A/N: Thank you TheMidnightWolf15 & qwertyuiop99 for following/favoriting!
We're finally back at Hogwarts - hope you like this chapter. As always, JKR owns it all. Please R&R, & enjoy! :)
"Are you sure you have everything, dear?"
"Yes, Molly, I'm sure." Hermione smiled at Mrs. Weasley's motherly tendencies as she checked the lock on her trunk one last time. Ginny was long gone, the Hogwarts Express having left at its usual time of eleven o'clock, but Hermione wasn't expected to Floo to Hogwarts until later that afternoon, so most of the redheaded clan had returned to the Burrow to spend the remaining time playing Exploding Snap and enjoying a last lunch before her departure. Now, she found herself caught up in a flurry of hugs and kisses as they wished her well. After reassuring them all one last time that she'd write often, Hermione dropped her Floo powder into the fireplace and disappeared.
A short spin later, Hermione found herself once more in the Transfiguration office.
"Good afternoon, Miss Granger," Professor McGonagall greeted her. "We're just waiting for Mr. Longbottom to return from the greenhouses; please feel free to help yourself to anything while you wait." She gestured towards a tea spread on the table, around which sat five students: Susan Bones, Justin Finch-Fletchley, a Ravenclaw girl whose name she couldn't remember, Blaise Zabini, and Draco Malfoy. Hermione was a bit surprised to see the blonde but didn't question him, instead giving her classmates a nervous smile as she took one of the empty chairs. They sat in awkward silence for nearly ten minutes before Neville arrived.
"Sorry about that, Professor," he said. "Took a bit longer than we thought to finish up with the Mandrakes." He grinned broadly when he saw Hermione.
"Not to worry, Mr. Longbottom. Now then, if you'll all follow me, please." The scraping of chairs against the stone floor was the only sound they made as the group shuffled out the door and down the corridor. After a short walk, Professor McGonagall stopped outside what seemed to be a plain slab of wood roughly the size of a door, but there was no handle. The only remarkable thing about it was a beautiful carving of Hogwarts done delicately at eye level.
"Your password is 'Canis Musica'," Professor McGonagall stated. As she spoke the words, a small brass doorknob materialized before them. "I believe Miss Granger might understand the significance of such a password." The corner of her mouth quirked up in a slight smile, and Hermione stopped, a look of comprehension slowly spreading across her face.
"We're on the third floor, aren't we?" she asked, fighting back a smile of her own.
"Indeed we are, Miss Granger. I expect you'll explain it to your classmates later." Professor McGonagall still looked amused as she beckoned them inside.
Hermione couldn't help the soft gasp that escaped her lips as she took in the sight of the common room before her. The furniture was simplistic in style but stained an elegant reddish-brown color, and the couches, upholstered in a soft tan material, looked extremely comfortable. The gray stone fireplace on her right gave warmth to the whole room without feeling overbearing, and the ivory carpet felt plush beneath her feet. To the left, a small table flanked by two empty bookcases promised to be a perfect homework spot, and two identical doors on the far wall led to what Hermione presumed were the dormitories. A baby grand piano sat in the far corner behind the couches, its polished surface gleaming softly in the firelight. The only deviance from the muted color scheme was the large purple banner emblazoned with the Hogwarts crest that hung over the fireplace. Hermione had to admit it was probably the most beautiful room she'd seen to date in the castle.
"Please make yourselves at home," Professor McGonagall requested. The seven students complied, settling onto the sofas and chairs around the fire as they waited for their Headmistress to speak. If possible, the furniture was even more comfortable than it looked.
"I understand you may have questions, but please refrain from interrupting until I finish explaining," she began. The teenagers nodded their assent, and she continued.
"You seven are the only ones who chose to return from your year – unfortunate, yes, but it can't be helped. Whatever your reasoning, we're glad to have you back, and hopefully we can make it worth your while.
"In terms of your academics, you will be, for all intents and purposes, seventh years. You will share classes with the true seventh years, and you will study for and sit the N.E.W.T.s in your chosen subjects next June. However, there will be a few differences. For one, as you are all of age, you will be allowed to visit Hogsmeade whenever you wish, although I must ask that you inform me of your departure before you do so – given the current situation in the Wizarding world, I think you'll find that a reasonable request." A couple of the students nodded.
"Second, because you are technically not true seventh years, none of you are allowed to hold positions of authority. Miss Granger has kindly offered to assist in a sort of supervisory position, but she has none of the power associated with the Prefects or the Head students. As your group is technically House-less and will remain so even after the eventual Sorting, I will be acting as your Head of House, although you are always welcome to speak to any other professor of your choosing, and our new Head students are always available as well.
"Finally, I think it goes without saying that we've all had a rough time of it recently. This common room was designed to give you a place of sanctuary. You are free to invite other students in as you see fit, but please exercise caution when doing so, as your password will not be changing this term. I hope this year will make up for what you've all missed, but we can't pretend we won't be facing some challenges. Please know that, if necessary, you have the option to take your meals here – you will be required to join the rest of the school in the Great Hall for all feasts, but what you do the rest of the time is up to you. We want you to feel like you belong here, but we want you to also have the chance to get away if need be." Her speech finished, Professor McGonagall glanced over at the little clock on the mantle.
"The Welcoming Feast begins at six, at which time you will need to be downstairs in the Great Hall. Until then, you are free to do as you please. You'll find your dormitories through those two doors – girls on the left, boys on the right. If you have any questions, I'll be in my office until five-thirty." With a nod to them all, Professor McGonagall left the room, the door shutting behind her with a soft click. For a few moments, no one spoke, then Susan finally broke the silence.
"Well…shall we go see the dormitories, then?" she asked. The other students murmured their agreement and rose to their feet, making for the doors at the back of the room.
The dormitory was just as welcoming as the common room had been. Whereas the common room had no windows, the dormitory boasted nearly floor-to-ceiling ones along the back wall, ending just short of a plush window seat. The three girls' beds sat along the left wall – they all looked slightly different, and Hermione was delighted when she realized it was because hers was in fact her bed from Gryffindor Tower. Their trunks sat at the foot of their beds, transported effortlessly thanks to the house-elves' magic, and a spacious wardrobe and a small nightstand flanked each bed. A large circular rug in the same ivory color as that of the common room covered the floor. A door standing ajar on the right wall led to a roomy bathroom, and they could hear the boys exploring their own, which was next to theirs and therefore shared a wall. The room boasted a spectacular view of the lake and the Forbidden Forest, the Quidditch pitch just visible in the distance.
"Not bad at all," the Ravenclaw girl said. "I rather like it." She flopped down on her bed and turned to Hermione.
"I'm Lisa Turpin, by the way. We didn't really have too many classes together." She was a tall girl with straight dark hair that fell past her shoulders and pretty facial features.
"Hermione Granger," Hermione replied. "Lovely to meet you."
"Well of course I know who you are," Lisa said with a laugh, "but good meeting you all the same. I reckon it'll be nice to get to know some other people this year."
"I agree," added Susan, absentmindedly twirling the end of her long plait with her fingers as she spoke. "You get so wrapped up spending time with your housemates that you don't really think too much about the rest of your year – I mean, I don't know about you, but I hardly know anyone who wasn't a Hufflepuff. Pretty sad when you think about it, considering we've all spent the better part of six years together."
"I think the House-less thing will be good," Hermione agreed, "for all of us. The prejudices and stereotypes have caused so much more trouble than they're worth, when you think about it." Susan and Lisa nodded, and they set to unpacking their trunks. In no time at all, everything was in order, and the three girls returned to the common room, chatting amiably.
"Ah, we were starting to wonder where you lot had got to!" Justin said as the girls emerged. The boys were all seated by the fire – Justin and Blaise were playing wizard's chess, and Draco and Neville had books open on their laps, but their silence seemed a much more companionable one than before they'd split up. Hermione, Lisa, and Susan each found a seat, Hermione watching the chess game with interest.
"So what's the deal with the password, Granger?" Blaise asked suddenly. Hermione couldn't help but laugh at his question.
"First off, please call me Hermione." She extended her hand to the dark boy. "A…fresh start, if you will?" she said almost timidly. Blaise laughed at that and shook her hand.
"Alright, then," he said, still chuckling lightly. "Hermione it is. Now, care to explain the password?"
"Do you remember something odd Dumbledore told us at our first Welcoming Feast?" Hermione asked. Two male voices answered simultaneously.
"Dumbledore told us a lot of weird things."
"The third floor corridor on the right was off limits if we didn't want to die."
The first response was Blaise; the second, to everybody's astonishment, was Draco. It was the first he'd spoken since they'd arrived.
"I…well, yes, you're both right," Hermione stammered, "but I was going for the latter." Draco smirked at Blaise, and Hermione felt slightly more at ease seeing the familiar expression. Suddenly, Neville seemed to process just what Draco had said, because he let out a small noise akin to a squeak and said, "That dog!"
"Dog? What dog?" Justin asked.
"The dog was the reason the corridor was off limits," Hermione continued, realizing she now had the attention of everyone in the room. "He was a three-headed monster, easily the size of this room, and he was by no means friendly."
"Understatement of the century, Hermione," Neville muttered.
"Hang on," interrupted Blaise. "How do you two know about this thing anyway?"
"Harry, Ron, Neville, and I were running from Filch one night and ended up in here. For all Dumbledore's warnings, it was pretty easy to get in – a simple Alohomora did the trick – but we'd gotten so turned around we didn't realize just where we were until the dog almost had us for a midnight snack."
"Sounds exactly like some perfectly harmless thing Hagrid would own," Draco drawled sarcastically. To his surprise, Hermione snorted.
"He did belong to Hagrid, actually," she laughed. "And, in true Hagrid fashion, his name was Fluffy." They all laughed at that.
"What about the music part, then?" Lisa asked.
"And where's the damn thing now?" Neville wondered aloud.
"Oh, the music part's nothing exciting," Hermione said. "If you wanted to get by him, you just had to play him some music, and he'd fall asleep. I don't know where he ended up. Not here, obviously – the Forest, maybe?"
"Checkmate!" Justin said suddenly, a grin on his face. Blaise studied the board in disbelief.
"Dammit, you're right!" he said, causing everyone to burst out laughing once more. "You won't be so lucky next time, though."
"Rematch after dinner?" Justin asked, raising his eyebrows in challenge.
"You're on!" The two boys shook hands and set the chessboard aside for later.
"Speaking of dinner," Neville said, "it's about time we all headed downstairs. Shall we?" The others agreed and hastened to ready themselves for the feast, and they all left the common room together, wondering what sort of surprises awaited them in the Great Hall.