Disclaimer: Still don't own anything about Harry Potter! All incidences happening in my story are totally made up, and probably won't be anything like what really happens in the seventh book!
Wee, a new chapter! I keep banging them off pretty fast so I can get this finished! Please read and review! It means a lot.
The Gryffindor Common Room was abuzz with the excitement of students after breakfast. Dumbledore had excused them all and had told them that they had the day off; to help the exchange students get better acquainted with Hogwarts. And, as Ron did not fail to mention, to attend the Quidditch tryouts. The Gryffindors had booked the pitch for right before the evening meal; so Hermione had time to see the new students while Ron, Harry, and most of the other members of the Gryffindor Quidditch team- and hopeful members- were busy getting ready.
Hermione wasn't really good at making new friends. She smiled as she remembered how she'd became friends with Harry and Ron in her first year- after a bit of animosity between her and Ron, a cave troll in a bathroom seemed to secure their friendship. But she didn't want to be shy this time. She wanted to introduce herself to the students so they'd feel welcome.
She scanned all the faces that were in the room to see who looked like they had time to talk. Chelsea and Emma, their hair pulled back into high ponytails and their faces bright with smiles as they carried on an animated conversation with an attentive audience (mostly made up of boys) seemed pretty busy. Arnold, the sixth-year with the curly red hair, was talking to Harry and Ron about what Hermione could only guess was Quidditch, judging by the rapt look on Ron's face. May was talking to a group of girls her own age, in the second year, and seemed to be having a pretty good time, and Chris, the third-year, was talking to Ginny Weasley, who Hermione could tell was trying to make him feel comfortable.
They all look busy, she thought. Then her gaze rested on the small, dark-haired girl with the same shy expression that she'd worn while she was getting sorted. She was standing off in one of the corners, watching the students as if she'd like to join them but not knowing quite how. She clutched a book to her as if it was a protection device. Hermione smiled knowingly and walked over to her.
When Hermione got closer, the girl noticed her. She coloured to a rosy hue and stammered, "Hello."
Hermione smiled at her in her friendliest way. "Hello! Welcome to Gryffindor. I'm Hermione Granger." She extended her hand.
"I- I'm Caty Princeworth," the girl said, nervously tucking a wisp of brown hair behind her ears before taking Hermione's hand in a gentle grip and shaking it.
"It's nice to meet you, Caty. Why don't you come and sit by the fire? You don't look like you're having too much fun right now." Hermione led her to an empty chair near the fire and sat down in one next to her. "Much better!" she said.
Caty smiled. It seemed like she sensed something in Hermione- that they had a shared bond. Hermione sensed it too, so she asked, "What are you reading?"
Caty looked at the book in her hands. "Hogwarts, a History," she said, blushing. "I know it's sort of stupid of me, but I want to be prepared and well read on what to expect here. It's all so very different from what I'm used to at Cloverdale." Cloverdale was the school the Canadian students went to.
Hermione laughed. "Not stupid at all! If you can believe it, I was the exact same way when I first came to Hogwarts. In fact, before I even stepped foot inside I'd read the whole book and reviewed it more than once."
Caty's whole face brightened and she laughed. "What year are you in?" she asked.
"Seventh," said Hermione. "And you're a second-year, right?"
"Yes," said Caty. "We take just the same sorts of subjects at Cloverdale, I researched it, but I still feel a bit nervous. I'm not sure what to expect of the Professors or my class-mates."
Hermione gave her another reassuring smile. "Most of the Professors are really nice. Shall I tell you a bit about them, so you know what to expect?" Hermione could see the girl really needed someone to take her under their wing and show her the ropes of Hogwarts.
"I'd love that," said Caty. She looked at Hermione with a grateful smile.
"It's not a problem. Well, first of all there's the head of our House, Professor McGonnigal. She teaches Transfiguration and is a wonderful teacher and a very bright woman, but you must be sure to do your homework and think your answers through thoroughly in her class. She expects the best from her students, and she doesn't accept tardiness or absenteeism." Hermione paused here, because Caty looked worried. "Oh, it's nothing to worry about. Especially," Hermione added with a laugh, "if you're ambitious enough to read 'Hogwarts: A History' before coming here, and only being in the second year! I know some eighth-years who haven't even bothered to pick it up."
Caty looked reassured, so Hermione continued. "Then there's Professor Sprout. She teaches Herbology and she's really nice, but a little mad about plants and that kind of stuff. She's nice to her students, though, and doesn't usually yell or anything like that. Then there's Professor Trelawny. Watch out for her, if you don't fancy sitting around crystal balls all class and making lame predictions." Hermione rolled her eyes. "I dropped Divination the first year I had it. I think it's really kind of useless, but you'll do well if you like it. Then there's Professor Flitwick, the Charms teacher. He's pretty cool, and really nice, but can get carried away with his thoughts sometimes. He has the tendency to ramble, but not in a boring way, like our History of Magic teacher, who is, incidentally, a ghost. Oh, and watch out for the Argus Filch. He's the janitor, and his cat Mrs. Norris is always on the prowl for students out of bed and the like."
Hermione thought over all she'd said. Then a frown came to her face. "Oh! And you should watch out for Snape. Professor Snape," she added hastily. "He's the Potions teacher and, in my opinion, is the worst teacher we have. Oh, he knows his stuff all right, but he's biased towards the Slytherins and if he senses one weakness on you, he'll attack it. Poor Neville Longbottom," here she gestured towards him, talking with Dean Thomas and the new student Chris, "has a rough time of it with him. But Caty, I don't want you to worry. You'll get used to Snape... for the most part... and as long as you apply yourself and do your best he can't do much, try though he might." She told her then about the rest of the teachers and staff of Hogwarts, her descriptions animated and interesting.
As Hermione spoke Caty took it all in, happy to have someone to talk to but a little apprehensive at being in a new school. But she put on a brave face and said, "Thanks a lot, Hermione. I don't know anyone here and you're the first person who's came and said two words to me."
"Don't mention it," Hermione said. "What about May, though? Isn't she in your year too?" Hermione pointed her gaze at May, who was still chattering on to some girls.
"She is, but we don't know each other that well," Caty said. "You see, I'm a bit shy. I really only have two good friends, and they're both back at Cloverdale. I miss them, but at least my brother got to come too. Even though he didn't get put in the same house as me. I was really counting on that, though, so I wouldn't be as shy. He introduces people to me because he knows I'm not good at it." Caty sighed a bit and looked at Hermione.
"Your brother? Which one was he?" Hermione asked, her interest piqued.
"He's the seventh-year boy in Ravenclaw. I don't know if you noticed him, but he has the same colour of hair as me, only it's sort of wavy," Caty replied.
"Oh.. I think I know who you mean," Hermione said, hoping she looked as nonchalant as she felt. So that was the boy who'd captured her interest so much at the sorting ceremony.
"His name is Nathan. He's really nice, and I don't wonder he got into Ravenclaw, after I learned what each house stood for. He's really, really smart, and also great at Quidditch." From Caty's glowing appraisal of her brother it was obvious he meant a lot to her.
"Oh," Hermione said. "Will he be trying out for the Ravenclaw Quidditch team, then?" Hermione asked.
"Definitely," Caty said. "He's been looking forward to it ever since we got to England. I'm going to go to the tryouts to watch him, they should be soon, right before Gryffindor's." She looked shyly at Hermione. "Are you going to watch the Gryffindors try out?"
"Yes," Hermione said. "My best friend Ron is trying out and I'll be there to watch him."
"Oh, I see," smiled Caty. "Well, do you want to come to see the Ravenclaws try out too? I'd love to get to know you better. And..." here she blushed slightly, "I don't know my way to the Quiddith pitch."
Hermione smiled at her once more. "Don't worry about it! I'll meet you outside the portrait hole in about ten minutes, ok? I've just got to tell my friends where I'll be." Caty nodded and smiled, walking off to the portrait hole, seeming much more at her ease.
Hermione walked over to where Harry and Ron were standing. To her annoyance, though she didn't quite know why, Ron seemed transfixed in a conversation with Chelsea. Or was it Emma? She hardly knew. Harry was talking to her too. "Uh, Harry," she said, not wanting to interrupt. "I'm going to go and watch the Ravenclaws tryout, and then I'll stick around to see how it goes with the Gryffindors."
"Sounds cool," Harry said. "Wish us luck!"
"Good luck," Hermione said. Ron finally turned to look at her. "To you both." With a smile, she left for the portrait hole. Her smile widened as she saw Caty waiting for her. It seemed she'd found a girl who was, though younger, a lot like her.
A/N: What a coincidence that the girl Hermione bonded with was the sister of the boy in Ravenclaw! Will Hermione like what she sees at the Quidditch tryouts, or be the sensible Hermione we know and love and devote her seventh year to her studies and her friends, not to exhange students from Canada? And how will Ron do at tryouts? You'll have to read on and see! Please review! Thank you :).