Second, thanks to my one reviewer, Daunting Darkness. Woo hoo! At least someone has read it so far!!! :-)
September, part 2
As the feast drew to a close, Hermione stood up. "I have to meet McGonagall now. She'll be showing Malfoy and me our dorms," she announced. Everyone at the Gryffindor table grimaced. Much as they were all proud that one of their own was Head Girl, the thought of the infamous Slytherin as Head Boy did not sit well with them.
"It's a shame your last year at Hogwarts is going to be ruined, having to share a common room with that git," commiserated Ron as Hermione gathered her things. "If he gets out of hand, let me know – I have just the hex that will help ensure no other girl will ever look at him again, except in disgust!" he announced proudly. Beside him, Harry grinned.
"Gee, thanks Ron, but as I said before, I'm going to try being mature. I'm determined that Malfoy's snide remarks and stupid pranks will not ruin my last year here." She looked pointedly at her two best friends. "You should try and do the same. Don't let him get to you!"
"Are you kidding?" Harry joked. "And ruin our biggest source of amusement?"
Hermione ignored Harry. "ANY way, I'm off. I'll see you guys back at the tower, hopefully tonight!" and with that, she was gone.
"I'm going to try being mature!" Ron imitated Hermione in a high falsetto voice as the Gryffindor group was leaving the Great Hall. "She does know that we're not 11 years old anymore, doesn't she?"
"Not knowing the way you and your brothers act, Ronald Weasley," replied a voice from directly behind him. Everyone turned to look at the speaker. Professor Grace was standing there with a knowing grin on her face.
"Hannah!" squealed Ginny as she hurled herself into her cousin's arms. Hannah laughed as she caught the girl and gave her a quick squeeze. "Merlin, how tall you gotten, Gin!" she exclaimed, "and so pretty as well, look at this hair!" she touched the red-haired girl's hair with an admiring look. She looked over at Ron. "Speaking of tall – look at you, Ron! You're what, six feet? Six one?"
"Six three, thank you very much," Ron replied as he engulfed his cousin in a bear hug. "It's so good to see you again! Why didn't you owl us you were coming?" he demanded.
"Oh, you know. It was a surprise!" Hannah said. Harry found her voice to have a rich timbre to it, and he decided he liked her North American accent.
"Hannah, this is my best friend, Harry Potter," Ron introduced his cousin to Harry. "He's a right git, but he'll do," he grinned cheekily.
"Thanks Ron," said Harry, holding out his hand for Hannah to shake. "It's nice to meet you, Professor Grace," he said politely.
"Thanks, same here. And you two," she looked pointedly at her cousins, "need to remember that I am Professor Grace here, not Hannah."
"No worries, Han- I mean, Professor Grace," stammered Ron. Hannah laughed. "It's ok, Ron. Tonight I'll make an exception, as I haven't seen you in so long, but remember, I show no favoritism – we do everything by the book, ok?" Ron and Ginny nodded. Hannah smiled warmly at them. "So, where is this famous Gryffindor tower of yours? We may as well get comfortable while we're catching up, eh?" She linked arms with Ron and Ginny and led them down the hall. "Come along Harry!" she called merrily over her shoulder. "I have some extremely mortifying stories about these two that I'm longing to tell!" The sounds of Ron and Ginny's groans were drowned out by the hoot of laughter that escaped Harry as he followed the cousins.
Hermione stood in front of a painting of a stately sphinx, which was eyeing her, Malfoy and McGonagall balefully. Finally, after scrutinizing each one carefully, it bowed slightly and said, "Good evening Minerva. Are these the new Head Boy and Girl?"
"Yes, Ankh-Set, they are," the teacher replied. She turned to Hermione and Draco. "You'll need to pick a password."
"How about 'die, mudbloods, die'?" suggested Draco with a smirk. Hermione just rolled her eyes.
"How about 25 points from Slytherin?" countered McGonagall, which wiped the grin from the Head Boy's face. "Try again."
Hermione thought for a moment while Draco pouted. "How about 'pyramids', in honor of our friend here?" she said finally. Draco shrugged as if to say "whatever". The sphinx bowed to Hermione and remarked "A fine password. Pyramids it is. Enter and enjoy your final year at Hogwarts." With that, the painting swung to the side, revealing the entrance to the common room.
"I'll leave you to it, then. You'll need to do your rounds at 10 PM, and tomorrow morning we will meet and discuss your duties further. Until then, good night." She nodded at the two teens and walked away. Hermione and Draco looked at each other for a moment, until Hermione broke eye contact and walked into the common room. She caught her breath and stopped so suddenly that Draco nearly ran her over.
"Watch it, Granger," he growled, trying to get by. "What are you looking at?"
"It's incredible!" exclaimed Hermione. "Just look at this place!" she squealed. Draco looked around. The common room was round, with a fireplace near the door they just entered. In front of the fireplace were several squishy chairs in various colors, along with a couch in black leather that had lots of plump pillows scattered on it. There was a desk on either side of the room, both made from a rich mahogany, each with a bookshelf behind them built right into the wall. Across from the fireplace was a stairway that went up and branched off into two, one leading up and to the left, the other the same to the right. There were various paintings all over the stone walls, but the most impressive sight was the tapestry that hung over the fireplace – a beautiful, colorful tapestry depicting the Hogwarts crest, complete with the badger, snake, lion and eagle of the four houses.
Draco shrugged. He honestly didn't think it was all that much. He'd certainly seen much better in his home. What was the big deal?
"It's so beautiful!" Hermione breathed. She gave another squeal and twirled once before heading up the stairs. She looked right, then turned and went up the left staircase. Draco followed slowly and found that the doors at the tops of the staircases had their names inscribed on them – Draco's in silver, Hermione's in gold. He walked up the right staircase to his door and pushed it open. It was a round room, just like the common room below, but on a smaller scale. There was a larger version of his Slytherin dorm bed opposite the door, with a small fireplace to the left and a large chest of drawers to the right. There was also a chest at the foot of the bed. The linens were all of green and silver satin, as were the curtains around the bed. There were two chairs in front of the fireplace and several windows overlooking the grounds. It was a cozy room, and Draco decided it would do. Judging from the squealing and exclamations of delight coming from the Gryffindor's room, he assumed Granger felt the same.
He noticed another door just to the left of the doorway he was standing in, and, curious, he opened it. It led into a huge rectangular bathroom, all white tile and marble. There was a sink on either side of a large shower stall, a huge tub on the opposite wall, and in the corner on the right nearest the door, there was what Draco assumed to be a water closet. Looking to the other end of the room, near the door that Draco assumed led to Granger's room, was another WC. He walked to the other door and pushed it open.
Hermione was bouncing on her bed. He almost laughed at the sheer happiness on her face, but caught himself just in time. Instead he smirked, "Honestly, Granger, can't you try and act your age?"
The Head Girl stopped bouncing and looked over at him gravely. "Malfoy, do you not take pleasure in anything? Aren't you proud of your accomplishments? Can't you just let your hair down and enjoy the fruits of your labors? I mean, LOOK at this place!" she stated happily. Draco looked around. The room was the mirror image of his, but for the bedclothes, which were gold and red silk.
"I can enjoy the 'fruits of my labor' without acting like a five year-old," he retorted. "What is THAT?" he spat out, pointing to an orange patch of fur on the bed. At his comment, the patch in question sat up and hissed at him.
Hermione rolled her eyes and told herself, 'remember, don't rise to his baiting. Act mature.' "Just get out, Malfoy. I'm going to change now before we do our rounds." With that said, she got up, pushed him out the door and firmly closed it in his face. She smiled again and ran back to her bed, where she picked up Crookshanks and hugged him close. She then changed and began to unpack her things. She couldn't wait to show her friends her room!
Once again....like it or hate it, just tell me about it! Thanks for reading!