Smalltalk.
Falling in place.
"No wonder she hasn't got any friends!" snorted Ron to Harry as they walked across the courtyard.
Hermione pushed past Ron and stormed towards the girl's toilets. Her eyes were stinging.
…
Some girls came and went, but no one noticed the sniffling of a first year girl hiding within a toilet cubicle. They had, she suspected, gotten used to it by now. This was hardly the first time.
"I'll show them. This is a school!" she sobbed. Hermione lost track of time.
In her mind she replaying the countless conversations she had initiated; chastising herself she realised it always to be about homework or a book she had read. Eventually she stopped and blew hew nose resolutely.
"Everyone just plays games and laughs. How on Earth are they going to become any good playing silly silly games."
"Are you ok?" came Parvati's muffled voice outside the door. "Hello?"
"Yeah," said Hermione airily. "Just… you know."
Hermione heard footsteps fade and she realised she was alone. Part of her was happy. Now she could really rant and rail against them. Hermione strode out of the cubicle and to the sink to dry her eyes.
"They don't know what it's like! This whole world so full of magic! We are so privileged! If they had a proper muggle upbringing then they'd realise just how wonderful it is to be here!"
Guilt flooded her. Her parents doted on her and her old muggle friends were lovely. Hermione did not regret her upbringing yet part of her was jealous of Ron and his rich magical family. All poor and scruffy, but his brothers were lovely.
Sighing, she turned to her reflection.
"Well, ok. Perhaps I could slow down on the book-reading. Perhaps." Hermione frowned. "Oh unless something changes soon, I'll be like this forever!"
On cue, a filthy great troll crashed through the doorway.
Disclaimer:-
This will be the first in a series of tiny "off-camera" shorts primarily between Hermione and Ron spanning all books to date.
All Harry Potter characters and references are solely owned by JK Rowling. I just love the setting.