Shivers of a Serpent

Chapter 2: Some Unfortunate News

DISCLAIMER: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

Rivulets of rain ran down the stained glass windows of Gryffindor tower, the grey sky outside casting a dull light to the girls' dormitory where Hermione was currently wrestling with her suitcase. Like most girls, she wasn't terribly good at packing light, but unlike most girls, Hermione's suitcase was bursting to the brim with books. Despite having used three Engorgio charms and numerous rolls of spellotape, she couldn't quite get it zipped up all the way and so, sighing to herself, she started to lug it down the stairs. Harry and Ron were just emerging dishevelled from their dormitory opposite.

"Are you sure you've got enough reading material there, Hermione?" said Harry with a wry smile. Ron was a little more vocal - "Bloody hell! We're only going for a month, Hermione!" She ignored them and continued down the stairs with a small smile playing across her lips.

"Anyway, won't Madame Pince get angry when she finds out you ran off with the whole library in your suitcase?" Ron's voice boomed down from above her. "She'll set Filch on you and then you'll be sorry!" Harry sniggered as Ron continued on in this vein all the way down to the great hall - "You'll wake up in the night at our Muggle school to hear his stinky old feet tramping outside your door calling 'Hermioneeeeeee, give me your librareeeeeeee!!!' "

"Wow, talking feet. I didn't know Filch was so talented!" Harry said with a straight face. Ron erupted into a fit of most unmanly giggles just as they entered through the grand double doors to walk smack straight into Professor McGonagall, looking rather ferocious with a large green clipboard in hand.

"Just a moment there, Mr Weasley! Mr Potter! Now, if you could please deposit your bags in the entrance hall and then be seated at your house tables. I will be coming around shortly as you eat to tell you which school you have been assigned, and who your partners are. Ahh...Miss Patil, no, you cannot take five suitcases! No, I don't care that they're small!" She hurried off into the entrance hall leaving the three together.

"Partners?" Ron said in bewilderment as they walked towards the Gryffindor table. "I thought we would be in big groups!"

Harry looked thoughtful. "It's probably to make it look less obvious. I guess it would be pretty strange if a whole load of students parachuted in to a school, and none of them knew what a TV or mobile phone was."

"Parachute? TV? Mobile phone? What are you talking about, Harry? It's YOU the Muggles are going to think is strange!" said Ron, as he plonked himself down in front of a large plate of waffles. Hermione and Harry smirked at each other across the table. "What?!" Ron cried, shovelling food into his mouth.

"You'll see," said Harry with a grin. "Wonder who we'll get as partners. Hope I get one of you two."

"Mmmph" said Ron, swallowing. "Imagine how bad it would be if you got, I dunno, Malfoy or someone!"

Hermione snickered and glanced automatically towards the Slytherin table. Malfoy, bright blonde hair clearly visible, was sitting with Crabbe, Goyle and Nott, heads bent together. They were no doubt scheming something duplicitous. Even after last night's spectacle it seemed that the Slytherins didn't have the grace to look ashamed. Hermione's eyes roamed down the table and saw that, although there were some troubled faces, most remained unashamedly brazen and upbeat. Disgusting.

Ron meanwhile was discussing the hypothetical Malfoy - Harry pairing. "I don't think even McGonagall would go that far. She knows how explosive that situation would be - you'd blow the cover of the whole wizarding world duelling in the middle of chemistry or something!" They both laughed and Hermione's attention was drawn back to their table.

"Oooh, look here's McGonagall."

The professor bustled over looking harassed. "Right, Miss Granger, first on the list. Let me see...you are to be placed at Longdon Manor School in Hertfordshire. Now, I need to know four subjects that you would be able to study confidently in the Muggle world, although I'm sure that won't be a problem with you." She permitted Hermione a brief smile and held out a list towards her. Hermione's eyes danced with excitement as she saw all the choices and weighed up her options.

"Oooh, I don't know. Can I take five, or maybe six? I'd like to do Physics and Chemistry, oh and, and Maths, of course. Oh look, French, yes that as well, and..."

"Unfortunately, four is the maximum number of subjects I can permit, Miss Granger, " McGonagall said firmly. "You see, the school also requires all sixth formers to participate in physical education and that counts as a fifth option. There is no time for others, as Muggles obviously do not possess certain, ahem, helpful timetabling devices that wizards might. Hypothetically that is."

Ron and Harry coughed loudly and Hermione distinctly heard the word "TIMETURNER", but the smirks on their faces were quickly wiped off as McGonagall sent them a furious glare.

"Mr Weasley, if you would be so kind as to give me your full attention. Now, your school is Ladmonton Boys' school in Essex. Mr Potter, yours too." They both groaned loudly at the mention of the words "Boys' school".

"You mean... no girls?! That is so unfair!" Ron complained loudly, only to be silenced once again by McGonagall's glare as she loudly declaimed that this was an "integration study trip" and "not just a jaunt for picking up women!"

"Not just? Well at least it's included then!" said Harry with a wide grin on his face as he high-fived Ron. McGonagall's glare turned even icier and they suppressed their snorts as they chose to do English, Art, and D.T. - the easiest subjects Ron could manage without Muggle knowledge - and as the comedy wildcard, History. "But I know nothing about the Muggle present, let alone its history! I might start talking about goblin rebellions or something!" moaned Ron.

"Well, you'll have to learn then, Mr Weasley, won't you? It will do you good to be alert in class for once!" McGonagall retorted, and started to stalk off towards the next group of students.

"Wait, Professor!" called Hermione. "We don't know our partners yet!"

"Well, Mr Potter and Mr Weasley are together as I have already said." Ron and Harry started to high-five each other again energetically. "Oh - sorry Miss Granger - yes..." She ran her finger down the long list of parchment. "Ah - you are with Mr Malfoy. Good luck," she said drily.