Chapter 4 The Feast

I was stunned into silence when Draco made his speech. When he stormed off, I had the urge to chase after him, but the logical part of my brain overtook and said to let him cool down.

You're always the logical one, I cursed myself, Why can't you have SOME sort of feelings?

I sat down and began to think about what Draco had just said. I do that a lot. Just sit down and try to break through the surface of what people said and figure out what they really meant. It comes in handy with the teachers.

He obviously feels alone, I thought, thinking back on everything he said. I just sat there for a while, replaying that little scene in my mind. "It doesn't make any sense!" I finally said out loud. "He used to be so proud of being a Slytherin and of his dad. I mean, he practically bragged about him being a Death Eater at the Quidditch World Cup. I just don't get it! One minute he's all 'future Death Eater dude' and now he's… he's… well, I dunno what he is anymore. I need a break from this crap!" I said angrily.

Too much of one thing or problem upsets me sometimes, especially if I don't understand it. I got up and went looking for Harry; I knew I could talk to him. He doesn't jump to conclusions like Ron. As I walked down the corridor, I noticed Draco talking to Pansy Parkinson. She was getting all close and almost feeling him up. This made me mad for some reason. But I then saw him begin to yell at her. This made me beam a huge smile. I knew he could take care of himself and finished my way to Harry's compartment.

"What do you want?" Ron asked the moment I came in. "Don't you want to get to know Draco better!"

"Not that it's any of your business, but I wanted to talk to Harry," I replied, just as rudely as him.

"Well, I can tell when I'm not wanted. I'll see ya later Harry. I'm going to find Dean and Seamus," he said as he stood up and stomped out of the room like the two year old I know.

"'Mione, what the heck is going on?" Harry asked as I sat down.

"To tell you the truth, I don't know. So many things have changed since fifth year it's hard to believe we're the same people that came here seven years ago, but the fact is, and this really scares me, is we're not," I said.

"Okay, 'Mione, you're spending too much time with Dumbledore, you're starting to sound cryptic! What did that just mean?" he asked, trying to be humorous and still question me.

"We're not the same people as we were in first year. We've made mistakes and learned form them. We've developed into totally different people. Me for example: I used to be a bookworm who had to answer every question in class, but now I understand it's good to let other people answer and not good to flaunt your knowledge, ya know?" I said, rambling on and I knew it. Bad habits die hard.

"Yea, I guess I do," he said, nodding in agreement.

"And Draco, he… he… let's just say he's not the same either. He's a totally different person as well. He hasn't harassed me since fifth year Harry! I know you've noticed as well…"

"I have. But Herm, befriending him is going a little far, doncha think?" he said. I could tell the only reason he was saying this was because he was scared for me.

"Harry, you don't have to worry about me, I can take care of myself," I defended.

"I know you can, it's just… it could all be an act, ya know?"

"It doesn't feel like it Harry, it doesn't feel like it."

I was sitting in the Great Hall with Harry in-between Ron and me. People were still filing into the hall and noise was very abundant.

"Would you two please just get over your little fight?" Harry asked exasperatedly. "I'm sick of your little squabbles!"
"Harry, this isn't just some squabble, as you so eloquently put it; this is about HIM and me. It should involve you unless you want to be involved. It's about moral issues, not some little thing like him throwing away my homework planners!" I replied, trying to throw that up in Ron's face, knowing full well that I'd get him ticked off.

"Right and what does Draco Malfoy and moral issues have in common? Nothing except the fact that Malfoy is an A-moral ass! NO, sorry he can't even be A-moral 'cause he has no morals!" Ron yelled at me, answering his own question.

"First off, it's not about Draco's morals, but mine! Besides, I wouldn't know if he had morals because you won't let me get to know him!" I reason logically. Damn this logic!

"Right Hermione, and I'm gonna be the Minister of Magic!" Ron said sarcastically.

"Well then, let me congratulate you while we're still talking," I said with sarcasm of that to rival Snape's.

"Ya know what, just shut up!" he said turning to face the teachers table.

The words of a person proven wrong! And he always has to have the last word! I thought sadly.

I began to just gaze around the room lazily when my eyes met with the most intense icy blue/grey I'd ever seen. A chill went down my spine but I ignored it. I kept staring, trying to break through and see what emotion it portrayed. I couldn't figure it out at all. Once again Draco Malfoy mystifies me! I then began to look at the whole person instead of just the eyes.

He had changed his hair, I observed. Instead of being longer and slicked back like his fathers, it was cut short in the back and above his neck and longer on the top in a spiked manner. It looked quite good on him actually. His skin wasn't as pale as it used to be, but his hair was lighter. He must've been working out in the sun. He even looked more muscular instead of his normal, scrawny looking self. To sum it all up… he looked H-O-T!

Wait! Did I just think that about Malfoy? I suddenly thought, forgetting about how he was acting now.

You're starting to sound like RON! It's the truth, so don't run away from it. Draco is HOTMy conscience spoke to me.

Great, I'm talking to myself again, I really am going insane!

I then noticed that he too was looking at me, staring at me like I was him, as if summing it all up. I began to blush furiously, for no reason at all! I turned away, not wanting him to see me blush. Before I could totally turn around I saw him quirk an eyebrow in my direction. I blushed even more with that.

"'Mione? Why're you blushing?" Harry asked.

"I'm not!" I denied quickly. "Shh Harry, here come the first years!" I said, wanting to get out of a game of 21 questions. And it wasn't a lie either, the first years were indeed filling into the room. McGonagall lead them up to the teachers' table and placed the hat on its stool. The whole hall became silent as it sang.

Many days have come and gone,

Since evil has returned.

All of us must work together,

For victory to be earned.

Each quality of these houses,

Is needed for this fight.

If their efforts aren't combined,

The world may loose its light.

Ravenclaw would be the brains,

And plan this operation.

Hufflepuff will work hard,

Using their determination.

Slytherin should use its cunning,

And sneak behind evil's back.

Without his devotion to her,

On our side, love would lack.

Gryffindor with all it's bravery,

Should help us win this war.

And should we not have her with us,

Our school would be no more.

And the of course we have

The leader of this tribe

He'll round up our group of heroes

And to him our victory must ascribe

So once again I'll warn you

To stand together, to stand tall

For if we don't work together

There'll be no hope at all

Sit on down and I will sort you

Into the house where you belong

But please, promise to remember

The warning of this song

The ending note of its song rang though the hall. Everyone stared at the hat in pure shock. No one clapped like they normally would, they just sat there in silence, letting what the hat said sink in.

"Ahem!" Professor McGonnagal cleared her throat. "When I call your name," she said the famous line which she said every year. But I didn't hear anything, my mind was on the song.

Her? Gryffindor was a guy, wasn't he? Why is the hat referring to Slytherin and Gryffindor as he and her? Shouldn't it be they? That hat must have finally lost its marbles! I thought as "Hamilton, Michael" was sorted.

"Harry," I whispered almost inaudibly, "What do you think the sorting hat meant, by calling Gryffindor her and Slytherin he?"

"'Mione, I don't know. It's buggin me too though," he replied, "you're supposed to be the logical one, 'member?"

"Whatever," I said a little dismally as I returned my attention back to the stool. Well at least my eyes; my mind was still on the song.

I ate through dinner only thinking about that song. It had hit something. I didn't know what it hit and that unnerved me. I only spoke when spoken to and even then, it was just a vague reply. About half way through the dinner, I got a feeling that I was being watched. I lifted my head and quickly scanned the room with my eyes. Nothing.

Weird, I thought, I could've sworn someone was looking at me.

This unnerved me even more. Someone was watching; I knew it. I could feel their gaze on me and it did not relent. Once again I searched the hall, looking for the perpetrator. My eyes met with the blue/grey ice I have encountered before. This time though, they held that questioning look as well. We looked at each other for a little bit and he then shrugged his shoulders at me and continued eating. I still couldn't shrug off the feeling of someone watching, but I let it go.

By now I had lost my appetite. I settled myself into a comfortable position but with that still uneasy feeling. I kept glancing around the room, looking for something to occupy my mind. I could find nothing. I began to observe a small group of first years at our table. I couldn't believe how small they were, but the thing I really couldn't believe was that I used to be that small too. It was amazing at how much we've grown as a person and in size.

Dinner took forever to end and I was practically asleep when Dumbledore stood to make a few notes.

"The Forbidden Forest, as most of you know, is Forbidden; hence forth the name Forbidden Forest. You'd do well to heed the name. Hogsmeade trips shall be under strict watch because of the rising dangers." At this everyone groaned their distaste in the decision. "Just be happy that you're still having your trips!" he said warmly. Everyone perked up a bit at that. "That is all children. Now I'm sure you're very tired, so off you go!" he said a little bit happier.

Yea, everyone but me and a few prefects get to go to bed! Must be my lucky day, huh? I thought to myself as everyone rushed off to their beds. I waited until the hall was cleared out most the way and then began to walk up to meet Dumbledore and the heads of house.

"Miss Granger, Mister Malfoy, I assume you covered most of the important information?" the headmaster asked kindly.

"Yes sir, we did," I responded immediately.

"The only area we didn't cover was hall duty," Draco explained.

"Good, that's wonderful. You two obviously make a good team," he said with a smile to rival that of the Cheshire Cat. There also seemed to be a bit of a twinkle in his eye, but I ignored it. "Here are the schedules. Minerva, Severus, would you mind?" he asked handing the schedules to them. They took them, as if they had a choice! "Each of you will have one day a week in which you will walk the halls, starting at curfew and ending at midnight, looking for late night stragglers. The Head Girl and Boy will have two days a week. That should be all," he said, nodding to them. Everyone began to follow their head out to their dormitories, schedules in hand. "Miss Granger, Mister Malfoy, please stay here for a minute."

"Yes sir."

"Of course."

"Follow me," he commanded and began walking out of the hall and up the main staircase, Draco and I not far behind.

"Um, I don't mean to be rude Professor," I said breaking the silence as we headed down a small hallway towards another set of stairs. "But where exactly are we going?"

"That, my dear, will all become clear in a few minutes," he said in his normal cryptic way. I gave Draco a sideways glance and he just rolled his eyes.

"This, children," the older man said, gesturing towards a large golden statue of a unicorn, "Will be your living quarters. The password is hence malus."(evil be gone) The unicorn bowed its head and stepped aside to reveal a small doorknob. Dumbledore grabbed hold of the doorknob and opened a door that blended into the wall perfectly. He stepped through and we followed.

I was amazed to say the least. There was a common room with a lovely fireplace, fire already ablaze. The décor was done in the Gryffindor and Slytherin colors, which, might I add, mixed very well together. There were two black leather couches placed in front of the fire. An ornate rug lay between the two couches.

Straight ahead, under the staircases, were shelves upon shelves of reference books. I slowly walked over there, in awe at the books that were there. I brought my hand and ran my fingers down the spine of a book called Potion Ingredients and Where to Find Them. My hands then dusted over the spines of the rest of the book on that shelf.

"It's… amazing," I said in an awestruck voice.

"Yes, I thought you'd like that my dear," Dumbledore said while grinning. "What do you think Mr. Malfoy?"
"It's aight," he replied, not really showing any emotion.

"Your rooms are obviously up the stairs. You will have to share a bathroom, but it shouldn't be too painful," he said, looking at me pointedly.

"I have no objection," I said hurriedly.

"It's fine," Malfoy said, shrugging his shoulders in an offhand-ish manner.

"Then this is where I leave you," he said, making big hand movements. "I'm sure you can find your way around. Your luggage is in your rooms. Good day," he said, giving yet another strange smile as he walked out.

I continued walking around in a daze. The room was remarkable. The mantel had beautiful intricate carvings of a lion and a snake. The rug in the middle showed a lion and snake battling.

"You really do like this room, don't you?" I heard coming from the Slytherin beside me.

"Yes… it's breathtaking!" I said. I knew then I had sounded like an idiot. "I mean, the colors mix so well," I covered.

Embarrassed, I began walking up the Victorian style stairs. On this side there was a door with a wooden plaque with Draco's name carved on it. I walked across the balcony towards the other door. This one didn't have a plaque. I assumed it was the bathroom and continued walking till I reached the final door that also had a wooden plaque on it. This time, my name was carved. I entered the room and was in awe with what I saw.

The room was draped with burgundy and gold. The bed was at least a queen size, if not king. The curtains draped around it were sheer burgundy. The sheets were gold and burgundy and the quilt was a mix. It was beautiful. I walked over to the windows and opened the curtains, only to find it wasn't a window, but doors to a balcony.

I walked out and was awed by the majestically beautiful view. My balcony overlooked the garden and it was simply amazing. The smell of roses and lavender wafted up to my nose and I inhaled deeply. The smell was so fragrant it made me lightheaded.

"Wow!" I heard from behind me and nearly flew out of my skin. "Oh sorry. I got done looking at my room and thought I'd check yours out." I turned around to find Draco looking at me nervously.

"It's okay… you just startled me," I said.

"I want to apologize, for yelling at you on the train… It's just…" he trailed off.

"It's okay… I understand you've been through a lot and I just assumed," I said. Malfoy just apologized to me. Someone call the papers, 'cause hell has frozen over!

"Your room is really nice," he said, looking around. "But you should see the bathroom!"

"I'm sure it's lovely," I replied.

"I really am sorry," he said, walking up closer to me, standing right next to me.

"It's fine, really," I assured, looking at him sideways. "Beautiful sunset isn't it?" I asked, looking out again.

"Yes, it is amazing," he commented as he gazed out with me. "This is an amazing view Hermione," he said, looking at me.

"Yea…" I replied with a sigh. "Well I'm beat," I said after the sun had already set and I stood up straight and stretched. "If you don't mind, I think I'm gonna hit the sack." I walked back to my room and Draco followed me.

"Not a problem…. I'll see you in the morning then," he said as he headed out of my room. "G'night."

"G'night." And with that I got ready for bed and fell into a deep wondrous sleep that left me feeling refreshed the next morning.