Hermione woke up with the sun shining on her face and the birds chirping from outside the window. And this wakeup call did not fit her mood whatsoever.
When the Hogwarts Express had stopped yesterday, and Hermione was gathering her things, she had noticed that Crookshanks had been let out of his cage. She was almost worried had she not known that it was Ron that had opened the cage. The chocolate fingerprints had told her that.
Ron had never liked Crookshanks, and even though her cat didn't eat Ron's rat in third year, although they all wished he did now, Ron still went out of his way to torment the poor animal. She had hurried out of the compartment and stormed down the car calling out Ron's name before she found Crookshanks behind a vent frame. Ron had gotten hexed by her for that. She had also stayed up late last night chatting with Harry, Ron, and Ginny as well as Dean, Seamus, and Parvati. She had missed her other friends over the summer and was excited to catch up with them.
Dean and his Muggle parents took a trip to Brazil, where Dean got to spend four weeks at a soccer camp. He had gone on to tell them that he also met a girl there. Hermione had stolen a glance at Parvati, knowing how much she liked Dean, and she was obviously not pleased. Seamus and his family just stayed home with each other. It may have not sounded exciting, but after the war and everything, Seamus was glad that they were just together. Parvati had also spent time with her family as well as gone to St. Mungos.
After being attacked by Greyback at the Battle of Hogwarts, Lavender had unfortunately contracted the werewolf virus, and had to stay at Mungos to be watched. As Parvati was explaining, Lavender had gotten better, and learned to control her tendencies somewhat, but she still had a long way to go still. Everyone was just relieved that she had survived the attack. Hermione thought that she had seen Seamus blush a little at the mention of Lavender, but she wasn't sure. Besides staying up with her friends though, she had laid in bed for quite some time thinking about dinner. It was everything Hermione remembered from her childhood, the, well, magical feel to everything.
The floating candles, the long tables, the chatter; everything was as it was. Hermione was excited when she learned about the exchange program, although she knew she wasn't going to participate. The whole point of going back to Hogwarts was for a sense of normality, and to just be home. Ron and Harry felt the same as well. They had always stuck together, through it all. It would make little sense to part ways now. She had heard that a few Hogwarts students had chosen to participate though. Romilda Vane, Justin Finch-Fletchy, and a few others that she didn't know. The Americans that came in their place were strange, but they all seemed friendly. Well, except for the older girl. There was something about her that made Hermione weary.
She walked like she was stalking prey, looked straight ahead, but seemed to see everything in the room. The way she held herself was proud and lethal. She was quiet and cold; relaxed and tense all at the same felt that when she looked at you, she could see everything. All your secrets and fears. But to be honest, to Hermione, the girl Valerie, reminded her of Malfoy. The calm yet detached manner, the look, the behavior in general. She wasn't surprised when Valerie was sorted into Slytherin. She had watched on as the girl went over and sat by Malfoy, Pansy, and Zabini and exchanged a few words before eating.
The Slytherin's that were in her company were stunned for a slight moment before starting on their dinner. Hermione had finally looked away from the group and dug in. It was a long trip on the Hogwarts Express, and Hermione had more sense than to eat the sugar loaded snacks that the trolley had. She was pulled away from her delicious dinner when the half-Veela, Felix started talking to her.
He was
handsome first off. He also had a nice personality. Hermione had a thought it was overplayed because of the Veela gene, but Felix seemed quite pleasant. He told her how when he heard of the exchange program, his Veela part felt a pull towards it. His parents insisted he go, in case his mate was at Hogwarts, but mostly Felix said he was glad for a change of scenery and getting a chance to travel. He got along with everyone at the Gryffindor table, mostly the girls, and Hermione was happy for the new addition to her house. He was exactly the opposite of Valerie; warm and friendly. Hermione could tell that Harry and Ron were also happy that Felix was sorted into their house. Ron had been relieved when the older American girl had not been sorted into Gryffindor.
Ron of course, being Ron, didn't keep his opinions to himself.
"So who's the creepy chick you came here with?"
Felix moved his head up at Ron's comment. He looked over at the Slytherin table where Valerie was sitting. She was leaning over, saying something to Blaise Zabini. Felix turned back to Ron. "Creepy?" he inquired.
Ron smiled. "I mean, she just kind of creeps me out. She just looks...deadly."
Felix
quirked an eyebrow and smiled. "Deadly? She's as warm as a kitten."
He looked back over at Valerie to see that she had turned around and was now looking at him. A look passed between the two, and Valerie gave Felix a mocking two-finger salute. She turned back around to say something to Blaise, and that's when Hermione caught Malfoy's eyes. She jumped when the realization that Draco Malfoy was looking at her. She looked around at her fellow Gryffindors to see if maybe he was looking at someone else. Harry, Ron, and Ginny were talking about Quidditch. Felix was talking to Dean and Seamus about American girls.
She turned back to Malfoy and he was still staring at her.
He didn't seem as if he was paying attention around him, and yet it was as if he knew he was looking at her. After a moment, though, he seemed to snap back to reality.
Ron started talking about the classes he was taking this year and asked Hermione what ones she was taking and she pulled her gaze away. After around an hour, the Gryffindors had finished dinner and gone back to their common room.
All the common rooms, save for the Slytherin room, had needed to be rebuilt. The devastation that Voldemort had caused to the Hogwarts building had destroyed most of the towers, so the Ravenclaw and Gryffindor common rooms were more or less wiped out. As for the Hufflepuff common room, it hadn't got the brunt of the fight and destruction, but it got enough that it still needed to be rebuilt. It may have been new stones, but it still felt homey and warm.
The layout was the same and the furniture still looked the same; it was almost as if the war had not happened. Hermione wasn't fooled, however. There were lingering scars. They may have been covered up, but they were still there.
Hermione brought her hand up and rubbed at her arm. She found herself rubbing it out of habit. It hurt on occasion, a deep throbbing sting that had her cringing and gasping in pain. Ron and Harry had discovered her secret and they had actually read books to try and find a way to stop the pain. The three of them had not found a cure or anything, but she was grateful for their help and effort. She had told them that wars left scars.
They weren't happy about it, but she had told them that she was fine. Most times her arm didn't bother her, but when it did it was painful. Her thoughts withdrew from her arm and ventured to dinner. She wasn't sure why Malfoy was staring at her. He had never had cause to stare at her before. He had made fun of her since he met her and found out what she was. She had hated him, and she had never hated anyone before. Well, until Voldemort and Bellatrix. Her mother told her that hate was a feeling that only heartless and evil people felt. That they never knew love, so they only knew the opposite. But after Voldemort had Cedric killed, had the Death Eaters attack the Ministry, and then had a child try and kill a man, she hated him. But her hate for Malfoy had ended when she had seen him on the Astronomy tower. Harry had her and Ron look at his memories in a Pensieve after the war. When Malfoy's trial had come up, Harry had felt that Hermione and Ron should make their own decision about Malfoy and whether he was guilty or not.
Hermione had noticed Malfoy for what he was: a scared child. He may have been a coward at times, she admitted to that, but everyone had a cowardly moment. Even Ron had run away when they were Horcrux hunting. That did not excuse their actions, but that did not condemn them either. If you were scared to death, what kind of decisions would you make? That was the question Hermione had always asked herself when she felt like blaming Malfoy for Dumbledore's death. She could not have been there for the trial, so she wrote a letter explaining her thoughts and opinions. She had Ron write one too, although he did it with a frown on his face and muttering several curses. But that didn't matter. She felt like everyone deserved a second chance.
She was pulled from her thoughts when her friends had called her over for a back to school celebration, and the night played out from there. Which brought her back to the morning at hand. Hermione had never been a morning person. She would be excited for the day's events, but she hated those first moments when she woke up. Feeling like the gravity in the earth was trying to pull her down, her hand being asleep from when she had rolled over onto it during the night. Not to mention the gross feeling of crud on her face. She got up and stumbled to the bathroom for a much needed shower. She tore off her clothes and jumped in the shower and let the warm water flow over her skin. After she was done with her shower and wrapped herself in a towel, she tackled the mess that was her hair. It had calmed down only a little bit, but it still had a mind of its own.
She used her wand to tame most of the mess, and just put the rest up in a shabby ponytail. She walked back into the room she shared with Parvati and eventually, Lavender. It was one of the smaller rooms of the girl's dormitories, so it was just the three of them. Hermione didn't mind. She had always liked Parvati, and despite sixth year with the 'Won-Won' disaster, Lavender wasn't all-bad. Overbearing at times, but tolerable. And besides that, Parvati said that Lavender had changed drastically since the werewolf attack.
She had her bubbly personality somewhat, but she was more down to earth. Hermione hoped so. The tree beds were set in an arch around the far left wall. There was a desk against the window that overlooked the school's grounds. Hermione had let Parvati have the desk. Besides the fact that Hermione was scared of heights, she would do most of her work in the library anyway. The furniture was adorned with red and gold for House loyalty. There was a beautiful red carpet on the floor with a great golden lion that had his mouth open in a roar. She smiled. No other room had that kind of carpet. Professor McGonagall had told her an old Head had the room to herself, and would often get lonely, so she charmed the lion in the carpet to move around. The lion often licked his paw or was asleep, but sometimes he would follow Hermione or Parvati around and curl around their feet. It made Hermione happy, some of the things you could pull off with magic.
Parvati had already left for breakfast, so Hermione threw on some clothes, gathered her bag, and headed downstairs. She was the only one in the common room when she got down there, which meant she had slept in longer than she had meant. Muttering a curse under her breath, she ran out of the room and headed for the Dining Hall. She got there in time to see everyone filing out of the Dining Hall, headed for their first class.
"Hermione!" She turned to see Ron and Harry moving through the crowd toward her.
"Hey guys!" She greeted them. "I guess I kind of slept in a little late."
They smiled. "Well, we woke up late ourselves and thought maybe we'd meet you here. We got here about 10 minutes ago," stated Ron. "We would've saved you something for breakfast, but we didn't see you in there, we figured you were at the library," added Harry.
"We'll stay back and have breakfast with you if you like," Ron put in.
"Oh, no that's fine. I'll just run to the kitchens real quick and grab some toast. I'll meet you two in potions!" she yelled back as she headed to the kitchens. The boys waved her later and left with the rest of the crowd. Hermione got to the painting and tickled the pear. The great aroma of eggs and bacon met her when she went in.
"Can I help Miss?" squeaked a house elf. She looked at a droopy face with big, wide eyes. There was white hair on top of her head and she had a pink polka dotted dress.
"Um, yes I was wondering if I could have two pieces of toast. And a few pieces of bacon, please."
"Frosty would be most pleased to serve Miss!" squeaked the elf. The house elf gathered some toast and bacon together and gave them to Hermione. With thanks, she ran out the door, and tore down the corridors. She was going to be late to Potions on the first day! Shoving toast and bacon in her mouth, she jumped down the stairs, nearly running into somebody, and tore off in the direction of the dungeons. She was turning around the corner when she felt a sharp pain in her back, and she fell forward onto the floor.
XXXXX
After Valerie had gone up to the girls' dormitories, Draco had stayed on the sofa and tried not to dwell over what had happened. Before long though, the sun had come up and the Slytherin common room started to stir. Astoria and Daphne Greengrass came down and sat in one of the other little corners, chatting softly. Daphne gave Draco a smile, and Draco turned back to the fire.
Daphne wasn't too bad, and Draco didn't mind her. Daphne was actually the first girl that Draco had been with on intimate terms. Their relationship at the time had been purely physical. Draco had figured himself a big bad Slytherin in Fifth year, being part of the Inquisitional Squad. And at the time, he didn't mind reaping the benefits of his position. Daphne had been into it, and she had told Draco that she didn't want to be romantically involved. The two had parted on friendly terms after the Department of Mysteries incident. They had not continued their agreement in Sixth year, although there were a few times that Draco and Daphne had gotten together. But Draco had gotten together with other girls too, just using then for stress relief when the Dark Lord's task was hanging over his head. Draco was not proud of that. Daphne was a sweet girl, and Draco had used her. He had written her a letter of apology - which, mind you was not easy- and she had written back saying there was nothing to apologize for. Besides Pansy, Daphne was the only other Slytherin girl that Draco actually liked. The only problem with Daphne was her sister, Astoria.
Astoria worried Draco. There was something in the girl's eyes that made him weary. When Draco and Daphne had made their agreement, Daphne had told Draco that they needed to keep it a secret. According to Daphne, Astoria had somewhat of a crush on Draco. Well, 'somewhat' was and understatement. During Sixth year Snape had Draco practice Legilimency. The old Potions Professor had told him that steeling your mind was a crucial tool to have if you planned to work with the Death Eaters. Draco had thought that a bit odd at the time, but after the war, Potter had made Snape's loyalties clear. While most Purebloods, especially Draco's father, had thought that Snape was a sniveling coward and a traitor, Draco had admired the man even more. Snape was willing to go against Voldemort, however for reasons that were not explained. Potter had been firm on that matter and had said it was private. Whatever the reason, Draco would always hold Snape in the highest regards.
Well, while Draco was practicing Legilimency, he had found many a disturbing thought and memory that Astoria had. He had seen one memory of her room where his pictures were plastered everywhere. He stayed away from the girl as much as he could, but sometimes he ran into her in the halls, which Draco knew wasn't coincidence.
Draco felt the couch dip next to him, and saw Blaise sprawled out on the rest of the couch. He had put his fluffy navy blue robe over his flannel pajamas. Blaise yawned widely before sitting up and slumping on Draco. Draco shoved him off.
"Were you here all night mate?" Blaise asked.
"No, not all night." Draco rubbed his eyes. Blaise was silent for once.
Blaise slapped Draco on the back in a comforting gesture. "Well, whatever is bothering you should pass, mate."
Draco laughed darkly. "Sure."
Out of the corner of Draco's eye he saw Pansy walk over and flop in the chair to his left. Draco and Blaise stared at her. She looked over at Draco and Blaise on the couch and raised an eyebrow.
"What?" Draco and Blaise shared a look.
"You're wearing pink. Pansy Parkinson is wearing Pink."
Pansy glared at them. She had on Muggle attire that looked like what Valerie was wearing last night.
"I forgot my night clothes at my manor and had to borrow some from Valerie." The two boys said nothing for a moment and then burst out laughing. When they didn't stop, Pansy pulled out her wand and shot a Stinging Hex at them. They clutched their arms as their laughter died.
"What is with you and pajamas Malfoy?" Draco tensed and turned around to see Valerie sitting in the left over chair. She was already clothed in her Hogwarts uniform. "Or is it just my pajamas?"
"Well if your clothes weren't so weird." Malfoy shot back. Valerie looked around the group with a questioning face. "My pajamas are weird?"
"Although I am grateful for the clothes, owning Muggle stuff is strange." Said Pansy.
"The wizarding and Muggle communities aren't integrated here?"
"Not really," said Malfoy. "Are they in America?"
"Yes. When the Ministry in America started becoming aware of the situation over here they took action. They felt that part of the reason wizards like Voldemort," the Slytherins cringed, "rose to power is because the wizarding community doesn't fully understand the Muggle world. As a way to prevent that, the Ministry and Salem had the Community participates in a sort of switched roll program. Wizards spent around two months studying Muggles and living their life as if they were one. The Muggles still don't know about the wizarding community granted, but the program also helped us understand and appreciate the Muggles."
Draco heard a scoff behind him and he turned around to see Astoria glaring at Valerie.
"Why should we want to learn about a bunch of stupid Muggles? Their just dirty unimportant…things," Astoria sneered.
Daphne rolled her eyes at Astoria.
"Unimportant? Without Muggles, wizards would not exist. In fact the first wizard was a Muggle."
"The first wizard was Merlin, stupid."
Valerie rolled her eyes. "The most powerful wizard was Merlin. The Muggle who was the first wizard was trying to save his child from death. One day he stumbled upon the magical community. Well, you should know that magic leaves traces. It left a trace, and the Muggle turned into a wizard. He could perform magic."
The common room was stunned into silence. Draco tried to recall ever learning that, but he didn't even recall learning the first ever wizard's name. A part of him didn't want to believe that he came from a Muggle. But was it so hard to believe? Maybe. Draco had tried to keep an open mind after the war. He didn't want to end up like his father; hating certain people just because they had a different bloodline. It was hard at times, no doubt. You couldn't just erase nearly 18 years of beliefs. Draco tried though. But a Muggle as the first wizard?
"What about wands then? Explain that." Astoria sneered.
"He wanted a safe way to channel his magic. Performing wandless magic can be effective and very useful, but it's not as direct. If you don't know what you're doing, all hell can break loose."
Valerie noticed the ongoing silence and peered around. They were all looking at her as if she was crazy.
"Look if you don't believe me, you can look it up. Wizarding Beginnings and the Start of a New Age. That's the book."
Valerie got up and made her way to the tunnel leading out, but she stopped and spun around. "Could one of you take me to the Great Hall? I don't know my way."
Pansy got up and made her way to the girls' dorms. "Give me a moment," she called back. Pansy returned moments later with her robes and uniform on and escorted Valerie out of the Slytherin common room.
"So what is it about the new girl that has you on edge?" whispered Blaise. Draco gave Blaise a curious look and Blaise just rolled his eyes. "Come on, mate. I could feel you stiffen up and go all tense the moment she came down."
Draco sighed. He planned to tell Blaise some lie, but Draco was tired of lying. He wanted a fresh start from the war and his past, and lying to his friends was an old habit he did not want to start again. "She just...she read me. Like a fucking open book." Blaise blanched.
"Yeah." Draco told Blaise what had transpired the night before, including Valerie's change in behavior. Blaise whistled and stared into the fireplace. "Well that's a strange way to start the new year. What I think is odd though, is why she's trying to befriend us. Out of everyone in the Slytherin house, and every spot at the table, she chose us."
Draco looked at him. "You think she's trying to befriend us?"
"Well yeah. She looked real nervous last night at dinner when she sat down, and then she was relieved when we didn't tell her to shove off."
Draco's eyebrows furrowed. "I didn't get that kind of vibe from her."
Blaise mumbled under his breath and gave Draco a look. "That's because you and everyone is focused on body language and facial expression. I focus on the eyes. The eyes tell you everything."
Draco was impressed. It must have shown because Blaise commented saying, "You aren't the only one who can read people Malfoy. Now come on, let's go get food. I'm bloody starving."
Blaise and Draco went back up to their rooms and got ready for the day. When they left, Flint, Goyle, and Nott were starting to get up. They traveled up the stairs and to the Great Hall where they found Valerie and Pansy munching on bacon, toast, and eggs while having polite conversation. There were already quite a bit of students in the Great Hall and before long it was filled with the joyous and excited chatter of students. Draco had made sure to sit with his back to the Gryffindor table that morning. When he sat down he didn't miss the amused smirk on Valerie's face.
Breakfast was pleasant that morning. The four Slytherin's conversation revolved around classes that would transpire that morning. The Eighth year Slytherins, or whatever the hell they were called, had Potions that morning, along with Gryffindor house. Eventually it was time for class, and the students filed out of the Great Hall. As they were leaving, Draco heard the two buffoons call out Granger's name. The brightest witch of their age looked like she had just woken up and had done sprints. Her hair was frazzled and unkempt and her robes were in disarray. The Gryffindors traded words for a moment before Granger zoomed off behind everyone else. Blaise was talking to Valerie on how he was considered the best looking in the entire school, while Pansy just kept shaking her head at the dark skinned boy.
They made their way to potions and were on the stairs when Granger zoomed by them again. She nearly bumped into Blaise as she speed down the stairwell. She said a hurried 'sorry' and continued on her way.
Blaise laughed. "Only the first day and still as eager to learn as ever."
Pansy rolled her eyes. "Some things never change."
"Pansy," Valerie started, "did you forget a bag or are you just carrying quills in your pockets?"
"Wha-" Pansy looked down to see that she indeed did not have her bag with her. "Shit!" She exclaimed. "I must have left it back in the Great Hall. I'll see you guys in potions."
"I'll come with you Pans. Merlin forbid you forget how to walk on your way back." Said Blaise.
Pansy punched him in the arm as they turned around and headed toward the Great Hall.
Draco and Valerie walked in silence for a moment before she asked, "So did you have a good first night back?" Draco glared at her. "You know exactly how well my night went." Valerie gave him a curious look. "You sound angry."
Draco exhaled with irritation. "Considering you were prodding me last night for my life story, yes. I hope your boyfriend isn't that annoying."
Valerie had a confused look on her face. "Boyfriend?"
"That American bloke you came with." Valerie's rolled her eyes. "Felix and I are just friends. Don't make the mistake of thinking you know me Malfoy."
"Why? You seem to know me." Valerie turned to look at him as they rounded a corner. She opened her mouth to say something, but then snapped it shut. Something dawned on her face that almost looked like she had just realized something. Draco furrowed his eyebrows. Valerie's face now looked troubled. She stared off into space for a moment before an annoyed look crossed her face. "I'm sorry Malfoy. I didn't...I don't..." She didn't finish the sentence.
"I would just like to know what your plan is." Draco said quietly.
Valerie laughed. "I don't have a plan for anything, Malfoy. I don't have some plan for world domination."
"I still intend to find out your secrets," Draco said with his normal charm.
"You can try," she said with amusement. Draco was stopped from making any further comments when they heard a commotion.
"Filthy fucking Mudblood! How dare you come back?!"
Draco could not believe the scene in front of him. The Sixth year that had called Draco a traitor was pointing a wand at Granger. Two other Sixth years were holding Grangers arms and had her on her knees. They were wearing smug, vicious grins and one of then smacked Granger when she struggled. She had a small gash in her head, but she looked at her attacker with defiance. There were a couple of girls standing to the sides laughing. Draco and Valerie stood there in surprise. The Sixth year holding the wand donned a look of pure evil.
"I'll just have to teach you a lesson."
Granger sneered at him. If not for the utter surprise of the situation, Draco would have laughed. He had seen Granger look at someone with anger and hate, but he had never seen her sneer. He wanted to laugh at it; at how ridiculously out of character it was if he wasn't frozen.
"That's what Voldemort said to the Muggle-borns. Look what happened to him."
Draco almost smiled at her bravado, if she wasn't being an idiot. As far as he could tell, Granger didn't have her wand, or at least she couldn't reach it with the two Sixth Years holding her arms out. You never angered someone attacking you, unless you had a weapon to defend yourself with. Draco had learned that.
The leader of the Sixth years purpled in rage. "How dare you use his name you disgusting Mudblood? Cruc-"
Valerie seemed to have snapped out of her reverie and darted forward. One moment she was by Draco, the next she had the Sixth year's wand arm pinned behind his back, and a hand grasping his throat. The two Sixth years holding Grangers arms dropped them and rushed to help their friend. Now thinking clearly, Draco whipped his wand out and cast a Stunning spell at the two gorillas. They fell back onto the floor. The girls who were standing over to the side had their mouths open, stunned. Draco held his wand pointed at the two. Granger stood up and glanced at Draco before doing a double take and blanching. Donning his emotional mask, Draco kept his face neutral.
"Now," started Valerie in the Sixth year's ear. Valerie had that flashy look in her eyes again. Her demeanor had also changed. The predatory behavior Draco had witnessed the night before, only stronger.
"You weren't going to cast an Unforgivable at a fellow student were you? We Americans weren't here to witness and see what Voldemort had done, but we heard plenty. We also heard what complete idiots and psychos his followers were. We didn't think they could be too stupid, but you just proved me wrong. Casting an Unforgivable in a school, and you're only in sixth grade."
"I'm seventeen, and I'm a Seventh year. I don't have the trace. The Ministry could never find me," the Sixth year ground out.
Draco chuckled. This drew the attention of the younger boy to Draco and his eye's widened in rage. "You! Figures you'd help this Mudb-" Valerie yanked his arm harder behind his back, and the boy yelped out in pain.
"I won't tolerate that kind of language, and I believe you owe Miss..." Valerie looked over to Granger and raised her eyebrows, silently asking her name. "Granger. Hermione Granger."
Valerie had a reaction similar to the one she had last night when she found out who Draco was. She looked at Granger a moment, somewhere between awe struck and...Amusement?
"Yes, I believe you owe Miss Granger an apology. Two apologies actually. That's one for the name calling, and one for attacking her."
"Never. I'd rather die."
Valerie straightened up with an annoyed look on her face. "No need for melodramatics. If you want to die, however, I can arrange that."
Valerie said it so nonchalantly that Draco had to laugh. "However, I think making you apologize is more fun. So go ahead."
The younger boy suddenly jerked his arm up, spinning around and bringing his wand up to point it at Valerie. Valerie rolled her eyes and snatched the wand out of his hand before he could blink. The boy just stood there with his arm up and staring at Valerie. He made to grab for it, but Valerie just spun him around in the same hold she had before. She whispered something in his ear that Draco couldn't hear. The boy's eyes widened and for the first time since this ridiculous situation, the attacker looked afraid.
Valerie shoved him away from her. Valerie held up the wand and looked at it. "I think I'll keep this for a little while. Just until you start behaving. Now I suggest you leave, all of you."
She made a pointed look at the girls standing off to the side. The boy and the girls started to leave, albeit very slow, when the boy pointed out his Stunned friends. Valerie gave a flick of her wrist and the two boys were rejuvenated.
Everybody looked at Valerie again. She had just preformed wandless magic. Wandless and nonverbal magic.
"Well? Off you go." When the younger students didn't move, Valerie took a step forward and the lower years scampered off. She laughed when they left. Draco and Hermione were staring at Valerie, still stunned.
"Was I too hard on them?"
"You can perform wandless magic?" Granger asked with excitement.
Valerie shrugged. "Somewhat. Can you?"
Granger's smile slipped slightly. "Not really. I've read a few books on it, and so far I can only perform Wingardium Leviosa and Lumos. I've tried some other things..."
And Granger went on and on about all the things she tried with wandless magic. These were actually some of Draco's favorite memories of Hogwarts. Granger always had a nice voice and her enthusiasm for knowledge was refreshing. Not to mention she was intelligent. It wouldn't have been so bad except a.) She had that swotty know-it-all attitude and b.) She was a Gryffindor.
Valerie shot him an amused look at Granger's behavior. Granger finished her speech and smiled. And it was a beautiful smile. Whoa? Beautiful smile? No, it's just a nice smile. It's not Granger, it's her teeth. I'm just admiring my handy work. Draco shook his head of the thoughts.
"Well, if you want, I could teach you some wandless magic I know."
Granger's face lit up. "That...that would be spectacular! Yes, thank you."
"Well, I suggest we make our way to potions Malfoy. Were you headed Hermione?"
"Oh, potions as well."
Valerie made a face. "I forgot. This school is weird and your 'Houses' have classes together." The trio started to walk with Valerie in the middle and Draco and Hermione on either side.
"How does Salem organize their classes?" Asked Granger.
"They organize the students by age and grade, er, year. We don't have tables in our Great Hall like here."
"So where do you eat then?" asked Draco. Both Granger and Valerie laughed.
"I meant we don't have houses at Salem. The only thing that separates us is our year. Our Dining Hall has many tables in it that can fit anywhere from 10 to 15 kids."
"So who do you have classes with then?"
"Anyone and everyone. We're put into classes based on the classes we pick and choose. Granted there are classes that everyone has to take, but as you get older you choose your classes for whatever career you want."
"That sounds...overly complicated," stated Draco.
Valerie laughed. "It can be." She looked back and forth between Draco and Hermione.
"So are you two friends?"
Silence. Neither Draco nor Hermione made a noise. "It wasn't a loaded question, you know. A simple yes or no will do."
Draco looked over at Granger to see her chewing on her bottom lip, but pointedly ignoring the question. She glanced up at him and he raised an eyebrow. She turned her head to face the ground. Is that how it's going to be then? Granger wasn't going even going to acknowledge him. And like that, all the memories of Draco pestering Granger came back.
Him pestering her and her ignoring him. Those were some of the greatest times Draco had. When he pestered Granger and got her blood boiling, it always got rid of the bad feeling Draco usually had that day. Granger's reaction to his teasing always made him feel, alive. Most people, when Draco got mad at them or made fun of them, would take it in scared silence or run away crying.
Not Granger. Granger would spit fire back at him. Don't forget you made her cry once. Draco shook his head to get rid of the thought. He was tired of feeling bad, of feeling hallow. He wanted to feel alive again. It almost felt like old times, playing this little game. And Malfoy was good at playing games.
"Yes, Granger and I are friends. In fact we're really good friends if you catch my meaning," Draco stated with a smug attitude.
Granger's head shot up in anger and she made a choking noise. Valerie looked surprised. "Really? You two are an item?"
"ABSOLUTELY NOT!" Granger shouted. Draco laughed.
"Well we aren't an item per say. More like we're in a...mutually beneficiary agreement." Draco wiggled his eyebrows. "I would never be in any sort of agreement with you Draco Malfoy!"
"Using the full name, are we? I always knew you had a thing for me." Granger made the choking noise again. She opened her mouth to yell at him again, but instead just glared at him.
"I've never had a thing for you, nor will I ever. You're not my type."
"Sexy blondes?"
Granger smirked. "No. I'm not into ferrets." And then she walked off toward the Potions class.
Draco and Valerie stood there before Valerie burst out laughing. Draco glared at her, but Valerie only laughed harder. After a minute she stopped her laugher, but she would chuckle on occasion. "You have to admit Malfoy, she got you. I don't get the whole ferret thing but..." Valerie laughed again.
Draco grabbed her arm and pulled her forward to the classroom. "Let's just go to Potions."