It had only been two weeks since the newest year of Hogwart's had started. Harry, Hermione, Ron and the rest of the gang had found themselves within the bustling castle halls, running for classes and loaded with homework once again. Their sixth year had started and to their surprise it hadn't been much different from the past years; except for the fact that there were piles more of homework, harder classes and not to mention new teachers.
On the second Sunday since the start of the year, the Golden Gryffindor Three found themselves studying in the library. It was rather desolate, considering most students were outside in the courtyard, enjoying the warm Fall air and the smells of the coming season. Madame Pince had been snooping about the library, dusting and sorting books, cleaning up the tables and keeping close watch on the set of three.
Ron, Hermione and Harry sat quietly at a table towards the center of the library. Hermione paced noisily around the table, reciting a list of potions and their ingredients that she was to memorize for class. Harry sat quietly with a large book resting upon his thighs, leafing through the pages, occasionally glancing up to catch sight of frustrated Ron who had waited 'til the last minute to finish his homework.
"Bloody hell..." Ron muttered as he attempted to soak up the large ink stain on his almost finished four foot long parchment essay for Defence Against The Dark Arts for Sixth Years.
"Watch you're language Ronald," Hermione stood beside him, reading over his work, shaking her head and flicking him behind the ear. "You really should watch what you're doing!" She gestured to his clumsiness.
"Ow!" He yelped and grabbed his ear, furrowing his brows in annoyance and then muttering. "Well it's not easy for me to work when you're looming like that! How is anyone supposed to get their work done with you constantly correcting them? I won't learn anything if I can't do it on my own!" He still held his reddened ear, grunting and smacking at her hand as she lifted it to prod the ink blot.
"You two should really get some counseling." Harry had been absorbed in the book Mysteries of the Dark ever since Hermione had said it might help him find answers to his never ending questions on He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. He sat with his chair on its back legs, one foot propped up upon the libary's elderly table.
"Counseling?!" They yelped in unison, Hermione's hands rest at her hips as she stuck up her nose. Ron simply stuck his tongue out, unable to find some stupid comeback.
"Aye, you act like a married couple. A married MUGGLE couple!" Harry snorted with laughter, gripping his side with a free hand while trying to hold up the heavy book in the other.
"Harry! She's got the muggle blood, remember that! My problems are completely enviromental!" Ron whined, shaking his head defensively. Suddenly, with a thwack! Hermione hit Ron in the back of the head with her Rune Dictionary, sending Harry into a furious fit of giggles.
"And you!" yelped Hermione, throwing the book harshly in Harry's direction, which hit his book and knocked him flat on his back in the old chair. Hermione scowled, putting her nose in the air, "FINE! You can get your Potions notes from someone else!" She stomped off, disappearing behind the next bookcase.
"Hermione!" Ron and Harry called after her, Harry's head poking up from behind the table.
"She's just so stubborn. I don't even--..." Harry stopped mid-sentence, staring toward the entrance of the library with an open mouth. "Who... is that?" He whispered, wide eyes peering curiously over the wooden table's edge. Ron turned slowly, his face matching Harry's.
"I don't know... she must be new..." He whispered back. Harry wondered why they'd been whispering, the thought had only then come to him.
Leaning over the library counter, pass in hand, stood a tall, thin legged, pale skinned girl with short choppy blonde hair that bounced when she moved. She wore the normal Hogwart's garb and Harry noticed the Slytherin patch upon her robe. 'She doesn't look like a Slytherin..' he thought until he had noticed her piercing green gaze, shielded by long, thick lashes that swept the cups of her cheeks when her eyes fell shut. Her robe fell to the curve of her calves, unbuttoned even though it was against policy. The top three buttons upon her shirt had been undone as well and her skirt seemed to be a bit shorter than it was supposed to.
Harry flinched as she turned her head, but then grew still as she stood from her leaning spot on the counter and slowly made her was towards the grouping of tables. Harry stumbled to stand, holding his breath and seating himself in his chair, which hobbled slightly beneath his bony frame.
"She's coming over here!" Ron hissed quietly, eyes widening as he quickly turned around and gave Harry a horrified look. The truth was Ron and Harry really had no experience with older girls. In all honesty the only girl they actually HAD experience with was Hermione... and Harry wasn't sure if that classified as 'experience'.
The mysterious female student paced around the bookshelf, tapping the leather bound books that had been neatly sorted on the shelf. Harry rose slowly from his seat and moved around the table. Ron threw a fit, his eyes widening as he whispered "Don't! She's a snake!". Harry turned to furrow his brows at Ron and motioned for him to pipe it down.
Harry stuffed his hands in his pockets and strode elegantly over to the girl, stopping next to her at the book case and tilting his head, Ron watched from his chair in horror. "You look lost..." Harry said in a normal tone, lifting his hand to pull the book Hogwarts, A History from the shelf, leafing through it as if it interested him any.
The bright eyed girl turned to catch his glance and nodding slightly, a delicate hand lifted to brush her bangs from her eyes. She wasn't any taller than Harry, but she was a lot taller than the rest of the Hogwart's girls. "I believe I am a bit lost. I'm kind of new here..." She laughed and shrugged her shoulders, looking back up to the large case of books.
"Ah, well, I'm Harr--.." He started, but was interrupted.
"Harry Potter, I know. I knew from the moment I walked into the library." She smiled slightly and nodded, tilting her head to glance back at him. Her taking note of him was nothing in the sort of a crush. She said this so matter-of-factly that it made Harry fidget. "I was already warned about you." She flinches slightly as he lifts the book he had removed before, taking note of his sudden movement as he places it back in it's spot. She nods, going back to the books once again.
"Warned?" He frowns and wrinkles his nose, leaning his shoulder on the bookcase with his arms crossed, eyes downcast in thought.
"Mhm, I hear you cause most of the drama here. Drama, problems, whichever. They say you always manage though." She cocks a brow and nods, pulling a book halfway off the shelf, looking at the title and then sliding it back into place, discouraged.
"Well I..." He shakes his head and stands upright, "What are you looking for anyway?"
"Modern Magical History." She said in annoyance.
"Ah, that should be ---.." Harry was cut off as a robed arm that was quickly outstretched between him and the girl, and removed the book from the shelf.
"Right here." Said a familiar voice, which held a cocky tone for the moment. Harry stood silently, narrowing his eyes and recrossing his arms. "Potter." The boy said plainly, sneering slightly.
"Malfoy." Harry grunted, pushing away from the bookcase quickly and sauntering back to his table. Ron swore he saw steam rolling from his ears.
"Ouch." Muttered Ron, grimacing as he turned around to take one last glance at the new Slytherin girl who seemed to be locked in by Draco Malfoy's charm. "Did you even get her name?" He questioned, arching his brows. With a thunk! Harry dropped his head upon the table, avoiding the sight of the pretty snake leaving with Malfoy.
"I guess that's a 'no'." Ron muttered, glancing back to watch Malfoy usher the pretty, nameless blonde from the library and into the crowded halls of Hogwarts.