Ron's head bumped against the window with the constant jolting of the
carriage that he was in. The field of grass jerked by him slowly, and the
clouds overhead stirred with anger. Ron caught a small glimpse of the calm
blue lake and the dark towers and walls of the castle. The trip from the
Hogwarts Express to the castle, via the carriages carried by creatures
known as Thestrals seemed very slow this year.
"Harry, do you reckon these Thestrals are going fast enough? You can see them can't you, why don't you prod one and make them go faster?" Ron suggested turning from the window to face his best mate who was sitting beside him.
Harry was laughing and smiling, despite his dark mood on the train, with Ginny.
"Harry?" Ron questioned.
"I can't believe you did that!" Ginny shrieked, and the two of them doubled over, laughing so hard no sound was coming from them.
"Harry!" Ron cried.
Harry clutched at his stomach, his face red from laughter. Ron felt a pang of jealous run through him. How was it that Harry could be silent with him, but have loads of fun with his kid sister? After a few moments of deep breathing Harry turned to him,
"What did you ask Ron?"
"Never mind," Ron said darkly, glancing across at Hermione who sniggered loudly, her arms folded neatly across her chest.
He let out a heavy sigh, as the carriage rounded a curve in the road and the front entrance to the castle came into view.
When the long line of carriages finally came to a stop, Ron stood to gather his trunk and owl cage. It was awkward, trying to avoid contact with Hermione, but he managed to make it out of the carriage, with all of his belongings. It was a rather chilly September first and Ron felt Hermione shiver as she stood beside him in nothing but her thin robes. He glanced at her reproachfully, but she glared at him, and took off in a huff towards the school. Harry turned and smiled weakly at Ron, as Ginny ran towards Dean Thomas and jumped into his awaiting arms. Ron groaned heavily and scolded Pigwidgeon who was fleeting around in his cage and hooting merrily.
Most of the students had already made their way inside where it was warm. In the distance Ron watched Ginny leave Dean with a kiss and head back towards their carriage to get her things. She wasn't the only one headed in their direction. Luna Lovegood, the blonde Ravenclaw and Neville Longbottom his fellow Gryffindor, were approaching from opposite directions.
"Hi," said Ginny bashfully, as she found her place between Ron and Hermione. Although she was saying it to the whole group her pale eyes rested on Harry.
"Have a good summer?" Luna Lovegood asked dreamily as she and Neville joined the group.
None of them said anything but shared a mutual smile. They'd all had horrible summers, but together they were united. They'd shared the same horrible experience, and were the only ones who understood each other. Finally Ron felt peace inside himself, his confidence returning. Harry nodded to them all, a lopsided grin filling his face. With a small sigh, he led the way into the castle.
The sorting took place quickly, bringing Gryffindor house more students. Ron chuckled as the small terrified first years found spots at the end of the table and gave their undivided attention to the Headmaster who'd risen and raised his golden goblet.
"Welcome," he said loudly, his grey eyes twinkling from behind his half- moon glasses, "To another Start of Term Feast, may this one be as good as the past!"
"I love that man!" Ron cried, as his golden plate filled instantly with mountains of food.
The Great Hall filled with cheerful clinks and clatters of forks, knives and spoons against metal, and rang with the sound of goblets clanging together.
Hermione smiled, watching the first years marvel over their food, and stare up at the ceiling that was bewitched to look like the weather outside. She was happy to notice that a few of the young girls had pulled out shiny new copies of Hogwarts a History and were reading them closely, before pointing up at the ceiling and explaining it to the others.
"You know," she said thoughtfully to Harry pausing for a sip of Pumpkin juice, "Since SPEW didn't turn out to well, and sixth year isn't supposed to be nearly as hard as the fifth, I've been thinking about starting up a studying club,"
"Oh yes Hermione, because everyone wants to join a club for more school work!" Ron said through a mouth of potatoes.
"Nobody asked you Ron!" she cried.
"I think it's a wonderful idea Hermione," Neville piped up, and blushed as he spilt his pumpkin juice.
"Scourjify," Ginny muttered, "You know Neville's right 'Mione, it really is a great idea, I for one would love to join!"
Hermione grinned broadly, and finished up her dinner with a large treacle tart.
"Well, after that wonderfully delicious dinner, a suppose a speech is in order," Dumbledore said merrily, "Do not worry, I will not keep you long. All of the first years, and many of our other students must be reminded, as they do every year that the Forbidden Forest is in fact forbidden, kindly refrain from going in there at any time. Many of you will be sad to know that Delores Umbridge is currently residing at St. Mungo's Hosptial, and is unable to return to her post as the Defense Against the Dark Art's teacher. Therefore, I have appointed Ms. Nymphadora Tonks as the new Professor. Some of you are aware that she is an Auror and works for the Ministry, however as part of her advanced training, she must have a placement in which to prove her responsibility and ability to teach others, so that she may train new Aurors when the time comes," Dumbledore surveyed the long faces at the mention of another teacher from the Ministry, as Ron, Harry, Hermione and Ginny craned their necks to catch a glimpse of Tonks, who was part of the Order.
"You have my full assurance, that Professor Tonks will not issue any educational decrees, nor will she put a stop to any club, organization, or association, including certain 'Armies' that wish to defy Ministry regulators," There was a stream of laughter that filled the hall, "The events of the past year were not under my wishes, and I do apologize for what happened. My only goal this year is not to give anyone biased opinions but to advise you all to revaluate your morals, and remind you that wherever there is evil, there will always be good. I just hope that you will all be able to find the difference between right and wrong, because any decision will affect the lives of many." The hall was extremely quiet, "Well with out further ado, you are dismissed,"
The silent hall filled with the sound of chatter, and swishing robes as all of the students exited and made their way to their House common rooms.
"First years!" called Ron, "Come on you midgets I'll show you to our common room!"
Harry smiled at Ron, as he grinned standing high above the small first years, which were now all ogling over Harry.
"I'll see you in our dorm later," he called as Hermione started issuing out the password and smiling fondly at the young girls who'd been reading Hogwarts a History earlier.
By the time Ron made it to his dorm, Seamus Finnigan, Neville and Harry were already asleep. He opened his rusty trunk, which had been placed at the end of his bed, and pulled out some wool pyjamas. Once he had them on, he sank into his bed, and let out a sigh. It had taken so long, because some Ravenclaw first years had followed the Gryffindors by accident, and so Hermione and Ron had to find their way to the Ravenclaw Common Room, which neither had been too. It had been a long and awkward trip, with only the help of Peeves the Poltergeist to help them. Ron turned on his side and tried to drown out the sound of Neville snores so he could fall asleep.
When Hermione had returned to her dormitory, she was surprised to find it empty. Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown were nowhere to be seen. Hermione changed into a nightdress quickly and pulled back her long hair before climbing into bed, resting cozily under her quilts. She folded her pillow beneath her, but couldn't fall asleep as she thought about how Viktor had yet to reply to her letter. Maybe she ought to write him another to make sure he'd gotten the first one. She hoped he was all right. She closed her eyes quickly as she heard to giggling girls approach her dorm.
"Well I didn't have a good of a summer as you or Padma did," Lavender said luminously, "But I did however meet up with that boy down the street."
"He is a wizard isn't he?" Parvati cooed, as she made her way to her glittery pink trunk.
"Oh yes, but he goes to Durmstrang," Lavender replied pulling her robes off.
"Durmstrang?" Parvati asked, "Isn't that far?"
"I suppose, but his parents make him, he says he hates it," Lavender explained.
"Hmm...what's his name again?" Parvati asked pulling on a sheer night gown.
"Steven Avery," Lavender said rather proudly, "His father works for the Ministry. Anyway he is absolutely, positively the most gorgeous guy around. And this morning before I left for Kings Cross, he kissed me!"
"Ooo, what was it like?" Parvati squealed climbing into bed.
"Oh it was soo perfect Parvati, honestly, I think I love him,"
Hermione resisted the urge to snort, for then the other two would know she was awake.
"He told me to wait until next summer; he said he'll wait for me!" Lavender gushed.
"Hmm, well sounds like everyone had an awesome summer!" Parvati said, "Everyone got hooked up with somebody anyway,"
"Do you think Hermione had a good summer?" Lavender asked.
"Please, like anyone would kiss Hermione Granger!" Parvati cried.
"Well, I heard Ginny Weasley telling some blonde girl that Hermione has a boyfriend and was staying at the Weasley place,"
"You don't think it's..." Parvati was lost for words.
"I've always seen Hermione with Ron!" Lavender grinned.
"Well you better hope it isn't Ron, because ever since he made that save last term my sister has been going crazy over him!" Parvati said matter-of- factly, "And nobody gets in the way of what my sister wants."
There was a pause of silence,
"Well goodnight Parvati," Lavander whispered with a yawn.
Hermione had a hard time concealing her laughter. Her with Ron! Ha! If only the girls knew who she was really with? Wouldn't Padma curl with envy? Hermione smiled to herself, and rolled her eyes before drifting off to sleep.
"Harry, do you reckon these Thestrals are going fast enough? You can see them can't you, why don't you prod one and make them go faster?" Ron suggested turning from the window to face his best mate who was sitting beside him.
Harry was laughing and smiling, despite his dark mood on the train, with Ginny.
"Harry?" Ron questioned.
"I can't believe you did that!" Ginny shrieked, and the two of them doubled over, laughing so hard no sound was coming from them.
"Harry!" Ron cried.
Harry clutched at his stomach, his face red from laughter. Ron felt a pang of jealous run through him. How was it that Harry could be silent with him, but have loads of fun with his kid sister? After a few moments of deep breathing Harry turned to him,
"What did you ask Ron?"
"Never mind," Ron said darkly, glancing across at Hermione who sniggered loudly, her arms folded neatly across her chest.
He let out a heavy sigh, as the carriage rounded a curve in the road and the front entrance to the castle came into view.
When the long line of carriages finally came to a stop, Ron stood to gather his trunk and owl cage. It was awkward, trying to avoid contact with Hermione, but he managed to make it out of the carriage, with all of his belongings. It was a rather chilly September first and Ron felt Hermione shiver as she stood beside him in nothing but her thin robes. He glanced at her reproachfully, but she glared at him, and took off in a huff towards the school. Harry turned and smiled weakly at Ron, as Ginny ran towards Dean Thomas and jumped into his awaiting arms. Ron groaned heavily and scolded Pigwidgeon who was fleeting around in his cage and hooting merrily.
Most of the students had already made their way inside where it was warm. In the distance Ron watched Ginny leave Dean with a kiss and head back towards their carriage to get her things. She wasn't the only one headed in their direction. Luna Lovegood, the blonde Ravenclaw and Neville Longbottom his fellow Gryffindor, were approaching from opposite directions.
"Hi," said Ginny bashfully, as she found her place between Ron and Hermione. Although she was saying it to the whole group her pale eyes rested on Harry.
"Have a good summer?" Luna Lovegood asked dreamily as she and Neville joined the group.
None of them said anything but shared a mutual smile. They'd all had horrible summers, but together they were united. They'd shared the same horrible experience, and were the only ones who understood each other. Finally Ron felt peace inside himself, his confidence returning. Harry nodded to them all, a lopsided grin filling his face. With a small sigh, he led the way into the castle.
The sorting took place quickly, bringing Gryffindor house more students. Ron chuckled as the small terrified first years found spots at the end of the table and gave their undivided attention to the Headmaster who'd risen and raised his golden goblet.
"Welcome," he said loudly, his grey eyes twinkling from behind his half- moon glasses, "To another Start of Term Feast, may this one be as good as the past!"
"I love that man!" Ron cried, as his golden plate filled instantly with mountains of food.
The Great Hall filled with cheerful clinks and clatters of forks, knives and spoons against metal, and rang with the sound of goblets clanging together.
Hermione smiled, watching the first years marvel over their food, and stare up at the ceiling that was bewitched to look like the weather outside. She was happy to notice that a few of the young girls had pulled out shiny new copies of Hogwarts a History and were reading them closely, before pointing up at the ceiling and explaining it to the others.
"You know," she said thoughtfully to Harry pausing for a sip of Pumpkin juice, "Since SPEW didn't turn out to well, and sixth year isn't supposed to be nearly as hard as the fifth, I've been thinking about starting up a studying club,"
"Oh yes Hermione, because everyone wants to join a club for more school work!" Ron said through a mouth of potatoes.
"Nobody asked you Ron!" she cried.
"I think it's a wonderful idea Hermione," Neville piped up, and blushed as he spilt his pumpkin juice.
"Scourjify," Ginny muttered, "You know Neville's right 'Mione, it really is a great idea, I for one would love to join!"
Hermione grinned broadly, and finished up her dinner with a large treacle tart.
"Well, after that wonderfully delicious dinner, a suppose a speech is in order," Dumbledore said merrily, "Do not worry, I will not keep you long. All of the first years, and many of our other students must be reminded, as they do every year that the Forbidden Forest is in fact forbidden, kindly refrain from going in there at any time. Many of you will be sad to know that Delores Umbridge is currently residing at St. Mungo's Hosptial, and is unable to return to her post as the Defense Against the Dark Art's teacher. Therefore, I have appointed Ms. Nymphadora Tonks as the new Professor. Some of you are aware that she is an Auror and works for the Ministry, however as part of her advanced training, she must have a placement in which to prove her responsibility and ability to teach others, so that she may train new Aurors when the time comes," Dumbledore surveyed the long faces at the mention of another teacher from the Ministry, as Ron, Harry, Hermione and Ginny craned their necks to catch a glimpse of Tonks, who was part of the Order.
"You have my full assurance, that Professor Tonks will not issue any educational decrees, nor will she put a stop to any club, organization, or association, including certain 'Armies' that wish to defy Ministry regulators," There was a stream of laughter that filled the hall, "The events of the past year were not under my wishes, and I do apologize for what happened. My only goal this year is not to give anyone biased opinions but to advise you all to revaluate your morals, and remind you that wherever there is evil, there will always be good. I just hope that you will all be able to find the difference between right and wrong, because any decision will affect the lives of many." The hall was extremely quiet, "Well with out further ado, you are dismissed,"
The silent hall filled with the sound of chatter, and swishing robes as all of the students exited and made their way to their House common rooms.
"First years!" called Ron, "Come on you midgets I'll show you to our common room!"
Harry smiled at Ron, as he grinned standing high above the small first years, which were now all ogling over Harry.
"I'll see you in our dorm later," he called as Hermione started issuing out the password and smiling fondly at the young girls who'd been reading Hogwarts a History earlier.
By the time Ron made it to his dorm, Seamus Finnigan, Neville and Harry were already asleep. He opened his rusty trunk, which had been placed at the end of his bed, and pulled out some wool pyjamas. Once he had them on, he sank into his bed, and let out a sigh. It had taken so long, because some Ravenclaw first years had followed the Gryffindors by accident, and so Hermione and Ron had to find their way to the Ravenclaw Common Room, which neither had been too. It had been a long and awkward trip, with only the help of Peeves the Poltergeist to help them. Ron turned on his side and tried to drown out the sound of Neville snores so he could fall asleep.
When Hermione had returned to her dormitory, she was surprised to find it empty. Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown were nowhere to be seen. Hermione changed into a nightdress quickly and pulled back her long hair before climbing into bed, resting cozily under her quilts. She folded her pillow beneath her, but couldn't fall asleep as she thought about how Viktor had yet to reply to her letter. Maybe she ought to write him another to make sure he'd gotten the first one. She hoped he was all right. She closed her eyes quickly as she heard to giggling girls approach her dorm.
"Well I didn't have a good of a summer as you or Padma did," Lavender said luminously, "But I did however meet up with that boy down the street."
"He is a wizard isn't he?" Parvati cooed, as she made her way to her glittery pink trunk.
"Oh yes, but he goes to Durmstrang," Lavender replied pulling her robes off.
"Durmstrang?" Parvati asked, "Isn't that far?"
"I suppose, but his parents make him, he says he hates it," Lavender explained.
"Hmm...what's his name again?" Parvati asked pulling on a sheer night gown.
"Steven Avery," Lavender said rather proudly, "His father works for the Ministry. Anyway he is absolutely, positively the most gorgeous guy around. And this morning before I left for Kings Cross, he kissed me!"
"Ooo, what was it like?" Parvati squealed climbing into bed.
"Oh it was soo perfect Parvati, honestly, I think I love him,"
Hermione resisted the urge to snort, for then the other two would know she was awake.
"He told me to wait until next summer; he said he'll wait for me!" Lavender gushed.
"Hmm, well sounds like everyone had an awesome summer!" Parvati said, "Everyone got hooked up with somebody anyway,"
"Do you think Hermione had a good summer?" Lavender asked.
"Please, like anyone would kiss Hermione Granger!" Parvati cried.
"Well, I heard Ginny Weasley telling some blonde girl that Hermione has a boyfriend and was staying at the Weasley place,"
"You don't think it's..." Parvati was lost for words.
"I've always seen Hermione with Ron!" Lavender grinned.
"Well you better hope it isn't Ron, because ever since he made that save last term my sister has been going crazy over him!" Parvati said matter-of- factly, "And nobody gets in the way of what my sister wants."
There was a pause of silence,
"Well goodnight Parvati," Lavander whispered with a yawn.
Hermione had a hard time concealing her laughter. Her with Ron! Ha! If only the girls knew who she was really with? Wouldn't Padma curl with envy? Hermione smiled to herself, and rolled her eyes before drifting off to sleep.