Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I don't own Harry Potter, any of the characters, spells, places etc. The only thing I own is the plot of this story!
Chapter Two
Harry held open the carriage door for Hermione, Ron and Ginny before jumping in himself.
"It feels good to be back," Ron said, looking out the window at Hogwarts.
"I know what you mean," Harry replied, sitting in front of Hermione. The carriage slowly started moving and Harry grinned, leaning out the other window.
"I wonder how many first years will be sorted into Gryffindor this year," Ron thought out loud.
"Dunno…" Harry replied.
"So we have no idea who the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher is?" Ginny asked.
"Not a clue," Hermione replied.
"Well, we'll soon find out," Harry interrupted. The distant call of 'First years here!' carried through the wind to their carriage and Harry smiled. It was so good to be home.
----------------
Dumbledore raised his hands for silence and everyone looked up at the teachers table. Harry noted that there was an empty seat.
"I am sure that you are all very curious to know who the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher is and you will find out in good time, but for now, let the sorting begin," Dumbledore announced. Professor McGonagall stood up and placed the sorting hat on a stool. It looked around before opening its mouth to sign.
"All you
first years gather round,Sorted, you must be.
And who better
is there to do this job,
Than a sorting hat, like me.
The loyal
belong in Hufflepuff,
The brave in Gryffindor.
Slytherin is for
the cunning,
The wise go to Ravenclaw.
But do not be
afraid,
I have the brains to know.
The houses where you first
years,
Must all go.
So sit upon this little stool,
And put
me on your head.
And I will put you where you belong,
When your
name is read.All now will be sorted,
I have never yet been
wrong.
For I have the brains of others,
And that
concludes my song."
The Great Hall rang out with cheers and the first years looked around worriedly.
"Gareth Abbel," McGonagall called. A nervous looking first year stepped up to be sorted.
"Hufflepuff!" the sorting hat yelled.
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"This way, this way!" Ron called over the heads of the first years. Harry and Hermione stood in the Entrance Hall making sure everyone was led off to their common rooms by the house prefects.
"Mudblood's shouldn't be allowed to been seen in public," Malfoy sneered, walking out of the Great Hall.
"Oh, shove off Malfoy," Harry replied, turning to face the Slytherin. A few people turned to look.
"Make me," Draco challenged. Harry opened his mouth, but Hermione got their first.
"I'd shut up if I were you," she warned. "We can ban you from being a prefect."
"You wouldn't dare," Draco said.
"Wouldn't I?"
"Mudblood," Draco muttered under his breath.
"Ferret!" Ron shouted after him. A few people laughed, Harry and Hermione included. Malfoy pretended not to hear him and carried on with the Slytherin first years.
"He just needs to get a life," Harry said, patting Hermione's shoulder. She smiled and nodded.
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The trio walked down to the lake that Saturday to meet their friends for a picnic, which Dumbledore had agreed to. The sun shone brightly and kept them all warm.
"Well, if you had just listened to her-" Hermione started.
"Listen? You can't understand a bloody word the woman is saying!" Ron shouted back. Harry rolled his eyes. Ron and Hermione were arguing, again. Harry thought back to Ron's encounter with Professor Trelawny.
"Yes, you are in grave danger my child," Professor Trelawny whispered.
"From what?" Ron asked. "A killer pillow?"
"No, my dear child…" Professor Trelawny stopped and looked at Ron. Harry tried not to laugh and Hermione glared daggers at Ron. The Entrance Hall was packed with people, watching Ron arguing with Trelawny. She had taken away the basket full of food and told him he was in danger.
"Right, I've had enough of your cheek," a voice said from the crowd. Everyone looked round to find Professor Snape staring at Ron.
"You will report to the dungeons for your detention on Monday night Mr. Weasley."
"Well, that's no reason to be rude to her!" Hermione argued. The trio reached the rest of their friends.
"What do we have here?" a voice sneered behind them. Harry knew who it was without even turning round.
"What do you want now?" Harry asked.
"Some entertainment to fill his incredibly boring life, I suppose," Hermione answered the question.
"Who asked you, you filthy little Mudblood?" Malfoy replied. Crabbe and Goyle on either side of him smiled. Dean and Seamus stood up behind Harry and Ron.
"I'd watch your mouth if I were you Malfoy," Harry warned, reaching in his robes for his wand.
"Come on Harry, he's not worth it. You shouldn't grace Malfoy with your presence," Hermione said, grabbing his arm. Malfoy stepped forward, so he was standing in front of Hermione. She didn't so much as flinch.
"You want to watch it," he whispered. She rolled her eyes and turned round. Everyone else followed suit, but as it turned out Malfoy hadn't quite finished. He grabbed her arm and spun her round. She was momentarily shocked as his palm made contact with her face and her hand shot up to her cheek. Harry grabbed Malfoy's arm and pushed him backwards.
"You ignorant git!" he shouted, shoving him again. "What kind of a guy are you. Go round hitting girls in your free time do you?" Another shove. Malfoy smiled and bunched his fist.
"Are you really that concerned for a Mudblood?" he sneered.
"At least Hermione has someone to be concerned for her. Who cares about you, Malfoy? Your Death-Eater father?" Malfoy slammed his fist into Harry's stomach and he doubled over in pain. He felt another punch on his back and he fell to the ground.
"Harry!" Hermione shrieked. Quickly coming to his senses, Harry grabbed Malfoy's fist as it came towards him and threw him to the floor before jumping up. The Slytherin stood up to and they both faced each other. Malfoy made the first move, punching Harry square in the face. He felt a cut appear above his eye and looked at Malfoy's hand.
"Like my ring?" Draco asked. "Hurts a lot doesn't it?" He punched Harry again in the side of the face and Harry fell to the floor. He leant up on his elbows and looked at Malfoy, closing his left eye as the blood ran into it. Malfoy pulled out his wand and pointed it at Harry's chest.
"I'll teach you to mess with me, Potter," he sneered, then he stopped and looked above and behind Harry. Harry followed his gaze and smiled. Ron, Hermione, Luna, Ginny, Neville, Dean and Seamus all had their wands pointed at Malfoy. He slowly lowered his wand and narrowed his eyes.
"You're lucky you have your friends here to look out for you, Potter, or you'd be dead by now," he hissed. Draco turned round and walked off towards the castle. Crabbe and Goyle followed. Everyone rushed forward and crowded around Harry.
"Are you alright, mate?" Ron asked, pulling him up.
"Yeah," Harry replied, wiping some blood away from his lip. "Fine."
"Come, on," Hermione said. "You have to go to the hospital wing."
"No, Hermione, I'm fine. It's just a cut, I'll wash it in the lake or something." She opened her mouth to argue, but then closed it again and sighed.
"Fine, come on then. I'll help you clean up," Hermione said, grabbing his hand. The rest of the group sat down with the picnic basket and started talking again.
"Sit there," Hermione ordered, pushing Harry onto a rock. He obeyed and watched her pull a tissue out of her pocket.
God, she's beautiful…Harry thought, watching her. Then he did a double take. Beautiful…did I just call my best friend beautiful?
"You really shouldn't do that Harry," Hermione said, coming back with a few wet tissues in her hands.
"Do what?" Harry asked, looking up at her.
"Argue with Malfoy." She rubbed his eye with one of the tissues and Harry stiffened.
"B-but he hurt you, Hermione. I can't let him do that," Harry whispered. His hand moved up to Hermione's and he held it. She looked at him and he studied her face. Her cheek where Malfoy had slapped her was still bright red, and he was sure he saw a small scratch there. He brought his other hand up to stroke her cheek and her breath caught in her throat.
"Hey you two, hurry up!" Ron's voice called. Hermione moved away from Harry and grabbed another piece of tissue from the rock to continue wiping his eye.
