A/N: Standard disclaimer; see chapter 1 for details.

Hermione's mind was more active than her legs as she followed the boys around the fog-shrouded Black Lake. Absorbed in sorting major points for her next tutorial session, she failed to hear footsteps behind her.

"It's a lovely morning to do this."

"Ack!" Startled, she tripped over her own feet and landed on her knees. Looking up at the person who had turned after running past her, she gasped, "Luna! Where did you come from?"

"I saw you the first week and then heard about how you and your friends work on your endurance in the early part of the day. I thought it was a brilliant idea and decided to join in." Her face fell. "Unless this is something private for the four of you."

Hermione pushed herself to her feet and pointed. "The boys are half a kilometre ahead of me, so the only private thing about this was the discussion in my head." She began moving again and waved for Luna to join her. "You're welcome to participate, but I should warn you that the few people who have tried this only lasted one session."

"I wonder why?" the blonde asked, puzzled. "I'm hardly winded."

The older girl spun around and briefly ran backwards as she judged the distance from the castle. "Luna, most magical people think we're slightly crazy for trying to get into physical shape. Well, they enjoy the football games but running for its own sake–they see no purpose to it."

"Then they must lead boring lives. My dad and I go out each summer looking for magical animals that few people have seen. Research for our magazine, you understand."

Hermione nodded. "The Quibbler, isn't it? You print interesting and informative stories but don't provide much visual documentation."

Despite upping the pace, Luna still managed to shrug her shoulders in nonchalance. "They aren't easy to find. We hike maybe half the day only to learn that they are too shy to show themselves. And then others make it very plain they don't want to be discovered at all. We have to run away at least twice each expedition." She hummed a little. "If I keep this up all year, I can probably out-strip Daddy in our retreats."

"He leaves you behind?" The brunette stopped in her tracks.

"Well, I wouldn't be much of an investigative journalist if I had to be coddled along, now would I?"

Hermione set out again, muttering, "Magical folk should have to pass a competency test before becoming parents!"

"Don't look now," Theodore Nott murmured to Hermione, "but the Headmaster is glaring at us."

"It's not personal," she quietly informed him. "He thinks we are stealing his thunder by assisting our fellow students reach their true potential."

"I'm not sure about potential," Vince spoke up from across their table in the Great Hall, "but my last History score was fifteen points higher than the first exam. Those 'nemy' things worked like a treat."

"Mnemonic," she murmured, writing notes with both hands. "Sorry, Theo," she glanced up at him, "I'm comparing Professor Thibodeaux's syllabus with the study guide put out by Ravenclaw for Binns's classes. It's a bit irritating that they charmed it to be uncopyable, but at least the portions which are on the exams are highlighted. With input from both sources, I'm able to identify the most important points, and those are what we'll emphasize. If our friends master those, then the rest of the information will fall into place."

The Slytherin gave her an admiring glance. "For being muggleborn, you certainly have a firm grasp on magical history."

"Thank you, Dobby." She paused when a fresh cup of tea appeared at her elbow then turned to grin at the boy beside her. "And for your family background, you appear to be amazingly accepting of my blood status."

"Ouch." He acknowledged the point. "Luckily, my father was so disabled that I managed to keep him potioned up enough to follow my own path."

"Normally I would not approve of drugging your parents, but in your case you were definitely better off." She looked up. "Did you finish the worksheet then, Greg? Let me check it over for you."

The large boy gave her a shy smile. "Professor Tibby is a big improvement over Old Binns, but it still seems easier to understand when you explain it."

"Maybe that's because I had learned most of what has been taught before starting Hogwarts. You're doing much better now, and it wouldn't surprise me if you made 'Exceeds' by the end of the year."

Theo whistled in appreciation. "That's a lofty goal, but I've decided not to bet against any of you nobles. Which reminds me…"

"Yes, Theo, I will take the session tomorrow afternoon during the Quidditch shakedown runs. Of course, opening up the practice to everyone who is interested in knowing if they have the ability to attempt tryouts may mean that I will be sitting here by myself."

A wispy voice spoke behind her. "Don't worry, Hermione, I'll keep you company."

"Rowena! Luna, I wish you'd stop sneaking up on me!"

"I'm letting you go one last time, Miss Edgecombe," Nurse Pomfrey's voice was frustrated, "but if you fall and twist your ankle again, I will insist that you let me cast more extensive diagnostic spells on you."

"No, no, I'm sure I'm just fine. Only a little clumsy this year." Marietta leaned on her friend.

"If she does, I'll make sure she stays for them, Matron," Cho promised.

"Make sure you do. If her balance is impaired, she could be a danger to both herself and others."

The Ravenclaw common room never became as noisy and raucous as, say, the Gryffindor one, but the soft murmurs and quill scratches came to a complete halt and silence hung in the hair when the House head entered. Due to the nature of its members, Flitwick seldom had need to make an appearance and hardly ever for disciplinary purposes.

The diminutive professor slowly cast his gaze about until he focussed on Hermione and her companion. They rose as he approached them.

"Miss Granger, Miss Lovegood?"

"Yes, professor," they replied.

"Miss Lovegood, Miss Granger has brought something to my attention."

The atmosphere thickened with those words, and some students flinched when the part-goblin's eyes scanned the audience.

Luna turned to Hermione, almost in accusation, until Flitwick continued. "I remember well your mother; Pandora Haywood, she was then. What a talent she showed, from her first day in class. I understand that she left us tragically early a few years ago."

"Yes, sir," the girl whispered, "I was with her at that time."

"How difficult for you," he patted her hand, "but it must have been a comfort for her to have someone beside her as she left for the next great adventure."

"Thank you, sir." A lone tear marred Luna's cheek.

"Now, I didn't intend to make you sad!" he exclaimed. "I was wondering if you would care to have tea with me some evening? I would be more than pleased to tell you what your mother was like at your age. Perhaps share some stories of which your father is unaware, as he graduated several years before her."

"Professor," Luna clapped her hands, "that would be beyond delightful."

"Of course, it would be inappropriate for us to be alone. We could have either another professor or a friend to chaperone us."

"Oh, sir," the girl smiled, "could Hermione, I mean, Miss Granger, accompany us?"

"I don't see why not." He beamed. "Shall we compare our schedules tomorrow at the breakfast meal?"

They quickly agreed, and he departed thereafter.

Cho raised her head from behind the couch back where she had crouched. "Mari, I thought we would be in for it! Do you think she will tell?"

Marietta scoffed. "There's no proof that we began it. Besides, that plan is out the window now."

"Thank goodness." Cho heaved a sigh of relief. "I felt like I was kicking a puppy."

"It's not as if it was anything personal. It was just to distract Granger from Harry. Although," she frowned, "I believe you were right in your assessment of her feelings."

"So we can relax and have a normal year now?"

"No," Marietta turned an ancient page carefully, "I have a new rival."

"For Morgana's sake, Mari, half the girls in school are in love with him!"

"But there's only one that has been actively hindering my progress." She looked up. "The last time I fell, as I lay on the floor, I saw someone retreating after staring at me smugly. She was rather easy to identify."

"Then let's tell a professor. No one is supposed to be firing spells in the hallways."

"No, she has made it personal. And we are going to make her pay for it." She returned her attention to the book in front of her.

Cho's eyes widened. "That's from the Restricted Section! How did you get it?"

"I convinced Professor Snape that I needed to access one for a research project. You know he thinks I'm a potions prodigy. And," she stabbed at the page, "I am going to prove him right."

Her friend followed the pointing finger. "Polyjuice potion?" It was at this point that the girl began to wish that she had tried to make more friends instead of clinging to the daughter of her father's co-worker.

"This tutoring plan of yours was a great idea." Dean turned to Hermione in the room a week later. "Who knew all of the events that were happening right alongside normal–I mean, muggle–history?"

"Well, that is the point of the Statute of Secrecy. And for people as bright as you, it just took a little added reading material to get you up to speed." Dean was happy for his grades to skate between Acceptable and Exceeds Expectations, concentrating instead on Charms and Transfiguration, as he could see application in those areas for his artistic interests.

"Yeah, it's great for us, but what about the younger years?" he asked. "There's this bloke in Gryffindor, Colin, who's almost as lost as I was. His da's a milkman, and he doesn't have a clue either."

"Colin Creevey," Hermione ran the name through her mental RolodexⓇ. "That's the boy who has a crush on Harry, isn't it?"

Seamus, who had just walked up, chuckled. "That's what we tease Potter with, anyway. The tyke's just camera-mad and has a bad case of celebrity worship. Somehow he managed to get hold of one of those trashy books about him."

"Well, maybe he should be spending time with Ginevra, so they can compare notes," Hermione said with a wink.

The two boys guffawed and Harry, seeing them glance his way, groaned, "I don't want to know about it, do I?"

"Probably not," Neville agreed. "Hermione may like to concentrate on academics, but that girl has a wicked tongue. Oops, stay sharp; she's heading our way."

"Gentlemen," she began, "Mssrs Thomas and Finnegan have indicated that the first years would benefit with a tutoring program such as we have set up."

"But–"

She interrupted Harry's comment, "I am not saying that we should take on that burden. However, we can advise those of that year who might choose to design their own schedule of assistance."

"Brilliant!" Justin joined them. "That would certainly be an appropriate job for a mentor." He gave a small laugh. "Don't worry; I haven't been spying on you lot. This happens a lot in British society."

"Yeah," Dean agreed, "we have Big Brothers Big Sisters in my neighborhood. But, how will they get organized enough to, well, get organized?"

"Class rankings will be posted at midterm," Hermione informed them. "They can then see who is best in what subject. Luna, who is remarkable with Charms and would make an interesting teacher, has insight into publicity with her background. Perhaps she could get with your photographer friend and spread the word. After all," she gave a sly smile, "Mr. Creevey would love to follow in his idol's footsteps."

"Yep," Harry muttered to Neville, "I knew I didn't want to know."

His friend nodded. "With Draco busy with a Potions session, she has fewer targets to pick on. Thank goodness she decided it was your turn."