The Great Hall was a ruckus of noise, with friends greeting friends and comparing class schedules when I walked in. I was almost bowled over as one boy shouted with enthusiasm and ran over to embrace his friend, rushing past me. I started to stumble backwards out of the way, tripping the process.

However, rather than being met by the ground, I bumped into someone, taking them down under me. I was rather well off, as the object's arms wrapped around me and kept me from hitting hard as I fell, but it couldn't have made their fall any nicer.

I rolled off the person frantically, turning to apologize to whoever had been the victim of my clumsiness, only to be met with the silvery-blue eyes of Malfoy.

"Are you going to make crashing into me a habit, Granger?" he groaned, struggling up to a sitting position.

"Maybe you shouldn't lurk so close behind people, then I wouldn't have knocked you down with me!" I huffed, my cheeks flushing with anger and embarrassment. I saw him open his mouth to retort, but finding my patience wearing thin, I quickly turned and stalked away towards the Gryffindor table before he could utter a sound.

"Hermione!" I heard my name shouted above the din. I turned to see Ron waving his hand madly at me, beckoning me over to join him. I smiled, glad to see one of my friends after having to spend the past few hours with the Ferret.

"'Morning Ron," I said with reinforced cheer. Glancing around us, I noticed a couple of my friends were absent. "Where are Harry and Ginny?"

"Harry dashed in a bit ago, grabbed some toast and headed out. I think he and Ginny were planning on taking a walk around the grounds before classes. But that's all I know, and as Ginny's older brother, that's all I want to know." He began spooning eggs onto his plate, followed by a few kippers, some toast, and a heap of potatoes. I looked on in disgust.

"How on earth can you eat that much? Do you ever stop?" I questioned, losing my appetite as Ron shoveled food into his mouth like a starved man. Ron got a curious look on his face.

"-Ermione—" he began, but I put up a hand to silence him.

"At least pretend you have some manners." I interjected. He swallowed his painfully large mouthful and started again.

"How is your new common room?"

"Well…" I didn't really know how much I should tell him about my new dormitories, because I was certain that any topic like this would lead straight to a rant about Malfoy, and I had had my fill of those rants to last me until I graduate. "It's very nice, it has a kitchenette and everything" I said, avoiding the subject of my room, the hidden dance studio, and Malfoy.

"Well, that's cool," Ron said awkwardly. There was a tense silence, and I pretended to be extremely interested in my breakfast. I could feel Ron staring at the side of my face, and I could feel myself blushing. I really hoped that Harry and Ginny would decide to cut their walk short, the tension was insane.

"So, did you do anything special this summer, 'Mione?" Ron finally said.

"Not much…I finished all of my homework in the first week, so I got the rest of the summer to relax," I replied vaguely. For some reason I had a strong urge to be alone. I didn't like the way that Ron was still looking at me; it was confusing. And I wasn't in the mood to make awkward conversation after my morning with Malfoy.

"You would do that," Ron said, smiling fondly at me. Okay, that was it, I was getting out of there. He was smiling a bit too fondly.

"He Ron, I think I'm going to go get my schedule from Professor McGonagall and then head to the library, I'll see you later," I rushed out, getting to my feet. Ron looked crestfallen.

"Why do you have to go to the library so soon? What on earth could you possibly need to research without having started classes?"

"Umm…I have to….uh…check out a copy of Hogwarts: A History before they're all gone," I created wildly.

Ron snickered. "'Mione, you're the only one who reads that book. I'm sure there are a million copies left. And you haven't even touched your breakfast!"

"Sorry Mom," I grumbled, slinging my bag over my shoulder, rolling my eyes. "And Ron," I said, turning back to him. He raised his eyebrows. "Don't call me 'Mione." And with that I stalked through the rows of benches and out the doors of the Great Hall.

I didn't understand why Ron seemed to be acting so different around me. Granted, I hadn't seen him all summer, so maybe I had just forgotten how he was, but he seemed almost…attracted to me. Teenage boys' hormones seemed to be on a constant rampage, so I hoped that he would get over his little fixation within a couple of days.

I walked down the corridor towards Professor McGonagall's office to pick up my schedule. Only then did I remember that I had talked to her about adding an "elective" sort of class to my schedule. I wondered what she had in store for me. If it were choir, I would talk about trading classes immediately. It's not that I couldn't sing, it's just that I get really self-conscious about it. Maybe it was some art class…But I dismissed that idea almost as soon as it came. Witches and Wizards did not do art the way that muggles did, because they created paintings that moved, and I doubted that Hogwarts had a class like that.

My brainstorming was cut short as I opened the door to the Professor's office. She looked the same as ever: sharp features, dark green robes, and her hair in a strict bun at the back of her head. At first glance, she seemed harsh, but I had had the privilege to know her outside of class, and I had seen those beady eyes soften and her eyes crinkle with frequent smiles.

"Good morning, Professor," I called from the doorway, alerting her to my presence. She glanced up from the extensive piece of parchment she was reading, smiling when she saw me.

"Ah, Ms. Granger! I was wondering when I'd be seeing you. Come in, come in." I came in and sat down on the armchair across from her desk.

"So, I came to get my schedule!" I said, sounding a little awkward.

"Oh of course! Give me just a minute…." And she opened a drawer by her desk, rifled through a few folders, and pulled out a piece of parchment with my name on the top, handing it to me.

"I know that you were looking forward to a different sort of class this year, and so I added an elective. You still have the NEWT level classes for Transfiguration, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Potions, Charms, and Herbology, but I replaced your History class with something…fun." McGonagall said, smiling up at me.

I looked down at my schedule and my mouth dropped open in shock. Right there, as my last class of the day was…..Dance. I was so happy I almost squealed. Not only would I be able to practice in my hidden studio, but I could also get coaching, which is something that I haven't gotten in years. I turned to McGonagall, who seemed to be enjoying my reaction.

"Thank you, Professor!" I exclaimed. I had a sudden urge to give her a hug because I was feeling so giddy, but I decided against it. Instead I smiled broadly and turned around to leave. A nice walk around the lake before my Potions class with Professor Slughorn sounded quite nice right about now.

I strolled through the halls, feeling a new bounce in my step, heading for the Front Doors of the school. When I reached them, I saw Harry and Ginny entering, both looking rather giddy. Ginny didn't have a hair out of place, but Harry's hair looked a little messier than usual. I rolled my eyes, knowing what they had been doing on that little walk around the lake. I'm not sure how much "walking" got done….I smirked.

"Hey! Hermione!" Ginny noticed me approaching them.

"Hi guys! How was your….walk?" I managed to put just enough of a pause before saying "walk." They both had the decency to flush a little.

"It was nice," said Harry, regaining his composure quickly. "It's really a nice day outside, too bad none of us take Care of Magical Creatures anymore! I wouldn't mind spending all day out there. But we have classes. Which sucks."

"Tell me about it," Ginny intoned, sighing. "So, Hermione, have you had breakfast yet?"

"Yea, I went in for a quick bite and Ron was there, and then I left to go talk to McGonagall about my schedule for the year, which, I'm pleased to say, is amazing." I ended with a smile.

Harry laughed. "Hermione, you would think anything was amazing as long as it required schoolwork. Oh, you were at breakfast with Ron? How was that?"

Wait, what? What was he asking me about my breakfast with Ron? He seemed a little bit like he was forcing a nonchalant expression whilst asking me too….

"Uh, breakfast was fine…you know, we ate, talked….not much."

"Its okay, Hermione, you can tell us how enormously awkward it was," Ginny interrupted, rolling her eyes. "We saw the way that he was looking at you on the train. You'd think he'd never seen a girl with boobs before!"

I blushed, feeling awkward about discussing my….uh….assets, in front of Harry. But he was just smiling sympathetically towards me.

"Yea, I guess it was awkward…He kept smiling funny at me, and he was staring a lot. And then he didn't want me to leave, which made me want to leave more….I don't know, it was really confusing," I said, shrugging my shoulders.

Ginny was annoyed. "You know, he had years to get on that, but he doesn't say a word. And I knew you liked each other for a while second and third year, but come on! You're not going to wait forever. He decides he doesn't want to make a move until you've got all curvacious?"

I had to laugh at her word choice, and even Harry chuckled.

"'Curvacious', Ginny? Really?"

"Harry, I'm just saying that he had his opportunity to tap that and he didn't. He needs to get over himself," Ginny responded, heatedly. Harry held his hands up in surrender.

"I'm not disagreeing with you, love." He turned to me. "Well, we should let you make your quick escape to the grounds before class. Ginny and I will try to talk to Ron, we'll see what we can do, alright?" He gave me a quick hug, before putting his arm around Ginny's shoulders and turning to leave.

As they were leaving, Ginny said, "Don't worry, we'll kick his ass for you if he gets outta line, brother or not. See you!" And with that they entered the Great Hall, leaving me to my walk.


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