Disclaimer: I own nothing you recognize
:: August 22nd, 2004 ::
AN: well I finally updated – with everything going on I haven't been able to write anything so yea. I was going to write this chapter yesterday but we had a thunderstorm and all and then I had plans. And school starts soon so I won't be able to post as often as I'd like because I'm going to be extremely busy at least for a while. Cuz guess what? I'm going to the high school – ugh. I'm taking 4 honors classes, volleyball, ccd, and hopefully dance. My ccd and dance are on the same night this year so ugh I have to figure something out. I need to go back a repost a couple of my chapters ...okay all of my chapters because of spelling and grammar and such. I apologize if they're screwed up – but usually I try to rush to get them posted and all. I check them and spell check but apparently that doesn't catch everything. Well okay ...
IMPORTANT!!! I had posted an authors note for the seventh chapter because I was having problems with my computer but last week I think I posted an actual seventh chapter over that. The title is 'The Train Ride' so if you haven't read that go and read it before you read this chapter.
Re-cap: Draco walks in on Hermione and Ron on the train – Blaise asks Draco is he thinks Granger's hott, they get into this whole thing – Hermione, Ron, Harry and Ginny missed the carriages up to the school – Draco, Blaise and Josh talk about Granger – Hermione, Ron, Harry and Ginny burst into the Great Hall and everyone stared at them...
::beginning of chapter::
Chapter 8 – The Feast
"Now we really must start the sorting." Dumbledore said as the doors to the Great Hall once again opened and in strode Professor McGonagall followed by the group of first years. The hall was completely silent until the sorting hat broke out in song:
"When you look at me you see a hat,
But I am so much more than that,
For your stay at Hogwarts,
Your fates rest in my hands,
So you see I have the power,
To decide where you end up.
Gryffindor for some,
Those who are brave inside,
Their chivalry they do not hide.
Ravenclaw for others,
If you're witty and smart,
But you must have it down to an art.
Or Hufflepuff could be for you,
Those who are loyal and kind,
The patient and calm you will find.
Maybe even Slytherin,
For the cunning who tend to talk smack,
With them you always need to watch your back.
In the end it comes down to,
Where you would prosper,
Which of the houses is for you,
Now that is what I am here to do."
The hall was filled with applause as the hat finished its song. Professor McGonagall stepped forward and unrolled a piece of parchment.
"When I call your name you will sit on the stool with the hat and be sorted," she said, "Ashtom, Christopher."
A little boy with messy blonde hair stepped forward and walked timidly towards the stool. Once he sat down and placed the hat on his head it was only a second before the hat called out –
"Gryffindor!"
The Gryffindor table clapped and cheered for their newly acquired member. Christopher then approached them and took a seat towards the end away from everyone.
"Brokoy, Jessica." A girl who was tall for her age sauntered forward, sat and pulled the hat over her dark brown hair.
"Slytherin!"
The Slytherins didn't cheer much seeing as they could really care less. But they did want to win the house cup and finally beat Gryffindor so they had to show some house spirit.
"Custle, Nina."
"Ravenclaw!"
Several girls made room for Nina to sit with them at the end of the table. "Dratley, Lenny" also became a Ravenclaw. Then "Dutrel, Britney" became the first Hufflepuff. In the end there were 11 Gryffindor, 9 Slytherin, 8 Ravenclaw and 10 Hufflepuff first years. As the sorting ended McGonagall vanished the hat and stool and Dumbledore rose to address everyone.
"Welcome to Hogwarts or to those or you who have been here before, welcome back. I'll tell you everything you need to know for this year at the end of dinner seeing as I know you're all probably starving as I am. So on that note, tuck in." With that he sat down and loads of food appeared. Everyone them resumed talking and catching up with old friends while piling dinner on their plates.
::change::
"Why didn't he announce who made Head Girl? He should've done that first, now I have to wait till the end of dinner to find out." Hermione exclaimed in frustration.
Ron muttered something incomprehensible as his answer and Hermione just glared at him across the table.
"Haven't I told you not to talk with food in your mouth Ron? It's just gross." Hermione said.
"'Mione you need to calm down," Harry stated, "we all know you made Head Girl. You shouldn't be worrying so much."
"But what if I don't make it? And then on top of that we have NEWTS this year and..."
"'Mione you'll be fine." Harry cut off her babbling.
"Yea 'Mione, you're going to make Head Girl and score the highest on NEWTS. You have nothing to worry about." Ginny added as she put her hand on Hermione's arm.
"But..."
"No buts," Ron said finally coming into the conversation, "Now you have to eat something."
"But I'm too nervous."
"It's all gonna work out." Ron argued while taking a little bit of everything and filling her plate. "Now I want you to eat all this."
"But Ron..."
"No buts, you're going to eat all of it."
"It's so much though."
"Yea Ron I don't think 'Mione eats as much as you do." Ginny stated. "Do you 'Mione?" she asked turning to wink at her.
"What the hell is that?!" Ron exclaimed.
"Ron what are you talking about?" Hermione questioned.
"That thing on Gin's neck, it looks almost like a...HARRY!"
"Ron, calm down I'm sure it's nothing." Hermione said. "Gin probably just had a rash or something."
"No that's definitely a hickey. I would know that."
"Like 'Mione said it's just a rash, I had a weird reaction to the lotion I used this morning." Ginny muttered not meeting Ron's gaze.
"Harry?" Ron asked turning to look at his best mate.
"What?"
"Did you give my sister a hickey?"
"Uh...now you see...that's a funny story actually..." Harry said softly.
"Did you or didn't you it's a simple question." Ron persisted getting aggravated.
"Well...well...yea...I did." He muttered.
"YOU GAVE MY SISTER A HICKEY!" Ron yelled. "HOW DARE YOU AND I THOUGHT YOU WERE MY BEST MATE. THEN YOU GO AND GIVE MY LITTLE SISTER A HICKEY. YOU DON'T EVEN COVER IT WITH A SPELL OR CHARM SO SHE DOESN'T WALK AROUND LOOKING LIKE A SLUT!"
"Now Ron, calm down." Hermione said.
"NO I WON'T CALM DOWN. IT WAS ONE THING WHEN YOUR BEST MATE AND YOUR LITTLE SISTER GO OUT BUT WHEN HE GIVES HER A GOD DAMN HICKEY AND DOESN'T EVEN COVER IT WE'RE IN A TOTALLY DIFFERENT SITUATION HERE!"
"Ron, just calm down." But her words were lost because Ron was already making his way out of the Great Hall. "I should go after him."
"Come back soon though 'Mione, dinner's almost over." Harry said.
"I will." And with that Hermione rose to exit the hall after Ron.
::change::
"What the hell was that all about?" Josh asked with his eyes following Hermione out of the hall.
"Personally, I find it hilarious." Draco managed to get out between chuckles. "Weasley got pissed because Potter gave the Weaslette a hickey. He even made a scene in front of everyone."
"It was pretty funny." Blaise admitted.
"I don't see why Hermione is even going out with him." Josh muttered.
"What, you were hoping she'd go for you - a Slytherin?" Blaise asked.
"Well...I know it's weird but yea."
"You really like her that much?"
"Hell yea. I mean she's got everything."
"You got it bad, and for a Gryffindor. You're screwed mate."
"Can we not talk about Granger?" Draco cut in.
"Why not? Is that a sensitive spot Draco?" Blaise teased.
"Fuck off."
"Now, now, no need to get angry. I was just asking a simple question."
"So who are we trying to bed this year?" Draco asked trying to change the subject.
"Fine, I'll let it go this time. And to your question, I'm not really sure yet. I've been checking out the lot of them and there's some pretty hott ones this year." Blaise said.
"They're the same ones as last year." Josh added dryly.
"But they've changed," Blaise responded and then winked, "if you know what I mean."
"You're a sick bastard." Draco drawled.
"Well I was thinking maybe someone actually difficult this year. I'm not getting the same thrills out of bedding all the sluts. They're too easy, I want a challenge." Blaise went on like he never heard what Draco said.
"I'm sure you're gonna hold out. You can't go a week without having sex. If you want a challenge you're gonna be waiting a lot longer than that." Josh pointed out.
"True, very true. But you see I can go that long without sex I just haven't chosen to in the past. So now that that's aside who should the lucky lady be?"
"Who haven't you slept with?" Josh asked.
"Yea, you've slept with almost the whole school." Draco added.
"Hey, I'm not gay. I haven't slept with the guys." Blaise defended. "And it's not my fault girls find me attractive."
"Well back to the task at hand, who haven't you slept with?"
"Actually there have been quite a few girls who have been resistant to my Slytherin charm."
"Some girls have morals." Josh pointed out.
"Ha – that's a load of bull." Blaise said.
"No it's not. Some girls just wouldn't sleep with you."
"Don't be such an ass, of course there's girls who wouldn't sleep with me now but I can be very cunning not to mention charming."
"There are girls that would be able to resist you."
"Oh really?"
"Yea."
"Well then let's make a little bet."
"What kind of bet?"
"You pick 10 girls that I haven't slept with and that would be a challenge for me. And I have to bed them all by Christmas break."
"What are the stakes?"
"Hmm...I'm not sure yet. Let's think about that and you get your list started."
"You two are so fucked up. Who makes bets like that anymore?" Draco spat.
Blaise had his mouth open to reply when the doors to the Great Hall opened and two people walked through hand in hand.
::change::
Hermione found Ron in the Entrance Hall sitting against a wall. "Didn't make it very far did you?" Ron looked up startled.
"Oh it's you, no I guess I didn't."
"Why did you do that Ron? You know how much Gin wants you to stop trying to protect her. Harry won't hurt her either, they like each other so much."
"Its just Gin's my little sister, I guess it's hard for me to admit she doesn't need me anymore."
"Oh Ron," Hermione cooed while walking over to where he sat and taking a place at his side, "she still needs you, just not in that way."
"What way?" he asked lying down with his head in Hermione's lap and she started to play with his hair.
"Well you're still her family and you always will be. But you have to let her go, she's a big girl now and she can handle herself when it comes to guys. Trust me, I've seen her in action."
"What?!"
"Not like that silly, if a guy takes advantage of her she'll let him have it. Like last year we were walking down the hall together and some guy came up and grabbed her butt. You should've seen what she did to him. I had to restrain her or she would've done something to get herself expelled."
"Really?"
"Yes Ron, Gin doesn't need your protection but she does still need you as a brother. You're still allowed to interrogate her boyfriends and watch out for her just not obsessively."
"Okay, I guess it had to happen sometime."
"Promise you won't give her a hard time anymore?"
"I promise." And with that they had a minor snogging session until Hermione realized they still had to go back to the Great Hall.
"Ron," she said pulling away, "we have to go back to dinner. They're going to announce Head Girl and everything."
"So that's more important than me." Ron laughed.
"Well...no...but..."
"I know, let's go." Ron replied helping her to her feet. They then walked back into the Great Hall hand in hand and took their places at the Gryffindor table.
::change::
"Clink, clink. Clink, clink." The sound quieted the Great Hall. Dumbledore was going to make his announcements.
"Now that everyone's finished with dinner and we have everyone present," he paused to look at Hermione and Ron, "I can make my beginning of the year speech. As always the Forbidden Forest is in fact forbidden to everyone unless you want to risk your life. Mr. Filch, the caretaker, has also reminded me again to inform you that no magic should be used between classes in the halls. Quidditch tryouts will be the second week of the term, if you wish to participate please see Madam Hooch. Now it is my pleasure to announce the prefects and heads for this year. When I call your name please stand so everyone can acknowledge who you are. Applause should be very minimal until the end."
A few shrieks and claps were then heard throughout the hall.
"Okay, well then I'll just get to it. Fifth year prefects will be...for Hufflepuff, Faith Johnson." Faith who was a shy blonde girl stood and gave a small wave before sitting back down. The hall rang with little applause but still some.
"for Ravenclaw, Evan Dret." Evan was the class clown of the fifth years so of course he stood up and gave a fake bow to all directions.
"Thank you, this...this means so much to me." He said fanning his face as if he was winning the Miss Universe pageant and crying. The hall filled with laughter more than anything else before Dumbledore finally began again and Evan took his seat.
"for Slytherin, Ray Ithel." A dark haired guy from the Slytherin table stood up and nodded curtly before taking himself out of the spotlight. For him barely anyone clapped but the ones who did only did it out of politeness, he wasn't one of the horrible Slytherins but he wasn't one of the best.
"and for Gryffindor, Kimberley Nank." A short brunette rose from her seat and gave a wide smile to everyone before relaxing again. The Gryffindors were going wild with applause and cheering. Finally they calmed down and Dumbledore continued.
"Now for your sixth year prefects...for Hufflepuff, Zach Carter." He stood for a mere second and didn't even smile or bow or anything before sitting again. No one even knew if they were to applaud or not so no one did anything.
"for Ravenclaw, Liza Santalini." Liza got up and gave a little curtsey and a smile before taking her seat. Her applause was loud and clear, she was popular in her year.
"for Slytherin, Violet Monge." She, like Liza, gave a little curtsey but instead of a smile she winked. Violet was know for being a flirt, all the guys stared at her with goo-goo eyes applauding like crazy along with whistling and catcalling.
"and for Gryffindor, Ginny Weasley." Ginny rose and started blushing horribly while trying to smile but finally just gave up and sat back down. A few people laughed but the hall was abuzz with clapping and catcalls.
"And for your seventh year prefects I've decided to elect two from each house seeing as they will be planning a few more events then usual. Some events will just be seventh year while others will be the whole school or just fifth year and up. And your seventh year prefects are...for Hufflepuff, Hannah Abbot and Justin Finch-Fletchley." The two stood and acknowledged everyone with a smile and a nod during the applause.
"for Ravenclaw, Terry Boot and Mandy Brocklehurst." They both got up gave a little bow or a curtsey before sitting again. Their applause was loud too, they were both well liked and sought after.
"for Slytherin, Blaise Zambini and Josh Yartom." Blaise and Josh rose, Blaise just gave a nod and a smirk but Josh actually smiled which not many Slytherins did. The hall was in shock but a lot of the girls were clapping so hard their hands hurt, the two guys were some of the hottest in the school.
"and for Gryffindor, Harry Potter and Ron Weasley." They stood up and both started blushing but smiled nonetheless and then sat back down seeing as they didn't really like the attention. Their applause was extreme too.
"and now for this years heads..." a few students made a drum roll, "Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy!" the hall was silent, they all thought Dumbledore had gone crazy. Pairing Hermione and Draco was not something that you did, that pair just didn't work well together. But finally Harry, Ron and Ginny started clapping and Ginny nudged Hermione to stand. The rest of Gryffindor joined in with the applause and soon the whole hall was filled. Draco had decided to stand too but only for a second.
"Now with all that over and done with, I'd like to see the prefects and heads when dinner is over. Next order of business, your timetables will be on your common room tables tomorrow morning sorted by year and then alphabetically. Classes don't start until the day after tomorrow so you're free to do whatever you please, within the rules of course. First years follow your older years to your dormitory, your head of the house will be waiting there with the password, make sure you remember it. Now I think that's all I had to say, if you have any questions ask your prefects or head of your house. You're dismissed." All the students, except the heads and prefects, stood and exited the Great Hall. Once everyone was gone Dumbledore motioned for the remaining few to move toward the front of the hall. They all got up and closed into a medium sized half circle in front of Dumbledore.
"Congratulations on your positions. But you must know that any abuse of your title will cause it to be revoked. Seventh year prefects and heads can take away necessary points but only necessary and only fifty at the most. You can also give out detentions but only for one night. The lot of you will be planning many events throughout the year so I suggest you make it work and get along. I won't tolerate you fighting all the time, you all need to set examples of inter-house relations. Now are there any questions? Ah, Miss Granger."
"Professor, what kind of events are we going to have?"
"That will come out in time, but for now let me show you all to your new quarters. Your luggage has already been placed in your rooms."
"Quarters?" Hermione choked out.
"Yes, you will all share living quarters, almost like your own house. Now follow me." The group went up to the third floor and walked a good amount of time down the hall, finally they came to a portrait of what looked like all of them sitting in a grassy meadow.
"Password?" they all asked in sync.
"New beginnings." Dumbledore said and the portrait swung open revealing a magnificent common room. The walls were striped red, green, blue and yellow for all of the houses and there were pictures of the four founders on the walls. Apparently they lead to each of the four common rooms. There was also a picture of a house elf, which lead to the kitchens. There were three different alcoves in the room. One was a kitchen with the stove, microwave, fridge and everything else they could've needed, another was a library complete with desks and everything, and last was a game room including a pool table, pin ball machines, air hockey, a TV, VCR, DVD player, CD player and various chairs to sit on. In the actual common room there was a fireplace to the right with photos on top of it of each of them. In the middle of the room there were various couches, armchairs and beanbags in all the house colors. On the far side of the room there were seven doors. From left to right they read, 5th year girls, 6th year girls, 7th year girls, heads, 7th year boys, 6th year boys, and 5th year boys. Under each heading it listed the names of people that were supposed to be in that "dorm". Each set of people, heads, girls, boys, had their own bathrooms at the top connected to each "dorm".
Dumbledore could tell they were anxious to explore so he quietly left. Once they realized they were alone they all set out to see their rooms. Each person had his or her own room though the sizes varied depending on year and position. They also had blank walls and furniture, at first no one could figure out what to do and they all went back into the common room. The only one that wasn't there was Hermione because she had figured out how to decorate her room. Finally Ginny decided to go see what she was doing and found the amazing room Hermione had designed.
It had deep maroon colored walls and mahogany furniture. Over her bed she had a shimmery gold canopy. And on her bed there were various assortments of throw pillows in maroon and gold.
"How did you do that 'Mione? Everyone else's room was blank."
"You just say a spell while picturing what you want the room to look like, I read it in a book once. It's really simple, come on I'll help you." they walked back into the common room together and Hermione taught everyone the spell who then in turn went to decorate their rooms. Finally when they were all satisfied they turned in for the night and fell into a very content sleep.
::end of chapter::
AN: well that was interesting – lol. Okay first let me say I'm sorry about the sorting hat's song – I know it wasn't all that great but I had a hard time thinking of what to write and my family kept interrupting me and – ugh. Well I'm not sure when the next chapter will be posted because I actually have to work on an English assignment, I read the book but I need to write an essay and do these journal entry things. Hopefully you'll decided to review and hopefully it will be good but I really just want you to say anything...
IMPORTANT!!! Sorry for the freaking scene changes. I always do the semi colons all the way across the page but for some reason they wouldn't work and neither would periods or anything so I'm not really sure what's going on
andii(): hey you – honestly I don't even know who's going to be the father. I'm not even sure of everything that's going to happen. Alright well I'll talk to you later...
Jessica(): I have a new reviewer – yay! Thank you for reading and reviewing. But I have to thank you more for being honest. I haven't gotten any constructive criticism yet – you were the first and I am so happy. Everyone else just says 'I like your story keep going' but you actually told me how I could improve and all that. I tried emailing you a response to your review with the email you put but it came back to me so if you have the time could you send me an email so I can respond ). And if it's not too much trouble I was wondering if you'd be interested in being my beta reader or whatever. You don't have to but I'd love it if you would. Well just email or review or whatever and I'll talk to you later. Again – thanks for reading and reviewing.
AN: well thanks for reading this chapter and I hope you click the little purple button at the bottom of the screen so you can tell me what you think...