DISCLAIMER: I still don't own anything, it's all JK Rowling's
Still no beta, still my own ideas.
Enjoy!
Hermione sat in peace with her thoughts and the occasional purring from Hexe on her lap as the train flew past the rolling hills of Scotland knowing she would soon be at Hogwarts she placed Hexe into her cage and got her trunk down from the racking to change into her robes. This year's uniform for eighth years the robes were the same but the house crest signified the unity of the houses representing Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin respectively something the now Headmistress formally known as Professor McGonagall had implemented. The train came to a halt and she slid open the doors pulling her belongings out with her and out towards the Thestral drawn carriages this year her and many other students would be able to see them she thought solemnly to herself, she was drawn out of her thoughts by her name being called as she looked up she saw Ginny, Luna and Neville coming towards her, she hugged each one of her friends and they climbed into the carriage travelling towards the newly rebuilt Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry.
All the students filed into the great hall excitedly chatting away to each other, noticing the grand magnificence of the hall looking around in awe but the older students stopping in confusion as they noted the lack of tables - of course, the first years were none the wiser of this dramatic change. A voice sounded like a tannoy throughout the hall "Come in now students, I know you may have noticed the lack of seating arrangements but there is a reason for this. Can all first through seven years line up and when the table appears sit at the same table as your classmates, we will not be dining as houses nor shall we be doing common room or sleeping areas by houses, from now on Hogwarts will be unified by year group giving everyone the chance to become friends regardless of house or even blood status. Hogwarts will no longer be a breeding ground for prejudice and bullying" Hermione watched as seven tables appeared and the room seemed to widen to accommodate them as the younger students sat down in their year groups.
The tannoy voice of Headmistress McGonagall's came across the hall again "Eighth-year students to the circular table at the front, I know there aren't many of you so please sit where you wish on this table". The eighth years walked to the front and sat down at the table Hermione looked around to the returning students there was herself, Neville, Draco, Blaise, Theodore, Pansy Parkinson, Daphne Greengrass, Tracey Davis, the Patil sisters and a handful of Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff students who all tried to avoid eye contact with the Slytherins at the table who were bantering joyfully amongst themselves as they waited for the sorting hat to appear.
The events of the sorting house happened quickly and then dinner appeared in front of them before they knew it the feast was devoured by hungry students and the year groups filed out the hall to the new dormitories as the eighth years were held back by Headmistress McGonagall who waited until the hall was free of younger students to speak once again but in her normal voice to the students sat around the table expectantly waiting for her to tell them what they feared most. The headmistress opened her mouth to speak and Draco piped up "So I am guessing we are going to share a common room us eighth years then…." McGonagall hushed him then pursed her lips and said "Well if there are no more interruptions I can tell you what is happening, we have built a new common room for the eighth year students which is connected to the kitchens as older students we expect you to use the kitchens maturely as and when you wish, you also have your own library with private study booths much like none-magical universities have, and the eighth year boys will share a dormitory and the girls will share their own, each dormitory has separate rooms for privacy given the age of you all and living space in each genders dormitory as I am aware you won't always want to spend time with the other gender" she brought a stern look upon her face before continuing "i expect you to use these rooms appropriately whilst you are older students there are still certain activities that are frowned upon while you are in the castle walls, now everyone your trunks have been sent to your assigned rooms it's time to go to your common room follow me"
The students followed her through the castle to their new common room and awkwardly stood in the room waiting for someone to be the first to speak up, finally someone broke the silence it was Neville "So everyone, here we are as you all know I am Neville Longbottom slayer of snakes and gardening extraordinaire" he announced jokily to break the ice next thing Hermione knew everyone was laughing at him as he rubbed the back of his head awkwardly, Pansy Parkinson burst out in reply "Great we have a comedian in our midsts, well as long as you don't slay us Slytherins Mr courageous lion bottom I'm sure we can sleep peacefully at night" and she winked at him before turning up the stairs to the sleeping quarters with the other slytherin girls. The other eight years chuckled and headed to their respective rooms while Hermione headed to her own room to check on Hexe and her luggage to find her room was stunning colours of red, gold and green with the colours woven into a tartan bedspread with Hexe sleeping on the bed and matching pillow cases, a soft rug she could only assume was scotland inspired too, upon opening the wardrobe and drawers she found all of her stuff unpacked and her desk arranged neatly.
She changed into her pyjamas that she had brought with her and her cosy slipper socks then walked down to the kitchen to get a hot chocolate where the castles elve's were more than happy to assist her with providing it and a late night snack - she looked upon the elves clothing they were all wearing tartan kilts or dresses and looked very happy to be there so she accepted their help and walked back through to the common room to access the library, choosing a booth to sit at and accioing a book and a blanket to her she hadn't felt this content in ages and sat like that for a while reading sipping and snacking until she felt the hairs raise at the back of her neck, standing up and whipping round she pulled her wand off of the table pointing at whoever had approached her - she was met with the smirk of a silver blonde haired boy dressed in what she could only assume were very expensive pyjamas "well you really did listen to old professor Moody….constant vigilance" he continued to smirk stalking round the booth and sliding into the table opposite her "calm down Granger….or should I say, Hermione"
She sat down wand trembling in her hand watching him as he lazily accioed a book and a blanket like her and set into reading, she couldn't help but watch him wondering why her face was flushed like it was and why him saying her name had her feeling odd like this.