(A/N: First off, I thought I ought to address the fact that next week is my
week of Finals. So, I will try as hard as I can to update next week but
please don't be upset if I can't manage it. Secondly, I thought I should
address the concern brought up in a review about how our group of heroes
could miss all those deaths. Well I don't know if any of you have
experienced death like that but you're pretty selfish and stuff. So they
kind of were in their own little worlds, unaware of pretty much anything.
So...yeah that's it. I was thinking about dividing this into two short
chapters but I thought against it, I'm trying to make my chapters longer
for you all! Hope you enjoy! Hugs, Haystack)
(A/N: Thank you all very much for the lovely reviews! They do brighten my day!)
regina-terrae: Thanks for your review! I'm trying not to make it quite as sad as its prequil but c'mon we all know that if Harry died it'd be a pretty sad universe! Lol...thanks again, hope your enjoying it!
Orchid6297: I was considering not putting the candy scene in there, since with the Ginny thing and the other people's deaths it was a pretty sad chapter but I'm glad you liked it! Thanks for reviewing!
Rinaula: You're a great reviewer do you know that? Well you are! I'm glad to hear that my chapters are quote on quote: always great! Another review that made me smile!
pyroprincess4rmeverwood: Thanks for reviewing and hope this update is fast enough for you!
Disclaimer: I couldn't think of a creative disclaimer this chapter so here it goes: I don't own Harry Potter!
CHAPTER FIVE: DARKNESS
The rest of the trip to Hogwarts was uneventful. Everyone sat in small groups whispering and those who weren't, sat quietly thinking. Hermione was astounded that she had missed so much! She, Neville, Ron, and Ginny had been too wrapped up in their own losses; they'd forgot the losses of others. To Hermione, it had seemed like the only people hurting like she was, were the other three. But that just showed how selfish she had been.
"HOGWARTS!!" The loudspeaker suddenly blared, making half the people in the compartment jump, as the gleaming scarlet train came to a stop. Following the others out the door and off the train, Hermione could barely make out the Hogwarts castle in the distance, that she had called home for most of her life, the only true home she had left.
Climbing into what everyone called the 'horseless carriages' with Ron, Neville, and Ginny, Hermione recalled the first time last year when she had first seen the 'invisible' horses. Thestrals, they were called; and only visible to those who had witnessed death. The massive horses were a shiny black color, and looked more like demons than horses. Breathing heavily through their noses and stopping their feet occasionally, the animals looked about ready to charge. But all thestrals had a hazy white glow around them making them look angelic and evil at the same time; a strange and unusual combination. Though Hermione had experienced death before fifth year she had not witnessed it...until Sirius's death that is.
No one spoke, but the silence was comfortable, a sign of how close the four were. But as she leaned further out the window to catch a better view of the ever approaching castle, Hermione remembered that this would be her last time ever riding in the carriages and that had been her last ride to school on the Hogwarts Express.
Suddenly, the carriage stopped and the group hustled out, Neville extended a hand like a real gentleman, so that Hermione and Ginny could descend from the carriage gracefully. All laughed at the scenario and like that, smiling and laughing, the remains of the greatest friendship ascended the marble stairs, through the massive oak doors and into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for the last time.
"I am not exaggerating Hermione. And I do not say that every year. I really am hungry" Ron reassured the group of reunited Gryffindors as they all shook their heads and smiled. Just as Hermione was opening her mouth to respond, she heard the familiar chime of Professor McGonagall goblet to her fork as this signaled the silence of the Great Hall (decorated with every houses' colors) for Professor Dumbledore and his yearly announcement.
"Welcome, Welcome to another year at Hogwarts" Hermione smiled at the line the Headmaster used every year. "I would like to extend another 'welcome' to the freshly sorted first years." Everyone simultaneously applauded. "Yes, yes. Welcome. I would also like to acknowledge this year's Heads." Hermione straightened up, running a finger through her hair quickly. "It is my pleasure in announcing that Miss Hermione Granger from Gryffindor will be our Head Girl as Mr. Terry Boot from Ravenclaw will be our Head Boy."
Hermione stole a glance at the Slytherin table where Draco caught her eye and winked. Disappointment filled inside her. Although she knew that Draco turned down the position of Head Boy, she had yet to know why. They would have done most everything together, including sharing a common room. Now, why would any seventeen-year-old boy, and especially above all people, Draco Malfoy, turn that down? But she pushed it to the back of her mind and concentrated on smiling to the applause that followed, and in that moment, Hermione once again felt atop the world, in control of her own destiny. And it was nice to feel that way.
After a wonderful all-you-can-eat kind of meal that one could only find at Hogwarts, everyone staggered back to their dormitories quite full and very drowsy.
Ron yawned as he sat up from the table, "That was a great meal don't you think? Best I've had in a long time."
"Of course it was the best you've had in a long time. Meals always taste better when you have to wait for them. And according to you that would have been about what...a day?" Ginny teased
"Aw come off it, what can I say? I like food." Ron said smiling sleepily
"That's an understatement" Ginny retorted.
"Well I may like food, but I like sleep more and at the moment sleep sounds very nice"
"Ron's right, we better head up," Neville said more like an order than a statement. The others nodded and followed Neville towards the Fat Lady (the portrait that guarded Gryffindor Tower) when Professor Dumbledore came up. "Miss Granger, your room is at the other end of the corridor by Gryffindor common room. Second room on the left, the password is Chocolate Frogs for now. Feel free to change it."
Nodding that she understood, Hermione said a quick good-bye to her fellow Gryffindors, excited to see what her room would look like. Fantasizing away, Hermione barely noticed that she was going the wrong way. By this time, few students were in the corridor and as nothing pierced the darkness of the night sky except for torches surrounding the hallway, Hermione started to get nervous. But as she turned the corner, saw the door, as a feeling of relief washed over her, she suddenly was grabbed from behind and shoved into an even darker room.
Too shocked to do anything Hermione just stood there as her attacker quickly shut the door. Regaining her senses, Hermione was scared. What did this person want with her? Voldemort was dead but not all of his followers were.
She spun around, wondering who had the nerve to do something like that to the Head Girl, but when she felt a pair of strong hands pull her close and capture her lips in a breathtaking kiss, she no longer wondered.
"Draco?"
(A/N: It's like Midnight right now so hope you all enjoyed this chapter. FINALLY we've gotten back to Hermione/Draco woo hoo! More to come! REVIEW!!!! Hugs Haystack)
(A/N: Thank you all very much for the lovely reviews! They do brighten my day!)
regina-terrae: Thanks for your review! I'm trying not to make it quite as sad as its prequil but c'mon we all know that if Harry died it'd be a pretty sad universe! Lol...thanks again, hope your enjoying it!
Orchid6297: I was considering not putting the candy scene in there, since with the Ginny thing and the other people's deaths it was a pretty sad chapter but I'm glad you liked it! Thanks for reviewing!
Rinaula: You're a great reviewer do you know that? Well you are! I'm glad to hear that my chapters are quote on quote: always great! Another review that made me smile!
pyroprincess4rmeverwood: Thanks for reviewing and hope this update is fast enough for you!
Disclaimer: I couldn't think of a creative disclaimer this chapter so here it goes: I don't own Harry Potter!
CHAPTER FIVE: DARKNESS
The rest of the trip to Hogwarts was uneventful. Everyone sat in small groups whispering and those who weren't, sat quietly thinking. Hermione was astounded that she had missed so much! She, Neville, Ron, and Ginny had been too wrapped up in their own losses; they'd forgot the losses of others. To Hermione, it had seemed like the only people hurting like she was, were the other three. But that just showed how selfish she had been.
"HOGWARTS!!" The loudspeaker suddenly blared, making half the people in the compartment jump, as the gleaming scarlet train came to a stop. Following the others out the door and off the train, Hermione could barely make out the Hogwarts castle in the distance, that she had called home for most of her life, the only true home she had left.
Climbing into what everyone called the 'horseless carriages' with Ron, Neville, and Ginny, Hermione recalled the first time last year when she had first seen the 'invisible' horses. Thestrals, they were called; and only visible to those who had witnessed death. The massive horses were a shiny black color, and looked more like demons than horses. Breathing heavily through their noses and stopping their feet occasionally, the animals looked about ready to charge. But all thestrals had a hazy white glow around them making them look angelic and evil at the same time; a strange and unusual combination. Though Hermione had experienced death before fifth year she had not witnessed it...until Sirius's death that is.
No one spoke, but the silence was comfortable, a sign of how close the four were. But as she leaned further out the window to catch a better view of the ever approaching castle, Hermione remembered that this would be her last time ever riding in the carriages and that had been her last ride to school on the Hogwarts Express.
Suddenly, the carriage stopped and the group hustled out, Neville extended a hand like a real gentleman, so that Hermione and Ginny could descend from the carriage gracefully. All laughed at the scenario and like that, smiling and laughing, the remains of the greatest friendship ascended the marble stairs, through the massive oak doors and into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for the last time.
"I am not exaggerating Hermione. And I do not say that every year. I really am hungry" Ron reassured the group of reunited Gryffindors as they all shook their heads and smiled. Just as Hermione was opening her mouth to respond, she heard the familiar chime of Professor McGonagall goblet to her fork as this signaled the silence of the Great Hall (decorated with every houses' colors) for Professor Dumbledore and his yearly announcement.
"Welcome, Welcome to another year at Hogwarts" Hermione smiled at the line the Headmaster used every year. "I would like to extend another 'welcome' to the freshly sorted first years." Everyone simultaneously applauded. "Yes, yes. Welcome. I would also like to acknowledge this year's Heads." Hermione straightened up, running a finger through her hair quickly. "It is my pleasure in announcing that Miss Hermione Granger from Gryffindor will be our Head Girl as Mr. Terry Boot from Ravenclaw will be our Head Boy."
Hermione stole a glance at the Slytherin table where Draco caught her eye and winked. Disappointment filled inside her. Although she knew that Draco turned down the position of Head Boy, she had yet to know why. They would have done most everything together, including sharing a common room. Now, why would any seventeen-year-old boy, and especially above all people, Draco Malfoy, turn that down? But she pushed it to the back of her mind and concentrated on smiling to the applause that followed, and in that moment, Hermione once again felt atop the world, in control of her own destiny. And it was nice to feel that way.
After a wonderful all-you-can-eat kind of meal that one could only find at Hogwarts, everyone staggered back to their dormitories quite full and very drowsy.
Ron yawned as he sat up from the table, "That was a great meal don't you think? Best I've had in a long time."
"Of course it was the best you've had in a long time. Meals always taste better when you have to wait for them. And according to you that would have been about what...a day?" Ginny teased
"Aw come off it, what can I say? I like food." Ron said smiling sleepily
"That's an understatement" Ginny retorted.
"Well I may like food, but I like sleep more and at the moment sleep sounds very nice"
"Ron's right, we better head up," Neville said more like an order than a statement. The others nodded and followed Neville towards the Fat Lady (the portrait that guarded Gryffindor Tower) when Professor Dumbledore came up. "Miss Granger, your room is at the other end of the corridor by Gryffindor common room. Second room on the left, the password is Chocolate Frogs for now. Feel free to change it."
Nodding that she understood, Hermione said a quick good-bye to her fellow Gryffindors, excited to see what her room would look like. Fantasizing away, Hermione barely noticed that she was going the wrong way. By this time, few students were in the corridor and as nothing pierced the darkness of the night sky except for torches surrounding the hallway, Hermione started to get nervous. But as she turned the corner, saw the door, as a feeling of relief washed over her, she suddenly was grabbed from behind and shoved into an even darker room.
Too shocked to do anything Hermione just stood there as her attacker quickly shut the door. Regaining her senses, Hermione was scared. What did this person want with her? Voldemort was dead but not all of his followers were.
She spun around, wondering who had the nerve to do something like that to the Head Girl, but when she felt a pair of strong hands pull her close and capture her lips in a breathtaking kiss, she no longer wondered.
"Draco?"
(A/N: It's like Midnight right now so hope you all enjoyed this chapter. FINALLY we've gotten back to Hermione/Draco woo hoo! More to come! REVIEW!!!! Hugs Haystack)