The rest of the weekend and Monday passed by in a blur, and before Hermione knew it, it was Monday night. She would be departing Hogwarts the next day for the muggle world and she had written to her parents the previous evening to say she would be coming home. They'd written her back, saying how ecstatic they were to have her home for the holidays. Parvati, Katie, and Lavender were sitting on Parvati's bed, watching Hermione pack.
"Gosh, I wish we could come and watch you in the competition. It sounds like it's going to be spectacular," said Katie wistfully as Hermione held up two tops.
"Well, you never know. There are sometimes summer competitions so if Annabel and I do one you guys could always come and stay with me and my parents and then come to those. Luna and Padma and Cho too, and Harry. He said how much he wishes he could come watch. Which of these tops should I take?" Hermione asked. One was a fitted black tank top and the other a purple short sleeve tunic with gold shot through.
"Take both, you'll regret it if you don't," said Lavender wisely. Hermione folded the two shirts and placed them neatly in her trunk. Closing the lid, she sat down on her bed, facing her three friends. Friends, it was a funny word. This time last week she was still friends with Ron and Ginny, never dreaming that she would be in the starting stages of friendships with some of the most popular girls at Hogwarts.
"Where were you and Cho coming from yesterday when we met you at lunch?" asked Parvati.
"The Room of Requirement, she had some stuff she wanted to talk to me about and she didn't want to be overheard," Hermione said. The other three nodded.
"I've noticed she's been sneaking looks at Harry lots when he's not paying attention, maybe now that he and Ginny aren't involved anymore she'll make her move," said Lavender. The news that Ginny Weasley and Harry Potter had split up had spread like wildfire through the school, and Harry had found himself the center of attention from the female population, much to his chagrin. Hermione shrugged.
"It's hard to say, I think the last thing Harry wants right now is a new relationship. He's really stressed about the Quidditch finals, and trying to keep up with his homework and studying as well. He told me that Ron was awful at Quidditch practice yesterday afternoon. He kept trying to convince Harry that their friendship shouldn't be over and Ginny was looking smug about something," said Hermione, rubbing a hand over her face as she thought back to the conversation she and Harry had had over their homework the previous evening. The other girls frowned in sympathy.
"Well, hopefully Ron and Ginny's antics don't cause any trouble and don't cost us the Cup. We need to be able to work as a team if we want to win," said Katie. Hermione and the other girls nodded in agreement, with Hermione wondering how her best friend's first detention with Professor Snape was going.
In the dungeon, Harry was reading through a stack of essays from the first years. When his detention had started, Snape had outlined what he wanted Harry to do. Harry would be going through the papers and correcting any grammatical errors while Snape would do the marking. It was tedious work, and more than once Harry had taken his glasses off and rubbed his eyes before he put them back on and kept working.
"I have to say Potter; it's very helpful having you here. It usually takes me about two to three days to get through all the marking when I have to read through every essay and correct every error that I find," Snape drawled. Harry nodded.
"I don't mind sir, I'd rather be doing this than, say, scouring the bed pans in the hospital wing," Harry confessed. Snape looked at him, a hint of a smirk playing about his lips.
"So you don't resent that you're spending the entire week with me, helping with the marking? I'm impressed, Potter," Snape said.
"No, I know that I deserve to be in detention for fighting. It was stupid really, to fight with Ron. I do regret that. It was immature but I felt like I had to defend myself," Harry said, hardly able to believe that he was actually having a civil conversation with Professor Snape.
"Once again, I'm impressed. You're not like your father at all. I apologize for saying that you are arrogant and lazy, you're not. In fact, how would you feel about tutoring some of my students?" Snape asked. Harry looked at him, completely baffled.
"Tutoring? Me? In Potions or Defence Against the Dark Arts?" Harry asked.
"Defence Against the Dark Arts, of course. If I remember correctly you got an Outstanding in your O.W.L, and it would look very good on applications for jobs after you leave school," Snape said. Harry nodded slowly.
"Yeah, all right then, I'll give it a go," he decided.
"Excellent, and with that Potter, I'll see you tomorrow evening," Snape said. Harry nodded and gathered his things.
"Good night, Professor."
"Good night, Potter."
As Harry walked along the corridor, lost in thought, he failed to see Draco coming around the corner.
"Oof!" Harry groaned as he bounced off of Draco and landed on the floor.
"Sorry, Potter, I didn't see you," said Draco as he extended a hand to Harry to help him up. Harry grasped his former rival's hand and allowed Draco to pull him up.
"Thanks Malfoy, and no worries. It's partly my fault; I wasn't looking where I was going. I'm just coming from detention with Snape. Where are you headed?" Harry asked.
"I'm just heading back to the common room, I was in the library. I thought I'd see Granger there, she's usually there when I'm leaving," Draco admitted, hoping he sounded casual. Harry didn't seem to notice.
"When I talked to her at dinner she said she was planning on packing. She's heading home tomorrow for the cheerleading competition that she's doing with her cousin," Harry said.
"Yeah, do you know what cheerleading is? I've been curious ever since Granger mentioned it at dinner on the weekend," said Draco.
"The way she explained it to me was that cheerleaders get the crowds going at sporting events in the muggle world. It sounds wicked, I really wish I could go watch her," said Harry as he checked his watch. Draco nodded as he took in the time.
"Yeah, well, off to bed for me. See you, Potter," said Draco. Harry nodded.
"Night, Malfoy," he said as he continued on his way to Gryffindor Tower. Two civil conversations with Slytherins in one night, I have a feeling there will be more Harry thought. He and Malfoy weren't friends yet, but he knew it would take awhile for them to work through all the kinks in their past. As he arrived in the dormitory and began to get ready for bed, Ron came over to him.
"Harry, we've got to stop Hermione from going to the cheerleading competition, she's not a muggle, she's a witch. She is supposed to be here with us," said Ron.
"Blimey not this again, Ron. Hermione is leaving tomorrow and if you were really her friend you would be happy and excited for her. She wants to go and I for one am really excited for her. I think it's great she's staying in touch with her muggle heritage," Harry sighed as he climbed under the covers.
"Ginny is going to try and convince her to stay, she thinks that Hermione's cousin and her team can win without Hermione," Ron prattled on as though Harry hadn't spoken.
"Yeah, well, good luck with that. She spent tonight packing to go home," Harry said as he pulled his curtains shut.
"She won't be going if Ginny can help it," said Ron before he turned and went back to his own bed. Harry sighed as he took his glasses off and settled down to sleep.
In the girls' dormitory, Hermione was settling down to sleep after a hot chocolate with her roommates. Katie had left to go back to her own dormitory shortly after the hot chocolates and Parvati and Lavender were already asleep. Hermione yawned and closed her eyes only to open them again upon hearing a tapping at the window. Hermione groaned, she needed to be well-rested for the trip home and her classes tomorrow, but she got up and went to let the owl in. Once she detached the letter from its leg, it flew off to the Owlery for the night. Hermione looked at the letter in her hand and, deciding it could wait until the morning, laid it on the table next to her bed. Snuggling down under the covers, Hermione drifted off to sleep.
The next morning, Hermione woke up, dressed, and opened the letter she had received the night before.
"What the hell is this?!" she exclaimed. Parvati looked up from where she was braiding Lavender's hair.
"What's the matter?" she asked. Hermione blinked a few times and cleared her throat, but she couldn't bring herself to read the letter out loud. She shook her head and held it out to Lavender, who took it and began to read, with Parvati reading over her shoulder.
Hermione,
What on earth are you thinking, taking place in a competition where you will be half-naked in front of men? Ginny wrote me last night and told me that you were going to come home for a cheerleading competition. Not knowing what this was, I did a bit of research and was horrified by what I found. If you partake in this competition, which I hope you won't, you will not be welcome in our home any longer and no longer a part of this family.
Molly Weasley.
"You've got to be kidding me! Who does Mrs Weasley think she is?" Parvati exclaimed as she and Lavender finished reading. Hermione shook her head.
"I have no idea, but I'm still going home and still taking part in this competition, and the Weasleys' aren't going to stop me," Hermione said as Lavender handed the letter back to her.
"I think you should confront Ginny and tell her that she has no business running to her mum and trying to stop you from doing something that you really want to do," said Lavender as the three girls left their dormitory after collecting their books and bags for the day. Katie was waiting for them at the bottom of the stairs, and as they walked down to the Great Hall they were joined by Harry, Dean, Seamus and Neville.
"So, are you ready for your trip home Hermione?" asked Dean as they made their way into the Great Hall. Hermione nodded.
"Yup, I'm all packed. Just lessons today to get through and then I leave tonight," she replied.
"How are you getting home?" Neville asked as the group sat down and helped themselves to tea and toast, Hermione opted for a bowl of chopped fruit salad and a glass of orange juice.
"Dumbledore's letting me use the floo network from his office and I'll floo to my parents' house," Hermione answered as she took a bite of her salad.
"That's not all you're having for breakfast is it?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, I can't afford to have the bacon and sausages, they're really high in fat," Hermione explained. Harry shook his head and pushed the toast rack and a big bowl of scrambled eggs towards Hermione.
"Well, at least have some eggs and toast too, Hermione. You can't last all morning on fruit salad and orange juice, you'll be hungry by break," said Harry.
"He's right, Hermione, you need to keep your strength up," said Dean. Hermione, realizing their words had truth in them, took a piece of toast and spooned some eggs onto her plate.
The group finished their breakfast and got ready to head to their first lesson of the day, Defence Against the Dark Arts. Hermione took her usual seat next to Harry.
"I've been meaning to tell you, Hermione, Ron and Ginny are going to try and stop you from leaving tonight," Harry said as they waited for Snape to arrive. Hermione sighed.
"Too bad, I'm going. I had a letter from Molly this morning, Ginny wrote to her last night and told her that Dumbledore's letting me go," said Hermione before pulling the letter out of her bag and handing it to Harry. He read it quickly but didn't get a chance to say anything to Hermione as Snape arrived and started the lesson.
"Mr Potter, Miss Granger, stay back if you please," said Snape at the end of the hour.
"We'll see you in Charms," said Parvati before she and the rest of their friends left the classroom. Harry and Hermione walked up to the teacher's desk and waited. Snape handed Hermione a neatly organized pile.
"These are your class work and assignments for the week. Obviously you can't do the practical work whilst you are in the muggle world, so when you return to Hogwarts you'll have several evenings with me where you will brew the potions. Does that sound fair?"
"Yes, Professor, thank you for understanding how important this is to me," Hermione replied as she tucked the stack of papers into her bag. Snape nodded before turning to Harry.
"Now, Mr Potter, have you thought about my offer?" Snape asked.
"Yes. I'd like to do it," said Harry.
"Excellent, we will figure out a schedule for that later in the week. Now you two better get to your next class. Good luck at the competition, Miss Granger," said Snape.
"Thank you sir," said Hermione as she and Harry left the classroom. As they hurried along to Charms, Hermione asked Harry about his conversation with Snape.
"Last night during detention he asked if I would mind tutoring some of his students in Defense Against the Dark Arts," Harry explained. Hermione beamed at him but didn't have time to comment as they arrived in the Charms classroom and took their seats.
The rest of the morning passed by quickly, with Hermione's teachers giving her the week's assignments and wishing her luck at the competition. By lunchtime Hermione had a decent sized pile in her bag. After making a quick trip up to the girls' dormitories to deposit her homework in her packed trunk, she headed back downstairs to join the others for lunch. As she took a seat next to Harry, she noticed him looking over at the Ravenclaw table.
"You should talk to her, you know. If anything to give yourselves closure and maybe stay friends. Don't let a bad breakup cloud your future," Hermione advised as she pulled a tureen of chicken soup towards her.
"You sound awfully sure about that," Harry responded as he pulled his gaze away from Cho and refocused on his lunch.
"I am, it doesn't do to let your past inhibit your future. Maybe if you take it slow this time and actually get to know each other, who knows?" said Hermione. Harry nodded thoughtfully as he continued to eat his lunch.
The afternoon classes passed quickly and before Hermione knew it, it was time for her to leave. After changing out of her uniform, Hermione picked up her trunk and with Parvati and Lavender's help, lugged it down the staircase.
"Gosh, Hermione, how much did you pack for a week?" panted Lavender as they arrived in the common room and they set the trunk down.
"Maybe a bit too much, I kind of threw in all the dressy clothes that I have since I don't know what we're doing," Hermione admitted. She hugged the girls' goodbye and asked them to say goodbye to Luna, Cho, and Padma since she hadn't gotten a chance to talk to them that day. Bewitching her trunk so that it was lightweight, she picked it up and turned to give Harry a hug.
"Compete well and make us proud," he said. Hermione nodded.
"See you in a week," she said before she left the common room. As she walked along the corridor, she was grateful that she hadn't come into contact with Ron and Ginny that day. No need for a sour start to my trip she thought as she walked up the stairs that would take her to Dumbledore's office. Approaching the gargoyle that guarded the headmaster's office, she gave the password and stepped onto the spinning staircase. Professor Dumbledore was waiting for her outside of his office.
"All ready, Miss Granger?" he asked as they entered the office together.
"Yes. I'm really looking forward to this," Hermione said as they stopped in front of the fire.
"Excellent. Now, if you please, close your eyes and picture what it is you're going to," instructed Dumbledore. Hermione did as he asked and closed her eyes. Concentrating hard on her parents' home, she felt a warm wave break over her and knew that Dumbledore had cast the spell. Opening her eyes, she watched Dumbledore point his wand at the fire where flames erupted.
"Good luck, Miss Granger, and remember that Hogwarts is behind you," he said. Hermione smiled at the headmaster as she took a handful of Floo Powder and stepped into the fireplace. She shouted her parents' address and in a whirl of green flames, she was gone.
Dumbledore headed down to the Great Hall where the staff had gathered the students. Taking his place at the stand, he waited for the Hall to quiet. The students were completely bemused by the set up of the hall; the four house tables as well as the staff table had been cleared away, leaving only benches. At the front of the hall where the staff table usually sat, there was a huge shimmery screen. Upon seeing their headmaster, the students quietened.
"Thank you. Now, as you all have noticed, this is a different set up to what we normally have, and let me explain why. Over the past weekend, Miss Hermione Granger received a letter from a relative asking her to compete in a cheerleading competition. Miss Granger left Hogwarts a few minutes to go, but not before allowing me to cast a charm on her that will show us every moment of the experience. We will be viewing the muggle world for the next week, meaning we will be watching Miss Granger take part in the competition," Dumbledore announced. At his announcement, the room erupted into noise. Harry, as well as Katie, Luna, Parvati, Lavender, Cho, and Padma were all beaming. They'd wanted to watch Hermione at the cheerleading competition and now they had the chance. Draco and his friends looked at each other in awe; they didn't know there was such a spell. Ron and Ginny were fuming, they'd meant to talk to Hermione out of it and they'd failed. Dumbledore raised his hands for quiet and the hall fell silent once more.
"Now while this is an experience for all of us, it is also a privilege that can be taken away. The teachers and myself will be sitting among you, and if we hear any badmouthing of Miss Granger or inappropriate comments, you will be asked to leave and not come back. Now, without further ado . . ." Dumbledore pointed his wand at the screen and it blared to life. Leaving the platform, he sat next to Harry and across the hall from Professor McGonagall. For a moment there were only green flames and then Hermione stopped spinning. The students and teachers watched as she stepped out of the fireplace.
"Mom! Dad!" she squealed, dropping her trunk onto the floor and launching herself at a couple who were standing beaming at the sight of her.
"Hello, my darling!" Jean Granger exclaimed as she hugged her daughter. Richard Granger hugged his wife and daughter tightly. Hermione stepped back from her parents but kept a hold of their hands.
"It's so great to see you!" she squealed.
"You too, darling. Let's go and sit down, we ordered Chinese takeout for dinner with all your favorites," said Richard. As they arrived in the dining room, Hermione let out a shriek.
"Anna! Emily!" she cried before hurtling towards two girls who were sitting at the table.
"Surprise!" they said together before being knocked backwards by Hermione as she engulfed both of them in a bear hug.
Author's Note: Chapter 7! Woo-hoo! Hope you guys enjoy this. Thanks for your patience while I balance work, school and fanfiction. Till next time, xoxoxo