A/N: I'm so sorry for not updating for ages. It's because I FELT DISCOURAGE. Who wouldn't be, if you got no reviews in a chapter? Anyway, I've written this chapter and the following chapters about four months ago before I stopped writing this. I can't bear to read it again, for I can remember about everything from the very beginning I started to post chapter in this site. It makes me feel sad. HP fics isn't my thing. My luck came my way when I started reading and writing CCS (Card Captor Sakura) fics. Now, I realized that I've written this chapter before for people to read it, not to keep it by myself. In my CCS fic, entitled TOGETHER AGAIN, I started writing very long chapters unlike this one for the people who enjoyed reading and keep on reviewing every time I update. That story is a Sakura-Syaoran romance. Please read it, which is absolutely a fic FULL OF ROMANCE. I guarantee that. I hope you do.
Chapter 8:
COMMON ROOM AND ROOM OF REQUIREMENT
Students changed their outfits into robes. They arrive at Hogwarts and moments later, they entered the Great Hall. The first years were sorted and they sat into their tables. Everybody fell silent after the Sorting Hat sang. Dumbledore stood and spoke.
"Welcome!" he said, "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! I believe that many of you really expected me to say this." He rolled his eyes over the sad-looking students and merry-looking first years. "I'm also disappointed when the Minister of Magic announced that we couldn't have the party this year. Having a party means no lessons for a whole week of preparation. Sorry for the cancelled party as many of you expected. For the first years, I got some pointers to say so please listen."
The Great Hall became noisy. Every head was turned to Dumbledore and asked numerous questions.
"Ahem." Dumbledore cleared his throat and everybody fell silent, "Any questions, please raise your hand."
Hermione's hand shot in air and stood. "Professor, why is it cancelled? Why did the Minister of Magic disapproved?"
"Wonderful question, Ms. Granger." Dumbledore smiled, "Mr. Fudge told me that he can't tolerate this rubbish. Hogwarts will be behind the wizarding schools in lessons if this party continued. That's it."
Hermione sat sadly.
"May I continue my pointers?" Dumbledore asked, everyone nodded, "Ok. No one is allowed to go to the Forbidden Forest, first years. Any mess around the corridor isn't allowed, using magic or Muggle-fight, don't be surprised if you see Mr. Filch, the caretaker scold you. Only that. No more, no less. So everybody, enjoy your stay!"
The empty tables were now filled with foods. Everybody ate happily and forgot the cancelled party. Later, the foods were gone and the Prefects lead the students into their Houses. Ron and Hermione walked in front until they reached the Fat Lady.
"Pumpkin Patch." Ron told the first years and the portrait hole swung open. "This is the Gryffindor Common Roon. You can do whatever you like here."
The first years pushed themselves to wander around the Common Room. Ron, Harry, Hermione and Ginny sat in a corner to talk.
"It's nice to be back here." Harry told them.
"Yeah. I missed our free times doing our homework." Hermione smiled. "With rolls of parchment and quills everywhere. I always expect to see Ron trying to enlarge his handwriting and asking me to give answers every time Professor Binns or Snape asked for a roll of parchment of answers!"
"He always had a trouble in Potions, you know." Harry said, "My least favorite subject."
"Please stop teasing me." Ron finally said, "I'm not as famous as Harry and not as smart as Hermione." He looked away.
"Don't be serous, Ron." Ginny told him kindly, "We're suppose to have a fun time here."
"Fun time?" Ron stood angrily, "Yeah, fun time!" He strode towards the Boys' Dormitory.
"Ron!" Harry ran and followed him.
"Oh, I can't understand him!" laughed Ginny, "He's always cheerful but he's easily offended. That's my brother."
"I think I have to do my prefect duties right now." Hermione stood and pushed the portrait, "See you."
Hermione didn't really have to do her prefect duties at the first day of school. She just wanted to get out of Gryffindor Tower that time. As she walked, the wind blew towards her. She wrapped her arms around her and continued walking. The corridor was very quiet until she heard footsteps.
It was Filch, the caretaker, with Mrs. Norris. Hermione's heart was racing. What would she do now? Prefect duties at the very first day? Good idea. No. Everybody should be in their Towers. It was late in the evening!
She hid herself at a narrow corridor. Filch passed without noticing her. When she faced the corridor where she hid, she bumped on someone. She screamed but the stranger covered her mouth.
"Shh! Filch might come back!" warned the unknown and uncovered Hermione's mouth.
"Who are you?" Hermione trembled as she asked.
The moonlight shone brightly at the stranger's face. "Malfoy." He said.
Hermione sighed, "You frightened me. What are you doing here? On this time?"
"I should be the one to ask you that." Draco smiled, "I'll be meeting someone at the Great Hall."
"Well, Rin is angry again." Hermione said sadly, "I decided to walk around."
"Go back to your Dormitory. I'll meet Crabbe and Goyle first." Draco told her, "You'll be lost. It's dark here."
"I'll return later – " Hermione had stepped on a round marble which resulted the wall to swung. Hermione grabbed Draco's robes as the wall tuned clockwise.
As a result, they were now at the other side of the wall. It was very cold inside. It was a small circular room enough for them to play board games. There's a small window above the wall and no furniture or anything. Just the room alone.
"What's this?" Draco blurted out.
"I don't know." Hermione replied, "Why I haven't noticed this room earlier when Filch hunts me? It's too dirty to sit here on the floor. This isn't a classroom but I wish there's a chair for me to sit."
"I've found it!" yelled Draco, "I should tell Crabbe and Goyle. I'll go first to the kitchen." He tuned back towards the door – the wall where they entered. He became quiet and tapped Hermione, who wiped the dirty floor by her hand.
"Why?" Hermione faced him and smiled.
"Th-that chair," Draco pointed an elegant-looking chair in front of them. "wasn't there when we entered, right?"
"Good for you," Hermione walked towards the chair and sat, "You need this."
"What?" Draco frowned, "I don't need that. I need this room. You're the one who needs that. You said that earlier, remember?"
Hermione stopped dead for a moment and think deeply. After a few seconds, she laughed. "I remember this room. I've been in here last year. I can't believe I entered this right now!"
"What?" Draco sat on the dusty floor, "And what are you doing on this dusty room? Hiding from Filch?"
Hermione's eyes didn't meet Draco's. "I was – I was – it's none of your business." She said in panic. Certainly sure, she's been here when she's in fifth year. "Of course I'm studying my lessons privately. This is the Room of Requirement, don't you know that?"
"Room of Requirement," Draco repeated, "How can you study here? No light, no table, no chair, no books and a small creaky window."
"You don't understand. Just think of the place you need and it will appear! For instance, you really needed to got to the bathroom but it's still in the fifth floor, you'll find this room." Hermione said in a matter of fact.
"Oh!" laughed Draco, "I'm planning to have snacks on an abandoned room with Crabbe and Goyle but I can't find one. I understand now! I needed this circular room and you said you need a chair."
"Exactly." Hermione smiled, "But I won't need this anymore. I'll return to my Dormitory. Good luck to you." She pushed the wall and it turned clockwise again. They were both on the corridor again.
They walked until they reached the end of the corridor to go back on their Dormitories. They were talking and laughing all the way happily. Unfortunately, Ron was also walking into their direction resulting them to meet.
Ron's eyes almost popped out. "Hermione, why are you with him?"
"We met along the corridor on the seventh floor." She said simply.
"You seem like enjoying." Ron said, "Well, Malfoy, enjoy your nighttime stroll."
He ran towards the Gryffindor Tower again. Hermione ran too and followed him. Draco was left alone with a smirk on his face.
A/N: I hope at least a single person will review. Please REVIEW!!! And read my other fics too.