Hermione and Ron wandered curiously to the chamber off the entrance hall with interest.
"I wonder what Dumbledore wants to tell us..." said Hermione.
"Reckon he wants to go over the changes he's made since Umbridge left?" Ron asked.
"No... I think he would have done that during the speech."
Their conversation was cut short, however, by their arrival at the chamber door. Dumbledore was seated in a squashy sort of armchair, and around him were many floating, poufy cushions.
"Please, sit," he said, smiling. "I supposed you've been wondering why I've gathered you all here today."
Malfoy shot a disapproving look toward him, but Dumbledore chose not to notice. He continued, but not quite as happily as before.
"What I am about to tell you is something that you must treat very seriously. I know you will be tempted to neglect this responsibility, but I urge you not to. The very fate of the wizarding world may lie in your hands someday, and you may not have with you the most important tool of all. I am here to give you the most potent form of magic, above all else you will learn here, and that it is the bonds you have with your fellow wizards. Everyday you have class with your own house, you eat at your house table, spend time in your house common room... you rarely, if ever, communicate between houses. This must end. The sorting hat has given us a valuable warning, that we must work together in a time of crisis. That is all I'm asking."
Dumbledore paused for a deep breath, then continued in a lighter tone.
"I know you all normally patrol the corridors with the same person day in, day out. Now you will patrol with a student from a different house than yourself. You will become friends with them, you will learn about their likes and dislikes, and you will both in turn help each other to excel. If you will please immediately pair up as I call names."
"Ernie McMillan and Zacharias Smith. Ron Weasley and Hannah Abbot. Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy--"
"WHAT?" Scoffed Draco.
"Excuse me, Mr. Malfoy?"
"I'm sorry, Headmaster, but I cannot be paired with her. We have... irreconcilable differences."
"Well, Mr. Malfoy, that is the purpose of this excursive." Dumbledore smiled, and continued his list. Draco glared at Hermione, and Hermione stared back viciously.
"I know you'll all get along swimmingly," Dumbledore grinned.
"I wonder what Dumbledore wants to tell us..." said Hermione.
"Reckon he wants to go over the changes he's made since Umbridge left?" Ron asked.
"No... I think he would have done that during the speech."
Their conversation was cut short, however, by their arrival at the chamber door. Dumbledore was seated in a squashy sort of armchair, and around him were many floating, poufy cushions.
"Please, sit," he said, smiling. "I supposed you've been wondering why I've gathered you all here today."
Malfoy shot a disapproving look toward him, but Dumbledore chose not to notice. He continued, but not quite as happily as before.
"What I am about to tell you is something that you must treat very seriously. I know you will be tempted to neglect this responsibility, but I urge you not to. The very fate of the wizarding world may lie in your hands someday, and you may not have with you the most important tool of all. I am here to give you the most potent form of magic, above all else you will learn here, and that it is the bonds you have with your fellow wizards. Everyday you have class with your own house, you eat at your house table, spend time in your house common room... you rarely, if ever, communicate between houses. This must end. The sorting hat has given us a valuable warning, that we must work together in a time of crisis. That is all I'm asking."
Dumbledore paused for a deep breath, then continued in a lighter tone.
"I know you all normally patrol the corridors with the same person day in, day out. Now you will patrol with a student from a different house than yourself. You will become friends with them, you will learn about their likes and dislikes, and you will both in turn help each other to excel. If you will please immediately pair up as I call names."
"Ernie McMillan and Zacharias Smith. Ron Weasley and Hannah Abbot. Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy--"
"WHAT?" Scoffed Draco.
"Excuse me, Mr. Malfoy?"
"I'm sorry, Headmaster, but I cannot be paired with her. We have... irreconcilable differences."
"Well, Mr. Malfoy, that is the purpose of this excursive." Dumbledore smiled, and continued his list. Draco glared at Hermione, and Hermione stared back viciously.
"I know you'll all get along swimmingly," Dumbledore grinned.