Author's Note: So a few days ago I just researched the word harem and silly me I've mistaken its meaning. Sorry, so I guess I'll just apologize and say that this is not a Harem and more like rivalry between the girls. sorry if I got it all mix up.

Hey, before I start, I just want to let you guys know that I plan to have Astoria a year below Hermione while Daphne is the same age. I decided Fluer should just be 2 year older because I found the age gap a little unsettling. Not when Hermione was 14 at the time. Hard to swallow the lump if some will also find it disturbing. Which is a little ironic, I'm supposedly disturb by Hermione and Fluer's 3 age gap but I'm currently having a crush with someone 5 years younger than me, huh? Anyways, I also Am not writing Fluer's accent in this because I'm bad at it, let's just say she was more pronounce in English than in the franchise. That's all I want to say.

And here we are Chapter 3! Last time I checked, I had my heart whole. Now it's sitting somewhere in a gutter…. Yeah, hard times for a lover in a society so cruel. Anyhow, I won't let you guys suffer too. So here it is.

Chapter 3 A friend

"How is he?... or maybe her now that she got boobs, right?" Ron joked at Hermione while the bushy-haired girl only glares at her friend's statement. Ron raised his hands up in defeat, afraid he'll just anger her more. "I don't know which to picked, okay! I just want to know if Harry's alright" This time it lessen Hermione's glare and instead gave a sigh of frustration and further slumps in her chair just outside the Infirmary.

"I'm not sure, Ron. Madam Pomfrey didn't actually give me a whole lot to think about. She just asked me things and shooed me out" She said tiredly and puts her hands on her face. "Merlin! What is happening?!" She growls.

"Maybe Harry got ensorcelled! Maybe someone spiked his food or drinks with a potion and now he transformed into a girl. That could happen, right? A lot of students, especially the Slytherins, doesn't like Harry very much" Ron suggested. Hermione has thought about it but until she can have her own little investigation and Madam Pomfrey's results, she can't just point fingers willy-nilly. Of course, if Ron's theory were to be correct then maybe a little snobbish brat might be the culprit. Draco to be in fact.

"This is the second time today I got to bring a student to the infirmary" Hermione sighs again. "Not something I'm actually proud of doing" she grumbles out.

"Wait, Harry's the second person you brought to Madam Pomfrey? Who was the first one?" The ginger haired boy asked curiously at Hermione's words.

Hermione lets her arms sag to the sides and shake her head in boredom followed with a shrug. "Some passed out girl I found in one of the classrooms" she answered airily letting out the fact that she was naked. Wouldn't want the Ron's mind flying out somewhere else at the moment. "I didn't know who she was… though I felt like I did. Maybe?"

"Well you'll be on a roll if a third person suddenly faints in front of you" Ron jokes yet again. Hermione wasn't particularly in the best of moods and lets her anger speak for her as she throws a punch at Ron's arm. She saw her fist collide swiftly with his arm and heard it pound harshly. It took both of them by surprise.

"Owww!" Ron shouted. "I was just joking. Bloody hell! That actually hurt, Hermione. What have you've been eating? Steal?! I felt that on my bone.. Fuck!" Ron was clutching his right arm in pain as he hisses some more. The aftershock of his muscles straining his arms pressed the bookworm to feel guilt rather fast. Hermione didn't actually intend for it to go overboard but even if she did, it wouldn't have achieved that kind of power so she was shock just as much as Ron was.

"Gosh. I'm sorry I got carried away. Are you okay?" Hermione asked, now more perplex of Ron's injured arm. The boy was still clutching at it for a while as Hermione waited for his hissing to subside. "Can I take a look at it?" Hermione said warily, while taking steady gesture for the boy's arm.

Ron slowly nodded and careful took his hand to peek at his arm. Hermione gapes as a blue bruised mark already forming. It did not look great, not to mention, it was swollen a size of a tennis ball directly right where she punched him and looking at it further made her stomach lurch in guilt. "Shit, that looks nasty. How could you have done that?" Ron didn't sound angry more so that he was bewildered and a bit fascinated, which baffles the bookworm on how Ron could be more preoccupied with her than his injury.

"I don't know. I…" Hermione was left with her wild thoughts while managing to think of a valid answer but as much as she tries, she doesn't seem to find one so she only diverted towards a more prior matter to distract the ginger boy. "We should probably get you an ice pack from Madam Pomfrey." Ron agreed and stands up with the bookworm and walks towards the infirmary. After a while of walking Ron laughs while Hermione gave him an incredulous look at his sudden laughter. "What's so funny?" she asked testily.

"You actually sent 3 people to the infirmary now"

Suddenly Hermione wanted to throw another punch….

Hermione could be heard panting outside the cold morning air while pushing her burning leg muscle to work. It was quarter to 5 and Hermione has decided to take a run outside the castle instead of willing her body to go back to sleep, which will only end up a failure. She knew almost a few would wake up this early and took its benefit. No one would know of her early-run so no one would be the wiser to ask her ridiculous questions. This also gave her a chance to ponder yesterday's many bizarre occurrences.

After Hermione escorted Ron to get some ice pack, they went back to the Gryffindor tower to sleep. All through the night, the brunette couldn't help but feel anxiousness resulting in almost no sleep at all. Her mind was all over Harry and to herself. She has never thrown a punch quite like what she gave to Ron. It wasn't even expected of her. She was a girl who read all her life certainly not the girl who had push-up and lifting weights till she was 13. The fact that she didn't even put so much of an effort, or power in that matter, made her more worried.

At first, she thought it was all a fluke. That maybe she just added some unintentional and absent-minded force in her punch explaining the bruise to form but after getting startled by Crookshanks last night, she accidentally destroyed her little thick flower vase, the one her mother gave her as a gift, by planning to throw it to whoever spooked her but before she could, it broke into a hundred broken piece on her floor, waking her roommates in the process.

A simple grab like that wouldn't have ruptured the thing, so what did?

This was what plagues her thoughts that morning. She heaved and after a while of thinking she just chose to ignore it for now and concentrated on running.

The route she was taking leads to the forest, where the carriages of the Beauxbatons were. When she was near them she slowed down so not to make too much noise. The Bookworm might have acquired an atypical morning schedule, but she doesn't have to drag anyone else. She really doesn't want to upset anyone either, especially towards the students of other prominent schools. She has already have enough complaints from her house, proofs of those came from losing their house large amount of points and waking half of the Gryffindor girl's dormitory.

Hermione jogs slowly, momentarily taking small and few steps both achieving silence and a little rest on her feet. After passing them, she reverts back to running again in full hype and going further to the forest whilst taking some turns and jumping on rocks.

She appreciated the stimuli because Merlin knows she needed this. Things were suddenly getting complicated quickly and odd things were happening beyond her control it was practically driving her thoughts crazy. As it seems running somehow was the only thing calming her, which is surprising when she's never done it quite regularly before. She previously thought of reading but it wasn't doing it for her as of late. Everything was distracting her and the more she reads the more her body begins to her edgy. Hermione just wanted to relax, even for a little bit.

She stops at a big rock, her breathing still erratic and her forehead beating with warm sweat but she was more relaxed and at eased than before. She decided it was far enough and sits on the ground, and let's herself rest while taking in the beautiful serenity around her. The bookworm grins at having to feel more alive and awake. The running really did shake away whatever it was that was disturbing her. Hermione had a good guess she needs this for later.

While taking her needed rest, she looks down at her hands and remembers what has transpired yesterday. Could she really have done it? Did she obtain something strange? And if so, how did she get it? Or maybe she was going insane? Yep, she was definitely going insane. "Very silly of me" She chuckles humourlessly. "Stop dreaming, Hermione. Nothing weird is happening to you"

"Do you actually believe that?"

Hermione jumps up in surprise as she turns her head from side to side trying to find the source of the voice. "Who's there?!" She said startle. The brunette turns around and tries to figure out who just spoke but she could find anybody but herself.

"Now, now. Calm down before you hurt yourself"

And there is was again. That prominent voice that had a rough and low tone, that seems to follow Hermione's ear. She takes her wand and began aiming it forward in a defensive stance. "Where are you hiding? Show yourself!" She warns still trying to survey her surroundings with her eyes.

"You can't see me physically even if I wanted to show myself" It said in a rather-of-fact tone while Hermione rolls her eyes at it. What does that even mean "And why not?" she said hotly.

"Because I reside within you… smartass" It said with a bite. It obviously felt insulted at Hermione's words.

"What?! What are you muttering about?... Residing within me? I don't believe it! I said show yourself!" Now Hermione felt compelled to attack, knowing whatever it is she's talking too must be a nut job. Residing within her? She has no clue what that means but it is surely freaking Hermione good.

And then an idea pops in her head. It freaked her out! Ha! She was being pranked!

Hermione gave a laugh, bringing down her wand to her side while shaking her head with a smile. "Okay, guys. You got me good. I am quite furious you did this to me but a pranks is a prank. Now come out" She said as she waited for some Gryffindor wizards to come out from the trees to laugh at her face but when she waited for 5 minutes of nothing her previous confusion went back to haunt her.

"Do you believe me now?" The voice said irritated. Hermione had to gulp back a scream as she suddenly felt the morning air collide with her skin and her own sanity lessening.

"What are you?" Hermione asked frightened. After finding the courage not to faint. Horrible thoughts ran through her mind and every second one of them had something to do of Hermione being curse by a talking ghost, that she can't seem to see, and was going a go at her.

"My name is whatever you want it to be though what I am, well… I'm not quite sure… Maybe I'm you. Only more honest"

"Honest? Am I not honest enough?" Hermione asked incredulously, sounding offended by the voice's implications.

"You're intelligent and well beyond your years but you're hardly honest."

"You're testing my patience! What are you and why am I the only one who can hear you?" Hermione said with a snide. The voice's opinion of her was a bit shady, it irritated her enough to squash any dread and was slowly morphing her fear into frustration.

The voice gave a sigh, clearly feeling boredom at their choice of topic. "As I have said, I am you. Nobody can hear me because nobody is supposed to hear me and don't think this is accommodating for me either. I only have you to talk to…" the voice grumbled. "…not that you're a talker or anything"

Hermione huffs at the voice's comment and glares at a nearby tree though she knew it would be a useless act of showing anger towards the invisible entity. She growls. "How did you come about?" Wanting to change the topic before it speaks anymore words of her choice of entertainment.

"I can't tell you. At least not yet"

"And why not?" She said crossing her arms. She waited for it to reply but it didn't come. Hermione taps her foot on a rock while still waiting. When she couldn't wait anymore she shouts. "I said why NOT?!" It didn't occur to her that her shouting also got someone else' attention as Hermione heard some bushes sway and out came a person.

"Are you talking to someone?" The bookworm was startled yet again though this time she acted like she was caught doing something bad as she suddenly faces the uninvited stranger. Her brown ones met piercing blue eyes and blonde hair as she gave a nervous smile in return with the French' confuse ones. It was evidently the same blonde girl who she seems to take her attention at the arrivals of the 2 schools. Fluer Delacour.

Hermione had a moment to think about the blondes words. She had half a mind to tell the truth but the truth oddly seems crazy enough for anyone's ears. I mean, how will she even answer that question? I WAS TALKING TO A VOICE INSIDE MY HEAD. Now that's one way of getting her to a wizard's psychiatric ward. Whatever version they have, at least.

Hermione opens her mouth to utter sentences but out came light squeaks. Hermione's cheek reddens at her humiliated way of replying and further clears her throat to talk back much more courtly. "Um.. no. No, I am.. alone. I wasn't talking to anyone" She said nervously.

The French took notices of her and steps forwards and away from the bushes to reveal herself more. She is squinting her eyes at Hermione and looks as though she was trying to put back the puzzle she seems to have made for herself. She walks closer while all Hermione did was feel anxiousness swell to her chest at being stared upon, waiting for the other person to say a word.

"Then why where you shouting, if you say you are alone?" The Fluer probed again as the bookworm suddenly willed her damn mind to make up an excuse. Fortunately, it worked after the second time she berated herself.

"I was practicing lines" She said unconvincingly.

"Lines?"

Hermione nods along feeling a nervous laugh to escape her lips. "Yes, lines from a story I have read. A friend of mine were planning on practicing them. She and I will attempt on playing it in front of people" Hermione wasn't so keen with her excuse as it felt like she's digging herself to a deeper hole. The blonde raised her eyebrow at Hermione, clearly not buying any of it.

"Anyway what, pray tell, is the story?" Fluer's voice was lace with doubt.

"Um…" Hermione was feeling the heat rise to her forehead while absently looking around. Damn! This girl is relentless. Hermione heard the voice say while the bookworm wanted to butcher the voice for even landing her in this mess.

Hermione side glances at the blonde French and sees her getting suspicious.

'Talk to her! She is getting impatient!'

'Then help me think of something!'

'Tell her… Romeo and Juliet!'

She didn't second thought about the title and just utters it. "…Romeo and Juliet" Hermione said with pride at having to answer the question with medium difficulty. Only after registering fully the words she just said did she wanted to slap her forehead with a hammer. It was a fucking tragic romance! Romance!

'Oppsss…. Sorry. Hehehe'

'YOU FUCKING…'

Hermione notice Fluer's comprehensive eyes as she too, gave an awkward look after Hermione had answered her. Her expression turned from suspicion to downright shock while she steps back not clearly expecting the bookworm's words. "A love story then." She said still sceptical at Hermione though now she couldn't quite look her in the eye.

The bookworm wanted to protest. To take back whatever she had said over the past minutes. She even had hope the French, being a wizard and all, wouldn't have known of her muggle stories but clearly she knew of that too therefore it all left her in ruins. So with great dismay, she swallowed her sighs and nods, defeated. "Yes, a love story"

The blonde nods solemnly, still can't quite look her straight. "And 'you're girl… friend and you will be doing it as main characters? I presume"

Hermione had decided she should derail this topic all together and end each question to the best of her abilities. Though the blonde's choice of words has gotten her a bit defensive. Was she trying to point something to her?

"Yes. My girl…" She coughs. " …friend and I will take the lead role as Romeo and Juliet in an avid love story"

"ohh" she said as if she had heard someone say crude things. "But 'you're both girls?" She asks.

"Yes, we will be girls but I do not think unprofessionalism will hinder our progress as she can act very well to her character.. Why do you ask? Are you bothered by the prospect of it?" Hermione asked back.

"That is not it" She shakes her head before stiffen and went back to take her words and nods along. "I mean… yes, it is bothering me. Clearly a more appropriate role for those parts will have to be… male and female not…"

"…Female and female?" Hermione ended for her, now clearly mad.

The blonde thinks for a while "Oui" before she nods simply while expecting Hermione to just agree with her on the spot.

"And why should that be?" She tries to restrain herself with a hiss.

"Because it is very scandalous to influence students to allow such preference to linger as an idea of some sort. It would just add to the freaks into this world" she said with slight disgust. "Furthermore, the chances of younger wizards suddenly delving into a taboo relationships because of 'our play will reap abominable results"

Hermione always believe in equalism as much as she was a feminist. She was taught by her mother to respect all genders and that goes without saying that lesbians and gays were in those list. Although, she herself, has still unidentified her sexuality given she always buries herself in books every chance she got and has limited experience in actual social group gatherings, it leaves everything still on uncharted lands for Hermione. That doesn't mean she'll sit ideally by as another person question the idea of equal treatment. Along with the fact, that the French's words seem too dribbled with slight disgust and ignorance was what made Hermione really quiver in anger.

Hermione grits her teeth and walks dangerously close to the taller woman while glaring at her. "Are you saying roles such as Romeo and Juliet should just be played by heterosexual partners because it is expected? What about those who wish to play each part by the same sex? Should their requests be rejected because it is more appropriate to do expected norms? Tell me, where's the justice in that?!" The French looked taken back by her sudden anger while she steps back to give some distance between them while she came up with a reply.

"Justice? We live in a world that is supposed to follow certain traditions… and what 'you're telling me is to just bend all those for the sake of…" the French girl waves her hands in the air trying to find the correct words but she failed as she just shouted. "… Whatever it is you call it! It is unrefined and most of all it is strange. Abnormal!"

"You speak of such things as if you have any right to call it abnormal. Yes, it may be a little different from where you came from. Given it isn't normal to be portraying a character which is to be played by the same sex but that doesn't mean all your opinion regarding homosexuality should be conveyed as an abomination! Once more, young wizards, even without having to watch my play, will admittedly question their preference along the road. It's the way things are now so you shouldn't be so judgmental. People deserve to have the chance to express themselves!"

"And to what degree, hmm?" The French spat back. "People who express themselves in such light will still be considering a freak. I am only telling you these to save you the trouble of humiliating not just you but also 'our friend."

"We are not humiliating ourselves! Mind you, this is a play between hearts. Between love. Can you actually say you can contradict someone so beyond your control by a flick of your bigotry opinions? Whether it may be, our play will be a success with both female genders as the main protagonist and nothing you will say will change that"

Hermione, by now, felt being judge. It was a sick feeling for her. She didn't need those kinds of reaction. The bookworm regarded the other person's ashamed expression and knowing Hermione had made her think was enough for one day and slowly walks pass the French as it was the way back to the castle.

Hermione stops for a second as she turns back to gaze at the silent blonde, she said. "You really shouldn't corporate everything only to two separate halves. It just shows you only see the world as merely black and white"

And with that she continued on walking back to the castle.

'Wow.. that was some retaliations… It would have sounded cooler if you ended it with. Come with me if you want to live' Even doing Arnold Schwarzenegger's accent in the Terminator. Typical. She rolls her eyes. Not only is it annoying it's also a dork.

"Ohh shut up you!" She mutters after.

Hermione was still fuming when she got back to the castle; already showered, dress and ready to kick anyone who suddenly has a knack for making her sourer. The voice was a perfect example but it was the one thing she can't seem to get rid of. Ron sure has been snapped at for telling jokes that wasn't considerably close to funny as it was borderline insulting. But the voice had not stopped annoying her since she had heard it speak and since then had she gotten an enormous amount of headache. It doesn't seem faze that Hermione kept telling it to go away and go back to any place it had come from nor was it bother that she had, countless, curse it to shut up.

Added that she just had a very awful conversation with a certain Beauxbatons wizards, made the bookworm terribly shot headed. Anyone Durmstrang, Hogwarts or even the Beauxbatons student were way out of their way to let the brunette walk, afraid of the dark murderous vibe she was exuding. Hermione could only say they have done the right thing because she was ready to hex anyone who dare try to snap her last straw.

'So, what are we going to do today?'

'Nothing'

'Nothing? You're walking so that must be something'

'Just mind you own business!"

She sat down on the Gryffindor table in the great hall and started filling her plate, her mood still in a bunch. When it had reached the amount she needed, which is a lot, she started eating. She was facing the Ravenclaw table and couldn't help but notice some wizards in blue just coming over to the table to eat. One of them was familiar to Hermione but she gave a disgruntled growl when she realizes it was the girl she just had a fight with.

"I feel sorry for whoever you're murdering with your eyes, Hermione" Ginny flops beside the brunette to also eat while Hermione gave her a small 'good morning' before glaring back at the blonde girl. Ginny followed her line of sight and manage a small 'ahh'.

Hermione stared back at the younger Weasley while giving a confuse look. "What?"

"Do you know her? People in our house seem enamoured with her charms and keeps talking about her." Ginny quips up.

"Oh she knows her alright. Just a tad bit on the underside, though'

Hermione rolls her eyes. "I couldn't possibly think of anything good to say about her given she's a bigoted, judgmental, opinionated know it all!" she growls out.

Ginny gave a chuckle. "Aren't those three the same? You're just being redundant" Hermione glares at her as she stopped whatever she was going to say. "So you have met. Anyway, why are you giving her the stink eye?"

"I don't want to talk about it. Just know that for a girl whose supposed to be 17 she still has a lot to know about the world" Hermione mutters before continuing her eating.

Ginny chuckles again. "The same goes for you, Hermione. For a girl who reads a good amount of time, you still have a lot to know about people"

'Hahaha. Burn!'

Hermione didn't answer back this time when she found the statement to be true. She glances back at the Ravenclaw table and found Fluer's eyes to be looking at her. She glares at the blonde, still showing how furious she was at her while the blonde only gave her a challengingly look.

"You visited Harry yet?" this time Hermione heard Ginny whisper. This cut her glaring contest with the blonde to warily stare at Ginny. She was so focus on her knew acquaintance the thought of Harry had just slipped out of her mind. She suddenly felt awful for even forgetting something so important.

Although only a handful have known of Harry's trip to the infirmary; Ron, Ginny, Dumbledore, Minerva and her, it wasn't enough to shut all sources of it all. People knew something have happen to Harry they just don't know what.

"No. I'm actually going after I finish eating."

"I wish I could go with you but we're supposed to get to class early for a discussion I could only grasp halfway" Ginny said forlornly. Hermione gave the girl an understanding look while patting her back. "Don't worry. I'll tell Harry you wanted to come visit him"

"Thanks" Ginny gave her a nod before she went to her food. A minute after, the younger Weasley noticed something.

"Where's my brother?"

'You're gonna get it now'

This made Hermione stiffen. The question was hardly a complicated thing to answer, it's just the answer was the problem. "Which brother?" Hermione asked innocently thought she already which one Ginny was pointing out.

The ginger haired girl glared at the brunette. "Hermione, you know which"

'I think enraging her is not going to look good for you'

"No, I don't" The bookworm began stuffing her mouth with food in an effort not to reply at Ginny's questions. The ginger haired girl stared suspiciously at her as she crossed her arms. "Where's Ron?"

The bookworm intentionally slowed her munching as well as swallowing her food though the glare she was being given was too much as she answered before the girl explodes. "I don't know"

"Hermione, I know you're lying. Now where's my brother?"

"I said I don't know" but she did know. Ron was locked in a broom closet just beside the Divination room after he jokingly turned her hair purple in an attempt to straighten out the curls. This wasn't taken too politely by the brunette and did a very close impression of a girl getting possessed by a demon. The poor boy could only ran away and hid himself in the broom closet not knowing Hermione could locked it from the outside.

Hermione was scared when Ginny slaps the table and glared at her while she growls. "Hermione Jane Granger! I want you to tell me where my brother is right now or I promise you you'll be sleeping by the black lake."

'Told you'

'Do you have to have an opinion for everything?'

Hermione didn't have any other choice than to give her the truth and was order back by Ginny to free her brother from the closet. She was grumbling under her breath as she traces back the last time she found the ginger boy. Ginny was so luck she somehow got her mother's scolding-trait or she'd be in the same situation her brother is. Then again, she wouldn't really lock the younger Weasley. Admittedly she could only do that to Ron and maybe to the twins too.

She was still grumbling as she made her way to the corridor, taking each turn with no more than a blank and neutral face. When she spotted the broom closet she also heard banging from the inside and couldn't help but laugh a little. It was still funny to her.

She knocks on it a few times and waited for Ron for any response.

"Thank Merlin! Help! Help! An evil witch locked me in this blasted broom closet! Please help me!" This git really was lucky he has a sister as intimidating as Ginny or else her eyebrow twitching wouldn't be the only thing left for him to remember.

"Who you calling an evil witch?!" She bangs back at Ron.

She heard an audible squeak and a groan. "Come on, Hermione. I'm sorry. I didn't mean it" Hermione snorts disbelievingly at Ron. She was going to shout back at him when she heard footsteps nearing towards her.

"Hello?" Hermione turns around and faced the owner of the voice. She expected a professor, and then she'd be in deep trouble even if they came from the same house, but to her relief she could see a girl with blonde hair, light blue eyes and a princess like statue. It was a student. She had her robes on as Hermione distinctly found out that the girl was in Slytherin from the green emblem from her chest but none the less Hermione didn't act so petulant at her and only stared back. Giving the girl a questioning look.

"Yes" She said while facing her.

The Slytherin girl paused after she saw Hermione and was doubtful if she should continue. But what made shock Hermione was when the girl decided to walked closer towards her and the closet still having an inquisitive look on her face. "I don't want to bother you but did I hear someone call for help?"

It seems their shouting not only attracted attention but meagre curiosity as well.

Hermione laughs and waves a hand. "Oh you must be hearing things. The only thing I hear are crickets" Hermione's first decision was to let Ron out of the closet but after hearing him dubbing her 'an evil witch' well… a little pay back is in session.

Another bang was heard from the broom closet followed by Ron's plea. "Help! Help! Get me out of here" Hermione grunted, then leans on the door to lessen the banging noise. Fortuitously, it just looks as though she was tired and only letting out some stream though it could be further from the truth. "There I hear it again" The girl said frantically. She could see that from this distance the girl wouldn't be able to hear much of Ron's call other than buzzing noises.

She smiled to the Slytherin girl. "Ignore it. It's nothing you should be worried about" the girl still appears to want to figure out the buzzing noise but Hermione insistence of it nonexistence shuts her up. This left the two in an awkward silence. The girl didn't know how to go about her business while not leaving Hermione the wrong impression of a Slytherin trait of rudeness. So Hermione thought she should cut the awkwardness first before the girl blows a fuse.

"Are you passing by? Maybe I can escort you to your destination"

The girl was still quiet. She looked like she was thinking about her offer but at the last minute she just shook her head. "No. I'd rather not"

Hermione could feel the animosity behind those words and realize that her offer would sound quite comical. All Slytherin knew of her pompous reputation regarding their arch rivalry between houses and won't hold it against the girl if she did reject her offer. She understood it clearly.

Hermione nods at her. "I guess you did the right thing. I wouldn't want another run in insults if I ever came hurtling with any Slytherins either" The girl gave Hermione a quizzical look of why her sudden change of mannerism but apprehends a minutes later. After a while giving a slight blush at thinking she was ashamed of going with a Gryffindor outside their houses. She clears her throat and shakes her head.

"That's not what I meant" She said rather small.

It was Hermione's turn to give her perplexed sight. "What do you mean then?" Another bang vibrated the wood taking Hermione off by an inch. Luckily, the girl didn't notice as she was staring intently on the floor while Hermione attacked with her own much silent slap.

The blonde girl gave a frustrating sigh, clearly showing how tired she was. "It's quite tiring. For the last three day, people kept escorting me like a child whenever I go. They keep asking me for favors but doesn't have the slightest desire to know give me some sort of space." she said frustratingly while looking back at Hermione. "Is it too hard to ask for a little privacy? Huh?!" she said with anger directing it at the bushy haired girl. Taking her by surprise by the sudden outburst.

Hermione shakes her head as her only means of response. Now more worried if she utters the wrong words. "Do I look that fragile? Or am I too delicate to just prance around the castle for entertainment? Do you know how much privacy I get here?" She asked walking closer to where Hermione was leaning. Again all Hermione could do was shake her head.

"10 minutes! 10 minutes I tell you! Not even a large amount of time to relax!" She said while leaning on the wall beside the brunette, who didn't expect the Slytherin girl to accompany her outside a broom closet. "Daphne this! Daphne that! Hey, Daphne let's do this! Let's do that! They can't even ask me what I want to do! Urghhhh!" She growls out louder and more menacingly. Hermione wasn't sure if she knows what was happening right now. A minute ago she was messing with Ron now she seems to have gotten company treating Hermione as if she's her personal psychiatrist.

"I reckon they just drag you wherever they want to go and do what they want to do?" Hermione said unsure if she should even reply back but when the Slytherin girl nods at her statement it made her sigh in relief for not doing something impolite.

"Yes! That's all they want of me!"

Internally, Hermione was throwing question marks but humors herself to just go along with it. Until the blonde girl realizes she's talking to Hermione Granger, Harry Potter's friends who's deeply in rivalry with the Slytherin but till then the only one getting complications from the girl's impending distraction was Ron so she's not complaining. "So how does that made you feel?"

The girl was quiet again while the bookworm thought she was done talking, but no, she was dead wrong. "Disappointed. Angry… bored"

"And why do you feel like that?"

Hermione turn her face to the side to look at her. The girl was seething, Hermione could feel it. "Because! I thought when I'm here things will be different from home! I wouldn't be treated like someone who can't handle anything. Angry because nobody seems to notice and bored because…" She stops there. The bookworm could see her blazed eye turn sad. Hermione could feel herself sympathize even when she really could fully comprehend her situation.

"… because I feel like I'm walking in these corridors like a hallow shell. I learn in these classroom with nothing to push me and I'm living here without any once of passion. Sometimes it makes me think if I'm missing something" The girl murmurs.

"Maybe a boyfriend" Ron says suddenly.

"What?" The girl turns her face to look at the bookworm only for Hermione to cough loudly a distraction to bang the door of the closet in hope to silence the ginger boy while giving a fake cough.

"I'm sorry my throat was twitchy." Hermione intentionally rubs her throat hoping she would buy it.

"Didn't you say something?"

"Oh!" Hermione was at it again, thinking for a cover up for Ron's casual interruptions. "I said maybe you need you need a friend"

The girl snorts. "I have loads of those already"

For some reason, she didn't quite believe that. Maybe the girl or Daphne as she calls it, must have literally understood friends as the ones she hangs out with, talks with and spend an enormous time but there's more than that to be a friend. And this poor girl might not even have one. Hermione saw herself in the girl. Her first year self. But the only difference would be, she literally didn't have one until Harry and Ron this girl however, is surrounded by willing participants just not sincere enough.

"Yet I don't seem to hear any of them trying their best to be your friend" she said a matter of fact while the girl glares at her for a moment but didn't snide back.

"Be that as it may, I don't think a friend is what I need"

"I beg to defer" Hermione subdue herself away from the door to inch closer to Daphne who seems to look at Hermione as if she was doing something odd. Hermione locks eyes with her and gave a smile. "I think what you need is a friend outside your house. Maybe from.. Gryffindor" She said suggestively.

The girl raised eyebrow at Hermione but didn't shy away from their staring. "And why would I want that?"

"Having a friend from another house will show you another point of view. People will be different. You might even find what you're looking if you try hard enough to have a real friend"

The girl snorts again. "I'm a Slytherin and even though we always talk about unity in Hogwarts, It isn't common that most of the students here are a bit discriminating and stereotype. I'm a snake because I'm from the Salazar house. Who would want to be my friend, other than my house?" The girl said sadly than scolding and for once Hermione didn't pity her, though she felt rather please that she didn't see things like other Slytherin do.

Hermione inches more closer only 5 inches away, she was practically overstepping boundary but the other girl wasn't complaining so she didn't stop. Hermione reached her hand and grasp Daphne's while careful not to startle her. If the girl was surprise and a bit comprehensive, she didn't showed it and let Hermione continued. The bookworm gave another warm smile and squeezes her hand.

"I don't know about other people but I'm willing to be your friend. If you'd let me that is"

The girl was shock at Hermione's response while she continued to stare at the bookworms' eyes searching for any hint of deception but she could only see compassion and kindness. She steps back; too overwhelmed. She couldn't stop the blush that grace her cheeks as she pulls back her hand away from Hermione's grasp and stutters maddeningly. "Wha..wa.. What are.. you talking about? My friend?"

Hermione frowns at her distancing but shrugs it away. "Yes, you're friend"

"But we just met! I don't know anything about you!" She said as if she was being interrogated. Hermione gave a hearty laugh and smiles back. "I'm not asking you to marry me. I'm asking you to be my friend" The girl blushes harder yet manages to scowl at Hermione, who didn't mind the girl's action. "It's not that uncommon to be friends with strangers. Most people start with unfamiliarity"

"But…"

"But what? I thought you wouldn't mind being with another house as long as they don't mind and judge you, or did I get that wrong?" Hermione was smirking right now while the girl only stares at the brunette like she's done something unspeakable. "Okay, you didn't get that wrong but still.."

"Okay" she leans back on the wall but with her shoulders while retaining her smirk. "Give me one good reason for you to reject my offer including that fact that you wouldn't mind me being a Gryffindor and experiencing new things" She said challengingly.

Daphne ponders about it while Hermione amusedly look at her changing expression from confusion, determination then anger then back to confusion. In the end she gave a sigh and looks at Hermione with a frown making the brunette grin at already knowing the answer. "Oh don't you grin at me. I still haven't taken your friendship"

"Ahh" Hermione waves a finger at her. "but you're still not saying no either"

Daphne sighs again but didn't faze the brunette. "Fine! Fine! You're my friend now"

Hermione chuckles and walks closer to Daphne again, who seem to blush again from the proximity, while looking intently at her. "I'm sorry if you took that as forced and I'm just kidding. I don't have to be your friend if you don't want me to. I know Malfoy and his goons hate my guts for being Harry's friend, a Gryffindor and being a mudblood therefor I might drag you along with all of those fusses if you do decided associating with me. I was just messing with you" This time Hermione turns her back at Daphne and went back to the broom closet to flick the door open. She thought the ginger boy had enough and she was still meeting Harry in the infirmary. A very dishevel Ron came out of it glaring lightly at the bookworm, whom who ignored it and started walking away. Though before she did go, she looks back at the Slytherin girl with a sincere look. "Though I wasn't kidding about you finding a decent friend, one who really won't mind knowing who you really are and!... My friendship still stands" she then turn to leave while Ron looks confused of the two witches but decided to follow Hermione to the great Hall.

Daphne's mind wasn't focus at that time and could only look on at Hermione's retreating back. Hermione's words leaving a beautiful mess in her head.

…

"Who was that?" Ron asked after keeping up with Hermione's stride.

"Daphne"

"And who's Daphne?"

Hermione smiles back at the memory back in the broom closet. "A friend" Ron felt like there was an inside joke from what the brunette had said but didn't ask further and made their way to the great hall to eat and then hurriedly visit Harry before their first class.

Chapter 3 finished! Wow, I liked writing this one mostly because I love the interaction Daphne had with Hermione. You guys just have to know that Fluer in this fic is a bit different and wanted a learning process for each one of them. Meaning, I won't just make them fall in love with Hermione but she has have to earn it. I found it endearing that way.