Chapter 2
The students cleared out of the small room and went their separate ways. Hermione and Malfoy had barely glanced at each other as they left.
Ron kept close to her and he had a sour look on his face.
“Honestly Mione. How could Mcgonogall do this to us.” Ron said, not bothering to hide his glowering
“I mean not only one but both of us are stuck with snakes.”
“Parkinson isn’t that bad Ron,” While Hermione was absolutely rageful of her circumstances. She was a smart girl and always had been. She was calculated and calm and careful. And most of all she did not jump to conclusions. Because it never ended well for any parties involved.
“No, but I’d rather be partners with you,” Ron grumbled.
The rest of their walk was quiet.
— —
By the time the two reached the compartment, they were both positively enraged. Hermione didn’t want to believe she would be stuck spending time alone with malfoy. Hermione didn’t know if she could handle months with him before finding and staircase and shoving him down it.
Harry must’ve seen something wrong on their faces. “What’s wrong?”
Before Hermione could think to answer, Ron did it for her.
The words stumbled out of his mouth at an alarming rate “HermioneandIgotstuckwiththeslytherins”
The face Harry makes is priceless. It’s almost as if he is trying to determine whether he should laugh or be angry. He chose to laugh.
Ron and Hermione stood stiffly as Harry nearly falls to the ground hysterical.
“I mean. How unlucky!” He cackled
Hermione went to sit down but made sure to whack Harry upside the head. After that, his laughing slowed greatly.
The rest of the ride was rather bland. No Dementors or strange new professors to question. It was not long before Hermione kicked Harry to the other seat and she laid down for a nap.
She didn’t dream. She never did. When she was young maybe it happened, but when Hermione had gotten her letter to Hogwarts they just went away for no reason at all. She didn’t mind it. It was quite nice going to be every night not having to worry about nightmares. The peace was nice for her.
When she awoke, she immediately noticed it was several hours later as the sun was high in the sky. However the serenity she was so enjoying, was immediately disrupted by the boys loud snoring. She was almost used to it by now. Almost.
Instead of making a rash and violent decision she might regret later. Hermione chose to look at the clock first. It showed that it was nearly 7:30. A quick look out the window confirmed that they were almost to Hogwarts. With this knowledge, Hermione didn’t feel guilty at all for waking them from their slumber.
She shook them lightly and Harry woke first. Gasping loudly, he flails. His hands gripping Hermione’s arms.
“Harry are you alright?” She asks. Alarmed with his reaction.
He slumps down in the seat. Visibly calmer, he has a worrisome look in his eyes. Something Hermione did not fail to notice.
“I’m sorry Mione, I’ve been having the nightmares again.”
“You should’ve told us! Harry it could be dangerous.”
The commotion woke Ron at last.
“What’s happening?” He asks and nearly falls onto the floor.
A moment of silence and Harry said nothing.
“Harry’s been having his nightmares again”
“Why didn’t you tell us?” Ron questions
“That’s what I said!”
Harry gets up, seemingly ignoring their words. “Yes I know, but now you know. So no harm done. Right?”
They could see a clear view of Hogwarts now and thought it best they start packing up. The train would be at Hogsmeade station soon. The trio gathered their luggage and familiars.
Hermione was the first of them to step outside. The sun was just going down on the horizon and the hazy nighttime air. It made her tired just standing there.
They made the journey to the carriages but abruptly interrupted by Malfoy and his lackeys.
He saunters past me and faces Harry’s as we all walk.
“I’m surprised the ministry’s still letting you walk around free Potter, you better enjoy it while you can.” He bit out. “I expect there’s a cell in Azkaban with your name on it.”
Harry was already on edge after his nightmare but Malfoy has always had a talent for driving people to a nutter. He tried to get to Malfoy, probably to fight him, but Ron held him back.
“What’d I tell you. Complete nutter!” They all started to depart from the Gryffindors.
“Oh and I suppose you’re going to tell your Daddy now.”
“Wouldn’t you like to know Mudblood.” He turns to face her and so do the others
She scoffed, “Contrary to your belief. I have no interest in your life.” Hermione’s face scrunched up with a mocking inclination
She wished that he was an idiot. It would make her life so much easier. Existing without his sharp quips. But alas, Hermione could never be so blessed that her rival could be stupid.
“Well, I for one,” Malfoy took a step closer to her. Bringing their bodies with-in reach of each other. “cannot wait to learn all about you.” It left her speechless.
With that, the Syltherins walked away from them.
Ron wriggled his eyebrows at Hermione.
”Oh shove off.” She responded with a meet chuckle. Not being able to contain it
— —
The Great hall is filled with students of all sorts. The sorting at is the front of the massive room. Sitting on the stool that each and every one of the people in this room has sat upon.
She remembers it fondly. Her peers staring at her. Her nerves stronger than ever before.
The first year trail in after Professor McGonagall. Their small faces lit by the beautiful candlelight that gleams from the ceiling. The room is silent apart from the barely audible pitter patters of the first years. They all close in together anxiously awaiting their names to be called.
In times of old when I was new
And Hogwarts barely started
The founders of our noble school
Thought never to be parted:
United by a common goal,
They had the selfsame yearning,
To make the worlds’s best magic school
And pass along their learning . . .
The Sorting Hats song was exceptionally long this year.
When the sorting hat finally quiets down, Mcgonagall clears her voice and pulls out the parchment and speaks, “Oswald, Gabrielle,” The hat debates for a moment and calls out “SLYTHERIN!” She stumbles away from the stool looking very much sick and having the need to sit down.
Eventually the hat finished and was taken away by the professor. As it has been most years, Gryffindor had the most new students. Food appears from nowhere and Hermione’s stomach is grumbling from the long wait. The tables are almost groaning under the wait of meat pies, bread, sauces, soups, heaps of pumpkin juice.
Ron had piled mashed potatoes onto his plate along with black pudding. She felt sick creeping its nasty way into her mouth. “Ronald no,” His mouth full he looked puzzled at her.
”Black pudding is foul. I’m ashamed of you,” Hermione jokingly kicked his leg. She ate her food but chose to face slightly away from Ron. He didn’t seem to notice and began to stuff his face. He seemed to have a bottomless pit of a stomach
Soon enough Dumbledore parted from his meal and stood at his podium. The talking in the hall ceased at once.
“Well, now that we are all digesting another magnificent feast, I beg a few moment of your attention for the usual start of term notices,” said Dumbledore. First years ought to know that the forest in the grounds is out of bounds to students and a few of our older students ought to know by now too.” The trio all exchanged smirks.
“Mr. Filch, the caretaker, has asked me, for what he tells is the four hundred and sixty-second time, to remind you magic is not permitted in the corridors between classes. Nor are a number of other things, all of which can be checked on an extensive list not fastened to Mr. Filchs office door.
“We have two staffing changes this year. We are pleased to welcome back Professor Grubbly-Plank, who will be taking Care of Magical Creatures lessons; we are also delighted to introduce Professor Umbridge, our new Defense against the Dark Arts teacher.
There was a round of polite yet unenthusiastic applause. It did concern Hermione that no one knew just how long Grubbly-Plank would be teaching for.
Dumbledore continued, “Tryouts for House Quidditch teams will take places on the—“
He broke off looking questionable at Umbridge. As she was not much taller standing than sitting. There was a moment where nobody understood why Dumbledore had stopped talking, but then Professor Umbridge said, “Hem, hem,” and it became clear that she had got to her feet and was intending to make a speech.
Dumbledore only looked taken aback for a moment, then he sat back down and looked alertly at Umbridge. Dumbledore was a master at hiding his emotions. Hermione had noticed over the years that not all professors had this ability. In this moment, her esteemed Professor McGonagall’s mouth was pressed into a straight displeased line. Thinner than Hermione’s had ever seen it.
Many of the students had a smirk on their face. The women so blatantly did not know how things were done at Hogwarts.
“Thank you Headmaster,” Umbridge simpered, for those kind words of welcome.” Her voice was high-pitched, breathy, and little-girlish.
It was in this moment that she noticed Harry had a look of recognition on his face. He turned to his two best friends, “She was at my Ministry hearing. She works for Fudge!”
“Fudge? What on earth is she teaching here for. Seems a tad out of place for her if you know what I mean,” Ron says.
Hermione already could tell that this woman is not someone she will like.
She had a bright smile on her face. She looked around the hall locking eyes with many students. She gave another little hem hem, “Well it is lovely to be back at Hogwarts, and to see all you happy little facing looking back at me.”
Hermione glanced around and noticed that the only person in the entire room smiling, was umbridge herself. Other than the polite expression Dumbledore always wear’s.
“The ministry has always considered the education of young witch’s and wizards to be of vital importance. The rare gifts which you were born with at come to nothing if not nurtured and honed by careful instruction.” Hermione found her attentiveness was wearing thin but the women kept on chatting away. She completely dazed off and looked in the other direction.
When Umbridge finally finishs her speech Hermione was eager to leave. But first she had to lead the first years to the common room.
— —
At the end of the night. When Hermione lays by herself in bed. She finds herself wondering about how patrolling at night is going to go if she has to tolerate Draco Malfoy throughout it.