Chapter 3

Hermione was sat on the train.

She briefly saw Harry and Ron enter a different section of the train on platform 9 and three quarters, before they vanished. Harry waved, and she waved back. Ron however, dragged Harry onto the train and she lowered her hand weakly. She sorrowfully made her way into an empty carriage, held Crookshanks on her lap and stroked him as he purred. This is gong to be a lonely year…

And for all the hours it took to get to the greatest place she had ever known, she was silent. She didn't even speak as she took her case and pet with her, and disembarked. Hagrid waved to them all and was booming orders at all the years.

"6th years are to take the carriages this year. But with a twist as unicorns will be pulling them. Hurry now 6th years, they won't wait forever."

"Hagrid, did you say unicorns? They are exceedingly timid creatures. How did you get them tame enough to pull the carriages?"

"We're not even inside and she is at it again." Ron muttered, but loud enough for Hermione to hear. She soon went silent and didn't even see the look on Hagrid's face. He looked confused and almost hurt for her.

But she kept a stern face and sat, along in a carriage. The Unicorns looked very unnerved and agitated, but pulled ahead. She was taken away so quickly, she didn't see Harry smack Ron on the back of his head. They too took a carriage and went into the large grounds of Hogwarts. It didn't take her long to settle in to her dorm, surprised that she had a new room. There was a note on her single bed.

Dear Miss Hermione Granger

Due to your new appointment as the head girl, you will now be accustomed to a single room with a higher vantage point to the common room and an all access pass to the library. Not that that has stopped you in the past has it Miss Granger. But on a more serious note, you will have more obligations as the head girl. You will be required to give a talk to the new students, other than the first years and if asked, to sub a lesion for any younger years. This we will allow for only you as you have attained such outstanding owl results. Enjoy your 6th year Miss Granger, who knows what lies in store for you.

Headmaster Dumbledore.

Hermione had to smile as Dumbledore referred to her sneaking around the restricted section of the library. She practically lived there towards the end of the 5th year.

Hermione unpacked her things and made her way to the main hall. The great feast would fill her growling stomach, but not her broken heart. She felt like a knife was lodged there, courtesy of Ron Weasley. She wasn't attracted to him, but she was perhaps his friend at one point. She certainly felt betrayed.

As usual, the tables were filled with an array of delicious foods, puddings and drinks. Hot and cold. Fizzing and still. The enchanted ceiling was black with hundreds of beautiful twinkling stars. On the Gryffindor table, Hermione sat on the very end, closest to the teacher's table. She only smiled when Dumbledore stood with his wand against his throat, and the sorting hat by his side. First he welcomed the new first years, and all four-house tables were soon filled with new students. Most of them went to Ravenclaw this year, not many to Slytherin, but a few more than Gryffindor.

"And now that the houses have been sorted, we shall all sit and enjoy this fruitful feast, courtesy of the house elves. Now if there are no more students to be sorted then."

CCCCRRRREEEEAAAAAKKKKK.

The huge doors were slowly creaked open, very quickly. The entire hall looked to the door in surprise. Everyone was already inside the hall, even Filch. So who was pushing open the doors? And no one heard the magic incantation, or spell. So how was it opening?

Hermione leaned back on her chair, trying to get as better view. As the doors clanged against the door, a dark figure appeared in the door way. He had actually opened the colossal doors with his own hands! Everyone fell deathly quite as the dark spectre scanned the entire hall.

He had big black boots, long black trousers, a snake head silver buckle belt, a skin tight black shirt with long sleeves, thick black leather gloves and a long black leather coat that billowed behind him. The magic ceiling flashed and a thunderstorm ensued. The cracks of thunder punctuated ever foot step he took, as he stalked through the hall. Not even Pansy whispered as this man clad in black walked through the hall. The only reason they knew him to be a man was from his muscular frame, broad shoulders and masculine body language. Actually, it was more predatory than anything. When he got closer, Hermione saw that she couldn't see his face. The skin tight shirt had a skin tight neck to it that fed up into a large, full head mask. The face of the mask was like that of a Luchadore wrestler, but sinister in design. The back of his head was covered in the leather black, and his front held the masked features. It looked like a demon. Large red eye lenses with no holes for eyes or pupils, no nose or mouth, just smooth black. It spiked at the edges like a fire ball, or spikes. Either way, he looked like the reincarnated devil himself.

Hermione had been leaning over so far, that she slipped and went flying backwards. She yelped aloud, preparing for impact…when it didn't come. She panted heavily with fright as she looked around her, to find that her legs were still on the bench, and her body was floating parallel to the bench.

Then she saw him.

Stood right next to her, was the man in black, his foreboding red eyes looking right into her honey ones. She looked for a wand, but he had none. His right hand was clawed out and over her chest. As he lifted his hand, her body lifted as well, until she sat upright once more. The controlling, tingling sensation on her skin, faded away as he lowered his hand to his side.

"Th thank you." She whimpered quietly. He turned to look at her again, nodded and returned his gaze towards the headmaster. He was so tall, he could look right into Dumbledore's eyes.

"H How may I help you sir?" the character leaned forward and obviously whispered into his ear. The entire hall looked for what ever reaction they could get from the headmaster's trained eyes. They grew wide and he held the young man by his shoulders. "Minerva, take over for me. I will be in my office." Hermione and the rest of the hall just watched as Dumbledore grabbed the sorting hat, hurried out the hall and made sure that the dark shadow followed him. After they left, the sky on the ceiling calmed once more and whispers and gasped erupted with a fury. Now, gossip ensued.

"What was that all about?"

"Who is he?"

"Is he the new Defence against the dark arts teacher?"

"Is he an upper student?"

"Is he a teacher?"

"Did you see those eyes?"

"What is his name?"

"What is his deal?"

"I hope he joins Slytherin, if he is a student." Malfoy sniggered and crab and goyle agreed. "I would take him under my wing if he did. Regardless his year." Hermione rolled her eyes at the bleach blond boy, and looked to the teacher's table. She was shocked. She thought the bustling of worried voices from the students was bad, but the teachers were worse. They seemed, more than concerned. Prof McGonagall stood and had to shout before she got the hall's attention again.

"Now, return to your dorms immediately until further notice, if you need nay help, talk to either the prefects or your head boy and girl." Hermione nodded. "Enjoy this year and work hard." And that was it. The weirdest first day at Hogwarts ever. Hermione had so many questions, she was so confused. Who was that man and why did he make Dumbledore turn white? She had never seen Dumbledore run before today. He looked surprised, and not in a nice way. Before she could even think any further on the matter, she was swamped with first years.

"Are you the head girl?"

"Who was that?"

"Are we safe?"

"I forgot the password to the fat lady's portrait."

"When do classes start?"

"I want to go home."

"Where's the bathroom?"

"please, please clam down. I will try my best to." Hermione saw Ron and smirked. "I can't help you, but he can." Well he is the head boy after all. He has to live up to his responsibilities.

Like you are?

Oh be quiet. Now is not the time for my conscience to bicker with me. Now is the time for a little 'retribution'. Besides…this is amusing.

Ron was attacked by over 20 first years at once, and the crowd was growing. Hermione skipped out the hall and walked up to the fat lady.

"Why hello there miss Granger. Password?" she sang and played with her fruit hat. She had to chuckle.

"Pollywog sprout." She chirped, her spirits lightened and the portrait swung open. Hermione stepped inside and looked around the jam-packed common room. All the pretty girls were in one corner, circled around Cho Chang as usual. The handsome buys were in the other corner exchanging looks with them, the Weasleys, Harry and co were all laughing in the centre and all the chairs near the fire were taken. She looked around, and frowned. She didn't belong near the good-looking boys or girls, and now she didn't belong with the laughing, fun loving crowd either. And the worse thing was, it wasn't her fault. Jerks. She mumbled to herself and made her way to her 'Head Girl quarters. It was right next to the spiral staircase in the girl's tower and closest to the common room. So she could come and go as she pleased without the looks from the neighbouring room. Or room mates.

That was good, if she had anywhere to go like the others did. The other girls had boyfriends, friends, clubs and after school hours lessons and social gatherings. Hermione did not. She never did, except for putting her neck out for Harry and Ron.

All the time.

But now she simply had nothing. Nothing to do and no one to do anything with.

She slummed down onto her bed and sighed. Her room was built just like her old room. Except it only had one window and the bed was a lot larger. She thought it might be a small double from the way she could assume the shape of a star fish with no trouble, or hanging off the bed sides. Next Hermione saw that her larger suitcase had been brought up to her room while she was in the main hall. Her stomach still growled from not eating, and remembered why.

That man.

The man in black. That tall, dark, mysterious stranger from no one knows where. He didn't even have a name, yet. Hermione scoffed the last of her chocolate frogs from the train, and fell to sleep on the bed. The next day, would be a test for her. In more ways than one. To get through a school day without being with Ron or Harry (thanks to Ron) and to learn just who this stranger was. I hope he isn't dangerous...

As Hermione slept…

"Albus, I knew this would happen. I knew it." Fudge paced Dumbledore's office while Albus sat in his chair, all the other teachers were not present. There was Albus, Fudge, Moody from Flooing in, as did Fudge. "I knew I shouldn't have let you all gang up on me." But there was another in the room. he sat silently in a large chair, facing Dumbledore at his desk and staying perfectly still. This was slightly daunting for the other occupants of the room. Though only Fudge's constant pacing showed it.

"Let us not dwell on the past Cornelius. He is here and now we must decide the next course of action."

"I know, send him back where he came from!" with this, a low hissing came from the masked man, and his devilish face turned to stare burning holes into Fudge's soul.

"Come now, we are not brutes. We can not turn him away, after all…" Dumbledore stood up and slowly walked over to the other chair. he used his famous courage and placed a hand on the man's black shoulder. "…the boy has no family. He is a unprepared student with limited knowledge of magic, his heritage and the laws of the world. And the sheer fact that he has come here, proves that he is capable of many feats."

"No Albus, tell me you are not suggesting-"

"I am Sir. Every Wizard deserves an education and no more than he. All are welcome at Hogwarts, as are you my lad." He gave his shoulder a squeeze, and felt a muscular shoulder at that. "It appears you have been keeping in shape? Then allow us to keep your mind in shape. You are but 16, are you not?"

"He can't be 16!" Fudge whittled. "He is taller then me! the same height as you Albus. He must be older."

"No, no. he is 16. I remember it was just about 16 years ago when we infiltrated the…" Moody saw the bow stiffen, and stuffing fell from the armchair as his fists dug into them. "When we found him."

"No, I can not allow this. If word got out about him then-"

"No one will have to know. he has arrived in a mask and is completely concealed. No one will know different to what we tell them. Right Dumbledore?" Mad eye Moody's glass eye span and fixated on the 'boy's' face. "And stop scowling lad. You will love it here. Especially when I start duelling tryouts." At this the darkly dressed boy shot his head at him, and relaxed. He seemed to like this idea. But this same offer, made Fudge grow deathly pale.

"No, he is not allowed anywhere near a wand!"

"How will the boy learn to use magic if he doesn't have a wand?" Fudge and Moody scowled for a while, and didn't notice the young man got to his feet. Dumbledore however, watched intently.

"It appears gentleman, that he does not require a wand." All three wizards were surprised (and Fudge felt sick) when they saw the young man spontaneously levitate off the ground, to the top shelf and reached out for a large book on the past Headmasters of Hogwarts. It shot out from its sheath, and into his large, leather gloved hand.

"W…where is his wand?" he landed softly on his feet, and sat once more, reading through the pages like he was alone.

"As I said only a few moments ago Cornelius, he doesn't appear to require one."

"But how!"

"That doesn't matter. He has magic, and we must be responsible and ensure he learns how to use it, in an acceptable manner. Do you agree with this notion Cornelius?"

"Well…yes…but!"

"Then I see no alternative than to school him here, where we can keep an eye on him." Fudge paused, and smirked unexpectedly.

"Alright Dumbledore. If he passes his NEWTS, causes no trouble and passes an inspection at the end of the year, then he can live amongst Wizards."

"You mean Other Wizards. He is after all a Wizard."

"Only one third. Not even half urgh!" a foot rest shot out from under the desk, hit Fudge's shins and toppled him over backwards onto his backside. Moody laughed his head off and whispered to the boy.

"You keep that up, and I will give you 20 house points per lesson alright lad?" a baritone chuckle left his form as his shoulders shuck slightly, before turning the page.

"Then so be it." Dumbledore sat at his desk as Fudge furiously brushed himself off. "Welcome to Hogwarts lad. Now." He pulled a long piece if parchment from the table and held a quill ready. "Your full name lad? Minus the obvious last name."

suddenly, he snapped the book shut. Moody backed off as he stood up, looking more sinister and menacing that Snape in his foulest mood.

"My name is, Draco Draig Damnatio Draconian." Only Dumbledore seemed to grasp the hidden meaning there. "Or Draco for short."