She stood out from the crowd, even with her head hidden behind a thick tome. The fact that she was muggle born had long since disappeared under the weight of the knowledge of their world that she had soaked up – to her, at least. The rest of Slytherin didn't agree, but they would soon realise it. They would soon realise how mistaken they were to judge her by her birth.
"Hermione," Daphne greeted, sliding into the seat opposite the Gryffindor.
Brown eyes glanced up, before smiling, the Gryffindor's hand automatically reaching for a bookmark – why Hermione didn't just use magic, Daphne didn't know – and using it to mark the place at which she had stopped reading.
"Daphne! I'm sorry I-"
"More light reading?" Daphne smiled at Hermione's sheepish expression.
"I wanted to finish the end of the chapter at the very least, since I already have quite a few books out and I doubt Madame Pince would allow me another…"
Daphne rolled her eyes, motioning for the Gryffindor to follow her as she headed to where Madame Pince was seated, taking the book out on her name. Hermione followed reluctantly behind her until they had left the library, when Daphne handed the book back to her.
"I rarely borrow books from the library, and you can just return it with the rest of your books when you're done."
"Pince isn't going to be too happy with you if she finds out," Hermione said half-heartedly, the book that Daphne had borrowed for her already clutched to her chest.
"She doesn't need to find out, now does she?" Daphne told Hermione, winking at the Gryffindor. "We spend enough time together in the library where she won't get suspicious. Don't worry, Hermione. I doubt Pince would even think of banning you from the library."
Hermione scowled at the laughing girl.
"I think your head of house would be too upset with her for even daring," Daphne added. "Not to mention the rest of the professors."
Hermione sighed, knowing that Daphne was only continuing her teasing to get a rise out of Hermione, the other girl found it "endearing" when Hermione got frustrated – Daphne's words, not hers.
Daphne led her onto the grounds not too far from the edge of the Forbidden Forest, and a muttered charm had a blanket lying on the grass.
"Come on, Hermione. I know that you're free until dinner, and your two Gryffindors are stuck in that useless Divination Class until then."
Hermione huffed, "It's not like they're learning anything anyway. They're just making up whatever the feel like, and I'm not even sure Trelawney is even a seer – she can barely see five feet in front of her!"
Daphne laughed, and Hermione was reminded of how all of this had begun – their companionship that had sprung after many days of tiring research for a joint project. A small smile that had been all that was needed for the Slytherin to keep her company during an Arithmancy class that had grown a bit too tedious.
There was little that could cause a distortion to this simplicity – because there wasn't anything that they could expect from each other, but the friendship that they had already offered.
Written for The Ultimate Hermione Competition: Hermione/Daphne
Written for Pokémon Journey Challenge: hidden, distortion, she stood out from the crowd