Chapter Three: Partners

The three spent the rest of the train ride chatting and discussing more of Harry's tales from Privet Drive, while Harry did an exagerrated imitation of Uncle Vernon throwing a fit. They all laughed uncontrollably as Harry made froth come out of his nose.

Finally, they changed into their robes, Hermione on the other side of a curtain, and got off the train.

"Firs' years, fir's years, over here!" The familiar booming voice of Hagrid greeted them like an old memory. Hermione inhaled the refreshing spring air. Next moment, they were bustled along by the crowd of noisy, chattering students. Harry picked out a carriage and gave the Thestral pulling it a grateful pat. Ron stared, bewildered. Hermione could understand why: to them it looked like Harry was stroking air. Harry gave the Thestral one last look before climbing into the carriage.

"You know," Harry said as Hermione clambered in to join him. "I reckon that was the one I flew to the Ministry."

"Honestly, who really cares?" Ron replied, as Hermione laughed at the look on Harry's face.

When the trio entered the Great Hall, they found it already full and boisterous. They found seats between Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan. But, unfortunately for Harry, Colin Creevey was sitting right opposite them. Colin gave a squeal of delight when he saw Harry.

"Hiya, Harry!" Colin acknowledged highly, his voice cracking.

"Uh," Harry grunted wearily.

"Do you know Dennis?" Colin asked enthusiastically.

"Mmm." The two Creevey brothers positively fainted.

"Wow!"

Hermione shot a glance at Harry who returned her gaze with a roll of his eyes. Hermione giggled and left him to droning his life story with a blank look on his face, while Colin and Dennis listened raptly.

"So, you really defeated You-Know-Who?" Dennis asked excitedly.

"Yeah," Harry said dully.

"Every year?"

"Yeah."

"Six times?"

"Yeah."

"Even in your first year?"

"Yeah."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah."

"Cool!"

"Uh."

"Cool..." Dennis echoed breathlessly.

After a few minutes of this, Harry was finally saved by the Sorting Hat starting it's song. They all applauded when the Hat had said it's last. At last, the Sorting had finished, and the Hall looked down expectedly at their plates.

"Now, now," chuckled Professor Dumbledore, who was standing up. Hermione supposed he had a few announcements to make. She was right.

"Firstly, Mr Filch has kindly added another fifty objects to the list of items banned in Hogwarts," Dumbledore paused as a groan issued from the students. "These include Nosebleed Nougats, Fainting Fancies, and basically anything from Weasley's WizardWheezes." Again there was a pause, as Dumbledore gazed at the ceiling, a peculiar look on his face, as though going over a very fond memory.

"Next, Hufflepuff Quidditch tryouts will be held next Monday, I understand they will be needing quite a few players." The Hufflepuff team nodded in agreement, peering around at the rest of the table, as though hoping they could find talented players simply by looking at them.

"Lastly," continued Dumbledore, " I have pleasure to announce that every seventh-year taking Muggle Studies will be spending ten months...in Muggle London." There was a great gasp and a stunned silence followed.

"You will be assigned a partner, who will be sharing your living quarters. Both of you will attend a Muggle High school, and study there. We will be expecting two rolls of parchment on Muggle life by the end of the year. Now, Minerva, would you be so kind as to read out the names of the partners?"

Dumbledore sat down, smiling at the students, who simply gaped with their mouths open.

"Well, at least the three of us don't have to go anywhere," Harry said reassuringly. But Hermione shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

"What's wrong, Hermione?" Ron asked concernly.

"Um..." Hermione mumbled softly. "I have to tell you guys something."

"What?" said Harry, trying to ignore the sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.

"I - I signed up for Muggle Studies again at the beginning of this year," Hermione stuttered in a rush, stumbling over her words.

"WHAT! But-but..." Ron looked shocked. "We won't see you for the whole year! It would be like you were on-on holiday or something!"

"It's not that bad, Ron," Harry told him, looking on the bright side of things. "She'll only be gone for about ten months, and she can tell us all about her trip when she comes back. It's only to Muggle London, anyway. I live there over the summer. It's not that bad, unless you're with the Dursleys, of course." Harry made a disgusted face.

After much persuasion, Ron reluctantly wished Hermione good luck and the three of them settled down to listen to Professor Mcgonagall.

"Ernie Macmillan and Seamus Finnigan!"

"Lavender Brown and Gregory Goyle!" Lavender gave an audible groan, and Goyle's face bore his usual unreadable expression.

Hermione waited with bated breath as Mcgonagall read out the names of her classmates. Hermione's mental list of possible partners were threatening to dwindle in nothingness. Finally, she watched with a sinking heart as Hannah Abbott smiled, relieved, from being partnered with Parvati Patil instead of some Slytherin goon. Hermione knew exactly who that was.

"Hermione Granger and...Draco Malfoy!"