Ron couldn't even talk at breakfast. His eyes darted around the table, he stacked food on his plate in a pile taller than Mount Everest, but he didn't take a single bite. He just held a fork in one hand and a knife in the other.
The look in his eyes reminded Hermione of the dogs in the animal shelter commercials she'd seen on her parents' telly.
Since Ginny was accepted as a Chaser this year, Hermione was left companionless for Quidditch games. Luna wouldn't have been her first choice, but Hermione didn't have many options. Her dreamy expression coupled with her alarmingly insightful perspective unnerved Hermione. She saw her long platinum hair turning a corner, "Luna!" She called. There was no response.
Was Luna ignoring her? Did she find someone else to sit with? Maybe Hermione misunderstood their conversation.
Luna poked her head back around the corner. Hermione chided herself for overthinking the friendly girl's actions.
"Good morning Hermione!" Luna called back to her.
Hermione walked over and linked arms with her. Tiny glass mushrooms dangled from Luna's ears, they were startlingly similar to the Speckled Robin Red Mushrooms Hermione and Malfoy picked on their first forage.
"Good morning Luna."
They made it halfway down the hall before Theo came up to them, "Miss Lovegood and Miss Granger", he said with a grandiose bow, "If I may accompany you ladies to the Quidditch game, I will die a happy man."
"Die?" Hermione questioned with the raise of an eyebrow.
"I accidentally," he shrugged, waving a hand nonchalantly, "...may have misplaced a herd of geese in Umbridge's office."
"Oh Theo, don't worry. They won't kill you for that." Luna said comfortingly. Theo wiped fake sweat off of his forehead.
"Well, these geese...how do I say this in polite company? The geese had an unpredictable surge in bowel movements as soon as I locked them in there." His slender fingers dragged along the stone wall as they walked.
Hermione twirled a strand of her thick, unruly hair. She looked at Luna's glossy platinum white locks in envy. A fleeting thought crossed her mind that if she looked and acted more like Luna, boys would find her more approachable and likable.
Luna interrupted her insecure pondering. It was like she could see a toxic green radiation glow surrounding Hermione's head like a halo, a telltale sign of the poisonous thoughts ruminating inside.
With all of her talk about Nargles, it might be worthwhile speculation.
"Rest assured Theodore Nott, they stopped killing Hogwarts students as a punishment for rule breaking in... Hermione, what year was it?" Luna asked in her sweet, melodic voice.
The sudden attention made Hermione's face heat. She had been content to remain awkwardly silent during Luna and Nott's conversation, "The administration never killed Hogwarts students, and they haven't used the Cruciatus curse since the Middle Ages."
"That certainly is both a relief and a disappointment to hear." He said. Luna's large blue eyes looked at him in mild amusement before turning to look out a passing window.
At their lack of verbal response, he continued saying, "You know, it was like a joke about suicide?" He held his arms up in mock surrender, "Don't report me to Dumbledore," he continued, "I swear I won't do it. Just a joke," he barked out laughter at their expressions. Hermione was overwhelmed by his confident charisma and outspoken manner.
"Alright," he clapped his hands, "You ladies don't mind if I sit with you, right?"
Hermione didn't understand why he wanted to sit in the Gryffindor section with them when he had friends like Pansy Parkinson and Blaise Zambini to be with.
He's just doing it as a joke, no one would risk house criticism to sit with someone as unbearable as you. Especially not someone as charismatic and outgoing as him.
No, that was ridiculous. In all of their years of school together, he'd never said anything unkind to her even when his friends did.
But he never said anything when his friends did…
Memories flooded her thoughts of walking to class and holding her breath, hoping she might creep by without someone making a spectacle of her.
One month in her second year, she woke up an hour early each morning to test hair products, hoping one would successfully tame her vicious curls in a way that would finally shut Pansy Parkinson up. One of those bottles burnt her scalp, she was forced to run to Madam Pomfrey with her head in searing agony. The next day Malfoy and his friends jeered about a "...Crying Mudblood wailing through the halls like a ghost".
It was strange, she could somehow forget that Malfoy starred in the 'Hermione Granger Show' as the main antagonist. But Theo, someone who hadn't even auditioned for a supporting role, felt less redeemable.
She'd come to expect nothing except the worst from Draco Malfoy. She held strangers to a higher accountability than she did her classmate of five years.
"I don't think it would be a good idea for you to sit with us." The biting words slipped out of Hermione's mouth without a second thought. Theo's playful smile faded.
It felt like she hit a dog for bringing her the wrong newspaper.
Look what you did. No wonder all of the purebloods hate you. You bitch about equality and then when they finally treat you with respect, you bitch some more. Nothing will ever satisfy you. And so you distract yourself with other peoples-"
"Hermione, it's lovely to have a new friend don't you think." Luna smiled at her like she could sense Hermione's thoughts. "Theodore Nott is in my Herbology class —a lovely subject— and I said he could sit with us yesterday," she said in her dreamy voice.
"Theodore Nott," she turned to him, "Hermione Granger is such a wonderful person so caring towards others." She turned towards Hermione, "And Theodore Nott is so caring towards himself. You both could learn so much from each other," she finished.
Hermione was reminded that Luna marched to the beat of her own drum when it came to social intelligence.
"Well, thank you for the...erm... compliment Luna! Let's get moving," Theo said, linking an arm between each of theirs. His side pressed into Hermiones, giving her the faintest impression of his body heat. His cologne gave her a whiff of tobacco and vanilla.
Hermione preferred the warm and comfortable Hogwarts library over the rickety Quidditch stands. Despite her crimson striped scarf, hat, mittens, and thick robes, she was freezing. The wooden bench was uncomfortable and cold. Her spine would be complaining the rest of the day due to the backless bleachers.
But her friends would be disappointed if she didn't show.
If anyone had a problem with Theo and his emerald green robes, they didn't confront him.
"What's going on down there?" Theo pointed to the pitch.
"It looks like the Slytherin team has added a new accessory to their uniforms," Luna said. She uncapped a thermos full of hot chocolate charmed to stay warm and started pouring it into cups.
Lavender turned around from her seat in front of them, "They're making fun of Ron. Malfoy made badges that say, 'Weasley is our King'".
Of course he did. The blonde Slytherin had a peculiar affinity for bullying via the use of badges.
"Hi, Lavender." Theo waved lazily at her.
"Oh hey, Theo! I didn't know you were sitting with us today." It seemed Theo and Hermione shared more than a few mutual acquaintances.
Both teams kicked off the ground and assumed their positions.
Hermione couldn't help that her eyes wandered to pale golden hair in a green uniform.
He raised an arm in the air as a conductor would, and then ceremoniously dropped it. Immediately, the Slytherin stands became a messy chorus.
It took her a few moments to understand what they were trying to say, only hearing the words, "Weasley", and "King".
Lucky for her, the Slytherins were more than happy to repeat it.
"Weasley cannot save a thing,
He cannot block a single ring,
That's why Slytherins all sing:
Weasley is our King.
Weasley was born in a bin
He always lets the Quaffle in
Weasley will make sure we win
Weasley is our King.
Weasley is our King,
Weasley is our King,
He always lets the Quaffle in
Weasley is our King."
The Gryffindor stands erupted in yells of fury. Ron's face was dropped in shame. Throughout the game, he was flustered and sloppy. Visibly rattled, he allowed several goals to be scored.
Hermione hoped this didn't have a lasting effect on his love for Quidditch. His confidence was easily crushed.
She peered around the field for Harry. Instead, she found Malfoy, staring at her from his broom. He smirked at her once he realized she was looking. It was a possessive, meaningful and almost expectant stare. One a friend would give another while they shared a secret joke. She'd only ever seen him direct this look towards Lucius Malfoy, waiting for his approval and praise on whatever blood supremacist thing he just said.
Behind him, Harry soured through the air. He was like a streak of crimson paint on a canvas chasing after a golden speck.
Malfoy followed her gaze to see Harry close his fist around the snitch. His smirk dropped. She smiled.
The Gryffindor stands shot to their feet applauding and cheering. Even Theo raised a fist into the air.
Both teams descended to the ground. A hoard of Gryffindors gathered around Harry, clapping him on the back and cheering.
Suddenly, Malfoy shot across the pitch flanked by two other boys. Harry turned around to face him. She could see wild gestures and angry frowns, but she couldn't hear what they were saying.
George and Harry suddenly lunged at him. Everyone in the stands gasped.
"That's hot," Lavender muttered to Parvarti around a mouthful of popcorn.
It took three people to hold back George Weasley, they frantically grasped at his uniform and flailing body. Harry tried to charge at Malfoy again only to be yanked back by Fred.
Ron put his arm around Harry's shoulder and walked him off the field.