A/N: I forgot to tell you all, if you have ANY ideas or anything for this story PLEASE tell me, 'cause I'm all slow and without help, it'd be FOREVER between updates. Which, I'm sorry, it has been, but Fanfiction only just started accepting a format that I have. I had been using my school computer before. -AntiSentient
What it all meant-Ch.2
Hermione emerged from the thestral guided carriage and stumbled. "Damn rickety old pieces of shit…." she muttered. The thestral nearest to her chuffed, almost in protest. She looked over at it, and sighed, patting the skin-and-bones flying horse on its velvety nose. 'I wish I couldn't see these, ' Hermione thought in mild discomfort, 'almost as much as I wish George weren't dead…' Hermione, during the last school year, had dated Ron's brother George, much to everyone's (especially Ron's) surprise. And, as per his new status as Hermione's one-and-only, was immediately targeted by Voldemort to be eliminated in an effort to weaken both Ron ,Hermione and the order. It worked. And as a result, they had lost both George and Tonks, and had barely escaped with their own lives.
She looked up at the castle, the place that was more a home to her than her house in Surrey. Gigantic, dark and foreboding, Hogwarts looked different with each passing year. Absently, Hermione scratched the back of her head as the tears came to her eyes. A voice came quietly from behind her, "Hermione?"
Hermione turned slowly, silently hoping that it wasn't Ron. There were too many unanswered questions between the two of them and it was far too awkward to face him - yet. At the end of her pivot, Hermione was faced with- a chest. Puzzled, she looked up and brightened immediately. "HARRY!" she squealed, and flung her arms around the dark haired boy.
Confused but gratified, Harry hugged his friend close. "How are you Hermione?" Harry asked gently, his chin on her head. "You look so different." "So do you!" Hermione exclaimed, "You're so…BIG!" And truly, big was the only way to describe it. Harry was easily 6'2", a good foot taller than Hermione, and he wasn't a scrawny little boy anymore. The scar on his forehead, once prominent and deep brown, was now reduced to a thin white line just below his hairline, barely even noticeable. But amusingly, Hermione found that his hair, never to be kept down, still stuck stubbornly out every which way. She giggled softly at this.
"What?" Harry asked, slightly put out. He ran his hand through his hair nervously, an action which Harry, even after 17 years had still not grown out of.
"Nothing, " Hermione assured, looking up at him while biting her lip. "Nothing at all."
Harry shrugged, and took Hermione's arm. "Quick, before Ron gets here, " he said, leading Hermione swiftly away.
"So, Hermione, how was your summer?" Harry asked nonchalantly.
"Oh, fine. Spent it at home with Tom and Sarah," Hermione lied, dropping the names of her sister and stepbrother. "Mum and Alan were out half the time anyway, so we pretty much had the house to ourselves. How was yours?"
Neither Harry nor Hermione had been in contact over the summer, Harry always being too busy with the order, and other things at Grimmauld place, while Hermione obviously, well, hadn't. "Well firstly, I'm not speaking to Ron, because he told me what happened to you before you started dating er….." he trailed off, not wanting to say George's name.
"George, Harry, it's ok, you can say it, " she said quietly. "Yeah, George. Before you started dating George, " he echoed. "Anyway, he was, Ron was GLOATING about it 'Mione. Bragging about hurting you…I punched him full in the nose for it too. Back in July. Before my birthday."
Hermione gasped, and stopped dead in her tracks, just before the great stone steps leading into the castle." He TOLD you?" Tears were welling up in her doe eyes even as Harry finished that last sentence. Hermione didn't know what Harry was talking about before, assuming that Ron had made up some story about stealing her from Seamus, whom she'd dated before George. She started working her mouth frantically, trying to tell Harry the truth, perhaps, or maybe just to spout off a lie. Harry, chagrined, immediately enfolded Hermione in his arms, and began murmuring his apologies.
Unbeknownst to either Hermione, who was sobbing into Harry's chest, or Harry himself, Draco Malfoy was rapidly approaching from behind. "Well, well. If it isn't Potter and his mudblood girlfriend," Malfoy berated, startling both Harry and Hermione, Hermione's tears rapidly drying with a quiet calming charm. Any traces of what had occurred on the train in Malfoy's mind were gone, as he was once again flanked by the behemoth Crabbe and Goyle, while the simpering Pansy Parkinson brought up the rear. All of whom laughed quite cruelly, and perhaps a bit dully at the overused crack, given at Malfoy's leisure over the 6 years he had known Harry and Hermione. "Now, we mustn't hinder this little romantic reunion, " Malfoy continued derisively, "So we'll just be on our way." And he and his little entourage made their way through the castle doors "Damn him," Harry said through clenched teeth. "How I just want to…." Hermione laid her hand over his arm comfortingly, and interrupted in a soothing voice with a hint of malice, " it's not worth it Harry, let's just go in to the feast." And with that Hermione began leading Harry up the steps, and into the castle. Harry gave a small snort, and followed Hermione.
Once inside the great hall, Hermione and Harry were accosted by a babbling mob consisting of Lavender Brown, Parvati Patil, Dean Thomas, and Neville Longbottom. "Hermione! How was your summer?" Lavender and Parvati squealed in unison. "We haven't seen you in FOREVER!" Hermione smiled. "It was fine guys, how was yours?" And Dean swept her up into a gigantic bear hug. " Hiya Hermione!"
"Hey Dean." she said in a strangled voice. " Can you, uh, put me down? Oxygen is becoming rather an issue." Dean bit his lip. "Sorry, " and placed her back on her feet. Harry, at this point, was carrying on a bit of a conversation with the Creevey brothers, and obviously attempting to escape, so Hermione tapped him on the shoulder, and told him "Harry, I think Neville's lost Trevor again, we need to help him find him." "Wha-ah, of course. Dennis, Colin, we're going to have to talk later." Harry told the overenthusiastic brothers, and quickly followed Hermione to the table.
During all that, it was rather obvious that both Seamus and Ron were avoiding both of them. Therefore, they walked down the opposite side of the Gryffindor table and sat at the very end, between a seventh year, Teala Moon, and a shy fourth year, Natalie McDonald. Natalie didn't talk much, and clammed up when she saw Harry approaching. Teala, however, wanted to know what inspired Hermione's new wardrobe. (she had seen her boarding the train)
Hermione, icy once more, only replied, " I felt like it," before turning back to Harry, who was animatedly holding court with a story about the quidditch cup last year, Nearly Headless Nick, and a couple of second years in rapt attention. "…and then I dove, nearly took Malfoy's head off, and snagged the snitch, inches from the ground." Harry was grinning from the memory. The second years looked awed, and Nearly Headless Nick praising him, "I say Harry, good show," Hermione smiled weakly. And opened her mouth to say something, but was cut off by the doors opening, and Professor McGonagall sweeping down the center of the hall, at least 60 terrified eleven year olds in her wake.
"Here we go," Harry whispered to Hermione.
McGonagall reached the dais on which the staff table sat, and Professor Flitwick struggled around it, lugging the age-old stool bearing the Sorting Hat. She had obviously already instructed the first years about the Sorting Hat, for she merely inclined her head to Professor Flitwick in thanks, and held out her hand, indicating the Sorting Hat, where the familiar rip at the brim opened, and the hat began its yearly song:
"In the days when I was new
My tales not often told,
By these halls four wizards dwelt
Our hearts they still do hold.
Gryffindor, the warrior
Brave, steadfast, and true
Wizened, Brilliant Ravenclaw
(her favorite color was blue)
Loving, sweetest Hufflepuff
In her you'd always find a friend
Cunning was old Slytherin
This school he would always defend
And for years these wondrous people taught
Filling young minds with much
Until Slytherin decided he'd had enough
Problems dealing with such.
The remaining three were loyal
To the place they had made their own
Yet they felt they need to bring him back
To make their school a whole
So Gryffindor and Ravenclaw,
Oh yes, Hufflepuff too,
Looked all over
Anywhere, for a clue
And in this search
To guard the school
Who did they leave behind?
Why me, my dears, and none other
I was the best that they could find
And still I sit, here before you today,
So I can take my peek
Inside your minds
And see where you will stay!"
As the hat finished its song, the customary applause thundered through the hall and at least ten of the first years visibly flinched at the tumultuous noise. "Definitely Hufflepuff," Hermione said conspiratorially to Harry, in reference to those who had flinched. In response, Harry let out a small laugh as McGonagall unfurled her scroll, and began the sorting.
"Adams, Mark," a small, dark haired boy who reminded Hermione of a young Harry made his way to the stool, and placed the Sorting Hat on his head. Falling over his eyes, the hat deliberated for almost 30 seconds before declaring Mark a Ravenclaw, eliciting immense applause from the hall, and in particular the Ravenclaw table. "Billson, Emma," the girl went to the stool, and was immediately created a Hufflepuff. "See? What did I tell you?" Hermione gestured to the tiny blond making her way towards the Hufflepuff table, because, as she had predicted, little Emma was one of the ones who had flinched. Harry smirked. And after that, the Sorting went excruciatingly slow for Hermione, who wanted nothing more than to hide in her bed and sleep for the next two days.
Finally, with the addition of nineteen new Gryffindors, (and Hermione was right about every single flincher) McGonagall called the last student.
"Yentrick, Selene," she called, and seconds later, Selene became a Slytherin, with applause from both the staff table and the table closest to the door. No one else in the room moved. Almost a minute passed in complete silence as Selene clambered down from the dais and walked down the aisle to her new housemates. At long last, Dumbledore came to the podium. "Students, ghosts, and staff, before we break bread, I must inform, or re-inform you of a few things. One, we must welcome two new teachers to our ranks. Kingsley Shacklebolt, an auror, as our newest Defense against the Dark Arts teacher, and Rhiannon Marksham in the potions department."
With that announcement, every jaw in the room dropped, followed by an applause greater than that for the Sorting Hat. "No Snape? This is going to be the best year ever!" Harry exclaimed excitedly. Hermione wasn't too sure. "There's something wrong," she said decidedly.
"…and by order of Filch, I would like to inform you all that Popping Pinwheels and anything created by Weasley's Wizard Wheezes are added to the list of forbidden items," Dumbledore continued. "And lastly, may I introduce our new Head Boy and Girl, Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger!"
'Oh great, HIM" Hermione thought disgustedly. 'What did I ever do to deserve this?'
Polite applause followed this announcement as Dumbledore asked the new heads to meet him in his office after the feast, and said, "Thank you all for listening, and welcome our newest students. Enjoy the feast. Dig in," Dumbledore finished and sat back as the plates filled themselves with food and the hall erupted with the sound of five-hundred teenage voices.
And without even taking one bite, Hermione wordlessly got up and left the hall, unable to think with that many people around. She needed to write.
What it all meant-Ch.2
Hermione emerged from the thestral guided carriage and stumbled. "Damn rickety old pieces of shit…." she muttered. The thestral nearest to her chuffed, almost in protest. She looked over at it, and sighed, patting the skin-and-bones flying horse on its velvety nose. 'I wish I couldn't see these, ' Hermione thought in mild discomfort, 'almost as much as I wish George weren't dead…' Hermione, during the last school year, had dated Ron's brother George, much to everyone's (especially Ron's) surprise. And, as per his new status as Hermione's one-and-only, was immediately targeted by Voldemort to be eliminated in an effort to weaken both Ron ,Hermione and the order. It worked. And as a result, they had lost both George and Tonks, and had barely escaped with their own lives.
She looked up at the castle, the place that was more a home to her than her house in Surrey. Gigantic, dark and foreboding, Hogwarts looked different with each passing year. Absently, Hermione scratched the back of her head as the tears came to her eyes. A voice came quietly from behind her, "Hermione?"
Hermione turned slowly, silently hoping that it wasn't Ron. There were too many unanswered questions between the two of them and it was far too awkward to face him - yet. At the end of her pivot, Hermione was faced with- a chest. Puzzled, she looked up and brightened immediately. "HARRY!" she squealed, and flung her arms around the dark haired boy.
Confused but gratified, Harry hugged his friend close. "How are you Hermione?" Harry asked gently, his chin on her head. "You look so different." "So do you!" Hermione exclaimed, "You're so…BIG!" And truly, big was the only way to describe it. Harry was easily 6'2", a good foot taller than Hermione, and he wasn't a scrawny little boy anymore. The scar on his forehead, once prominent and deep brown, was now reduced to a thin white line just below his hairline, barely even noticeable. But amusingly, Hermione found that his hair, never to be kept down, still stuck stubbornly out every which way. She giggled softly at this.
"What?" Harry asked, slightly put out. He ran his hand through his hair nervously, an action which Harry, even after 17 years had still not grown out of.
"Nothing, " Hermione assured, looking up at him while biting her lip. "Nothing at all."
Harry shrugged, and took Hermione's arm. "Quick, before Ron gets here, " he said, leading Hermione swiftly away.
"So, Hermione, how was your summer?" Harry asked nonchalantly.
"Oh, fine. Spent it at home with Tom and Sarah," Hermione lied, dropping the names of her sister and stepbrother. "Mum and Alan were out half the time anyway, so we pretty much had the house to ourselves. How was yours?"
Neither Harry nor Hermione had been in contact over the summer, Harry always being too busy with the order, and other things at Grimmauld place, while Hermione obviously, well, hadn't. "Well firstly, I'm not speaking to Ron, because he told me what happened to you before you started dating er….." he trailed off, not wanting to say George's name.
"George, Harry, it's ok, you can say it, " she said quietly. "Yeah, George. Before you started dating George, " he echoed. "Anyway, he was, Ron was GLOATING about it 'Mione. Bragging about hurting you…I punched him full in the nose for it too. Back in July. Before my birthday."
Hermione gasped, and stopped dead in her tracks, just before the great stone steps leading into the castle." He TOLD you?" Tears were welling up in her doe eyes even as Harry finished that last sentence. Hermione didn't know what Harry was talking about before, assuming that Ron had made up some story about stealing her from Seamus, whom she'd dated before George. She started working her mouth frantically, trying to tell Harry the truth, perhaps, or maybe just to spout off a lie. Harry, chagrined, immediately enfolded Hermione in his arms, and began murmuring his apologies.
Unbeknownst to either Hermione, who was sobbing into Harry's chest, or Harry himself, Draco Malfoy was rapidly approaching from behind. "Well, well. If it isn't Potter and his mudblood girlfriend," Malfoy berated, startling both Harry and Hermione, Hermione's tears rapidly drying with a quiet calming charm. Any traces of what had occurred on the train in Malfoy's mind were gone, as he was once again flanked by the behemoth Crabbe and Goyle, while the simpering Pansy Parkinson brought up the rear. All of whom laughed quite cruelly, and perhaps a bit dully at the overused crack, given at Malfoy's leisure over the 6 years he had known Harry and Hermione. "Now, we mustn't hinder this little romantic reunion, " Malfoy continued derisively, "So we'll just be on our way." And he and his little entourage made their way through the castle doors "Damn him," Harry said through clenched teeth. "How I just want to…." Hermione laid her hand over his arm comfortingly, and interrupted in a soothing voice with a hint of malice, " it's not worth it Harry, let's just go in to the feast." And with that Hermione began leading Harry up the steps, and into the castle. Harry gave a small snort, and followed Hermione.
Once inside the great hall, Hermione and Harry were accosted by a babbling mob consisting of Lavender Brown, Parvati Patil, Dean Thomas, and Neville Longbottom. "Hermione! How was your summer?" Lavender and Parvati squealed in unison. "We haven't seen you in FOREVER!" Hermione smiled. "It was fine guys, how was yours?" And Dean swept her up into a gigantic bear hug. " Hiya Hermione!"
"Hey Dean." she said in a strangled voice. " Can you, uh, put me down? Oxygen is becoming rather an issue." Dean bit his lip. "Sorry, " and placed her back on her feet. Harry, at this point, was carrying on a bit of a conversation with the Creevey brothers, and obviously attempting to escape, so Hermione tapped him on the shoulder, and told him "Harry, I think Neville's lost Trevor again, we need to help him find him." "Wha-ah, of course. Dennis, Colin, we're going to have to talk later." Harry told the overenthusiastic brothers, and quickly followed Hermione to the table.
During all that, it was rather obvious that both Seamus and Ron were avoiding both of them. Therefore, they walked down the opposite side of the Gryffindor table and sat at the very end, between a seventh year, Teala Moon, and a shy fourth year, Natalie McDonald. Natalie didn't talk much, and clammed up when she saw Harry approaching. Teala, however, wanted to know what inspired Hermione's new wardrobe. (she had seen her boarding the train)
Hermione, icy once more, only replied, " I felt like it," before turning back to Harry, who was animatedly holding court with a story about the quidditch cup last year, Nearly Headless Nick, and a couple of second years in rapt attention. "…and then I dove, nearly took Malfoy's head off, and snagged the snitch, inches from the ground." Harry was grinning from the memory. The second years looked awed, and Nearly Headless Nick praising him, "I say Harry, good show," Hermione smiled weakly. And opened her mouth to say something, but was cut off by the doors opening, and Professor McGonagall sweeping down the center of the hall, at least 60 terrified eleven year olds in her wake.
"Here we go," Harry whispered to Hermione.
McGonagall reached the dais on which the staff table sat, and Professor Flitwick struggled around it, lugging the age-old stool bearing the Sorting Hat. She had obviously already instructed the first years about the Sorting Hat, for she merely inclined her head to Professor Flitwick in thanks, and held out her hand, indicating the Sorting Hat, where the familiar rip at the brim opened, and the hat began its yearly song:
"In the days when I was new
My tales not often told,
By these halls four wizards dwelt
Our hearts they still do hold.
Gryffindor, the warrior
Brave, steadfast, and true
Wizened, Brilliant Ravenclaw
(her favorite color was blue)
Loving, sweetest Hufflepuff
In her you'd always find a friend
Cunning was old Slytherin
This school he would always defend
And for years these wondrous people taught
Filling young minds with much
Until Slytherin decided he'd had enough
Problems dealing with such.
The remaining three were loyal
To the place they had made their own
Yet they felt they need to bring him back
To make their school a whole
So Gryffindor and Ravenclaw,
Oh yes, Hufflepuff too,
Looked all over
Anywhere, for a clue
And in this search
To guard the school
Who did they leave behind?
Why me, my dears, and none other
I was the best that they could find
And still I sit, here before you today,
So I can take my peek
Inside your minds
And see where you will stay!"
As the hat finished its song, the customary applause thundered through the hall and at least ten of the first years visibly flinched at the tumultuous noise. "Definitely Hufflepuff," Hermione said conspiratorially to Harry, in reference to those who had flinched. In response, Harry let out a small laugh as McGonagall unfurled her scroll, and began the sorting.
"Adams, Mark," a small, dark haired boy who reminded Hermione of a young Harry made his way to the stool, and placed the Sorting Hat on his head. Falling over his eyes, the hat deliberated for almost 30 seconds before declaring Mark a Ravenclaw, eliciting immense applause from the hall, and in particular the Ravenclaw table. "Billson, Emma," the girl went to the stool, and was immediately created a Hufflepuff. "See? What did I tell you?" Hermione gestured to the tiny blond making her way towards the Hufflepuff table, because, as she had predicted, little Emma was one of the ones who had flinched. Harry smirked. And after that, the Sorting went excruciatingly slow for Hermione, who wanted nothing more than to hide in her bed and sleep for the next two days.
Finally, with the addition of nineteen new Gryffindors, (and Hermione was right about every single flincher) McGonagall called the last student.
"Yentrick, Selene," she called, and seconds later, Selene became a Slytherin, with applause from both the staff table and the table closest to the door. No one else in the room moved. Almost a minute passed in complete silence as Selene clambered down from the dais and walked down the aisle to her new housemates. At long last, Dumbledore came to the podium. "Students, ghosts, and staff, before we break bread, I must inform, or re-inform you of a few things. One, we must welcome two new teachers to our ranks. Kingsley Shacklebolt, an auror, as our newest Defense against the Dark Arts teacher, and Rhiannon Marksham in the potions department."
With that announcement, every jaw in the room dropped, followed by an applause greater than that for the Sorting Hat. "No Snape? This is going to be the best year ever!" Harry exclaimed excitedly. Hermione wasn't too sure. "There's something wrong," she said decidedly.
"…and by order of Filch, I would like to inform you all that Popping Pinwheels and anything created by Weasley's Wizard Wheezes are added to the list of forbidden items," Dumbledore continued. "And lastly, may I introduce our new Head Boy and Girl, Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger!"
'Oh great, HIM" Hermione thought disgustedly. 'What did I ever do to deserve this?'
Polite applause followed this announcement as Dumbledore asked the new heads to meet him in his office after the feast, and said, "Thank you all for listening, and welcome our newest students. Enjoy the feast. Dig in," Dumbledore finished and sat back as the plates filled themselves with food and the hall erupted with the sound of five-hundred teenage voices.
And without even taking one bite, Hermione wordlessly got up and left the hall, unable to think with that many people around. She needed to write.