"First years, follow me!" Hagrid's familiar voice shouted from outside the castle.

Everyone was getting ready to go to dinner and welcome all the students. The ghosts were also very excited and did not stay still.

"New Griffindos, open new Griffindors today!" Nearly Headless Nick screamed throughout the castle with eyes like bright stars and an enthusiasm that no one was going to take away from him for any reason in his infinite existence.

Hermione was finishing her hair. She was wearing her black robe with its red inner lining and a medal that identified her as the Keeper of the Perfects. Draco had been in his room for half an hour now and Hermione had not heard any sound. She decided that she would go in to see what was going on that he did not come out. She opened the door and saw Draco sitting at his desk writing. When he noticed that Hermione was watching him from the door he took what she was writing and hid it.

“What are you writing, Draco?”

“What? Umm… nothing.” He gave her a nervous smile as he used his wand to make the paper go into a suitcase.- “Do-do you need anything, Hermione?”

“I just came to tell you that we're going to have to go downstairs soon to go to dinner. I see that you're not dressed yet and all your books are lying around, have you been reading?”

“Yes, after potions class I don't want to do something wrong again, especially in front of the whole class.” He stood up from his chair and took his robes that were in a bag.- “I'm going to have to do a lot of cleaning when we get back.”

“I don't think so Draco, let me help you, you change.” He smiled at her and went into the bathroom to put on his black robe with an emerald green interior.

Hermione began to tidy up the place with her wand. She placed each book in its place and even put them from the largest to the smallest. As she continued to sort them out she saw a book that caught her eye. It was a muggle story, Anne of Green Gables written by L. M. Montgomery. But when she opened it she saw his name and his signature, why would Draco Malfoy have her book on his shelf? Had he at least read it or finished it to have it there? At that moment Draco came out of the bathroom dressed in his Caretaker's robes and his medal.

"Wow, thanks Hermione. It looks much neater now."

"It was a pleasure Malfoy but I have to ask, why do you have one of my books on your shelf?" She showed him the cover and then her name written by her on the inside.

"Well... the story caught my attention and well..."

Hermione laughed a little-"Have you finished it yet?"

"Yes, I could say." He gave her a nervous smile.

"What do you mean, 'I could say'? Did you read it or not?"

"Yes, but not once... once."

"So? Draco Malfoy, we don't have all day and I want to know what you were doing with one of my books." It was obvious that she was getting a little desperate.

"Well, well, calm down, I'm telling you. You see, I came into your room one day and saw your bag with books on the floor, by the way, how do you have time to read all that? But anyway, I picked them up and saw that one. The title interested me and I've read it like two or three... or five times." He looked a little nervous and a little embarrassed.

"Do you want me to lend it to you? I can tell you like it a lot." He nodded and then they went out to meet all the new students.

In the Great Hall, Headmistress McGonagall took the Sorting Hat and placed it on the same stool where everyone had once sat. Something strange came to Hermione's mind. She began to feel that she would have liked to enter Slytherin instead of Griffindor. Why would she think of not being in Griffindor, the place where her lifelong friends had been? She decided to put her thoughts aside and focused on the children who one by one were going to be named in their houses.

"Ravenclaw! Slytherin! Hufflepuff! Griffindor!" The hat shouted with each child who sat down. "Mmm, ambitious to be the best and brave to protect her friends... Slytherin!" The girl ran and when she saw Draco she threw herself at him to hug him. It was very noticeable that Draco was not expecting it and even less from a girl, after a moment he returned the hug.

"Lucky girl," Hermione muttered as she watched the girl being hugged. Why had she said that?

"What is it, Mione? Are you jealous?" Ginny asked immediately while smiling at her with some mischief. It was obvious that discretion was not in Ginny's vocabulary.

"Nothing... I didn't say anything... and I'm not jealous of the girl!" she said with some annoyance.

"I never mentioned who you were jealous of." Hermione replied but before Hermione could answer, McGonagall began to speak.

"Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts. I know it was a while before we could return because of the war but I am very happy to see so many new students and those I already knew around here. It is an honor to introduce you to the two heads of the perfect this year. If Mr. Malfoy and Miss Granger would please get up and come here."

Malfoy stood up and before going to the front he went to the Griffindor table and extended his hand to Hermione. She accepted his hand and together they went to where McGonagall was.

Ron saw Draco and was annoyed that he approached the table but when he offered his hand to Hermione and she accepted it was the straw that broke the inevitable jealousy of Ronald Billius Weasley. As soon as dinner and the ceremony ended, Ron went directly to Hermione who was with Draco outside the Great Hall and they were ready to go to their common room.