It had been much too long since the Marauders had last been at Hogwarts. Each had missed their home away from home dearly and couldn't wait for another exciting year in this magical castle. The Marauders clapped eagerly as the last of the first years were sorted, anxious to get at the amazing feast that was sure to follow. That was, until Professor Dumbledore clapped his hands together to gain the attention of the bustling Great Hall.
"Welcome back to another year at Hogwarts. This year we will be having a few extra students joining us in our pursuit of knowledge. They will be entering the sixth year class and I know that you will all welcome the new transfer students with open arms. I look forward to a cooperative year," whispers broke out amongst the students at the mention of transfer students; Hogwarts had never had transfer students before. "And now without further ado, I ask that my newest students please enter the hall."
There was a great commotion as the Hall erupted into excited chatter; Dumbledore always did like a good show. Then the doors to the Great Hall swung open abruptly, silencing the surrounding area. Three girls began marching toward the front of the Hall with their hands behind their backs in a manner that could only be described as practiced. They were extraordinarily beautiful but two of them had no expression whatsoever and the third looked a bit like she wasn't all there.
Remus Lupin watched as the three made their way past where he sat at the Gryffindor table. The brunette girl in the middle seemed to lead the way as the other two fell into step behind and he couldn't help but wonder just where these new students came from. He had never seen such interesting looking eyes and they all wore their long hair in a matching style with some of it clipped to the back of their head. They moved as one despite having totally different physical features. One was blonde headed and starry eyed while another was black haired with deep green eyes. The middle one though, caught his attention the most. It was as if she was drowning in a sea of perfectly shaped curls that bounced with each step she took and her eyes were a sharp coppery color that seemed as if they were tracking every movement around her. She walked with confidence and seemed to emanate a power that no teenager he had every met possessed. He was inexplicably drawn to her and wondered which house she would be placed in by the Sorting Hat.
When the girls reached the hat at the front of the room, the curly haired girl leaned in to whisper something to McGonagall, who nodded briskly and turned to announce the girls to be sorted.
"Pansy Peasgood!" Professor McGonagall called out clearly. The brunette girl turned to the black haired girl and nodded subtly, an action that both puzzled and intrigued Remus. It was like she was a general or something, leading her troops through a mission.
The girl called Pansy Peasegood strode directly up to the hat and placed it on her head.
Pansy's view:
"Ah well if it isn't Pansy Parkinson. You've certainly come a long way to be resorted. It looks as if your mind has changed considerably since the last time we talked. However I will stick with my previous decision since you still seem to have reservations about being placed elsewhere."
"Slytherin!" The hat called out, causing the Slytherin table to erupt in applause at scoring one of the new transfer students. Pansy Peasegood stalked over to the Slytherin table and remained standing in front of an open seat, much to the puzzlement of the crowd.
"Luna Summerbee!" McGonagall called out next, eyeing the dazed looking girl skeptically. Again the brunette gave that subtle nod before the blonde girl literally skipped up to the Sorting Hat.
"Do you think she's, like, mental?" Someone whispered loudly.
Luna's view:
"Miss Lovegood, always a pleasure. Yours was one of my favorite minds I see. You're still very much suited for Ravenclaw but I agree with you that lately you have leaned toward another house in your actions. I can see that placing you in this house would be advantageous to you plans so I will say…"
"Gryffindor!"
People gaped for a second at the decision before the Gryffindors erupted into loud applause. It was Gryffindor policy to befriend everyone in the house. Luna skipped over to an empty seat near the other sixth years and remained standing behind it as well, facing the front table with a happy expression on her pale face.
People were seriously beginning to wonder what was with these girls when McGonagall finally called out the last name.
"Hermione Durant!"
The skinny teenager marched up to the stool and unceremoniously plopped the hat upon her head.
Hermione's view:
"Oh my. Miss Granger you've certainly been through a lot. It seems to have changed you quite a bit. I always said you had traits befitting any of the four houses. If you wish, you may choose where to be placed."
Hermione already new she would not be able to manage Gryffindor again, considering all the memories that would be shoved in her face just by entering the common room, but wanted at least two of the girls to remain in the same house.
"I would like to be placed in Slytherin," she told the hat, "at least there I won't be asked too many questions and I will possibly have a chance to increase house unity."
The hat nodded seeming to agree with her, "You do seem as if your Slytherin qualities have taken dominance for the time being and I think it would be interesting to watch the effect you have on the students from such a house. Well then, by all means…"
"Slytherin!" the hat called out decisively. Remus's shoulders drooped; he had hoped to be able to talk to the strange girl. Perhaps Luna Summerbee would be able to answer some of his questions.
Hermione marched over to the Slytherin table and stood across from Pansy waiting for all of the Professors to take their seats before indicating to Pansy and Luna to do the same. She could tell they had caused quite the commotion amongst the students, but figured the more mysterious they were, the less people would expect answers to their millions of questions. She had been pleased when the hat placed her in Slytherin because she hoped to be able to talk to her old Potions Master Severus Snape and maybe prevent him from making the biggest mistake of his life. She had even taken the seat next to him for this very reason. Plus, she wasn't sure if she was ready to face a few of the familiar faces that were no doubt in Gryffidor during this time period.
"So, I've heard the name Peasegood before of course, but I've never heard of Durant. Is it French?" One particularly snobby looking boy suddenly inquired, obviously fishing for pureblood credentials.
Hermione smiled sweetly at him before responding, "I suppose it is French but the reason you've probably never heard of it is because it is a Muggle surname. I'm a muggle-born you see."
The Slytherins instantly recoiled around her, much to Hermione's amusement. Even Snape flinched a little, as if anticipating what was to come.
"That's impossible," the same boy spit, "there are no mudblood Slytherins. It simply is not done."
Hermione smirked at the boy to the general astonishment of the rest of the students in the Great Hall who were now listening to the intriguing conversation. Was she not at all affected by practically being called a mudblood?
"Well obviously it is done because here I am," Hermione simply stated as if talking to a child. Many people gasped at her gall while Slytherins all along the table scooted to get away from the girl. Severus Snape however was rooted in place. Who was this random wisp of a girl and how was she not at all influenced by the looks of distaste being sent in her direction by every Sytherin beside her friend and himself. He simply did not know how to react to her.
Hermione, however, had quickly shifted her attention to the food that had appeared in front them and was in the process of loading her plate down. Pansy was smirking at her antics while also helping herself.
"You really are a champ at making friends Hermione. I cannot understand why you would ever have trouble getting to know people," Pansy said innocently with a clearly sarcastic undertone.
"I am aren't I?" Hermione chirped as if not paying attention to the sarcasm, "Who knows why I was placed in Slytherin."
The two girls smirked as if sharing a secret joke and Severus couldn't help but wonder just what was going on. They weren't normal. They didn't seem to care if they made any allies at all in the Slytherin House. Even he wasn't able to be that blasé about politics within the house. He already had to start being diplomatic toward the continuous offers he was getting to join the Dark Lord. Did these girls not have any sense of self-preservation at all or were they just stupid?
"So," he suddenly heard the brown haired girl say, "What's your name then?"
Severus turned his head slightly to see what poor soul they had now turned their attention to and realized that both girls were staring directly at him. He started at being singled out but recovered well enough to sneer out, "Severus Snape." He didn't want to be too friendly toward the girls as they were definitely already on a sinking ship. Not that he was really friendly with anyone in the school expect for Lily. And now since he had let himself utter that word in her presence he didn't even have her anymore. But he didn't want to think about that; it was still too fresh.
Hermione raised an eyebrow amusedly while the girl named Pansy seemed to be fighting off a smile that looked almost nostalgic. Their strange expressions were enough to shake him out of his dark thoughts.
"It is lovely to meet you Severus Snape," Hermione replied surprisingly without a hint of sarcasm, "As you may have heard, my name is Hermione Durant and this is one of my very dear friends Pansy Peasegood. Please just call us Hermione and Pansy." She smiled at him genuinely after her little introduction and Severus couldn't help but notice the enormous difference between this smile and the sickeningly sweet one she had sent Avery after he asked her that obviously judging question. It was because of this smile that Severus felt inexplicably compelled to respond.
"You should be more careful," he ground out, "announcing you're background like that was very Gryffindor but people with those traits won't last long in Slytherin. You'll need to watch yourself from now on," he replied harshly. To his great surprise she did not recoil from his tone at all but merely widened her smile as if she had just witnessed something magnificent.
"Though you may not want to hear it Severus, it is very kind of you to worry about us," Snape grimaced at this as Hermione continued, "However, I can assure you that I was fully aware of what sort of reception I would receive upon such a declaration. Believe it or not there was a purpose behind my actions. I don't plan on being taken down so easily and so, Severus, there really is no need to worry about what petty remarks I may receive after this." She seemed to get some sort of secret pleasure out of saying his first name that he did not understand at all but let the matter drop. It was really none of his business if they doomed themselves after all.
Meanwhile, at the Gryffindor table, the Marauders had commandeered the new member of their house to try and get the low down on their situation.
"So, Luna right?" James Potter asked good-naturedly. She nodded back without really focusing on any of their faces, seemingly much more concerned with the movement of the ceiling.
James continued on undeterred, "My name is James Potter and these are my friends Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew."
Luna's attention dutifully landed on each boy in turn nodding politely. The Gryffindors smiled back good naturedly, thinking that the girl might be very interesting to investigate.
"So," Sirius began, picking up where James left off, "what's you three's story?" The other Marauders face palmed at Sirius's complete lack of tack but to their surprise Luna seemed to perk up and pay attention at the question.
"Well, you see Sirius Black, it's a rather long and dreadful story that Hermione has told me should be saved for once we get to know the people here a bit better. So, I think the best course of action would be to wait a few weeks and ask me again. By that time, I think it will be safe to call us acquaintances and thus invoke the privilege of sharing our pasts. It would be quite wonderful if we could someday become friends," Luna finished excitedly, as if she had planned all of this in her head before hand.
The Marauders stared at her speechlessly, wondering just what kind of "dreadful" past had made her so positively odd but not daring to question her further until the time she had allotted had passed.
"That's an interesting way of looking at things," a voice from a couple of seats down spoke up, "Hey, my name is Lily Evens and I'm a prefect. If there's anything you need just let me know." The red-haired girl smiled at the new girl and Luna was put in mind of Harry's friendly eyes and welcoming disposition.
The Marauders watched as the girl's automatic small smile stretched into a full on grin while replying, "I'm so pleased to meet you Lily Evens. I hope we will be able to be great friends. I quite like you."
The red-haired girl blushed at the blonde's blunt statement but seemed to be won over by her honest nature. Grinning, she replied, "I hope so too, Luna Summerbee, I like you as well." Her gaze shifted over to the Marauders and her tone changed as she said, "I wouldn't get too involved we these guys though, Luna, they're nothing but trouble."
"Oh come on Evens, you know you love me," James put in with his best puppy dog face. Lily just rolled her eyes and looked pointedly at Luna, "Seriously though, you have been warned."
Luna kept her perpetual smile as this little conversation happened before saying lightly, "Don't worry Lily, I doubt they'll give me too much trouble. I'll do my best to remain on guard though if it means that much to you."
The others stared at her a moment before chuckling and changing the subject.