Hermione sighed as she settled into an empty train compartment. She took out The Standard Book Of Spells, Grade 1 by Miranda Goshawk. She didn't read yet, though, because the train was magnificent. The seat she was sitting on was plush and comfortable, and the window was large and low enough for her to see everything that was going on on the busy platform. All of it was really truly...magical, for lack of a better term.
She was so lost in her thoughts that Hermione flinched in surprise when her compartment door was pushed open. The two people that opened her compartment door looked to be about her age; a blond girl with curious blue eyes and a weedy boy with black hair and deep-set eyes.
"Oh, my apologies for barging in." The girl said, her voice soft.
Hermione offered a smile. "Oh, it's nothing. Do, come in."
The girl gave a small smile and sat across from Hermione. The boy, still stoic, flopped next to the blonde. Hermione raised a brow at the disgruntled boy. He clearly wasn't raised all that well, she thought. The girl seemed to be on the same page as Hermione. She sent him a scathing look and kicked him, then turned her attention to Hermione.
"My name is Daphne Greengrass. This daft git who seems to have forgotten his manners is Theo Nott." Hermione snorted at Daphne's introduction. Greengrass, her mind told her. Nott. Purebloods of the Sacred Twenty-Eight.
"I'm Hermione Granger. It's a pleasure to meet you both." Daphne gave a nod in return. The strange little group fell into a silence, which clearly made Daphne fidget.
"I'm sorry, I can't stand this silence. So, Hermione. What house do you want to be in?"
"Well I can't really decide, honestly. But I'm thinking Ravenclaw would be a good match." Daphne seemed to be slightly shocked at this.
"Really? I would think you would go for Gryffindor."
Hermione gave a small shake of her head. "Well that was originally one of the houses I was hoping to get into, but I realized I wasn't exactly brave. I'm sure Gryffindor is popular with the younger demographic, isn't it? And what about yourself, what house do you want to be in? Oh, I'm sorry for asking so many questions. I've read things, but it's nothing like actually being in the magical world."
Daphne gave a few blinks. "Oh...you're half-blood, then?"
"Not at all. My parents are both muggles."
"Oh." Daphne paused. "Okay." Hermione gave a small smile, but internally she was slightly hurt. She read that many pureblood families still taught that muggleborns don't belong in the Wizarding world. Daphne was watching her out of the corner of her eye while she pursed her lips.
"Well, as long as you're not sorted into Gryffindor I think we can still be acquaintances." Daphne proclaimed as Theo rolled his eyes. Hermione sat in silence, surprised. She didn't think they would want to associate with her at all.
And then it came to her. She realized what this was. This was an olive branch. An alliance of sorts. Hermione decided to take it. Who else would affiliate with a muggleborn with no power? "Let's keep in touch, then." Hermione says with a large smile. Daphne smirks.
"Sounds wonderful to me."
