4Chapter Two...An unexpected encounter.
Ginny and Hermione walked towards the open door of the building which held the temporary magical school they would be attending. From the outside the big blue corrigated metal door to what had been the warehouse loading bay looked perfectly normal as neither of the two girls had used any of the advanced magic they both knew to try and see through the external illusions. However, as they crossed the threshold they found themselves entering a very different interior to that which the external appearance of the building would suggest, one that was a reasonable, if slightly scaled down facsimile of the Hogwarts' Entrance Hall, through which many other arrivals were streaming.
There were older pupils, many of whom they knew, and several Seniors who, like them, were returning to repeat their Seventh Year, but they also saw many younger children, some belonging to this years new student intake, all appearing in green flashes of fire from a multiple bank of Floos in the Entrance Hall, much like the ones Hermione had seen in the Ministry's Atrium. These 'Firsties' were being met and marshalled into a separate group by unfamiliar adults who were evidently new staff members, although the process of organising all the arrivals was being supervised overall by the familiar diminutive figure of Professor Flitwick.
His surprisingly loud voice, considering his stature, cut through the hubbub of the excited young children's chatter without need for spell assistance and he called out; "First Years this way please, stay together and we'll get you all Sorted into your houses as soon as the main body of the school's pupils are assembled in the new School Hall. Other pupils please make your way through the large wooden door on the right side of the Hallway, go into the Hall and take your seats at your House tables as usual. But Seniors please be aware that the Headmistress will be giving you special instructions once you're inside. Once all the older students are are seated along with the rest we will begin the Sorting Ceremony, as is customary.
The two girls smiled at their old Charms Professor and said a happy hello to him as they passed by, on the way into the Hall as he'd asked. The Professor smiled back happily at them, saying "Nice to see you again girls, almost like old times back at Hogwarts isn't it?"
Hermione and Ginny made there way into the new School Hall, as instructed and looking around them at their surroundings they were surprised. They'd expected it to be another 'copy', one of the Great Hall in their old school, but instead found it to be far more light and airy, much less 'Gothic' with high arched windows letting in floods of light and with elegant decoration in pastel shades, with highlights of gold leaf applied to the mouldings on the walls. The ceiling above however was more familiar, having been enchanted to resemble the sky outside, just as it was in Hogwarts, It currently being of an azure blue autumn shade, with small and white fluffy clouds flitting across it on a breeze.
Hermione turned to Ginny before they they tried to take up their familiar seats in this unfamiliar place and said. "I know what this place is meant to resemble, This is a copy of the Grande Halle at Beauxbatons Academy! I've read a French book about the history of the school that Fleur kindly lent to me, as I'm learning the language a bit better with her help. The book was called Beauxbatons, Tradition and Excellence and I remember this place from a photograph inside. Isn't it lovely Ginny? The French certainly know how to do stylish and elegant décor, it certainly makes a change from the constant Medieval theme of Hogwarts doesn't it?" She beamed at her friend, happy as usual to have a chance to show off her extensive knowledge of 'almost everything'.
Ginny agreed with Hermione's assessment of their new and surprising surroundings, also approving of it's stylish subtly toned down "Versailles like" ambience, with it's pastel shades, huge mirrors on the walls and gold highlights of luxury and replied; "You're right there Hermione, this place is lovely, so much more comfortable and spacious feeling than The Great Hall at Hogwarts, even if, at a guess I'd say it's actually a little smaller in reality, with the ceiling a little lower too. It must be all the light flooding in and all the big wall mirrors that makes it look so large. French interior designers are so clever, be they Magical or Muggle."
They were both about to take their accustomed seats at the table over which a familiar red and gold Gryffindor banner hung when the new Headmistress, Minerva McGonagall, who was seated at a high table set on a raised stage at one end of the Grande Halle, not unlike the teachers table at Hogwarts stood up, and using a mild Sonorous Spell to get her words heard she began addressing the two girls and other older pupils arriving saying; "Welcome everyone, I'm sorry if this first day here is a little chaotic, not everything is yet fully set up and we're all a little befuddled by the new arrangements and perhaps a bit overawed by our stunning new surroundings. But would the Senior Students who are repeating their Seventh Year and those who are commencing theirs for the first time kindly proceed down here to the long 'cross table' at the front of the Grande Halle, as they will be spending this year in a unified group, not split up into houses as normal, unlike the other year's pupils, for whom arrangements will be 'as normal'."
Hermione and Ginny were a little surprised by this arrangement, but made their way to the long table at the front as asked, which ran across the front of the Grande Halle from one side to the other, much like that for the staff but at floor level and set on the flagstones, just like the other 'normal' House tables. As they looked to find a place to sit at the cross-table they saw many familiar faces coming to join them, including all their fellow pupils who'd been Seventh Years at Hogwarts at the time of the Battle, no matter what their House. As well as that there were other 'new' Seventh Year pupils, those whom Ginny was more familiar with, having been in the year following Hermione. It seemed they would all be 'mucking in' together this year. The two friends sat opposite each other, roughly in the middle of the large table, with Ginny facing away from the Staff table's 'dais' and facing back into the body of the Grande Halle. Hermione however was facing the High Table and thus was looking towards the staff table in front of and slightly above her. They were so engrossed in greeting some of their old school friends who were joining them at their table, that they didn't even notice a familiar blonde haired male figure, who had quietly slipped into a seat just a couple of places along from the two chattering and socialising girls.
He remained unnoticed until in a slight lull with a shock they recognised a voice they both knew well, as the boy leaned forward into view and said, "Hiya Weasel, Have a good summer did we Granger? Nice to see your smiling faces here."
The shocked pair both turned to see a grinning face they thought never to see again, that of their old enemy Draco Malfoy, smiling broadly at both girls and seemingly happy to see them!"
Ginny recovered from the shock of this unexpected encounter first and replied harshly, saying; "Bloody hell Malfoy! What the flaming hell are you doing here? You've got a bloody cheek showing your face again around us after all you did you sod!"
Despite her harsh words Draco continued to grin affably at Ginny and replied, "Now now, play nicely Weasel, after all it's all thanks to your friend Granger there that I'm not stuck in Azkaban like my dear Father. And by the way thank you again Granger, you, Harry and Luna 'saved my bacon' at my trial, testifying on my behalf like you did, so it's really thanks to you three I'm here and able to join you for our final year. I really mean it, Granger, thanks so much, and to prove the depth of my gratitude I'm gonna go as far as to start calling you, Hermione and even call the Weasel there Ginny if I may?
If anything Draco's grin broadened even more, and it was hard to doubt his genuine sincerity. The transformation in him over such a short time was astonishing, although beneath his surface sheen of happiness there was, one could sense, a layer of shame and sorrow still lurking in his eyes, covered by his somewhat desperate bravado.
Hermione sensed this and accepted his sincerity, having previously seen the genuine remorse he'd demonstrated at his trial and replied by saying; "Well I never thought I'd ever say this Draco, but you're welcome. Luna Harry and myself all had good reason to thank you for not identifying Harry to Bellatrix at your family mansion and in any case by then it was obvious that your 'heart wasn't in it'. You were never a Death Eater killer as Harry testified, no matter what your father Lucius tried to make you into. I saw how much you hated being forced to do what you did and how sorry you were about what happened to me at your Aunt's hands in whilst held captive your home. We also heard from Luna about how you and your Mother helped the prisoners in the cellar, by smuggling extra food and healing potions down to them when you could. They all testified that without the two of you helping them they'd never have survived their imprisonment and would have starved or succumbed to their injuries, so yes, let bygones be bygones as far as I'm concerned and yes, you may call me Hermione. I can't speak for Ginny though.
Draco replied with true gratitude in his voice saying, "Thank you so much Hermione, that's much more kindness than I deserve." Then turning to Ginny he said, "Wadya say Weasel? Want to 'bury the hatchet' and will you let me call you Ginny, after all the last thing I need is another year at risk from that bloody Bat Bogey Hex of yours! My poor nose has never really been right since Hermione quite rightly bopped me one and broke it way back in the old school, and it certainly wouldn't benefit at all from your bloody dangerous 'magical skills'."
He grinned a winning grin at Ginny, who sighed, then smiled and replied; "Well, at one time the only way I'd have been prepared to 'bury the hatchet', as you put it, would have been into your thick skull, but I guess that would be alright if Hermione is prepared to forgive you, she suffered far worse at your family's hands after all even if your slimy father did almost get me killed, so yep, put it there Draco, but mind carefully, the slightest sign of backing out of the deal and it's Bat Bogeys for you!"
And all three shook hands to mark the start of their new relationship, just as Headmistress McGonagall stood up again to call the school to order. All were now at their assigned tables and The Sorting Ceremony was about to begin.