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AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thanks again for the reviews, much appreciated, and also thanks to my BETA. I decided to change the summary for my story so people could get a better idea of what the story is gonna be about. I also changed a part of the second chapter which talks of them jumping into the boats for the journey over to the castle which someone pointed out is only for first years. I'd only just read up to book two and seen the movies so that's why I didn't know LOL ^_^
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The next day at 6:00am, the atmosphere in the Great Hall was buzzing with excitement as the seventh years awaited Dumbledore. A great pile of trunks and bags lay in front of the teachers table.
Hermione sat with her friends at the Gryffindor table, discussing what the next three months were going to be like.
Draco, on the other hand, was sitting at the Slytherin table casting a healing spell on his hand as he didn't fancy going to see Madam Pomfrey. He hadn't had the chance last night seeing as he didn't return to his room where he'd left his wand (most unlike him!).
As Dumbledore entered the room along with Professor Snape and McGonagall, the room fell silent as they stood in front of the pile pf luggage.
"Good morning students. Before you leave we will have to do a quick spell to make sure you haven't packed anything which is of no need."
One by one, each and every bag and trunk was check. Dumbledore was amazed at what things the spell had retrieved from them: Play Witch being as popular with the boys as makeup cases were with the girls. Wands were taken off of each student too and placed in a wooden chest.
Once the checking was over, Dumbledore addressed them again. "I would like you all to get into your appointed groups and go to either Professor McGonagall or Professor Snape. They will cast the spell which will send you to your destination. Take care whilst your away and try to have a good time. DO NOT forget to complete the tasks as you will not be able to pass."
Hermione gathered with her group and watched the other go. When their turn came around they stood in front of McGonagall. She held her wand above them and they all closed their eyes as she began chanting.
Hermione felt as if she was falling from a great height at a fast speed, someone pulling her from side to side as she fell. When she felt solid ground under her feet she opened her eyes.
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"Is everyone OK?" Harry asked as his eyes dashed from side to side, taking in their surroundings.
They were standing in a open area, surrounded by a thick forest of trees.
"I think I'm gonna be sick!" said Neville as he ran to a near-by bush.
Hermione rolled her eyes as Draco and Pansy snickered at him, then turned round to face Harry. "So um…where's this cottage?"
"Maybe we have to find it." replied Draco as he walked towards a muddy path. "I say we try down here."
They followed the path for about ten minutes and finally came to another opening in the trees. This opening was much larger than the last one and in the centre stood an old cottage.
"Is this it?" Pansy ask disappointedly as she took in the view.
The cottage was made out of stone and the roof was thatched, a small chimney poking out from the top left hand side. Ivy was covering most of the walls face and under the large dark windows were beds of dead flowers. The muddy path led straight to the old, wooden door.
"Nothing a little handy work can't fix!" Hermione replied as she made her way up to the door. She pushed it open and walked inside, the others followed in suit behind her.
The cottage was made up of four rooms: a living room, three bedrooms, and another small room. As they stood in the living room they saw that it didn't contain much except two sofas, a bookshelf, and a small table with a letter upon it.
Hermione walked over to the table, picked up the letter and read it aloud.
Dear Students,
Welcome to the cottage you will now be spending the next three months of your lives in. As you might have already noticed, it isn't in good condition. Don't worry though, their is a purpose for this.
You see, during your time here you will all have to work together to complete several tasks. As you will not be able to use your magic some tasks will be harder than others.
As the point of this project is to help you see how difficult it would be if you were to become stranded without magic, you will have to learn to cope on your own. Therefore we shall not bee giving you any help.
If though by any chance someone is to get injured, you will find a first aid kit in the Essentials Cupboard (located in the smallest room).
Here is the list of tasks you MUST complete:
1) You must learn to find, catch, and prepare the food
2) Retrieve wood from the forest and light it in the fireplace (you will find two axes in the essentials cupboard)
3) Fetch water from the river for drinking and bathing.
4) Return the cottage to it's former state
5) LEARN TO WORK TOGETHER AS ONE!!!
I shouldn't think these tasks are too hard so enjoy yourselves and see you when your time is up.
Yours sincerely,
Professor Dumbledore
"Does he really think we could survive living like this?" asked Neville as he sat down next to Lavender on one of the sofas, dust shooting from it as he did. "These chairs aren't very comfortable!" he coughed.
Hermione gazed around the room and spotted their luggage standing in the doorway which led to the small room. "Dumbledore has confidence in us. We will survive this and pass with flying colours. Come on, how hard can it be?" she beamed as she stepped over the luggage and into the room.
"Yeah right, have you taken a look at this place?" Pansy ran her finger across a shelf on the bookcase, leaving a trail on the dusty side. She brushed the dust off with a disgusted look on her face. "This place is a dump!"
"Oh quit complaining! Is that all you ever do?" Harry shouted at her and Draco walked straight in front of him.
"Leave off Potter, she's not used to living in such…low conditions." He shot Harry a deadly look then gave him his trademark smirk. "Bet Weasley feels right at home, his is probably just like this!"
"Shut it Malfoy!"
"Stop that right now!" Hermione had just come back into the living room and placed herself down next to Neville and Lavender. "We've only just got here and your already arguing!"
"Well he started it!"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "I don't care about who started it just as long as you both shut up! OK, now we all need to decided on how we're going to run things around here. What room we're going to be in, what chores we'll be doing…stuff like that."
The room went quiet again. They looked around at each then darted up the wooden stairs, stumbling over each other as they made their way up.
"Ouch Longbottom, what where you put your big clumsy feet!"
"Sorry Pansy."
"You better be or next time I'll make you wish you hadn't just done that!"
They reached the top landing and gawked at the three wooden doors.
"Three! They gave us three stinking rooms? But theirs six of us!" Harry shouted.
"Looks like we're gonna have to share then doesn't it Potter?" Draco grabbed Pansy hand and slid through the middle door.
The remaining four stood on the landing. "Well, me and Lavender will take this one and you two can take that one." Hermione pointed at the door on the left.
"Sure you don't wanna share Hermione?" chuckled Harry as he winked at her.
"No way!" She slapped him lightly on the shoulder. "Now help us carry up these trunks before we clonk you one."
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Hermione and Lavender sat on each of the single beds in their new room, watching Harry and Neville carry up their heavy trunks. They couldn't help but snicker as they saw them rub their backs and wipe the sweat from their foreheads.
"Dame Hermione, what on earth have you packed? The entire library or something?"
"No you two are just weak." Lavender giggled along with Hermione.
"Weak?" The boys shared a glance then pounced on the girls unexpectedly. They began tickling them and the girls let out loud laughs and they tried to shove the hands away from their sides. A loud bang came from the room next door.
"Shut the hell up in there!" Draco bellowed as he headed out of his door and down to pick up their bags. "This is gonna be terrible with those gits!!"
Want me to continue?….You know what you have to do ^_^