Don't Act Like You Know Me

Year 1 - A Stupid Malfoy

Suddenly, food magically appeared on all of the tables. Hermione watched Draco as he raised his eyebrows and started taking food. Is it bad that she wished she was a Slytherin right about now? 

"Wow," Harry said with wide eyes. Hermione liked Harry, but she did not like Ron. He was rude, pig-faced, and said bad things about Hermione. Oh yeah? Ron doesn't like Hermione? Well, Hermione doesn't like Ron. In fact, she would no longer use his nickname. From now on, she would only call him Ronald.

Hermione came out of her trance and started putting food on her plate. She took one bite and felt as if she was in heaven. She heard someone speaking. It was a boy, Seamus Finnigan, who had short brown hair and wide-set teeth with a big nose. "I'm half and half. Me dad's a Muggle. Mum's a witch. Bit of a nasty shock for him when he found out," Seamus said. Neville laughed. Hermione didn't know if she should tell people that she was muggle-born or not. Neville had a strange reaction when she told him. Instead, she just remained quiet and ate her food. Ronald, who was stuffing his face full of food, went to reach for another chicken wing when a ghost's head popped through the platter. It was Nearly Headless Nick. Hermione had read about him in Hogwarts: A History.

"Ahh!" Ronald let out a burst of fear.

"Hello! How are you? Welcome to Gryffindor!" the ghost chimed. At that time, a herd of ghosts came flying through the walls.

"Hello, Sir Nicholas. Have a nice summer?" Percy Weasley asked.

"Dismal. Once again, my request to join The Headless Hunt has been denied," Nearly Headless Nick rolled his eyes.

"Hey, I know you! You're Nearly Headless Nick!" Ronald said. 

"I prefer Sir Nicholas if you don't mind," Sir Nicholas said.

"Nearly headless? How can you be nearly headless?" Hermione chimed in.

"Like this!" Sir Nicholas grabbed his head and pulled it to the side. It was just barely hanging on by a tiny piece of string that used to be his skin. Hermione scrunched her nose in disgust.

"Ahh!" Ronald exclaimed. 

After the feast was finished, Percy led the Gryffindor house to the Gryffindor common room. The dormitory was guarded by a portrait of a fat lady in a pale pink dress. Inside, everything was maroon and gold. There was a big fireplace surrounded by couches. Upstairs, Hermione looked around her dormitory. She shared it with some of the other first-year Gryffindor girls. She didn't know their names yet, but she would figure them out. She soon tucked herself into bed and fell asleep because she was terribly tired from the train ride and all the food she ate. 

The next morning, Hermione was so excited to get up and go to all her classes. She brushed out her rat's nest hair and got on her robes. It was a nice Monday morning. Hermione's first class was Potions with Professor Snape. She wondered if Draco was going to be in her class. She made the long walk down to the dungeons. Hermione walked into the classroom and it was wonderfully organized. There were huge shelves with potions and ingredients all over the walls. Where the professor's platform was, there was a magnificent candelabra with warmly lit candles and enormous bookshelves.

Hermione took a seat at the second desk from the front next to Harry. Hermione looked around and saw Draco. She immediately blushed and smiled at him. He looked at her but didn't smile back. She turned around in shame. Had the Slytherin shunning already began between them? She didn't want to believe so. Professor Snape, the potions master, stepped in front of the class.

"There will be no foolish wand-waving or silly incantations in this class. As such, I don't expect many of you to enjoy the subtle science and exact art that is potion-making. However, for those select few..." Snape looked over at Draco. Hermione looked but didn't turn her head out of embarrassment. Draco smiled back at Snape. So Draco would smile at Snape, but not at her, his friend? Or at least she thought she was his friend. "...Who possess the predisposition. I can teach you how to bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses. I can tell you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even put a stopper in death." Draco raised an eyebrow. Snape looked over next to Hermione, at Harry, who was writing what Professor Snape was saying down. "Then again, maybe some of you have come to Hogwarts in possession of abilities so formidable that you feel confident enough to not... pay... attention." Hermione jabbed her elbow into Harry's ribs. Harry looked up. "Mr. Potter. Our new celebrity. Tell me, what would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?" Hermione raised her hand instantly. Harry shrugged. "You don't know?" Harry shook his head. "Well, let's try again. Where, Mr. Potter, would you look if I asked you to find me a bezoar?" Hermione raised her hand again.