Chapter 7

Hogwarts Begins

Hermione was awake long before anyone else in the Weasley household that morning. She was awake even before the sun had come up even. The summer's days of relaxation were over and now it was time to get back down to business. She waited impatiently for the first morning rays and jumped out of bed the minute she heard movement coming from the kitchen. She showered and dressed for the trip to Hogwarts and made sure her things were in order.

"Ginny, it's time to get going," she said to a pile of bedclothes in the bed next to hers. "You are a Prefect now after all."

Ginny groaned and sat up, her red hair concealing her face. "They can have the bloody badge back if I can sleep for another hour," she said.

"Right then. See you down at breakfast then?" Hermione asked.

Ginny grunted and Hermione bounded out of the room and down the stairs.

"Up early this morning aren't you Hermione?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

"I just can't wait to get going and get the year underway," Hermione said.

The smells and sights of the morning were wonderful. Hermione sat at the table

drinking a tall cool glass of freshly squeezed orange juice, taking in the smells of breakfast, and looking out the kitchen window at the cool mist that hung around the burrow. The sun shone in and the warmth caressed her face. It was Hermione's most favorite time of day.

"I remember when Percy got his badge," Mrs. Weasley said. "He was up early

that day too." She paused for a moment and Hermione saw her bite her bottom lip a little to stop it from trembling. "He'll be all right! I hear from him now and then and he comes by on his holidays. He spends his time mostly trying to find his place, you know? Well, ever since the ministry didn't exactly work out for him."

Hermione didn't know what to say so she smiled and nodded.

Mr. Weasley came in the kitchen as did Ron and Harry. Soon everyone was up

and the house was bustling with activity. After everyone had eaten and loaded up their things, they set off on their way to the train station.

Hermione hugged her parents tightly and promised to write and told them she

would see them at Christmas. With a kiss from her mother she turned and ran through the wall into platform 9 ¾. The Hogwarts Express was waiting for them all with its shiny coat of red paint. The students were climbing into the cars and making there way to their seats.

"Ron and Ginny, it's time for us to go to the Head's compartment," Hermione

said. She looked uncomfortably at Harry who laughed at her.

"Go on then! It's what you've been waiting for your whole life isn't it!" he

teased.

"Well come back when we are done with our meetings," she said.

"All right then, I'll buy us some snacks off the cart then," he said patting his bag

of money fresh from Gringott's Bank.

All the prefects made their way to the Head's compartment as Hermione waited

inside with Ron and Ginny. The door slid open and Draco walked in instantly quieting the Hufflepuffs and Kiara, who was the girl prefect from Ravenclaw. He puffed his chest out and put on his 'superior' face and strutted into the compartment. Now that Draco had entered and sat down next to her, Hermione began with reading the letter that Dumbledore had sent for her to read to them. After she was done she turned to Draco.

"Is there anything that you wish to add?"

"No, I think you've summed it up all right," he said.

"Right then. You will continue to make your rounds on the hour and if there are

any problems or troubles that arise, see either the Head Boy or myself and remember the charge given to you by the Headmaster. That is all."

With that everyone rose from their seats and they filed out the door heading to

their own compartments.

After Hermione, Ron and Ginny returned back to the compartment with

Harry. They all got comfortable and started to talk.

"So how was it, with Malfoy I mean?" Harry asked.

"Fine, he hardly said anything at all really," Ron, replied shocked. "It was the strangest thing I had every seen. I'd liken it to Professor Snape in the ballet or Neville as Quidditch captain or something."

"Weird," Harry said. "But speaking of Quidditch, we are sure to win the cup this year. I have to start organizing the practice times and the try-outs with Maddam Hooch as soon as we arrive at school. There's a beater's position and a chaser's that we need to fill."

"Well you are the captain Harry," Ron smiled. I bet your dad would be proud of you right now."

"Yeah I guess he would. I'd bet it'd mean more to him though if I won the cup this year."

Hermione listened to them talk on and on about the upcoming Quidditch season. The trip to Hogwarts went well enough as no one stopped by to inform her of anything. After they had changed into their robes, Kiara stopped by to chat with Ron for a while. Eventually they arrived at the school.

The Great Hall was decorated with the usual floating candles and the bewitched ceiling shone through to the crystal clear night sky. Clouds, however, loomed on the horizon and gave a hint that a storm was to be moving in later that night. The nervous

and slightly terrified first years entered the Hall escorted by Hagrid and Professor McGonagall and took there seats while waiting to be sorted into their houses. One by one they were brought up and the sorting hat was placed on their heads and they were sorted out into the houses until all had been sorted.

Professor Dumbledore, after seeing that they had all arrived, stood to address the students.

"Welcome back students, yes welcome back!" he said to applause. "Welcome to yet another year of magic and learning at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Before we begin another commencement feast, there are some few grounds rules I would like to go over. First off, as you are all no doubt aware, the changing times and the present situations that we find ourselves in now necessitate that all students must never be outside the castle walls alone. When you must depart the protection of this school you will do so with a partner."

Dumbledore continued his speech and reiterated his part about the Forbidden Forest being off limits, and the certain death that would come to those who broke this rule. Harry and Ron eyed some nervous first years that exchanged terrified glances during this part of the speech and it reminded them of themselves at that age.

"And without further ado, let us eat!" he concluded.

They all tore into the food and Ron looked like he'd been starved in a dungeon somewhere as he devoured the food. After she had eaten, Hermione stood up and looked over to see if Draco was done. He was also in the act of standing up and had been watching her anyway. They headed up to the teacher's table as they had been asked to do and received the passwords for the houses. Dumbledore had also told them to ensure that everyone got into their common rooms easily and properly and that she and Draco were to come and see him at his office to be let into their common room.

"I'll tell my house," Draco said. "You can inform the rest."

"Ok," Hermione said. She went about her task of informing the Prefects of each house their new passwords. After the Prefects had received the passwords, they gathered up the respective houses and made their way to their common room areas. Hermione and Draco made sure that everything went according to plan and that there were no problems. After all the students had entered their rooms, Hermione made her way down the darkened corridors to Dumbledore's office.

A/N: Hello everyone! I do hope that you enjoyed the chapter! Now lets move onto the Q &A's : 1- Draco doesn't say much because it brings in a little mystery to the story, you do how ever get to see more of how Draco feels later on. Well that concludes the questions part. Now on to the Thank yous : profet, Bookworm1214, Curlyq2713, IamRajah (winks), xOxOkIsSmYaSsXoXo, cantatedomino, prin 69, beker986, SoS, elsa, Kissmyfoot, jenny, the infamous draco's secret lover, and Gentileschi. Thank you so much! It means so much to me! Keep r/r!