The Pairing Hat

Chapter Two

Adjusting to a new house was never easy.

After the shock of being paired, all the females that were placed in their respective new houses had to move into it at once! Professor Dumbledore explained that the reason the witches were to move into their new houses (or stay in the same ones), was to get to know their respective mates. The girls would reside in the girls’ dormitories but share the common room with their new classmates as well as their supposed partners in life. If the couple felt strongly about each other later on then, with the permission of both parents, they would be allowed to share a room.

Once allowed to leave, both Ginny and Hermione quickly left their ‘mates,’ so they could catch up to Ron and Harry. Unsurprisingly, the two Gryffindor boys waited for the girls by the doors of the Great Hall.

“Can you believe this rubbish?” Ron whispered in a burst of anger. “Me—paired with that pug-faced Slytherin witch!” He turned his head to the side to look once more at his supposed mate.

Pansy did not show any outward reaction to the turmoil she felt inside. Years in a proper, Pureblood home, made her control her temper and keep her features schooled. She leaned against the stonewall across the hall form her intended, her hands folded across her chest.

“Calm down, Ron.” Harry said quietly. “It’s not that bad of a match.”

“Not that bad?” Ron’s face reddened. “Yes, maybe for you two.” He pointed at Harry’s hand that held gently to Luna’s slender one.

“Ron is right.” Hermione agreed tartly. “You and Luna have been together since your fifth year.”

“Unlike Hermione and I,” Ginny added bitterly. “You do not have to suffer with those slithery snakes.” Before Ron could add himself in that sentence, Ginny informed. “And you, Ron. Even though, you are paired with Pansy, at least you get to stay in your own domain, while we have to move into the snake pit.”

“This has to be illegal!” Hermione said nervously at the thought of residing in the snake pit. “Malfoy will not stand for it! I am a Mudblood to him after all, aren’t I?”

Across the hall, Draco and Blaise reached Pansy.

“You finally got your wish, Pans,” Draco said matter-of-factly. “You have the Weasel king all to yourself.” Everyone in Slytherin knew that Pansy was attracted to Ronald Weasley since he made the Gryffindor Quidditch team. She even made a song for him ‘Weasley is Our King.’

“The same could be said for you, Malfoy,” Blaise told his friend. The dark-haired wizard knew Draco better than anybody.

All the fights that Malfoy started with the Gryffindor princess were due to the pent up sexual frustration. Hermione was always an untouchable. A forbidden fruit. Nevertheless, thanks to this Pairing Hat, she was ripe for the taking, and Draco Malfoy would be the only wizard taking Hermione anywhere.

Draco shrugged his shoulders in indifference. Lying to Blaise and Pansy was futile anyway. He slowly made his way to Hermione and her idiot companions; his friends followed.


“Come along, Harry.” Luna said gently. “It’s already late, and we all have to start early tomorrow.”

“No!” Hermione said louder than she intended to, causing a few heads to turn in their direction. Lowering her voice, she added. “I am so nervous, Harry. Malfoy is…”

“…Tired and anxious to get to bed at the moment.” A voice from behind them cut through. The five Gryffindors turned to see Draco, Blaise, and Pansy sneering at them. “So if the five of you are done with your insignificant chatter, I’d like to escort my ‘mate’ to her new residence.”

“After you, Red,” said Blaise as he over exaggerated his bow.

“It’s Ginevra to you, Zabini.” Ginny growled, not amused at his gesture at all.

“I’ll call you what I want, Red,” he insisted.

“This is ridiculous, Malfoy,” Hermione began. “You don’t expect me to move into the dungeons right this moment, do you?” Even though Hermione was a headgirl, she still resided at the Gryffindor tower. She expected Draco had done the same.

“No, Mudblood,” he spat. “You won’t be moving into Slytherin, but the Head Dormitory, with me.”

“Watch the way you talk to my Hermione, Malfoy.” Ron took a step toward the Slytherin, no doubt trying to intimidate the blond wizard with his taller stature.

Draco’s head snapped back in laughter before he sobered and stepped forward, sneering up at the gangly wizard. “You mean my Hermione, Weasley.”

“What are you playing at, Malfoy?” Harry interjected. “You don’t want this ridiculous union to occur.”

“Do not presume to know me, Potter.” Draco snarled in anger. “You have no idea how I feel about anything.” Without a warning, Draco turned to Hermione and yanked her by the hand, their bodies colliding in the process.

“Let go of me!” Hermione demanded. His arrogance and audacity made her shiver. She did not know how to react to this new development because the Pureblood Draco she knew and loathed would never ever touch her.

Bending his head so his frigid mercury eyes looked into her shimmering caramel ones, Draco stated through his gritted teeth so only she could hear his growl; “If you are through embarrassing me, I suggest we take this conversation to our private quarters.”

“I…How dare you?” Hermione was so rattled, she began to stutter. Trying to get free from his unyielding grip, she continued. “You let go of me this instant, Malfoy or I’ll be forced to bring your caveman behavior to my Head of House.”

“Since your new Head of House is Professor Snape,” he grinned mischievously, “and not to mention that he is my godfather, whose side do you think he’ll take?”

“Malfoy, if you hurt her…” Ron began, pulling at Hermione’s other hand and trying to get her away from the crazed Slytherin.

Draco yanked Hermione behind him at the same time as he drew out his wand, pointing its tip at Ron’s heart. “She is no longer your concern, Weasley.” Draco was positively livid. “I suggest you take care of your own mate and let me worry about Hermione.”

“Why you little…” Ron was in the process of taking his own wand out when Professor Snape interrupted.

“Ten points from Gryffindor, Weasley, for enticing a fellow student into a fight.”

“But, Professor,” Harry tried to defend his friend. “Malfoy…”

“That will be another five points off Gryffindor for attempting to argue with a teacher, Potter.” Satisfied that there were no more arguments from the wizards of his least favorite house, Snape turned to look at his own snakes. It was obvious to anyone with half a brain that Professor Snape had no qualms in hiding his favoritism towards any of the Slytherins, especially his godson. “Is there a problem, Draco?”

“No,” the blond wizard replied as he placed his wand back into his robes, still looking at Ron for any type of threat. “No problem here.”

“You may show Ms. Granger to your quarters.”

Nodding ones, Draco looked at Blaise who in turn looked at Ginny. “Come on, Red.” He pulled at her hand to get Ginny moving to her new home.

Not waiting long enough to see his friend get the ginger witch moving along, Draco sharply turned from the group and started for the Head Dormitory.

Tired of running behind him, Hermione finally said in frustration, “Slow down or let me go, Malfoy.”

Draco slowed his pace but still kept a tight grip on her arm.

“Why?” Hermione asked.

“Why what?”

“Why aren’t you upset about what just occurred in the Great Hall?” She asked uncertainly. “You should be as appalled as I am. Yet, you act as though you aren’t disturbed at the possibly that I might be your mate.”

At this time, the two head students reached the painting of a green scaly, fire-roaring dragon. Mumbling a password under his breath, Draco pulled Hermione inside his rooms.

“Well?” she demanded once more. “What’s in it for you?”

Hermione did not have to wait long to find out. In an instant, Draco pushed Hermione against the hard wall and moved into her personal boundary, blocking any means of escape.

As slowly as he could, so not to scare his little lioness any further, Draco lowered his head so his mouth was on the same level as her own trembling one, mere centimeters apart, before he finally whispering an answer to her last question; “This,” he sighed right before his lips connected with her own in a scorching kiss…

TBC…