A/N: Part 8!!! Auughhh...the rate I'm going this story is going to be drawn out to around 30 parts!!!! Oh well, well it will IF I get some reviews people!!! Now....DRACO!! Yes, he appears along with the hat...here we go people...MUCH Angst here.... be warned. Or and if this stops abruptly, sorry but I couldn't go on any longer since the next part will skip ahead two weeks till the night of Ron's detention.... READ!!!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Harry and Ron walked out of Transfiguration rather quickly that day. Professor Mcgonagall was particularly furious at Ron because he flatly refused to change his ladybug into a spider. He was preparing to walk out of the room, partly from fear but mostly anger at the Professor for embarrassing him in front of the class, when Hermione stepped up and volunteered to help him. "Well, Miss Granger.... since you are done," she had shot a glance at Ron, "fine then, but NO Socializing!" and she went back to grading her papers. Hermione banged her bag down on Ron's table and reached for wand, getting ready to say the spell. "Wait...don't." Ron said slightly panicked. "Ron, it's not going to hurt you." Hermione had said in a slightly annoyed, yet amused voice. "Ok...fine do the stupid spell then." Hermione performed it quickly, and seconds later the spider was sitting on the desk. Ron took a step backward (it looked more like a leap to Harry) and said shakily, "OK...ok, chan-change it back now." Hermione laughed, "Ron its not-" "Please! Please, Mione!" He said quickly using her nickname. Hermione did as he pleaded and Ron heaved a huge sigh of relief when the ladybug appeared again. He came back over to the table and began to pack up his bag, not looking at Hermione. Ears slightly pink he mumbled, "Thanks Hermione...you really saved me." Hermione smiled slightly at his bent head; "It was fine Ron really, no trouble at all. But don't worry, I'll think of a way for you to repay me." Ron looked up at her his eyes quizzical, but his usual grin in place, "K 'Mione...whatever you say." The bell rang and Harry and Ron left for lunch, leaving Hermione a little behind them. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ After lunch, as everyone clamored out into the Hall someone shouted, "Hey Potter!" Harry cringed...it was Draco Malfoy. "What?" He said, walking over Ron and Hermione right behind him. "See the article Potter...scared yet? No wait....Mudblood are you scared?" Harry and Hermione answered "No" just as Ron took a step towards Malfoy. "What Weasel...trying to protect them are you? All you can do is give me a bloody nose, which you may have to be fined for, knowing my father and all Weasel...and frankly, you can't even afford that can you?" Ron's face flushed at this comment and he remained silent. "Thought so. Anyway Potter...what has happened? You see I always said you should quit hanging out with--" "Shut up Malfoy!" Hermione said quickly. "You know Malfoy," Harry added, "You really do belong at Durmstrang, with that lot, you would really fit in there." "Yes, well, I guess I'll just have to improvise here won't I? You agree don't you Weasel? You've certainly had to do a lot of it in your life..." "What are you talking about Malfoy...if this is about my family I'll..." Ron took another step forward. "Well, you had to do a lot of it with your family yes, but now you've got to do it with HER too." He sneered, fixing his gaze on Hermione and smiling evilly. Hermione gasped and Harry whipped out his wand, but...too late. Ron had reached Malfoy and slammed him hard into the nearest wall, grabbing a firm grip on his collar. "Take it back Malfoy" He hissed. Malfoy just sneered more. "TAKE IT BACK!" Ron said pushing him harder into the wall, his face the very picture of anger. Malfoy's cold eyes flickered slightly, but he still seemed confident enough as he said, "Fine Weasel. Will you get off now?" He pushed Ron aside, but not easily, Ron was stronger than he looked. Ron was still seething, "Say another thing like that Malfoy and I won't just push you into a wall, I will push you through a wall." Malfoy chuckled coldly, "Please Weasel.... Is SHE really worth all those threats?" Ron made a move to go at him again, when Professor Flitwick came down the hall, "Boys! Miss Granger!" he added, "Fighting I presume. Well detention Mr. Weasley and Mr. Malfoy. Weasley with me, Malfoy you may go with Filch both two weeks from today. Now clear it up and go into the Great Hall. We are starting the sorting. Understand?" Hermione smiled gratefully at Flitwick, "Ok Professor." and grabbing Ron by the arm, steered him back into the Hall, Harry followed throwing nasty looks at Malfoy the whole way. When they had sat down, Ron whispered, "Stupid git, I hope that he gets crushed by some raging Hippogriff or something in Care of Magical Creatures." "Ron...calm down! It's over now, everything's fine." Hermione ordered, in a more tender voice then she usually used. "But a detention on the first day...Ron I'd be careful..." Harry began to warn him, until he caught sight of the hat. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The hat was out, sitting on its usual stool, but it looked different. Its tip was drooping downward and it seemed more frayed than was normal. Dumbledore stepped up, "First years, over here please. We will begin the Sorting." The first years rose, shaking slightly and walked toward the Hat. Everyone held their breath and waited for it to sing. Finally after about ten minutes it opened its brim and sang: Look at me and what do you see A depressed hat maybe? Yes, that's right I am depressed You see I'm afraid of the Dark Years to come All the fighting, plus no fun What will happen as the years go by? Which ones will live? And how will the rest die! The hat sang blithely, finishing in a low whisper almost. Everyone gasped loudly and some first year began to yell, "Oh NO!" Well a group of second years went into hysterics. "Everyone.... remain clam. Please, let's just start the Sorting shall we?" Professor Dumbledore said, his eyes had that piercing glare in them, but he was smiling. The Sorting went quickly with an addition of seven girls and six boys to the Gyfinndor House. The others houses all received around eight girls and eight boys (give or take one). Hermione ushered them back to the Common Room, a worried look on her face, "This is serious!" She said when they got inside, "The hat would NEVER make up a song like that one without a reason for it!" "Well Dumbledore didn't seemed too concerned now did he?" Ron voiced. Harry remained silent and thus silently agreed with Hermione. Ron obviously hadn't seen the look in Dumbledore's eyes. Harry knew that look fairly well...something was clearly up.