Chapter Two: Dawning

No matter how many times Hermione had seen the food magically appear at the start of term banquet, it always seemed to pleasantly surprise her. She looked up and giggled at all the astonished first years staring at the plates in front of them. Wait till they see the ghosts she thought as she licked her lips and began piling food on her plate. Hermione had always been one of those girls who could eat and eat and never put on a pound. Her relatives always joked that she had a bottom less pit for a stomach. Four courses and dessert later Hermione had given Ron a run for his money and was now pleasantly full and extremely excited to see her new dorm...even if she had to share it with Malfoy.

Students began to file out of the Great Hall, drowsy and wanting to reach their dorms as fast as their lead filled legs could carry them. Hermione said her goodnights and headed up to the front of the Great Hall where Draco and Dumbledore were waiting for her. "Good Evening Ms. Granger, I trust you had a good summer," said Professor Dumbledore.

"Yes I did Headmaster," said Hermione smiling.

"Shall we proceed to your dormitory then," said Professor Dumbledore.

Hermione and Draco nodded and followed the Headmaster out of the Hall up staircases, through secret portraits, down staircases, and through trap doors before finally stopping abruptly in front of a portrait of a maiden and unicorn."Wasn't that fun now there are many much shorter paths to get to your dormitory which I am sure you will discover in due time, but for now I will leave the rest for you, the password for your dormitory is dawning," said Dumbledore with the twinkle in his eye again. He then turned swiftly on his heel leaving the heads standing in front of the portrait. "Dawning," said Draco impatiently. "Why yes it is," said the maiden as the two heads entered their common room confused.

Hermione had no idea where to go first it all seemed so perfect. The common room was decorated in both Gryffindor and Slytherin colors though it strangely did not look like Christmas the way it had been tastefully done. There was a full roaring fire along with a couple of coached and a shiny mahogany coffee table. Two staircases leading upstairs curved in towards one another creating a half circle. In the middle of the stairs was an archway that lead to a kitchenette which in turn had two doors one on either side leading off into even more rooms. Hermione had no idea where to go first. She finally decided to look at her room barely able to keep her mouth from gaping in awe.

When she opened the door to her room she couldn't help but smile everything seemed so perfect. She had a queen sized bed with baby blue comforters a big desk with her macbook sitting right there wait what is my computer doing here? Muggle technology doesn't even work on Hogwarts grounds, thought Hermione as she walked closer to the desk. She then saw a not from Dumbledore.

Dear Ms. Granger,

I have decided to give you another comfort as head girl by allowing you to use technology in your room. I hear muggles are quite fond of their computers, and not without good reason they do seem to be quite handy.

-Professor Dumbledore

Hermione smiled, it was true she did miss her computer and her ipod while she was at Hogwarts. Now she would be able to simply email her parents whenever she wanted to talk to them it was much more efficient than sending owls back and forth. She then went back to exploring her room. She found that she now had a walk in closet as well as a balcony with a wonderful view of the lake. One door left she thought as she went to open the third door and found a very pristine and clean bathroom with a bath tub the size of a swimming pool, a shower that could fit at least three people and a very long counter with two sinks accompanied by a huge mirror. She then noticed a door on the other side of the room. Oh no, please no, please don't tell me I have to share a bathroom even one so big as this with him, thought Hermione and as if on que Draco opened the door. "You have got to be kidding me," said Draco, "I refuse to share a bathroom with you."

"You think I like this any better?" said Hermione before she walked back into her room closing the door behind her.

Draco went back to his room slamming the door behind him. Over all the dormitory was pretty nice, but nothing worth gawking over. He went to check his trunk to find all of his clothes had already been put into his closet all that remained were his personal items. Once he was finished putting everything away he headed down to the common room to relax. Staring into the fire he began thinking once more of the letter his mother had sent him. He was so deep in thought he did not notice Hermione come down stairs to explore the rest of their dormitory. She grabbed a cookie from the kitchenette and then went into the room on the right finding herself in a room with many portraits. Four big ones on the back wall stood out the most each was portrait of one of the founders themselves. I wonder, thought Hermione as she went up to the portrait of Godric Gryffindor and said"Gilly Weed"

"Why yes you are the smartest witch of your age," before opening and revealing the Gryffindor common room. Hermione spotted Ginny immediately and snuck up behind her. "Boo," she said into Ginny's ear causing her to jump, she whipped her head around and began laughing when she saw Hermione. "You got me good, where did you come from I didn't see you come through the portrait hole," said Ginny smiling but also giving Hermione a questioning look.

"I didn't," said Hermione smiling mischievously.

"What?" said Ginny

"There are more ways than one to get into the common room, but I have to go to bed now," said Hermione sticking out her tongue at Ginny before turning on her heel and quickly disapearing through a portrait before Ginny could even said a word.

Hermione came through the portrait giggling, and headed up to the bathroom to take a relaxing bubble bath before heading to bed.

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