Chapter 33

Unwelcome Feast

Being separated from her snakes had Hermione feeling all kinds of out of sorts, it was like they were an essential thing needed for her life, like air or sunlight. Theo was the sunshine, the warmth of him more important than anything beyond their foursome, Draco was the very air she breathed, and Pansy was her beating heart. They were part of her. She had to force herself to make each step to the Gryffindor table, taking her away from them. It felt painfully wrong. Her hands involuntarily clenched into fists.

She forced a smile on her face and sat next to Dean and Seamus who greeted her warmly, as though they hadn't just sat together a few hours before on the Hogwarts Express. It felt like they were all performing, pretending that they were fine and that this was all normal.

Nothing could ever truly be normal again. What did normal even mean at this point?

The welcoming feast had never felt so tense, not even the year that the Daily Prophet had told everyone that Harry was a liar about Voldemort's return. She felt certain that things were just a breath away from exploding. One wrong move and someone was going to come to blows. Not for the first time, she was grateful that Ron had not returned.

She watched the sorting with a smile at first until little Evangeline Burke was sorted into Slytherin and someone at the Gryffindor table behind her booed. Suddenly so angry that the calming potion she had taken was rendered useless and she couldn't contain herself, Hermione jolted up and announced loudly, "Fifty points from the next person who does anything other than clap or whistle for the sorted first-years. Don't test me!" She made eye contact with all of the boys up and down the table, not sure which had done it, but ready to make good on her threat if necessary. Whoever the rabble rouser had been was silent as the sorting continued. Hermione felt the rage continue beneath her skin, but she tried to keep her face impassive.

"Hermione," Seamus whispered, causing her to look over at him. He flashed a flask under his robes and she shook her head. It was tempting, but she needed to at least pretend to follow the rules while they were in such a public setting. How could she expect anyone to take her seriously as Head Girl if she didn't? Once she was in private though, she was going straight for Theo's stash.

Two of the little Muggleborn girls came to Gryffindor and that put a smile on Hermione's face as Denise and Tria appeared to become instant best friends, which was good because they'd be rooming together for the next seven years.

Blake and Berrigan, the two boys that had made her feel so old, had both come to Gryffindor as well. Only four Gryffindors in their whole year.

Five Slytherins that Hermione saw, four Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaw had come out the winner with six. Hermione wondered whether many parents had decided to homeschool their children this year and their cohorts would grow as people felt safer or if Beauxbatons and Durmstrang had larger incoming classes than normal this year. Where were all the missing children? Hermione had a feeling that the answer wasn't something that she wanted to hear. It left a lead weight in her stomach that made eating a very difficult task. She looked down the table and realised that the younger Creswell brother hadn't returned. She couldn't find it in herself to be upset with him or his family after what had happened this summer with Dirk. The boy's corpse flashed before her eyes and her breath stuttered a little in her chest. She shook off the memory. Hogwarts was filled with ghosts, even if the spectral ones weren't crowding the Great Hall as they ought to have been.

"Hey Granger," one of the fifth year boys hissed at her, and Hermione turned to give him her attention. What was his name? Fawley? Forley? "So, is it true that you're really a Death Eater whore?" He asked with a smirk. His friend next to him elbowed him in encouragement.

Hermione wanted to cry, she wanted to scream at him. She wanted to dump her pumpkin juice all over his lap.

Instead, she channelled her best Draco Malfoy impression and sneered, "Twenty points from Gryffindor for foul language." And with as much dignity as she could muster, she stood and walked across the Great Hall to where she really wanted to be.

"Can I sit here?" She asked Theo, trying to keep from crying in front of everyone in the Great Hall, but she suspected that her lip was trembling just from the look on Theo's face.

"Like you even have to ask," Draco said immediately and rose to make room for her.

"Scoot down little snakes," Pansy advised from across the table. "Let's make room for the Head Girl to sit with us. It's a big honour."

...

Seamus looked at the fifth year wizard furiously and snarled, "Don't fookin' talk like that to Hermione, she is Head Girl ya little twat and fought in the war. You need to shut your fookin' mouth, or I will shut it for ya." His accent always got more pronounced when he was angry or piss drunk, and he was both at the moment.

Forley started to make some excuse, "But that's just what I heard!?"

"Why don't you shut your mouth while you're ahead," Neville dropped his napkin on his plate and stood and rose to cross the Great Hall on the same path that Hermione had and sat next to her causing everyone at the Slytherin table to shift around wide-eyed, confused at the fact that not one but two Gryffindor war heroes were now sitting at their table.

Ginny stared after Neville's retreat and turned back to Dean and Seamus. "What the hell is going on? When did Hermione and Nev get all chummy with the snakes?"

Dean and Seamus exchanged a look. Dean rubbed the back of his neck and seemed to search for what to say, finally shrugging. "You should have come this summer, Gin. It's kind of hard to explain."

"It doesn't even matter, Hermione doesn't deserve anyone talking to her like that, your git of a brother included. Theo and Draco aren't bad blokes," Seamus chimed in. "Fuck I need another drink." He dashed a heavy-handed splash of whiskey into his pumpkin juice, chugging the drink down so quickly that even Dean shook his head.

"It's Theo and Draco now?" Ginny spluttered. "How the bloody hell did that happen?"

"Yes, Theo and Draco, those are their names after all," Dean reiterated. "I mean, I don't know if you know, but Draco smuggled food and healing potions to those of us in the dungeons at Malfoy Manor. I didn't know it was him until Luna finally fessed up. She would give them out and was the only one that knew it was him. I mean his situation was fucked. I don't know what I would have done in his place. The war...it made victims of us all."

Ginny was completely lost for words at this, she didn't want to have anything charitable to think about Malfoy. His getting probation had been the cause of a big blow up at the Burrow over the weekend, and the fact that Harry had testified for him hadn't gone over well with Ron and her mum especially. It had ended with her storming out and she wasn't even that keen on Harry testifying. She just didn't think Ron had the right to say that Harry was in the wrong. He was supposed to be her boyfriend's best friend, and he wasn't acting like it. She wasn't going to tolerate her brother calling Harry names.

"And they have been really supportive of our relationship." Seamus laced his fingers with Dean's and glared at the Gryffindors who stared at them aghast. "It's been good. To have support, yeah?"

Ginny didn't know what to say about Malfoy and Nott and whatever was going on with them and Hermione. She could see that Nott had a possessive hand on her friend's lower back, rubbing circles. So Ginny said the only thing that she knew without a doubt was true. "Well you two know that you always have my support. You are my friends and if you are happy together that's all that matters to me."

"Ah thanks Gin," Seamus smiled, tipping his head towards her.

"That's really great to hear Ginny. We appreciate it." Dean reached over and squeezed her hand. "I hope you'll keep an open mind about other things too."

Ginny exhaled. They didn't really realise what they were asking of her, she thought.

...

She remembered all the first year's names and greeted them warmly. "Hello Evangeline, Archer, Valentinian, Gwennyth and Isadora," Hermione smiled at each of them as she sat down.

Theo scooted over to give her space between him and Draco, and Draco whispered into her ear, "Are you alright princess?"

Hermione shook her head, whispering back. "We can talk about it in private later, though."

Draco desperately wanted to make her tell him what was wrong, but didn't want to push her. Under the table he just took her hand and squeezed it tight. If she wouldn't tell him what was wrong, then he could just let her know that he was there for her regardless.

...

After the feast, McGonagall walked up to the carved owl podium and Hermione wondered if it had survived the war or if it was a replacement. It hardly mattered, she supposed.

"I'd like to welcome you all back to Hogwarts for another school year. I know that last year was a difficult and dangerous one for all of us and that we lost so many good people here just a few months ago. I never want us to forget all of those who sacrificed their lives for all of us."

"Let us honour them all now with a moment of silence," McGonagall said.

The entire Great Hall ceased to speak even in whispers, but Hermione could hear all the little noises, the rubbing of shoes on the floor, the crinkle of new robes, the benches on the floor as students fidgeted. Thinking of everyone who had died in the room where their bodies had been lined up on the floor was hardly conducive to her managing to eat.

"Thank you all, for paying respect," McGonagall broke the silence.

"And now I'd like to introduce our new mind healers to our staff, Healer Cordelia and Healer Atticus, who will be with us for this year." Rising to their feet in their healers' robes were dark bearded Healer Atticus and Healer Cordelia with her long black braids wrapped into a tight bun on top of her head. "They are available to provide individual mind healing sessions and will be teaching art therapy as well as a compulsory course for all students years second to eighth. If you'd rather not take that course, please complete the first week and then speak with them to be excused for the rest of term."

"I am also so pleased to introduce to all of you," McGonagall looked to the side as a door next to the dais was opened, and out walked a familiar face. "Our new DADA professor, Bill Weasley."

The Gryffindor table exploded in applause and Hermione's face lit up as well.

"Ohhh," Theo muttered into Hermione's ear. "It's the fit Weasley."

"You haven't seen the dragon tamer," Hermione whispered back, a smile playing around her lips. "He's even more broad and muscular from his work."

"Now I'm intrigued," Theo let his lips brush lightly against the shell of her ear, so quickly that it could have been an accident, but the shiver that ran through Hermione let him know that she was well aware that it was not one.

"And I'll be stepping back from teaching transfiguration in order to focus on Headmistress duties, we still have a great deal to put right from the war. So join me in welcoming our new transfiguration professor, Fleur Delacour-Weasley."

Fleur walked in behind her husband and Hermione was even more happy to see her. Her loud applause was drowned out by that from Ravenclaw, however where the witch must still have had a great deal of admirers from rooming with them during the Triwizard Tournament.

"And finally, our new Muggles Studies professor and Hogwarts' first Muggleborn professor, something I've always felt was long overdue, Mirabelle Lindstrom."

The thin blonde woman stood and bowed. Her hair was pulled into a severe bun, but she had lines from smiling around her eyes and mouth. Theo hoped that she wouldn't be as harsh as that hairstyle implied.

"Do you have to just take Muggle Studies or do you have to earn your NEWT?" Theo murmured low to Draco.

"The probation terms were just that I have to attend it," Draco whispered back low. "The DMLE will probably require me to submit a signed attendance log or somesuch."

Theo nodded. He'd have the solicitors confirm what exactly the requirements were, he couldn't give the DMLE a chance to punish Draco. His probation had already been made a level of complicated that could only indicate that they hoped that Draco failed in some way so that he could be dragged off to Azkaban.

"Professors Slughorn, Flitwick, Sinistra, Firenze, Trelawney, Vector, Binns and Hagrid are all returning. Please give them a warm round of applause."

McGonagall's smile was tight as she continued. "And in other housekeeping, we're doing away with sitting in our Houses in order to support House unity. We will only be sitting in our Houses for Welcome Feasts moving forward and to award the House Cup at the end of term."

"Ahhh, looks like our princess will be here with us for meals," Theo whispered into Draco's ear, not quietly enough because Hermione pinched his leg under the table. The pain made his cock twitch, but he kept his expression impassive. Pansy flashed him a knowing look, a smile playing on her blood red lips.

McGonnagal smiled at the students looking back at her. "We had a lot of success during the summer with students sitting at circle tables. Unfortunately, with the number of us during the traditional year, that set up isn't functional. So we will be adding a fifth table for eighth years only, if they so choose. And everyone else is welcome to sit at whatever table they like, no tables will be assigned to any particular house."

...

Hermione and Theo left the others to oversee the prefects leading the students to their Houses.

"See you later, baby snakes," Pansy called to the first-years who Theo had pushed to the front of the line so that the Slytherin prefects could keep an eye on them as they headed down to the dungeons.

"Eighth years, if you'll please follow the Headmistress, she'll lead us to the new dormitory that's been prepared," Hermione announced as the rest of the student body had vacated the Great Hall. Ginny's eyes met hers as the redhead left and Hermione fought the urge to go to her friend. She didn't have time for that conflict now. It wasn't going to be a simple short chat and a hug.

The corridor leading to the eighth-year dorm was near the Heads Dorm's tower, but through a section of the castle that had been disused clearly for a few hundred years based on some of the decor. As always, Hermione wondered why such a large castle had been built for so few students, but perhaps incoming classes had been larger a thousand years ago. That thought made her sad at the shrinking size of the magical community.

The large wooden doors that had once led to a gallery of immense size were opened to reveal the new eighth year dorms. The space was dominated by a large common room with muted furnishings in soft greens and goldenrods, bronze and burgundy. A little bit of each house was visible in the lounge space. The couches were overstuffed in a semi-circle around a large hearth that had to have been original to the old space; symbols of all four houses were carved into the stonework. The badger looked particularly lifelike as it climbed out of the side of the chimney.

The high ceilings allowed for two levels of dormitory rooms and two sets of spiral stairs led to the second level. Witches and wizards and the different houses were all mixed together.

Hermione was excited to see that McGonagall had accepted her suggestion and had given the handful of returning students their own private rooms. A shining nameplate on each door indicated to whom it had been assigned.

Pansy and Draco peeked at theirs just long enough to gather their trunks and use a shrinking charm on them so that they could easily take them back to the Head Suite. No matter how nice their assigned rooms were, they had no plans to sleep away from Theo and Hermione.

...

"It seems like it's been a thousand years since we left the hotel this morning," Hermione complained, throwing herself on their couch. "I definitely feel older and I'm possibly too tired even for firewhiskey."

Pansy sat down next to the Head Girl and lifted her head into her lap, soothing her by running long nails through her hair and massaging her scalp. Hermione let out an appreciative moan as she did so.

"Let's head to bed, Mi," Pansy soothed. She looked over to where their wizards were smoking on the balcony. "Theo and Draco will join us soon, I'm sure." Hermione nodded and let Pansy take her to their bedroom. Hermione was so sleepy that she sat on the bed and let Pansy undress her like a doll, leaning this way and that to make the process easier.

Pansy's hand stroked over Hermione's new tattoo as she unclipped the other witch's bra.

"Arms up, Mi," Pansy commanded. Hermione did as she was told, allowing Pansy to slide a soft silk cami over her head.

"I'll just sleep in my knickers, Pans." Hermione yawned. Pansy sighed and unbuttoned the red and gold uniform skirt and slid it down over Hermione's legs. She carefully rolled Hermione's thigh-high stockings down so that her sharp nails didn't snag them. She knew a charm to repair them, but she was just as tired as the lioness whose eyes already looked weighted.

"Scoot into the middle then, and I'll be right in." Pansy carefully hung up Hermione's robe in the wardrobe and did the same with her own. By the time Pansy had changed into her own strappy black silk nightgown, Hermione was fast asleep.

...

Their schedules were not as all exactly the same as Hermione might have liked them to be, she realised as she looked at them over coffee the following morning. She'd spread them out over the coffee table.

Hermione looked over her own schedule which listed Art Therapy, Charms, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Herbology, Transfiguration, Arithmancy, Ancient Runes and Potions. She could probably pass all the NEWTs for the academic courses today if she was offered the opportunity, but that didn't seem to be a likely option.

Other than the Art Therapy class that they all were enrolled in, Pansy was taking Herbology, Potions, Transfiguration, Defence Against the Dark Arts and Charms along with her probation's required Muggle Studies course. Hermione refrained from commenting that they were the five that someone needed if they wanted to be a healer since she knew that Pansy was struggling with what she wanted to do after Hogwarts.

Draco was taking everything Pansy was plus Advanced Arithmancy, Runes and Astronomy, putting him in the running for nine NEWTs. He shrugged when Hermione pointed that out.

"I don't need an Outstanding in everything Hermione, but I was concerned with my probation about what number of courses would be considered a full load." Draco rubbed his eyes sleepily.

"Thank goodness they didn't spell out what you needed to score to stay out of Azkaban," Pansy sipped her coffee as they sat around the heads dorm.

"I'm just hopeful that I only have to regularly attend Muggle Studies in order to fulfill my probation requirement. I've never taken it before. How could I possibly hope to score a NEWT?"

"Hopefully the new professor is better than Burbage, gods rest her," Hermione sighed. "That class was a joke. But I can help you with any course work that you struggle with."

"Maybe it will give us an excuse to take more field trips to Muggle London," Theo sighed longingly. "I already miss the suite and the staff."

Theo was taking all eight of the courses Draco was plus Care of Magical Creatures.

"Nine NEWTs Theo? Really?" Hermione groused, muttering 'show off' under her breath.

"I was going for a solid ten, but McGonagall isn't offering Alchemy this year because only five people wanted to take it. I think I'll do it by correspondence course. I found a Master in Norway who'd do it."

"Of course you did. If you really need ten you can join Draco and I in Muggle Studies," Pansy laughed, straightening her uniform tie and charming her nails green to match. "Draco, are you going to play Quidditch this year?"

"I'm going to try out, but who knows if they'll take me," Draco complained. "Plus, I have to reach out to Rosmerta. I might have to work at the Three Broomsticks, although I don't see why she'd even want to look at me."

"You are pretty fit to look at," Theo pointed out, his smile showing off the dimple in his left cheek. "People would probably buy a butterbeer just to watch you do physical labour."

"Fuck off, Theo," Draco grumbled, tossing a throw pillow at his boyfriend. Theo caught it in mid air and grinned.

...