AN: Wow it has been a while since I updated. Anyway this is the last chapter I will be introducing new characters. I hope you all review.
Disclaimer: Don't own anything.
Hermione awoke with the sun sparkling down upon her golden canopy. To bad her mood wasn't so bright.
So it hadn't just been a horrible nightmare! I am really stuck in the past with (gulp) Malfoy! Where are Harry and Ron? Is Ron still a pixie? Is Harry still with the centaurs? Did they hurt him? Did he escape? She gave a small whine and buried her head beneath an overstuffed pillow. To much to worry about! After a few moments of breathing exercises, she had learned to do when she had major homework overload, Hermione calmed down. Giving a heavy sigh she wiggled out from beneath the pillow to glance at the clock.
"Holy Moley!" she screeched while hurriedly untangling herself from the maroon and gold sheets. "Seven thirty! Breakfast has already started! I'm going to be late for my first day of classes!"
Hermione discarded the itchy nightgown and quickly rummaged through the first few drawers for the closest robe (Hogwarts uniform). She hurriedly pulled out the first one she came to . A dark red fitted robe with gold lining. Bell sleeves and a dipping neckline accented her features nicely but she couldn't really care less as long as it had the Gryffindor emblem. She didn't take the time to admire the beautiful robe as she threw it on and gave her hair a few swift brushes. There was no point in even thinking about makeup since she didn't have any.
She gave a last glance at her reflection. Hermione was certainty no super model but she was pretty, a strange pretty. Her caramel color eyes had rare yellow flecks in them and if her hair caught the light just right she had some kind of angelic glow. Dropping the brush on the vanity she grabbed her wand and books (probably placed there by a house elf) and made a dash for the door. She was almost out before a shrill voice interrupted her hurried steps.
"Hold it right there young lady! Don't you think you are forgetting something?"
Hermione turned on her heels hoping for a quick answer " What did I forget?"
"Why my dear the one thing every proper young witch must wear...your corset!"
Hermione gave a look of surprise, "My what? Oh no no no no no " she shook her head slowly backing up towards the door.
" No corset! Ridicules! Don't you want to catch yourself a young boa?"
"A boa?" Hermione suppressed a giggle " No thank you I am perfectly fine without..."
"Nonsense dear. Here put it on all the young girls are wearing them. It's only proper." A drawer slid open filled with such horrible contraptions not even Lord Voldermort would wish on his worst enemy.
"No. No thank you I'm fine, I have to go." with that Hermione slid out of the door to the protests of the mirror.
Hermione slowed her pace as the persistent nagging stopped. She rolled her eyes "Wear a corset as if I'd..." she stopped at the sight of Draco leaning leisurely against the wall looking at nothing in particular. He was again wearing the Gryffindor colors. A maroon tunic, with golden lining and black slacks ( AN: tights or robe bottom which ever you like). Hermione couldn't stop a small grin playing on her lips, that is until he spoke.
"So do I look the part of a Gryffindor, goody goody, snot nosed, half -the- world -bows -to-me -because -of -the-scar-on -my..."
"Nope still the same old vain, self-involved Slytherin we all come to know and loath."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"Are you always this arrogant are is it something you have to work on?"
"Snappy Granger, I'm so blessed." he smirked.
"Can we go or do I have to listen to your mindless babble all day?"
"After you me lady." He opened the portrait hole with a mock bow.
Hermione walked past him without a backward glance mentally willing him to internally combust. Well maybe not enough to kill him but so he could learn a good lesson.
She practically ran to the Great Hall but Draco never lost pace with her.
"You don't think Black will tell...you know where we're from?" she asked as they approached the doors.
"I don't think so from what I understood yesterday. He'll only tell the prefects and Head of House." They stopped before the doors and Hermione looked up at him searching for some type reassurance. He showed no emotion. All was hidden behind his silvery eyes, a mask against the world. Hermione took a breath. A burst of noise hit them as Draco opened the solid oak door and entered, Hermione following behind him.
They stood still before the giant hall of strange students not knowing what to do next. A knot in Hermione's stomach loosed as she spotted Albus waving at them from the Gryffindor table.
"Come on Draco this way." Hermione led the way to the two empty seats beside Dumbledore. As they came closer the Hall became quieter until all was a hushed silence. Hermione could feels the hundreds of eyes on her. All of them taking in the look of the unfamiliar students. She glimpsed Draco with her peripheral vision. He was slipping back into Malfoy mode a cold look of superiority and pride shown on his sharp features.
The news of Lucid and Draco had spread like wildfire through the school. Now with so many different versions, so absurd that Draco was apparently able to breathe fire and call upon the forces of the wind. Some of the girls began to giggle as he passed and the guys gave an appreciative look at Hermione, one Slytherin had enough gall to wink at her. Hermione was definitely relieved when she slipped into the seat beside Albus, Draco sat beside her.
"I had pondered if you could find your way to the hall or if I should have waited on you."
"No, it was no problem." Hermione assured him as she filled her plate with sausage and pancakes.
Albus waited a moment before he continued " I would like to introduce you the best quiditch beater to ever walk the halls of Hogwarts, my best mate, Cole. " Albus made a grand hand jester to a boy across from him.
The boy's head rested on his hand studying the newcomers. He had high cheek bones and an aristocratic jaw line. He looked almost Mediterranean with an olive complexion or maybe that was just the dark tan he got from quiditch. He flicked his dark shaggy hair from his eyes. He continued analyzing them until his eyes met Hermione's, caramel on violet. His face broke out into dazzling smile completed with a few dimples.
"Cole, this is Hermione Austin and Draco Marselione they are new students. Albus continued noticing his friend's reaction.
"I am pleased to make your acquaintance Miss Austin , Mr. Marselione. "
Hermione gasped, "My God Cole you have the prettiest eyes!"
"Why thank Miss Austin it is a family trait of the..."
"Let me guess, you are a Pierre. Pure blood family dating back to the early 13th century. Place of origin probably France." Draco gave in a bored yet amazingly cocky tone.
"The man knows his history. I am a Pierre. But I do believe the conversation was between myself and Miss Austin." a slight French accent apparent in his voice. Draco narrowed his eyes.
"I didn't know there was a law against speaking. When do you lose the privilege?"
"Ah, no law, it is just basic etiquette
, something in which you seem to lack."
"Lack? LACK? I'll show you what you lack when I stick this fork up your..."
"Draco please! Not in front of the children." Hermione nodded her head in the direction of the first years watching the whole scene a few chairs down.
Cole broke in genuinely concerned "I apologize if I may have offended you Miss Austin I'm afraid I might have..."
"No, no, Cole I'm fine and please call me Hermione."
Draco looked between the two not ready to be forgotten.
"Cole do they let just anyone onto the Gryffindor team or just the once whose father's pay their way?" Draco smirked taking a page from Potter's book.
Hermione snorted, "Who are you to talk?"
"As hard to believe as it may seem, I actually got on by pure skill." he looked rather proud of himself.
"I am not captain of the Gryfindor team for nothing." Cole stood up offended by Draco's last comment.
"Cole sit down! Don't make a scene or I'll have to dock points." Albus glanced at the teachers table.
" I can beat you anytime, anywhere Marselione!" Cole's fist clinched.
Draco raised an eyebrow, "Is that a challenge?"
"Real perceptive aren't you?" Cole smirked. Hermione shot both a "look."
"When and where?." Draco began.
"Where do you prefer to die?." Cole countered.
Soon the two were in a battle of wits. Hermione could really care less . She turned back to Albus who had pulled out a book as soon as the argument had begun.
"What are you reading?"
Albus showed her the cover, "The Odyssey"
Hermione smiled brightly delighted to have found another book lover.
"I've read that! Have you gotten to the part when he slays the giant Cyclops?"
Albus' eyes lit up, "Indeed, it was one of the best parts. I am almost at the end where Odysseus has just returned home and finds his dog at the city gates." Soon Dumbledore and Hermione were civilly discussing their favorite books while Draco and Cole were having a brawl over who could lift the most. None were to know the at two pairs of heavily painted eyes had wondered over to the new blonde headed boy.
"Is he the one that angered Lucid yesterday?"
"I believe so."
"He will be quite a catch."
"Indeed"
"Shall we?"
Two girls stood up from the Slytherin table. Their robes showed slightly to much skin but they weren't overly showy that if they flirted a bit with the male professors they could get away with it. They wore the finest jewelry obviously passed down from generation to generation of the best blood lines. They swayed their hips as the sauntered toward the Gryffindor table, loving the attention it got from the surrounding boys. They came up behind the blonde, ready to pounce on their prey.
Draco was still arguing with Cole when he felt a finger run across his shoulders. He turned to affront the person who had disrupted him from his heated battle. That is until he saw the two girls dressed in the exact same robe as Hermione except emerald green. He looked the two up and down and grinned.
The one that had touched him had dirty blonde ringlets stacked atop her head with hazel eyes. The fake beauty mark above her ruby red lips showed she didn't mind playing with a few beauty spells. Her robe was a little tight but he didn't mind.
She spoke, "Cole, are you going to just sit there or are you going to introduce us."
Cole narrowed his eyes. He knew these girls reputation to well. They were cronies of Lucid, the Slytherin prince himself. His parents had urged him to get in league with them, to hang out with the right people as they called it. How blackmail and spreading lies in the name of pureblood was noble he would never know. He had lost face with their lot a long time ago. Cole remained silent, refusing to participate in their scheme.
"Fine then I'll do it myself." the blonde stuck out a jeweled hand. "How do you do? My name is Maryl Anne Patel."
Draco took her hand and kissed the air above it. "Hello my dear Maryl. My name is Draco Marselione. What a pleasure it is to meet a lady as lovely as yourself. Maryl giggled into her free hand trying to look modest.
Hermione hearing the fit of giggles was pulled out of her conversation with Albus.
Draco continued turning up the charm, "May I ask who your friend is?"
Maryl stopped giggling a little disappointed his full attention had been shifted from her.
She turned to the other girl. "Ah, yes this is my friend Brittany." She was shorter than Maryl with mossy brown hair and deep black eyes. She fluttered her eyelashes and flashed him a smile that had obviously had way to many bleaching charms on it as her teeth were an unnatural white.
"Brittany? What a beautiful name...almost as beautiful as the girl." Both girls went into a fit of hysteric giggles.
Hermione snorted. This is really to much.
Hermione stood up interrupting their fit. "Hi! My name is Hermione Austin." she genuinely smiled and held up her hand.
Brittany turned to her with distaste while Maryl pointedly ignored her to continue talking with Draco. "Um. Hello my name is Brittany." She turned her nose up at Hermione's hand. Hermione slowly let her hand down as the smile slid off her face. She tried again for conversation.
"So what house are you..."
"Are you finished eating?" Brittany interrupted.
'Yeah, I was just about..."
"Oh. Okay then I hope you don't mind."
Brittany slipped into Hermione's chair next to Draco and turned her back to her.
Hermione clinched her jaw agitated by the girl's rudeness. She took a moment to regain her composure. Hermione turned to Albus who had been watching the whole scene in silence.
"Albus I think I'll find the library before class starts."
"Albus closed The Odyssey and gathered his books as well as Hermione's. "I'll go with you."
"No really you don't have to."
"It will be my pleasure to show you. Besides I've been meaning to go anyway" He stood up to follow her.
"Hey wait up. I'm coming too." Cole called out walking up behind them.
Hermione looked at the two. "I didn't mean to pull you away from..."
"Igh, please I've had enough." Cole made a face. "Besides who wants to stay and watch that?" he pointed over his shoulder. Maryl was feeling Draco's bicep and Brittany was twirling a piece of her mossy hair laughing at something he had just said.
Hermione turned back in disgust, "Come on lets get out of here."
The three had almost come to the end of the table before Albus came to an abrupt stop. "Hold on. I almost forgot." Albus pulled out two golden envelopes from his pocket. "Here are your schedules you are in the same classes with all the Gryfindors. He handed Hermione both envelopes.
Today we're having:
Potions
Muggle Studies
History
Care of Magical Creatures
"Do you want me to give the other one to Draco?"
"No, I will give it to him later."
"Should we at least tell him where we are going?" Cole spoke out a little concerned with leaving Draco with the girls. Even he didn't deserve that.
Hermione shrugged, "I don't even think he has noticed we've left."
With that Cole, Albus and Hermione walked out of the Great Hall.
Draco looked up just as they disappeared, a slight since of loss coming over him.
"Draco what are you looking at?" Maryl cooed into his ear.
"Nothing." he quickly replied, turning back to the Slytherins.
AN: REVIEW OR I SHALL NEVER WRITE AGAIN!!!! MUFAFAFAFAFAFAFA! please?