Disclaimer : I don't own anything you might recognize. This is to say that the Harry Potter universe belongs to J.K. Rowling and that this story is written only for enjoyment; as such, I do own the plot and non-canon characters and plot for this fanfic, but that is all.
Authors Side Note : Please read and review that is what keeps me going on and on with my stories. If you see any mistakes then please inform me and don't be afraid to give me any pointers or such. Critique me loads please, I will write more, long chapters with more detail and get them up a few chapters at a time! Hopefully in time they will get longer and more detailed, I felt rushed with this chapter.
september first
Chapter Two: stone cold
Hermione slammed the door of the mini van hard behind her. She was happy to be going back to Hogwarts, even if she had no real friends anymore. Anything would be better then her life at home so she didn't waist anytime throwing her trunk and the cage that held the large fat orange cat, onto a cart and started to stroll away. Mr. Granger's hands clutched tightly onto the steering weal as his face started to turn a bright shade of purple.
Life had been hard for the three Grangers ever since Voldemort attacked their house and killed their mother/wife. Fights had broken out and words that weren't ever meant to be said spilled out of the both of them over the summer vacation. Matthew, who was Hermione's little brother was only five at the time and didn't know the cold hard facts that people where out to kill him along side his father and sister. He was quiet most of the time but stood in the middle of his almost grown sister and dad when things got to horrid to stand.
Cold hazel eyes stared ahead of her as Hermione stalked away from her summers past and into the other world which had caused all of this mess. Platform nine and three quarters came and went with a blink of an eye and being one of the first to board the Hogwarts Express, she got the very back compartment on the train, the very compartment where she had found Harry and Ron sitting in their first year. Shoving her large book bag to the side of where she was sitting Hermione pulled out a very large book, a photo album of sorts that had writing within it along with pictures.
Flipping threw the pages Hermione allowed her brown hair fall down in front of her shoulders. The curls that had once been there had been straightened out for the time being and had added much needed body with a good look. The pictures of her in earlier years made her stomach clench tight as she looked at pictured with Harry, Ron and herself. Memories flooded back almost instantly and so she closed up the book, only to be welcomed with the compartment door sliding open and the familiar faces of her new found enemies. "What do you both want, can't you find someone else to annoy and another empty compartment? Or are you both late again and can't seem to be lucky enough to be welcomed into one?"
"So sorry we aren't here hours before time so we can be suck-ups to the teacher. No wonder you haven't got any friends, it's a wonder how you never made any girl friends when you where with us." Ronald snapped out at Hermione as He made his way into the compartment, irritated at the sight of her already. The two boys put their belongings up in the storage above their heads and the two owls where held restlessly within their cages. Pig was screeching, fluttering around and running into walls while Hedwig glowered at Harry, almost challenging him to keep her in there for very much longer.
Hermione gazed towards the two and glared at them, hoping they would vanish off the face of this earth. No one needed them, Harry had defeated the dark lord and well Ron, and well he was just a nuisance.
"What is up with her do you think?" Harry whispered as he rolled his eyes over to Hermione who was now trying to find something in her book bag which was never really there. It was a nervous habit, she didn't want to have anything to do with them ever again and if she had to sit in the compartment for the next few hours with them then she would just have to pretend they weren't there.
"Couldn't tell yeah, but they probably closed down SPEW or something." Ron's words made Hermione look up from what she was doing; an almost dangerous look was in her eyes as she glared at the two.
"Why don't you both just shove it OK? I have had enough of that shit back home so I don't need more of it coming from the both of you!" The seventh year spat at the two ignorant men who sat in front of her. She couldn't believe how immature they had really been all those years but it finally hit her. She had befriended two complete morons. Exchanging looks, Harry and Ron suddenly burst out laughing and then started to talk about the up coming year at Hogwarts and how much fun the pranks where to be, especially now that the seventh year was upon them and they would thus now rule the school.
Standing up Hermione turned her back to them and then reached up for her large bag that held her change of clothes in. When she grabbed a hold of it she turned around and then nodded for the two of them to get out of her compartment so she could get into her robes and get ready for their arrival. Reluctantly the two stood and disappeared out of the compartment. Hermione slipped off her Hoodie and then threw it on the bench that she had declared hers. She was wearing a tight white spaghetti strap and soon pulled on her white collared shirt. Pulling off her blue jeans she soon replaced them with the school skirt she was assigned to wear. She tied her tie and then pulled on her large black school robe and pinned on the Head Girl badge which had been sent to her with her start of term notices. It was scarlet and gold with her house crest upon it.
Putting away all of her stuff Hermione stood by the window and she looked out to the train's destination. It was only mid day; they had a few more hours she guessed so she soon turned away and looked over to the two boys who had entered the compartment only moments before. Suddenly the compartment door swung open and none other then Draco Malfoy was standing on the other side. His cool icy gray eyes washed over Hermione only to look away. A weird feeling had started to twitch within his stomach as he told himself to calm down.
"Come on Granger, the professors don't like to be kept waiting." He sneered as he turned and started to walk off down the hall, trying to not meet eye contact with the mudblood again.
Hermione's eyes widened as she suddenly grabbed her book bag and threw it with the rest of her stuff. "Holy shit, I can't believe that I am late!" She shrieked as she ran out of the compartment and took a fast left turn, only to run straight into Draco, knocking him down onto the floor. She had thought he had gone out in front of her, not waited. Hermione was lying upon Malfoy, but she didn't make any movements to stand as she looked down at the 'purebloods' face.
"Get off you filthy bitch!" Draco heaved out as he pushed Hermione away from him and then stood up, whipping his hands on his school robes like she was some kind of disease. "You better watch where you are going next time!"
"Is that a threat Malfoy!" Hermione spat as she helped herself up and stared up directly into Malfoy's eyes, almost daring him to say something as she reached for her wand and gripped it tightly. "Let's just try to be civilized since we have to spend this year together." She was right, he needed to play cool and not get into anymore trouble, only one more year and he could leave, one more year and he would be able to get his life in gear and move away for good.
The walk down the trains' hallway was fairly short and before Draco or Hermione could have spat insults at each other they where already entering the compartment which inside held Albus, Minerva, and Severus. Taking a seat on the other side of Minerva, Hermione shot an evil glair towards Malfoy and then directed her attention to her head master before she could see what Draco had come up with as an insult. Draco stood off to the side close by Severus and looked around the compartment like he hated being there.
"I assume you both know that you will be working with each other this year as a team?" The all too cheerful Albus spoke, his eyes twinkling behind his half moon spectacles as he stared from Hermione to Draco. It was almost like he always had a hidden plan up his sleeve.
As Hermione opened her mouth to speak Draco cut her off with his all too horrid whining voice. "I can't believe you are going to make me work with… with… with her! Couldn't you find someone more worthy for the job Professor?"
Albus chuckled but seemed to take Draco's statement to the heart. "I think you both will make a very good couple if I do say so myself" As he winked out into the distance for both professors to see. Hermione's eyes widened at his words and then slumped back into the seat. This was going to be one of the longest years she would ever have!
Soon enough the five of them had got to talking about the years trips and everything that would be going on during the year, and the fact that they would be living together with the four prefects. They would be taking a trip to the states for quite sometime which made Hermione twitch and they world be setting up the dances and get togethers of the year which was a new thing but Professor Dumbledor thought it had been a good idea seeing as the dark lord had been defeated, they needed to celebrate!
As soon as they had gotten there they were gone and Hermione was following Draco back to her compartment. Hermione sighed as she reached her compartment and then looked at Draco, wondering why he had led her all the way back here.
"Don't think this year is going to be a piece of cake Granger! You best watch your back." Draco spat at her as he turned around to face her. Sliding the compartment door open Hermione stared at Draco a few moments longer only to vanish into the compartment without a single word. There was something different about him this year that wasn't there the last couple of years.
It would be a only a few hours until the two would cross paths but this time, no one was around to be a witness to the things that would go down.
Kids exploded off the train as soon as they pulled into the station, the regular wagons awaited the second years and up and Hagrid stood calling all of the first years towards him. They looked petrified at his size as Hermione watched from inside of the compartment. Maybe she should just go and rent out a room in Hogsmead and find a nice job? No, she knew that Dumbledor would be after her and against her will drag her back to the castle. She was the last to hop off the train, caring her book bag and Crookshanks she was lucky enough that there was still one more wagon that was waiting for her.
As she walked up she threw her book bag into the seat and then up went Crookshanks. Hermione followed, her deep orbs falling into a father sad yet annoyed state. She had never though she would be going up to the castle alone the last year of Hogwarts. The beasts pulled to a stop as she exited, wandering up the stairs and allowed herself to put Crookshanks cage down along with her book back upon the Gryffindor pile. She turned the heads of the school as she swung open the door; it wasn't good to be a Head of House and turning up late at the beginning of the feast banquet.
She sat down by Neville Longbottom and Ginny Weasley. They two had been a couple for a little over a year now and they were probably the cutest couple in Hogwarts. Ginny was Hermione's only close friend now within Hogwarts walls but the ever so longing feeling of the states where lingering in the back of her mind. Ever since the day on that train she hadn't spoken to Jayde or Akki. Nor had she heard from them, which in the end was probably the best path to go along, everything had already been screwed up royally.
"Before the feast begins I have a few starts of term notices," Dumbledor allowed his voice to boom out over the Great Hall, heads turned and mouths quieted down. "Welcome again back to Hogwarts, and some of you, welcome to Hogwarts, we hope you find yourself at home here. I would like to remind all of you that the Forbidden Forest is strictly forbidden to all, we have gathered new heads and new prefects so if they would all stand and move up to the front of their tables…" He allowed his vocals to quiet down as he watched Hermione and Draco walk up and stand on either side of him. Ginny Weasley had been selected for the Gryffindor prefect and three others also followed and stood at the beginning of their tables.
"Draco Malfoy from Slytherin and Hermione Granger from Gryffindor have been selected as the Head of Houses." Cheers could be heard coming from all of the students. Whispers went out in the crowed as they where announced. He named the four prefects and went on with his speech. The feast began and ended with a blink of an eye it seemed and Hermione had barley even touched her food. Ginny lead the Gryffindor first years to the common room while Hermione stuck around and waited for Draco and Professor Dumbledor.
"Mighty fine bunch we had coming in this year, wouldn't you agree?" He voice was bubbly, it almost always was. Hermione turned to face Dumbledor and Draco; she stood and allowed her eyes to glance over at Draco.
"Where exactly are we sleeping Professor, I mean we don't all share a room do we?" A million questions where exploding within Hermione's head as she looked back to Albus. "Do we get to get back to our house common rooms from the place we stay, like passage ways or something?" She looked anxious, but was glad to get away from Potter and Weasley, along with the rest of the girls in the Gryffindor house. It was a good thing Ginny was with her, she didn't know what she would do without her. Having to survive the whole year constantly in the presents of Draco Malfoy, you might as well just shoot her now.
"Ahh Miss Granger, you ask very valuable questions. The six of you will be sharing a common room much like your own houses but it will be decorated within all house colors. Ahh yes, well we can go and check it out now, cant we." He smiled as the four prefects finally showed themselves back into the Great Hall. "Follow me now…" He trailed off as he suddenly left his position in the middle of the group and fled out of the great all. We traveled up and down stairs, threw passageways hidden behind pictures and banners, and suddenly they came to an abrupt holt.
There was nothing there; it was just a stone wall so Hermione looked to Ginny with a questioning gaze. With a flick of his wand Dumbledor allowed his voice to emerge. "Chocolate Frogs!" Within an instant a door popped out of thin air which flew open to show off a stone passage way lit with torches. The followed down and suddenly came to a common room. Many gasps could be heard as Hermione stood there opened mouthed. There were four rather large portraits with Godric Gryffindor, Rowena Ravenclaw, Helga Hufflepuff and Salazar Slytherin.
Hermione guessed those to be the portals in which would take them back to their regular house common rooms. She was of course right as they would all find out when Professor Dumbledor started to name everything special and unique about the place. "We are trying to get the houses better acquainted; now that the war is over we feel that it is time to not be separated so much." He put his hand on a sixth year named Brad Howard of Ravenclaw. He was tall and has short cut dirty blonde hair with hazel eyes.
"Now the portraits of the Hogwarts founders will lead you back to your house common rooms, you will be able to choose a password so get together if you have two in the same house to do so." He was talking about Hermione and Ginny along with Draco and Blake, a sixth year as well. "The stair case will lead to your rooms; you will have your crest upon the door as well as your last name. Head of Houses will be taking this other stair case to get to their rooms." He pointed his wand over towards a corner closest the fireplace.
"There are six blankets all with your house crests on them and your names engraved; you loose it just ask a house elf to get you a new one." At this Hermione glared at Dumbledor and turned away. She still was against them keeping them as slaves, which is what it seemed like though all where happy to be in Hogwarts. He talked more and more about where they were staying and that they would be meeting with Professor Dumbledor along with McGonagall, Sprout, Flitwick and Snape ever Friday to discuss plans and get projects to work on. School would be twice as hard Which only Hermione found interesting so they would have to put extra attention into school this year.
He left the six of them to go out and explore and get use to the common room. They had classes the next morning and he wanted them to be fully rested. "Wow herm, this is so amazing, I never dreamed we would practically get a common room to ourselves!" Ginny exclaimed excitedly as she raced to find out what her room looked like. Hermione sat down on the closest chair possible, her almond shaped eyes swiveling around the room like ping pong balls not knowing what to do first.
She stood and wandered down the same passageway that Draco had taken and spotted his door on the left. It was large like a dungeons door and made out of dark mahogany wood. There was the Slytherins crest upon the door and the word MALFOY had been inscribed into the door. She turned her back to the door only to find she was facing one that was equal in height and width. She gaped at it, it was a light colored wood with the Gryffindor crest engraved and the word GRANGER was written just like Draco's had been.
She pushed the door open and then wandered inside. She couldn't explain how beautiful everything was and she knew she would be thanking Dumbledor now until she herself became a professor here, hoping to snatch up the job of transfiguration. By the time she would be completed and ready for the job she was sure Dumbledor would be resigned and Minerva McGonagall would be the headmistress of Hogwarts. She had spoken to Dumbledor that summer about retiring and he was ready for it but wanted to weight for her and the rest of the seventh years to be out before he did so, maybe even a few more years afterwards.
Deep brown orbs washed over her realm, it was large with the light wood. Her eyes first laid on her four poster bed which had vines traveling up engraved on them in design. Rich scarlet silk sheets with gold Gryffindor crest embroidered on them was made out as her comforter. She had her own fireplace along with a love seat and over five hundred books lining a build in book case. She knew Dumbledor must have put that in separate and she was very pleased with it. Crookshanks was curled up upon the love seat snuggled up upon a blanket, he was fat but still cute, Hermione was glad she had gotten him.
Slipping over to her wardrobe closet she pulled out her pajama shorts that where green and white stripped. She put her robes and school clothes away and went to the book shelf. She was tall, having grown and her legs where in shape, you could tell she had been running all summer long. Grabbing Hogwarts A History she decided to brush up and re-read it again, she hadn't laid eyes on it for sometime.
Thinking Ginny might be found in the common room she opened up the door and came to Draco's door wide open. Peering her head over the threshold she looked around "Hello? Draco are you in there" She questioned, it was odd for him to leave his room open, he was such a reserved person. Not that she ever paid any attention to him
"What in the hell do you think your doing" His venom like voice spat at her as he came around the bend. At first he thought it was the Hufflepuff girl, he didn't fancy Hufflepuff but he wouldn't have mined to get close to the pair of legs she had. As soon as he had taken in that it was Hermione he whipped the happy go lucky smirk off his face.
Whirling around Hermione turned to face him, her large eyes widened as she looked over him. He was in only a towel and she guessed that he had just come from the bathrooms. Located in a door off the common room, girls and boys share His hair was darker when wet and without the gel he had in his hair he looked rather charming. Of course all girls thought this about Draco Malfoy, even thought that didn't want to admit it did. "I just, thought you where inside or had left your door open on accident… I don't know, curiosity killed the cat I guess. What are you staring at anyway Malfoy" She glared at the boy and then shoved passed him, moving into the common room.
No one was in the common room but that also meant she would be able to read at least half of the book before she would go out and hit the sack. Moving over onto the couch Hermione leaned back into a laying position with her knees up in the air. The fires blaze made up as her reading light as she sped threw the first few pages. Suddenly Godric Gryffindor's portrait swung open and Ginny emerged followed by Neville, Harry and Ron. "Hey Gin, Neville how are you both?" Hermione chirped up as she closed the book with her finger in place.
"Rather well actually and congrats again Hermione on getting head girl, No surprise of course we knew you deserved it!" Neville spoke happily as he followed Ginny to the love seat and snuggled up close to her. Harry and Ron stood back, gaping at the common room that they where missing out on. "Ginny told me they have full house elf service!"
"That is totally wicked!" Ron said in amazement as he looked around as if to try and find one popping out of thin air to work for his every beckon need.
"Cant you see that I am reading, would you two mind moving your conversation back to the Gryffindor common room, where someone cares about what you say?" Hermione growled at the two as she sat up, her long hair falling down over her face framing it just right.
Harry glared at her and then turned to Ginny, "nice of you to have us, see you two tomorrow! Come on Ron lets get out of here." He said with a fake smile upon his face, lowering his tone down with the second part.
Draco emerged as soon as the two left, his brow cocked as if to question Hermione's attitude. He thought it was just bad PMS, and that is why they always seemed to avoid her last year but it suddenly clicked, they famous trio that had defeated something amazing in each year here at Hogwarts was split up. He was in black sweat pants, no shirt which was weird because if Hermione would usually seem him like this he would freak out like a little girl and scream, running away because a so called "mudblood" had seen him. Ginny and Neville were making out when Hermione coughed, giving them a hint to go up into Ginny's room. She was royally irritated with everyone right about now and hated it.
"When did you, potty, and weasel split up Granger?" He dark gray orbs fell over her body once again, getting the urge that he usually got when he looked at the fresh meat from Slytherin that came in every year. "Potters fame catches up with you and makes you jealous so you bail out?"
Hermione looked around and then decided to ignore Draco, picking up her book and getting back deep into reading. She took some side glances towards him to see if he was still staring at her and he looked rather annoyed at the fact that she was ignoring him. No one had ever done such a thing had they? "Draco, why are you staring at me?" Was all she said, though she wished to give him a piece of her mind?
"I'm not, and how would you know even if I was, you would have to be looking at me anyway. And even if I was, which I'm not, that is none of your concern. It's a free country!" Draco moved over to the love seat directly across from her.
Giving up she allowed the book to slam shut and be thrown to the nearest table. Then suddenly stoop up off of the couch. "I only looked at you because I saw you staring at me when you came out, my eyes slipped that's all. If you stair at me and think its fine then I shall teach you its now!" She glowered at him and pulled out her wand. After her mothers death Hermione carried it with her everywhere even in muggle places. She pointed it directly at his face, glairing at him with no emotions showing throughout her face.
"You know you shouldn't play with toys Granger that you can't handle; didn't your mother ever tell you that?" He pulled out his just as quick as she had.
"Well I am sure she would have if she wasn't dead right about now." Hermione shot sparks from her wand; she had mastered performing the spells with her head already and was glad for it too. Draco froze into stone and fell over on his side. "Don't you ever talk about my family your idiotic freak!" She snarled and stomped away to her bedroom, leaving Draco out until the spell wore off.
3 always
Akkiella Lupin
P.S. Hey everyone I hoped you like the second chapter, really the main first one but well you get what I mean. Please read and review and I will be sure to get up the third one ASAP!