Eye of the Storm

Chapter One – School Ties

The Sixth years all knew something exciting was happening when they were asked to stay behind after the Back to School Feast for a special announcement. The room was twittering with musings and whispers.

As Dumbledore rose from his seat, with the usual twinkle in his eye, the chatter dulled to silence. "The Wizarding World is at unrest, and although your Professors and myself have all tried to promote inter-house unity, it is obvious that our efforts have been fruitless so far. But this summer, we realized, how should we expect inter-house unity when we separate all of you? Your classes are divided through houses, your dining table is dictated by your house, your living quarter is a result of your house! This very situation means that your friends are determined by your house. As a result, we are seeking to change that. From now on, your living quarters will change, in conjunction with a new compulsory Life Skills course, which will count towards your NEWTs. Three students from two houses will be paired in groups of six to live in new dormitories. They will complete activities together as determined by the course, and we hope that this will help you foster new bonds when facing challenges together.

"Your housemates will be randomly determined by a sorting goblet. Professor McGonagall, if you will…"

Professor McGonagall brought out a large silver goblet, much larger than the one they had seen in their Fourth Year, and placed it on the Sorting Hat's stool. "We have already placed your names in the goblet. Listen carefully for your new housemates." She tapped the goblet with her wand, watching as it glowed purple before sitting down.

A loud booming voice, seemingly without a source, resonated around the room, "Group one: Brown, Lavender. Bulstrode, Millicent. Crabbe, Vincent. Longbottom, Neville. Nott, Theodore. Patil, Parvati."

Whispers broke out as this abstracted idea now became real. Nervous glances found their way across the hall.

Silence broke through once again as the goblet glowed once again. "Group two: Granger, Hermione. Malfoy, Draco. Parkinson, Pansy." Malfoy and Pansy smiled at each other, whilst Hermione hoped for two good people from her house to make up for the Slytherins. She crossed her fingers. "Potter, Harry. Weasley, Ron." Harry shot an excited grin at Ron and Hermione. "Zabini, Blaise." Blaise smiled slightly, although he appeared quite undisturbed.

Hermione's head began to run at a thousand miles an hour. She was ecstatic that she would be able to live with Harry and Ron, but Pansy, Malfoy and Zabini? With a sinking feeling she realized that she and Pansy were the only two girls, and therefore would have to share a girl's dormitory. All of Hermione's interactions with Pansy were that of Pansy insulting Hermione's looks or appearance. Malfoy would not make their time an easy one, and Zabini, well she didn't really have an opinion on Zabini. She had noticed him only a handful of times and had heard about him even less. The only gossip about him was how there was no gossip, although she distinctly remembered Parvati and Lavender spending a few nights saying how absolutely and completely he fit the tall, dark, mysterious and handsome mold. Hermione looked up at him and noticed him shooting Malfoy a casual smile. So, they were friends.

More names were called out, none with the good luck or bad luck of group two. After that, Professor McGonagall gave out maps and passwords to each new dormitory. She silenced Hermione's bombardment of questions with a, "More information will be available later, Miss Granger."

Zabini led the group to the portrait, as he was the only one that knew remotely where it was. He told the group how he had spent two hours of a Sunday afternoon arguing with the portrait when everyone was at Hogsmeade, and after he had finished serving detention. They stopped after a turn on the fifth floor, in front of a portrait with a fat man laying back in a recliner. He was eating plump, purple grapes. "Ohh!" he yelled out, "Fresh young faces! Password?"

"Chocolate fudge." Muttered Zabini.

The portrait swung open to reveal a common room strikingly similar to the ones that they had. There was a fireplace, large lounges in covert corners and portraits decorating the room.

Harry was the first to speak, "Look, um… everyone, if we're living here together for the next year or whatever, I think that we all need to co-operate." His gaze passed over Pansy and landed on Malfoy, "A lot of us haven't seen eye to eye in the past, so, for the benefit and sanity of all of us… truce?"

Malfoy cast a slow deliberate gaze around at his new housemates before speaking, "Maybe." He smirked, "We'll sleep on it." And with that, he and Zabini slipped away, up towards the stairs with the room labeled "Wizards".

Pansy stood for a moment, frowning slightly, "Well, this is awkward company, so I'm off to bed too. Granger – when you get settled in, make sure you and your furball of a cat don't shed your frizzy hair everywhere." With a flick of her dark hair, she turned away and sauntered up the stairs.

Hermione looked up to the room with the label, "Witches" and groaned quietly, "I can't believe I have to share a dorm with Pansy Parkinson – she's terrible!"

Harry shrugged, "At least us three are together."

Ron chuckled, "Yeah, can you believe that Neville has to share with Millicent Bulstrode and Crabbe?"

"Mmm, and Lavender and Parvati – always giggling." Hermione rolled her eyes. "I think it might be nice to be rid of them - even if it's Pansy."

"They're not that bad." commented Ron.

"Of course you don't think Lavender is that bad." Harry grinned and nudged Ron knowingly.

Hermione looked suspiciously at both of them, trying to mask the plethora of questions that ran through her mind. What does Harry mean? Does Ron like Lavender? Have Ron and Lavender done something? Is it just a joke? "Well, we should all probably go to bed. It's getting late."

Goodnights echoed around the room as the Gryffindors trudged up the stairs to accustom themselves to their new dormitories.

The next morning, Harry awoke from his shoulder being shaken furiously by Ron.

"What?" rasped Harry groggily.

Ron madly pointed to his throat and mouthed words.

"You're…thirsty?"

Ron shook his head, pointing more violently than before.

"Hungry?"

Ron gave a look of disbelief and continued gesticulating wildly, accidently banging into things as he did so.

Malfoy pulled open his bed curtains ostentatiously. "Oh for Merlin's sake, Weasley. I'm a light sleeper. With no voice you manage to cause a racket." His bed appeared undisturbed, and on his head, not a hair in disarray. Malfoy grabbed his wand from his drawers and aimed it at Ron, "Finite incantatem."

Ron squeaked slightly, "What the hell, Malfoy?". He paused at the sound of his own voice. "My voice's back! Wait, Malfoy, what did you do?"

"As I said, I'm a light sleeper. Your behemoth snoring was keeping me up, so I fixed the problem."

Ron's ears turned pink, "I don't snore Malfoy, maybe you need to get your ears checked! And you shouldn't be casting spells on people while they're sleeping!" Ron turned to Harry, "Harry, I don't snore do I?"

The door to the bathroom opened and a gust of steam rolled out. "I could hear you arguing from in there." commented Blaise, coming out with a towel draped lazily around his hips. "Draco – you're a sensitive sleeper, earplugs next time? Weasley – your snores are as loud as Snape's hair is greasy. I can sleep through almost anything and let me tell you, it was difficult getting to sleep last night."

Malfoy's laugh whipped around the room, "Not sure earplugs are going to drown that out, Blaise." Blaise smiled back as he began to put his uniform on.

Harry's bed was gently shaking with his silent laughter. "Harry? Are you laughing?" asked Ron in an outraged voice.

"No, um, I felt a cough rising, I was trying to suppress it. Er- I have to go shower now…"

"Blaise, let's get some breakfast." interjected Malfoy. Nodding, Blaise signaled to the door and both boys strutted out.

After the door closed behind them, Blaise patted Malfoy on the back, "Trust you to start a fight the second day of school."

"What do you expect? Weasel sleeps like a stupefied troll."

"Well, you've set a new record of fighting I think."

"It's a refreshing wakeup I must say."

Blaise's expression turned serious for a moment, "Everything's been quiet lately, too quiet. I felt nervous all over summer, everyone's constantly waiting for something to happen. I'm glad we're back."

Malfoy nodded, "I agree, this summer was strange. Especially with... you know... our family situation. Father's been agitated and Mother crying."

"My mother's been ready to leave at the drop of a hat, with any whispers of His return. This time no one will be able to be neutral."

"Yeah, we'll have to be careful. But don't you think it's interesting?"

"What?" frowned Malfoy.

"That we're in the same group or whatever as Potter and his little gang."

"Maybe, but maybe you think too much. In the meantime, Blaise, my man, let's have some fun."

"You see, last night, I figured out one benefit of living with Gryffindors."

"And what's that?"

"None of them have ever been the subject of our pranks."

Malfoy broke into a grin that reached his eyes, "New year, new subjects, new pranks."