Chapter 7 – As Hermione Stagent

They were all astonished when Hermione gave Remus's name. Actually, she just thought loudly and realized it when she looked at their surprised and puzzled gaze.

"How do you know his name?" Lily asked with surprise.

"Oh, I heard about him, that's all!" Hermione laughed like if nothing had happened.

"Did you hear about me?" Remus started to worry.

"Yes, Dumbledore told me about you!" She replied rapidly, she noticed he was paler than ever. "We discussed about you. He told me you were a prefect! That's all!"

"Ah, alright! I thought at one moment that you had fortune telling skills just like Friedenstatt!" Lily exclaimed.

"Friedenstatt?"

"Yes, she's the divination teacher! She's the one who is wearing a white robe at the Teacher's table!" Lily whispered while looking at the teachers.

Hermione watched them as well and indeed, saw an old woman, all in white, without any jewelry. She was talking with another teacher she didn't know.

"She's an old quirky! She is a freak that always tells you weird visions! Otherwise, what do you think about Hogwarts?"

"Oh, it's very nice!" Hermione said vaguely. She wanted to end this conversation to go to the Library as soon as possible. Her legs were itching but she shouldn't arise any suspicions and tried to be more patient.

"Well! I see, you need a lot to be impressed!" James replied. "The first time I came in the Great Hall, I was totally amazed!"

He looked up to the ceiling: it showed a grey and stormy sky.

"Ah yes!" Hermione exclaimed briskly. She forgot to pretend to be ignorant. "We had the same kind of ceiling in our school, that's why I am not that impressed."

"You come from Beauxbâtons, don't you?" Remus asked, frowning. He was recovering from his surprise and stared at her with interest.

"Hum… yes, that's it!"

"It's weird! I thought this ceiling was unique!"

"Oh but it's not as big, you know!" Hermione said, trying to smile. "It's much smaller!"

"Ah…" Remus replied. He wasn't really convinced.

"Let's talk about more interesting things! Do you like Quidditch?" James asked, impatiently. "The first game is in one month and we are missing a chaser. We will do some trials. May you be interested?"

"Argh… no, thank you! I am not very comfortable on a broomstick…!"

"But do you like Quiddtich?"

"Oh yes!"

"Stop harassing her, James!" Lily cried out.

"But I don't harass her! I just asked if she were interested in Quidditch. I would have rather liked Padfoot in my team, but he prefers to chase girls, this starving dog!"

"Do you know what the dog says to you?" Sirius replied while looking at him with a full of meaning look. "Do you want me to sharpen your horns, Prongs? You know I have amazing sharped teeth!"

"Boys, stop it!" Lily said, seeming upset. "Don't worry, Hermione! They're weird but they love each other!"

She didn't reply because the only thing she was thinking of was to find a book about Clarence Wilford.

"I need to go to the Library!" She suddenly said, getting up. She couldn't wait for one more minute. "I have to find some books. Nice to meet you all!"

"What? Already?"

"We found a more studious girl than you, Lily!" James smiled.

"But we have a Transfiguration course in a few minutes!" Lily cried out, taking a quick look at her watch. "I will show you the Library after the course, what do you think?"

"Ok, if you want," Hermione said with a vanquished and frustrated voice. She could have gone to the Library by herself, but she had to follow Dumbledore's instructions: to interact and live as a new student.

The six of them headed to the Great Hall. Most of the girls were looking at the boy's group with envy. As Hermione already noticed, Sirius as well as his friends were popular. She shook her head and went on without paying any attention on the several calling from teen girls who wanted to be noticed.

"So, at Beauxbâtons, how was it?" Remus started to question her as soon as they were out of Great Hall.

"Hum… what do you mean?" She asked, embarrassed.

"How is the school? Does it look like Hogwarts or is it totally different?"

"Oh, you know, all schools look alike." She lied, more and more embarrassed. She tried to remember her trips in France with her parents. "But we don't wear any uniform, just a pale blue cape as a coat."

"Really? Yes, I heard that French students could wear whatever they wanted."

"I was told that French people were rather eccentric." Peter exclaimed. "Does the French girls kiss well?"

"Don't say nonsense, Peter!" Remus replied. "How would she know?"

"I met a French girl, some time ago." James remembered. "And she was talented at kissing!"

"Really?" Lily said, frowning. "And what did you think…?"

However, Hermione couldn't hear the story because as soon as they turned left at a second corridor, someone caught her.

She just saw the group walking, without paying attention to her sudden disappearance. She struggled but her attacker held her firmly.

"Ah…" She tried to scream but another hand blocked her mouth. She couldn't talk.