Hermione Granger was sitting in a long forgotten tattered red arm chair in the reference section of the library. She found that spot during her first week at Hogwarts, it was far quieter than the Gryffindor common room. The only students who bothered to go that far back into the library were of course Ron and Harry. Rarely did they come back there though, only when Ron couldn't understand his Ancient Runes homework or Harry was in some sort of danger…again.
Classes had started and Hermione was just starting to settle into her new schedule and was already revising her plan for pass her O.W.L.'s. Her revision schedule was first drafted during her second year, but once she saw the coursework for the year she knew there had to be some major changes. As she was fixing her Charms revision time Harry and Ron rounded the corner to sit on the window sill behind her chair. Ron was directly behind her and Harry behind her right shoulder. Ron lightly smacked his hands on the top of her chair.
"'Mione you've got to get out of the dreadful place. We've barley been back for two weeks and you've already replenished the muggle study things."
Ron leaned forward and pulled out from a small tear near the bottom of the chair 4 highlighters, 6 pens and 3 mechanical pencils. Hermione would never understand why witches and wizards were so insistent on using a quill and ink, it spilled and was not practical unlike her muggle supplies.
"Ron" she said in a harsh whisper "put those back. And it might do you some good to at least start to think about your O.W.L.s," She snatched the items from his hand and charmed the tear again to hold her supplies. Annoyed she turned to Harry with a huff. "So you excited about Hogwarts hosting the Tri-Wizard tournament? Personally I think the whole thing is barbaric, and the name" she trailed on "'Tri-Wizard' what if a female student is picked?"
Harry chuckled at his best friend, "personally I'm just excited that the focus will be on some other witches and wizards this year. Maybe Snape will find another student he dislikes more than me."
Meanwhile Ron was munching on a roll he took from lunch at that day and had stuffed into his robe pockets. "Honestly," Hermione thought "Ron's a walking crumb machine. We'd better get out of here before Madame Prince finds out Ron snuck food into the library… again"
Hermione gathered her school supplies and turned back to the boys who were discussing some obscure rule in Quidditch and Viktor Krum's playing style. "I'll meet you guys in the Great Hall for the feast in a few minutes. I just want to drop my stuff off in the common room." Harry smiled and slapped Ron on the back "Let's go Ron, I don't think we'll wanna be late for this feast." The walked out together Ron brushing crumbs off as they made their way through the stacks.
As Hermione made her way to the common room she thought about the gossip going around the school since the tournament was announced. Hogwarts would be hosting two other schools Beauxbatons a French school rumored to have the most beautiful students. Then there was Durmstrang, Hermione smiled to herself, Ron couldn't get over how Viktor Krum would be attending Hogwarts for an entire year. It was all he seemed to talk about besides food.
Hermione stopped in the girl's bathroom to wash up and try another spell she read in Ginny's copy of Witches Weekly to tame her curls. After a few tries she gave up and walked into the Great Hall.
She sat next to Ginny with Ron and Harry across from her, anxious to get back to finishing her OWLs revision schedule. Mid thought Ginny elbowed her "'Mione, have you heard anything I was saying?"
"Huh, sorry Gin." She blinked a few times and turned to younger girl. "What were you saying?"
"Just that I hope Quidditch won't be cancelled on account of this tournament. I want to see Viktor play again without being interrupted by death eaters."
And with that the doors swept open and in walked the most beautiful girls. They strutted in the Great Hall in pairs wearing light blue, perfectly tailored uniforms practically floating down the ancient stone floor. Hermione was trying to figure out what charm they used to get their pastel blue hats sat perfectly on their heads, when she locked eyes with one of the older girls towards the rear. The girl flashed a quick smile towards Hermione, she was slender, with the brightest blue eyes and blonde hair that was so neatly pinned up under her hat. Hermione assumed she must be in her last year considering the youngest students were towards the front of the paired line. In that split second moment of eye contact she felt her cheeks redden and her heart race. It all ended though as the girls passed her to take their seats at the the Ravenclaw table.
She vaguely heard Dumbledore say something about Beauxbatons and how they would be seated at the Revenclaw table for the year.
She couldn't get over the strange feeling that came over her when she saw the tall Beauxbatons girl walk in. Ron however had a lot to say to Dean about the whole lot of them. Hermione found it appalling and gave him a swift kick under the table to which Ginny snickered.
Then in thundered Durmstrang. They were dressed in long heavy fur coats, with canes that sent out sparks each time they hit the floor.
Once the feast was in full swing Hermione nervously stole looks over to where the Beauxbaton students were seated. She noticed the older blonde was talking to Cho, a 5th year Ravenclaw. They seemed to be having a very animated conversation. Hermione was impressed how well the girl's English sounded. She looked back down at her dinner and picked a few bites of the Shepard's pie. The house elves always did a fantastic job for the feasts. Ginny nudged her in the side, "Fancy one of the new students there Hermione? I hear Krum's quite the lady's man."
Hermione stammered a bit, "N-no." She sighed and whispered to Ginny, "After this is over can you meet me in the old Charms classroom on the fifth floor?"
"What's this about 'Mione?"
"I'll tell you later, okay?"
She nodded, at least this was Hermione, not Fred and George asking her to be a test subject again for their redesigned punching telescope.