Knowing that Harry and Ron would have soon returned to the Gryffindor common room, Hermione had grabbed her books and gone to the library. Secluding herself in a corner, Hermione returned to her Austen, yet somehow she couldn't focus on the book. "Oh, damn this! Why must all women be so silly? At least I have other work I can do—now where did that essay for Snape go?"
As she was searching, she realized that Malevich had been sitting at a table reading, but his eyes had flashed down to his book once he realized she was looking around. Deciding to ignore it, Hermione returned to her search amongst the books surrounding her, but she heard Ernie Macmillan approach Malevich. She knew that Ernie sometimes studied here, and it didn't surprise her that he would introduce himself to the new student. Even though Ernie was a bit pompous sometimes, he was a nice enough guy.
Ernie had seen Malevich watching Hermione and offered to introduce him to her. Before Hermione could decide whether she would accept such an acquaintance, Malevich declined, making rude comments about her unkempt hair.
Typical Slytherin, thought Hermione. He fits right in with them. At least now I know what he's like and can focus. With that, Hermione found her Potions assignment and finished it as quickly as possible.
Heading back to the Gryffindor common room, Hermione hoped that Harry and Ron had forgotten about the incident at dinner. Yet, as she pushed open the portrait hole, she saw Harry wave her over.
"Hermione, we found out something about Malevich. Apparently he's from an old pureblood family. Most people have forgotten about the line, but they're just as inbred as the rest of them. That's probably why he gets along so well with Snape."
"First of all, Harry, Snape is a half-blood, as you well know. But I can't disagree with you this time." Hermione then proceeded to relate the incident in the library to her friends.
Laughing, they parted ways for the night and headed to their respective dormitories, thoroughly content with their depiction of Malevich. Even if was smarter than Malfoy, they had heard he couldn't fly at all.
In her dormitory, Hermione found that she was unable to fall asleep. Well, if I'm not going to sleep, I might as well do some work she though. Not wanting to get out of her warm bed, she reached down to the floor and grabbed a book out of the pile she had left on the floor.
"Lumos," she muttered. It was Pride and Prejudice. At least this book would put her to sleep. Curling up into a comfortable reading position, Hermione continued from where she had left off. "However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering a neighborhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered as the rightful property of some one or other of their daughters." Silly chits, if he wanted a wife he could probably get one if he's that rich. Hermione wasn't greedy, but she had observed enough about human nature to know that she was rather unique in that respect.
Hermione found herself being drawn into the book, rather than falling asleep. It was a well-written book. She could see why it had become a Muggle classic, but she knew that it wasn't real. If Darcy had been a wizard he could have just slipped some love potion into Lizzy's drink. Or it could have been an Unnamed Potion to make Lizzy forget that she hated him. Her identity could have been replaced with someone else's who loved Darcy—or someone from his past who he had loved.
Upon waking, Hermione found herself curled up over a book. It wasn't the first time it had happened. She knew that from the position of her wand in the book that she had finished. Yawning widely, she stretched and sat up. She had been up most of the night, but she had to get to breakfast and then she had Transfiguration.
"Oi! Hermione! We wondered when you were going to get up." Ron greeted her as she sat down at the Gryffindor table.
"Oh, I just did a little work last night after you went to bed, so I was up a later than I should have been," she replied.
"I've only seen you like this when you're stressed out about something, Hermione. What's up?" Harry asked with concern.
"Oh, nothing." Looking around so that she could change the topic, she noticed that Snape was now looking at her intensely. "Why is everyone staring at me? First it's Malevich, now Snape. Is there a Slytherin conspiracy against me or something?"
"Maybe it's because they like you," Harry teased. "We know someone else at this table does."
Ron kicked him under the table. Hermione ignored the comment.
"I'm just joking Hermione. Malfoy wasn't smart enough to beat you even with Snape's help. Malevich, unfortunately, could. " Harry had a point. Hermione needed her wits about her to ward off the Slytherin threat.
After Transfiguration and a bit of lunch, the trio headed back to the dungeons for another despised Potions class.
Snape began the lecture commenting on their potions from the previous class. "It has come to my attention that some members of this class are achieving underserved grades on their potions," he said while looking scathingly at Harry and Ron. "Therefore, I will be assigning new partners based on ability. Weasley go sit with Crabbe. Goyle will come here and be Potter's new partner."
Harry and Ron groaned. While they knew they weren't the best potion makers, Crabbe and Goyle were the worst. They couldn't remember the last potion the two Slytherins had made that hadn't exploded or melted a cauldron. Reluctantly Ron got up and switched places with Goyle.
"Granger. You will be working with Malevich. Perhaps he can cure you of being an insufferable know-it-all. Move to the bench in front of my desk. Now," Snape commanded.
At least Malevich won't be able to stare at me if we're sitting right next to each other. Unfortunately, Snape will, with the excuse of making sure Malevich is doing well thought Hermione.
To her credit, Hermione was right. Snape did stare at her the entire class, or rather he glared, looking down his ugly nose. Avoiding his gaze, Hermione was forced to talk to Malevich, the lesser of two evils.