Chapter Seven: Across the Pond

Salem Institute was nothing like Hogwarts. Students all lived in suites, very like apartments in groups of four. Two females, and two males, sharing one common room, and two bedrooms. At first Hermione had been surprised- what was to keep the boys in their own beds, and not in the girls? But, then Hermione remembered the bed hopping that occurred consistently amongst the upper years at Hogwarts, and gave a mental shrugged. The general consensus amongst the students at SI was that, if you were willing to ask for a contraceptive from the nurse, then you were of sound mind, and therefore allowed to experiment. At Hogwarts there was at least the appearance of rules about such things.

Also, much to her surprise there was no rules really about what to wear, and so when she arrived on campus she was greeted with a stunning array of fashion. Some of the students wore wizards robes, but a huge population did not. Many looked just the same as a muggle they might pass on the street.

Her suite-mates didn't include any of her fellow students from Hogwarts. Indeed, she hadn't seen any of them, since she arrived, except for the one instance when she'd passed Draco at lunch time in the dining hall. He was sitting alone, reading a book. She contemplated checking in but, when Misha called her name, she'd hurried in the other direction instead.

Instead her suitemates were a strange group. She shared a room with Misha, who lived in the top bunk, and spent a huge portion of the day in front of a laptop computer watching something called anime that looked a lot like cartoons to Hermione. She couldn't for the life of her figure out when Misha did her homework, but she never seemed to not have it completed.

Across the hall, Christian and Sam, lived a very messy rather smelly existence. The two of them were on the SI football team, and came back to the suite, sweaty, smelly, and muddy nearly every day. They'd emerge an hour later, clean, and happy, and flop of the couch, nap, and then get up and do homework. It baffled the mind of a well-ordered girl who spent all her time doing homework. She found, however, that without Harry and Ron's constant misadventures to consume her time, she was without a hobby to occupy her.

"Hey, Mione. You look confused," Sam said, looking up from his Arithmancy book.

"I am a little bit. I don't know what to do with myself. I have- free time."

Christian shook his head. "You didn't have any at Hogwarts?"

She shook her head. "Always busy. It's different there. I have a purpose."

"A purpose?"

"Sure. I'm the brains of a three-person operation. So, I spent huge amounts of time doing research for us. Never had time to be bored, and if I wasn't doing that, they dragged me into stuff."

"Well, we're start dragging you to soccer practice then."

"Not like that. I mean, well sometimes I'd go to Quidditch practice with Harry, but mostly it was just- like things we had to do."

"I'm not following."

"Like, first year, we spent the entire term researching, and sneaking around, which is like- the school past time, trying to figure out who it was on the staff working for the Dark."

"Who was it?"

"Well, we all thought it was Snape. But it wasn't. It was Quirrell. He was possessed—sort of. The library here is very- muggle compared to Hogwarts where all you can do is scan the titles, and check the catalog. There's no cross referencing or anything. We couldn't figure out who Nicolas Flamel was. Eventually we figured it out- from a Chocolate Frog card. Go figure."

"So what'd you do after you found out?" Sam asked, interested.

"Well, we went after him. Harry's got an invisibility cloak, and we snuck out, and followed who we thought at the time would be Snape."

"Followed him? What if he tried to kill you?"

"We never even considered it, at the time. All we knew it that we had to. I don't think it even occurred to us, until fourth year that one of us could be killed. In second year I was petrified, and Ginny was almost killed, but it still didn't really seem to sink in. Fourth year though, Harry was almost killed, and Cedric was, and that was when we realized we were in real danger doing this. I think that's part of why they sent me here."

"Why?"

"Because I'm in danger being there. I'm muggleborn, and therefore in danger, but even more so because of my ties to Harry. Not just so I could keep an eye on Malfoy."

"Very, MI6, Moneypenny," Sam said, looking over the top of his sunglasses. "What's the target up to, then?"

Hermione giggled. "You're a dolt, Sam."

"Why thank you, Mione. He! Moine-penny-"

Hermione lifted only her left eyebrow. "Sam- don't you DARE. I'll throw so many curses they won't even KNOW what happened to you."

He sighed. "You're no fun." He pouted, and crossed his arms over his chest like a disgruntled five-year-old.

She laughed, finally at his very poor joke. He reminded her of Ron, just then, and she suddenly felt a wave of homesickness. How were things at school? What were the other exchanges like? How was Sirius? Was Snape treating Harry any better? "Sorry, Sam. I'm going to go write to Ron. I'll see you both later-"

Sam sighed. "She's never gonna come around, Chris. Those two are her life."

"She'll come around, don't you worry. She just misses them right now. It's still the very start of term. Come on," he said, getting up, and dragging Sam along by the wrist. "Let's go kick the ball around. We'll nag her a bit more later."

**

Hermione-

It was really really really good to hear from you. Of course, we miss you a ton. Especially when we have to go the library. I think Madam Pince is depressed. You're her favorite, of course, and you're not there. We're all like that, though. It's not quite the same without you around. Harry's kind of adopted Aki into the group, in your stead. Personally, given his tastes, I think there's more than a little bit of lusting going on. Cho was really beautiful, too, but Aki- you know Harry, for all he protests, he stares at boys more than girls. Even Ginny knows. She's started hanging around with Dean a lot. I like Dean, though. But I really wish she wouldn't. It makes me anxious, having to watch out for her.

News, as requested. Let's see. Second day back, first day in Potions, which we have right after lunch this year, Harry's scar starts to hurt, and he passed out!! Passed out, fell over, hit his head on Pansy's work table, and hit the floor. The jolt from his head, knocked the cauldron over, and he burnt his hands pretty bad. Madam Pomfrey put him back together, she always does, with much complaining, and more than a few threats.

Snape's changed. He let Harry PICK his potions partner. It was kind of hidden, the way he said it, but it was there. Neville is working with one of the exchanges (Two of which are in Gryffindor, one Hufflepuff, and one Ravenclaw) Rhysati. She's got bright blue hair. Neville, amazingly considering she looks pretty damn scary sometimes, is doing really pretty good with her. But she talks back to Snape with no regard for points, and Neville got a B on the first practical quiz. Harry is working with Aki, which is hilarious to watch. Harry stares a lot.

Back to Snape. I went to see Harry- after class, you know. Snape was still there! (He's taken Harry to the hospital wing) He was sitting with Harry, watching him, talking to him. I was shocked. Snape's got a heart in there someplace.

Remus is gonna have a litter I guess around Christmas. It's all hush-hush since the Slytherins are probably half spies for Daddy Death Eaters. I haven't heard from Snuffles, but I hope he's well. No news there.

Quidditch Standings:
Hufflepuff 0-1
Ravenclaw 0-0
Slytherin 1-0
Gryffindor 0–0

How's Salem? How's the library? What's Malfoy up to?

Write back- with Pig (who, might or might not deliver this). Harry and I miss you. Can we send you hard homework?

-Ron

Hermione laughed when she saw the Quidditch Standings. It was such a typically Ron- the-Quidditch-Nut kind of thing to do that it was adorable. She was sure when the pro season began there'd be a much longer list.

"What's funny?"

"I got a letter back from Ron."

"Read it for us then," Misha said. She'd carried her laptop into the common room, and had been working on homework, across the room from where Hermione was sitting, reading a huge tome. Sam and Chris, fresh from practice, smelling like soap, were having dinner at the table.

She read it aloud-- despite numerous interruptions.

"Aki?" Sam asked.

"I guess. Whoever the exchange is."

"School is too big to guess. But, the only Aki I know was on the Quidditch team."

Misha smiled. "He's gorgeous, Mione. Don't let these dolts fool you. I haven't seen him around campus, either. I'd totally believe he'd be a distracting partner."

Sam grumbled. "Whatever. He's not that good looking."

Hermione smiled, and read a little further when the next question was asked, this time, from Christian. "Who's Snape?"

"He's the potions teacher. And, up until this summer, the absolute bane of our existence. But, since we first started school he's changed a lot. At first he just kind of was indifferent towards me, at least. He always tormented Harry though. Cause, he's the Boy That Lived, and all. And, Harry used to look JUST like James, so – it was like a thorn in his side all the time. And, naturally, Ron being the loyal person he is, he was always at Harry's side in everything. And, Draco is Snape's pet, and Harry and Malfoy are like- cats and dogs. So, it was a rather large mess. But, I guess since third year Snape and Professor Lupin have been spending more time together. And, they've changed each other. Anyway, Snape just found out he's Harry's real father, and-"

"Harry, Obi-Wan never told you about your father-"

Sam burst out laughing, until Misha told them to shut up.

"Anyway, Snape's been better recently." She read the rest, and smiled. "I have to go write back." She left the room, and Christian and Sam laughed.

"You think she knows she's in love with them?" Misha asked, looking over at the two across the room.

"Not a clue."