Hermione sat towards the end of the Gryffindor table closest to the front of the great hall, not far from the staff table, along which were seated the familiar faces of her professors including Madam Hooch, Professors Sprout and Flitwick, Madam Pomfrey, Firenze, and Professors Slughorn and Trelawney. Two new faces also sat at the table which she recognized as Aberforth Dumbledore and Arabella Figg. Hermione looked around, curious as to where Hagrid could be and beamed at him when he walked into the room a few moments later. She waved emphatically in his direction and he returned it with an equally as friendly wave and smile.
Yet even when Hagrid took his seat, the front table still felt strangely off-balance. For the first time in six years the twisting unease in her stomach came from the lack of Snape's presence instead of because of it. McGonagall's new seating arrangement was also a strange sight to behold, as she now sat in the ornate throne-like chair at the center of the table. Until that evening, Dumbledore was the only wizard she'd ever seen sitting in it.
Energy flowed through the room, buzzing in her ears as the students sat anxiously, chattering about their summers and the school year ahead. Likely, they had even more to talk about this year than most years, what with the exciting events that had taken place in the past few months.
Before long, McGonagall tapped her glass and stood, making a motion that called for their attention. As students began to take notice, the great hall quieted slowly. She looked bold, Hermione thought, standing up straight with her head raised slightly and her jaw set firmly.
Her voice cut evenly through the great hall, "Welcome all of you. Before we get started, I believe we have some students that need to be sorted. Let us welcome our new students to Hogwarts!"
She motioned behind the large mass of students to the room's large doors, through which came a swarm of first years. Sounds of applause echoed about as the group shuffled to the front, glancing wildly about the spacious room. Hermione smiled at their awed faces and thought fondly of her own reaction when she and her classmates had walked into the great hall in their first year.
When they had all reached the front and began to line up, Hermione let out a slight gasp. Nearly four rows of first years stood shoulder to shoulder in front of her. She had never seen so many young students in a new class. It occurred to her then that it must be because the group consisted of both the returning first years and a new batch coming in for the first time, given that this was, in fact, a repeat of the previous year.
McGonagall placed the sorting hat and the chair it sat upon in the middle of the room. When the sorting hat was through with its welcoming song, the great hall echoed again with applause. McGonagall cleared her throat.
"Due to the uncommon year this school hosted prior, we will be sorting all of last year's students for a second time because, as my memory serves, our most recent ceremony was not what I would have called a great start to the school year. Those of you who have been sorted before will almost undoubtedly be placed in the same house this year. Now, without further ado, let us begin!" With a wave of her wand, McGonagall conjured a long parchment and began to read of the names of the new students.
"Anderson, Julia." Hermione watched as a tiny little girl with blond hair blushed and scurried to the seat. The sorting hat thought for a moment and then promptly called out "HUFFLEPUFF!" The girl squealed with delight and shot off in the direction of her new house table as they cheered for their newest member.
"Ashton, Sylvia." "SLYTHERIN!"
"Atkins, Gregory." "RAVENCLAW!"
"Bailey, Andrew." "HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Baker, Eleanor." "GRYFFINDOR!" Hermione joined her table's applause as they whooped and whistled for the first Gryffindor student of the year.
"Barret, Christopher. Bradley, Peter. Butler, Leslie. Campbell, Everett. Chu, An-Li. Clark, Howard. Cook, Rosalind..." The students each took their turn on the chair. It was fairly slow going as they waded through the ranks.
A particularly odd sorting caught Hermione's attention about half way through the list.
"McMillan, Duncan." A particularly tall young boy with green eyes, strawberry blonde hair, and an impish grin swaggered his way up to the chair. Seconds later the hat called "HUFFLEPUFF!" The boy smirked knowingly, jumped down, and made his way to the Hufflepuff table.
"McMillan, Ian." A carbon copy of the boy that had just left the seat plopped down. Though everyone had expected as much, the hat quickly determined the next boy and shouted "HUFFLEPUFF!" Again the Hufflepuff table cheered and welcomed their new arrival. Hermione smiled. It had been a while since a pair of twins had been sorted into Hogwarts classes. But to her surprise another name sounded through the room.
"McMillan, Moira." A girl with the same green eyes, impish grin, and strawberry blonde hair tied up in pigtails sat down. If she wasn't a near spitting image of her two brothers, Hermione would have thought it an odd coincidence that they had three McMillans in attendance. "HUFFLEPUFF!" Hermione looked over and saw what could only be the little girls twin brothers grinning wildly as they welcomed her to the table.
If they're as troublesome as they look, she thought, Hufflepuff house will have a lot on their hands.
The sorting continued until they finally exhausted the list with the last boy standing. Hermione couldn't help but feel sorry for "Zingerman, Otto." It was one thing to wait through a normal year's sorting list. But with probably twice the amount of students, she pitied the poor boy as he tiredly made his way over to the seat and took his place with the others at Slytherin table. The students turned to face McGonagall as they eagerly awaited the feast signifying the start of a new school year.
"I will try not to take up too much of your time, as I expect you are all anxious to get started on our supper this evening. I have only a few quick notes to discuss with you, so please bear with me. Allow me to introduce our newest professors. Professor Aberforth Dumbledore joins us this year as our Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher and our new Gryffindor head of house. And Miss Arabella Figg has agreed to temporarily fill in as our Muggle Studies professor. Please give a warm welcome to our newest staff members." The tables made hasty applause.
"Though I am headmistress, I will be continuing as your transfiguration professor as it remains one of my most favorite duties to this school. Other things to note include the creation of a second prefects' bath for our increased number of prefects this year along with a special room we have dedicated for them in the library. It is my duty to remind those of you which are not prefects or quidditch captains that these rooms are password protected for a reason, and punishment will follow those who attempt to trespass.
"Also, I think it would encourage you to know that our staff are still working together to figure out new ways to make this the best year Hogwarts has ever seen. Though we have nothing to announce at this moment, we hope you will be excited to know that we have many ideas in the running, including, but not limited to, new academic events, school clubs, and parties. We appreciate your patience and we are excited to start this new year with you. But, I have kept you waiting long enough, so…" She waved her wand and plates heaped with food appeared along the centers of each of the house tables. "Please begin!"
Hermione dove excitedly for a plate of lamb cutlets nearby as the sounds of eating and merriment filled the great hall once more. She looked a few seats to her right to see Seamus holding the rapt attention of a group of first years. With their eyes bulging he told them about the mountain troll that had "broken in" to the castle in their own first year. "So, ye'd better watch out," he told them ominously. "Or else Filch'll send ye to the dungeons to be eaten by trolls!" He growled and a few of them shrieked. Several dropped their silverware and one little girl even sent a chicken drumstick flying. Hermione suppressed a giggle, noticing that Seamus too was trying hard not to crack a big smile.
By the time everyone had finished eating, the plates that had once been filled with food were left with only a few crumbs and picked-over bones. Soon they were replaced with pristine new ones piled high with all sorts of desserts imaginable. She helped herself to a biscuit, nibbling on it slowly so as not to upset her full stomach. Hermione stretched and looked over at the teachers' table. McGonagall was busy speaking with Aberforth.
Hermione waited patiently until the headmistress called for attention again and dismissed them all from the hall. "Classes start bright and early tomorrow morning, so I would advise that each and every one of you get a good nights' rest. Off to bed now. You are dismissed."
Hermione watched as her prefects rounded up the first years from each house and led them out of the great hall and off to the houses' respective dormitories. She, however, had other business and rushed to the front of the room. Close behind her came Draco Malfoy. They arrived in front of McGonagall who was finishing up a small custard tart.
"I need to speak with you," they both said in unison. Hermione glanced at Draco and the two exchanged withering glares.
McGonagall finished her last bite of dessert, dabbed her mouth with a napkin, and looked between the two of them. "Ah, yes my head boy and girl. If you would both follow me to my office now, we can talk this over there."
They followed behind her quietly, each doing their best to ignore the other. Soon they had reached the headmistress' office. As McGonagall sat down at her desk they both blurted out "Professor, how do you expect-" "me to work with her?" "Honestly, he and I just simply-" "-can't get along." "I don't want him-" "-to be head boy because I think you-" "-made a mistake. He's-" McGonagall held up her hand and they both cut off. Her look was stern.
"So, if I hear you correctly, you think I have made a mistake." They both nodded. It occurred to Hermione that she and Draco had just said the exact same thing. "I see." She held her hands up and laced her fingers together.
They sat quietly for several minutes until Hermione cleared her throat.
"Yes, Miss Granger, what is it?" McGonagall addressed her impatiently.
"Er, nothing professor." McGonagall's terseness had startled her. "I was just hoping-"
"Hoping indeed. Now, let me be quite clear with the two of you. I have given this matter quite a bit of thought, despite what the two of you seem to think. I know the history between the both of you and I expected this conversation, though I will admit that I did not expect to be meeting with you quite so soon. As two of the most responsible and level-headed young adults I have ever had the pleasure of knowing, I was hoping that you might at least try to make it through the first week, but here we are." She lowered her head and scrutinized them from above her glasses.
"You are not the first Slytherins and Gryffindors to have quarrels and you will not be the last. But this year is all about unity and forgiveness. If I did not have the utmost amount of respect and confidence in the both of you I would not have appointed you this responsibility. The fact of the matter is, I thought long and hard about this decision and though I did give thought to other possibilities, in the end, the two of you were the most obvious choice."
Hermione glanced at Draco, whose face was drawn and sour. Hermione stuttered, "But professor-"
"Miss Granger that will be enough. As I have already expressed to you, I am aware of the history between yourself and Mr. Malfoy. My decision is final which means you will both need to figure out a way to put aside your pride and work together. I am glad we are talking about this now because we are nipping this problem in the bud early." Her expression softened then, if only just slightly.
"I am not asking for you two to become the best of friends. I am simply asking that you find a way to put the past behind you, as we all must do, and work together in the present for the greater good. I will not lie to you. My intentions involve making somewhat of an example of the both of you. If our students see our brightest Gryffindor and our most skillful Slytherin putting aside the same poisonous problems that have long since divided not only the houses within our school, but the people of our world, I am convinced they will follow suit. I will need both of you this year. As two of our school's best students, I am counting on you to help put in motion some of the changes we have planned. We are entering a new era, and I am confident that we are starting out with our best foot forward with the two of you."
Hermione looked over at Draco, a shadow of deep shame passing over her heart. McGonagall held so much faith in her, but how could she possibly ask her, in good conscience, to get along with this boy? The boy who had abashed and humiliated her from day one. How was she supposed to work with the boy that spoke her own worst fears?
Besides, they were both here for the same reason. Obviously, he didn't want to be head boy either. She felt tears rushing to her eyes and stared at the ground, hoping desperately that neither would take notice.
"Now, if that is all, I will see you two tomorrow morning. Please try to get a good night's rest."
Hermione scurried from the office and flew back to the Gryffindor common room and was relieved to find it empty as she climbed through the picture frame and made her way upstairs. Finding herself in the privacy of her own head girl room, she didn't think she could be more grateful for the solitude that allowed her to unashamedly throw herself on the bed and bawl without judgmental or prying eyes.
Memories of the weeks leading up to this day swirled in her head, as if taunting her. She remembered how excited she had been, talking excitedly with Ginny, making all sorts of plans, and counting down the days until their departure.
She had fought against some tough things last year. She had essentially lost her parents, fought off starvation with Harry and Ron while simultaneously trying to evade capture, gone through emotional hell and back because of the latter of the two, and even watched as loved ones died in the battle against Voldemort.
But somehow, McGonagall was asking her to accomplish something just as painful and detrimental. Demons that she had never intended to face were crawling their way out of the grave she had buried them in long ago. Draco Malfoy embodied her deepest fears of failure. He voiced the same uncertainty and shame of her blood that had haunted her since the day she received her first Hogwarts letter.
How on earth was she going to get through the year ahead? She did not know.
Hermione sank dejectedly into her bed, now sorely missing the company of Ron and Harry, and cried until weariness numbed her and sleep bore her anxiety away.
A/N: A bit of a longer update today. Hooray for actual plot development!