Chapter 1- Summer
It had been a long, dull summer for Hermione. In comparison to her last summer that had been full of vacations and fun, it was outright boring. Harry hadn't been writing as much since his godfather's death and she could understand him wanting to be alone. She made sure he knew she was there for support if he needed her, but she didn't want to push him.
Ron never like writing much. His notes to her were always short and simple. He had just sent her one yesterday.
Hermione,
Hope your summers going well. Fred and George gave me loads of cool trick wands from their shop. I'll be at Diagon Alley this Tuesday. See you there?
Ron
She talked to her parents, and they agreed to drop her off at the Leaky Cauldron to shop while they shopped in London. Hermione was glad for this. She really didn't want to have to deal with Mr. Weasley asking them, well actually more like harassing them, about outlets, and plugs while she shopped. Her parents really didn't understand much about the wizarding world.
The next day they dropped her off at the Leaky Caldron and she headed into Diagon Alley, excitedly looking for her friend. She made her way through the crowd looking for him or his family, which were usually easy to find thanks to their flaming red hair. She didn't see them anywhere. She walked down the street to see the Quidditch store window was being mobbed with young boy's staring at some latest model of a broom.
"Quidditch, stupid really…" She sighed looking at them all crowding around the window like buffoons but still walking. THUNK! She'd walked right into the boy in front of her and fell to the ground. He turned around and she'd noticed he was quite attractive. He had light brown hair, and these warm, welcoming, hazel eyes that were glistening as he looked down at her.
"Sorry, I wasn't paying attention. I was just so excited after getting my new broom." He beamed proudly helping her up.
"No really it was my fault." She admitted and looked at the broom he was holding. It must have been what everyone was staring at in the window because with all the talk of brooms and Quidditch that she had to listen to while hanging out with Ron and Harry they had never mentioned an Iceblaster. It was really a beautiful broom. It had flecks of blue in the wood, and a nice Sapphire colored handle.
He noticed her staring at it and chimed in informatively, "It's the latest model. Designed by the same makers as the Firebolt, but it's better. You see, it's designed to connect with a person's thoughts more than it's touch. Also the balance is far better and it is designed so you are far less likely to fall off. You could even stand on it in mid air, I bet. I'm Lance by the way. You are, Hermione Granger I believe."
She shook his hand and nodded. She thought she had seen him before, but only on a rare occasion. He must be a year older, she realized. She did take a few classes with some students from the year above her due to her use of the time turner in her 3rd year. He looked different from how she'd remembered him though. must have been working out or something over the summer.
"Hermione! Been looking all over for you mate!" Ron's familiar voice called. He placed an arm on her shoulder then turned to see Lance's Iceblaster. "Oh wow, when'd you get that!" He exclaimed.
"Just today. I heard the seeker position was open for my house, Ravenclaw. I think Cho Chang decided to quit to work on her studies a bit more. I'm thinking of going out for the team though." Lance explained to Ron.
"Good luck mate! Wish I had enough money for one." Ron murmured.
"I've been saving, and my parents pitched in as a bit of a birthday present. The Firebolt's price has dropped though since the Iceblaster came out. Maybe you could afford one of those for now." Lance suggested. "Well I better get going. See you around."
"Happy Birthday." Hermione called to him as he walked away.
"His parents must make a bloody fortune, whoever they are." Ron sighed quietly jealous of Lance who he watched Lance walk away. "Mione, it's great to see you!" Ron said turning to her happily changing the mood.
"You too Ron! Did you buy anything yet?" She asked.
"Not a thing, just got here. Mum, Dad, and Ginny went to the bookshop. I told um I'd meet them there."
"Perfect, let's go. I can't wait to start reading this term's books. They all sounded so challenging and interesting. I already read Transfiguration Year 6 though. Last year I was trying to get ahead. I do hope the rest of the books aren't too challenging. Better get started reading the Potions book, unless I want Snape harassing me all year."
"Hermione, Snape harasses you all year anyway! He takes points from you for helping people. You should learn to see it my way… See, he gets mad at you for knowing the answers, he gets mad at me for not knowing them. Either way he gets mad. Why not take the easy way out and let him get mad because you didn't do the work?" Ron asked. Hermione elbowed him in the stomach, and they walked into the tiny, but over crowded bookshop.
"Hermione it's great to see you! Are your parents around?" Mr. Weasley asked as they walked inside. No doubt he was dying to ask them about all the muggle contraptions he found oh so interesting.
"No, sorry, they dropped me off." Hermione explained shortly. She saw the look of disappointment on his face and laughed to herself.
"Oh no! Not another crazy book from Hagrid!" Ron groaned seeing their care for magical creatures book had claws, and was making angry growling noises. Hermione sighed and carefully picked up a copy for herself, holding it away from her body to avoid being scratched.
"Come along dears, we still have plenty of shopping to do." Mrs. Weasley called to them from ahead. She was busy helping Ginny gather all of her books. They finished up all of their shopping finally, and even had extra time for Ron to goggle at the Iceblaster for a few minutes before saying goodbye.
Hermione was so excited when she got home to dig into all of her books for the year. Plus, she'd bought a few extra books for a bit of light ready to keep her busy until she had access to the school library again. Her deep thought as she read was interrupted by an owl tapping at her window, Hedwig. She immediately stopped reading and got up to read Harry's letter.
Hermione,
Ron told me you both went shopping. Wish I could of come, but Dursley's have me in house arrest. Don't worry though, Lupin bought my books for me and brought them over. It was nice seeing him again. He seemed to handle Sirius death a lot better than I did. Said it was all for the best. I guess it was. I just wish we could of done more back in third year to help him more than we did.
It's a shame that we haven't been allowed to the Order, do to them wanting to keep a low profile for a while. Fred and George owled me saying business was booming! I'm really happy for them. See you at the station!
With Love,
Harry
It was similar to the other letters she got from Harry. He didn't write often, but when he did he said what was on his mind. Hermione quickly pulled out some parchment and a quill.
Harry,
There's nothing else we could have done to change what happened. I am glad to hear you are feeling a bit better about it. I'm sure this year is going to be great. I do hope you've started reading the books Lupin brought you. Did your awful aunt and uncle keep them from you? I'll be sure to see you at the platform next week!
With love,
Hermione
It had been a long, dull summer for Hermione. In comparison to her last summer that had been full of vacations and fun, it was outright boring. Harry hadn't been writing as much since his godfather's death and she could understand him wanting to be alone. She made sure he knew she was there for support if he needed her, but she didn't want to push him.
Ron never like writing much. His notes to her were always short and simple. He had just sent her one yesterday.
Hermione,
Hope your summers going well. Fred and George gave me loads of cool trick wands from their shop. I'll be at Diagon Alley this Tuesday. See you there?
Ron
She talked to her parents, and they agreed to drop her off at the Leaky Cauldron to shop while they shopped in London. Hermione was glad for this. She really didn't want to have to deal with Mr. Weasley asking them, well actually more like harassing them, about outlets, and plugs while she shopped. Her parents really didn't understand much about the wizarding world.
The next day they dropped her off at the Leaky Caldron and she headed into Diagon Alley, excitedly looking for her friend. She made her way through the crowd looking for him or his family, which were usually easy to find thanks to their flaming red hair. She didn't see them anywhere. She walked down the street to see the Quidditch store window was being mobbed with young boy's staring at some latest model of a broom.
"Quidditch, stupid really…" She sighed looking at them all crowding around the window like buffoons but still walking. THUNK! She'd walked right into the boy in front of her and fell to the ground. He turned around and she'd noticed he was quite attractive. He had light brown hair, and these warm, welcoming, hazel eyes that were glistening as he looked down at her.
"Sorry, I wasn't paying attention. I was just so excited after getting my new broom." He beamed proudly helping her up.
"No really it was my fault." She admitted and looked at the broom he was holding. It must have been what everyone was staring at in the window because with all the talk of brooms and Quidditch that she had to listen to while hanging out with Ron and Harry they had never mentioned an Iceblaster. It was really a beautiful broom. It had flecks of blue in the wood, and a nice Sapphire colored handle.
He noticed her staring at it and chimed in informatively, "It's the latest model. Designed by the same makers as the Firebolt, but it's better. You see, it's designed to connect with a person's thoughts more than it's touch. Also the balance is far better and it is designed so you are far less likely to fall off. You could even stand on it in mid air, I bet. I'm Lance by the way. You are, Hermione Granger I believe."
She shook his hand and nodded. She thought she had seen him before, but only on a rare occasion. He must be a year older, she realized. She did take a few classes with some students from the year above her due to her use of the time turner in her 3rd year. He looked different from how she'd remembered him though. must have been working out or something over the summer.
"Hermione! Been looking all over for you mate!" Ron's familiar voice called. He placed an arm on her shoulder then turned to see Lance's Iceblaster. "Oh wow, when'd you get that!" He exclaimed.
"Just today. I heard the seeker position was open for my house, Ravenclaw. I think Cho Chang decided to quit to work on her studies a bit more. I'm thinking of going out for the team though." Lance explained to Ron.
"Good luck mate! Wish I had enough money for one." Ron murmured.
"I've been saving, and my parents pitched in as a bit of a birthday present. The Firebolt's price has dropped though since the Iceblaster came out. Maybe you could afford one of those for now." Lance suggested. "Well I better get going. See you around."
"Happy Birthday." Hermione called to him as he walked away.
"His parents must make a bloody fortune, whoever they are." Ron sighed quietly jealous of Lance who he watched Lance walk away. "Mione, it's great to see you!" Ron said turning to her happily changing the mood.
"You too Ron! Did you buy anything yet?" She asked.
"Not a thing, just got here. Mum, Dad, and Ginny went to the bookshop. I told um I'd meet them there."
"Perfect, let's go. I can't wait to start reading this term's books. They all sounded so challenging and interesting. I already read Transfiguration Year 6 though. Last year I was trying to get ahead. I do hope the rest of the books aren't too challenging. Better get started reading the Potions book, unless I want Snape harassing me all year."
"Hermione, Snape harasses you all year anyway! He takes points from you for helping people. You should learn to see it my way… See, he gets mad at you for knowing the answers, he gets mad at me for not knowing them. Either way he gets mad. Why not take the easy way out and let him get mad because you didn't do the work?" Ron asked. Hermione elbowed him in the stomach, and they walked into the tiny, but over crowded bookshop.
"Hermione it's great to see you! Are your parents around?" Mr. Weasley asked as they walked inside. No doubt he was dying to ask them about all the muggle contraptions he found oh so interesting.
"No, sorry, they dropped me off." Hermione explained shortly. She saw the look of disappointment on his face and laughed to herself.
"Oh no! Not another crazy book from Hagrid!" Ron groaned seeing their care for magical creatures book had claws, and was making angry growling noises. Hermione sighed and carefully picked up a copy for herself, holding it away from her body to avoid being scratched.
"Come along dears, we still have plenty of shopping to do." Mrs. Weasley called to them from ahead. She was busy helping Ginny gather all of her books. They finished up all of their shopping finally, and even had extra time for Ron to goggle at the Iceblaster for a few minutes before saying goodbye.
Hermione was so excited when she got home to dig into all of her books for the year. Plus, she'd bought a few extra books for a bit of light ready to keep her busy until she had access to the school library again. Her deep thought as she read was interrupted by an owl tapping at her window, Hedwig. She immediately stopped reading and got up to read Harry's letter.
Hermione,
Ron told me you both went shopping. Wish I could of come, but Dursley's have me in house arrest. Don't worry though, Lupin bought my books for me and brought them over. It was nice seeing him again. He seemed to handle Sirius death a lot better than I did. Said it was all for the best. I guess it was. I just wish we could of done more back in third year to help him more than we did.
It's a shame that we haven't been allowed to the Order, do to them wanting to keep a low profile for a while. Fred and George owled me saying business was booming! I'm really happy for them. See you at the station!
With Love,
Harry
It was similar to the other letters she got from Harry. He didn't write often, but when he did he said what was on his mind. Hermione quickly pulled out some parchment and a quill.
Harry,
There's nothing else we could have done to change what happened. I am glad to hear you are feeling a bit better about it. I'm sure this year is going to be great. I do hope you've started reading the books Lupin brought you. Did your awful aunt and uncle keep them from you? I'll be sure to see you at the platform next week!
With love,
Hermione