Chapter 3: Settling In

Quick a/n: I had forgotten that Durmstrang is for boys (?), so in my uni the school is co-ed.

Also to note: the boys know that Maria (Hermione's pen pal name) knows who they are, and are open about their names. Yet they don't know hers.

Please r/r! I need inspiration! And ideas! See chapter 1…I'm already considering those ideas presented :)

Dear Maria,

Harry and I started school today…I forgot, was it your first day back at school, too? We got a transfer student from another school. I met her today on the train. Didn't go so well. At least she's not as bad as Head Boy Malfoy…he was a right git on the train. Called us names and put down my family again. Besides that, Harry got a load of supplies from my brother's store today…Ginny (my sister) tagged along with him. I think she has a crush on him or something.

Well, I'm a Prefect so I think I'm going to go and terrorize some first years before dinner. Just joking! I know you don't approve of that. Hope your first day of school goes well.

-Ron

PS Are you still with your boyfriend? Just curious.

Dear Maria,

Ron and I started school today. The day went all right, I guess. Good news is that our new Head Girl is from our house! But we just met her today, she transferred from another school. She's really nice, didn't treat me like a celebrity or anything. I really hate that, you know. Actually, I think I've mentioned that a few times in our letters since you found out who I was. That was quite clever of you. Figuring us out, that is…although Ron can be a little blunt sometimes.

I'm Quidditch Captain again, and Ron is still a prefect (I think he's both happy and disappointed that he didn't get Head Boy). We have three positions to fill this year, tryouts will be in a couple of weeks.

Got a load off goods from Fred and George's store this morning…Ron wouldn't get up so he made his sister go with me instead. She's actually pretty nice…Maybe I'll try and get to know her a little better this year.

I'll write again soon about my summer…although you can probably guess how it went.

-Harry

Hermione smiled as she read the letters in the comfort of her Head Girls room. The letters were short and simple, like usual after a long summer. Once the school year got underway the letters typically got longer, usually the boys would ask her for help for either school work or something more dangerous. Like in second year when she actually brewed polyjuice potion and sent it with Harry's Owl, Hedwig. That had been very dangerous.

Hermione sighed as she got out a piece of parchment and thought of what to write back. It was different now…she was at Hogwarts, the same school.

Dear Harry and Ron,

Yes, I have started school again. I have some very exciting new classes on my agenda as well as a good amount of leadership activities to partake in. And yet there are some changes, but that is to be expected. Especially since this is our final year.

Congratulations on being Quidditch Captain again Harry! And good luck on those tryouts…three shoes to fill seems quite challenging.

Ron, I know you can't be too disappointed not making Head Boy. Think of all the extra time you will have for Quidditch! Not that the game tempts me in the least, but I know how much it means to the both of you. And maybe your next encounter with the Head Girl won't be as disastrous.

Your friend,

Maria

PS: No, Ron

Hermione rolled up the parchment and thought about what she wrote. She hadn't spoken with Ron in person since the awkward meeting on the train. He must think I'm an awful priss, she thought. She thought about his question in the letter as to whether or not she still had a boyfriend… "Why had he asked that?" She thought aloud.

After departing the train Dumbledore had both her and Malfoy sent to his office. He showed them their quarters, which had their own common room and a shared bathroom. Each had his and her own bedroom, and in each a door leading through a narrow passage way to their respective houses. She loved her new room…it was decorated with bookshelves and books that filled her wildest dreams. The walls were colored rose and trimmed with a light gold. Subtle Gryffindor colors, she thought to herself. Her bed had a canopy and curtains, matching the colors of the room but with rich embroidered trim. (A/N: I felt like NOT having the Heads share a common room/bathroom: what do you think?)

Hermione finished her letter and handed it to Hedwig, along with a treat. She wondered if either Ron or Harry would figure out who she was, even though Dumbledore still forbid it. The name Maria wasn't linked to her in anyway, except for the fact that "Maria" was the name of a main character in the very first musical that she saw live in the London theater district.

"Now remember, don't deliver this for another day. I'm sure you can find something to amuse yourself, and if Harry needs you I'll send a school owl."

At dinner Hermione sat with Ginny on one side, and Harry seated directly across from her. Ron sat opposite his sister. She listened as Ron told some other Gryffindors about his summer. Then it was Dean's turn, then Seamus'. She noticed that Harry remained oddly quiet about his own summer and wondered who else he confided in besides her and Ron, and other Weasleys perhaps.

At one point Hermione looked over to notice Ron staring at her. His mouth was stuffed with food that he hopelessly tried to keep in. She winced in disgust as something came dribbling out, his face turning red and changing direction.

Harry crooked an eyebrow at the scene, but only Ginny noticed. He met her questioning gaze and shrugged his shoulders slightly. She decided to turn her attention to her new friend.

"Hermione, where is that interesting creature you had with you on the train?"

"You mean Crookshanks? He's in my room. Part Kneazle, he is."

"Really?" Ginny's curiosity piqued. "How long have you had him?"

"Since third year."

"He's a beast if there ever was one, an ugly one at that." Ron piped in.

Hermione gave him a glare. "Crookshanks is a very smart cat." She said in defense. She was about to retort that her cat definitely would have sniffed out a certain "rat" but thought better of it.

"Perhaps, but doesn't change the fact that his face is like a trolls."

Hermione had had enough. She stood up and left the table, with Ginny soon following her. "Hermione! Wait up!"

At the Slytherin Table

Malfoy and his cronies were eating and watching the other students in the Great Hall. Well, perhaps Crabbe and Goyle were eating while Malfoy was doing the watching. Suddenly a pair of hands slipped over Draco's shoulders.

"Draco," The female purred. It was Pansy. "You know the Head Girl?"

Draco nodded his head.

"She's a mudblood."

Draco's eyes narrowed. Great. Now he was going to have to be more discreet in trying to bed her. Especially since Pansy announced the news in front of the other Slytherins. She must have seen him flirt with her earlier.

"Well, I guess it makes sense that she's already stuck herself to one Weasel." He said in a sincerely disgusted tone.

Pansy laughed, as did Crabbe and Goyle.

Meanwhile, back at the Gryffindor table…

"Ron, that wasn't very nice." Harry said to his best mate.

"Twas the truth. That cat is a beast!"

"I agree with you, Ron." Lavender piped in. Ron and Harry looked over at her. Neither had even noticed her sitting next to Seamus and Neville. "Not unlike it's owner, don't you agree?"

Ron looked at her confused.

Harry just rolled his eyes and said "I happen to think Hermione is quite pretty. And smart, too. In fact, I already consider her my friend."

Lavender scowled, and went back to her food while Harry switched his attention to Ron.

Harry lowered his voice. "We need to talk after dinner. Dumbledore came to visit me this summer, and I need to tell you what he said."

Ron nodded, and quickly finished his dessert. "Let's go."

Later that night…

Harry came back late, having flown around the quidditch pitch for hours thinking of new strategies for the upcoming season.

His mind also needed to think about other things, such as Voldemort. The Dark Lord hadn't stirred things around much lately, but he knew something was sinister was brewing. Just last year Malfoy had "attempted" to kill Dumbledore, but somehow Dumbledore knew and gave the boy a new chance. The whole thing was kept rather hush-hush, and now the git was Head Boy.

Still, Harry trusted Dumbledore and figured that the headmaster had some plan that he would eventually know about. He even hinted about a few things during his visit last summer, but Harry still couldn't make sense of it.

Talking to Ron hadn't helped much, but they did agree on one thing: Dumbledore had made specific mention about the power of three. But what did it mean? Was it a series of magical objects? People? He dismissed the last notion, after all…he and his best mate were only two people. I Unless…unless you count Maria/I he thought. I But she's at another school, how could she possible help/I

It was nearly pitch black once the door to the Great Hall shut behind Harry. He quickly put on his invisibility cape and checked the map to make sure his route to Gryffindor Tower would be made without difficulty. He was only a quarter way there when he noticed movement nearby on the map.

Harry's brow shot up as he watched the footprints on the map belonging to Hermione Granger leave the Head's common room. She was coming closer, and he held himself still on the side of the wall.

He saw her come toward him, her eyes strangely lit. He realized it was a nighttime vision spell, and wondered where she learned it. Deciding to follow her, Harry kept at a safe distance until he found her at the familiar statue outside of Dumbledore's office. The secret panel slid noiselessly open, letting the girl inside. Harry took off his cape, his mind in utter confusion. What the HELL was the new girl doing at the Headmaster's office in the middle of the night?

TBC…