completely shocked over Malfoy's Headboyness, applauded with their jaws dropping to the ground. Lavander, Parvati, Ginny, and another 6th year climbed their way up the table and screamed "Go Hermione's" and "Attagirl". The boys hailed Hermione, while the girls collapsed for Draco.
"Sit down everyone," said McGonagall. "Ms. Patil, Ms. Brown, Ms. Weasley, and Ms. Walkman, please get down the table this instant!"
Nobody seemed to listen. They still continued hailing them, but now, louder than ever.
"SILENCE!" Snape shouted his favorite motto. Everybody appeared to be frightened of Snape because all their cheering came to a sudden halt.
"I know you are very happy of your new Heads," said Dumbledore. "That's why I'm giving you the authority to have a party tonight, as a tribute for them."
Everyone went boisterous again, especially Gryffindor and Slytherin.
"However, there's still more," said Dumbledore. All the heads turned at his direction, eyes fixed on him. "We have a new Muggle Studies Professor."
The Great Hall stared at a tall woman with gold curls that fell freely on her shoulders. She was 5'7 tall, with eyes of green and a lady- like structure. She looked a lot like Hermione—with glasses.
"She is a Hogwarts alumna for 12 years," Dumbledore continued. "She was the Gryffindor Quidditch Captain on her 6th year; Our Hogwarts Champion for the Triwizard Tournament in 1992; The Head for the Department of Muggle Studies, year 1994; A very skilled Auror; a well-known linguist; right hand to the chief Warlock, my assistant; Member of the Mugwump International Confederation of Wizards, and the youngest wizard to receive an Order of Merlin, 2nd Class, for getting a record of two hundred seventy-nine NEWTS, and three hundred fifty-four OWLS back in school. It is a privilege to have her here. Please help me welcome, Ms. Maxine G. Florings."
Everybody in the Hall was awestricken and speechless. The girls were practically idolizing her in their minds, especially Hermione. She didn't realize that someone, even that young, could receive such astounding achievements. This was her next goal in life.
Professor Maxine gleamed while she bowed. "Thank you, Professor Dumbledore," she said as the muted Hall gave her a standing ovation. Even the Slytherins didn't care that she was from Gryffindor. She was undoubtedly adored and lionized by everyone.
"Mental that one, I'm telling you," Ron murmured.
"Ron," said Harry. "Quidditch Captain, a girl."
"What boys can do, girls can do better," said Hermione a-matter-of- factly.
"Oh, 'Mione, she's so perfect," said Parvati who was seated across them.
"I know! Order of Merlin! Would you believe that?" said Hermione, her eyes twice as big as its normal size.
"She's so well-rounded! I want to be just like her," said Lavander.
The girls were looking at their new Professor with glistening eyes. Hermione, in particular, just stared at her and thought, 'someday, I'll be just like you.' For some reasons, Maxine turned to her direction, looked at her in the eye and gave her a wink. She was startled, but at the same time, overwhelmed.
After the feast, the students were back in their dorms, talking, still about Professor Florings as their topic of discussion.
Hermione and Draco, who were asked to stay for a while to talk about certain responsibilities, stood outside Dumbledore's office. The two of them just stared at each other with menacing expressions on their faces.
"I can't believe they let us stay in one dormitory," said Draco. "If only my father knew about this, there would be a change of plans."
"Yeah right," answered Hermione. "Like I also want to live with a syphilitic person for a whole year."
"You better watch your language, mudblood," threatened Draco. "You don't know who you're talking to."
"You know, Malfoy, that mudblood thing? It's so yesterday. You need a new pick-up line 'coz I'm getting tired of it."
Draco took out his wand and attempted to stun Hermione but Maxine came bursting out the office. He just raised his eyebrow and tucked his wand back in his robes. He straightened up and tried to look presentable as Professor Florings walked slowly in front of him and gave him a nod. He nodded back.
Florings walked by Hermione and she smiled, showing her perfect set of white teeth.
"Looking forward to have you in my class, Ms. Granger," she said. "I know I could expect a lot of things from you."
"Thank you, Professor," said Hermione. "Believe me, the pleasure is all mine."
And with a final nod, Florings disappeared around the corner. Draco, who was furious about the she-noticed-the-mudblood-but-not-me encounter, looked at Hermione with a more deadly look on his face.
"Ahh.. my Head Girl and Boy," said Dumbledore, who, without a sound, managed to show up behind them. "Follow me."
They went through a narrow passage located in the West Wing of the castle, opposite the Hufflepuff common room. They walked briskly to keep up with Dumbledore's long strides. Finally, Dumbledore stopped.
"This is your new dormitory," said Dumbledore, pointing to a full- sized mirror with a gold frame. Engraved on the frame were the words: Et Idala Ni Vargasi Cot. "In order to pass through the mirror, you have to have pure thoughts."
"You mean, we have pure thoughts, Professor?" asked Hermione.
"Not necessarily, Ms. Granger. Of course, by your mere reflection, the mirror would allow you to get in, since this is your dormitory."
"So what do you mean by pure thoughts?" asked Draco.
"Pure, chaste thoughts. Thoughts that were meant to give you advantages."
"Meant to give us?" said Hermione. "What for instance?"
"Your safety, of course."
"Our safety?" said Draco, who now had an unidentified look on his face. "Are we—in danger, Professor?"
"We mustn't trust our surroundings, Mr. Malfoy. After all, this school is full of surprises. Good and bad surprises."
At this, Draco and Hermione felt nervous.
"Professor, what does that inscription mean?" asked Hermione as she pointed at the engraved letterings.
"That, you will find out when the right time comes."
The two heads were bothered. There was something going on that they didn't know. But whatever it was, they had to figure it out. Deep inside, they know there was a chance for them to ally but pride hindered this possibility.
"If there are no questions asked, I should leave you two. Goodnight."
Hermione suddenly remembered Zack and her friends.
"Professor, my friends—"
"There's absolutely no problem with it. They could visit anytime as long as they've sworn to secrecy."
"Thank you, Professor."
Once again, Hermione and Malfoy were left alone, standing in front of their reflection. Hermione stood straight and waited for the mirror to open. Draco did the same but to his dismay, it remained closed.
"How do you open this stupid glass?!" said Draco. He held the sides of the frame and tried so hard to pull it. "Alohamora!"
"I see it didn't work," said Hermione. "Stupid git."
"You do it then, Ms. Know-it-all."
"Mobili—"
"That's not going to work, Granger!"
"Shut your piehole, Malfoy!"
Hermione looked at the golden frame and touched every part of it, hoping that it would work, just like the giggling pear of the school kitchen doors. When she reached the top, she ran her fingers through the inscriptions.
"Et Idala Ni Vargasi Cot," she murmured. Then suddenly, the mirror flew open. Showing them the dim common room. She sneered at the gobsmacked Malfoy.
"What the bloody hell did you do?" he questioned.
"Nothing."
Days sped up. Before they knew it, it was the 1st of September. After packing all her stuff—books, robes, muggle stuff, and her adorably cute fur ball, Crookshanks, she held the portkey (which was a toothpick) and stroke it gently.
She shut her eyes as everything spun around her for about 5 seconds and when she opened her eyes, she came face to face with Malfoy.
"Sod off, Malfoy," she shrugged.
"Don't be too bitchy, mudblood."
He hated being like this. Even though it's not in his nature, he simply needed to go with the Oh-I'm-a-Malfoy-I'm-an-asshole attitude.
"If you would just step away, dickweed, I may stop being bitchy," she replied, gesturing quotation marks with her fingers, emphasizing on "bitchy".
"If I only knew, you have the hots for me, mudblood," he said. 'Why did I say that? Why the fuck did I say that?!' he thought.
"Yeah," Hermione blurted out while flapping her eyelashes. "In fact, I've been waiting for 6 years to fuck you, you muscle man! Oh, and that big dick of yours, I will eat that! Alive!"
Draco always enrages every time someone turned cynical on him. He was utterly speechless. He never expected Hermione to be this... tough.
"Like I said, sod off," Hermione repeated. She was so cool about this conversation that it pissed Draco's ass off. He immediately walked through the crowd and disappeared.
'What a whorebag!' He thought. 'Nobody—even that hottie—could ever talk to me like that. I'll show her the makings of a Malfoy.' All his dream girl fantasies of Hermione vanished in his mind.
'What a dickhead!' She thought. 'No arrogant jerk—even that hottie—could ever talk to me like that. I'll show her the makings of a fully-armed muggle-born witch.' Erase the strong biceps and the 6-pack abs. To her, Malfoy's dirt.
With raging anger in her head, Hermione went inside a compartment where her girlfriends sat.
"Why the fiery face, 'Mione?" Parvati Patil asked.
"It's that dickhead, Malfoy."
"Ooohh.. boys," Lavander Brown said while sitting up straight. "Let's hear all about it."
"You guys, haven't you heard Hermione?" Ginny Weasley interrupted. "She said he's a dickhead. Which means, trouble."
"You know what I've heard?" Lavander leaned closer. "He has a great 6 inches!"
"LAVANDER!" Hermione shrieked.
"What?! I'm just telling the truth."
"You are such a gossipper!" teased Ginny.
"There's no such word, Ginny dear. But thank you, It's a pleasure to bring you the latest news." She sneered.
Even though their group is kind of insane, they felt cozy and comforted at each other's presence.
"Hey guys, I've got to tell you something," Hermione blurted out. "Guess who made Head girl."
"No doubt about it, 'Mione," said Parvati.
"Oooh! Exciting!" shrugged Lavander.
"Well, who's head boy?! I'm sure it's Harry 'cause Ron didn't," Ginny said.
"But I think it would be better if Malfoy was the Head Boy," Lavander said. "Then you could tell us how big—his you know is." She giggled. (She's a maniac)
"Oh Lavander! Get a grip! You already have Dean!" Parvati said. Dean Thomas, another Gryffindor and Lavander have been dating for almost 2 years now. Parvati shifted her gaze from Lavander to Hermione."So, who's Head Boy? I hope it isn't Malfoy, then you'll have a pain in the ass when you're with him. Even though he's so hottt."
"Funny you should say that," Hermione shushed.
"Malfoy's Head Boy?!" the three of them shrieked, a mixture of lust, excitement, and anger in their eyes. She just nodded.
"Well, good luck," said Parvati. "He was my partner in double potions once, with the anti-pus ointment. And he added something to it and he "accidentally" spilling some of it on my face." She looked at them with a very spooked face. "I had pimples all over my face and it took me weeks to get over it."
"So that's why you were hiding from us," Ginny teased.
Hermione gulped. "I know, I know. I hope it was a Gryffindor. I wouldn't want to share a dormitory with a Slytherin, not especially Malfoy."
"Oh, you're sharing dormitories, I forgot about that," Ginny said.
"What an opportunity!" Lavander shrieked. "Keep us updated!"
Hermione just rolled her eyes.
"You know," Parvati started. "I heard he has The Body."
"Absolutely. So perfect," said Hermione.
"You've seen him naked?!"
"Yeah, nearly." she responded, shocked of her sudden outspokenness, causing all 3 pairs of eyes to widen. "I mean, I accidentally went in his room in the Leaky Cauldron and he was coming out of the bathroom, wearing a towel over his waist."
"Well?!" the three said in unison.
"He has the biggest biceps and the built-est 6 pack!" Hermione said not realizing that he was so into her story. "Much, much more better than Josh Hartnett's!"
For the past 3 years, a big poster of a topless Josh Hartnett (which didn't move) was displayed in the girl's dormitory and every guy's body was always compared to his body.
All four of them screamed but was shushed down by the trolley lady. "Anything of the cart, dears?" the dimpled woman asked.
"No thanks," said the 4 in unison.
"Well, I better go check on Ron and Harry," Hermione said. "See you at school."
"Ok."
Meanwhile, Draco, having a heart of stone was trying to have a "good conversation" with his friends.
"Malfoy," Blaise Zabini began.
"That bitch!" muttered Draco. "That stupid bitch!"
Pansy, who was seated between Crabbe and Goyle tried to stand up but was squeezed even harder on her seat.
"Let me up you pigs!" she hissed. "Draco," she began while fixing her hair and her short skirt. She placed her hands upon Draco's shoulders. "What's the matter, baby? Did someone hurt my Drackie?"
"Get your hands off me, Pansy," Draco hissed. But she ignored him; instead, she put her arms around Draco's neck and began to suck it, leaving purplish- red hickeys. "Pansy!" he cried.
"What?!"
But since Draco was too preoccupied being angry with Hermione, he didn't argue with Pansy.
"Who's the whore, Malfoy?" blurted Zabini.
"That mudblood, Granger."
"She dumped you didn't she?" Blaise smirked.
"I've got no interest in that mudblood, Zabini. You know that."
"Yeah! He's interested in me!" said Pansy.
"Yeah right," snorted Crabbe and Goyle.
"Oh, I didn't know pigs could talk!" cried Pansy.
"I didn't know dogs can talk, either!" said Crabbe and Goyle was laughing so hard.
"Oh, shut up, Porky."
"Like I could be shushed by a mongrel."
"You amateurs!" shouted Blaise. "Draco's problem?"
"Never mind. That mudblood's not worth my thoughts anyway," said Draco.
"But then, I heard she's the sexiest girl in the whole school," said Goyle.
"Yeah, and I saw her this morning. She's so damn pretty!" added Crabbe.
"I saw her wearing a very revealing gown, and wow! She's ho-ho-hot!" said Blaise. "I bet she has The Body underneath those robes."
"Liposuction, Guys. Haven't you heard about it?" blurted Pansy who wasn't noticed by any one of them.
"I know. She looks like that muggle actress in one of Dean Thomas' wallet pictures!" Goyle said. "Her cheekbones are so, symmetrical!"
"What do you know about symmetry, Goyle?" said Pansy. "And besides, I suppose she had a face lift."
"You're just jealous Pansy," Blaise teased. "Because she gets all the attention and you, obviously, don't."
"No I don't! And otherwise, my Drackie is still into me, right, Baby?"
"I know! She looks so fantastic!" Draco said, not minding his words, which left a shock in Pansy's pug-like face. She looked more "bulldoggier" than her usual dog-like face. "You're right Blaise, that's one amazing body under the thick clothes." He said, with eyes on the ceiling as if day dreaming (can you imagine him?!).
"You've seen her naked?!" the three of them asked him with eager faces, moving closer to Draco. Pansy, who was standing in front of them, was thrown behind them, landing on the chairs (lucky for her there were cushions!).
"Yeah, well, nearly," he answered them with delight. "She accidentally went in my room in the Leaky Cauldron and when I came out from the bathroom, I saw her lying in my bed only on her top and cyclings. She was sort of drunk and thought it was her room."
"She didn't go there without intention, Draco!" Pansy shouted. "She's just trying to seduce you! That bi— "
"Don't call her that, Parkinson!" said Draco. "For your information, she looks a million times better than you!"
They could already hear Pansy's whines. "I can't believe you're defending that two-faced slut!"
"I told you," Draco flared up. "Don't call her a slut, slut."
Draco didn't understand why she was defending Hermione. But whatever driving power he's feeling, he didn't like it.
The coming of the trolley lady broke all the commotion. "Anything of the trolley, dears?"
Pansy, who now calmed down, stood up. "I'll take 10 chocolate frogs and 3 slices of Pumpkin Cake."
"Ooohh.. food," said Crabbe, reaching his hand over the collected food.
"This is mine, Crabbe," said Pansy, who was now putting all the food on her arms. "Buy your own."
"Who's the pig now?" murmured Crabbe to Goyle, who giggled.
The rest of the trip was smooth. Hermione, Ron, and Harry slept in their compartments. Harry and Ron's heads rested on her lap, the redhead on the left and scarboy on the right. And by the time they woke up, the train was already nearing Hogsmeade.
All the first years rode on the boat accompanied by Hagrid for a long trip to the castle while the rest of them went in the carriages.
When they reached the Great Hall, the students were everywhere. Some were searching for friends and the others just attempted to hush them all up. But to their displeasure, they only became more and more intolerable.
"SILENCE!" yelled Snape. Then everybody rushed to their seats and shut their mouths.
"Now students, the First Years will be coming in at any moment now, and I expect that you won't give them a wrong impression about the students that this school creates," said Dumbledore calmly.
When the new students entered the Hall, all the students, from 2nd year to 7th year, quieted down, acting as if they did not exist.
After the sorting and the feast, it was time to announce the year's heads and new teachers.
"This year's Head Boy and Head Girl, Ms. Hermione Granger and Mr. Draco Malfoy. Please come up the table," announced Dumbledore and there was a huge round of applause.
Hermione and Draco stood up and walked through the aisle separating the two tables. A rush of exhilaration filled the two newly acclaimed victors. Students from Gryffindor and Slytherin stood up and clapped their hands. Ron and Harry, completely shocked over Malfoy's Headboyness, applauded with their jaws dropping to the ground. Lavander, Parvati, Ginny, and another 6th year climbed their way up the table and screamed "Go Hermione's" and "Attagirl". The boys hailed Hermione, while the girls collapsed for Draco.
"Sit down everyone," said McGonagall. "Ms. Patil, Ms. Brown, Ms. Weasley, and Ms. Walkman, please get down the table this instant!"
Nobody seemed to listen. They still continued hailing them, but now, louder than ever.
"SILENCE!" Snape shouted his favorite motto. Everybody appeared to be frightened of Snape because all their cheering came to a sudden halt.
"I know you are very happy of your new Heads," said Dumbledore. "That's why I'm giving you the authority to have a party tonight, as a tribute for them."
Everyone went boisterous again, especially Gryffindor and Slytherin.
"However, there's still more," said Dumbledore. All the heads turned at his direction, eyes fixed on him. "We have a new Muggle Studies Professor."
The Great Hall stared at a tall woman with gold curls that fell freely on her shoulders. She was 5'7 tall, with eyes of green and a lady- like structure. She looked a lot like Hermione—with glasses.
"She is a Hogwarts alumna for 12 years," Dumbledore continued. "She was the Gryffindor Quidditch Captain on her 6th year; Our Hogwarts Champion for the Triwizard Tournament in 1992; The Head for the Department of Muggle Studies, year 1994; A very skilled Auror; a well-known linguist; right hand to the chief Warlock, my assistant; Member of the Mugwump International Confederation of Wizards, and the youngest wizard to receive an Order of Merlin, 2nd Class, for getting a record of two hundred seventy-nine NEWTS, and three hundred fifty-four OWLS back in school. It is a privilege to have her here. Please help me welcome, Ms. Maxine G. Florings."
Everybody in the Hall was awestricken and speechless. The girls were practically idolizing her in their minds, especially Hermione. She didn't realize that someone, even that young, could receive such astounding achievements. This was her next goal in life.
Professor Maxine gleamed while she bowed. "Thank you, Professor Dumbledore," she said as the muted Hall gave her a standing ovation. Even the Slytherins didn't care that she was from Gryffindor. She was undoubtedly adored and lionized by everyone.
"Mental that one, I'm telling you," Ron murmured.
"Ron," said Harry. "Quidditch Captain, a girl."
"What boys can do, girls can do better," said Hermione a-matter-of- factly.
"Oh, 'Mione, she's so perfect," said Parvati who was seated across them.
"I know! Order of Merlin! Would you believe that?" said Hermione, her eyes twice as big as its normal size.
"She's so well-rounded! I want to be just like her," said Lavander.
The girls were looking at their new Professor with glistening eyes. Hermione, in particular, just stared at her and thought, 'someday, I'll be just like you.' For some reasons, Maxine turned to her direction, looked at her in the eye and gave her a wink. She was startled, but at the same time, overwhelmed.
After the feast, the students were back in their dorms, talking, still about Professor Florings as their topic of discussion.
Hermione and Draco, who were asked to stay for a while to talk about certain responsibilities, stood outside Dumbledore's office. The two of them just stared at each other with menacing expressions on their faces.
"I can't believe they let us stay in one dormitory," said Draco. "If only my father knew about this, there would be a change of plans."
"Yeah right," answered Hermione. "Like I also want to live with a syphilitic person for a whole year."
"You better watch your language, mudblood," threatened Draco. "You don't know who you're talking to."
"You know, Malfoy, that mudblood thing? It's so yesterday. You need a new pick-up line 'coz I'm getting tired of it."
Draco took out his wand and attempted to stun Hermione but Maxine came bursting out the office. He just raised his eyebrow and tucked his wand back in his robes. He straightened up and tried to look presentable as Professor Florings walked slowly in front of him and gave him a nod. He nodded back.
Florings walked by Hermione and she smiled, showing her perfect set of white teeth.
"Looking forward to have you in my class, Ms. Granger," she said. "I know I could expect a lot of things from you."
"Thank you, Professor," said Hermione. "Believe me, the pleasure is all mine."
And with a final nod, Florings disappeared around the corner. Draco, who was furious about the she-noticed-the-mudblood-but-not-me encounter, looked at Hermione with a more deadly look on his face.
"Ahh.. my Head Girl and Boy," said Dumbledore, who, without a sound, managed to show up behind them. "Follow me."
They went through a narrow passage located in the West Wing of the castle, opposite the Hufflepuff common room. They walked briskly to keep up with Dumbledore's long strides. Finally, Dumbledore stopped.
"This is your new dormitory," said Dumbledore, pointing to a full- sized mirror with a gold frame. Engraved on the frame were the words: Et Idala Ni Vargasi Cot. "In order to pass through the mirror, you have to have pure thoughts."
"You mean, we have pure thoughts, Professor?" asked Hermione.
"Not necessarily, Ms. Granger. Of course, by your mere reflection, the mirror would allow you to get in, since this is your dormitory."
"So what do you mean by pure thoughts?" asked Draco.
"Pure, chaste thoughts. Thoughts that were meant to give you advantages."
"Meant to give us?" said Hermione. "What for instance?"
"Your safety, of course."
"Our safety?" said Draco, who now had an unidentified look on his face. "Are we—in danger, Professor?"
"We mustn't trust our surroundings, Mr. Malfoy. After all, this school is full of surprises. Good and bad surprises."
At this, Draco and Hermione felt nervous.
"Professor, what does that inscription mean?" asked Hermione as she pointed at the engraved letterings.
"That, you will find out when the right time comes."
The two heads were bothered. There was something going on that they didn't know. But whatever it was, they had to figure it out. Deep inside, they know there was a chance for them to ally but pride hindered this possibility.
"If there are no questions asked, I should leave you two. Goodnight."
Hermione suddenly remembered Zack and her friends.
"Professor, my friends—"
"There's absolutely no problem with it. They could visit anytime as long as they've sworn to secrecy."
"Thank you, Professor."
Once again, Hermione and Malfoy were left alone, standing in front of their reflection. Hermione stood straight and waited for the mirror to open. Draco did the same but to his dismay, it remained closed.
"How do you open this stupid glass?!" said Draco. He held the sides of the frame and tried so hard to pull it. "Alohamora!"
"I see it didn't work," said Hermione. "Stupid git."
"You do it then, Ms. Know-it-all."
"Mobili—"
"That's not going to work, Granger!"
"Shut your piehole, Malfoy!"
Hermione looked at the golden frame and touched every part of it, hoping that it would work, just like the giggling pear of the school kitchen doors. When she reached the top, she ran her fingers through the inscriptions.
"Et Idala Ni Vargasi Cot," she murmured. Then suddenly, the mirror flew open. Showing them the dim common room. She sneered at the gobsmacked Malfoy.
"What the bloody hell did you do?" he questioned.
"Nothing."