Disclaimer: See Prologue.
Normally I would wait to see how y'all enjoyed the story before I posted the second chapter…but as it was just moved to my account and the prologue was just to explain a little bit about who the new DADA teacher was and why she was so powerful, I decided to post the second chapter now and get on to business. You'll find that the story has taken a twist…honestly, in the beginning, I was planning on a SS/HG pairing...but I think that, for this story, the only pairing that will happen, if it happens, will be a DM/HG pairing. Your comments will be welcome...though I warn all of you who wish to flame me that as this is made from the original workings of my own mind, I will not read flames. Period.
Writing is something I do for fun. I enjoy writing, and I think I'm good at it. The fact will always remain that this is my own personal story...a pastime I rather enjoy, actually...and I write to wind down after a long day of classes. Not so that you can point out every minute flaw in my writing.
Thank you for your time. Enjoy the story.
Yours,
Allison
Chapter 1
Hermione Granger sat silently at the Gryffindor Table, watching the sorting. There was a new kid at the table...one in her year, which was odd...considering that she had never known Dumbledore to take transfers before. His name was Will Kern and he seemed actually rather odd. Hogwarts' Head Girl had changed drastically during her sixth year...now, her hair was long and straight and her face remained empty of emotion. Few people produced an actual, visible response from her when they taunted her.
Which hadn't stopped Malfoy. As she thought about the insufferable Slytherin Git, she felt his cold eyes on her. She knew whose eyes they were before she even began to turn around, eyes narrowing. Thanks to Dumbledore's endless efforts to promote House Unity over the past year, most of the Gryffindors and Slytherins were now civil, if not friendly, towards each other. With the exception of Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy. They fought regularly...and fiercely. She had taken to using a time turner again the year before, and she had matured more than most people would believe.
Now...?
McGonagall's rapping on her goblet got Hermione's attention, and the Head Girl turned her icey glare away from Malfoy- who had the misfortune of being Head Boy- to the Deputy Headmistress...and then to Dumbledore, who stood up.
"Welcome to Hogwarts for another year of wonderful studies..." He began, going off on his normal shpiel of rules and regulations.
"Wonder who the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher is this year." Harry leaned close to Hermione, whispering, as he looked up at the Teacher's Table. "I don't see anyone new..."
"Wonder if Snape finally got it." Ron murmured. "Greasy Bat...I bet..."
"Shh!" Hermione hissed as the teacher under discussion's eyes shot to the Redhead. Ron shut up and bit his lower lip, an audible gulping sound uttering from his throat.
"Finally, to promote unity, the Head Boy and Girl will have their own dormitory in a hidden place of my choosing. Also..." The doors flew open and a woman walked in...she was a good five foot ten and clothed in robes only a hint lighter than her ebony hair...hair that shone with red highlights. Her eyes were glowing red and she walked up to the head of the room without a word, robes and cloak billowing around her like she was in a tornado. Hermione saw Will stiffen as he watched her, and then she turned her face to Harry and Ron in confusion.
"Albus!" The woman's voice was terrible...her anger could be felt across the hall. "YOUR FOOL MINISTER HAS DEINED TO PASS THIS LAW AGAINST ALL COUNSEL! MY STUDENTS WILL NOT CONCUR WITH IT!"
"Ah...Allow me to introduce you all to this year's Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher...Professor Stryke." Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling. "Raven...my office after dinner and we will discuss this." He looked out into the crowd. "Will the Head Boy and Girl please meet me at the same time? Now, I know you're all hungry so...tuck in!"
Hermione and Malfoy exchanged disgruntled looks before Malfoy turned back to his food and Hermione followed suit. All too soon, the Prefects were standing up to lead their respective houses off to the dorms with the new password and it was time for the two of them to go up to the Headmaster's office. Hermione and Malfoy met at the entrance to the great hall, glaring daggers at each other as they walked slowly towards the Headmaster's office. When they arrived, Malfoy spoke the password and they began their ascent...just to stop abruptly at the angry voice of their new Defense teacher.
"I will not stand for this, Albus! Their petitions will be shredded each and every time that they arrive!"
They couldn't hear Dumbledore's answer, only the woman's harsh laugh. "Do you think that my students are so weak with wandless magic? Breaking their wands will do NOTHING to sway them, I assure you!" The voices fell silent as Draco lifted his hand to knock, hesitantly.
"Enter!" Dumbledore called, and the door swung open of its own volition. "Ah, Miss Granger, Mr. Malfoy...thank you for meeting me."
The tall Defense teacher turned, her eyes no longer red or glowing, but a glittering, icey black. She looked at them appraisingly and then she sighed and walked out. "If Fudge does come, Dumbledore, Send him to me." She said.
Hermione and Malfoy exchanged glances.
"Now...to show the two of you to your dormitory." Dumbledore said, standing and taking three keys from a ring nearby. He handed Hermione the red one and Malfoy the green. "Come along." He led the way back to the entrance hall. "We'll start here so that it's easier...well, then. Come along." He led them down a long and complicated string of hallways to a dead end hallway without any doors in it. "Ah, here we are." He said with a smile, stopping before a portrait of a sinister-looking blond woman. "Hello, Natasha. I have a pair of wards for you."
"I don't want them." The woman sneered, cold gray eyes staring at Hermione and Malfoy as if seeing into their very souls.
"I'm afraid you're going to have to put up with them, Natasha, it's only for one year...after all."
"I don't care. I don't want them!" The woman hissed.
"Natasha...you know as well as I do that these are the best Head Rooms in the castle."
"Take them elsewhere, Dumbledore." Natasha snarled.
"Natasha!" The twinkle was gone from Dumbledore's eye. "You may be a magical portrait, but you are not impervious to fire!"
"Fine!" Natasha hissed. "But don't blame me when this little plan of your bites you in the ass! I may not be sociable, but it doesn't pass me by that you're trying to promote unity. My quarters may be good for that, but the repercusions could go either way. The outcome is not always Light. Password?" She sneered at the two students.
Dumbledore turned to Hermione and Malfoy as if he hadn't just argued with the portrait. "What would the two of you like your password to be?" He asked, pleasantly.
Hermione and Malfoy exchanged glances. "Lions" She said, as he said "Snakes" They glared at each other before relenting. "Snakes" She said, while he said "Lions.
"Well, Make up your mind!" Natasha snapped.
"Let's make it something foolishly easy to remember...but so stupid that nobody would think it." Hermione suggested. Malfoy hesitated, and then he nodded. It wouldn't do for them to fight in front of Dumbledore...they'd spent nearly every night of the second term in detention for their arguments during their sixth year. House Unity. Hah!
"How about...sphinx?" Malfoy suggested. Hermione frowned a little at this, thinking it over. Then she nodded and Dumbledore turned back to Natasha.
"Sphinx it is." He said.
"Very well." Natasha said, coldly, as she slid along the wall to one side, revealing a giant door made of sweet-smelling white aspen. Dumbledore slid his key into the lock and turned it before reaching forward and pushing on the silver door handle. He then led the way inside.
"Your keys will only work for the two of you. Anyone that you bring in here, whether it is to study or to visit, will have to come in with you. Natasha knows your faces now and will reveal her secret for none save you...and there will be serious consequences for someone who manages to get past her and use a fake key." Dumbledore said. "As mentioned before, the two of you will have several Unity Events to plan, and so you must work together on these." He smiled, brightly. "Also...you are expected to attend each and every event- from the four dances that we will have this year to the smallest Unity Events- together. Your dates can meet you there, but you will arrive and leave together. I also expect the two of you to set an example for the rest of the school. Mr Flint and Ms Bell did a wonderful job last year, and I expect the two of you to follow their example."
"MARCUS FLINT GOT KATIE SODDING PREGNANT!" Hermione shrilled, looking insulted, and Malfoy blinked in surprise.
"She did? He did? THEY DID! OH HELL NO!" He shouted.
"I hope you're not expecting me to carry this...this...this FERRET's child!" Hermione spun on Dumbledore, glaring at him.
"Like I'd ever touch a filthy, washed up, whore of a mudblood like you!" Malfoy sneered.
"Like you'd ever be good enough to touch me, you sodding piece of inbred trash!" Hermione sneered right back.
"Language, language." Dumbledore tempered. "Of course you do not have to follow their example to that extent. You must, however, get along. Be civil. Something that neither of you has managed." The fragile truce that they'd held thus far was shattering...the Heads were glaring at each other, fingering their wands. Dumbledore sighed silently. "Well!" He forced himself to be cheery. "I trust that you'll know which of your rooms is which by your stuff. Your class schedules will be waiting on your beds. I expect that the two of you will get a Unity-Enforcing Patrol plan set up for the prefects? Thank you." He never gave them time to answer. "Well, I will be letting you get on with business then. Tata!" And with that, he was off.
"This is all your fault, Mudblood!" Malfoy rounded on her.
"MINE! YOU'RE THE ONE WHO CAN'T GET ALONG!" Hermione screeched, glaring right back.
"IF YOU HADN'T BEEN IN THIS DAMNED SCHOOL THIS NEVER WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IN THE FIRST PLACE!"
"OH THAT'S LOGICAL! I COULD SAY THE SAME DAMNED THING ABOUT YOU!"
"I HATE YOU!" Draco sputtered.
"I HATE YOU TOO!"
"GOOD!"
"GREAT!"
"BRILLIANT!"
"WHAT, SO NOW YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE LAST WORD, TOO!" Hermione growled.
"YES!"
"SOD OFF!"
"FINE WITH ME!" Draco walked into the right hand room...slamming the door behind him. Hermione walked into the one on the left and slammed the door.
Five seconds later, the doors were flung open and they stormed past each other into the CORRECT rooms, slamming the doors again.