DISCLAIMER: I wish I owned Ron Weasley...purrr...what a hottie!!
~*~Chapter Two: New Relationships...Or Not~*~
As the three Gryffindors walked through the doors into the Great Hall, each one had different thoughts going through their minds. Harry was desperately trying to figure out how to play cupid for his two best friends. He had seen how they reacted to one another's touch, and yet they still denied their feelings. He also wondered whether he would pursue a relationship of his own this year. With the threat of Voldemort gone, he could have a girlfriend to call his own without fear of her being kidnapped in order to get to him. Ron was currently floating somewhere above Cloud 9. He could not believe how soft Hermione's skin had been. He prayed that he would have the opportunity to hold her in his arms again. Maybe he would have the chance to ask Hermione to go to Hogsmeade with him sometime soon...as a date. Hermione's mind was reeling. She couldn't believe how right it had felt to be in Ron's arms. Not to mention how sweet it was of him to stand up for her with Crabbe and Goyle. She shuddered at the thought of what those two could do if no one was around to protect her. Her thoughts soon drifted to the fact that this would be her last year at Hogwarts. As she looked towards the enchanted ceiling of the Great Hall, the tears came to surface. Trying to compose herself, she hastily wiped her eyes on the sleeve of her school robes.
"Alright there, 'Mione?"
"Yeah, Ron...just thinking about how this will be our last year here at Hogwarts."
"I know...it seems like just yesterday we walked into this hall as small, little first years waiting to be sorted by the sorting hat. Do you know what you want to do when you graduate?"
"I don't know...maybe go to a Wizarding University and explore my options. What about you Ron and Harry?"
Harry was brought out of his thoughts with this question. "You know...I haven't really thought about it. I had thought about becoming an Auror, but I've also toyed with the idea of becoming a professor here at Hogwarts."
"Oh, Harry!! That's wonderful!! I'm so proud of you. Those are some real admirable goals." Hermione commented. "What about you, Ron?"
"Oh---ummm---I haven't really thought about it much."
"Ron, you need to be thinking about your future."
"Well I am sorry if I wanted to have some fun instead of keeping my nose stuck in books all bloody day long."
"So what if I'm actually concerned about my future and maybe---just maybe---wanted to actually learn something here?!?!"
And before either one could retaliate, Dumbledore stood and silenced the hall for the Sorting. And so, each of the new students approached the stood at the front of the Hall and waited for the Sorting Hat to either announce 'Gryffindor!', 'Ravenclaw!', 'Slytherin!' or 'Hufflepuff!'
Then, when all the new first years were sorted, Dumbledore stood again to make announcements before the Feast began. "I would like to first of all welcome all the new first years who have just been sorted...welcome to Hogwarts! Secondly, I would like to welcome a new transfer student from Durmstrang...Miss Samantha Brooke!" And with that, a girl with brown hair and red highlights which fell to her mid back walked to the front of the hall to be sorted.
Harry looked at the new transfer student with awe. The girl was beautiful, to say the least. He idly wondered if all Durmstrang students were evil and would she be sorted into Slytherin because of it. But before he could voice his question, the Sorting Hat called out 'Gryffindor!' and the Gryffindor table broke into applause for their new student. Lucky for Harry, the only seat left was right next to him...and so he would enjoy his feast getting to know Samantha. As she walked towards her seat, he noted the frightened look on her face. 'Was Gryffindor how really that scary?'
"Hi...I'm Harry...Harry Potter."
"Oh...umm...hi. It's nice to meet you, Harry. I'm Samantha...but I guess you knew that already."
"Yes...it's a nice name."
"Thank you, Harry."
The sound of his name rolling off her tongue was purely music to Harry's ears. And he hoped that he would hear it a lot more often. He hoped that no one was appointed to show her around Hogwarts...maybe he would have the opportunity to be her guide.
Attention once again focused on Dumbledore as he announced the beginning of the Feast. "Tuck in!"
Hermione had been silent through the entire sorting. She really didn't want to deal with Ron. Things had been going so well with him on the train...she almost didn't recognize him. But now it wasn't even the first day of classes and they had already had an argument. 'Would it be like this the rest of the year?' Hermione vaguely noted the announcement of the transfer student...and even had to be poked in the side by Harry before she noticed that the food had appeared on the table.
"Are you okay, Hermione? Does this have to do with Ron?" Harry whispered in order to keep Ron from hearing. Of course Ron was so interested in the plate of food in front of him; he wouldn't have heard the Hogwarts Express roll through the Great Hall.
"No Harry...I'm fine. Just a little tired. I may skip out on the meal and head on to the dorms...I just need to sleep now."
"Oh...okay. Would you like me to escort you to the tower?"
"No...I'll be okay Harry. But thank you for the offer." And with that Hermione stood and exited the hall. Not even noticing the concerned pair of navy eyes that followed her.
Hermione headed off towards Gryffindor Tower, allowing her feel to guide her. Her mind was on her argument with Ron. 'Argh! Why did she have to be such a bookworm? Of course Ron wanted to have fun. What normal student didn't?' She approached the portrait of the Fat Lady and called out the password, "Water Lily." She sat on the couch in the common room and stared in to the fire...until she was soon fast asleep.
~*~Back in the Great Hall~*~
As the feast continued on, Dumbledore rose from his seat and slowly approached the Gryffindor table and the seat in which Hermione had just occupied.
"Mr. Weasley, pray tell where did Miss Granger run off to."
"Oh, Professor Dumbledore, Hermione was tired and headed on to Gryffindor Tower."
"Well, be sure you tell Miss Granger that she had made Head Girl and she needs to see me about her living arrangements."
"Sir, if I may be as so bold to ask, could you tell me the details of her living quarters and I will relay them on to Hermione?? She was so tired and I would hate to disturb her."
The twinkle in Dumbledore's eyes returned and he proceeded to tell Ron directions to Hermione's Head Girl rooms...along with the password 'Hidden Emotions.' And when Ron had written everything down, he headed off in the direction of Gryffindor Tower...intent on firstly apologizing to Hermione for being such a prat.
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And there's chapter two...and please remember to Read/Review. I'd like to know what you guys think of my story. Thanks! ~surfngurl~