Chapter 3
September 1st
Hermione could barely contain her excitement. Today was finally the day she was going to Hogwarts. She wouldn't be a freak anymore, she could make new friends! She could be absolutely anything she wanted to be. She had read all of the course material for her first year so many times that Layla had told her she was mumbling it in her sleep. How embarrassing. Hermione had already decided that this was her big chance to show her power to everyone, she would not allow anyone to walk all over her. No, not again . The Professor already thought that she was powerful and Hermione was determined to not let her down. She already knew that Slytherin house was where she belonged. While she felt a pull to all 4 houses in different ways, none were as powerful as the one she felt to the house of the snakes. Hermione had always been very ambitious, plus maybe having a snake as a familiar would help the other Slytherins be more accepting of her?
Hermione was so lost in thought she didn't even realize that she and her parents had arrived at Kings Cross. Snapping out of her thoughts she quickly exited the car and went to grab her trunk. Giving it an almighty tug resulted in no movement from the blasted thing. Scowling at it, Hermione went to give it another go when it suddenly weighed nothing at her touch, smiling to herself Hermione composed herself, gave Layla a subtle kiss on the head, waved goodbye to her tearful parents with promises to write soon and made her way into the station. Layla knew to stay hidden until they were on the platform but that didn't stop the bad feeling that washed over the snake, a confrontation of some kind was coming.
Making her way over to platforms 9 and 10 Hermione was just about to take a run at the wall like the Professor had told her too when she found herself being shoved onto the ground as a boy with red hair and glasses ran past her not even sparing her a glance to make sure she was okay. Fighting back tears, Hermione was just about to get up when she heard his voice. "Hermione? Is that you?". She quickly wiped her eyes and turned around with what she hoped was a convincing smile "Harry! It's so good to see you again, I'm okay, just wounded pride" Taking the offered hand from Harry she slowly got to her feet trying to ignore the butterflies in her tummy. "Oh dear I am so so sorry" A plump woman with the same red hair as the boy who pushed her over said bustling over. The woman went to put her hand on Hermione to look her over when Layla decided it was time to say hello. An almighty hiss came from Hermione's hair and a snapping jaw almost took the woman's finger off. Recoiling back in horror, the woman managed to stutter out "W-what is that thing dearie?". "I don't like this one, bad energy" Layla hissed into Hermione's ear. Not acknowledging that she could understand her, Hermione replied coolly "This is Layla, my familiar, I'm Hermione Granger, and you are?"
"Molly Weasley, I take it you're going to Hogwarts since you seem to know young Harry here?" The woman replied, eyeing Layla warily
"Yes I am, was that your son by chance who almost ran me over with his trolley?" Hermione couldn't help but sneer, where was this new attitude coming from? It was so unlike her. Well she did say no one was going to walk over her, she clearly hadn't accounted for being ran over.
"Um yes that was Percy but I'm sure it was an accident dear, have you met my other children?" Molly said gesturing behind her to four other redheads, 2 were clearly twins who gave Hermione matching winks
"Sorry about him" The twin on the left started
"to say he wears glasses" The twin on the right continued
"He really needs to take better care where he's going" They finished together with a glare towards the wall their brother had disappeared through. Hermione gave them a small smile at their antics "Its okay I'll just have to take care to avoid him from now on" The twins were about to continue when Molly interrupted again "Yes well that's Fred and George and this here is Ron, he's starting Hogwarts this year too! Maybe you could all be friends, wouldn't that be nice? And this is our youngest, Ginny" she gestured to a young looking girl with kind eyes and then gave the boy she had introduced as Ron a push forward. "You've got a snake" Ron stated, Hermione rolled her eyes before replying "Oh really? I never would have figured that out, you've got a spot of dirt on your nose by the way, did you know?". Ron turned as red as his hair and glared at her before turning to Harry who up until then had been watching the whole interaction silently "She's the wrong sort mate, you don't wanna be hanging round with her" Harry turned to him with an unimpressed look and calmly said "I think I can tell the wrong sort for myself thanks" He then took Hermione's hand and said "Come on Hermione lets go, I think it's our turn to get onto the platform". He took off running, pushing his trolley with his owl and trunk on, Hermione close behind him without a backward glance at the Weasleys behind them.
"She's bloody strong" Ron said to his mother as George took his run, no one but him had noticed that she as carrying her entire trunk like it weighs nothing yet everyone else had trollies
"I don't like her Ron, You need to make friends with Harry and keep her away from him, I've got a bad feeling about that girl" Molly replied in a hushed tone, she waited until Fred took his run before saying "you'd do well to stick by him he's our savior it would look good if you were friends with him"
"But mum" Ron said "He seems to want to be her friend and she has a snake!" That statement earned him a whack around the head from his mother "I don't care!" Molly hissed back "She's not the boy who lived, keep him away from her, Now get going or you're going to be late".
Hermione and Harry by that point had gotten on the train and found an empty compartment and had just settled down when their door opened to reveal Ron looking a bit embarrassed. Hermione couldn't help but think that if she rolled her eyes any further back into her head they'd get stuck. "So is it true?" Ron asked, "Is what true?" Harry replied, tensing up "Do you really have the-the scar?" Ron said bashfully, looking at Harry in awe. Hermione could have sworn she saw something akin to fire flash in Harry's eyes. "I hardly see how that's any of your business. You're not my friend, I don't know you. Your brother hurt my friend. That's like me asking you if you really have a soul just because you're ginger"
Ron's face turned scarlet in anger "Well it was just a bloody question! There's no need to be so rude, you're the boy who lived you're supposed to be a hero and not hang round with snakes, LITERAL SNAKES NOT JUST SLYTHERIN WANNABES LIKE HER" Ron was screaming by the end, spit flying from his mouth reminding Harry a lot of his uncle Vernon. He turned to leave only to find his way out blocked by a boy about an inch taller than Hermione with platinum blonde hair and striking grey eyes that seemed intent on burning a hole in Ron's head. "How did I know it would be a Weasley causing a fuss" The boy said to no one in particular "Ah easy I just followed the smell". It didn't seem possible for Ron's face to go any more red but it somehow found a way "I think the buffoon is going to burst a blood vessel in a minute" Layla observed quietly to Hermione to which she gave a miniscule nod hoping that no one had seen it. Unfortunately for her, Harry had but before he had time to mention it Ron went to give the blonde boy a shove when 2 rather large boys appeared from nowhere and flanked the boy. Clearly sensing he was outnumbered, Ron mumbled "Shove off Malfoy" and pushed past the three boys.
"Thanks for that" Hermione began "He was getting rather troublesome" "No problem any chance to torment Weasley, I'll take" The boy replied "I'm Malfoy, Draco Malfoy" He paused as if expecting them to be impressed. Harry and Hermione looked at each other briefly before bursting out laughing which deeply infuriated Draco. His name wasn't funny damn it! They should be honored to be in the presence of a Malfoy! "Think my names funny do you?" Draco started.
"No no no nothing like that" Hermione said between giggles "You just reminded me of James Bond" She managed to finish before giggling some more. Draco looked at the two boys behind him in confusion "Do either of you know what a James bond is?" The two boys shook their heads confusion evident on their features
"Must be some filthy muggle thing then" Draco concluded "What did you say your last name was again?"
Hermione sensed the danger of answering before Harry did but before she could stop him he had answered for the pair of them. "She's Hermione Granger and I'm Harry Potter. Why does our last names matter?" Draco's eyes gleamed at Harry "Harry potter you say? So the rumors are true, Harry potter is coming to Hogwarts, You're a lot less than I expected and hanging round with a mudblood no less, I must say I'm disappointed" Layla had heard more than enough at this point and decided to make her presence known "YOU DARE INSULT MY MISTRESS YOU PONCY LOOKING ARSEWIPE?!" No one heard this apart from Hermione and Harry who almost fell off his seat in shock, All everybody else heard was a series of hisses. "Layla that's enough" Hermione said "Even if you're right" she added under her breath. "How on earth do you have a snake? I had to leave mine at home as it's against the rules to have one, I guess someone with your upbringing wouldn't know that though" Draco sneered. Hermione just gave him a slow smile, stroked Layla's head and replied "Maybe because she's my familiar? Our bond has been proven by Professor McGonagall the deputy headmistress, Do you know what a familiar is? I'd hazard a guess that someone with your upbringing would know that"
Draco was stumped. How could a mudblood have a familiar bond when he, a Malfoy, didn't have the same bond with his own snake.. This was so unfair. His father would be hearing about this! Draco went to leave the compartment as he had inadvertently taken a few steps inside when a blast of wind flew through the room and slammed the door, locking him inside with Hermione and Harry. His lackeys, Crabbe and Goyle were on the outside of the compartment trying to get to him to no avail. The door was locked and there was nothing he could do. He turned around to the mudblood to see that her eyes had gone white, there was no color left in them, The wind whipped round her hair making it look like an almost black halo around her head. The wind got stronger and stronger until Harry managed to get across the room, grabbed ahold of Hermione's ice cold hand and began to whisper to her and her snake. Draco was rooted to the spot, he'd never seen such a display of raw power in his life, He was very quickly rethinking his approach to the girl. What was her name again? Ah yes Hermione. Quickly chanting her name in his head to make sure he didn't forget it he turned back to the scene before him. The wind was gradually slowing down and he could make out Potter whispering in Hermione's ear and the snake looked like it was trying to offer up some kind of comfort which seemed to work. Finally the wind stopped and the compartment went back to normal.
"Don't. Call. Me. That. Again." Hermione spoke her eyes now back to normal, but the glare she was giving Draco had him debating which look was worse. "My ap-apologies it won't happen again" He managed to stutter out "Can I please leave now?" He asked giving the door another tug. Hermione looked him up and down before waving her hand and the compartment door slid open. "Wandless and non verbal magic in first year?!" Draco stumbled out of the compartment just as the door slammed shut again. Making his way down the corridor to his compartment he vowed to write to his father as soon as possible. There was something strange yet oddly familiar about Hermione Granger and Draco was determined to figure it out.
Back in their compartment Hermione was frantically apologizing to Harry who was doing his best to assure his only friend that he wasn't upset with her "Harry I am so so so so sorry I didn't mean to lose control like that it just happens I can't control it oh I bet you hate me now, my first friend besides Layla and I've blown it before we even got off the train oh bugger" Hermione ranted not pausing for breath. Harry watched this with an expression that was a cross between amused, impressed, and worried "Hermione!" He said rather loudly pausing the witch in front of him in her tracks "I promise you that I'm not upset with you, The wind didn't even touch me, I'm not hurt but if you want to make it up to me I'm going to need you to sit down and take a breath!"
Hermione slumped back in her seat and took several calming breaths. "Thank you Harry, I'm calm now I promise". Harry smiled at her and leaned forward and asked
" Can I meet your snake?". Hermione considered her new friend for a second before looking at her best friend and raising her eyebrows. Layla looked back at her mistress and then at Harry before nodding her consent. Hermione held out her arm and Harry watched in fascination as Layla crawled down it towards him. "Be careful I don't want her to hurt you" Hermione said worriedly not taking her eyes off Layla for a second "As if Id hurt him, he's got nice hair and nice eyes.. Very handsome" Layla hissed as she climbed up Harry's arm "Thank you that's very nice of you to say" said Harry with a grin.
Hermione and Layla Froze.
Okay that's it for chapter 3 folks I hope you like it. I also want to say a massive thank you to everyone who's Favorited/Followed either myself or my story that means the world and An extra big thank you to everyone who's taken the time to review! You've all given me reason to want to continue So thank you again. The next chapter is getting off the train, Hermione and Layla's reaction to Harry's abilities and the sorting!