Title: No Vacancy
Rating: K
Genre: Friendship
Pairing: hint of Dramione
Characters: Hermione, Draco, Professor McGonagall
Summary: Hermione has returned to finish her schooling and Professor McGonagall gives her an unfortunate message at the start term. This year is definitely going to be interesting.
"I'm sorry ,Professor. What do you mean there isn't room in Gryffindor?" Hermione was sitting in the headmistresses office on the first day of term. Professor McGonagall had met her at the bottom stairs telling her it was urgent she speak with her before the start of term feast.
"Well, you see Ms. Granger, each year we typically only have a certain number of students per year, per house. You should have left us last year but of course…..well. When I got your owl over break I could hardly say I was surprised. If any one of the, how shall I put this, "forgotten seventh year graduates" were to return to finish their schooling, it would be you. Learning for learning's sake I suppose. I was worried I would have to inform you that every spot was taken this year. However, due to last years events, there is one house in which many of the older students chose not to return for this term." McGonagall looked at Hermione with concern. "Surely you don't mean…" Hermione stood back from her chair and stared at the headmistress in disbelief. She knew where this going "Yes, Miss Granger, you will spend this term in under the watchful eye of Professor Slughorn in Slytherin." Hermione sunk back into her chair. There had to be another solution. " Are you certain Professor? What about Ravenclaw? As you said yourself, learning for learning's sake. Thats me." Professor McGonagall shook her head. "No Miss Granger. I'm sorry, but this is a rather unusual circumstance. You'll have to take the spot in Slytherin or accept the Minister's award of graduation for all war heroes. I did not think you one to be intolerable of any house." The minister had given those in the war the option to start work without finishing school and goodness knows Harry and Ron jumped at the chance. But Hermione needed to finish. "It's not that ,professor. But despite my aptitude and skill, I am still a muggleborn. Slytherin house prides itself on it's pureblood members. Won't this cause trouble."
"Oh you've got nothing to worry about Granger." The voice came from behind her but she didn't have to turn to know who it belonged to. Draco Malfoy walked up next to her and put his arm around her shoulders. "As long as I'm here you'll be just fine." Hermione pushed Draco's arm off of her and glared at him. "What do you mean 'as long as you're here'?" Draco chuckled as he pulled an apple out of pocket. "Did you really think you were the only one to come back to school? I will admit, I'm sure no one else was ready to be out of this place more than me but after all that's happened I decided this is the best place for me. Besides I've taken up an interest in alchemy and what better way to learn more than to go back to school. Am I right, Granger?" Hermione was truly at a lost for words. Not only did she have to spend the entire year in Slytherin but Draco was here. How was she supposed to believe that everything would be Okay with him around. "You two better be heading down to dinner now. Oh Miss Granger one more thing." McGonagall tapped Hermione's shoulder with her wand. The crest on her robes now bore a snake and her tie was now emerald. You can do this Hermione. She just had to keep telling herself that.
The pair walked to the Great Hall with only the sound of Draco crunching on his apple between them. The doors opened as they approached revealing the hall filled with students. Hermione dared to turn her head toward the Gryffindor table where she spotted Ginny. The redhead waved at her best friend signaling for her to come and join her. Hermione shook her head and turned to walk to the opposite side of the hall but not before noticing her friends confusion. Draco was already seated at the table but nobody was even acknowledging his existence. Perhaps the rumors she had heard about the Malfoy downfall were true. The once king of the school was now an outcast in his own house. As she walked toward him to find a seat she could already hear the murmurs. "May I?" Hermione asked indicating the seat next to Draco. "Would be my pleasure Granger." As she sat, Professor McGonagall began her start of term speech. She welcomed everyone and dinner began. "I think you're at the wrong table, mudblood." The nasty hiss came from down the table. A dark-haired boy was moving toward them. Draco stood up as he reached them. "If I were you I'd take that back." The boy scoffed and laughed back at his friends. "Or what? You're going to tell your father about this? Everyone knows the Malfoys are through." Draco gripped the knife on the table but Hermione placed her hand over his. "Why don't we go? I've had enough here." Hermione took his hand and lead him out of the hall. They walked down to the dungeons. With everyone still at dinner the common room was empty. Hermione took it all in. This room was opposite from Gryffindor Tower in every way possible. "So what's going on with your parents? And why did you defend me back there? Wasn't too long ago that you were the one calling me that awful name." Draco found a seat on the couch. "Yeah. I'm sorry about that by the way. Stupid family values I guess. Want to know the real reason I'm back at school. I had nowhere else to go. I told my father I was through with the way he wanted me to live. My mother told me I could stay but I didn't want to be in that house anymore." Hermione sat down next to him. "I'm really sorry Draco. My parents still don't even remember me. I'm going to find them after graduation. You want to know why I was so uncomfortable being put in Slytherin? This is where the Sorting Hat wanted me to begin with. Everyone always assumes that if I wasn't in Gryffindor I would have been in Ravenclaw. And I just let them believe what they wanted. So, got anymore secrets to share? I think the rest of the house will be at dinner for a while." The two settled into a long conversation. Maybe being here wouldn't be such a bad thing.
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