Disclaimer - All things Harry Potter belong to JKR. I bow to her great
writingosity.
Thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter. I love you guys so much! So here's the next chapter. At least TRY to enjoy it!
A BIG thanks to Weasley Pride my beta-reader. I love you!
-=-=-=-
The Leaky Cauldron only had two rooms available when Hermione arrived. She was given a small room with a twin size bed, small end table, and a vanity. Crookshanks immediately scrunched up his face at his new surroundings and slumped up under the bed.
"I believe you'll find it to your likings miss." The Innkeeper told her and tipped his hat as he waited in the doorway for his tip. "It may be a bit small but you didn't make a reservation so we had to make do."
"No it's fine. Thank you." She gave the man several sickles and began to unpack her Hogwarts trunk. The spellbooks looked old and worn compared to everything else that occupied the trunk. She had read them countless times. But of course the most tattered one was 'Hogwarts, A History.' Ever since her first year at school Ron and Harry had gotten into some trouble that she needed to look up in that book. It was their source for all of the answers to their many problems.
She fingered the book's spine and laid it down on her bedside table. She had to make sure not to forget that book; they would most definitely need it this year. She then turned back to the rest of the belongings in her trunk. Her new dress robes shone ebony from underneath her normal school robes and winter cloak. For her birthday, her parents had bought her new dress robes. Being a woman and developing in the ways women develop, her old ones were too small in the chest area.
Harry and Ron wouldn't arrive for another six days. Hermione finally resolved to go to Gringotts to retrieve some money from her parents' vault where they kept a small portion of their finances converted to wizarding money for her use. From there, she could go ahead and purchase her supplies and have time to try them out before her friends arrived.
It was still two weeks before school started so not many students were out shopping this early. She spotted Lavender Brown who gave her a cheeky smile and flailed her hand to wave at her from across the street and gave her a small wave back before turning the other direction so she wouldn't have to talk to the girl. She saw Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnegan eating ice cream at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor and stopped to chat for a few minutes, then continued on her way.
Hermione soon discovered that shopping just wasn't as much fun alone. It was much less exciting and you didn't have anyone to talk you out of buying something stupid or hideous. She first bought all of her supplies she was required to have for classes and then returned to Flourish and Blots for some extra reading material.
She found several extra books on Arithmancy, her favorite subject, and two on the history of witches and witchcraft. That would keep her occupied for a while. Or at least until her friends arrived.
The streets grew more crowded as she made her way back to her room around lunchtime. She would go into the Cauldron later and get something to eat. She kicked open her door and staggered under the weight of her supplies over to the bed. The books finally fell from her arms when she was about one and a half feet away and landed on the floor with a bang.
The occupant of the next room grumbled loudly and banged their arm against the wall. Hermione, resisting the urge to chunk one of her books at him, began to place all of her new things either on her bedside table or in her trunk.
"Ron and Harry won't be here for another six days. What in the world am I going to do? I'll die of boredom before then. I've finished all my homework and essays and already pre-read most of the material for this year." She plopped down on her bed and stared at the ceiling. The ceiling wasn't very interesting to look at. It was more or less a big white square with several darker places from where the roof had leaked. Needless to say staring at it didn't amuse her for very long.
She slowly lifted herself up with her arms and grabbed one of her new books from the bedside table. Propping her upper body up with a pillow she began to read. She read for several hours, then, looking out the window she realized it was dark outside and she needed to go to sleep.
The remaining five days Hermione spent in the Leaky Cauldron until Ron and Harry arrived, were spent much in the same way. She finished all of her books with the exception of, "Arithmacy Throughout the Ages, A Study of Things too Confusing to Comprehend," and had to agree with them; it was too confusing to comprehend. Sighing, she put the book in her trunk and shut the lid.
Harry and Ron were due to arrive within the hour so Hermione slowly made her way to the ice cream parlor where she ordered a vanilla cone and sat at one of the many small green tables outside. Being men, Harry and Ron were thirty minutes late. By the time they got there she had already finished her cone and was getting quite cross with the unusually warm weather. When she saw them she hopped up from her little chair and hugged the two of them at once around their necks.
Ron screeched and pulled away, rubbing the tender skin on the back of his neck where she could see a bright red sunburn. Hermione just laughed and Harry tried to hide a grin from his best friend. Ron grumbled something neither of them heard and headed for Quality Quidditch Supplies.
Ron had been on the team since their fifth year. After Oliver Wood had left Hogwarts, a seventh year took over the keeper position but then had to leave at the end of that year so Ron got the spot. His older brothers, with the exception of Percy, had all pitched in some of their savings and gotten him a used Firebolt as a congratulations present.
"Ron you're broom is gorgeous why do we need to go in here?" Harry said although by the time they reached the shop he was practically drooling over the new Draywert 7 in the display window.
"Harry please don't tell me you're going to buy that because you know some freak accident will happen this year resulting in you getting the best broom on the market. Don't waste your money." Hermione grabbed Ron and Harry's sleeves and pulled them off to get their new robes fitted for the year.
"Hermione I don't get to buy new robes remember? Can't I just go back to the Quidditch Shop?" Ron whined and pulled the sleeve of his Weasley sweater away from her.
"Ron, if you don't have the money for new robes, then you don't have money for a new broom. No, come wait with me for Harry." Ron knew she was right so he shut his mouth and followed her into the shop. It always took Harry a bit longer to get his robes fitted than everyone else because Madame Malkins insisted on carrying on conversations with him instead of doing her job.
Hermione incessantly tapped her foot on the ground and drummed her fingers on the arm of her chair until Madame Malkins finally realized she should be fitting Harry's robes. It only took a few short measurements to fit his robes, then all that was required were two or three quick flicks of her wand and Harry was ready to go.
It took them a lot longer to buy their supplies than it had Hermione. The boys wanted to look in various shops and check out all the new gadgets that weren't on the school supplies list but would still be really fun to have. If Hermione hadn't have been there they probably never would have finished or wouldn't have had enough money to finish.
It ended up taking them over three hours to buy the twenty-two objects on the list. Then Hermione allowed them to go look in the Quidditch shop if they had any extra money to spend. Harry, of course, still had a pocket full of Galleons and even Ron had a few Sickles and Knuts left.
They took an hour in Quality Quidditch Supplies. Ron ended up buying a new Chudley Cannons t-shirt and Harry got a can of cushioning oil for his broom handle, "guaranteed to soften your ride."
The three walked back to the Leaky Cauldron to get to their respected rooms. The Weasleys were all staying in three rooms across the hall from Hermione's room.
"See you tomorrow for the train, 'Mione." Harry said and gave her a hug goodnight.
"Yeah, tomorrow." Said Ron.
"Actually, do you think you two could come in for a minute? I need to talk to you." Hermione said and unlocked the door to her own room.
"I s'pose so." Ron glanced around for any bright red hair coming their way. "If mom catches us out of bed past nine it'll be on your head."
Harry and Ron came into the small room and sat on the bed as their friend paced the room in front of them. Hermione went through the vigorous process of explaining the previous events. She had to stop several times to catch her breath before continuing. When Hermione got into something she tended to talk very fast and use her hands a great deal, which can be very tiring.
"Woah." Was all either Harry or Ron could say for several minutes afterward. Harry regained his head first and started talking.
"Wait, so you're - woah." He put his head in his hands and ran his hands through his unruly black hair.
"Yeah." Hermione slumped down into the armchair in the corner of her room. Crookshanks slowly crept out from underneath the bed and jumped into her lap. She was the only one who could ever tame him. He hated everyone else.
"You'll be okay 'Mione. I promise. We're here for you. Remember that. You can't get rid of us." Ron pulled her up to sit in-between the two larger boys. They each put an arm around her and held her for a moment before an angry Molly Weasley burst through the door.
"I should have known I'd find you two here. Leave poor Hermione be. She needs her sleep for the train too. Off to bed both of you!" She pulled the two boys up and then turned to Hermione. "Sleep well dear. Congratulations on making Prefect." She then pulled both of the boys of the room by the scruffs of their collars.
Harry had stayed the entire summer with the Weasleys. The Dursleys had finally had enough of their nephew and left him out to fend for himself in Surrey. Ron had picked him up with his father in a redesigned version of their old flying car. Mrs. Weasley had taken to treating him like she would any of her other five sons and gave him no special treatment.
Hermione changed into her flannel pajamas and climbed under the thin summer blanket on her bed. Almost immediately Crookshanks curled his ginger body up at her feet. She once again found herself staring at the ceiling and thinking.
"I'm going back to school tomorrow. I'm glad; I'd be bored out of my mind if I were here another day. Even with Harry and Ron here. I missed them so much. It's nice to have someone to talk to that actually talks back. Crookshanks can be good company but he has no idea what's going on in my life. Come to think of it, neither do I. Everything got so confusing so fast.
I guess I won't tell anyone at school, unless I absolutely have to. They don't really have to know; It's none of their business. I do need to talk to Dumbledore though. He could have at least told me something. I can catch him after the first Prefects' meeting. He heads those I think. I'll ask Percy. I wonder if he knows even more than he told my parents." Hermione's thoughts slowly but surely calmed her mind. She found her eyes drifting shut and soon she was sound asleep.
-=-=-=-
That's it for the second chapter. I thought it was pretty good. Took me long enough to write. I couldn't get any information. If I got the name of the robe lady wrong I'm sorry. I couldn't remember what it was so I had to my very good friend. She's normally right so I hope she was this time. Thanks EK.
I know nothing big has happened so far and it might seem a bit dull but stick with me. I'm just trying to get in all the background information in so the plot makes sense.
Anyway - You took the time to read it so please REVIEW!
Thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter. I love you guys so much! So here's the next chapter. At least TRY to enjoy it!
A BIG thanks to Weasley Pride my beta-reader. I love you!
-=-=-=-
The Leaky Cauldron only had two rooms available when Hermione arrived. She was given a small room with a twin size bed, small end table, and a vanity. Crookshanks immediately scrunched up his face at his new surroundings and slumped up under the bed.
"I believe you'll find it to your likings miss." The Innkeeper told her and tipped his hat as he waited in the doorway for his tip. "It may be a bit small but you didn't make a reservation so we had to make do."
"No it's fine. Thank you." She gave the man several sickles and began to unpack her Hogwarts trunk. The spellbooks looked old and worn compared to everything else that occupied the trunk. She had read them countless times. But of course the most tattered one was 'Hogwarts, A History.' Ever since her first year at school Ron and Harry had gotten into some trouble that she needed to look up in that book. It was their source for all of the answers to their many problems.
She fingered the book's spine and laid it down on her bedside table. She had to make sure not to forget that book; they would most definitely need it this year. She then turned back to the rest of the belongings in her trunk. Her new dress robes shone ebony from underneath her normal school robes and winter cloak. For her birthday, her parents had bought her new dress robes. Being a woman and developing in the ways women develop, her old ones were too small in the chest area.
Harry and Ron wouldn't arrive for another six days. Hermione finally resolved to go to Gringotts to retrieve some money from her parents' vault where they kept a small portion of their finances converted to wizarding money for her use. From there, she could go ahead and purchase her supplies and have time to try them out before her friends arrived.
It was still two weeks before school started so not many students were out shopping this early. She spotted Lavender Brown who gave her a cheeky smile and flailed her hand to wave at her from across the street and gave her a small wave back before turning the other direction so she wouldn't have to talk to the girl. She saw Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnegan eating ice cream at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor and stopped to chat for a few minutes, then continued on her way.
Hermione soon discovered that shopping just wasn't as much fun alone. It was much less exciting and you didn't have anyone to talk you out of buying something stupid or hideous. She first bought all of her supplies she was required to have for classes and then returned to Flourish and Blots for some extra reading material.
She found several extra books on Arithmancy, her favorite subject, and two on the history of witches and witchcraft. That would keep her occupied for a while. Or at least until her friends arrived.
The streets grew more crowded as she made her way back to her room around lunchtime. She would go into the Cauldron later and get something to eat. She kicked open her door and staggered under the weight of her supplies over to the bed. The books finally fell from her arms when she was about one and a half feet away and landed on the floor with a bang.
The occupant of the next room grumbled loudly and banged their arm against the wall. Hermione, resisting the urge to chunk one of her books at him, began to place all of her new things either on her bedside table or in her trunk.
"Ron and Harry won't be here for another six days. What in the world am I going to do? I'll die of boredom before then. I've finished all my homework and essays and already pre-read most of the material for this year." She plopped down on her bed and stared at the ceiling. The ceiling wasn't very interesting to look at. It was more or less a big white square with several darker places from where the roof had leaked. Needless to say staring at it didn't amuse her for very long.
She slowly lifted herself up with her arms and grabbed one of her new books from the bedside table. Propping her upper body up with a pillow she began to read. She read for several hours, then, looking out the window she realized it was dark outside and she needed to go to sleep.
The remaining five days Hermione spent in the Leaky Cauldron until Ron and Harry arrived, were spent much in the same way. She finished all of her books with the exception of, "Arithmacy Throughout the Ages, A Study of Things too Confusing to Comprehend," and had to agree with them; it was too confusing to comprehend. Sighing, she put the book in her trunk and shut the lid.
Harry and Ron were due to arrive within the hour so Hermione slowly made her way to the ice cream parlor where she ordered a vanilla cone and sat at one of the many small green tables outside. Being men, Harry and Ron were thirty minutes late. By the time they got there she had already finished her cone and was getting quite cross with the unusually warm weather. When she saw them she hopped up from her little chair and hugged the two of them at once around their necks.
Ron screeched and pulled away, rubbing the tender skin on the back of his neck where she could see a bright red sunburn. Hermione just laughed and Harry tried to hide a grin from his best friend. Ron grumbled something neither of them heard and headed for Quality Quidditch Supplies.
Ron had been on the team since their fifth year. After Oliver Wood had left Hogwarts, a seventh year took over the keeper position but then had to leave at the end of that year so Ron got the spot. His older brothers, with the exception of Percy, had all pitched in some of their savings and gotten him a used Firebolt as a congratulations present.
"Ron you're broom is gorgeous why do we need to go in here?" Harry said although by the time they reached the shop he was practically drooling over the new Draywert 7 in the display window.
"Harry please don't tell me you're going to buy that because you know some freak accident will happen this year resulting in you getting the best broom on the market. Don't waste your money." Hermione grabbed Ron and Harry's sleeves and pulled them off to get their new robes fitted for the year.
"Hermione I don't get to buy new robes remember? Can't I just go back to the Quidditch Shop?" Ron whined and pulled the sleeve of his Weasley sweater away from her.
"Ron, if you don't have the money for new robes, then you don't have money for a new broom. No, come wait with me for Harry." Ron knew she was right so he shut his mouth and followed her into the shop. It always took Harry a bit longer to get his robes fitted than everyone else because Madame Malkins insisted on carrying on conversations with him instead of doing her job.
Hermione incessantly tapped her foot on the ground and drummed her fingers on the arm of her chair until Madame Malkins finally realized she should be fitting Harry's robes. It only took a few short measurements to fit his robes, then all that was required were two or three quick flicks of her wand and Harry was ready to go.
It took them a lot longer to buy their supplies than it had Hermione. The boys wanted to look in various shops and check out all the new gadgets that weren't on the school supplies list but would still be really fun to have. If Hermione hadn't have been there they probably never would have finished or wouldn't have had enough money to finish.
It ended up taking them over three hours to buy the twenty-two objects on the list. Then Hermione allowed them to go look in the Quidditch shop if they had any extra money to spend. Harry, of course, still had a pocket full of Galleons and even Ron had a few Sickles and Knuts left.
They took an hour in Quality Quidditch Supplies. Ron ended up buying a new Chudley Cannons t-shirt and Harry got a can of cushioning oil for his broom handle, "guaranteed to soften your ride."
The three walked back to the Leaky Cauldron to get to their respected rooms. The Weasleys were all staying in three rooms across the hall from Hermione's room.
"See you tomorrow for the train, 'Mione." Harry said and gave her a hug goodnight.
"Yeah, tomorrow." Said Ron.
"Actually, do you think you two could come in for a minute? I need to talk to you." Hermione said and unlocked the door to her own room.
"I s'pose so." Ron glanced around for any bright red hair coming their way. "If mom catches us out of bed past nine it'll be on your head."
Harry and Ron came into the small room and sat on the bed as their friend paced the room in front of them. Hermione went through the vigorous process of explaining the previous events. She had to stop several times to catch her breath before continuing. When Hermione got into something she tended to talk very fast and use her hands a great deal, which can be very tiring.
"Woah." Was all either Harry or Ron could say for several minutes afterward. Harry regained his head first and started talking.
"Wait, so you're - woah." He put his head in his hands and ran his hands through his unruly black hair.
"Yeah." Hermione slumped down into the armchair in the corner of her room. Crookshanks slowly crept out from underneath the bed and jumped into her lap. She was the only one who could ever tame him. He hated everyone else.
"You'll be okay 'Mione. I promise. We're here for you. Remember that. You can't get rid of us." Ron pulled her up to sit in-between the two larger boys. They each put an arm around her and held her for a moment before an angry Molly Weasley burst through the door.
"I should have known I'd find you two here. Leave poor Hermione be. She needs her sleep for the train too. Off to bed both of you!" She pulled the two boys up and then turned to Hermione. "Sleep well dear. Congratulations on making Prefect." She then pulled both of the boys of the room by the scruffs of their collars.
Harry had stayed the entire summer with the Weasleys. The Dursleys had finally had enough of their nephew and left him out to fend for himself in Surrey. Ron had picked him up with his father in a redesigned version of their old flying car. Mrs. Weasley had taken to treating him like she would any of her other five sons and gave him no special treatment.
Hermione changed into her flannel pajamas and climbed under the thin summer blanket on her bed. Almost immediately Crookshanks curled his ginger body up at her feet. She once again found herself staring at the ceiling and thinking.
"I'm going back to school tomorrow. I'm glad; I'd be bored out of my mind if I were here another day. Even with Harry and Ron here. I missed them so much. It's nice to have someone to talk to that actually talks back. Crookshanks can be good company but he has no idea what's going on in my life. Come to think of it, neither do I. Everything got so confusing so fast.
I guess I won't tell anyone at school, unless I absolutely have to. They don't really have to know; It's none of their business. I do need to talk to Dumbledore though. He could have at least told me something. I can catch him after the first Prefects' meeting. He heads those I think. I'll ask Percy. I wonder if he knows even more than he told my parents." Hermione's thoughts slowly but surely calmed her mind. She found her eyes drifting shut and soon she was sound asleep.
-=-=-=-
That's it for the second chapter. I thought it was pretty good. Took me long enough to write. I couldn't get any information. If I got the name of the robe lady wrong I'm sorry. I couldn't remember what it was so I had to my very good friend. She's normally right so I hope she was this time. Thanks EK.
I know nothing big has happened so far and it might seem a bit dull but stick with me. I'm just trying to get in all the background information in so the plot makes sense.
Anyway - You took the time to read it so please REVIEW!