webnovel

Chapter 1: A New Face at Hogwarts

The Headmasters Office, Hogwarts Castle, Wizarding World...

The twinkling blue eyes of the aged Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore had met the dark obsidian orbs of the rather inquisitive young man sitting on the opposite end of his long oak wood desk. The young man had been 17 years of age with unkempt raven hair and inquisitive features. He had been tall, and lean, with a fair complexion and a less than savory hooked nose. The young man fiddled with his Hogwarts robes and black tie as if being within the confines of such an official place had unnerved him in some way. The elder wizard smiled warmly at the younger one and popped a piece of Muggle candy into his mouth. The nervous appearance of this new student had been one that he has not seen in quite some time. The old man thought it best to put the young man's obviously anxious mind at ease as he reached for a bowl of lemon drops that had been sitting on his desk.

"There is no cause to be nervous, Mr. Prince." said The Headmaster in a strangely pleasant father-like tone. "Would you like a lemon drop?"

Taking note of the strange candy within, the young man whom had been a ball of nerves known as Mr. Prince shook his head, not in the least in the mood for treats at this hour given how everything he had known was either clouded in a fog of confusion or smothered via his anxiety. Despite this, Mr. Prince had been very quietly studying the old man. While there appeared to be a harmless aura about him the twinkle in his blue eyes seemed to unnerve the young man all the more and suggest he be weary of the elder wizard.

Although he thought better of offending him.

"I'm not much of a candy eater." replied Mr. Prince with a slightly cracked baritone voice shaken via the mounting level of uncertainty that accompanied youth.

The Headmaster gave a small chuckle and retracted the bowl placing it back in its usual compartment in his desk.

"Very well." he replied amused. "Not many people are."

Mr. Prince eyed him intently.

Did he expect me not to take it? What a strange old man?

"Well Mr. Prince, welcome to Hogwarts." said The Headmaster. "I expect you to behave yourself in accordance with the rules...and know that you have been placed under my care for the time being."

"Why?" asked Mr. Prince suspiciously.

"It appears dear boy, that you have no legal guardianship and no further line in which to be attached." replied The Headmaster. "And given that I am the Headmaster, it is fitting that you are given into my care....as The Ministry Of Magic saw fit to make you my ward."

Mr. Prince listened intensively.

The words of The Headmaster seemed to make sense given the oddity of the situation, it stood to reason that he'd look after him, as he had the many students that had graced the hallowed halls of Hogwarts. Although, he still couldn't quite shake the feelings of suspicion that didn't seem to lessen in the wake of the old man's words.

"So what am I suppose to do?" asked the young raven haired wizard seemingly resigned to his new fate.

"You are to attend classes like any other student of course." replied The Headmaster with a pleasant smile. "You are a student of Hogwarts after all...oh...I almost forgot."

The elder wizard got to his feet and picked up what appeared to be a worn out brownish hat with it's own facial features.

"What is that?" asked Mr. Prince with his eyebrow arched and his arms folded across his ebony robe clad chest.

"This my boy, is a sorting hat." explained Dumbledore. "It helps me determine what group of students best suit you to be around as well as your skills and development in Hogwarts."

"Why?" asked Mr. Prince not at all convinced that a worn brown hat could be capable of anything worthy of his time.

"Let us just say, it is a Hogwarts school tradition." replied Dumbledore. "Everyone who has ever passed within these halls gets sorted via this hat...then placed into their respective houses."

With that he placed the hat firmly on the head of the new student.

Almost immediately, the old hat sprang to life shifting and making noises as if deep in thought.

"Familiar..." it said in a considering tone. "Very familiar..."

"This is a special case." said Dumbledore quietly. "The one we spoke of."

The hat seemed to understand. Mr. Prince had been even more suspicious of the hat being placed on his head but said nothing for concern that the hat might convey his thoughts about the strange encounter.

"Loads of potential...resourceful...cunning..." said the hat. "Oh...yes...Slytherin is the obvious choice...a Slytherin through and through."

The Headmaster let out a small chuckle at that.

"Very well." he said taking the hat from the boy's head. "Slytherin, is the house for you."

"Slytherin?" said Mr. Prince not at all having a problem with the name of his apparent Hogwarts House.

"Indeed." replied The Headmaster, the strange twinkling behind his blue eyes once again returned.

The young wizard's clothes changed before his own inquisitive eyes, as his plain black robes donned the Slytherin green and silver tie along with the house mark.

Mr. Prince was handed his wand, a black and rather plain looking thing that seemed to suite him just fine as he examined it. It was a powerful thing but nothing he dwelled on too long as more pressing matters garnered his attention in addition to his natural suspicion of everything around him.

"You may make your way to the grounds Mr. Prince, be mindful of the rules, and most of all have fun." said The Headmaster. "Should you find yourself in need of assistance, I shall send your Head Boy; Draco Malfoy to you."

"Draco Malfoy?" asked Mr. Prince with an arched eyebrow.

"Mr. Malfoy is the Head Boy, a Slytherin like yourself." continued The Headmaster "Head Girl, is none other than Miss Hermione Granger, but she is a Gryffindor; although you may know of her eventually as she is often referred to as the brightest witch of her age."

"Gryffindor is the rival house I take it?" replied Mr. Prince in a surprisingly indifferent tone.

The Headmaster couldn't help but smile at him.

"Yes, there is something of a rivalry between houses." he replied honestly. "I'm afraid our respective Heads of House find themselves encouraging it."

"And who is my...Head of House?" asked Mr. Prince with an arched eyebrow once more.

"Why Professor Severus Snape, of course." replied The Headmaster. "Only he is currently on sabbatical and Professor Horace Slughorn has graciously filled in for him."

"How long until he returns?" asked Mr. Prince wondering what the difference had been between the two Slytherin Professors.

"Well that depends." replied The Headmaster with that eerie twinkle in his eye.

"On what?" asked Mr. Prince with an arched brow.

"On him of course." replied The Headmaster. "Off you go my boy...remember Draco Malfoy will be along to help if needed."

Mr. Prince made his exit from The Headmaster's office and out toward the grounds.

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The Grounds, Hogwarts Castle, Wizarding World...

Upon reaching what appeared to have been the school grounds, Sebastian had decided to do a bit of sight seeing. The place had been quite impressive if he were honest although he had very little if nothing at all to compare it to. Everything appeared to be kept in relatively good shape and the seemed to be well looked after, As the young raven haired Slytherin walked about, further enjoying the various sights of the school, something collided quite hard with his chest causing him to become knocked to the ground and a bit winded for his troubles.

"What the...?" he started scrambling to his feet, his face flush with embarrassment for having gone down so easily.

He had been rather speechless as he looked into the amber eyes of a sandy brown, bushy haired young witch. She appeared to have been carrying a good deal of books in her arms when the unwarranted collision took place and they had been thrown about as she had been with a few parchments scattered about as well.

"I'm sorry." she said nervously. "I'm so sorr-..."

"Why don't you watch where you are going next time, you silly chit!?" replied Mr. Prince irate in the wake of his embarrassment. "You nearly trampled me!"

"I said I was sorry." replied the bushy haired Gryffindor witch. "You don't need to be so rude."

Mr. Prince got a good look at the average sized, bushy brown haired girl before him and noticed her wearing the symbol of her house on her robes.

"Gryffindor." he said with what appeared to be distaste.

"Yes, I am a Gryffindor." she said proudly, she had nothing to be ashamed of when it came to her Hogwarts House.

It wasn't long before she eyed the symbol on his robes.

"Slytherin." she said narrowing her eyes at the rather rude raven haired wizard before her. "Well, it figures they'd add one more git to the house of prats."

"Git?" he said getting to his feet.

"Yes...Git." replied the bushy haired Gryffindor witch in a tone of annoyance. "Another stupid Slytherin."

"Better to be a Slytherin than a boundless Gryffindor." snapped Mr. Prince suddenly filled with rage at her disrespect of his new Hogwarts house.

Draco Malfoy had seen the altercation and made his way over to them.

"Alright settle down Granger, it looks like you're going to blow a gasket." he said coolly.

"Back off...Ferret." replied the viciously angry Hermione Granger as she balled her fists. She had tangled with Draco a time or two prior to the war and would not hesitate to give him another blow to the chops if need be.

"Oh no need to stop being a lady Granger, if you ever were one to begin with." he said observing the new Slytherin. "I see you've met the new boy, Prince...was it?"

"Prince." said Granger with a sneer as she looked over the rude Slytherin once more. "He looks more like a frog to me...maybe an unruly toad...but certainly not a Prince of any kind."

"And what part of the jungle kingdom do you hail from?" retorted Mr. Prince in a sneer. "With a mane like yours...I doubt you needed the sorting hat to place you in Gryffindor."

Draco bit back a chuckle.

I think I'm going to like this bloke.

He couldn't get over how this new Slytherin reminded him so much of their currently missing in action, Head of House. His eyes went back and forth between Mr. Prince and the irate Hermione Granger in awe. It was the first time someone could ruffle her feathers and never back down. He had tried himself and caught a right hook to the face, but Prince didn't seem to care about her reputation or her well documented fierce manner.

"Says the prat with a beak for a nose." replied Hermione "Tell me, do you ever get mistaken for being in Animagus form?"

Mr. Prince's eyes flashed rage and both he and Hermione seemed about ready to hex each other.

"Stupid Prat!" said Hermione clinching her fists.

"Brainless Chit!" replied Mr. Prince clinching his own.

Both has their hands wrapped tightly around their wands. Draco had enjoyed their little stand-off, but had pressing business. Mr. Prince needed to be situated into Slytherin and he was sure Hermione had some rounds to attend to. If only duty did not take presidency over his entertainment.

He could have watched them for hours with popcorn.

"Alright." he said trying to remain neutral. "I think it's time we got on with the tour of the castle."

He lead the irate Mr. Prince away from the highly upset Gryffindor Head Girl and across the grounds. When they were a reasonably safe distance, Draco turned to get a look at the new addition to the Snake family.

"Wow!" said he still very much astonished by Mr. Prince's handling of the Gryffindor Head Girl. "What I wouldn't give to be you right now."

"Whatever for?" asked Mr. Prince with an arched brow. He had not seen what he had done to be as amazing as this Draco had made it out to be, he had simply wished to go about his day as he had before the brainless girl had run into him.

"Well that girl back there was Hermione Granger, best friend of "The Chosen One-Boy-Who-Lived- Harry Potter", a member of The Golden Trio that helped take out the dark lord." explained Draco fascinated by his new housemate. "You just insulted Hogwarts royalty."

"So?" replied Mr. Prince not at all impressed. "She should have been looking where she was going."

Draco chuckled.

"I couldn't agree more." he replied. "Name's Malfoy by the way, Draco Malfoy."

The Head Boy extended his hand. So this was the infamous Draco Malfoy that he had heard so much about, even so...he'd been slightly impressed. The air of charm and sophistication had been a welcome change from the other less adjusted students he'd seen along the corridors, the Granger girl not withstanding.

Mr. Prince took in the sight of the sleek blond young man with twinkling grey eyes. He seemed genuinely delighted by what transpired between him and the Granger girl. More importantly he was wearing the same Slytherin green and silver colors. In that moment he decided Draco would make a good ally especially since Granger was backed by Gryffindors and most likely the entire school and he had made an enemy of her and knew for some reason that it would only lead to a measure of chaos as far as her Hogwarts House had been concerned.

The enemy of my enemy.

"Sebastian." replied the newest Slytherin shaking the sleek Junior Malfoy's hand. "Sebastian S. Prince."

Both Sebastian Prince and Draco Malfoy exchanged a quick smile.

"I knew I was going to like you, Prince." said Draco approvingly. "You are most definitely Slytherin."

"Likewise Malfoy." replied Sebastian with a delighted flicker behind his dark eyes. "Likewise."

Both boys continued their walk as Draco gave him a very Slytherin tour of Hogwarts castle.

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Head Girl Room, Gryffindor Tower, Hogwarts Castle, Wizarding World...

Hermione Granger had been in a foul mood ever since she met the new Slytherin on the grounds. She had half a mind to find him and hex him for his rude and obnoxious behavior. Things had finally quieted down in Hogwarts after the war with Voldemort and regular studying returned. Not even the hero ceremonies with Lucius Malfoy had been a jarring affair. Professor Snape had taken a sabbatical and life seemed to find a way to go on once all of the smoke and dust cleared. Nothing really seemed to get to Hermione Granger much at all since the war, at least until today.

"Stupid Slytherin Git!" shouted Hermione enraged as she made her way to her bed.

"Problems with Draco again?" asked the calm voice of Ginerva Weasley.

"No." replied Hermione outraged that Ginny believed she was even giving Draco Malfoy a passing thought. "Much worse."

"It can't be Professor Snape he's on sabbatical." replied Ginny making a guess as to which Slytherin earned her friend's ire this go round.

"It's not HIM either." replied Hermione in a huff.

"Then who's the newest "Slytherin Git"?" asked Ginny jokingly.

"The new boy." replied Hermione with disgust. "His last name's Prince or something."

"There's a new boy here at Hogwarts." said Ginny with a smile. "Is he cute?"

"No." replied Hermione as if offended by her question. "Far from it."

"Far from it because you suddenly hate him, or far from it because he's far from it?" asked Ginny with a smirk.

"Both." replied Hermione. "Stupid Slytherin Git!"

"I think we've covered that." replied Ginny with a giggle. "Why do you hate him?"

Hermione sighed and ran down the whole story of how she had accidentally run into the young man and his absolutely outrageous reaction.

"You should be use to it as many times as you and Harry irked Professor Snape." said Ginny grinning.

"Well, I can't very well punch a teacher in the nose." replied Hermione. "But a slimy Slytherin Git student...on the other hand."

"Hermione." said Ginny in a stern warning tone.

"What?" asked Hermione innocently.

"Just because you punched Draco doesn't mean you can take on all of Slytherin." replied Ginny.

"I'm not taking on all of Slytherin." replied Hermione matter-of-factly. "Just a..."

"Stupid Slytherin Git?" supplied Ginny knowing where she was going with it.

"Exactly." replied Hermione with her eyes ablaze. "After all, he does need to learn some manners."

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Head Boy Room, Slytherin Dungeons, Hogwarts Castle, Wizarding World...

Head Boy Draco Malfoy showed his charge Sebastian to the Slytherin common room at last. He made the necessary introductions. Then the young wizards ventured into their shared room and the Junior Malfoy sat on the black leather sofa that added to the room decor. Sliver and Green donned the room of course as well as silver serpent statues.

Sebastian looked around with a smirk on his face.

This place feels familiar...like home...

"Any plans for the evening?" asked Draco grabbing a rather impressive looking green apple from amid the equally green grapes within the fruit dish on the dark brown coffee table and taking a bite.

It seemed even the fruit here in this place had been green.

"I think I'll visit the library." replied Sebastian thoughtfully. "I've been of a mind to acquire a bit of reading material as of late."

"Very well." replied Draco. "But if you're in need of some right good fun you know where to find me."

"I'll keep that in mind." said Sebastian in an unenthusiastic tone.

With that the newest Slytherin ventured over to the black four poster bed that he had claimed for himself. It had been closer to the walls of the castle and away from the rather large window. Not too open and semi dark. A safe place indeed.

"Don't venture too long mate, we've got Transfigurations class in the morning." said Draco with a grin.

"Transfigurations class?" asked Sebastian with an arched eyebrow.

"Yep." replied Draco. "It's taught by Professor McGonagall, Head of Gryffindor, and well known champion of Granger and the rest of the Golden Trio."

Sebastian scoffed.

He had not been afraid of Gryffindors and could careless whom their so called "Champion" had been.

"I do not fear this McGonagall, nor her trio of Golden Gryffindors." he replied unimpressed.

Draco smiled brightly.

"I knew I liked you." he said with his voice dripping with admiration. "You're going to be a fine addition to Slytherin...I'll bet that even Snape would love you."

Sebastian simply smirked at the ridiculous thought.

"Whatever you say Malfoy." he replied turning his attention to the door.

With that Sebastian took his leave of the young Malfoy and ventured off toward the library.

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The Library, Hogwarts Castle, Wizarding World...

Hermione Granger had not been in the best of moods as she rounded the corner from the Gryffindor tower toward the library. She sighed thinking of what it would feel like to reach her safe-haven. No noise. No Harry. No Ron. No war. No Malfoy. No stupid Slytherin Gits... She thought. All seemed right with the world as the familiar scent of old books and wood filled her nostrils. A calm washed over her that seemed to snuff out her anger. The young witch made her way passed the front desk giving librarian Madam Pince a nod of hello and ventured back toward the books. She could get lost within the pages of great works and mysteries for hours.

She roamed the rows of books and seemingly lost her self in the sea of books at the far end of the library. It had been pleasing to get lost in knowledge. One of her few favorite pass times.

"What to read?" she thought to herself.

Sebastian Prince had been asking himself that same question as his eyes ran over the numerous books in his view. The mesmerized effect the prospect of knowledge had on the two young students had evidently blinded them from their surroundings. A particular book with worn red binding caught the eye of Hermione Granger. She attempted to reach of it with a form of wand-less magic but it seemed quite stubborn. She pulled it in her direction and it seemed to pull away from her.

What is going on? she asked herself. I have done this a thousand times and this has never happened before...

She continued to follow the stubborn book as it refused to come to her.

"Darn it." she said annoyed.

Why won't it come?

The stubborn book kept pulling away as Hermione did her best to chase it. As she followed the worn red book she had not seen where she was headed and found herself running right smack into the warm torso of another student.

"Why don't you look where you are going?" said a familiar baritone voice in an all too familiar irate manner.

She looked up to find herself staring once more into the obsidian eyes of Sebastian Prince.

"YOU!" she nearly shouted, but caught herself realizing where she had been.

"Granger." said Sebastian with an almost bored, but low tone.

"What are YOU doing here frog?" she whispered bitterly.

At this the young Slytherin arched an eyebrow and scowled in an oddly familiar fashion.

"Last I checked, the library was open to all students of Hogwarts." he replied low, not at all hiding his anger.

"As if a frog needed to read." replied Hermione bitterly.

"Get over yourself Granger." he replied still bored with her antics. She hadn't made much of an impression upon him in the least since their last encounter it seemed. "These books belong to everyone"

Hermione had been about to retort when she noticed the book in his hands with the worn red binding. The realization that he had her book had driven her to her feet. Fury burned within her chest and her sight had become as red as the binding of the book he held.

"That's my book." she said in an enraged low whisper.

"Really?" asked Sebastian cracking open the worn red cover and skimming through the pages. "I don't see your name on it."

"I was following that book when I ran into you." replied Hermione annoyed.

"I believe, I had called this book to me." replied Sebastian in a bored tone.

"Listen Frog, I was going to read that book first." said Hermione. "I've been waiting weeks to get my hands on it."

"I've had enough of your insults mangy Gryffindor." replied Sebastian irate. "Your supposed weeks worth of waiting is irrelevant, I had this book first and I am going to read it."

"Like hell you will." replied Hermione annoyed beyond belief.

She tried to use her wand-less magic to take the book out of his hands but he held on to it tightly.

"Let go." said Hermione annoyed.

"And if I don't?" replied Sebastian leaning down and glaring into her eyes.

Enraged at his gall Hermione reached back and punched Sebastian Prince right in the nose.

"Ahhh!" shouted Sebastian dropping the book and covering his nose. "BLOODY HELL!"

He moved to use his wand to hex Hermione when suddenly Madam Pince appeared.

"Is everything alright, Hermione?" she asked, her favoritism for the Gryffindor witch evident.

"Just fine Madam Pince." replied Hermione turning on the charm. "Our new student has had an unfortunate accident with an old book."

"Well in the future do be careful." replied Madam Pince eyeing Sebastian rather suspiciously as she turned to walk away she added: "And keep it down."

The young wizard glared at Hermione still nursing his aching nose.

"This isn't over Granger." he warned still enraged.

"Where have I heard that before." she replied unimpressed.

"If you are referring to Mr. Malfoy." said Sebastian with a familiar dark expression that sent chills down her spine. "I assure you that I am not him."

With that Sebastian left the library with his robes billowing angrily behind him.

Hermione shrugged and picked up the book triumphantly.

He won't do anything to me. She thought. Would he?

The young Gryffindor witch had barely exited the library when all of the sudden she was hit with a rather dizzying hex. She had not gotten a look at her attacker but when she came to her senses she made her way to The Great Hall as quickly as possible. Unbeknownst to her, a figure loomed in the shadows of the castle corridor with a wicked smirk filed across his sallow pale face.

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The Great Hall, Hogwarts Castle, Wizarding World...

All eyes fell on Hermione Granger as she entered the great hall. Snickers could be heard from both the Slytherin and Gryffindor tables. She saw Draco Malfoy with his mouth wide open in a lengthy chuckle gesturing to Crabbe and Goyle as she continued to make her way toward her table. Sebastian Prince glared at her with enraged obsidian eyes and a small callous smirk. As Hermione neared her seat she was treated to collective shock induced gasps by Seamus, Dean, Ginny, and Ron Weasley.

"Mione!?." said Harry Potter in shock like the rest of her fellow Gryffindors. "Look at your hair!"

"What's happened to it?" she asked almost afraid to know the answer.

The dark haired boy with green eyes looked down at his hands. His cheeks flushed red as he tried hard not to laugh at his friend. He looked back up at her and she saw his glasses turn black.

"Harry?" asked Hermione concerned now.

She studied his face and newly darkened glasses catching a good look at the bushy mane surrounding her head. She let out an embarrassed scream and Draco nearly fell out of his seat from laughter. The Headmaster had to bite back a chuckle as he watched the young witch turn red from embarrassment but she took her seat anyway. Never taking her eyes off the Slytherin table. Harry tried to follow her gaze and see just who she had been glaring at.

"Stupid Slytherin Git." muttered Hermione picking up her fork with malice.

Ginny burst out laughing knowing all too well who had played this trick on her.

"Do you think it was Draco?" asked Harry glaring at the blond Slytherin boy.

Gray eyes meeting green.

"I'll just bet it was that slimy ferret." added Ron still shocked at her appearance but trying to come to her rescue. "I'll hex him into next week."

"It wasn't him, Ron." said Hermione with a sigh. It was a frog not a ferret.

"If it wasn't Draco Malfoy, then who was it?" asked Harry glaring at the Slytherin table as well.

"I can take care of it myself." replied Hermione. "But I appreciate your concern."

"Well, whoever it was definitely came from the Slytherin table." said Ron in a suspicious tone.

He looked over at the faces starting back at him in a sea of smiles and smirks. One such smirk caught his eye. A strange new student sitting next to Draco Malfoy. It had almost seemed as if they had been quite chummy.

"Hey, who's the new snake? Ron asked almost bitterly.

"New snake?" asked Harry catching a glimpse of the new boy as well. "Who is that guy?"

"More like a frog." muttered Hermione bitterly.

Ginny laughed again.

"If he's friends with Malfoy...then he must be a prat too." reasoned Ron.

All eyes fell on Dumbledore as he rose to the podium and announced that Hogwarts had a new student. A transfer from Drumstrang Institute by the name of Sebastian Prince, who had been subsequently placed in Slytherin house.

"Definitely a prat." concluded Ron as he eyed the new Slytherin.

Harry's green eyes fell on Sebastian Prince. There as something about him. Something oddly familiar to The-Boy-Who-Lived. He had not been so sure the young man was anything like Draco Malfoy. Hermione continued to glare at Sebastian Prince. She had known that he had somehow been responsible for the mishap with her hair.

She just never saw it coming.

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Slytherin Table...

"Granger sure has it in for you, Prince." said Draco trying to recover from his laughter. "That bit of magic on that lion's mane of hers was simply brilliant."

Sebastian smirked not taking his eyes off Hermione Granger for even a moment as he continued to eat his meal.

"I try." he replied in a bored tone.

"I knew I liked you." said Draco near tears. "Professor Snape would have been ecstatic if he knew a bloke like you was in our house."

"Somehow, I doubt that." replied Sebastian.

"Are you kidding?" asked Draco. "Professor Snape always thought Granger was an insufferable know-it-all...chit...to see her taken down a peg...man if he were here you'd probably earn us house points for that little stunt."

The junior Malfoy could barely contain his admiration.

Sebastian thought nothing of it, but remained in a deadlocked staring contest with the infamous Miss Granger.

"THIS IS NOT OVER." she mouthed from across the room.

Sebastian merely smirked and returned to the remainder of his meal.

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The Staff's Table...

"I should say our Mr. Prince seems to be getting along quite well." said The Headmaster as his blue eyes scanned the hall and fell on young Sebastian. "Although, it seems he and Miss Granger appear to have gotten off on the wrong foot."

"How could you possibly know that Albus?" asked Professor McGonagall.

The Headmaster chuckled some.

"I suppose I'm the only one that noticed her little entrance into The Great Hall." he said with a smile.

"Not even a full day and he's already making trouble." replied Professor McGonagall bitterly.

She had always favored Hermione Granger among all others of her house and did not take kindly to attacks albeit harmless against her. Always the mother Hen, she fixed an unwavering glare on the young Mr. Sebastian Prince. He would be in her class come morning and if he thought these antics of his were going to fly he was in for a rude awakening.

"Are you really quiet surprised?" asked Dumbledore with a chuckle. "Two of the most head strong people of their respective houses were bound to have an altercation...Minerva you are taking this far too personally."

"And YOU seem to be getting enjoyment out of Miss Granger's pain." replied Professor McGonagall still very much upset.

Seeing this Dumbledore tried to smooth things over.

"Perhaps, they'll work things out before morning." said The Headmaster with a warm smile.

"And the dementors will become cheerful." replied Professor McGonagall fixing her glare back on Sebastian. "He's nothing but trouble I say."

Dumbledore couldn't contain his smile as his twinkling blue eyes shifted toward Sebastian Prince as well.

"As if there was ever any doubt." he said fondly recalling the antics of a certain Potions Professor in his youth not too long ago.

Professor McGonagall shifted her glare to him briefly and then back to the raven haired wizard. She could see the malice behind is obsidian eyes as he glared at Miss Granger while finishing his meal with the other Slytherins.

Nothing but trouble.

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Head Girl Room, Gryffindor Tower, Hogwarts Castle, Wizarding World...

Rage seemed to pour off Hermione in waves as she reached her bedroom and slammed the door violently behind her. Of all the low down dirty shameless tactics...that sneaky Slytherin was in for it if he though he was getting the last laugh. She shuffled over to her bed exhausted from her rounds. Ginny had been doing some last minute studying in the common room with Harry and Ron so she had the place to herself.

"Just wait." said Hermione looking at her fizzy lion's mane in the mirror. "That frog is going to pay."

After casting the counter jinx Hermione changed into her pajamas and climbed into bed. Transfiguration class was tomorrow so she needed to get a good night's rest. She pulled the covers over her and lied silently in the dark bedroom. She closed her eyes and the image of a certain Slytherin prat entered her mind.

"Slimy Slytherin Git." she said in a mummer and subsequently fell asleep thinking of all the wondrous ways to get back at him.

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Head Boy Room, Slytherin Dungeons, Hogwarts Castle, Wizarding World...

Sebastian Prince finally had some peace after Draco Malfoy went off to do his rounds. The still quiet of the room had been comforting for the young wizard as he lied on his bed hoping to drift off to sleep. Hermione Granger had been quiet an interesting witch. Quite interesting indeed. As his eyes closed thoughts of the explosive sandy brown haired witch seemed to ingrain themselves into his mind. With Transfigurations class the first on the list in the morning, he had wondered just how much of the young witch's reputation had been true.

He had read as much as he could get his hands on about her and her all those that helped defeat the insufferable despot Voldemort. She had remained quite impressive even when she took it upon herself to physically assault him. Various articles, as well as the Headmaster Dumbledore had referred to her as "the brightest witch of her age." Tomorrow he planned to put that statement to the test.

In the dark a smile filed across the young raven haired wizard's face.

"Hermione." he said before drifting off to sleep. "Hermione Granger."

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