It's been a while but I didn't get my reviews. I am still looking for a beta, if you volunteer you get the chapter early and will get a vague idea of what will happen. I meant to make this longer but couldn't find a link to make it happen. Love you all. –Rachael.

Simple Pleasures: Chapter Seven

A odd saying in the muggle world is that lightning never hits the same place twice. Most don't see it as odd, it is simply a common warning told without thought to the meaning behind the words. That very thoughtlessness is what makes the very common odd, because most don't think of other possible meanings behind the literal concept that lightning does not hit the same spot on Earth twice. This by the way is not true because a flickering lightning strike is not a single bolt of lightning but several lightning bolts following the same exact path. The elusive meaning behind the never repeating lightning strike is that situations and specific circumstances never occur in the exact same way twice. Even the same superficial situation seen by different people will differ due to the state of mind of those different individuals. Basically the point is that no second is ever repeated and even if you do the exact same thing in a situation that you believe is exactly the same as a previous one in which you did that motion you are still not guaranteed the same result. Particularly in the wizarding world where not even the basic laws of physics will hold firm.

However the laws of physics were almost universal so there was always the possibility that there were some situations where the rules of human interactions in Britain were almost universal and Hermione could formulate some laws for herself to abide by which would allow her to maintain a semblance of control in whichever situation she happened to find herself in. A few years scouring the local library and Hermione had formed an elementary collection of laws which could enable her to maintain an advantage in most situations a seven year old would find herself in. By eleven those laws had been perfected and she could read anyone she observed for a semi-prolonged period of time and she knew the best role to play in order to have the chance to read those people whom she was interested in.

From the time that Hermione had received her Hogwarts letter she had prepared herself to enter this magical new world. Knowledge was power and so she had spent every cent she had earned and bartered for to collect as much knowledge as she could. Unlike most of her personality at Hogwarts, Hermione's love for Hogwarts: A History, was true. Interpretation was an essential skill and she learnt as much about Hogwarts by what was not said in the book as she had by what had been. She had asked the staff at Flourish and Botts about all of her teachers. She had catalogued in her mind what she needed more information about and she had contemplated her observations of her classmates in order to determine an appropriate character to represent.

It would not make sense to prove very confident. Confident people became leaders and leaders were scrutinised, she could not maintain a façade that would hold up under scrutiny for seven years in a boarding school with several boyfriends exchanging gossip. That also ruled out close friends who might befriend a timid muggleborn. That left obnoxious or over eager, obnoxious could back fire, it was always good to leave an escape root and few people would forgive a person a person who had deliberately insulted them almost daily for the past six years. Besides obnoxious works best on guys, there was an intimidation factor which was difficult to emulate without giving too much of your true personality away.

Hermione had decided on the enthusiastic over-achiever. The kind of girl that was earnest, transparent and eager to please for teachers. The kind of girl that was annoying, over bearing and a show off for her classmates, unbearable for more then a hour and a monster as a close friend. The kind of girl that would sit at a table in the library or common room buried under a pile of books and obviously too absorbed to hear what you were saying. The enthusiastic over-achiever would deflect attention from both students and teachers because they were so eager to be included and show what they know that they displayed their inner workings and required no more attention, just as she liked it.

The persona worked like a charm. Even after the run in with the troll that thrust Harry and Ron at her, she remained without undue attention. Every one focused on Harry with only a cursory glance at her. Harry told her about Dumbledore and by reading between the lines she could accommodate her character so the formidable wizard never doubted her and could even hold the same influence with the Headmaster that she had with the various other professors in Hogwarts barring the Potions Master. Hermione knew how Dumbledore thought just as he thought he knew how Hermione thoughts. It was really a let down.

The key to Dumbledore was that, like so many undefeated leaders, he had come to believe in his own myths and legends. He would never contemplate that an 18 year old young woman could defeat him. He played the eccentric old uncle so often that it had almost become his true personality and while the true powerful wizard did come to the surface, it was only when his precious Harry had been compromised. The Headmaster had forgotten to beware of the outlying players and focused on the central.

Albus Dumbledore did not use his power on people like Hermione. Why waste the energy and concentration? When Hermione and Dumbledore played the Headmaster would spare a tenth of his concentration on Hermione and concentrate the rest on his plans against Riddle. Hermione dealt with the smoke and ribbons, the cold readings and palour tricks, the vague remarks which left a lot of room for interpretations. Like the Apology that Hermione was to give to Harry in order to rebuild the Harry Potter support group and help Harry defeat the Dark Lord and actually pass the NEWT's.

Flashback

"Allowances must be made for Harry. He has had a very hard time lately, he still hasn't dealt with the death of his Godfather, and your remarks will not have helped."

"I have had a hard time too, my parents have been fighting and I had to stay at home. My muggle friends won't talk to me and I didn't hear from Harry and Ron all summer. I was feeling so alone and Harry was so cold to me when I came up to him. All the isolation made me so angry at him and his remarks about Malfoy was the last straw. I didn't mean to yell at Harry, I really didn't, but Malfoy isn't a bad person and most of the people in that room would follow Harry's lead. Draco doesn't deserve to have all those people turn completely against them."

"You should have more control Miss Granger. You may be having trouble at home but that is no excuse for shouting at another student and making unfounded accusations about them. I am certain that your friends did not mean to ignore you and it is not an acceptable reason to behave in the manner that you did. I expect you to apologise to Harry before the opening feast."

End Flashback

The regular person would not see the extraordinary level of choice that such an order represented. most would not even see that it was not an order but rather an expectation. Hermione of course would treat it as an order because it was expected of her and while she could simply say that she would not due to some slight, it would do little to further her cause.

The next aspect of the playing field was the words themselves. What was she to apologise for? The oblivious person would say for her words to Harry, but the inventive person would see that she could apologise for her thoughtlessness in pushing Harry down the stairs and still swear, after taking a vial of veritaserum, that she had done exactly as Professor Dumbledore had asked.

Finially there was the mode of delivery. Hermione had often wondered exactly how Professor Dumbledore could have amassed his reputation when he was so thoughtless. A letter from Hermione would likely be burnt when Harry was in his current temper. It could be written in invisible ink and never seen. It could be written in Braille, or shrunk to the size of a pea, or in a envelope addressed to her parents, the message could even be formed in leaves in a clearing of the Forbidden Forest. Hermione may be obliged to apologise to Harry, but Harry was not obliged to receive the apology. Since Hermione was rather sick of Harry's presence she was going to prolong this separation for as long as possible, while still living up to the Headmasters expectations of course.

As soon as Hermione had entered her empty compartment after being dismissed by Dumbledore, she had taken out a pen and paper and written a brusque apology which would no doubt be ripped to shreds the moment Harry had passed it around to be mocked by everyone in the compartment. She had then folded the note, written Harry's name on the outside, and sealed it so it could only be opened by Harry. The note was shoved in her pocket and Hermione had rested until Draco came in to disturb her. Now that the train was almost at Hogsmeade it was time to deliver the letter.

Hermione knocked on the doors and poked her head in warn everyone that they were close to the station. It was a very efficient way to gather intelligence. By the time she was three quarters down the train she knew that the rumors about the fight between herself and Harry had spread. It had escalated to the point where hexes had been thrown and it had taken Professor McGonagall and Professor Dumbledore an hour to undo on the damage. Harry of course had won and the only reason Hermione had not been expelled was because Dumbledore was afraid the Death Eaters would try to kill Hermione and Harry would try to go after her. The school now hated Hermione and she could expect a few surprises in her mail again.

It made the delivery of her apologise a little more difficult. She had originally planned to have Colin Creevey deliver it for her, he was like Dobby, always willing to do anything in order to be near Harry Potter. Colin was no longer acknowledging her existence. It made things difficult but not impossible, something would happen or she would simply deliver herself. It would lower her deniability but her acting should be up to scratch and this was really a minor matter. Luckily footsteps sound behind her, incrediably soft compared to most students but still noticeable. Hermione assembled a look of surprise and waited.

"Hermione," She tensed and swirled around.

"Adam, you startled me."

"You seemed lost in thought. Is something wrong?"

He sounded concerned. He was also trying to simulate a closeness to her incredibly quickly. Judging by the time he entered her compartment, he should have heard the rumors about her and everyone who was not connected to the Death Eaters or the idiots in the ministry were always whole-heartedly on Professor Dumbledore's and Harry's side. Adam was meant to be in Hogwarts as a favor from the Headmaster and should definitely be against her.

Hermione bit her lip as she pondered this then answered.

"Well, you may not have heard but I was a close friend of Harry Potter and we got in a fight a few hours ago. He and Ron always sit in this carriage and I don't want to go in to remind them of the time. Harry probably hates me know and if I go in he is just going to yell and not hear a word I say anyway."

"Couldn't Draco go in. You and him seemed close, he would probably love to do something for you. Where is he anyway?"

"Draco and I aren't very close, we have a hate/hate relationship. That was just a one off conversation caused by too much stress, he ditched me after one carriage. Anyway, Draco was the cause of the fight and Harry hates him more then he hates Voldemort. Would you be able to tell everyone that we're close to Hogsmeade? Please?"

Hermione winced inside, she hated begging, even as a role.

"I would do anything for a pretty lady like yourself." Adam said with a small bow.

"In that case could you also give Harry this note? If I apologise early he may forgive me sooner. Harry and I have been friends since our first term here, I would hate for such a long friendship to end because of one stupid fight and a late apology."

"But of course dear lady. I live to serve you." Adam took the note and bowed again.

"If any one said that I would think they were mocking me. Thank you for doing this for me Adam. I'm just going to finish the rest of the carriages. Welcome to Hogwarts."

Hermione gave Adam a small hug and went to the next compartment. Adam looked at the note and tried to open it. Finding it was sealed he glared and gave a small flick of his hand and he note instantly went up in a blaze and was ash falling to the a mere second later. Replacing his smile again he knocked on the compartment door and waited for it to open.

The door was opened by Ginny whose eyes went wide in amazement.

"Hello, my name is Adam. I was asked to let everyone know that we will be arriving at the village soon."

"I'm Ginny and thank you. Are you new? I don't recognize you and a guy as handsome as you would be a legend at Hogwarts."

"Yes I am. I'm from Australia and am somewhat like an exchange student, only there was no exchanging."

Ron's voice came from inside the compartment.

"Ginny, who's at the door?"

"New guy, he had to tell us we're almost there and to get ready."

"I should go let everyone else know. It was a pleasure to meet you Ginny."

"And it was nice to meet you Adam. I'm sure I'll see you around. Oh, and if you want I can show you around tonight or tomorrow morning. It's easy to get lost around the castle and you can't everyone to steer you in the right direction."

"Thank you for the offer but I have already been assigned a guide. I am sure I will see you later Ginny."

"Bye Adam."

Adam turned around and left. It looked like it would be easier then expected to get to Hermione.