-CHAPTER TWO-
"If you don't, you'll find for life, this year will spur regret"
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Hermione glared at Malfoy. She was extremely annoyed with him. After the meeting he'd simply disappeared. She'd wanted to ask him about living arrangements but she couldn't find him anywhere. Blaise Zabini, Malfoy's supposed best friend, hadn't even known where he was. Well, she'd found him now; sitting at the Slytherin Table, a smug smile dancing across his face every time a First Year was sorted into Slytherin.
Harry, sitting across from Hermione, saw her glaring and turned around. Pansy caught their stares and whispered something in Draco's ear, causing him to look up, a smirk on his face. Harry turned back to see Hermione blushing violently. She flashed Harry a reassuring smile though, so he dismissed it, probably just thinking about her Head Girl duties, he thought.
Hermione tuned out McGonagall's welcome speech. It wouldn't be very different from previous years and she had other things to think about –first and foremost, the Sorting Hat's song. This year, his long rhyme had been about House Unity as always but there was something else too. Something that wasn't entirely obvious. She thought back to the song:
After many years of darkness,
We've pulled through; found the light
With this new age we enter,
You'll find magic is might.
You may believe the stories,
You may believe the news
But what I have to tell you is-
Disregard these views.
Each house we hold is different
As clear as night and day
But underneath the surface
You'll find that's not the way.
Every house is labelled
From the start of each school year
But in each house lies dormant
Personalities masked by fear
These students are too worried
About how they are seen
To show their truer feelings
Which are hidden by a screen
And now this year I ask you
Each and every soul
What is it that you value?
What makes you as a whole?
Do you value your intelligence,
But hide it, say you're brave?
Are you gentle, loving, caring
But say it's something you don't crave?
Reveal your truer self this year
Students do not fret
But if you don't, you'll find for life
This year will spur regret.
Hermione replayed the verse in her head incessantly for the whole ceremony and the rest of the feast. She knew there was something else -there had to be! Ron sat beside Hermione, occasionally reminding her to eat, but she merely picked at her food, hardly taking a bite. Ginny's eyes questioned Harry but he shrugged. No one knew what Hermione was thinking about and no one wanted to guess.
The feast finally concluded and Professor McGonagall dismissed the students. But, before anyone stood she announced quickly, "Tomorrow morning, all Sixth and Seventh Year students are required in the Great Hall immediately after breakfast for a compulsory assembly. I cannot tell you why, but I can tell you that it is extremely important that you are present. Your future may very well depend on your attendance. Oh, and Miss. Granger, Mr. Malfoy, I'd like to see you in my office in about ten minutes," she addressed the rest of the students, "I hope you all find your lodgings suitable after the renovations, goodnight all."
Hermione frowned at the news. This was becoming stranger and stranger. Something was happening and she needed to find out what. First the Sorting hat's song and now, a last minute assembly for Sixth and Seventh Years tomorrow?
Harry sighed as he rose with the rest of the House, "Dammit, I forgot! You're not sleeping in Gryffindor Tower anymore are you, Hermione?"
Ron spun around, "WHAT! You're not in Gryffindor Tower this year? Why? What happened? What-"
"RON!" Ginny cut off her brother, "Hermione is Head Girl, remember? Where does the Head Girl lodge?" there was silence before she said slowly, "in the Head's Dormitory... with the Head Boy... oh, come on, Percy used to brag about it all the time!"
Ron smiled sheepishly, "Oh yeah... never mind. Well, that sucks Hermione, we're gonna miss having you in the Tower."
"I can still come to the Tower, Ron. I'm just not sleeping there anymore. I have to sleep with Malfoy-"
'There's no way that would ever happen, Mudblood. I'd stop telling your little friends things like that if I were you."
With the hall having cleared quickly, Draco Malfoy had sauntered over to the Gryffindor Table with Pansy and Blaise in tow. Hermione's mouth opened and closed in horror, I can't believe how that came out! And trust him to make a big deal about it!
Ron looked furious at the Slytherin's interruption and seemed ready to take Draco then and there.
Luckily, Ginny stepped in, "Come on, Ron. We've got to get back to the Tower before curfew. Harry, are you coming?"
With one last glance at Hermione and the Slytherins, Ginny grabbed Harry and Ron by their arms and hauled them toward the Grand Staircase. Draco dismissed his friends and soon Hermione and Draco were alone.
"Um... don't we have to see Professor McGonagall?" Hermione mumbled shyly.
"Well, we do... but I don't particularly want to. Then again, I don't want to spend any more time alone with you than necessary. Let's get moving."
Draco swept out of the hall at a brisk pace. So brisk in fact, that Hermione found herself almost running to keep up. They made their way through the halls till they finally came to the Headmistress' Office. The gargoyle bowed his head at their arrival as though he'd been expecting them and revealed the stair case -which Draco promptly marched up.
Hermione stood for a moment, staring at the base of the stairs. She remembered the numerous times she and Ron had come here to see Dumbledore whilst Harry was in his Occlumency lessons. She remembered everything they discussed -the horcruxes, Snape, Malfoy- everything he'd told them came flooding back to her. Tears welled in her eyes as an image of their old Headmaster's twisted, dead body swam into her mind. Shocked at the image, she crumpled to the stairs and wept silently, as though making up for her lack of tears at the funeral. She almost didn't hear Draco creeping back down the stairs.
"Granger," his voice was surprisingly soft, "we all miss him you know –even me. It's going to be very different now. I know how much he meant to you –you really looked up to him."
He paused, waiting for her sobs to subdue before continuing, "Come on, I know you're stronger than this. I'm sure he'd be extremely pleased to know you were chosen as Head Girl -in fact, his portrait probably had some say in the matter... You've got to make him proud, prove you're worthy. I know I say I hate you –and I still do- but I also respect you. It's been like that since we started working together last year. I respected you for agreeing to go to the library with me during the invasion, I respected you for being able to draw conclusions as to what the last two horcruxes were and I respect you now, as Head Girl," he paused abruptly before continuing carefully, "um... well... with that in mind, we should probably hurry up before McGonagall sends out a search party... and then finds us the bottom of the stairs... wouldn't that be awkward?"
Hermione smiled at his last remark. She could tell he'd revealed too much. Who would have thought Malfoy could actually be nice? She was absolutely shocked. She would never have imagined that he thought that of her. He respected her. He mayn't like her but respect counted for something. Maybe working with him this year wouldn't be as bad as she'd first thought. She rose shakily and followed Draco up the stair case, wandering if what he said meant anything –her mind flew back to the Sorting Hat's song and she found herself slowly putting two and two together.
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The door to McGonagall's office swung open as the pair reached the summit. McGonagall was standing behind her desk, gazing up at a large portrait. Hermione realised with a start that the portrait contained none other than Albus Dumbledore. Her heart swelled until she saw that he was a sleep –she would have to come back some other time to ask him some questions. McGonagall turned and smiled at the pair then strode around the desk beckoning them forward.
"I see you decided to dawdle. Well, never mind, you're both here now. Follow me, I need to take you to your new living quarters."
She stepped around the two Heads and made her way through the open door. Draco turned on his heels and followed quickly behind. Hermione took one final glance at Dumbledore's sleeping form then followed after them, trying to restrain more tears.
McGonagall led them back to the Grand Staircase then up to the Seventh Floor. Once in the corridor she took a sharp right and kept walking until they reached a small hallway full of wall length portraits quite similar to the Fat Lady's. Hermione gazed around in awe until her eyes settled on the portrait at the end of the hall. This portrait was by far the largest and was surrounded by a beautiful golden frame.
McGonagall led the pair down to the portrait and Hermione gasped in surprise; above the portrait was a small plaque with 'Head Girl & Head Boy: Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy' written in curling writing which shimmered in the flame of a nearby floating candle. Draco was studying the portrait but his face revealed that he didn't know who it was. The woman in the frame was tall, wore Ancient Greek attire and had a chocolate brown owl perched on her shoulder but Hermione found she was as clueless as Draco.
"This is your new dormitory," began McGonagall, "you will decide on the password yourselves but be warned; telling other students is against school rules and it will not be my responsibility to resolve any issues which arise if other students are found to have been in here. Your portrait is Athena, Greek Goddess of Wisdom, so I hope you'll take it in your stride and be wise leaders this year. Inside, you'll find a common room and a small kitchenette. Your rooms are on opposite sides of the common room but you are more than welcome to use security wards on your doors if you so please."
Hermione glanced at Malfoy, she was definitely going to be using several security wards on her door. No way was she going to even risk him being able to enter her room.
McGonagall continued, "Now, as you know, I've requested that all Sixth and Seventh Year students are present in the Great Hall tomorrow after breakfast. I believe that as Heads, the two of you have a right to know why. Yesterday, we received a letter from the Ministry declaring that in the light of the events of last year, a new law had been passed. As you know, whilst a large battle raged here, Death Eaters were also invading wizarding communities and causing many disruptions. There were also several explosions at St. Mungos, Gringotts, Hogsmeade, Diagon Alley and even the Ministry of Magic itself. Many people died in these smaller battles so the Ministry has decided we need a way to restore the wizarding community."
Hermione frowned, confused, "Professor, what law could the Ministry possibly pass that could restore the state of the wizarding world? We've been torn apart by death and destruction, no law can fix that."
"This is where it gets quite distressing, Miss Granger. You see, the Ministry has decided that we need to repopulate. We lost many people in Britain alone and the Ministry fears that other countries who have not shared as much in the loss will attempt to invade us. I highly doubt it would ever happen but it is the Ministry's opinion and I am forbidden to argue with it. The law itself states that anyone aged sixteen and over is eligible to be paired with another of their age for marriage (if they are not already married or engaged). I do not know the exact details. I only know that the marriage will not take place until both parties have graduated and there are certain deadlines they will need to meet. A Ministry Official is coming to Hogwarts tomorrow to reveal the details to staff and students."
Draco and Hermione stared in horror at their Headmistress. How could the Ministry force sixteen and seventeen year old students (let alone the rest of the wizarding community) to go through with such a thing?
"How are we being paired up?" asked Draco timidly, "Do we have a choice? Is it going to be someone from our house? Will it even be someone from Hogwarts?"
"I'm sorry Mr. Malfoy. I do not know any details. The both of you will simply have to wait until tomorrow. And so, I bid you a good night and hope you are satisfied with your quarters. I will see you both in the morning," and with that, Professor McGonagall left the stunned pair standing in the hallway.
Hermione glanced up at Draco's worried expression, "Well, I think it's absolutely ridiculous!" she cried.
"Don't say that. I completely understand where they're coming from," Draco shifted uncomfortably, "I mean, we lost a large percentage of the wizarding population last year, it makes sense to try and repopulate-"
"Not by forcing sixteen and seventeen year old students to marry!" she interrupted, "Sure, we'll have graduated but you can expect the deadlines will be for things like kissing, getting engaged, being wed, having a child -it'll ruin our lives! It isn't fair."
"Excuse me," a rich, warm voice echoed above them, "Are you two quite finished? If you don't mind, there's something you need to do."
Hermione and Draco looked up to see their portrait, Athena, staring down incredulously at them. In her left hand she held an unrolled scroll and in her right hand was a quill as brown as the owl perched on her shoulder.
"I'm sorry, what?" Draco looked strangely at the quill.
"The pair of you must decide on your password. It would also be nice if you'd hurry this process up as I would like to go to sleep," Athena held the quill down to Hermione who hesitantly reached out toward the image. She gasped as her hand pulled the quill from the painting –she never knew something like that was possible and apparently neither had Draco.
"So... um... what do you think the password should be?" she didn't really want to know but Hermione figured it was polite to ask Draco first.
"Well, I was thinking of something like," he paused and smirked at her before finishing sarcastically, "Clean Blood."
She glared at him, her mouth wide in shock. I take it back, she sighed inwardly, this is going to be worse than I thought. If he's going to have mood swings, working with him will be unbearable!
"Look, if you can't come up with something sensible then-"
"You think up something! I figured you wouldn't want my input anyway."
Why did he always have to be so right? She thought for a moment before turning to him, "Fine. But if you don't like it I'm not changing it."
Hermione and Draco locked eyes for a moment before Athena cleared her throat. Hermione reached up with the quill and carefully wrote on the scroll in the painting 'Carpe Diem'.
"Seize the day?" questioned Draco.
Hermione couldn't believe her ears, "You know what Carpe Diem means? How? I got it from a muggle film!"
"Really?" he shivered, "I should be disgusted by that thought... look, I know my fair share of Latin, okay. My father practically forced me to take lessons. Carpe Diem is a particular favourite phrase of mine, if you must know."
Hermione was shocked. Draco Malfoy knew Latin –amazing! She turned cautiously to him and crossed her fingers, "I guess that means you approve?"
"Sure, whatever."
His reply may have been emotionless but Hermione could tell that Draco was glad she'd chosen the Latin phrase for their password. She personally thought it was very appropriate for them –seeing as the Head Boy and Girl would do well to seize the day.
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Hermione followed Draco through a small tunnel before stepping out into a deep blue room, warmth flooding the area from the fireplace. There were two sky blue armchairs on either side of the room and between them sat a matching three-seater couch behind a small black coffee table. Bookshelves lined one wall and photo frames lined the other. Taking a closer look, Hermione realised that each frame held a photo of a previous Head Boy or Girl. Beyond the warm room lay a door which led into a glowing white bathroom with several small windows. Closing the door she noticed a small dining table and around the corner she found a small kitchenette; complete with a refrigerator, oven, microwave, dishwasher and several cupboards –each earning puzzled looks from Draco with the exception of the cupboard which he opened expectantly.
Hermione walked back into the common room to see two silver doors she'd missed on either side of the room. Each had a small golden plaque with a name engraved into it; Hermione's on one and Draco's on the other.
Draco flopped down onto the couch with a handful of Liquorice Wands and stretched out, filling it almost entirely, "Merlin, I think I'll just sleep here. This is so comfortable –nothing like the ones at home though." He closed his eyes and smiled before bringing one of the wands to his mouth.
Hermione shook her head and walked into the room marked as hers. She closed the door, turned to face the room and froze in shock –it was an exact replica of her room at home. The walls were a pale lilac with art frames spread across them. There was a small cream desk in the corner with the matching cream and baby blue chair. The bed was even the same –the two-tone lilac and blue duvet falling to just above the cream carpet. All her books were lined up on the long shelves and above them sat her stereo, CDs still in place. She noticed her trunk had been placed at the foot of the bed with her toiletries bag laid out on top. She grabbed her pyjamas and wash gear before creeping out of the room past Draco, still on the couch, into the white bathroom.
The bath in the bathroom was like heaven. Hermione sighed as she slid under the water, taking in the smell of Lavender and moving her hands through the soft foam. She thought back to the Sorting Hat's Song again.
After many years of darkness,
We've pulled through; found the light
That could only mean that it had taken a while but the war against Voldemort was finally over.
With this new age we enter,
You'll find magic is might.
Hermione figured the Sorting Hat must have been alluding to the Ministry of Magic's influence after the war and how they were trying to take back control.
You may believe the stories,
You may believe the news
But what I have to tell you is-
Disregard these views.
Again, another Ministry reference. This one had to relate to all the articles the Daily Prophet had been writing lately about the Death Eaters and Harry and how Dumbledore's death was faked and he was still alive. The hat was probably encouraging students to create their own opinions on the war -instead of listening to the Prophet's rubbish.
Each house we hold is different
As clear as night and day
But underneath the surface
You'll find that's not the way.
These lines were more obvious; the differences between the Hogwarts Houses used to be massive but after the war, the lines are beginning to blur.
Every house is labelled
From the start of each school year
But in each house lies dormant
Personalities masked by fear
These students are too worried
About how they are seen
To show their truer feelings
Which are hidden by a screen
This set had stumped Hermione at first. That was, until she discovered Draco Malfoy's more compassionate side at the base of the stairs leading to Professor McGonagall's office. She'd been thinking about his sudden change and had concluded that the Sorting Hat had basically meant that within each house, people had been afraid to show certain personality traits but were more than ready to reveal them after the war.
And now this year I ask you
Each and every soul
What is it that you value?
What makes you as a whole?
These were more obvious; this year, decide what your values are and what things you value about yourself and let them show.
Do you value your intelligence,
But hide it, say you're brave?
Are you gentle, loving, caring
But say it's something you don't crave?
These were probably just completely random examples the Sorting Hat had plucked from thin air but they certainly had some meaning to them.
Reveal your truer self this year
Students do not fret
But if you don't, you'll find for life
This year will spur regret.
And finally, Hermione decided the hat had simply decided that urging people to reveal any hidden sides would get them to comply.
Hermione glanced out one of the windows. She could see quite a few more stars than when she'd gotten in the bath meaning a lot of time had passed –more than she'd thought. She climbed out of the bath, dried off and slid on her rich purple pyjamas, admiring the splash of colour against the blinding white of the room. When she exited the bathroom, she noticed that Draco was no longer laying on the couch. She assumed he was in his room as the entire dormitory was silent except for the rustling of turning pages coming from behind his door.
She made her way to bed quickly, sliding into the bed and revelling in its familiarity. She never spent more than the summer and Christmas holidays in her own bed and it was strange but pleasant, sleeping in her own bed at Hogwarts. She sighed as she drifted off into a dreamless sleep –Hogwarts was starting to feel like home once more.
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A/N: What do you think? I'm really glad this has been so well received. Because it's my first fanfiction EVER I didn't expect it to be very good but I have been proven wrong... by several people... and I'm so excited! I JUST finished this but I wanted to put it up STRAIGHT AWAY -because I didn't want you guys to be left waiting for too long :)
~Enjoy, Morsmordre-Mascara