As it turned out, meeting the mysterious girl didn't take any effort on
Harry's part at all. The next morning as they were heading into breakfast,
Harry, Ron, and Hermione ran into Ann at the entranceway.
Ann had been waiting and watching for him for about fifteen minutes. She and her father had had rather an uncomfortable morning and she had escaped the confines of their cramped quarters as quickly as possible. Snape was still not used to her presence and wasn't quite sure how to relate to her. He had given her permission to hold off on starting classes for a few days so she could get used to her new life. She had told him she didn't feel quite ready to be among people yet, but in truth, she wanted a little time to work on her next personal mission.
When she saw Harry round the corner she made her move. She moved quickly, but deliberately and met them at the door. "Oh," she said in what she hoped was surprise. "Hello," she said smiling boldly.
"Hi," said Ron and Hermione. Harry just stared.
Ann smiled inwardly. "Hi," she said again nodding at Harry.
"Hello," Harry said.
"My name's Ann," she said extending her hand to Harry.
"I'm Harry," he responded. "And this is."
"I know who you are," said Ann reaching out and brushing aside the hair covering the scar on his forehead. Harry jerked his head back at her touch.
"Well," said Ann. "It's nice to meet you." Ann smirked as she turned and headed into breakfast. She knew he was watching as she walked away.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Harry stared after her. He was used to people staring at his scar, but no one had ever actually been so bold to touch it before. He turned half astonished, half something he couldn't identify to face a smirking Ron and an appalled Hermione.
"She's awfully bold," huffed Hermione. Harry grinned stupidly. "Hmph," breathed Hermione.
Ron peered into the Great Hall. "She's sitting with the Slytherins." That wiped the grin off of Harry's face.
"The Slytherins?" Harry peered in too. She was sitting at the Slytherin table, but off to the far end not near any of the students. "She's not wearing a uniform so she can't be a student. I bet Snape just told her to sit with his house."
"I don't know Harry," said Hermione. "There is something wrong with that girl. I don't trust her."
"You don't even know her," said Ron amused.
Hermione shot daggers at Ron.
"Come on you two. Let's go into breakfast." Said Harry sensing another impending argument.
He very deliberately sat with his back to the Slytherin table. Ron and Hermione sat across from him. "She's watching you," Ron said. Hermione's eyes were narrowed.
"Just ignore her you two," said Harry. He could tell Hermione was getting ready to get all worked up. Just in time, Ginny, Ron's younger sister, approached them and sat next to Harry.
"Morning," she said through a yawn. "Wassa matter, Hermione," she asked noticing her narrowed eyes.
Hermione opened her mouth to speak, but Harry cut her off. "Nothing."
Ginny raised her eyebrows at him, but dropped the subject. She was used to the three of them having their little secrets.
"So," she said thinking she was changing the subject. "Do you all know who the new girl is?"
Harry shoved a piece of toast in his mouth and Hermione's eyes narrowed again.
"Her name's Ann," supplied Ron smirking at his best friends. "We met her a few minutes ago."
"What's her story," Ginny asked curiously.
"Don't know," said Ron. "We didn't really get a chance to go into all that."
"Well I heard she's a new student. Just transferred in they say and she was sorted into Slytherin last night. I also heard that Snape picked her up at Hogsmeade station yesterday," said Ginny.
Harry swallowed his toast. "Yeah, he did. We saw them."
Ginny turned halfway in her seat and glanced at Ann. "I wonder what year she's in."
"Probably sixth or seventh," said Ron.
Hermione dropped her fork onto her plate. "We better get to class," she said standing up.
"What's the rush," said Ron through a mouthful of bacon.
"Nothing, I just don't want to be late."
"Fine," said Ron grabbing his books and a piece of toast.
Harry grabbed his bag as well and followed them out of the Hall. "See you later, Ginny."
"Bye," she said wondering, as she often did, what the three were up to.
An hour and a half later Ron, Harry, and Hermione were walking wearily back to the castle. They had been to Care of Magical Creatures and Hagrid, as usual, had another interesting creature for them to look after. They had spent most of the class running around trying to get the weasel-like creatures, Hagrid called Wimpoles, back into their cages. The problem was the Wimpoles were covered in a slick substance that made them almost impossible to keep a hold of them.
"Do you think there's time to wash up before Defense Against the Dark Arts," asked Ron.
"If we hurry," replied Hermione.
They were heading for the washrooms at the end of the corridor when Harry heard his name. He turned and saw Ann walking towards them.
"We just keep running into each other," she said smiling at Harry, then she turned to Ron and Hermione. "Hi, I don't think I caught your names this morning."
Hermione stared, but Ron smiled and said, "I'm Ron Weasley and this is Hermione Granger."
"Nice to meet you."
"Yeah, nice to meet you too," said Hermione. "Listen, we really have to be going. We're going to be late for class." She grabbed Ron's wrist and pulled him toward the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom."
"I thought we were going to wash up," Ron protested.
"We don't have time," said Hermione. "Come on Harry."
"I'll catch up with you two ok," Harry said.
Hermione stopped, "but you'll be late."
"No I won't," he said. "I'll be right behind you. Go ahead."
"Come on, Hermione," Ron whispered under his breath. She allowed him to pull her reluctantly away. Harry waited until they rounded the corner before turning his attention back to Ann.
"So.," he began.
"She's a bit wound up," said Ann.
"Who? Hermione? No, she's just really serious about school."
"I don't think she likes me much," said Ann.
"No." Harry protested. "She doesn't, uhh., dislike you. She doesn't even know you."
"It makes no difference to me."
Harry felt perplexed. Ann may have been one of the most beautiful girls he had ever seen, but she was also the oddest, even counting Luna Lovegood, which was saying something. "Look, uhm., Hermione's one of my best friends."
"Girlfriend?"
"No."
"Good."
Again Harry felt perplexed. Ann continued. "It's just that that red- headed bloke seems to fancy her."
"Ron? Yeah, well he's her boyfriend."
"Oh."
"Well," said Harry slowly, thinking a quick escape might be best. The conversation wasn't exactly what he thought it would be. "I think I better get to class."
"You're not really going, are you?" Asked Ann in surprise.
"Yeah, course I am. Why?"
"I thought maybe you'd like to hang out. I don't have anything to do. You could show me around Hogwarts."
Harry thought about it. He'd never actually cut a class on purpose before. Hermione had never let them. Of course, she wasn't here right now. "I don't think I should."
"Do you always do what you should," said Ann smirking.
A sudden daring swept over Harry. "No."
"Good."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hermione and Ron made it to Defense Against the Dark Arts ahead of most of the other students. They took their usual seats in the front row and began taking out their books.
"We should have waited for him, Ron."
"He said go ahead."
"There's something weird about that girl."
"I know. You've already said that."
"She's just so, I don't know," began Hermione.
"Aggressive," supplied Ron.
"Exactly."
"I don't know, Hermione. It's Harry, you know. Remember in fourth year during the Yule Ball. Girls were cueing up to ask him to go. It's just part of that whole boy who lived garbage."
"I guess so."
"Come on, give him a break. At least he's interested back."
"That doesn't make me feel better, Ron."
He crinkled his brow. "He's a big boy, Hermione."
"I know that," she snapped. "I just feel protective of him." She looked into Ron's face. It had a slight jealous hue to it. She place a hand over his own. "I didn't mean it like that Ron. It's just that he's been through a lot these last couple of years."
They were interrupted by the arrival of Professor Lupin. "Good afternoon, class." He said smiling. "Today we are going to." he stopped glancing at the empty desk next to Ron. "Where's Harry?" Ron looked down at his desk and shrugged. "Hermione?"
"I don't know, sir," she whispered.
"I see," he said and turned his attention back to the class. "Today."
Ron and Hermione cast worried glances at each other and then simultaneously looked to the door, but no one came.
Ann had been waiting and watching for him for about fifteen minutes. She and her father had had rather an uncomfortable morning and she had escaped the confines of their cramped quarters as quickly as possible. Snape was still not used to her presence and wasn't quite sure how to relate to her. He had given her permission to hold off on starting classes for a few days so she could get used to her new life. She had told him she didn't feel quite ready to be among people yet, but in truth, she wanted a little time to work on her next personal mission.
When she saw Harry round the corner she made her move. She moved quickly, but deliberately and met them at the door. "Oh," she said in what she hoped was surprise. "Hello," she said smiling boldly.
"Hi," said Ron and Hermione. Harry just stared.
Ann smiled inwardly. "Hi," she said again nodding at Harry.
"Hello," Harry said.
"My name's Ann," she said extending her hand to Harry.
"I'm Harry," he responded. "And this is."
"I know who you are," said Ann reaching out and brushing aside the hair covering the scar on his forehead. Harry jerked his head back at her touch.
"Well," said Ann. "It's nice to meet you." Ann smirked as she turned and headed into breakfast. She knew he was watching as she walked away.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Harry stared after her. He was used to people staring at his scar, but no one had ever actually been so bold to touch it before. He turned half astonished, half something he couldn't identify to face a smirking Ron and an appalled Hermione.
"She's awfully bold," huffed Hermione. Harry grinned stupidly. "Hmph," breathed Hermione.
Ron peered into the Great Hall. "She's sitting with the Slytherins." That wiped the grin off of Harry's face.
"The Slytherins?" Harry peered in too. She was sitting at the Slytherin table, but off to the far end not near any of the students. "She's not wearing a uniform so she can't be a student. I bet Snape just told her to sit with his house."
"I don't know Harry," said Hermione. "There is something wrong with that girl. I don't trust her."
"You don't even know her," said Ron amused.
Hermione shot daggers at Ron.
"Come on you two. Let's go into breakfast." Said Harry sensing another impending argument.
He very deliberately sat with his back to the Slytherin table. Ron and Hermione sat across from him. "She's watching you," Ron said. Hermione's eyes were narrowed.
"Just ignore her you two," said Harry. He could tell Hermione was getting ready to get all worked up. Just in time, Ginny, Ron's younger sister, approached them and sat next to Harry.
"Morning," she said through a yawn. "Wassa matter, Hermione," she asked noticing her narrowed eyes.
Hermione opened her mouth to speak, but Harry cut her off. "Nothing."
Ginny raised her eyebrows at him, but dropped the subject. She was used to the three of them having their little secrets.
"So," she said thinking she was changing the subject. "Do you all know who the new girl is?"
Harry shoved a piece of toast in his mouth and Hermione's eyes narrowed again.
"Her name's Ann," supplied Ron smirking at his best friends. "We met her a few minutes ago."
"What's her story," Ginny asked curiously.
"Don't know," said Ron. "We didn't really get a chance to go into all that."
"Well I heard she's a new student. Just transferred in they say and she was sorted into Slytherin last night. I also heard that Snape picked her up at Hogsmeade station yesterday," said Ginny.
Harry swallowed his toast. "Yeah, he did. We saw them."
Ginny turned halfway in her seat and glanced at Ann. "I wonder what year she's in."
"Probably sixth or seventh," said Ron.
Hermione dropped her fork onto her plate. "We better get to class," she said standing up.
"What's the rush," said Ron through a mouthful of bacon.
"Nothing, I just don't want to be late."
"Fine," said Ron grabbing his books and a piece of toast.
Harry grabbed his bag as well and followed them out of the Hall. "See you later, Ginny."
"Bye," she said wondering, as she often did, what the three were up to.
An hour and a half later Ron, Harry, and Hermione were walking wearily back to the castle. They had been to Care of Magical Creatures and Hagrid, as usual, had another interesting creature for them to look after. They had spent most of the class running around trying to get the weasel-like creatures, Hagrid called Wimpoles, back into their cages. The problem was the Wimpoles were covered in a slick substance that made them almost impossible to keep a hold of them.
"Do you think there's time to wash up before Defense Against the Dark Arts," asked Ron.
"If we hurry," replied Hermione.
They were heading for the washrooms at the end of the corridor when Harry heard his name. He turned and saw Ann walking towards them.
"We just keep running into each other," she said smiling at Harry, then she turned to Ron and Hermione. "Hi, I don't think I caught your names this morning."
Hermione stared, but Ron smiled and said, "I'm Ron Weasley and this is Hermione Granger."
"Nice to meet you."
"Yeah, nice to meet you too," said Hermione. "Listen, we really have to be going. We're going to be late for class." She grabbed Ron's wrist and pulled him toward the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom."
"I thought we were going to wash up," Ron protested.
"We don't have time," said Hermione. "Come on Harry."
"I'll catch up with you two ok," Harry said.
Hermione stopped, "but you'll be late."
"No I won't," he said. "I'll be right behind you. Go ahead."
"Come on, Hermione," Ron whispered under his breath. She allowed him to pull her reluctantly away. Harry waited until they rounded the corner before turning his attention back to Ann.
"So.," he began.
"She's a bit wound up," said Ann.
"Who? Hermione? No, she's just really serious about school."
"I don't think she likes me much," said Ann.
"No." Harry protested. "She doesn't, uhh., dislike you. She doesn't even know you."
"It makes no difference to me."
Harry felt perplexed. Ann may have been one of the most beautiful girls he had ever seen, but she was also the oddest, even counting Luna Lovegood, which was saying something. "Look, uhm., Hermione's one of my best friends."
"Girlfriend?"
"No."
"Good."
Again Harry felt perplexed. Ann continued. "It's just that that red- headed bloke seems to fancy her."
"Ron? Yeah, well he's her boyfriend."
"Oh."
"Well," said Harry slowly, thinking a quick escape might be best. The conversation wasn't exactly what he thought it would be. "I think I better get to class."
"You're not really going, are you?" Asked Ann in surprise.
"Yeah, course I am. Why?"
"I thought maybe you'd like to hang out. I don't have anything to do. You could show me around Hogwarts."
Harry thought about it. He'd never actually cut a class on purpose before. Hermione had never let them. Of course, she wasn't here right now. "I don't think I should."
"Do you always do what you should," said Ann smirking.
A sudden daring swept over Harry. "No."
"Good."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hermione and Ron made it to Defense Against the Dark Arts ahead of most of the other students. They took their usual seats in the front row and began taking out their books.
"We should have waited for him, Ron."
"He said go ahead."
"There's something weird about that girl."
"I know. You've already said that."
"She's just so, I don't know," began Hermione.
"Aggressive," supplied Ron.
"Exactly."
"I don't know, Hermione. It's Harry, you know. Remember in fourth year during the Yule Ball. Girls were cueing up to ask him to go. It's just part of that whole boy who lived garbage."
"I guess so."
"Come on, give him a break. At least he's interested back."
"That doesn't make me feel better, Ron."
He crinkled his brow. "He's a big boy, Hermione."
"I know that," she snapped. "I just feel protective of him." She looked into Ron's face. It had a slight jealous hue to it. She place a hand over his own. "I didn't mean it like that Ron. It's just that he's been through a lot these last couple of years."
They were interrupted by the arrival of Professor Lupin. "Good afternoon, class." He said smiling. "Today we are going to." he stopped glancing at the empty desk next to Ron. "Where's Harry?" Ron looked down at his desk and shrugged. "Hermione?"
"I don't know, sir," she whispered.
"I see," he said and turned his attention back to the class. "Today."
Ron and Hermione cast worried glances at each other and then simultaneously looked to the door, but no one came.