Midnight Strolls
The towers and hills of Hogwarts Castle and the surrounding grounds slowly came into view as Harry, Hermione and Ron rode in the thestral drawn carriage. The creature had become solid to all three of them by now, despite Mrs. Weasley's attempts to keep them out of the Order's business.
"Ah, I love seeing the castle just appear out of nowhere. It's one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen" Harry couldn't wait to be back inside the building that was where he felt most at home.
"Yeah, I love this old castle. It's so historic and I hope to be able to come back here after we graduate." Hermione leaned against Harry's chest and stared at the gigantic stone building that was over one thousand years old.
"I agree with both of you. Although I think my favorite way to see Hogwarts appearing would be from the inside of a Ford Anglina. What'd you think Harry? Isn't it the best way to arrive for the start of term?" Ron had this look on his face as though he was traveling back in time.
Harry chuckled but didn't answer right away. He took his time like this one question would change his life.
"No. It isn't. It was fun, but I prefer this right here, with Hermione next to me and you sitting there. All of us laughing and having a good time." He really looked like that was all he needed in the world. To be loved by his friends. Hermione shot up from her warm pillow.
"Well, since no one is bothering to ask how I like to see Hogwarts I'll just tell you two broom heads. I love to see it in the dead of night riding on the back of a Hippogriff. Clinging to Harry and racing against time to save a very important person. That is my favorite way to see Hogwarts." After that great tale she leaned back down and reclaimed her warm pillow.
"Huh? When did you see Hogwarts like that? I don't remember that happening. Why wasn't I there?" Ron had grown very confused. There was much about the night that Sirius escaped that he still didn't know.
"Oh, that's right. Ron still doesn't know about that night. That was the night Mione and I rescued Sirius, on the back of Buckbeack. Remember you weren't there because you couldn't walk." Harry was happy that Ron had missed out on that particular adventure. It was after that night that Harry had realized he liked Hermione more than just a friend. He cared for her more than he had for any other person in his whole life.
The carriage came to an abrupt stop and the door flung open. Ron jumped down, and then Harry got out in order to help Hermione down from the black pine carriage.
They walked into the Great Hall together for the last start of term feast in their Hogwarts career. Instinctively they turned to the right and walked passed the witty Ravenclaw table. Finally they had arrived at the Gryffindor table which above it hung a flag with their house crest on it, the valiant red and gold lion.
"Move out of the way shorties!"
"Make way for the better wizards." Hermione looked toward the double doors in time to see Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson arrive. Pansy had her arms around Draco like a niffler hanging on to gold. He on the other hand didn't even seem to notice. He wore an air about him that said 'I know your worthless so don't bother me.' She hoped he didn't start something already. She wanted to enjoy her meal; not baby sit the ferret.
"Look at that jerk. He thinks he owns the place." Ron looked disgustedly at Malfoy and his tramp.
"This way Malfie, I want to sit in the middle. Did you have fun on the train ride, I sure did." Pansy was trying desperately for Draco to talk to her. They used to talk, but now nothing. He still acted like her boyfriend, but just on the physical side. He didn't do anything else. He didn't owl her, or even look at her most of the time. Would this be how their life would be after they were married? She didn't want that. She wanted someone who would talk to her, and actually listen when she talked back.
"Pansy, do we have to sit up there?" He wasn't really asking her, but his father had taught him to at least tolerate women, even if they couldn't stand up to his intelligence.
"Fine sit were you like, but I'm going up there and I would love it if you joined me." She slowly released her grip hoping that if she let go really slow he would change his mind.
"I don't really care where the hell you sit. It's not like we have to be together all the time." 'You stupid pug', he added in his head. She was fine for a shag, but that was about it. Draco just figured that all women would be like that, so what was the point of looking for another. Only another wizard could equal his intelligence. But frankly the witches were just to lovely to give up. He'd deal with out the conversational side of a relationship.
"When you hear your name I want you to step forward and I'll place the sorting hat on your head." Professor McGonagall's voice called Hermione's attention and she quickly silenced her best friends.
They watched the sorting with rapture. The song that had been so simple when they arrived now was littered with warnings and calls to unite. The poor hat had been warning the students of Hogwarts since the golden trios fifth year. Unfortunately the students hadn't paid much attention to the patched, frayed hat that decided their future at Hogwarts. They had kept things the way they had been for the past thousand years. Traditions were had to break after all.
"Come on I want my food. I haven't eaten in months!"
"What do you mean you haven't eaten in months Ron? You had three helpings of food last night." Harry looked at his carrot topped friend.
"I…Well, I have eaten, but I need food. You'll just have to deal with me taking things out of proportion." Ron kept up with his rambling about how much he needed food for a good five minutes after the feast had appeared.
"Goyle, do you have to eat with your hands? It disgusts me!" Draco had sat as close to the double doors as possible. He wasn't in the mood to be surrounded by such idiots and goody-goods at the moment. The one good thing that happened tonight was Pansy decided to sit away from him. She did however keep staring down the table toward him. If she thought that he was going to get up and move she was completely nuts.
"Millie,why doesn't Draco want to spend time with me? Is it something I did? Am I not good enough? Or maybe something happened to him over the summer." Pansy had to talk to someone, and Millicent was her only female friend that she had. The guys wouldn't understand, especially not Slytherin guys.
"It doesn't really matter now does it? He's acting weird. He's a guy; let him do what he wants. I'm sure he'll get over what ever is bothering him." Millicent didn't even believe half of what she just said, but if it stopped Pansy from talking about Draco then it was worth it. Even if it didn't stop Pansy, it was worth it. Lying to Pansy had always been one of her favorite things to do. Pansy was just so gullible. She trusted Millie way too much, much more than any Slytherin trusted another person, and that could get her in to trouble.
"I'm going to bed." Hermione yawned deeply. "Ron, Harry, will you guys take care of the first years?" They gave her a look that told her instantly that would be a bad idea. "Never mind I can stay up for a bit longer. You guys just make sure nothing happens down here and then you can go to bed."
"Will do! Are you sure you don't want us to take care of the newbies?" Harry was feeling guilty because it was the first night back and Hermione was already tired! What would happen once she got engulfed in her classes?
"Yes, I'm fine. I just have to take them to the dorms. It's not out of the way. You two just make sure everyone gets out of here in an orderly manner." It was said softly, but she held all the power of her position behind her gaze.
A long arm masterfully snaked itself around his own arm. He didn't need to look to see who it was. He was actually surprised she had lasted this long without him.
"Pansy, must you hang all over me in public. You know I hate it." Draco again had said that to be nice to her. If it hadn't been for his upbringing he would have thrown her off of him, but he was taught to stand women and anything they did. They were jewels even if his jewel happened to look like a stone instead.
"But Malfie I want to spend time with you. We never do anything fun." Damn Slytherin girls and their fake tears.
"Fine my sweet, meet me in the trophy room at one, and we'll spend sometime together. Does that suit you?" He played the part by staring into her eyes and playfully biting her nose. He could see a shiver run though Pansy's whole body. He had her just were he wanted her.
"Yes Malfie, that's fine. One O'clock. In the trophy room, I'll be waiting." She gripped his arm more just for good measure, but he quickly wiggled free.
"Well, with that settled I'm going to bed." She went to rise from her seat, but Draco stopped her. "Why don't you go mingle with the table? I need some rest before tonight and with you around, how could I rest?" He had that lie out faster than his Silverbolt could fly. She accepted it and ran off to gossip to Millicent. He looked at her for a minute before turning around and walking to the double doors.
"Ok first years time for bed. Follow me this way." Hermione had decided that the first year students had better be off to bed. So she gathered them up and was walking toward the giant cherry doors that lead to the entrance hall and eventually up to Gryffindor Tower. She didn't notice however that a tall Slytherin had chosen that time to leave as well. So as she was walking and talking to the first years she ran right into him.
"Watch where you going! How dare you run into me! You….."
"Say one more word Malfoy and I'll give you detention." Hermione knew which word was going to be spit from his perfect pure blooded lips. She hated that word, and she didn't need the first years to learn it their very first day at the prestigious school.
He scowled at her. She was amazed she hadn't seen that facial expression sooner that day. "I mean it Malfoy, just carry on with what ever it was you were doing, and get out of my sight."
"What if what I was doing was trying to annoy the bloody hell out of you by glaring at you? How would I do that and get out of your sight?" He figured he had her speechless, after all he said that he'd be staring at her, any other girl in Hogwarts would fall over on the spot.
"Then I'd say that you need to stop stalking me and I'd probably hex you if you didn't. And believe me if I hexed you, you'd find yourself waking up in the hospital wing with Madame Pomfrey fussing over you like you deserved to live." She had lowered her voice for that comment so the first years couldn't hear it. After all it was against school rules to duel other students, and she needed to promote school unity as Head Girl.
"I'd like to see a Gryffindor like you send me to the hospital wing. If anything you'd be going, which I will arrange if you don't leave my sight this instant Granger." 'You filthy, stinking, annoying, bitchy, fucking Mudblood.' He hated that he had to think all of that, but he didn't need a detention today, and he'd get one hell of one if he had said all that in front of the mini lions. They had already started to cringe at him, which was fine with him they needed to learn their place, but he was sure to get pulled into the Deputy Head Mistresses office if he scared them too much on their first day. He always hated that; hence why he just turned and stormed out of the Great Hall before the witch could get the last word in.
Damn Slytherin Prat Hermione thought as they were walking. She was so caught up in her thoughts that she forgot to take the easy way to the dormitories. It therefore took the group a very long time because the first years kept getting stuck on trick steps and all that.
"Is this the only way to get to our rooms?" One little girl asked after she had sunk into a step up to her waist.
"No", Hermione replied as she pulled the girl out. "There are other ways, and I'll show all of you the easiest way tomorrow, before breakfast."
Finally they stood in front of the Fat Lady. She looked very happy to see Hermione and the first years. "I had gotten worried, I thought something happen. Usually the first years get up here before everyone else."
"Oh, well we got a little side tracked." Hermione was happy to see the Victorian lady in the pink dress. "Little Vampire"
"Thank you and welcome children to Gryffindor tower." The painting swung open on her century old hinges, but made not one sound. Hermione quickly hustled the excited and tired first years into the common room of the tower that they would spend the next seven years getting to know and fall in love with.
"Ok guys. Sorry for the long trip up here, but I got a little side tracked. Gentleman your dormitories are though that door and up the stairs" She pointed to the door on the left side of the common room "Ladies you can follow me though the other door and up the stairs. Don't worry about your trucks, they've already been brought up here, they should be next to your beds. Now everyone, since I didn't show you the easiest way to get up here I will show you how to get to the Great Hall from here tomorrow morning. So we will all meet down here before breakfast." She bid them good night and headed toward the door that lead to her half of the dormitories and her soft four poster bed.
He sat in the leather bound chair and faced the stone fireplace. The chandeliers that hung from the ceiling had a greenish tint to them and they even made the fire glow green; his favorite color. This was how he liked the common room the best, with no one else around. Sure it was fun to watch the rest of his housemates fear for their lives, but he preferred to not have to associate with any of them. What he was really looking forward to was a good night's sleep in his bed.
"Malfie, are you excited about tonight Malfie. You know I am. I'll see you in a few hours." That's right he had a date with Pansy tonight. He still wasn't sure if he should go. She was just so boring, and he didn't feel like dealing with her constantly talking. She had the most annoying voice he had ever heard. He'd rather to listen to a banshee scream more than Pansy's talking.
"Oh right. See ya in a few hours" He wasn't going. He'd just tell her he got caught by McGonagall or something like that. The lie wasn't really that important, she'd believe anything that he said.
He went back to staring at the flames. They were entrancing, almost as though they could speak to him. Draco liked to watch the fire; sometimes he would stay up and just watch the fire die down to nothing but embers. He couldn't do that tonight though. He couldn't be here when Pansy decided to leave for their date. So he soon retired to his comfortable bed. The ordinary mattress wasn't as comfortable as his bed at home, but his father refused to send it to him. He had said something along the lines of 'If it was good enough for me then its good enough for you'. Draco highly doubted that. He was much better than his father, in many things. He was a better student than his father had ever been, he got on the Quidditch team unlike his father, and probably the most important the Dark Lord Favored Draco over his father. If that wasn't proof enough that Draco was a better wizard, he didn't know what was.
Author's Notes:
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. I wish I did though. I'd be VERY happy if that happened, but it won't so oh well.
This is my first fanfic. It's dedicated to my best friend Aurora Slytherin. She wanted me to write her something, and here it is.
Thanks for the people who reviewed the first chapter. I'm very glad that you liked it.
Oh did you like the password Aurora?
