A/N Here you go the next installment =)
Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny settled at a point in the table where Neville, Dean, Seamus, Dennis Creevy and oddly Luna - then again she probably was going to sit with the Gryffindor's, she had her boyfriend in that house and was even more a Gryffindor than she was a Ravenclaw regardless. Ginny squealed and hugged Luna happily, Hermione doing the same after her. "Nice summer?" Neville asked brightly after everyone had exchanged greetings. There was murmurs of agreement as everyone replied to Neville, "Yours?" Hermione asked happily. Neville nodded approvingly, "It was good, yeah." He said with a smile.
"Hello, Granger, Weasel." Draco said leering at Ron.
"Perfect. Ferret." Ron said in reply to Malfoy's insult. Hermione smiled as Ron stood up to Draco and looked adoringly to him. "They are nice bruises on your neck." Draco said to Ron pointing to the hickies.
"Bruises?" Hermione asked shifting to look at Ron's neck.
"That's what I said to your little boyfriend granger, although they do remind me of love bites." Draco said in a fake musing tone. Ginny looked at Harry and shifted uncomfortably as she watched Draco, How did he know what they were? She thought watching the three. "They're just bruises Malfoy." Ron hissed giving him a warning glare. Draco shrugged and swaggered off, a satisfied expression on his face.
Hermione watched Draco leave with a confused look, love bites had he said? Ron wouldn't have love bites. She didn't like them and he knew she refused to give them. How on earth would he have them? There was a loud tinkling sound which snapped Hermione from her thoughts and she turned her attention to the teachers table, she saw Hagrid drinking deeply from a goblet, Flitwick and Sprout talking along with Slughorn and then a well-built African American male who she recognised instantly as Kingsley Shacklebolt, one of the remaining Order members. He was looking extremely at ease as if he had been at Hogwarts all along, Hermione smiled to herself as McGonagall began the annual welcomes and messages. "Welcome to our year eights." She exclaimed, referring to all the pupils Hermione's age who had failed to complete their seventh year so were therefore re-sitting it. "We hope you enjoy your safe return to Hogwarts and are eager to learn what they should have learnt last year." She continued, "I would like to introduce our newest addition to the Hogwarts family, our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Kingsley Shacklebolt." Hermione noticed the small group around her perk up, they hadn't noticed him yet? There was a loud cheer from the nine pupils which seemed louder than any other cheering. Even louder than the teachers who already knew Kingsley. He would be here to stay. The group knew that.
The rest of the evening went my quickly and soon Hermione was falling asleep against Ron's shoulder. She heard a gentle 'aww' from Ginny before she snapped her eyes open again and yawned. Ron sat her up gently. "Want to go up to the common room?" Ron asked Hermione softly. She nodded with a heavy sigh. "We'll come too." Harry said gesturing to the Gryffindor's.
"Are you going to walk so far with us Luna?" Neville said warmly, offering her his hand. Luna nodded and took it, standing with him. The group began to leave when the discussion was disrupted. "Won-Won!" Lavender screeched again. Hermione scowled as she resisted the urge to punch Lavender. Ron groaned and picked up his pace. Lavender soon caught up and dived on him for a hug. Hermione growled under her breath before she sped off, "I'll see you in the common room in five minutes." She said to the others leaving the group swiftly. She quickly left the Great Hall and turned left instead of mounting the marble stairs. She hid behind a lone knight statue and waited patiently. The group of friends walked out of the Great Hall together, moments after Hermione had hid securely except - Hermione noted – Ron and Lavender. The group walked up the stairs oblivious that one of their friends was so close by. That was a good sign. Minutes later Ron and Lavender walked out and stopped at the bottom of the stairs. "When are you going to break up with her?" Lavender whined as she looked to Ron.
"I don't know, soon, I just really don't want to upset her." Ron replied, placing his hands on Lavender's waist and kissing her lightly. Hermione gasped and froze. Ron was cheating on her with Lavender? That boy was going to get it. She was so distracted in her anger and plotting a way to get Ron for what he'd done that she didn't notice Draco saunter over to her as Lavender and Ron mounted the stairs. "I did drop a hint before." Draco said coolly beside her. Hermione jumped and fell to the floor from her hiding place. Hermione looked up at Draco from the floor angrily before Draco offered her his hand. Hermione took it with a revolted expression on her face, which was mirrored by Draco, when Hermione was standing he wiped his hands on his trousers and look at her coldly. "You ought to do something to get your revenge on him. Release your inner Slytherin." Malfoy said in a slightly playful voice.
"I intend to." Hermione said coldly. "Thank you for helping me up, but I'm sure the smell of my blood is repulsive to you so I'll just go." She hissed. Draco looked surprised at the venom in Hermione's voice. She may be annoying but he never expected her to be so bitchy when she was annoyed that was for sure. Hermione turned on her heel and stalked away leaving Malfoy stood where she left him. This was certainly different. Draco thought as he watched Hermione walk off, maybe he'd see a new side to the mudblood.
Hermione hurried up the stairs with a furious expression. She froze when she got to the Gryffindor common room, realising she didn't know the password. Hermione sighed heavily; this day really couldn't get any worse. She slid to the floor and rested her head against the wall waiting for someone to leave the common room so she could find out the password. This really was going to be a long night.