A/N: Hello friends! Next chapter is now up. Thanks for reading!

Hermione tried not to bite her nails as she stood in her new Hogwarts robes and awaited her cue to make a grand entry into the hall. Ginny had vanished a while ago so that her absence was not noticed and since then Hermione had been standing stock still with nerves.

She could hear Dumbledore's booming voice resounding through her ears when he said those fateful words:

'Let me welcome Hermes Orion' Hermione forced her legs to move and went to stand next to Dumbledore in front of the staff tables, trying to appear casual and ignore the numerous eyes fixed upon her. 'I hope that you will all help welcome him and help him through his year at Hogwarts, no matter what house he is placed in.'

With that, Dumbledore gave Hermione a nudge in the small of her back.

Fidgeting wildly, Hermione walked up to the stool and placed the tattered-looking hat over her head, relieved to find that it obscured her sight of the other students. Ginny had told her about the Houses and knew that, whatever Dumbledore believed, the house you were sorted into decided your fate at Hogwarts and was taken seriously by the students.

'Hmmm,' a voice spoke in her head. 'Interesting, very interesting'

'What's interesting?' Hermione asked.

'You're not a boy are you, miss?'

Hermione stifled the urge to snort. Of course, she wasn't. 'No, I'm here undercover for my safety'

'Yes, I see that.' the hat hummed indecisively 'You might do well in Ravenclaw. You have a sharp mind, but then I don't see you mingling well with them.'

'I want friends. Good friends' Hermione piped up, hoping that the hat got the hint.

'Yes, alright then SLYTHERIN' The hat called.

Hermione sighed in relief made to move to the table with green-clad students. She tried not to notice the many girls all shuffling around trying to make room for her, but pointedly ignored them and sat down next to a pale, blonde boy at the end of the table, who wasn't trying in the least to grab her attention looked like he needed company. The looked surprised at her choice but made space for her on the bench anyway.

After a few staff announcements, the feast began and Hermione began to eat. Everyone seemed to know each other and hardly anyone seemed to pay her even an ounce of attention. She was grateful that she wasn't getting any unwanted stares, but maybe a friend or two would be nice. Looking around at all the merry faces talking to one another, Hermione decided to let the chance pass for now and focus on the feast instead. She was grateful for her decision for the feast was absolutely delectable and she found herself sighing blissfully at the chocolate souffle.

A laugh startled her from her reverie only to find a dark-skinned, Italian boy smiling good-naturedly at her. 'I'm Blaise. Blaise Zabini.'

'Hermione Granger' Hermione nodded, thankful to make at least one friend.

The pale boy, who'd been idly consumed with eating his food until now gave her a quizzical look. Hermione raised her eyebrows at him and Blaise chose to explain. 'That's Draco. Don't mind him. He's simply surprised that you chose to sit next to him.'

Hermione looked the pale boy up and down, expecting to see him manifest some strange disease, but, as she expected, he didn't 'Is there something wrong with him? Why wouldn't I choose to sit here?' Hermione asked, genuinely curious now. B

laise's eyes widened, unsure of how to explain. How could this girl not know?

'My family played an important part in the War. On the wrong side.' Draco explained shortly, glaring at the Italian boy halfheartedly. Then Hermione remembered where she had heard his name.

'Fleur and you are cousins, are you not?' Hermione asked. Draco nodded cautiously, eyebrows raised in surprise, so Hermione continued. 'She used to talk a lot about you guys and Hogwarts before she graduated from Beaxbatons.'

Draco stared, dumbfounded. Usually, people stopped talking to him, the moment they found out who he was and he expected this strange boy to do the same, but instead, he was talking to him like nothing controversial had been said.

'Hi!' a voice piped up from behind Hermione. Hermione jumped, before looking behind her to find an immature looking boy with his hand stretched out in greeting 'I'm Teddy. The unfortunate roommate of these two' He pointed at Draco and Blaise, as he shoved his way to sit next to Hermione 'You must be the new boy, Hermes'

'I am' Hermione nodded, smiling.

'Well, I must say that you're lucky the girls chose to sit on the other side of the table or you wouldn't be able to breathe right now' he chuckled, light-heartedly.

'You mean they'll strangle me?' she asked, nonplussed, looking at the girls on the other side of the table who waved fervently at her in response. "They seem nice enough to me"

Theo shook his head in disbelief and Blaise slapped his hand to his forehead, while Draco smiled patronisingly at her.

"What?"

"Nothing" they all sang in unison.

Hermione seriously did not get boys.

When the feast was finished and they all piled out of the Great Hall, Blaise leading the way t the dungeons, Theo whispered to them 'It's party time in the common room' before pulling a brunette Slytherin with him as he made his way to the kitchens.

'Party?' Hermione asked Blaise, frowning in disapproval. 'It is getting late. Won't we get into trouble?'

'Snape, our head of house, doesn't care what we do, to be honest, and no other teacher is near enough to hear us' Blaise explained, clapping her on the back "Relax, it'll be fun"

'It is one of the very few perks of having a common room underwater' Draco added wryly.

'But why a party now? Shouldn't you save up all your resources for a time when there is actually a reason to party for?' she asked, beseechingly. A party didn't seem like the best way to start the year, especially if she wanted to stay low-key.

'Nah. The elves can get us a limitless supply and we usually have nothing to party for until November and that is two whole months away' Blaise reassured, waving his hand aimlessly. 'How can you say we have nothing to party about, anyway? We have new students'

'I think we've got ourselves a goody-two-shoes here' Draco chuckled.

'Seriously, Draco' Blaise hissed 'He's new'

Hermione waved it off. She'd been called far worse. 'It doesn't matter'

Despite Hermione's reassurance that she didn't mind, the two boys continued to bicker until they reached the dungeons and flung open the portrait hole.

The common room, already stately and elegant enough, with green drapery and large, expensive chinse armchairs that could fit three skinny first years had been creatively adorned with suspended bats and ornaments. Glitter also seemed to hang in the air and the single chandelier sparkled in the candlelight.

'Wow!' Hermione gasped, staring at the common room with wide eyes.

'I thought Beaxbatons would've had better?' Draco asked, climbing into the common room first and smiling at Hermes' reaction.

'We do have better' Hermione defended, shaking herself out of her reverie and jumping into the common room 'Just a different kind of 'better. Our common rooms are adorned with a light and bright icy elegance rather than this kind of dark beauty.'

She ran a hand over a secluded armchair, just as Theo and the brunette from before entered the common room announcing 'Party Time!'

And havoc ensued.

Hermione ran a hand through her hair as she awoke the next morning, groaning at the ear-splitting headache.

'Woke up, have you?' Blaise Zabini asked, helping her to sit up and shoving a hangover potion into her hands. 'Here drink this. It should help with your head ache'

'Thanks' Hermione croaked, as she brought the potion to her lips and downing it in one go, her eyes still closed. After a few moments of earned peace, she opened her eyes and blinked blearily around the room.

'Okay, you get ready, while I head down to the common room to see whether Draco and Theo are waiting for us or not.' With that, Blaise left the room, leaving Hermione to get dressed. She was pleased that he had left so that she could figure out how to wear a boy's school uniform without embarrassing herself. When she was finally done, she looked at herself in the mirror and sized herself up ,checking to make sure nothing looked abnormal.

At entering the common room, she was met with the sight of Blaise and Pansy Parkinson(the brunette the other day) talking and smiling at eachotherevery now and then.

'So, are we going?' she asked when they didn't notice her presence, causing them to jump and colour faintly.

'Yes, let's get going' Blaise agreed, leading the way through the freezing dungeons and up to the Great Hall.

'Hey, what took you so long?' Theo asked, swiftly gulping down his mouthful of candy.

'You're going to ruin your teeth' Hermione grimaced, watching him stuff his face.

'And lose admirers' Blaise added.

'Not that that matters as much. Health comes first' Hermione added after him.

'Wow, Hermes. Give it a rest' Pansy laughed. 'I don't think I've met anyone who cares more about their health than you do'

'Health is important' Hermione repeated, causing them all to laugh. She harrumphed, sitting at the table 'You will all regret not listening to me when you're old and your teeth are all rotting'

As they were leaving the Great Hall about a quarter of an hour later, making their way down to Potions, a dark-haired boy pushed passed Draco. thumping him harshly.

'Look where you're going, Malfoy' the boy's red-haired friend snarled.

'I think it should be you who should keep their eyes open' Hermione argued, absolutely outraged at the boy's behaviour and her eyes almost popped out of her head as she recognised the two. 'Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley' she gasped.

'Yes, that is us' Ronald Weasley puffed out his chest comically, smirking 'And who are you to challenge us?'

'It's the new snake boy, mate' Harry replied, placing a hand on his friend's arm.

'My name is Hermes' Hermione stated, completely nonplussed by the signs of authority. Who did they think they were?

'Ah, yes, Hermes' The boys snickered before straightening up and staring Hermione down

'How would you like to be our friend?' Harry held out his hand, smirking at the Slytherins behind her, who immediately stiffened.

Silence.

Hermione's arms stayed firmly in place. 'People earn my friendship' she snarled. 'Not ask for it.'

Harry's face turned stony.

'These snakes, as you call them' she gestured to the Slytherins around her 'whatever wrongdoings they might've committed, earned my friendship. They are rightful to have it. You, on the other hand...' Hermione smirked.

Harry dropped his hand harshly. "You'll regret this, Hermes'

Hermione ignored him, rolling her eyes and pushing her way passed them, the Slytherins following.

'Wow, Hermes' Blaise clapped him on the back 'That was amazing!'

'Thanks' Hermione breathed 'They were seriously asking for it'

'I thought you were going to leave us, or a second' Pansy added.

'I would never. Not for them, at least' Hermione laughed

'Wow, how friendship can blossom in one day' Theo chuckled jovially.

Draco didn't say anything until they were right at the door to potions. He stopped her with his arm.

'Thank you' he said, looking Hermione in the eye and smiling with raw thanks, as the others carried on ahead of them 'For standing up for me'

'Anytime' Hermione smiled, walking into Potions with more of a skip in her step and a bright glint in her eyes. Draco Malfoy was some sort of a boy.

A/N: How do you like this? I really enjoyed writing it. Please Read and Review.