Unexpected

Chapter 3

“I swear, if that git even utters one more thing to us this year he’s not getting away with all his limbs intact.” Ron was still going on about Malfoy.

And to be honest she was getting sick of it.

“Yes Ron. You’ve said this seven times in the last hour. We get the point!”

Obviously it was not only Hermione that was getting bored of Ron’s unceasing anger. Ginny’s head had whipped up from ‘The Standard Book of Spells Grade 5’ and she barked at Ron.

Harry gave Ginny a little smile and she gave him a knowing smile back. What was going on there?

Hermione pushed everything out of her brain as her stomach gave a loud growl. She giggled and blushed.

“Oops, didn’t have time to eat this morning. When’s the food trolley coming round?”

As if it had heard her, there was a trundling up the corridor and moments later a trolley piled with mountains of pumpkin pasties and chocolate frogs, amongst other things, rattled to a stand still outside the door. A plump little witch pushed the door open.

“Anything off the trolley dears?” She smiled at them.

Harry, as usual, bought a mound of food, which he then piled on the empty seat next to Ron.

Hermione leaned over and grabbed a couple of pasties to satisfy herself.
Ron and Harry began talking about this year’s Quidditch tryouts, as Harry had been pleasantly surprised to find he had been made captain, so Hermione turned to her left to chat to Ginny.

“So Gin, still seeing Michael Corner?”

“Oh God no! I got rid of him at the end of term. He was a loser.”

She smiled broadly at Hermione and flicked her long hair over her shoulder. Hermione chuckled at her best girl friends casual tone, as she proceeded to reel off a list of boys that she had turned over the summer and why.

“…and then there was Zacharias Smith. Don’t even get me STARTED on him!” Both girls wiped tears of laughter from their eyes as they discussed the pros and cons of each boy.

“No but seriously, I’m not really sure I want someone at the minute, y’know? With my OWL’s and everything this year.” Ginny calmed.

Hermione smiled, what she thought was a knowing smile, at Ginny. The truth is, she had never really had a boyfriend, so she had no idea what Ginny was talking about.

Sure she had kissed Viktor at the Yule Ball, but it wasn’t the same. She had never really felt the need to have a boyfriend before. But the way Ginny was talking about it now mad her feel… well a bit jealous actually.

Of course she wasn’t utterly stunning, like the girl sitting opposite her. With her flame red, poker straight hair, her vivid blue eyes, petite frame and cute freckles; Ginny was one of the best looking girls in the school.

Hermione, on the other hand, with her bushy, mousey brown hair, muddy brown eyes and average figure, she was just plain. Also, being the top of every class didn’t seem to do much for her social status.

But, being a true Gryffindor at heart, her jealousy upset her so she shoved it back down and was about to ask Ginny some more about her busy social life, until she noticed how dark it had gotten outside.

“Shit, guys we must be nearly there and we haven’t got changed yet.”

Sure enough the train was beginning to slow as it rounded the last huge bend into Hogsmede station.

Everyone was silent and then there was a sudden flurry of activity as cases were flung open and everyone searched for their robes.

Hermione had just finished fastening her cloak as the train screeched to a halt on the darkened platform. Through the window she could see huge splats of rain, just beginning to splash to the ground.

Sighing contentedly at the thought that she would soon be in the castle that she now called home, she grabbed her case and the cage with Crookshanks in and shuffled onto the crowded train corridor.

As they stepped off the train, they looked up, delighted to hear a familiar voice booming over the distant rumble of a storm.

“Firs’ years this way! C’mon now. Firs’ years over to me!”

Hagrid towered above the students and herded the timid looking first years towards him.

“All righ’ you three!” he called to them, waving as he saw them.

Hermione looked around and noticed that Ginny had gone somewhere else. Probably to find some of her year she hadn’t seen all summer.

“Come on, let’s go find a carriage before they leave without us… err… don’t be scared. You know they’re ok.” Harry smiled crookedly at them.

Hermione was puzzled for a moment, as she followed behind them to the carriages, until she heard Ron’s exclamation.

“Blimey!” he croaked and staggered to a halt.

It was then that Hermione realised what Harry meant. For in front of each carriage were four skeletal, winged horses, tossing their tangled manes and pawing the ground lazily.

The really were magnificent. But very, very sad, as she remembered the reason why she could now see them.

She sniffed a little, determined to hold back the tears. However the rain was coming down thick and fast now so it wouldn’t really matter.

“They’re beautiful Harry.”

“Mmm,” Harry looked contemplative “I… never mind. Come on let’s jump in this one.”

They hurried forward into an empty carriage and slammed the door shut. The carriage began the long walk up the drive to the castle.

Hermione shivered and pulled her cloak tighter around her self. She was freezing and her hair was dripping wet droplets down her neck.

“Great” she thought to herself “that took me bloody ages this morning. All for it to get rained on.”

She huffed to herself and flicked her hair out of her face. The carriage drew to a standstill and Ron, Hermione and Harry hopped down onto the grassy entrance of Hogwarts.

The carriages carried on, round to the side of the castle, where she knew her cases would be delivered to her room.

Clinging onto Harry’s sleeve with one hand and Ron’s sleeve with the other, she hurried up the steps, desperate to get into warmth and out of the downpour.

As she entered the Entrance Hall she let go of Harry and Ron and turned left to make her way into the Great Hall.

Just then she spotted Luna across the hall and remembered something she had to ask her about.

“I’ll meet you in there, I’m juts going to talk to Luna for a sec.”

“Ok. We’ll save you a seat.” Ron grinned and waved at her and turned in the opposite direction.

She started to make her way over to where she could see the blonde Ravenclaw floating around, but Peeves, who had been circling the chandeliers had other ideas.

“Teacher’s pet, she’s all wet” he cackled loudly as he zoomed down in front of her and burst a water bomb at her feet.

“Peeves!” she squealed as her feet went out from under her and she fell backwards onto the poor soul behind her. They landed on the floor with a thump.


*****

He was actually minding his own business for once, he felt too subdued to bully the younger pupils, when someone hurtled into him with such force that they landed on the floor in a soggy tangle.

He was stunned. His head hit the concrete with some force and everything began to swim.

Groaning and rubbing his eyes back into focus, he caught a waft of the sweetest aroma he had ever smelt.

It was a smell of rain, fresh wet skin and cotton. Lily’s also, and something else. Something he couldn’t quite place. But it was so beautiful it added to the swimming feeling in his head.

He moaned again and the person that had landed on top of him shot up as if they had been burnt. He could just make out a fuzzy outline of a girl before he heard Pansy shrieking.

“WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING GRANGER?!”

Granger? No she’s got that wrong. Surely she’d be with her lapdogs. They never let her out of their sight.

But as his eyes came slightly more into focus he could make out the red and gold Gryffindor emblem on her robes, a tangle of wet brown hair and eyes as wide as galleons in shock.

“GET THE HELL AWAY FROM HIM NOW!” Pansy was still screaming at Hermione.

Hermione turned and stumbled over her own feet trying to get away as fast as she could.

Draco was too perplexed at this whole scene that he didn’t register the smell that had stunned him came from none other than Hermione herself.

“Stupid Gryffindor bitch.” Pansy called loudly.

It was a wonder McGonagall hadn’t arrived on the scene yet. She was always poking her nose into these things.

“Miss Parkinson I would prefer it if you didn’t call my house such names. If I hear it again I will inform Professor Snape.”

Ah. There she was. Pansy’s face reddened in anger but she held her tongue, at least she knows when not to talk.

Draco couldn’t be bothered with McGonagall so he tried to sit up quickly. Too quick.

The world swooned and he felt sick. Placing his head between his knees, he raised his hand to his scalp. All he could feel was wetness but when he drew his hand away the tangy, metallic scent of blood reached his nostrils.

He prodded the gash in the back of his head again and winced. Trust Granger.

Just then a rough hand pulled him too his feet. He staggered slightly and clutched the arm for support.

“Get him to the hospital wing Severus, but do hurry up the sorting is about to begin.” He heard the clack of McGonagall’s shoes as she sauntered back towards the Great Hall.

“This is a fabulous start to the year Draco, after I promised your mother I would keep an eye on you this year.” Snape muttered as he gently steered him towards the hospital wing.

“I don’ need looking after.” Slurred Draco as he massaged his head in his hands. God he had really fallen with some force.

“It would appear you do, considering your current situation.”

Draco was in too much pain to argue so he just grunted and pushed open the door to the hospital wing.

“My word, what’s happened to him?” Madame Pomfry exclaimed, looking up from her desk.

“Nothing serious Poppy, just a fall and a blow to a head. Could have been fixed with a quick spell but I brought him to you in case it was something more.”

“Thank you Severus. You can go back to the feast now. He’s fine with me.” Snape turned and left the hospital wing, with one last warning look that Draco caught.

“Right sit on the bed please Mister Malfoy.” He complied. She waved her wand over him once and marched into her office, returning wit a little phial of blue liquid.

“I’ve healed the wound in your head. Drink this and the sickness will subside soon.” She handed him the phial and he downed it in one. It was a pleasant peppermint flavour that spread a warm tingly feeling over his body. He found he was feeling better already.

“Now you lie here. I think it’s a good idea if you don’t return to the feast this evening. You may leave once all the other students have returned to their common rooms, to avoid a repeat performance.”

“But I haven’t eaten,” Draco muttered, “I’m bloody starving!”

“We’ll have less of that language here please. I’ll send for a house elf to get you some food. Now stay still.”

She bustled back into her office and closed the doors. Draco reclined against the fluffy pillows and stretched his limbs.

“Good start to the year.” He thought to himself. He then proceeded to count the tiles on the ceiling of the hospital wing. It was a distraction really. He did not want to think of the feelings he had experienced as he lay on the floor of the Entrance Hall.

But he couldn’t help himself. His senses had been excited by the little Gryffindor mudblood. Again. That was twice in one day. What the hell would his father think?!

It was the fall. Yeah that’s what it was. Ignore the first time it didn’t happen. The second time he had been bewildered and in pain. Of course it was. How could he ever be attracted to that?

“You’re lying though aren’t you?” a little niggling voice at the back of his head said to him.

“Shut up brain.” He mumbled aloud. That stupid voice had the annoying quality of sounding like his headmaster, Dumbledore.
Thankfully, before his brain voice could answer, there was a pop at the bottom of his bed and a little house elf appeared with a large silver platter. Placing at the foot of his bed, she bowed low and disappeared again.

Happy for the distraction, he pulled the tray of mashed potato, lamb chops and gravy towards him and tucked in.

It was definitely going to be a long year.


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hope that was ok. more meetings next chapter.updated some time next week.

margaritama: it is indeed a lot easier to read now i have spaced out my paragraphs. thanks :)

Shpamm xxx