waite waite 1 1 2003-05-09T22:05:00Z 2003-05-09T22:06:00Z 1 1087 6202 plymouth 51 14 7275 10.2625 Clean Clean MicrosoftInternetExplorer4
Forgiven
Chapter 3.
After a tedious few hours watching the picturesque countryside fly by the train window Hermione finally heard the announcement that they were to shortly be arriving at Hogwarts. Standing up she pulled her robes from her bag and put them on, running her fingers through her glossy curls to tame them, she then leant down and poked Ron lightly in the ribs.
"Wake up Ron, we're nearly there." She said tossing his robes onto his lap as he rubbed his eyes drowsily. He grunted and pulled the black folds over his head and clumsily straightened them.
"Sorry for dropping off 'Mione you should have woken me earlier to talk to. Did you not find Harry?" Ron asked. Hermione shrugged,
"Yeah, he was with Cho up the train." She replied coolly. Ron frowned slightly, then as the train shuddered to a halt he took Hermione's hand and pulled her into a hug.
"C'mon 'Mione it's our last year. We've gotta make it a good one, he wouldn't have done it to upset you." Ron said squeezing her lightly, and planting a soft kiss on the top of her head he pulled away and led her onto the misty platform.
The horseless carriages were lined up along the edge of the platform and after a cheery wave to Hagrid, Ron and Hermione bundled into the cosy interior of one of the many carriages. Harry clambered in after them followed by Cho. At first Ron and Harry had a animated conversation about their ideas for the new and improved Gryffindor Quidditch team, however after a while Cho wriggled a little beneath Harry's arm which was slung casually across her shoulders to remind him of her presence. He looked down at her and Cho grabbed the front of his robes and pulled his face close to whisper delicately into his ear, a grin curved over Harry's face and he twisted to press his lips against hers in a lingering kiss. Hermione gritted her teeth and stared fuming out of the window at the black sky and the approaching lights of the castle. Ron didn't seem to notice that Harry was completely ignoring him now and was engrossed in quiet chatter with Cho. Ron pulled out a Quidditch magazine and began leafing through it. After bumping along the cobbled entrance to the school, the carriage trundled to a stop at the bottom of the wide set of steps leading to the main doors. Harry pulled open the door for Cho, letting her slip out before him, and jumping out in a hurry not to get left behind her, he let the door slam shut in Hermione's face. Another surge of anger bubbled within Hermione as she grasped the handle and pulled the door open for herself and Ron, she watched her eyes narrow slits as Harry's back retreated away from her and Ron towards the main hall.
Ron plopped down into a seat on the busy Gryffindor table within The Great Hall; Harry had saved two seats beside him, although Hermione noticed bitterly, he had carefully positioned himself in the perfect place to make eye contact with the Ravenclaw table. She sat down and studiously avoided Harry's puzzled gaze and attempts to catch her eye. Feeling someone tap her shoulder Hermione turned to the left to see Dean Thomas beaming at her, grateful for the distraction from Harry's bewildered looks she grinned brightly.
"Hey Dean!" She chirped giving him a quick hug, "Have a nice summer?" She asked, Dean nodded and began to tell her about his holiday abroad in Italy with his best friend Seamus Finnigan. Hermione listened to his exploits laughing about the pranks he and Seamus had pulled in their hotel. Suddenly a piercing whistle cut the loud chattering of the hall and all the heads snapped to the head table and the school's headmaster, Albus Dumbledore. Dumbledore finished the shrill whistle, removed his fingers from his mouth and beamed at the students.
"Welcome back to Hogwarts. I hope you all had a restful and enjoyable summer, I know I did." The tall wizard said with a roguish grin. "Before we begin our first feast of the year, the sorting must occur. Professor Mc Gonogall, when you are ready…" Dumbledore trailed off gesturing to the open space at the front of the Hall with his extended arm. At this moment, the group of first years which had been huddled in between the tables in terror, shuddered in unison. Professor Mc Gonogall, a tall, thin, stern looking witch with dark grey hair pulled back into a tight, severe bun at the nape of her neck, pulled a roll of parchment from her pocket and addressed the new students.
"When I call your name, please take a seat on the stool and put on the hat." She said clearly, pointing to a wobbly looking three legged stool which sat in the middle of the space, upon which a tatty old hat sat. Professor Mc Gonogall cleared her throat and looked down at the list,
"Angel, Jude." She barked sharply, a small cherubic looking boy walked towards the stool, he was shaking. Lifting the hat he sat down and put it cautiously onto his head. The hall was quiet for a few moments, as the students watched the boy, only a few wisps of curly golden hair visible beneath the rim of the hat. Then a rip in the hat opened wide like a mouth and it yelled.
"Ravenclaw!" Jude pulled the hat off and scampered towards the Ravenclaw table which was applauding him loudly. Hermione watched the next first year ("Axon, Amber!") take her place on the stool when she felt someone lightly kick her leg. Glancing across the table she saw Harry staring at her,
"What's wrong?" He mouthed, Hermione shrugged and looked away hearing Harry sigh in irritation. She ignored the persistant nudges beneath the table for the remainder of the sorting ceremony, until finally Professor Mc Gonogall called out,
"Zambini, Jet!" Hermione watched a pretty girl with glossy black hair edge towards the stool, she sat down and looking petrified dropped the hat over her eyes. Wringing her hands nervously for a few minutes before it loudly announced,
"Slytherin!" Jet threw the hat back onto the school and ran off to the Slytherin where she took a seat next to Blaise Zambini, who Hermione presumed was her older sister. Mc Gonogall rolled up her list of names and stuffed it within her robes, she swept across the stage and plucked the hat off the stool and carried them away. Dumbledore rose again and surveyed the four newly filled tables with a satisfied smile.
"Now that everyone is settled, let the feast begin!" He said with a smile and a flourish. The empty plates blossomed with food and the hall erupted in a buzz of happy chatter. Ron piled his plate high with a bit of everything available, and began tucking in hungrily. Hermione began scooping roast potatoes onto her plate when Harry caught her hand, her eyes flicked up to his.
"Hermione." Harry breathed quietly but determinedly, "What is the matter?" He asked not releasing her hand as she twisted it slightly. She sighed, decided not to break eye contact and raise his temper anymore, she stared steadily back at him.
"I'm just tired." She supplied blandly. Harry's eyebrows contorted but apparently deterred by the fierce expression in Hermione's dark brown eyes he didn't press the issue and just nodded.
"Oh, okay. I just thought something was up." He said quietly, Hermione shrugged.
"No." She answered shortly and went back to spooning the potatoes.