Hermione Granger reached out and turned off her alarm clock. The
morning sun was seeping in the eastern window and flooding the small
dormitory. She sat up in bed and rubbed her eyes. Her four roommates were
still sleeping and her ginger-furred cat, Crookshanks, was nowhere to be
seen.
She rolled out of bed, washed her face and put a clean uniform on. Hermione reached into her nightstand and pulled out her bottle of Sleakeazy All- Purpose Hair Straightener, put alittle on her fingers then ran them through her hair. Although her hair was noticeably less bushy than it was first year, Hermione put a little on every morning to take away the remaining bushiness, keeping it sleek and wavy.
She gathered her books for her morning classes in her bookbag, then pinned her Prefect badge to her robes as she want down the spiral staircase to the common room. She had promised Harry and Ron that she would go over History of Magic notes with them before their examination that afternoon.
The Great Hall was barren except for the teachers' table and a handful of students scattered across the house tables. Hermione sat down at the Gryffindor table and helped herself to some porridge and toast before she began flipping through her note cards.
She had been studying for five minutes when a pair of arms engulfed her from behind. Hermione turned to see her friend, Harry Potter, standing behind her.
"Happy 16th Birthday, Hermione," he said, handing her a small golden box.
"Oh! Thank you Harry."
"Don't thank me yet. Open it!" he urged.
Hermione undid the delicate scarlet ribbon and lifted the box lid. On a slight layer of cotton lay a thin gold chain on which hung a charm of the Gryffindor shield.
"It's beautiful, Harry!" Hermione exclaimed taking the necklace out of its box. "Thank you!"
"Here, "Harry said taking the necklace away from her, "I'll put it on for you."
"Thank you." Hermione gathered up her hair in a hand and held it out of the way so it wouldn't get caught in the delicate clasp.
Harry fastened the necklace around her neck and sat back to admire his handiwork. Hermione closed the distance by leaning forward and giving him a hug.
"Thank you Harry. I love it."
The tips of Harry's ears turned slightly red as he returned the hug.
"You're welcome, Hermione," he said, breaking the embrace and reaching for the scrambled eggs. "I'm glad you like it."
Hermione focused on her notes again, absentmindedly rubbing the charm between her fingers.
Suddenly, the hairs on the back of her neck stood straight up. She turned her head and found Draco Malfoy staring at her from the Slytherin table. His expression quickly turned into a smirk, but Hermione could have sworn before the Ministry of Magic that the expression he wore was one of adoration. Two years ago that sort of thing would have scared her half to death, but now it simply made her curious. Malfoy had been "bumping into" Hermione, Harry and Ron so many times this year that Hermione knew it was no longer coincidental. Every time this happened, he went out of his way to make a conversation. Last week in Transfiguration, he willingly partnered up Hermione instead of working alone when they were the only two without partners. For the forty minutes in which they were transforming a raccoon into a cat, Malfoy was unusually courteous, did his share of the work and didn't make a single rude comment.
Hermione would never admit it to anyone, but Malfoy's courteous behavior was wearing off on her. No one had to know that she was beginning to enjoy the coincidental meetings in the hall and was even starting to look forward to them. This would seem like treason on the high seas to both Harry and Ron, so Hermione kept her feelings to herself.
Hermione turned back to her notes, studying the diagram on the Salem witch trials. Her mind, however, kept drifting back to that Transfiguration lesson when she and Malfoy were working together. The gentle way he guided her hand through the complex wave... the times he had made her laugh, purposely or not...
'Snap out of it' she told herself. 'A boy, Malfoy none the less, is no reason to balk studying for History of Magic.' Malfoy was brilliant, there was no doubt about that; he was second in the year, right after Hermione. But this year he had been trying harder than usual: He was in the library almost as often as Hermione. Whether or not that time was spent studying, Hermione didn't know. All she knew was that he always seemed to need books that were close to were she was sitting.
"Happy birthday Hermione." Hermione turned and saw her other good friend, Ron Weasely, standing behind her holding a present wrapped in what appeared to be old parchment.
"Thank you, Ron," Hermione said taking the package and giving him a hug. He sat down on the other side of Hermione and helped himself to some bacon and eggs.
"Sorry about the wrapping job," he said. "I'm not really keen at wrapping anything and then I couldn't find any wrapping paper-"
"It's alright Ron," Hermione said undoing the Spell-o-Tape holding the package together. Inside was a crimson, leather-covered journal with the Hogwarts emblem embedded in gold on the front. The pages were made of heavy parchment, and Ron had gotten her a new eagle-feather quill to write with as well.
"Thank you Ron," she said with another hug. "I'll use it a lot."
"I'm glad you like it," he said smiling at her.
Hermione smiled back. "I really do." The moment was broken by the arrival of post, delivered by at least a hundred owls. Harry's snowy white owl, Hedwig, landed on the table carrying a package and a letter.
"It looks like Hedwig's brought something from your parents, Hermione," Harry said, untying the package from Hedwig's legs and handing it to Hermione.
"Thanks Hedwig," Hermione said, offering the owl her toast crusts, which Hedwig accepted before flying off to the owlery.
Hedwig's package did indeed contain a note and gift from her parents. She read the note first.
Dear Hermione,
Happy 16th Birthday, Darling! We hope that your Hogwarts studies are going well. Always remember that we are very proud of you.
Much love,
Mother and Father
Hermione smiled and set the note aside. She reached for the package and undid the neat wrapping job. Inside the box was a large stack of magazines from the muggle world. They were filled with celebrities that Hermione had adored before finding out she was a witch.
"Hermione, I can't believe you like this sort of thing," Ron said flipping through one. "There's nothing to them. It's all about make-up and boys and people wearing really freaky things."
"Hey, even though the celebrities of the world have problems dressing, there is no reason to make fun of them," Hermione said.
"I'm with Ron on this one, Hermione." Harry took another from the stack and flipped through it. "Look at what this bloke's wearing!"
"That's enough!" Hermione grabbed the magazines out of their hands. "You're ruining fond memories of my childhood."
Both boys doubled over laughing. "And what moments are those?"
"Just leave the magazines alone."
The threesome settled down slightly and resumed eating. Hermione had placed her gifts and cards in her bag and was just about to leave when a tawny owl landed beside her plate carrying a small box. She untied the package and offered the owl a piece of bacon.
"That's odd. Who else do I know would send me a present by owl post?" Hermione asked shaking the box slightly.
"No idea," Harry said setting his goblet down.
"Maybe you have a secret admirer."
"Go on... open it!" Harry urged.
"I can't: I have to go to Arithmancy and you two have Divination. If you don't leave now you're going to be late. It takes at least five minutes to get to the North Tower from here."
"And I thought my mum was staying home this year," Ron muttered to Harry who laughed.
"I heard that," Hermione said smiling as she tucked the small box into her bag. "I'll see you two in Care of Magical Creatures."
She rolled out of bed, washed her face and put a clean uniform on. Hermione reached into her nightstand and pulled out her bottle of Sleakeazy All- Purpose Hair Straightener, put alittle on her fingers then ran them through her hair. Although her hair was noticeably less bushy than it was first year, Hermione put a little on every morning to take away the remaining bushiness, keeping it sleek and wavy.
She gathered her books for her morning classes in her bookbag, then pinned her Prefect badge to her robes as she want down the spiral staircase to the common room. She had promised Harry and Ron that she would go over History of Magic notes with them before their examination that afternoon.
The Great Hall was barren except for the teachers' table and a handful of students scattered across the house tables. Hermione sat down at the Gryffindor table and helped herself to some porridge and toast before she began flipping through her note cards.
She had been studying for five minutes when a pair of arms engulfed her from behind. Hermione turned to see her friend, Harry Potter, standing behind her.
"Happy 16th Birthday, Hermione," he said, handing her a small golden box.
"Oh! Thank you Harry."
"Don't thank me yet. Open it!" he urged.
Hermione undid the delicate scarlet ribbon and lifted the box lid. On a slight layer of cotton lay a thin gold chain on which hung a charm of the Gryffindor shield.
"It's beautiful, Harry!" Hermione exclaimed taking the necklace out of its box. "Thank you!"
"Here, "Harry said taking the necklace away from her, "I'll put it on for you."
"Thank you." Hermione gathered up her hair in a hand and held it out of the way so it wouldn't get caught in the delicate clasp.
Harry fastened the necklace around her neck and sat back to admire his handiwork. Hermione closed the distance by leaning forward and giving him a hug.
"Thank you Harry. I love it."
The tips of Harry's ears turned slightly red as he returned the hug.
"You're welcome, Hermione," he said, breaking the embrace and reaching for the scrambled eggs. "I'm glad you like it."
Hermione focused on her notes again, absentmindedly rubbing the charm between her fingers.
Suddenly, the hairs on the back of her neck stood straight up. She turned her head and found Draco Malfoy staring at her from the Slytherin table. His expression quickly turned into a smirk, but Hermione could have sworn before the Ministry of Magic that the expression he wore was one of adoration. Two years ago that sort of thing would have scared her half to death, but now it simply made her curious. Malfoy had been "bumping into" Hermione, Harry and Ron so many times this year that Hermione knew it was no longer coincidental. Every time this happened, he went out of his way to make a conversation. Last week in Transfiguration, he willingly partnered up Hermione instead of working alone when they were the only two without partners. For the forty minutes in which they were transforming a raccoon into a cat, Malfoy was unusually courteous, did his share of the work and didn't make a single rude comment.
Hermione would never admit it to anyone, but Malfoy's courteous behavior was wearing off on her. No one had to know that she was beginning to enjoy the coincidental meetings in the hall and was even starting to look forward to them. This would seem like treason on the high seas to both Harry and Ron, so Hermione kept her feelings to herself.
Hermione turned back to her notes, studying the diagram on the Salem witch trials. Her mind, however, kept drifting back to that Transfiguration lesson when she and Malfoy were working together. The gentle way he guided her hand through the complex wave... the times he had made her laugh, purposely or not...
'Snap out of it' she told herself. 'A boy, Malfoy none the less, is no reason to balk studying for History of Magic.' Malfoy was brilliant, there was no doubt about that; he was second in the year, right after Hermione. But this year he had been trying harder than usual: He was in the library almost as often as Hermione. Whether or not that time was spent studying, Hermione didn't know. All she knew was that he always seemed to need books that were close to were she was sitting.
"Happy birthday Hermione." Hermione turned and saw her other good friend, Ron Weasely, standing behind her holding a present wrapped in what appeared to be old parchment.
"Thank you, Ron," Hermione said taking the package and giving him a hug. He sat down on the other side of Hermione and helped himself to some bacon and eggs.
"Sorry about the wrapping job," he said. "I'm not really keen at wrapping anything and then I couldn't find any wrapping paper-"
"It's alright Ron," Hermione said undoing the Spell-o-Tape holding the package together. Inside was a crimson, leather-covered journal with the Hogwarts emblem embedded in gold on the front. The pages were made of heavy parchment, and Ron had gotten her a new eagle-feather quill to write with as well.
"Thank you Ron," she said with another hug. "I'll use it a lot."
"I'm glad you like it," he said smiling at her.
Hermione smiled back. "I really do." The moment was broken by the arrival of post, delivered by at least a hundred owls. Harry's snowy white owl, Hedwig, landed on the table carrying a package and a letter.
"It looks like Hedwig's brought something from your parents, Hermione," Harry said, untying the package from Hedwig's legs and handing it to Hermione.
"Thanks Hedwig," Hermione said, offering the owl her toast crusts, which Hedwig accepted before flying off to the owlery.
Hedwig's package did indeed contain a note and gift from her parents. She read the note first.
Dear Hermione,
Happy 16th Birthday, Darling! We hope that your Hogwarts studies are going well. Always remember that we are very proud of you.
Much love,
Mother and Father
Hermione smiled and set the note aside. She reached for the package and undid the neat wrapping job. Inside the box was a large stack of magazines from the muggle world. They were filled with celebrities that Hermione had adored before finding out she was a witch.
"Hermione, I can't believe you like this sort of thing," Ron said flipping through one. "There's nothing to them. It's all about make-up and boys and people wearing really freaky things."
"Hey, even though the celebrities of the world have problems dressing, there is no reason to make fun of them," Hermione said.
"I'm with Ron on this one, Hermione." Harry took another from the stack and flipped through it. "Look at what this bloke's wearing!"
"That's enough!" Hermione grabbed the magazines out of their hands. "You're ruining fond memories of my childhood."
Both boys doubled over laughing. "And what moments are those?"
"Just leave the magazines alone."
The threesome settled down slightly and resumed eating. Hermione had placed her gifts and cards in her bag and was just about to leave when a tawny owl landed beside her plate carrying a small box. She untied the package and offered the owl a piece of bacon.
"That's odd. Who else do I know would send me a present by owl post?" Hermione asked shaking the box slightly.
"No idea," Harry said setting his goblet down.
"Maybe you have a secret admirer."
"Go on... open it!" Harry urged.
"I can't: I have to go to Arithmancy and you two have Divination. If you don't leave now you're going to be late. It takes at least five minutes to get to the North Tower from here."
"And I thought my mum was staying home this year," Ron muttered to Harry who laughed.
"I heard that," Hermione said smiling as she tucked the small box into her bag. "I'll see you two in Care of Magical Creatures."
