Author's Note: Read and Review, please! This is my very first fan fic, so please be kind! Enjoy! -Amanda

A Bad Start

"Pass the toast, I'm starved!" Ron exclaimed as he plopped down next to Harry at the Gryffindor table Friday morning. He grabbed the plate of toast and placed at least 5 pieces on his own, then followed suit with the bacon and sausage.

"Surprise, surprise" Hermione muttered with a look of disgust, burying her nose in Advanced Rune Translation and taking a sip of coffee.

"At least I can find better things to do with my breakfast than reading yet another textbook," Ron retorted.

"Anything new in the world?" Harry asked Hermione, motioning to the Daily Prophet lying next to Hermione's plate. He wasn't in the mood for Ron and Hermione's bickering so early in the day.

"No, not really. The Cannons beat the Tornadoes. Big deal," she said from behind the book.

"What?!" Harry and Ron said together. Ron reached over and snatched the paper from beside her. The Cannons hadn't won a game in at least 4 seasons, and the Tornadoes were one of the Top 5 teams in the league. Ron whipped the pages quickly, searching for the Quidditch scores.

"Oh, ha ha" Ron said dryly, locating the scores. The Cannons, Ron's stubbornly favorite team, hadn't won at all. In fact, they'd lost dismally: 180 to 0. Hermione smiled at him sweetly and went about eating her oatmeal. Harry hid a smile and shook his head.

"So what are we doing this weekend?" Harry asked. "There's a Hogsmeade visit this week."

"Oh good, I need some quills," Hermione said. "And the bookshop just got the latest Rune translation in!"

Ron rolled his eyes. "I think we should look for a bit of adventure this weekend. Tonight."

"Yeah, Ron, because we don't get NEARLY enough of that as it is," Harry replied. It seemed every week there was some new danger lurking in the halls of Hogwarts that the 3 of them took it upon themselves to face.

"No, something new this time. I'll think on it," he promised.

Hermione looked at her watch. "We'd better get going, Charms starts in 5 minutes!" she exclaimed, stuffing the book in her bag and getting up. Harry and Ron followed suit.

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They walked to Professor Flitwick's class in silence, Ron still trying to think of something exciting for them to do, Hermione thinking about her Runes class later that day, and Harry thinking about Ginny.

When they got there, they joined Neville Longbottom and Dean Thomas, fellow Gryffindors. A few others were milling around, including Draco Malfoy with his usual bunch of Slytherin dimwits: Goyle, Crabbe, and Pansy Parkinson, who was simpering madly as usual, as well as a few others. They heard a roar of laughter from the group, which was now looking at Hermione and whispering.

Hermione, used to it by now, just rolled her eyes, but Ron immediately went for his wand. "Don't bother, he's hardly worth the effort," Hermione said to him, just loud enough for Draco to hear. Draco glared at her and stopped laughing. He was always trying to rile Ron up.

"Need a mudblood to speak for you, eh, Weasley?" Draco said loudly. Ron turned a violent shade of red.

"Yes, because needing 2 idiots to do your fighting for you is so much better," Harry replied.

"And don't call Hermione that!" Ron added, somewhat lamely.

Crabbe and Goyle started cracking their knuckles menacingly and stepping forward, but just then the bell rang and tiny Professor Flitwick came bustling up to them. Hermione, Ron, and Harry grinned and followed him into class.

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They were practicing Aguamenti, a charm that shoots water out of the point of a wand. They were each given a cup and told to practice. Hermione, of course, picked it up quickly. Harry wasn't far behind. Ron, who was never as good as the others at Charms, couldn't seem to get it right.

"Ron, you're holding your wand wrong," Hermione said patiently, going over to him. She took his hand and tried to show him the correct movement. Ron pulled his hand away.

"I can do it, just let me do it!" he said angrily. He was still reeling from the comment Malfoy made about him in the hall.

Hurt flickered in Hermione's eyes, but was quickly replaced by anger and frustration. "Fine. Good luck," she replied, walking back to her original spot.

Harry looked at Ron exasperatedly. "Was that really necessary? She was just trying to help and save you the extra homework." Ron didn't say anything, just looked over at Hermione, who was helping Neville now. He shook his head and tried again.

When the bell rang, Hermione grabbed her things and left, brushing past Ron, who looked as though he'd been about to apologize. He scowled after her.

Hermione had Ancient Runes next, so they didn't see her until after lunch, which she spent in the library.