Chapter 2
Harry, Ron and Hermione entered the Great hall, and reveled in the familiar surroundings they had grown to love.
"It's so nice to be back!" Hermione said happily.
Harry and Ron nodded in agreement.
"Hey, there's Seamus and Dean!" Harry pointed out, gesturing over at their friends, who were waving frantically.
"We saved you guys seats!" Seamus mouthed.
They began to make their way over to the Griffindor table. Suddenly, Ron was pitched forward, causing him to knock Hermione over. Luckily Harry caught her before she hit the floor.
"Sorry 'Mione! Somebody pushed me!" Ron said apologetically, blushing furiously.
"Tut tut, Weasley!" Came a cold drawl. "Clumsy aren't we? You nearly knocked poor Granger off her feet! That's not going to earn you brownie points with her now is it?!"
Ron turned around to confront the person who had pushed him into Hermione.
Malfoy stood there, wearing his trademark smirk, with his arms folded over his broad chest.
Crabbe and Goyle flanked him, sniggering at Malfoy's comment.
Ron turned even redder at the sight of their arch nemesis, his fists balling at his sides.
"Back off, Malfoy!" Ron spat, taking a step towards Malfoy.
Crabbe and Goyle flexed their arms and stepped forward to block Malfoy from Ron.
Harry stepped in. "Ron, let it go. He's just trying to wind you up. Lets go eat." He said putting a hand on Ron's shoulder.
Ron glared at Malfoy.
Malfoy smirked back. He glanced at Hermione who was glaring at him just as Harry and Ron were. Then, catching her off guard, he winked at her. It was so quick, Hermione thought she must be mistaken, but she was creeped out none-the-less.
"Come on Ron, lets just go and have something to eat!" Hermione pleaded, tugging on Ron's arm, desperate to get away from the Slytherins.
Ron turned his back on Malfoy and allowed himself to be led away and over to the Griffindor table by his two best friends.
Once there, he brightened up quickly and sat down, chatting with Seamus and Dean.
They didn't pay much attention to the sorting, and were waiting
Finally, when everyone was settled, Dumbledore stood up at the Teacher's table and proceeded with his speech.
"Welcome, to another year at Hogwarts! I know you all must be hungry, so I'll keep this short! The forbidden forest is still forbidden, ect ect. First years please note, there is a pamphlet in your dorms regarding all Hogwart's rules. Normally I tell you all about the rules and such, but I really can't be bothered this year! Anyhoo, feast, my pretties, and be merry!". With that, Dumbledore sat back down, just as food appeared on all of the tables.
"Thank Merlin!" Ron exclaimed, picking up a chicken leg. "I swear I was going to pass out from hunger!"
Hermione delicately spooned some potatoes and carrots onto her plate, and picked up a chicken leg.
Harry gulped down his goblet of Pumpkin juice in one go.
Hermione watched him with raised eyebrows. "Thirsty?" she asked.
Harry nodded, gasping from his lack of breath and pointed at the jug of juice.
Hermione handed it to him and he filled his goblet then picked up her fork and began eating her potatoes.
Ron, meanwhile, was devouring his chicken leg at an alarming rate.
The Great hall was filled with happy chatter and sound of cutlery against plates. Suddenly, a huge and very loud belch resounded off the walls. Silence ensued as everyone looked around to see who had been so rude.
"CRABBE!" Malfoy cried in a disgusted tone, his voice echoing in the silence.
Everyone turned to look at the Slytherin table, some with puzzled expressions others with amused looks as Malfoy gave Crabbe a shove.
"THAT WAS TOTALLY UNCALLED FOR!!!" Continued Malfoy.
Crabbe at least had the grace to blush.
Everyone burst out laughing, including some of the teachers. Although Snape didn't seem to find it as amusing as the students and sat stoney faced at his place at the table.
Even Malfoy began laughing after a while.
Eventually things calmed back down and Dumbledore bid everyone goodnight.
Harry, Ron and Hermione along with Seamus, Dean, Lavender and Parvati made their way up to the Griffindor common room. When they all reached the painting of the Fat Lady they all stopped and stared at her expectantly.
"Password?" The Fat Lady asked.
Silence. A cricket chirruped.
"Well?!" she said impatiently.
Suddenly, everyone turned to Hermione.
"What?" she asked. "I don't have it!"
"But you're a prefect, you're supposed to have it!" Seamus declared.
Hermione blushed. She hadn't been given the Password! "Well I….erm…that is to say I… well you see-" she was cut off by the sound of someone pushing through the crowd of Griffindors.
Hermione saw a hand holding a sheet of paper up in the air as it's owner pushed his way through the crowed.
"Excuse me, pardon me, coming through. Get out of my way!" said a smoothe voice that was unmistakably Malfoy's.
He finally got to the front where Hermione, Ron and Harry were standing. He looked a little disheveled as he approached Hermione.
"You ran off without getting these, Granger!" He said holding the sheet of paper out to Hermione, who took it an surveyed it.
It was all of the passwords to all four common rooms.
"We are supposed to know the passwords for each house's common room?" She enquired.
"Yes." Malfoy replied. "So we can perform our duties to the fullest, or something like that."
Hermione looked at the crowd of disgruntled Griffindors. "Okay guys, the password is going to be –"
She was cut off again, this time by someone in the crowd who stuck their hand up.
"Don't say it in front of him!" Came the protest. "He's a Slytherin!"
Malfoy couldn't see who it was so he just raised his voice to be heard. "I'm also a Prefect you dolt! I'm supposed to know your password, as well as every other house's passwords!"
Nobody dared question him again, so they returned their attention back to Hermione.
"Like I was saying," she continued "The password will be 'Mushy Peas'!"
She then turned to the fat lady who cast a mistrusting glance at Malfoy before swinging open.
Hermione moved aside to let everyone in.
Soon all that remained were Harry, Ron, Hermione and Malfoy.
Ron glowered at Malfoy, and Harry gazed intently at Hermione. She was looking at her two best friends.
"Are you coming, 'Mione?" Harry asked as he put one foot through the portrait hole.
"You guys go ahead, I'll join you in a minute." She replied.
Ron shifted his glare at Malfoy and his blue eyes, now wide with disbelief flicked to Hermione. "you aren't staying out here alone with him are you?" He asked, shocked that she would be so brave. "He'll probably hex or curse you or something!"
Malfoy snorted. "Honestly Weasley! Some of us grew up over the summer! You'd better get used to this, Granger and I are prefects, and that involves meetings and talks and so on. I suggest you get over and deal with it!"
Hermione smiled reassuringly at Ron and Harry who were looking at Malfoy with the utmost contempt and mistrust.
"I'll be fine guys, if I do need help, I promise I will scream to let you know, okay?" She offered.
This seemed to calm Harry's fears and he went through the portrait hole, pulling Ron with him.
Hermione got straight down to business, she wanted to make this moment alone with Malfoy over with as quick as possible.
"Um, thank you….I guess" she said avoiding his gaze.
"For what?" He asked, knowing quite well what she was talking about but he was enjoying watching her squirm too much.
She held the piece of parchment he had given her up for him to see, still not looking at him, instead, remaied content to study his shoes.
"This." She said simply.
"Yeah well, the other Griffindors looked like they would string you up alive if they didn't get the password soon. Impatient lot aren't you?!" He replied casually.
Hermione shrugged. "Sometimes" was her reply. This civil conversation with Draco Malfoy was very uncomfortable. She almost felt that she preferred his tormenting her and calling her names as opposed to him being civil.
As though sensing this, Malfoy flashed her his trademark smirk. "What's the matter, scared of me, mudblood?"
Ah yes, this was much better!
Hermione looked him directly in the eyes. "Never!" she hissed.
Malfoy smirked and flashed another wink at her.
She felt like slapping that stupid smirk off of his stupid face making him fall on his stupid bum!
"Well, see you around, Granger!" he said as he turned and walked away.
Hermione glared after him before turning and entering the Griffindor common room, satisfied that the conversation had taken a more familiar route. Civilized conversation with Malfoy was just way too weird!
Harry and Ron were waiting for her, sitting in their favorite sofas by the fire. They looked up at her expectantly.
Giving in, Hermione sat down in her favorite arm chair. "I just wanted to thank him for bringing this!" she explained as she held up the parchment again. "We wouldn't have gotten in here otherwise!"
Satisfied with this, Harry and Ron smiled at her.
The Trio spent two hours catching up properly, laughing and chatting merrily, before wearing themselves out.
Stretching and yawning, they said their goodnights and went up their separate staircases to their dormitories.
Hermione changed into her nightdress and climbed into her large four poster bed and snuggled down under the covers. Crookshanks curled himself at her feet and slept soundly. It had begun to storm outside, and the rain lashed against the windows as thunder rolled overhead.
Sighing happily, Hermione fell asleep, looking forward to the rest of the school year.