Ch. 2 The New and the Old
Hermione made her way through the magical train reminiscing in her mind all of the times she had done this years previous. They were all taking a risk by taking the train but since this was their last year no one could really begrudge them the experience. Sadly, they seemed to be of the few who'd decided to ride to Hogwarts by train, most were finding other means of transportation. So many feared Dementors and Death Eaters sneaking up on them that the thought of traditional travel seemed ludicrous to most.
She slid open the door leading to her, Harry, and Ron's compartment (Ginny had found friends she'd rather sit with) and plopped down next to Ron handing he and Harry both chocolate frogs. Harry eyed the sweet nostalgically.
"I can't believe it's seventh year," Harry said his eyes a bit sad.
"I know, after this we'll be fully grown witches and wizards. We won't need Hogwarts anymore," Hermione conceded feeling herself also become sad.
The school had become a second home to her. Just the thought of the moving staircases, the long mysterious corridors and the colorful characters always made Hermione feel warm inside and she knew her friends shared this sentiment.
She eyed the two young men who were more than friends to her, they were family. Harry and Ron had both become exceptionally tall towering over her with several inches. Harry's hair was still wild but it fit his noble face now more than ever. His green eyes were still vivid and curious although a bit strained and sad due to losses and the weight of being The-Boy-Who-Lived. Ron who had for several years been tall, awkward, and lanky now seemed comfortable with his physique. His face was humorous and passionate as it had always been but with a more self-assured flare which his flaming hair set off wonderfully. They were both handsome and she knew personally that many girls were already hoping to catch their eye even though they were a bit oblivious to the fact.
Her eyes shifted to the window watching the beautiful scenery go by, content. She wondered how long this deceitful peace would end. She tried not to dwell on what the future held but the absence of any truly terrifying news unsettled Hermione. Harry, especially, she knew was tying himself in knots with worry. She remembered a few weeks ago when Harry had even offered to forgo his seventh year and just focus on ridding the world of Voldemort and his followers, she had no problem with the name now it seemed she and everyone else were becoming more brave by the day, their souls hardened by the prospect of what was to come.
The thought that Harry would not want to go to Hogwarts, which in her mind was one of the safest places possible, had made her angry. Angry with the war. Angry with the fact that Harry was going through things that she and Ron could barely help him with. Angry that despite so much grief in his life there was even more ahead.
She loved Harry so much and the thought of him having to face Voldemort alone had placed itself as her number one fear in life. She didn't care what he said though, when the time came she would not leave his side and she knew Ron wouldn't either. As if he knew her thoughts had centered on him Ron's face lit up.
"Hey! We don't know who's gonna be Head Boy or Girl this year."
He was right. No one had any idea but since she hadn't received a letter she knew it couldn't have been her.
"I think Dumbledore's been a little too busy this year to send out letters. Most people were threatening not to come to school at all," Harry offered seeing the forlorn look on Hermione's face.
"You really think that's it?" Hermione asked unsure.
Harry and Ron both nodded hoping to get that perplexed look off her face.
"There's no one else who could qualify to be Head Girl. You're the smartest witch in the whole school," Ron said reaching over to pat her shoulder, "Face it, you have no competition Hermione."
She waved it off.
"It won't really matter anyway, with all my studies and everything else it's probably for the best."
Harry and Ron glanced at each other not convinced that having the title of Head Girl meant nothing to her but they said nothing and quickly turned the subject to Quidditch which Hermione ignored.
Not too much later the trained arrived to Hogwarts and everyone got off eagerly wandering into the majestic building. The Great Hall looked exactly as it always had homey and predictable. The ceiling resembled a starry night sky and the first years were all huddled in one corner of the room looking anxious and scared.
Dumbledore sat in the front as usual smiling at them all with a twinkle in his eye. He seemed to be especially focused on the first years as to assuage any fears they might have, seeing as many people were perplexed to send their children to school at all.
They sat through the sorting ceremony and warmly received four new Gryffindors, two others went to Ranvenclaw, six went to Hufflepuff, and three went to Slytherin. Their food appeared magically in front of them and the hall was filled with excited and nervous chatter as they all dug in hungrily. Several minutes later Ms. McGonogall walked in with a girl about their age who Hermione had never seen before. She hadn't even noticed McGonogall's absence and took the time to survey all of the teachers with Dumbledore. Snape was, as usual, sneering at everyone, specifically the Gryffindors. There were no new teachers as far as Hermione could see and she vaguely wondered who would be teaching the Defense Against the Dark Arts class this year.
McGonogall ushered the girl towards Dumbledore who bent down to speak to the girl. Hermione noticed that everyone else at their table seemed to be interested in the girl as well. She watched as Dumbledore turned to speak with McGonogall then after a few moments he clapped his hands twice to get everyone's attention. Once the hall was completely silent, Dumbledore spoke.
"I would like to welcome all of my old students back as well as the new," he looked pointedly at them all, "I understand how grievous a time these are and I admire you all for your tenacity and will to learn. I would also like to welcome a new student."
New student? Everyone immediately began to murmur and chatter the hall becoming noisy once more. Dumbledore simply raised his hand to which everyone became silent again.
"Her name is Estrella Ile and she will be joining the Gryffindors for her last year," the Gryffindors all gasped curiously at the girl, "She's transferring from Luxbottom and I hope that you all welcome her kindly as your fellow student and housemate."
He motioned the girl towards the Gryffindor table and moved towards them her face a bright beet red, she obviously hadn't expected to be put on the spot. She chose to sit at the very end of the table and everyone was craning their necks to get a glimpse of her. Hermione noticed the girl was thin and wide eyed. Her eyes were a luminous light blue and her skin was very pale. Her hair was as dark as a Raven's and reached mid-shoulder. She was pretty in a willowy frail way. Hermione wanted to talk to the girl and make her feel welcome she looked so uncomfortable.
"Also," Dumbledore's soft voice hushed them all again, "I did not inform the Head Boy and Girl of their positions this year due to other commitments and I would like to tell them now."
Hermione's breath caught in her throat. So Harry had been right after all. Ron grinned at her and Harry loped his arm around her shoulder.
"The position of Head Girl this year goes to," Dumbledore paused dramatically his eyes playful until he looked directly at the Gryffindor table eyeing Hermione, "Hermione Granger."
The applause was thunderous, the Gryffindors were aspiring to become hoarse they were hollering so loud. Hermione blushed and could not conceal the huge smile that came over her face. Ron and Harry both kissed her on the cheek and everyone at their table was shouting congratulations.
Dumbledore held up his hand again motioning for everyone to be quiet, "Head Boy goes to," he paused dramatically again and Hermione expected him to look back at the Gryffindor table and name Harry or Ron as her counterpart when she saw his eyes swivel towards the Slytherin table, "Draco Malfoy."
The Slytherins were raucous and loud many hitting Draco on the back spiritedly. Draco only smirked and the Gryffindors all looked at each other in bewilderment.
"Draco Mafoy?"
"A slytherin is a Head? We're really going to get it this year," someone groaned.
"Unbelievable," she heard Ron mutter beside her, "What is Dumbledore thinking?"
Harry shook his head wordlessly, "I haven't a clue."
Indeed. What was Dumbledore thinking? A slytherin as a Head was bad enough but the King of Slytherin was absolutely horrible. Hermione watched the Slytherins celebrate with Draco in their midst. He seemed the calm of the storm because he was completely relaxed as if he'd expected it. She watched him a little envious of the calm assured way that he always carried himself and his gaze met hers. For some unfathomable reason a shiver went down her spine. For a moment, just a split moment, their eyes locked in a silent dual that no one else was privy too and for the briefest of moments her body heated in response.
Hermione blinked tearing her gaze away. What was wrong with her? Was she coming down with a fever? What else would explain her reaction to Draco Malfoy of all people? Everyone got quiet and she realized Dumbledore was about to speak again.
"I would like you two to meet me after dinner to discuss your living arrangements," he eyed them both before lifting his arms to everyone else, "Please enjoy your meals and remember tiddly wock miffy mong wong," and with that he sat down in his chair merrily striking up a conversation with Snape and McGonogall.
The first years looked confused, if not a little afraid of Dumbledore and Hermione felt herself chuckle. Despite the fact that he was infinitely odd and obviously a little short of all his marbles his strange character never ceased to amaze and humor her. Harry and Ron were chuckling in spite of themselves as well.
Everyone chattered a bit until it was time to go to bed. Hermione noticed the sixth year prefects, of which Ginny was, guiding the first years out and she was hit with a wave of nostalgia. It was good to be home. She waited quietly to the side as everyone left. She watched Malfoy saunter up to her his smirk in place. She grew immediately irritated. What was with his face anyway? It was as if that stupid smirk had took up permanent residence on his face and considering how often he did it she would not doubt if it had.
"How does it feel to be given a position higher than yourself, Granger?"
His tone was derisive and belittling, oh, how she hated him.
"I don't know, why don't you inform me, Malfoy," she spoke his name as if it was a curse, which as far as she was concerned, it was.
His gaze turned angry and before he could make a retort Dumbledore was at their side.
"Will you two please follow me?"
She decided to ignore Malfoy especially with Dumbledore around. They followed him out of the hall and instead of going to where the regular houses resided they went down a long winding corridor. There seemed to be many portraits in this particular hall with people who had stepped out to go wherever portraits went when they no longer felt like being a portrait. Hermione was acutely aware of Malfoy's presence. She didn't understand this new found awareness she had of him. He walked beside her his eyes straight ahead his long legs easily keeping up with Dumbledore's, hers on the other hand had to to do double.
Finally, they ended up at a large floor to a ceiling portrait of a lion resting beside a pond with a snake raped around a tree across from it.
"Inter-house Unity," Dumbledore said and the portrait slid to the side revealing a wide staircase.
They followed him up the stairs to a door and Hermione was surprised when all Dumbledore did was simply open it. Inside, standing in the room she gasped.
The room had seemed like a palace all on its own. There was a huge window at the back of the room that completely covered the wall and the curtains that covered it were overly extravagant. She'd never seen curtains that looked like them, they were a blend of Slytherin and Gryffindor house colors, which Hermione would have thought would turn out hideous but somehow the magic in the embroidery was woven in such a way that it not only worked but was entrancing and beautiful.
A huge fireplace stood to their left and their was a long luxurious couch positioned in front of it. To their right there were several bookshelves and a large wooden table nearby to do their studies. She looked up and noticed that the ceiling in this room mirrored that of the Great Hall, it shone a starry night.
There was a door on both their left and their right. The door on the left had a green snake that was writhing on it as if it were trying to find a comfortable position on the door and to her right a lion lay yawning opening and shutting it's mouth. Hermione's eyes shifted between the two doors before realization dawned on her. She turned to Dumbledore who seemed to be expecting her response.
"This will be your quarters. Draco's room is to the left and yours, Hermione, is to the right."
"We have....to live together?" she sputtered.
"Headmaster, I don't think this is a good idea, me and Granger," Draco began before he was cut off by a raise of Dumbledore's hands.
"I am well aware of how you and Ms. Granger get along which is exactly why I made this arrangement. Hopefully you two will rise above petty differences and prove to be an example for the entire school."
Draco's face was thunderous but he said nothing.
"Is there anything else you two need? Your things were delivered earlier," he looked at Hermione, "I brought your things up myself seeing as I understand how you feel about elves."
Her face immediately turned red. She couldn't believe that Dumbledore had carried her luggage himself. Draco on the other hand just looked disgusted.
"If that is all, I must bid adieu," he turned to go then stopped and looked at them once more.
Hermione hoped he was going to tell her that this was a joke and that she could come stay with the rest of the Gryffindors. He smiled at them and she could feel her hopes rising.
"Would you like a lemon drop?"
Her face fell. A lemon drop??
"I find them to be exceptionally tasty," when neither of them offered their hands he shrugged, "More for me then," he pulled a lemon drop from his pocket and popped it into his mouth, "Exceptionally well. Good night," with that he disappeared through the door.
The silence in the room became unbearable. She could practically feel the hatred coming off of Malfoy next to her. She was waiting for the insults and she didn't have to wait long.
"I always knew he was a crazy old man but this is ridiculous. How does he expect me to room with a mud-" he seemed to be speaking more to himself than to her.
She felt her anger rise.
"Don't you say it! Do you think I'm happy about having to share living quarters with you?" he looked slightly shocked by her outburst, "I'd rather room with Voldemort," his eyes flickered at the name.
His expression was hard, his voice wry, "Trust me, considering what and who you are, that would be the last thing you want."
She knew he was right. Voldemort vs. Malfoy, she'd take Malfoy any day not that the latter was much better to her.
She sighed, "Since we're stuck together why don't we learn to at least be.....," she tried to find an appropriate word for co-habitation with Malfoy, "Civil."
She held out her hand and he looked at it with disgust. He brushed past her heading to his room, with his hand on his door he turned to look back at her and her now fallen hand.
"The day I be civil to you is the day you're no longer a mudblood," with that he entered his room and shut his door.
Hermione felt hot tears spring to her eyes. She didn't understand it, she'd been called mudblood thousands of times before, by him and other idiots like him she didn't understand why it was getting to her so. Something was much more cruel about him this year than ever. His attitude was ruthless and she was on the receiving end.
She blinked forcing the tears back having no intention on letting Draco Malfoy make her feel like less than nothing. If he wanted to remain enemies she had no problem with that. She went to her door and entered her room, vaguely noticing how beautiful it was, her mind solely on the blond not 15 feet away.
Draco settled into his bed not caring about the room's interior since he'd been showered in extravagance his entire life. The room and all it had to offer was nothing short of what he thought a Malfoy deserved. He bristled at the thought of having to share his space with Granger of all people. The old man definitely had something up his sleeve and Draco was not in the least bit amused.
He thought of the eruption in Granger's eyes every time he called her mudblood. Despite his common use of the word it brought him no pleasure to hurt her feelings as it once did as a youth, now he felt a foreign emotion every time her expression became pained over something that he had said. When he had just insulted her a few minutes ago he'd almost been compelled to retract his words......almost. A Malfoy never retracted his words, never admitted a wrong-doing, and never apologized, especially to a muggle born.
This year, though, there was something about her that seemed to anger him and he didn't know what it was. He remembered the bookshop a few days ago when they'd had their little show down. She had been in regular muggle clothes and it had irritated him then. Hermione Granger was soft and curvy in all the right places. He noticed that her skin seemed to always be sun-kissed giving her hair an exciting sheen, which otherwise could've been dull. Her hair was still bushy as ever but it had softened over the years making it a bit more curly and wild. Her mouth was soft and lush and her eyes were a cinnamon brown. Hermione Granger had become.....beautiful and Draco was not prepared to admit it to himself or anyone else.
He remembered leaving the bookshop and Blaise chuckling, "Did you see Granger? She's filled out hasn't she?"
Draco had stopped walking and stared at his dark-haired friend as if he had lost his mind.
"What?" Blaise asked.
"You do know you're talking about Granger. Mudblood Granger."
Blaise just nodded with a goofy grin on his face.
"Mudblood or not I'd do her in a heartbeat and if you were honest, you would too."
For some reason Blaise's lewd talk about her had angered him so badly that he even thought of punching his old friend in the face. He took it as being disgusted with the thought of being with a mudblood, Hermione Granger in particular but as he lay in his bed his eyes slowly shutting he admitted to himself that the thought of his friend or anyone in particular being with Granger in a sexual way disturbed him. He didn't know why but it did. He wondered if she even knew what sex was. He snorted, she'd probably read about it in a book, but he doubted if she had ever really been with a guy, unless she had experimented with Pot-head or Weaselbee. Somehow that thought disturbed him even more.
He had had his share of girls, modestly. It was because of those girls experience and apparent satisfaction with him that he'd been giving the title; 'slytherin sex god'. He didn't mind the title it only reinforced that he was to be the best in everything.
For a split second, before he could catch himself, he thought of Granger writhing beneath him. He immediately clamped down on any thoughts of the sort and turned on his side forcing himself to sleep.