Chapter 4

Hogwarts Arrival

The answer to that very question presented itself soon enough. As they were exiting the meeting, Draco overheard Hermione mention SPEW.

"What's SPEW?" He asked curiously from behind her. They were standing waiting for the press of prefects to exit so that they could have their turn to leave too.

"Don't eavesdrop." Hermione said, turning to him and smiling. She had gotten rid of her metal teeth, and they didn't stick out anymore. She almost looked nice. She turned back to Ron. "So anyway, Ron, I was thinking we could put up posters in the commons room-"

"Advertising SPEW?" Draco interrupted again.

"Yes, if you must know." Hermione said, not looking at him. They were moving closer to the door now, Draco followed.

"What is SPEW?" Draco asked.

"An organization. So anyway, Ron, I was thinking we could-"

"An organization to do what?" Draco asked, trying to sound curious.

"It's the Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare." Hermione snapped.

"Never heard of it." Draco said shrugging.

"That's because I started it, it's not a real organization really. Not yet at least. We try to get Elves rights, and holidays, and payment, and clothes of course, and sick leave, and pension, and maybe one day a representative in the Department for the Control of Magical Creatures. The way elves are treated is really quite awful you know." Hermione said, always enthusiastic.

Draco remembered this summer when his father spat wine at that elf, and when he himself had kicked elves, and ordered them around. He felt more than a little guilty over it now.

"Of course he knows, Hermione, you're talking to the guy who owns the second largest number of houselves in the world. Right after Hogwarts." Ron said snidely.

"How do I join this organization?" Draco asked.

"You want to?" Hermione asked, surprised.

"Yeah, It sounds great." Draco said, trying his best to sound sincere.

"Well, I don't have the stuff with me now, but for five sickles you can join and you get a badge." Hermione told him, finally turning fully to face him. Her eyes were lit up with eagerness and enthusiasm in her organization.

"Cool. Do you want me to put up posters in the Slytherin common room?" Draco asked.

"Oh, yes please." Hermione said, blushing a little. She was so flustered. Draco had to exercise great self control not to laugh. She was a lot shorter than him, and was looking up eagerly into his eyes. Draco pushed his golden locks out of his face and smiled.

"Come on Hermione, let's go." Ron said, tugging on her arm a little. It was more than obvious that he had large misgivings about the "new" Malfoy.

"Well, we can talk about this later." Draco said, purposely not picking a fight with Ron, and also leaving room for a second conversation.

"Okay." Hermione said, walking out with Ron to find Harry in one of the other compartments. She looked over her shoulder at Draco as she walked down the hallway. He smiled and then walked out into the hall behind them. As soon as they rounded the corner, he went off in the other direction to find Crabbe and Goyle.

Ron and Hermione point of view

"What does he think he's playing at?" Ron fumed.

"He was being nice Ron." Hermione said, looking over her shoulder at Malfoy.

"That's my point. Why?" Ron said suspiciously, glancing around the hall to see if anyone was eavesdropping.

"Ever think maybe he thinks SPEW is a good cause?" Hermione asked somewhat angrily.

"No." Ron said.

"And why not? Just because you don't think elf rights are worthwhile doesn't mean that no one does Ron! It happens to be a great cause! Some people aren't as narrow minded as you, and can see that there are alternate ways of looking at things, and that elves deserve rights just as much as humans-" Ron coughed in disgust. Hermione turned on her heel and walked in the other direction.

"Hermione, wait! Hermione I'm sorry, you're right, elves deserve rights, it's a great cause! Hermione, wait! Come back!" Ron called. But she had turned the corner and disappeared into a compartment.

Ron turned and fumed off down the corridor in search of Harry. He burst into the compartment, his ears flaming and his freckles standing out against his flushed skin.

"What's up?" Harry asked.

"Malfoy, Hermione. Everyone!" Ron fumed, plopping down across from Harry. Ginny looked a little irked about something. She and Harry traded looks a then she sighed, refraining from giving Ron more evil glares.

"What happened mate?" Harry asked calmly.

"Malfoy was being all interested in SPEW-"

"What? Why?" Harry asked confused.

"That's exactly what I said!" Ron exclaimed. "I asked Hermione what he thought he was playing at, and she was like 'ever thought maybe he was interested in the cause Ron?'" Harry snorted. "And then she got all mad and flew into one of her tempers. She stormed off without even letting me apologize." Ron said.

"Ah well, best to let her simmer. She'll calm down and then you can apologize and everything will be better." Harry said. Ron looked at Ginny expectantly.

"What?" She asked, throwing her hands in the air.

"Nothing." Ron sighed.

"If you want me to go find her and talk to her on your behalf, you have another think coming!" Ginny told him. "I'm tired of fighting your battles." Ron sighed and looked at Harry. Harry did nothing. Ron flopped back in his seat and sighed.

"Pass me a chocolate frog, would you?" Ron asked, holding out his hand. Harry chucked a frog at him.

"Why don't you go find Hermione?" Ginny asked Ron, looking at Harry hopefully.

"Nah, best to let her calm down, like Harry said, so who's up for a game of exploding snap?" Ron asked.

The three played exploding snap for a while, and then Harry declared he was tired of playing and Ginny and Ron played wizard chess. Ginny won every time, she was quite good at the game.

"Ron, don't you have some prefect duties?" Ginny asked, again glancing at Harry.

"Oh, right. I should go patrol around the corridors for a bit. I'll be back in a little while." Ron said, standing up.

"All right, see you." Harry said, glancing at Ginny. Ron did not notice. He went to the door and exited, leaving Harry and Ginny alone.

Ginny And Harry point of view

"What were we talking about?" Ginny asked.

"I was saying something." Harry said, looking down with embarrassment.

"Oh yes, you said 'Ginny, I need to tell you something, the truth is I've-' and then Ron came in." Ginny told him.

"Oh, right. Well" Harry started. "Well, see, Ginny. For a long time now I've kind of -er- had feelings for you." He said lamely.

"Oh?" Ginny said unhelpfully.

"Yes, more than friendly feelings too. Ginny I like you, like, I like you like you." Harry said hopelessly.

"Oh." Ginny said.

"Yes, and I was wondering if, maybe, you wanted to be my girlfriend?" Harry asked more firmly. He was blushing horribly. He finally got the courage to look up and meet her bright blue eyes with his green ones. She was smiling.

"I would love to Harry. I've liked you for a while too." She told him. It was her turn to blush.

"Really?" Harry asked happily.

"Yes."

"What happened to that bloke, Mike or something?" Harry asked.

"We broke up, remember? He and Cho are together." Ginny told him, smiling.

"And, Seamus?" Harry asked cautiously.

"Oh, we were never going out. I just said that to make Ron mad." Ginny told Harry, laughing a little. Harry smiled. "I think we have a little time alone before Ron comes back." Ginny said slyly. Harry smiled. Ginny moved across the aisle into Harry's double seat.

They had a good long snog before Ron came back. Harry ran his fingers through her thick red hair. Ginny was a good kisser. Harry supposed she had had a lot of experience.

"Sorry." Harry mumbled as their noses bumped again. Ginny laughed. "I'm not very good at this." Harry apologized.

"You're fine, just relax." Ginny told him. She moved his glasses and put them on her seat. He put his hand on her cheek and stroked her smooth skin. She smiled.

"Want to try again?" He asked, leaning forward. This time was less clumsy by far. Ginny pulled back a few minutes later, gasping for breath.

"We better stop, Ron will be back soon." Ginny said regretfully. Harry sighed.

"Should we tell him?" Harry asked.

"No way. He'd freak." Ginny said.

"You told him about Michael. And Seamus." Harry said. He didn't feel right lying to Ron.

"Yes, but you're his best friend. He would think it was weird." Ginny told him.

"Is it?" Harry asked.

"No way. Harry, I really like you okay? Don't be so nervous." Ginny told him.

"Okay, good." Harry leaned forward and kissed her softly one last time before she moved back into her seat. She pulled her hair back into a smooth pony tail at the back of her neck so that it wouldn't be too obvious that they had been kissing. When Ron entered a few minutes later, they were playing exploding snap as if they had been doing nothing else for the past half hour.

They arrived soon after at the castle. It was dark, and everyone was hungry. None of the three had seen Hermione, and so they all got into a horesless carriage (although they all now knew what was actually pulling the carriages) and went up to the castle.

They went into the great hall and waited for the hat to start its song. Again this year it warned them against rivalry between the houses, now more than ever. Harry rolled his eyes at Ron. Harry was sitting between Ron and Ginny. Neville was across from them with Seamus and Dean sitting next to each other on his left. Hermione was no where to be seen.

"Ron, oh my goodness, Ron." Harry said, his jaw dropping.

"What?" Ron asked.

"Have you taken a look at the staff table?" Harry said. Just at that minute Dumbledore stood up to make his announcements, as Professor Magonagal walked offstage with the hat and stool and list of the names of the new first years.

"Welcome back to another year at Hogwarts. I have just one announcement to make this year, we have a new defense against the dark arts teacher with us this year. Some of you older students might remember Fleur Delaceur from the Triwizard tournament. For those of you who don't, allow me to introduce Professor Delaceur, out new defense against the dark arts teacher." There was loud applause for Fleur, mostly from the male population of Hogwarts. Others were clapping because Umbrige was gone, and still more were clapping out of politness.

Fleur smiled prettily and twitched her blonde hair a little so that it rested behind her shoulder. Fleur stood up gracefully. Dumbledore looked at her. This is what Umbrige had done too, maybe it was a bad sign. Dumbledore sat down, motioning for her to speak. Silence fell over the great hall as everyone waited to hear what she ahd to say.

"Please, call me Professor Fleur." She said in a throaty french accent. There was applause at this short speach. Everyone was grateful that she ahd not droned on for ages as Umbrige had done.

"And now, you may tuck in." Dumbledore said, standing again and smiling graciously at Fleur. He waved his arm and the golden dishes filled with food.

"What's she doing here?" Asked Ron, gaping up at the staff table. Flear was chatting with Professor Flitwick, her hair shielding part of her face.

"Who knows. She said she wanted to improve her english, remember?" Harry said around a mouthful of chops.

"Oh, yeah. Glad I'm in her class." Ron said, looking own at his plate at last and piling it with food. There was chicken, potatoes, chops, pork, beans, squash, corn, and plates of other things that Harry did not recognize.

"She must have gratuated from Maxim's school and decided to come here to teach." Dean said dreamily.

"Good thing I didn't drop defense. Remind me to thank my Gran for that one." Neville said, also staring at Professor Fleur. They all laughed at this. Neville smiled. People had been laughing at his joke for once, rather than at him. That was quite an improvement.

The plates cleared and were re loaded with piles of delicious desserts. Harry could not eat any of them, as he was so full from the dinner. Ron, however, had three types of pie, cake, cookies, and ice cream. Ginny stared at him, horrified, as he downed his second bowl of chocolate ice cream.

"Now that you are all full from this delicious feast, I suggest that you go to bed. I know how much you all want to be on time for your first classes of the year tomorrow morning!" Dumbledore said, there were scattered groans amoung the students as they all rememebered classes.

"I hope I get some of that tomorrow morning." Harry overheard a Ravenclaw third year say to his friend on their way out the door. Harry looked at him in time to see him gesture towards Professor Fleur. They both chuckled and exited the hall towards their common room. Harry, Ginny, and Ron walked with Neville, Seamus, and Dean up to Gryfindor tower. As they got closer to their dorm the crowd thinned and they began to spot old friends. Harry cringed when he saw Collin Creevy, still with his camera around his neck.

"Hermione!" Ginny called, hurrying over towards her. Hermione had been shooting them sidelong looks and walking alone ahead of them. Ron turned his head away and ignored her.

"Hi Ginny" Hermione said, also ignoring Ron. "And Harry. Hi Dean, Seamus and Neville. Did you all have good summers?" She asked, avoiding Ron's eyes.

"Decent." Dean said, shrugging.

"Pretty good I s'pose." Seamus told her, also shrugging.

"Yeah, mine was good. I got a new wand Hermione! Want to see! My gran was awful mad when my dads broke, but I got to pick one out myself! Or, I should say, it got to pick me out. Mr. Olivander is a pretty scary man I think." Neville gushed. He then looked nervously at Dean and Seamus, realizing that they didn't know the story of how his fathers wand had broken. Either they didn't pick up on it, didn't care, or just passed it off as Neville's clumsiness, because niether said anything. "How was your summer?"

"It was really good Neville. I got my braces off, finally." Hermione told him.

"Oh, yeah, I see. Your teeth look really nice Hermione." Neville told her. She smiled gratefully. They all made it to the common room, and Hermione said the password.

"Ginglenort." She said, huffily. Apparently she was not a fan of the password.

"Oh no, I'll never remember that. Ginglenort, ginglenort, ginglenort." Neville repeated over and over to himself under his breath. "Gingerlysnort. No, no, gindlesnort. No, grindlnort. What was it Hermione?"

"Ginglenort." Hermione told him, crawling through the portrait hole. Harry sighed as he entered, happy to be home again.

Draco POV

"Pureblood." Draco said distainfully as he stood in front of the wall that would open an allow him entrance to the Slytherin common room.

He entered, looking around. He sighed contentedly. There were the familiar straight backed chairs, the green fire, the green armchairs, the black wood tables. Draco walked across the common room, past the few people who were mingling around, greeting eachother after two months of vacation. Draco went to his bedroom and plopped onto his bed. He smelled the familiar Slytherin smells.

"Hey Draco, good summer?" Asked Graham Flynn, a boy in Draco's year.

"Yeah." Draco replied shortly.

"I hear you're the captain now that Flint's gone." Said Graham.

"Yeah." Draco said. Flynn did not say anything else, and Draco did not encourage conversation. He had never really liked Graham much. He had been forced to hang out with him because of his father's buisness, but under different circumstances Draco would never seek out his company. They had nothing in common.

Draco changed into his pajamas and crawled into bed. He was tired, and wanted to be fresh for his first day of classes the next morning. He thought of the new defense teacher and smiled. When he closed his eyes, however, it was not her face that popped up on the underside of his eyelids. It was Hermione Granger's newly metal free face that appeared in his minds eye.

Authors Note: You like? Well no, of course you don't like. No one is reading this story, how can anyone possibly like it? Okay, well on the off chance that you are reading this, review me with suggestions for the next chapter!!