Chapter 7

Hermione was cautiously happy in Slytherin. Of course, there were still the odd few who looked down on her due to her blood, but she was hard pressed to care. She was top of her class, she had a very good friend in Blaise who had proven that he was not like the rest of the first years. He wasn't her friend for her power, or her familiar or even for this so-called alliance that Draco had tried to form. He had quickly passed on the message to Draco and his group and left them too it. They had interesting conversations (apart from when quidditch was involved) and there was also the friendly competition they had going for points, Blaise used his charm for the most part so to Hermione that didn't count.

But none of that compared to Harry. She had never felt so safe or so accepted than when she was with him. He had opened up to her about how he'd been treated at his relative's house, luckily, they were in a secluded area so when her magic flared no one was hurt and he was quickly able to calm her down. She was trying harder than ever to keep her temper under control because it broke her heart to see Harry flinch. Hermione decided to write home the night Harry had told her the truth and begged her parents to let Harry come and stay with them for the summer, they had happily accepted and said they looked forward to meeting him. When she told him this, he was so overcome with emotions that he kissed her on the cheek. They both froze straight after and blushed bright red but if you looked closely at the pair as they walked through the corridors you could see their young hands clasped together. The other Slytherins had noticed the blossoming romance between the two and the reactions were mixed.

A quarter were jealous of Harry because they were planning on making a move on Hermione because they wanted a taste of her power, another quarter were jealous of Hermione because they couldn't help but notice Harry's good looks. Despite the fact he was a half-blood he came from a very ancient and influential house. The third quarter didn't really care, they were too wrapped up in their own business to care about two first years no matter how powerful one of them was, and the rest were happy for them not that they'd ever admit it. Feelings were weakness after all.

And then there was Blaise and Layla. Blaise was over the moon for his two friends and constantly made fun of them and cracked jokes about how he was now the odd one out, And Layla was the happiest out of everyone, even more than Harry and Hermione themselves. She was a very clever snake after all and knew things that no one else did, don't bother asking how she knows because she wouldn't tell anyone. She'd just give you this smug look and say "When the time is right" not that anyone but Hermione and Harry could understand her anyway.

It was Halloween night and the whole school was expected to be in the great hall for the Halloween feast, but Harry and Hermione had visited Professor Snape and promptly been excused not that they had known why at the time. Hermione was sat reading with her head resting on Harry's lap while Harry himself was pondering the conversation with Professor Snape

FLASHBACK

"I wonder why Professor Snape has summoned us right before the feast" Hermione whispered to Harry as they made their way to the potion's classroom "I have no idea, but I have a feeling he doesn't like me that much" Harry replied taking her hand and giving it a squeeze to reassure himself that she was real and wasn't going to hurt him. Sensing his discomfort, she squeezed his hand back and said "He barely knows you Harry, he barely knows any of us plus there's no way he dislikes you as much as Ron" Harry grinned at that, as much as he hated himself for it, he couldn't help but laugh along with the rest of his housemates when Ron or Seamus blew something up and suffered the scorn of the potions master. Every time the guilt surfaced, he would simply remind himself of how Ron had treated Hermione and it would disappear just as fast as it appeared.

"Hermione knocked on the door and it was promptly opened, and they were ushered in. The professor waved his wand in intricate patterns over the door and turned to them. "I take it you know why you have been summoned Mr Potter?" Professor Snape said in a hushed voice. "Umm no Professor I apologize for my ignorance, have I done something to offend you?" Harry said levelly. Professor Snape's eyes widened "You mean you have not been informed of what today signifies for you?" He asked. Hermione froze at his side. "Forgive me for intruding Professor but I think I know what today is" she said slowly "Well, what is it Hermione? And how come everyone else seems to know but me" Harry said getting a little irritated. "I think Miss Granger should be the one to tell you Mr Potter, it is highly personal for you but I regret to inform you but the whole of wizarding Britain knows what today is, I will leave you too it and I offer my deepest condolences, you are excused from tonight's feast should you not wish to attend" Professor Snape said before dismissing them.

They stepped back out into the hallway and the door to the potion's classroom closed quietly behind them. As they walked Layla decided that it was best, she be with Harry and slithered from Hermione's neck and settled around Harry. He was grateful for Layla, He had gotten used to feeling her weight around his neck and drew comfort from her. Hermione turned to him and chewed her lip. "Hermione please just tell me" Harry begged becoming more nervous. She took both his hands in hers and said slowly "When you were one years old the wizard known as Voldemort came to your house, both of your parents died trying to protect you, but they say when he tried to kill you as well… something happened. The killing curse has no survivors, no shield can protect you against it. That's why Ron called you the boy who lived, the whole wizarding world thinks you're a hero because you're the only one known to have survived the killing curse"

Harry was numb. Hagrid had already told him about Voldemort, so it wasn't too much of a shock to him to hear it again, but he didn't know that his parents died on Halloween, that's why Professor Snape was being nicer than normal. Because he felt bad for him. He vaguely felt Hermione hugging him, but he was running on autopilot, his arms raised around her, and he held her close until they parted. "I take it you don't want to go to the feast now?" Hermione asked taking his hand again. "Not really no, I just want to go back to the common room" Harry said. "Then that's exactly what we're going to do" Hermione replied with a small smile

"END OF FLASHBACK

"DUMBLEDORE IS A FOOL, ENDANGERING ALL OUR LIVES LIKE THAT I MEAN HOW INCOMPETENT CAN YOU GET ANYMORE IDIOTIC" Nyra Parkinson ranted as she stormed into the common room followed by a paler than normal Draco, a shaking Pansy, and a subdued Blaise.

"What's wrong Nyra?" Hermione asked rising from her comfortable position on Harry and closing her book. "Granger you are not going to believe this" Nyra replied falling quite ungracefully onto the chair next to the sofa Hermione and Harry were currently occupying "So there we all were at the Halloween feast trying to show some level of decorum as the rest of the houses were making fools of themselves when Quirrell comes running into the hall and announces that there's a troll in the dungeons before passing out!" She took a deep breath before continuing "So our esteemed headmaster in all his wisdom tells the hall to return to their common rooms. OUR COMMON ROOM IS IN THE BLOODY DUNGEON" Hermione and Harry were clueless on what to say and Layla was just about to rip into Nyra for shouting when a tall boy with Ginger hair makes his way over to Nyra and lays a comforting hand on her shoulder. The tension bled out of Nyra, and she took a few calming breaths to pull herself together before turning to the stranger and burying her head into his chest. Turning to the confused first years she introduced the boy as Joshua Davis, He was a fifth year and had a younger sister in their year, Tracey.
Joshua quickly explained that he was contracted to marry Nyra when they left school and made it clear that if they needed anything that he was available to help. They were also instructed to only call him Josh as he detested his full name. The two "Couples" sat together in the common room chatting quietly when Nyra suddenly turned and asked, "Why weren't you two at the Halloween feast anyway?" Harry was immediately uncomfortable "We were excused by Professor Snape. Personal reasons, I'm sure you understand" Hermione replied in his stead silently challenging Nyra to ask further questions. Sensing that she had overstepped her mark Nyra quickly changed the subject
"Draco was sat in the first year's boy's dorm with his curtains drawn, His father had replied, and he was eager to hear what he had to say

Draco

Congratulations on getting sorted into Slytherin, your mother and me expected nothing less, I hope you are in at least the top 3 in most of your classes, we will be most disappointed if not.
"While I don't like the idea of you associating with a mud blood if what you say about her power is true then I suppose you should ally yourself with her by whatever means necessary, you can always drop her once the tides turn again. They always do and the Malfoy's have always found ways to stay on top. I will do some research into this, I'm sure my contacts at the ministry will be able to dig up something. I agree that there is no way someone of her standing should have the power she does.

Play this right son, I'm counting on you

Lucius

Draco couldn't help but sigh in disappointment, He had done exactly what he should do but once again nothing was good enough for Lucius. Not that he'd dare say this out loud to anyone, but he hated the fact he was having to play the political field at eleven years old. Never mind that, He'd been born to play the political game. He knew his parents' marriage was arranged and they didn't truly love each other. He himself was already contracted to Pansy which he supposed he should be happy about since she was as close to a true friend as he could hope for, but he knew deep down he didn't love her. He tentatively hoped one day he'd be able to find someone who truly loved him. The only luxury he had was that since he was male, he decided who he married as long as the appropriate contracts were drawn up.

"Are we too young for this?" Draco thought sadly before sleep claimed him. Alliances and marriage contracts could wait.

And that's chapter 7 folks! I really hope you enjoyed it, I've tried to make it abit longer, As always please review!