Upon arrival back at the compartment, Hermione saw Draco reading with Crookshanks sprawled across his lap. He was absently petting the purring cat, which made her laugh at the friendship her cat seemed to have made. In the third year, she had found out what a good judgment of character her cat had towards others, such as Sirius Black and "Scabbers," or Peter Pettigrew in Animagus form.
"Well, I see you two are getting along well." Hermione stated, causing Draco to look up, only half smirking.
"Granger, is your cat trying to suffocate me or something?" Hermione couldn't believe her ears; Draco Malfoy was actually joking around.
She rummaged around in her bag and pulled out a bag of Muggle cat treats. "He's quite fond of these things. Give him one and he should leave you alone." She handed him the small silver bag. "What're you reading, anyway?"
"Just an article I found about Transfiguration, new discoveries that make it easier to become an Animagus." Draco explained.
"Wow, I didn't know you were into Transfiguration, its one of my favorite subjects, then again I like all the subjects at school!" she rambled.
"Yeah, it's really interesting," he said, folding up the article. "I'll let you borrow it sometime if you want. I think you'll find a few of the theories sound strange, but if you use some simple logic it all makes sense."
Soon, the two head students found their selves deep in conversation about the new school year, classes, and new books.
'Finally, someone that is actually capable of doing more than breathing and eating!' They both thought.
Crabbe and Goyle knocked on the door, obviously quite confused as to why their leader wasn't with them after half an hour. He left, and the remainder of the trip consisted of sitting in the heads compartment, switching and talking to friends, and switching back.
Ten minutes before reaching Hogsmeade station, Hermione went to the back of the train, Draco wanted to keep the front, and they both told all the other students that they would be arriving soon, and told the first years to leave their trunks on the train, et cetera.
At the station, they made sure all the students were off the train, and all loose animals were put into their baskets.
Harry and Ron were waiting for Hermione, and Crabbe and Goyle were waiting for Draco. "Come on, Neville's saving us a carriage." Harry said. Both groups departed, everyone but the two head students were sending glares.
The ride to Hogwarts was the same as always, varying from topics of Quidditch all the way to Herbology. Neville and Hermione, obviously, were the ones discussing Herbology as Harry and Ron looked on, disgusted at having to hear "school stuff" before the term even started!
They climbed the many stairs to the Great Hall, and took their usual seats at the Gryffindor table. Hermione looked up to see that the ceiling was enchanted dark black with many stars twinkling brightly.
Ever since she was a young child, she had always loved to look at the stars. Her father used to bring her outside and point out constellations and important stars, which she obviously memorized.
She shook herself out of thoughts of home, and brought her attention to the Sorting Ceremony. The first years looked nervous and amazed, others confident and even arrogant.
She leaned over to her right side, and whispered to Ginny, "I think this is going to be a very interesting year."
"Yeah, look at how different the first years all are. Not only that, but the atmosphere somehow feels like something strange is going to be happening." Ginny replied, and Hermione nodded her head in agreement.
As soon as Professor McGonagall had finished calling off all the new first years to be sorted and put the stool and Sorting hat aside, Professor Dumbledore stood to make his yearly announcements.
"Welcome new students, and welcome back to everyone else! As there is a whole list available of the rules, I will only point out a few: the Forbidden Forest is, as it's named, forbidden. Also, there should be no magic in the corridors. I would like to introduce to you all the Head Girl, Miss Hermione Granger of Gryffindor, and the Head Boy, Mr. Draco Malfoy of Slytherin. Now, onto more important matters… food!" He gave the hall of students a wink, and the feast began.
Dinner was full of friends catching up from what was missed over the summer, and the guys stuffing their faces, and looking quite like pigs.
"Ron, Hermione," Harry whispered during dessert. "Tonight, after everyone goes to bed, I've got something to tell you both."
"What could be so important, Harry?" Ron asked, then stuffed a spoonful of apple pie into his mouth.
Harry scratched his scar, and coughed a bit to give them a hint, without actually saying it and attracting attention.
"Oh," Ron and Hermione said and nodded.
When the plates cleared, Hermione said goodbye to everyone and headed off to the Headmaster's office for the meeting for the Heads. Behind her, she could hear Professor Dumbledore giving instructions and saying goodnight to them all.
Slightly out of breath from not having walked so much all summer, Hermione told the password, "Tootsie pops," and climbed the stairs. Draco was already leaning back in a chair by Dumbledore's desk when she opened the door, so she plopped down near him. They only had time to nod politely before Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Snape came in.
They went over their responsibilities, and were told how to find their rooms. At the end of all this Dumbledore appeared as he wanted to say something more, but Professor Snape cut him off with a look. Sighing, Professor Dumbledore wished Draco and Hermione a goodnight, as did Professor McGonagall, and a nod from Professor Snape.
"Wonder what that was all about?" Draco wondered aloud to Hermione.
"I don't know, but I'm sure that if Professor Dumbledore wants us to know, he'll tell us later." She replied. "Well, 'night."
"G'night." He said, walking towards the dungeons.
"Well, I see you two are getting along well." Hermione stated, causing Draco to look up, only half smirking.
"Granger, is your cat trying to suffocate me or something?" Hermione couldn't believe her ears; Draco Malfoy was actually joking around.
She rummaged around in her bag and pulled out a bag of Muggle cat treats. "He's quite fond of these things. Give him one and he should leave you alone." She handed him the small silver bag. "What're you reading, anyway?"
"Just an article I found about Transfiguration, new discoveries that make it easier to become an Animagus." Draco explained.
"Wow, I didn't know you were into Transfiguration, its one of my favorite subjects, then again I like all the subjects at school!" she rambled.
"Yeah, it's really interesting," he said, folding up the article. "I'll let you borrow it sometime if you want. I think you'll find a few of the theories sound strange, but if you use some simple logic it all makes sense."
Soon, the two head students found their selves deep in conversation about the new school year, classes, and new books.
'Finally, someone that is actually capable of doing more than breathing and eating!' They both thought.
Crabbe and Goyle knocked on the door, obviously quite confused as to why their leader wasn't with them after half an hour. He left, and the remainder of the trip consisted of sitting in the heads compartment, switching and talking to friends, and switching back.
Ten minutes before reaching Hogsmeade station, Hermione went to the back of the train, Draco wanted to keep the front, and they both told all the other students that they would be arriving soon, and told the first years to leave their trunks on the train, et cetera.
At the station, they made sure all the students were off the train, and all loose animals were put into their baskets.
Harry and Ron were waiting for Hermione, and Crabbe and Goyle were waiting for Draco. "Come on, Neville's saving us a carriage." Harry said. Both groups departed, everyone but the two head students were sending glares.
The ride to Hogwarts was the same as always, varying from topics of Quidditch all the way to Herbology. Neville and Hermione, obviously, were the ones discussing Herbology as Harry and Ron looked on, disgusted at having to hear "school stuff" before the term even started!
They climbed the many stairs to the Great Hall, and took their usual seats at the Gryffindor table. Hermione looked up to see that the ceiling was enchanted dark black with many stars twinkling brightly.
Ever since she was a young child, she had always loved to look at the stars. Her father used to bring her outside and point out constellations and important stars, which she obviously memorized.
She shook herself out of thoughts of home, and brought her attention to the Sorting Ceremony. The first years looked nervous and amazed, others confident and even arrogant.
She leaned over to her right side, and whispered to Ginny, "I think this is going to be a very interesting year."
"Yeah, look at how different the first years all are. Not only that, but the atmosphere somehow feels like something strange is going to be happening." Ginny replied, and Hermione nodded her head in agreement.
As soon as Professor McGonagall had finished calling off all the new first years to be sorted and put the stool and Sorting hat aside, Professor Dumbledore stood to make his yearly announcements.
"Welcome new students, and welcome back to everyone else! As there is a whole list available of the rules, I will only point out a few: the Forbidden Forest is, as it's named, forbidden. Also, there should be no magic in the corridors. I would like to introduce to you all the Head Girl, Miss Hermione Granger of Gryffindor, and the Head Boy, Mr. Draco Malfoy of Slytherin. Now, onto more important matters… food!" He gave the hall of students a wink, and the feast began.
Dinner was full of friends catching up from what was missed over the summer, and the guys stuffing their faces, and looking quite like pigs.
"Ron, Hermione," Harry whispered during dessert. "Tonight, after everyone goes to bed, I've got something to tell you both."
"What could be so important, Harry?" Ron asked, then stuffed a spoonful of apple pie into his mouth.
Harry scratched his scar, and coughed a bit to give them a hint, without actually saying it and attracting attention.
"Oh," Ron and Hermione said and nodded.
When the plates cleared, Hermione said goodbye to everyone and headed off to the Headmaster's office for the meeting for the Heads. Behind her, she could hear Professor Dumbledore giving instructions and saying goodnight to them all.
Slightly out of breath from not having walked so much all summer, Hermione told the password, "Tootsie pops," and climbed the stairs. Draco was already leaning back in a chair by Dumbledore's desk when she opened the door, so she plopped down near him. They only had time to nod politely before Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Snape came in.
They went over their responsibilities, and were told how to find their rooms. At the end of all this Dumbledore appeared as he wanted to say something more, but Professor Snape cut him off with a look. Sighing, Professor Dumbledore wished Draco and Hermione a goodnight, as did Professor McGonagall, and a nod from Professor Snape.
"Wonder what that was all about?" Draco wondered aloud to Hermione.
"I don't know, but I'm sure that if Professor Dumbledore wants us to know, he'll tell us later." She replied. "Well, 'night."
"G'night." He said, walking towards the dungeons.