Chapter 2

The First Day of the Last Year

When Hermione woke up, she felt nice and rested. She had had a pleasant dream last night about relaxing on the beach getting a nice tan, sipping pineapple juice, while chatting with some cute boys. She swung her legs over the side of her bed and sat up. Hermione glanced at the time. 8:30 AM read the digital clock. "Perfect timing," Hermione thought as she got up and stretched. "Mum will be cooking breakfast downstairs and Dad will be reading the paper while sipping his Cuban coffee."
Hermione turned around and squinted into the sunlight streaming softly into her room. The sunlight seemed to dance around her room, making beautiful patterns on the walls and floor. Being that she had just woken up, her eyes were a little sore from the sudden light, but glad the sunlight was soft and not bright like a sun-gun blasting in her face.
Crookshanks drifted lazily into her room and meowed at her in acknowledgement.
"Good morning, Crookshanks," Hermione greeted as she gathered up the orange fluffy cat. "Are you ready for another school year?" Hermione asked as she made her way down the hallway. When she got to the stairs, however, Crookshanks jumped out of her arms and raced down the stairs as if he couldn't wait. "Well I guess that's a yes!" Hermione giggled as she strolled down the steps and into the kitchen.
"Good morning, Mum. Good morning. Dad," Hermione greeted as she sat down at the kitchen table, awaiting to be served breakfast. "Good Morning, Hermione," Mrs. Granger warmly replied. "Mmm," Mr. Granger grunted, deep in concentration in the article he was reading on the front page. He sipped his coffee.
"Hermione, I don't like the fact that you will be spending a year sharing a bedroom with a BOY," Mr. Granger said, putting his newspaper down to get a good look at his daughter. "Dad, please. I'm 17, I think that I can handle myself. Plus I totally hate the guy. He is such a twerp! And annoying, a jerk, conceited, arrogant…" Hermione listed, ticking off her fingers as she counted. "Alright, alright, I get the point," Mr. Granger interrupted. "Okay you two! Stop fighting!" Mrs. Granger mock reprimanded. "I have 3 words for you two. Breakfast-is-served!" With that, she placed down a white china plate, filled with 12 chocolate chip muffins.
"Thanks Mum!" Hermione thank as she took a muffin and bit into it.
After breakfast, Hermione went upstairs into her room to pack and get dressed in her robes.
BEEP!BEEP! The car horn sounded. "OKAY! I'M COMING!" Hermione shouted as she bounded down the steps to get outside to the car where her mother was waiting impatiently with her materials. She opened and flung herself into the car. Then, after buckling her seatbelt, Hermione signaled her mother to drive.
As soon as her mother had dropped her off at Kings Cross station, her eyes were covered by a pair of hands. "Guess who!" A voice squealed. "Kristen Mary Gilbert?" Hermione teased. "Yes, Hermione Anne Granger!" Kristen exclaimed as she flung Hermione around to face her. The two girls screamed, but not so loud that the muggles walking around them turned to face the commotion. Then there was a collision of words about their summer and how much they missed each other.
"I was playing Quidditch all summer! I'm a chaser," Kristin informed her.
"Really? Wow. Maybe you could join Harry and Ron on the Quidditch team," suggested Hermione. She looked at the clock on a nearby pole. "Whoa! We've got to get going!" Hermione exclaimed as she pushed the cart filled with her things toward that platform between 9 & 10. Kristen was close behind. It was nearly 10:45 AM by the time they got to the platform. The train leaves at exactly 11:00 AM.
"Here we go!" Hermione said as she inhaled deeply. She ran into the platform. Seconds after Hermione, Kristen appeared. "Okay! Let's go!" Kristen commanded as she and Hermione climbed onto the train.
15 minutes later, after checking almost every compartment, Hermione and Kristen both stuck their heads into the last one before they found their destination.
Harry and Ron were already eating some candy they bought off the trolley.
"Hey guys!" the girls said in unison. "Hey," came the boy's replies. Ron caught a glint of gold on Hermione's chest. "Hey! You're Head Girl! You didn't tell me that!" said Ron as his mouth dropped. "Oh, sorry, I thought Harry would of told you, but I guess not," Hermione shot a quick glare at Harry. Harry shrugged. There was a short awkward silence before Kristen said: "Well I'm going to try out to be a chaser on the Quidditch team!" "Really? I didn't know you could play Quidditch!" Harry said.
"Yup, I learned over the summer!" Kristen confirmed proudly.
"SO who's Head Boy?" Ron interrupted. "Malfoy," Harry spat in disgust. Just as Harry said Malfoy's name, Malfoy stuck his head in the compartment. "Well, well, well. If it isn't Scarhead and his Weasel. I hope you have had a nice summer because your last year here isn't going to be. Hello, Granger, I see that you and I have to share a room for this year. You stay on your side, and I'll stay on mine. Besides, I don't want my side infected by a mudblood!" Malfoy sneered, looking her up and down with disgust. Before Harry or Ron could say or do anything, Kristen was way ahead of them. Upset by these words, Kristen stood up and slapped him hard across the face. Malfoy fell on the floor from the impact of the blow. A bright red hand print was imprinted clearly on his face. "10 points from Gryffindor for physically abusing another student!" Malfoy shouted angrily and stalked off. "Oh shove off, Malfoy you insufferable bastard!" Kristen called after him as she went back inside the compartment. "15 points to Gryffindor for defending me!" Hermione said cheerfully, lightening her now dampened mood.
"HAHAHAHAHA!" Ron and Harry laughed. "Did you see the look on his face?" Ron asked. "You sure told him off!" Ron complemented. "Good job!" Ron's ears turned slightly pink. For the first time, he noticed how beautiful she looked. Kristen about 5'6, had blonde hair, icy blue eyes, and had a sweet personality unless you made her mad. Kristen was also very multitalented. These traits made her very desirable and that's why so many guys admire her.
An hour and a half later, they arrived at school. As the train stopped, Ron held the door for Kristen and said: "Ladies first." When the students were piling out of the train and pairing up with their buds, Ruebus Hagrid, the half giant/half man, was waiting patiently for the ruckus to settle down. "Now if you all would follow me, we can proceed to the castle," Hagrid said in a gruff voice. The first years traveled by boat over the lake while the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th years took a carriage to the castle. The carriage was very normal looking besides the fact they were drawn by tharistals. You can not see tharistals unless you have witnessed a death. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Kristen all piled into one carriage. As soon as they were in the Great Hall, a applause greeted them.
"Welcome all to another year at Hogwarts. First years will first be sorted into their houses and then we will begin the feast. As a reminder, the Forbidden Forest is forbidden for any and every student to enter. The 3rd floor is strictly out of bounds to all who do not wish to die a most painful death," Greeted Albus Dumbledore, the school headmaster. After each new student was sorted and greeted by their new house roommates, the feast had begin. The food appeared right before their very eyes. There was roasted chicken, pork chops, ham, fried beans, friend potatoes, steamed vegetables, steak, salad, and every type of food imaginable and more. As Hermione took a sip of her delicious pumpkin juice, she felt eyes on her back. When she turned around, she caught Malfoy and his minions staring at her. Malfoy smirked and engaged in deep conversation with Pansy Parkinson.
Right before desert had started, Kristen and Hermione noticed a short, skinny, preppy little girl walking toward them, bouncing with every step she took with a huge smile on her face. They recognized her at once. "Oh no…" Hermione groaned. "Oh look, it's Peggy Quirsey, the world's most annoying 5th year prep," Kristen observed. Ever since Peggy arrived, she has always annoyed the girls, trying to get into their inner circle when she spotted them. For she was a kind of outcast who wants to become popular.
"Hey guys! What's crackin'? I'm fine. O-M-G! The most amazing thing happened! I GOT PICKED TO BE A PREFECT! That means I get to help you, Hermione! Isn't that the least!" Peggy asked as she practically slurred her words she said them so fast.
"The very least," Hermione said, trying to hide the annoyance in her voice. She gave Harry a look for help before Peggy could take another breath. Harry, trying extremely hard not to burst out laughing, shooed her off by saying "Peggy, you need to go before you get us into trouble." As soon as she walked back to her seat, Ron and Harry started laughing. Hermione shot them both a death stare. Not only does she have to share a room with the most horrid person on the face of the Earth, she had to deal with Peggy the Prep hanging around her all the time!
After desert, the quartet was given their schedules. "Just great! We have double potions with Slytherin tomorrow morning!" Ron spat angrily at the thought of those mean sneaky snobs. "Well at least you don't have to LIVE with one the whole year!" Hermione reasoned. "Good luck with Malfoy tonight," Kristen said truthfully and they said their goodbyes. Hermione headed off to her new room. She was not looking forward to spending the night with Draco Malfoy. "This is going to be a long night," Hermione sighed as she found her room.