Saturday was warm and welcoming. The sun had dained to appear and no clouds dared get in it's way.
Everyone was seated at the dining table talking amongst themselves when Granger squeezed in next to Theo. She placed in front of him, moving his plate and subsequently Campbell's and Blaise's plates out of the way, a stack of papers and books that mirrored the ones she had brought to Campbell yesterday.
"Sorry I couldn't get these to you yesterday, I had to gather them after my classes. Thankfully I know the classes and we actually share a few, so it was easy enough to get the notes for them." Granger looked at everyone.
There was no one talking anymore. Malfoy had stopped moving midbite. Pansy had a permanent look of disgust on her face and Daphne had a hand on her arm.
It was Crabbe who broke the silence. "You have your pet mudblood running errands for you now?"
Hermione was still. Theo thought she was considering her response. He was about to give one of his own when Zabini of all people did it for them.
"Give it a rest you daft lug. You're just jealous because no girl has talked to you, let alone looked at you. I'm fairly certain if any did they would vomit on sight."
Campbell chimed in. "Oh it couldn't be that bad," she told Blaise. "Let me give it a try." She turned dramatically towards Crabbe. Everyone was now looking at him instead of Granger. Campbell started to make some fake gagging sounds and turned away quickly.
Crabbe stood from his seat looking red and large. "Be careful what you say bint."
"Get bent." Campbell shot back.
He looked ready to lunge at her from across the table when, "Enough Crabbe. You've embarrassed yourself enough for one day." Malfoy spoke smoothly and almost bored, never letting his eyes leave Campbell's. She didn't know how long he had been staring but it made her feel as if she weren't wearing enough clothes.
Crabbe stormed off in a huff. Malfoy looked after him and saw Goyle looking conflicted. "Go," was all Malfoy said and the other boy left, taking his plate of food with him.
Everyone soon went back to their own meals, their own conversations. Hermione gave a grateful look to Blaise and Campbell.
Theo, sounding a bit rougher than he had intended asked, "Are you going to Hogsmeade?"
Hermione tried and failed to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. "I'm going with Ginny and Luna. You guys are welcome to join." Hermione looked at all three of them.
Campbell shook her head. "I'm not sure that's the best idea. Ginny and I had a bit of a row at the party and I'm not sure she'd be as comfortable with me being there."
Hermione nodded. "I heard about it." Of course she had. "Ginny feels just as bad as I'm sure you do about it."
"How about we meet you lovely ladies for some drinks at the Hogshead or the Three Broomsticks?" Zabini suggested.
Hermione nodded happily. "Let's make it the Three Broomsticks. Luna has a thing for the atmosphere there."
"We will be there. 3?" Theo asked. Hermione just nodded and stood to leave. Casting a smile back as she went.
Malfoy took a devastating bite of an apple and stared at the stack of work on the table. "Why weren't you in classes? Any of you," he added looking at all three of them.
Blaise took a bite of some pie. "Yeah well, we all decided to ditch you see." Crumbs where getting everywhere. That boy needed to learn how to not talk with his mouth full.
Malfoy scoffed. "I thought Slytherin's Princess wanted to be the golden girl this year." He held her in place with his story eyes. "Not going to do that if you keep skipping classes Little Nott."
Campbell couldn't even get angry. The prat had a point. She looked over at her brother. He gave her a curt nod, knowing what she was thinking.
Campbell swallowed. "Are you nervous you won't be in second place this year?" It was meant to sound snappy, but her voice was too small.
Malfoy crooked up a pale eyebrow. "You think I'm going to be first in class?" He put a hand on his heart in mock surprise. "That means so much, really."
"Go to hell Malfoy," Campbell spat a little more confidently.
"I'll see you there Sweetheart."
Sweetheart!I know I was the one who wrote it but it makes me squeal like a little girl.