~*The Passion of a Dragon*~

By: xKatx

Author's Notes: When I put the "Characters You Will Meet In This Chapter," it's the new characters that you haven't met yet. I'm not about to put Hermione and her crowd and Malfoy and his crowd under each and every one; can we say boring and long?!
Disclaimer: I don't own HP stuff—I'd be in the mountains right now if I did—I own everything you don't recognize.

Characters You Will Meet In This Chapter:
Professor Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress, Head of Gryffindor House

Blaise Isaac Zabini, best friend of Draco Malfoy

Mikail Niko Winslow, best friend of Draco Malfoy

Ivan Itzio Braizen, best friend of Draco Malfoy

Devin David Steele, best friend of Draco Malfoy

Professor Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts

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"Ah, Miss Granger, so nice to see you again," Professor McGonagall greeted the Head Girl as she entered the compartment, "You look lovely!"
        "Thank you, Professor. I decided it was time for a change," Hermione admitted as she smiled at the older woman.

        "Well, it is your last year," Professor McGonagall conceded, "Have you seen our Head Boy anywhere?"

        "Who is it, Professor?" Hermione questioned. Before Professor McGonagall could reply, however, the compartment door slid open.

        "Mr. Malfoy, nice of you to join us," Professor McGonagall greeted him a little more stiffly than she had her own House student.

He nodded his aquiesce as he sat on the opposite side of the bench, throwing a wary look in Hermione's direction. She looked so beautiful in his eyes; so beautiful, dark, and untouchable. Part of him wanted to pursue her simply for the enjoyment of conquering her will and proving himself the strong power, but the other remembered his parents wished for him to spend his time with Pansy. Why, he would never understand.

Hermione didn't pay much attention to anything Professor McGonagall said. She was twirling a strand of her hair between her fingers, leaned back against the bench, her legs crossed. She stole a quick glance at him as Professor McGonagall informed them that their dormitory password was Infinigus.

He was so handsome and forbidden. The last thing that would ever happen would be them dating. After all--he was the man who'd nearly killed her the year before. He was an untouchable force; something she could never have.

        It's not like I want him, she reprimanded herself, we are talking about Malfoy here.

But somehow she couldn't quite convince herself that what she was saying was true.

Professor McGonagall dismissed the two, and they left her compartment in silence. Considering they'd had a row before they'd entered her compartment, neither was much interested in tormenting the other at the moment. There would be plenty of time to do that once they got to school and found themselves living around each other twenty-four hours a day, every day.

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        "You have to share a dorm with Malfoy!?" Harry, Ron, Lavender, Seamus, Parvati, and Ginny exclaimed when they heard about Hermione's predicament.

She nodded miserably.

        "That's is so against everything good and right in this world!" Ron insisted. She smiled and shrugged.

        "There's nothing I can do about it," she concluded.

        "I'm sure there is too," Harry objected, "Talk to McGonagall--I'm sure she can figure something out."

        "Nah, Harry, she only does that for you," Seamus said, and Harry threw a folded up cloak at him.

        "That's mature," Seamus muttered as he fixed his hair.

        "Seriously, 'Mione, think about it," Harry said.

She shook her head, "He's Head Boy, what are they going to do?"

This was one questioned that seemed to stump everyone in the compartment.

        "It's only one year," she insisted, "I can handle it you guys."

        "The way you handled it when you slapped Malfoy?"

        "The way you handled it when he was turned into a ferret?"

        "The way you handled it last year?"

Hermione remained silent, knowing they were right. She remembered hers and Malfoy's confrontation, but decided not to mention it. It would only add fuel to the fire.

        "I'm serious you guys... it's different now."

        "Why, because you almost killed each other last year?" Harry asked.

She paused, but nodded, "Yeah. I think that had something to do with it."

        "Did he say anything to you when you two went to McGonagall's compartment?" Ron questioned, looking at her.

She sighed and crossed her legs, "No. He didn't say anything at all. Just ignored me."

        "Well, if that's all he does all year, then you won't have any problem handling it," Ginny commented.

        "You know," Lavender said, "He's become awful good-looking."

The boys groaned animatedly.

        "Please, if you're going to compliment anyone else, let us know first-"

        "-Especially if it's Malfoy-"

        "-We don't mind when you talk about us-"

        "Just not Malfoy," they all said in unison.

The group dissolved into fits of laughter as the girls left to change into their school uniforms.

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        "So, be completely honest," Ginny insisted, "Is he any better looking?"

Hermione turned around, tucking her white, long-sleeve, button-up, collared blouse into her gold, red, and black plaid skirt, "Not considering the fact that it's Malfoy? He's gorgeous."

        "Really?" Lavender squealed as she pulled on her black, knee-high socks, "I had a feeling he was going to grow into a very handsome man."

        "Sure you did," Parvati replied, adjusting her red, gold, and black plaid tie, "The way you thought Neville was going to grow up to be handsome."

Ginny laughed and Hermione shook her head as she too pulled up her knee-high black socks, "Neville's not all bad," Lavender commented as she pulled on her black shoes.

Parvati wrinkled her nose as she fluffed her hair in the mirror on the wall of the train, "Not my first choice."

        "No need to go further," Hermione said, pulling on her shoes, "We already know who you have as first choice."

Parvati turned around, one hand on her hip, "And who is that?"

        "Seamus," the three girls said in unison.

Parvati blushed and they all started laughing.

Hermione was adjusting her mid-thigh hitting skirt when Ginny said, "Oh, but I feel guilty, 'Mione. You're the only one who's not interested in anyone."

        "Hell, looking like that every guy's gonna be interested in her," Parvati observed as she tucked in her shirt.

        "Not true," Lavender said, "The taken guys shouldn't be," she looked up as she grabbed her tie and put it around her neck.

        "I don't know," Hermione said, "I've got an idea in my mind of what kind of guy I want. There may not be one like that at Hogwarts, but how am I to know that?"

        "You'll just have to wait and see," Ginny said as the girls finished and returned to the compartment, allowing the boys to leave and change.

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        "So you and Ginny, huh?" Seamus questioned as the boys pulled on their uniforms.

Harry nodded as he tucked in his white button-up, long-sleeved, collared men's dress shirt, "Yeah. Almost three months."

        "Never would have guessed," Seamus said as he tucked his shirt in and buttoned his black pants, "How'd you take it, Ron?"

Ron shrugged as he fixed his black, red, and gold plaid tie, "It's Harry and Ginny, man--he knows if he hurts her I'll kill him."

        "That was duely noted," Harry agreed as he pulled his tie over his head and began to fix it.

        "What about you and Lavender?" Seamus asked as he pulled his tie over his head.

Ron's ears went pink, and his cheeks flushed scarlet, "What about us?"

        "Is there an 'us'?"

        "No."

Harry looked at his red-haired friend, "You want there to be though--you can't deny it."

        "Who's denying it?" Ron asked, pulling on his black jacket with the Gryffindor emblem on the left breast pocket.

        "But you do want something, don't you?" Seamus pressed as he finished fixing his tie.

        "Hey, what about you and Parvati?" Ron questioned, "Stop asking questions and answer some for a moment."

        "What about it?"

        "Is there anything?"

        "Not at the moment, but I won't deny I'm interested."

Harry cocked an eyebrow, "In bossy Parvati? Never would have guessed it, Seamus. You were always the one to tell her to shut up."

Seamus shrugged, giving a small grin, "I'll put her in her place, she'll put me in mine. That's how it goes."

The boys finished getting dressed and moved to rejoin the girls in the compartment as the train came to a stop.

        "All seven of us are not going to fit into one carriage," Parvati noticed once they'd disembarked and spotted the horseless transportation, "We have to split up."

It was decided Ron, Hermione, Harry, and Ginny would ride in one carriage, and Parvati, her twin sister Padma, Seamus, and Lavender, would ride in the other.

        "Are you guys ready to go back?" Ginny questioned, her hand linked in Harry's as they rode up to the gates of Hogwarts.

        "Wonder what mess we'll get ourselves into this year," Ron pondered, and Hermione shook her head.

        "After last year, I don't really want another mess or adventure or anything."

There was a sober silence as they approached the school. Memories, both good and bad, were flooding back to all of them, and it didn't feel right to talk.

        "I'm ready," Ginny said confidently, smiling at the carriage's occupants.

        "I'm ready too," Harry said, giving his girlfriend an affectionate smile, as well as his friends.

        "Me three," Ron said, a smile giving way from his frown.

Hermione cast a wary look at the Forbidden Forest, before looking at her friends.

        "I think I'm ready too," she relented, a small smile gracing her lips as the carriage stopped and they got off. They quickly met up with their other friends, and stood at the base of the stairs leading into Hogwarts.

        "Last year," Lavender said with a sigh.

        "For some of you," Ginny reminded her with a smile.

The seventh years of the group stood in silence, looking up at the castle they'd called home for six long years.

        "I say we make this one count more than any of the others," Seamus said, looking at his friends.

They nodded, and filled with hope and resolve, marched up the front stairs and into another year at Hogwarts.

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Draco climbed out of the carriage, followed by his friends: Blaise Zabini, a nineteen year old seventh year with short black hair, blue eyes, a broad, muscular frame, and a height of six feet three inches. Quidditch had taken its friendly toll on Blaise's body, and it showed well. He was a bit more relaxed than Draco was, posture wise, and it made him more approachable. Following him was eighteen year old, six-foot-three, brown-haired, green-eyed Mikail Winslow, then eighteen year old, six-foot-two, dirty blonde-haired, blue-eyed Devin Steele, and finally nineteen year old, six-foot-one, black-haired, brown-eyed Ivan Braizen. All five were members of the Slytherin Quidditch Team; Draco, of course was Seeker and Team Captain, Blaise was Keeper, Devin was a Chaser, and Ivan and Mikail were the Beaters. All were massive in muscle capacity and intimidating in size and appearance; they commanded respect with their presence.

        "Welcome back," Blaise said, clapping his long-time friend on the shoulder, "Hope this year is better than last year was."

        "You and me both," Draco agreed as they made their way up the stairs and into the Entrance Hall.

The school itself was the same as it had been in every way, only this time the two groups mentioned were partially, if not all, seventh year students, and only had one more year to enjoy Hogwarts in all its splendor.

Upon entering the Great Hall, the two groups sat at their respective tables, quite coincidentally on opposite sides of the Great Hall; this year Gryffindor and Ravenclaw were on one side, and Hufflepuff and Slytherin were on the opposite side. Hermione had a feeling this was planned for a reason, but didn't voice this hunch.

        "Come on, let's get seats," Parvati said, as the group hurriedly found seven empty seats at the Gryffindor table. The tables were clad with tablecloths; the Slytherin's was green, the Gryffindor's was crimson, the Hufflepuff's was yellow, and the Ravenclaw's was blue. There were gold plates and cups and cutlery on the table, and candles floated above.

        "This place hasn't changed a bit," Ginny commented as she looked around, taking in the familiar sights.

Hermione nodded, "I've missed it a lot."
Parvati had a dark look on her face, "I don't miss the memories though."

Before they could comment on Parvati's statement, Professor McGonagall entered, followed by a long line of very small first year students. The tables, with the exception of Slytherin, watched with interest as the students gathered around the stool, and the hat broke into song.

"Through much toil and trouble, our school has overcome,

The power struggles, attacks, all we've seen and done.
Now we will move forward, learning as we go,

Old prophecies forgotten, will now be retold.

Many hundred years ago, before I came to be,

There was a battle—an imcomparable, unforseeing scene.

Two were brought together; despite all that they had known,

They joined this school together, and made it world renowned.

But this happy ending only lasts a hundred years,

Now this age-old prophecy's fulfillment once again nears.

Who will be the two, to follow in its steps?
Two seventh years of course, but who of them fits best?

Could it be a Ravenclaw, so cunning and so bright?
Or maybe a noble Gryffindor, prepared to win the fight?
Perhaps it is a Hufflepuff, who's charm is always there,

Then again, it could be Slytherin, who's regalness is uncompaired.

Two of them shall meet, deux shall become un,

Two houses joined together, until the prophecy has run.
Then it shall continue, until our final day is done."

The school clapped loudly as the hat lay still again. But the seventh years got creepy feelings from the words the hat had said. Two would become one? Of opposite houses? It could be anyone: A Gryffindor and Hufflepuff, a Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw, A Slytherin and Hufflepuff, a Gryffindor and Ravenclaw, A Ravenclaw and Slytherin, or the worst yet: A Gryffindor and Slytherin.

        "Knowing our luck," Ron said as the clapping died down, "It'll be a Gryffindor and Slytherin."

The others nodded soberly as the first seven first years were sorted: two went to Hufflepuff, one went to Ravenclaw, and four went to Slytherin.

        "At this rate, we'll only have five new Gryffindors," Harry commented.

But just as these words were out, they were proved wrong.

One after another:

"Crelson, Staci"

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"El-Sansador, Rita"

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Richardson, Tyson"

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Sagebrush, Sam"

"GRYFFINDOR!"

and

"Timberland, Maranda"

"GRYFFINDOR!"

The Gryffindor had erupted in loud cheers and applause as the five new members of the house came to the table. The seventh year Gryffindors began excitedly planning to smash the other three houses in the House Cup competition.

Finally, there was "Wilson, Jeffrey," who became the fifth Ravenclaw.

Professor McGonagall rolled the parchment up, and picked up the hat and stool.

"Did you see that?! Did you see that!? Ten new Gryffindors total!" Seamus cheered, throwing his napkin in the air.

Hermione laughed along with her friends, but they all fell quiet when Professor Dumbledore stood.

        "Welcome to the beginning of another year at Hogwarts," he began, his blue eyes twinkling from behind his half-moon spectacles, his long purple robe flowing behind him, "I know it has been difficult to return here for some of you—especially those in fifth year and up."
He paused, a sober silence falling over the Hall. They'd lost a lot of good people the previous year; teachers and students alike.

        "But I am pleased to see so many familiar faces," he grinned happily down at the students from the Teacher's Table. Many smiling faces greeted his eyes, "As most of you already know, and those who don't, we in the Wizarding World no longer live in fear. Lord Voldemort-" many people hissed in sharp breaths at the sound of his name, "Is no more. He was defeated here, at Hogwarts, last spring. Right in our own Forbidden Forest. I would like to extend a personal congratulations and thank you to every student here who helped make that happen."

Seventh, sixth, and fifth years cheered happily. They remembered their victory well, and despite the bad memories were not afraid to be happy for themselves.

        "This year will be different, however. You already heard the Sorting Hat's song, and I am here to confirm its story. There is a prophecy, and it indeed, has come time to fulfill it again. I have no idea who the two will be, but I assure you it will happen."

His speech continued, but the last line was the only one that stayed on the minds of the entire school. It was the line that would dictate everything that happened at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry that year.