Secrets of a Previous Life

Hermione and Draco sat in silence for the rest of the ride back to Hogwarts. Their brief conversation, more like argument, wasn't exactly what you would call pleasant, but it did cause the two students to drown in their own thoughts of each other. Draco returned to staring out the window. Anyone looking at him would think he was a statue, for he hardly seemed to breathe! On the other hand, Hermione went over her Potions essay and biography for History of Magic. She squirmed, wiggled, crossed and uncrossed her legs. Hermione and Draco almost seemed oblivious to each other.

~*~*~

Once again, all students arrived at Hogwarts in either the boats across the lake or the magical carriages. First years waited outside, as nervous as if they were about to do the trust fall, awaiting the Sorting Ceremony. They were all discussing which house they wanted to be in.

"My entire family has been in Ravenclaw! Just think what my mother would say if I ended up in, say, Slytherin?! Blimey, they'll go mad!" panicked first year Nora Clarkson.

"Tell me about it! My grandfather said he'd give me anything I wanted if I got into Hufflepuff! Oh my god, I am so nervous!" was the response of Celine Hamilton.

"Oy Charles! I bet you five galleons I'll be sorted into Gryffindor!" yelled a mischievous boy by the name of Andrew Sands.

On the other side of the grand doors of Hogwarts, the second to seventh years were hanging out at their respective house tables talking about their summer holidays and finishing homework assignments at the last minute. The great hall was embellished with all sorts of decorations to welcome everyone back. The ceiling was dressed with candles that changed colors, and bright, dancing flames. In fact, if you concentrated long enough, you could see that the flames were actually little fire fairies. Albus Dumbledore, the greatest wizard ever, sat in the smack middle of the Staff Table situated at the very front of the hall. He seemed to be enjoying himself, peering out from his half-moon glasses. All the teachers were present at the Staff Table, excluding the Transfiguration professor, Minerva McGonagall who was outside with the brand new first years.

"Hey Hermione. Listen, Ron and I are really and truly sorry about what happened on the train. We're serious! Fine, I'll admit we're hardly ever serious, but this time it's for real! Will you please forgive us?" pleaded a sugary Harry Potter.

"I'm not listening, oh evil ex-best friends of mine. Honestly, did you two really think you could sweet talk me into forgiving you?" replied Hermione.

"Hermione! I offered you a seat! It was on my lap, but... Don't you remember?" replied Harry with a hint of cheekiness.

"Shut up, Harry!"

"Come off it, Herm! You won't ditch us just because of one little train ride, right? Please say we're right. I mean, it's not like you had to go sit on Malfoy's lap or anything," Ron said hopefully.

"Aha! As a matter of fact, thanks to a certain Harry Potter and a certain Ronald Weasley, I ended up sharing a cabin with - surprise surprise - Draco Malfoy! So there!" roared Hermione.

"WHAT?!" Harry and Ron chorused. The two boys broke into laughter, and tried to return to acting serious. They failed miserably.

"Alright fine. Forget that Malfoy git. Yes, the train ride was horrible. And stop laughing! Argh! Oh well. Not like I can do anything else. I forgive you. I really think I'm doomed to a lifetime stuck with two absolutely ridiculous buffoons. This is the last year of Hogwarts for us! What about your futures? How will you survive? Honestly, I don't think it's that easy to get a job if you're this mischievous. Fine. Don't listen to me," Hermione preached, trying to sound tough and mature. The truth was, she cared for her two best friends more than anything, and she could never stay mad at them.

All of a sudden, Professor McGonagall proudly opened the doors and led the frightened students into the great hall to be sorted into their houses based on their personality. She read off the list of names, and one by one, they were sorted into Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, or Slytherin. After the ceremony, the Headmaster stood up to deliver important news to the student body.

"Congratulations, first years. I do hope you are satisfied with the house in which you were placed. I am very sure you will get along well with your new housemates, and find Hogwarts a pleasant place. Prefects will lead you to the entrance portrait and give you the password. You are not to give the password to members of other houses, or let them into the common room. I know I can trust everyone to keep the passwords secret," said Albus Dumbledore.

The Gryffindor Inseparable Three, namely Harry, Hermione, and Ron realized that every year the speech was exactly the same. It almost sounded like a record out of control.

"I would like to announce the Hogwarts head students now. Firstly, our head boy is a respected Slytherin, please give Draco Malfoy a round of applause!" said the Headmaster. Most of the school responded in unenthusiastic and even sarcastic cheering and clapping. Only at the Slytherin table did a few students really cheer for Malfoy. Of course, this included Pansy Parkinson, Vincent Crabbe, and Gregory Goyle. Severus Snape, the professor of potions, gave the head boy an approving nod when their eyes met.

Thank god I'm head boy. Father would have given me a huge beating if I didn't make head boy. Maybe he'll use the Cruciatus Curse less on me. Just maybe. But then again, my father is Lucius Malfoy. Fat chance he will ever be less harsh. I need to stop hoping. All I know is that as long as my name is Malfoy, which it will remain forever, my world will be dark.

Just then, the sound of Dumbledore's voice again brought Draco out of his ocean of thoughts back into the Hogwarts castle of reality.

"And now, please do also give a grand round of applause for a fine Gryffindor. You may know her as Hermione Granger!" said Dumbledore. This time, all the Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and a part of the Slytherin table roared out in applause and cheering. Harry and Ron were undoubtedly the loudest. If they were good at something other than causing trouble, that would be supporting their best friend, Hermione.

"YES!! We always knew you would be the head girl! Good on ya!" shouted Harry.

"You've been telling us how excited about being Head Girl you were the whole summer! If I hear anymore I will get sick! But other than that, congratulations, bookworm!" teased Ron.

From across the great hall, Draco Malfoy stared at Hermione Granger. He was head boy, she was head girl. He really didn't know what to think. It was both good and bad. He would see her frequently at meetings, which was bad because she was a mudblood. Now that would give Lucius Malfoy quite a shock. But, she made a better head girl than any other girl would. Good thing it wasn't Pansy Parkinson.

After Hermione's share of applause had died down, the Headmaster told the students to enjoy the feast. Shiny dishes full of delicious food appeared in front of their eyes. Roast beef, angel hair pasta, baked potatoes, chocolate mousse, and apple pie were only a glimpse of what adorned the tables. And what would the annual start-of-term feast be without endless amounts of pumpkin juice?

"Well, it's our seventh and last year here at Hogwarts. What do you suppose you will do after we graduate? I'll bet you're going to be a librarian, Hermione. And Harry, I can just imagine you on your broomstick. Playing for the quidditch team of England! Best seeker ever on the team! World-famous as a matter of fact! Fans dying to meet you from all over the world! And I will tell my grandchildren that back in those good old days, I knew Harry Potter. He was one of my best friends. Ha! Malfoy will sure be jealous! He'd be pretty darn sorry of all that he's done," said Ron in a proud voice.

Harry responded, "Well, I hope so. I mean, me, the best seeker the English team has ever seen? I don't think that's too likely, Ron. Blimey, if I even get on the team, it's already more than I can wish for. But yes, definitely, I'd love to be a professional quidditch player. But if I change my mind, I would be an auror. Being an auror should be exciting. No books, no homework, no deskwork."

"As for me, I don't think I would want to be a librarian. True, I love books, but I'd rather be either a professor here at Hogwarts, or an auror. Say, Ron, what about you? If Harry and I do become aurors, it would be nice to have you there too," chirped in thoughtful Hermione.

"I've got it! I think I've got it! Hang on, I don't think I've got it, I'm sure I've got it!" shouted Ron. A few people at the Gryffindor table turned their heads to look at Ron, interested in what he was shouting about. Harry and Hermione rolled their eyes.

"Wow. That doesn't happen very often, does it? Speaking of often, I don't think I've ever heard you say that you're so sure you've "got it". Right, Herm?" commented Harry.

"I'm with you."

"NO! I mean we can all be aurors together! Then we'll never have to really say goodbye at the end of this year! Wouldn't it be just brilliant?" shouted Ron again.

Never really have to say goodbye...

~*~*~

When the feast was over, the prefects led everyone to their houses. The first years got settled into their dormitories. In the Gryffindor common room, Harry Potter sat in a large, fluffy armchair thinking about a particular girl. The girl had sent him a picture of herself (which he held tightly in his hand) at the beach, tanned by the Hawaiian sun. Harry had never seen her that way before, and was quite shocked himself. The young lady sat in a beach chair with her newly straightened locks held up in a high ponytail. She wore a tankini with a flower design. And if any lad had to describe her using one word, that word would be hot. Hermione's picture filled his eyes, and strange thoughts danced into his mind.

Hermione. Hermione. Hermione. Hermione. I just can't get her out of my head! Maybe it's a crush. I'd like to think it's a crush. But what would Ron say? And what if she doesn't like me? What if it ruins our friendship? Lovely. I have a crush on my best girl friend, and she doesn't know. I don't think I want her to know either.

"Snap out of it! You've been acting strangely. Ever since I walked into the room I saw you staring at the fireplace. You didn't even notice me when I walked right up next to you! That's alright. You can tell your friend, Ronald Weasley all about what you're up to. Go on. I'm listening," Ron started. He sure gave Harry a fright.

"Oh! Hi Ron! Nothing. Nothing at all, really. I was just looking at the fire because I thought it, uh, looked really nice. I think it would make a very lovely painting. Just look at the color. Don't you think so too?" Harry answered nervously.

"And when did you start acting like that? I can't imagine you painting flames. Out of all people! Fine, maybe Fred and George are worse, but 'fess up. What's wrong? You looked like you just saw You-Know-Who murder Professor Dumbledore when I started talking. And what's that you've got in your hand? Let me see!!" said Ron.

"NOOOOO!"

Ron jumped at Harry, seizing the muggle picture from him. Harry immediately turned the color of a ripe tomato. Ron burst out laughing, turning the color of grapes.

"A picture of our Hermione? Blimey, mate! Earth to Harry Potter!" Harry just hunkered deeper in his chair. "You fancy Hermione?! You really do? Wow!" exclaimed Ron as vibrant as ever.

"Okay, so you know now. Just do me a favor. Don't let anyone know! If you spill the beans, I will perform the Avada Kedavra curse on you! Got it?" warned Harry.

Ron replied coolly, "Relax, my friend. I can help you. What are friends for? Your secret's safe with me. Remember, you can always count on Ronald Weasley to keep your secrets unknown to others." He gave a proud nod.

Harry wasn't so sure he was convinced by Ron's statement, however. Just then, Hermione appeared in front of the two boys.

"Ron! Harry! What are you two up to?"

"Uh, nothing, Herm. We were just discussing our classes," Ron lied unsuccessfully. The boys desperately tried to hide the picture and their red faces, but Hermione was smarter than that.

"Alright. Something is up. You're trying to hide something. Harry, hand it over," ordered Hermione. Harry gave up and sheepishly gave her the picture.

"Okay... is that the picture I sent you over the summer holidays?" Both boys nodded in unison. "I don't bite. Not even if you're trying to hide my photograph. What's so good about it anyway?" Hermione rolled her eyes.

By now, Ron was trying to hold in his giggles. Harry was trying to control the color of his face. "Go on Harry, tell her!" urged Ron. If it were possible, Harry sunk even deeper into his chair.

"Um, Hermione, I wanted to tell you... Never mind," stuttered Harry. Ron slapped his forehead in frustration. "Good Merlin, Harry! Say it! Herm, Harry wants you to know something." Hermione started getting impatient. She kind of had an idea of what Harry might say, but wasn't sure. After all, they were best friends. If he had any feelings for her, he'd tell her right away, right?

"Hermione, the deep down truth is, the truth is... I-"