The next day Hermione awoke early and dressed in her robes eager to begin her classes for the year. Her timetable was quite busy today, beginning with arithmancy and then double transfiguration. After lunch she had care of magical creatures followed by potions. She grabbed her books for the morning’s classes and headed down to breakfast. Once down there she spotted Ginny sitting at the Gryffindor table by herself.
“Hi Ginny!” Hermione said, sitting down beside the red headed witch.
“Oh hi Hermione,” she replied smiling.
Hermione placed some toast on her plate and filled her glass with juice.
“Are Harry and Ron not down here yet?” asked Ginny looking around.
“No, I haven’t seen them this morning. If they’re not here soon they’ll be late for their first class,” replied Hermione.
“Sounds about right,” said Ginny with a laugh.
A few minutes later Harry and Ron bustled into the Great Hall.
“About time,” said Hermione.
“Oh shut it,” said Ron.
Hermione couldn’t help but notice Lavender’s giggles behind her again but chose to ignore it.
“What class do you have first up?” asked Hermione.
“Divination,” groaned Harry, “If I have to write another dream diary this year…” he trailed off.
“Honestly I don’t know how you put up with that class,” said Hermione “Anyway I’m going to arithmancy. I’ll see you in transfiguration later on,”
“Sure. See you later,” said Harry.
“I’ll walk with you, my class is in that direction,” said Ginny standing up.
The girls walked out of the great hall and up the many staircases to the fifth floor where Ginny said goodbye. Hermione walked up one more flight of stairs and rounded the corner and crashed straight into someone making her drop her books on the ground.
“I’m so…” Hermione started just as a cold voice remarked, “Typical,”
Hermione looked up into the grey eyes of Draco Malfoy. He shooked his head and sneered.
“Stupid Mudblood. They’re called eyes, why don’t you use them?”
He turned abruptly and stalked off before she could come up with any kind of witty reply.
Nice to see nothing’s changed
The days classes flew by and Hermione spent the rest of the afternoon beginning one of the 3 essays she’d already been set. Harry and Ron entered the common room.
“I can’t believe how much homework Snape set. It’s so unfair,” moaned Ron.
“Well maybe you should get a start on it, like I have,” said Hermione from the armchair she was sitting in.
Ron rolled his eyes but sat down and pulled his books out anyway.
“Okay, so… what are the properties of boomslang skin and what are its uses in potion making?” he asked looking at Hermione.
Hermione didn’t realise he was asking her.
“Yes,” she said “That’s the essay question,’
“…And the answer would be…” Ron trailed off.
she thought with a sigh, picking up her books which were scattered on the ground.
Hermione raised her eyebrows.
“I’m not telling you. You were in that class. Professor Snape explained it all very clearly,”
“Yeah, but you’re smarter and I can’t concentrate in that class,” Ron said.
“Well too bad,” retorted Hermione.
“Oh come on, Hermione. Just let me read through yours,” he said grabbing for her book.
She snatched it away.
“No!” she said starting to raise voice, “Do it yourself, Ron,”
“But…” he started.
“No,” she said again slamming her book shut and packing up her bags.
Hermione stormed out on to the grounds to get some air. She was sick and tired of always having to help Ron and Harry with their homework all the time. It was time they learned to do it themselves… Then maybe she would look over it later just to make sure it was okay. She worked hard at being the brightest witch in their year level but felt like Harry and Ron took advantage of her cleverness sometimes.
She walked on down towards the lake and sat down on the grass. There was no one around. Most people were up in the castle having dinner or finishing their homework. She would go back up there once she had calmed down some more. After a few minutes, the sky was beginning to get darker and Hermione stood up to go back inside. As she turned around she caught sight of something behind the trees leading into the forest. Or rather she caught sight of someone.
She squinted her eyes a little. There was a man there and he was staring right back at her. She took a couple of steps toward him and stopped. This was a bad idea. She couldn’t see him very well and it was getting even darker now. She began to turn around and head back towards the castle, she suddenly felt very exposed out here on her own but as she began to walk she heard a voice call, “Hermione, wait…”
She turned around slowly as the man stepped further out from the trees. Her eyes widened and she couldn’t believe what she was seeing.
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