A/N: I don't know any other Griffindor girls' names, so I made up some. Tabitha McGregor and Charlene (or Charlie) Jameson are my characters. Bradley Botts and Josh Carigan are my characters too. (Also, I know Fred, George, and Lee Jordan aren't supposed to be in the story since they're supposed to 18 now, but I really like those characters, so I put them in my story anyway.) Enjoy!
Chapter 4: Put In Their Place ('Stupid Girl' by Garbage)
It was now Friday, the fifth day of school. All were thankful the first week was finally near its end. The Griffindors now sat in Defense Against the Dark Arts class. Their new teacher, Professor Saucedo, was a woman from Spain who specialized in summoning and dragon magic. She was kind of short, with dark-brown eyes and long, black hair that reached past her waist. She was very pretty for a woman in her 30's and had a thick Spanish accent.
Prof. Saucedo: Good afternoon, class. Today we are going to take some more notes on the many uses of the Dragon. We will be starting with the Dragon's eternal flame. This allows the Dragon to breathe fire and it never burns out, even when it dies. There are many ways to use it in a potion and to enhance certain spells.
Professor Saucedo went over to the board tapped it with one of her long painted, black nails. A diagram of a dragon's anatomy and skeleton appeared on the board. Professor Saucedo pointed to the middle of the dragon's chest.
Prof. Saucedo: This, class, is where the eternal flame is located…the center of the dragon's heart.
The last class of the day had finally ended. Hermione, Ron, and Harry spoke of their new Defense Against The Dark Arts professor as they rushed hurriedly to the Griffindor dorms.
Hermione: I really like Professor Saucedo…It's nice to have another intelligent woman teaching here at Hogwarts.
Ron: (mockingly) You mean other than yourself?
Hermione: Shut up, Ron.
Harry: I think she's cool, too. No other professor has taught us Dragon Magic before.
Ron: (excitedly) I wonder if we're gonna get to see one!
Hermione: Probably not. We're only learning the magical properties of Dragons and how to use them to defend ourselves. I highly doubt we'll ever get close to a real one.
Ron: (mutters to Harry) She sure knows how to take the fun out of everything.
When the three finally arrive to the dorms, they find the Griffindor common room to be crowded. Everyone was gathered around the message board, chatting excitedly. Harry tried to flag someone down to find out what all the excitement was about, but no one paid him any attention. Finally, they got the attention of Fred, George, and Lee as they were shoving by. Ron grabbed George's shirtsleeve, causing the three older boys to turn around.
Ron: Hey, what's going on?
Harry: Yeah, why's everybody so excited?
Lee: You mean you haven't heard!
Hermione: Heard about what?
Lee: The party!
Harry: Party?
Fred: Yeah! This Halloween, there's gonna be a party.
George: …And there's gonna be a live band, too.
Hermione: Well, that sounds nice. Who's playing?
Lee: No one knows. It's supposed to be a surprise.
They then rushed off, still talking excitedly about the Halloween party. Hermione, Ron, and Harry then went to their separate dorms.
Later, Hermione sat on her bed trying to concentrate on her herbology homework. Everything was peaceful until the other girls came up from the common room. The room was soon filled with chatter, laughter, and other distracting noises. "That's it," Hermione thought frustratingly, "I'm going back down to the common room." Hermione grabbed her books, notes, and supplies and headed to the common room in hopes of finding peace and quiet.
Luckily, only a few people remained in the common room. Hermione headed over to one of the table's in the corner. Hermione had sat down and was just about to begin reading her herbology book, when someone called to her from across the room. "Hey, Hermione!" She looked over. Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown were sitting in front of the fire with Tabitha McGregor and Charlie Jameson.
Hermione: (half-heartedly) Hey, Parvati.
Parvati: Did you hear about the dance on Halloween?
Hermione: Yeah.
Parvati: Are you going?
Hermione: Yes, I'm going,
Charlie: Ooh, really? With who?
Hermione: Harry and Ron.
Lavender: (disgustedly) You mean you're not taking a date?
Hermione fought the urge to roll her eyes. She did not want to discuss her personal life with girls whose only priority in life was to date every attractive, eligible guy in school.
Hermione: No, Lavender, I'm not.
Lavender: Wow. How do you live Hermione? I'd never go to a dance by myself…It's humiliating.
Hermione: It's not a dance, it's a party.
Tabitha: It doesn't matter, they're both practically the same.
Parvati: …And you're never gonna attract guys if you keeping hanging out with Ron and Harry.
Hermione: They're my friends; I'm not just going to ditch them for some guy.
Lavender: Hermione, don't be so ridiculous…I'm hoping Josh Carigan will ask me. He's in Hufflepuff and he's really hot.
Tabitha: (says as she tosses her hair) I already have a date. I'm going with Bradley Botts. He's in our house and he asked just after he read the announcement.
Parvati: No way! You're going with Bradley?! He is, like, sooo dreamy.
Tabitha: I know! I can't wait to get my costume…I'll probably go as a mermaid--
Hermione: (aggravated) It's still the beginning of September; you've got plenty of time.
Hermione gave up at trying to study and begun getting her things together. She was just about to leave, when Lavender spoke.
Lavender: You know, Hermione, I'm sure even you could get a man if you would just…you know…take your nose out of the books and pretty yourself up.
All 3 Girls: (giggle)
Lavender had struck a nerve. Hermione turned around slowly and stared her in the eye.
Hermione: (icily) Maybe, Lavender, there are more important things to think about, like…oh, I don't know…school…and not failing.
Hermione had gotten her. Other than the professors and Lavender her self, Hermione was the only one who knew she had almost failed many of her classes last year. She lied about it to people, though, for the sake of her image and reputation. Lavender glared at Hermione. Parvati, Tabitha, and Charlie went silent and were now looking back and forth, between the two of them.
Lavender: Don't take your hostility out on me, Hermione Granger, just because you're not popular like me. It's not my fault I have a life and actual friends.
Hermione let her bag fall to the floor as she walked up to Lavender.
Hermione: No matter what you say, Lavender, you're not as great as you think.
(music starts)
Hermione: You pretend you're high
You pretend you're bored
You pretend you're anything
Just to be adored…
And what you need
Is what you get
Don't believe in fear…
Don't believe in faith…
Don't believe in anything
That you can't break
You stupid girl
You stupid girl
All you had you wasted
All you had you wasted
(Lavender is now looking pissed as Hermione turns to Parvati.)
Hermione: What drives you on
Can drive you mad
A million lies to sell your self
Is all you ever had
(To Charlie)
Hermione: Don't believe in love…
Don't believe in hate…
Don't believe in anything
That you can't waste
You stupid girl
You stupid girl
Can't believe you fake it
Can't believe you fake it
(*music and guitar play * All of the girls are now giving Hermione dirty looks. Hermione, then goes over to Tabitha. )
Hermione: Don't believe in fear…
Don't believe in pain…
Don't believe in anyone
That you can't tame
(Goes back over to Lavender.)
Hermione: You stupid girl
You stupid girl
All you had you wasted
All you had you wasted
(To Parvati)
Hermione: You stupid girl
You stupid girl
All you had you wasted
All you had you wasted
(* guitar solo * Hermione walks away from Lavender, Charlie, Parvati, and Tabitha. She picks up her stuff and heads towards the stairs leading to the girls' dorms. When she gets to the foot of the stairs, Hermione turns around to face Lavender.)
Hermione: You stupid girl.
(Hermione, then goes up the stairs and out of their sight.)
Lavender: (mutters angrily) Bitch.
