A little short and somewhat transition chapter for you all! I am currently working from home and self-quarantining, so here is to hoping I can focus enough to produce more chapters for you all soon. I hope you enjoy this introduction to some of the other lovely students at Hogwarts and if you have any suggestions for things you would like to see in future chapters please do not hesitate to share! Finally, I am tossing around the idea of including a Halloween Costume Ball in some capacity (either in this fic or as a one shot) and I know exactly what costume I want for our favorite curly haired, book loving shero but I am not sold on any other character costumes. If this is something that you would be interested in, please leave any recommendations for character costumes in reviews or messages and I will make sure to credit you if I pursue the Halloween chapter/fic! Alright, enough rambling, enjoy!
Lessons on Cauldrons & Companionship
Dinner in the Great hall was both similar and different than years past. Of course, the room still was filled to the brim with the most delicious foods imaginable and voices chatting away, but the structure was a bit different.
There was still the long table set high above the students for the professors overlooking four grand tables arranged down the length of the hall. However, unlike in the past, the tables were loosely labelled per house, but students were encouraged to intermingle and sit with their friends regardless of house affiliation.
The house table that they sat at would vary but was predominantly Gryffindor or Ravenclaw. Hermione quickly spotted the table her friends were gathered at once noticing Neville happily waving her over. One difference that was hard for Hermione to not feel the ache of was that, even with her old and new friends, she would not have her meals flanked by Harry and Ron. Regardless of the twinge for the normalcy of her meals with her raven and ginger haired best friends she felt comfortable and happy amongst the current group.
She smiled at her friends and began scanning the section of the table for a seat. She not so gently nudged Draco to make room and sat between him and Neville while sitting across from Luna and Ginny.
Like what table they were seated at, the people in the group would change depending on the day. Neville, Ginny, and Luna were the most frequently clustered but at times they were joined by other 7th and 8th years from the other houses including Slytherin. Tonight, some fellow students included Blaise, Seamus, and Padma. At times this could lead to tempers flaring but all in all interhouse friendship was truly blossoming post war. After all, once it was made quite clear that Hermione and Draco were not only on speaking terms but quite close everyone else seemed to warm up to those in other houses.
After sitting her heavy bag down and serving herself a portion of comfort food, she started assessing the conversations around her. It seemed that there was a rather heated discussion of the merits of different quidditch maneuvers between Ginny and Draco while Blaise and Seamus were jokingly teasing Neville about growing some very select herbs for them to partake in.
Shaking her head while smiling, she was pleased to see how comfortable everyone was around the table. Looking across from her, Hermione noted that Luna was not engaged in conversation. This was not unusual for the faraway blonde, so Hermione began reflecting on her own thoughts. While Hermione chewed and thought of what all she wanted to accomplish after dinner, Luna's melodic voice caught her attention.
"Hermione, do you know the spell that is used on the ceiling?" Luna said dreamily whilst looking up at the starry sky swirling above the Great Hall.
Turning her brown eyes upward to the swirling sky, she thought about what all she knew about the spell work.
"I do not know the specific spell, but I know the theory as outlined in Hogwarts a History. I am sure Professor Flitwick would know more also. Why do you ask?"
Luna turned her dreamy gaze to Hermione with a sad smile, "I have found following my time in Malfoy Manor that I do not care for ceilings… or walls… or being closed in."
Conversations began to quiet around them, and tension blossomed at the table. Luna continued without notice.
"It has been hard in several places particularly the dungeons and in my room, but I have been spending more time outside which makes me happy. I am thinking that perhaps using a similar spell in my room would help me feel freer. Plus, it might help me sleep without waking up in panics."
The tension was even more palpable around the table. Draco clenched his silverware and scowled down at his plate. Neville swallowed loudly and nervously looked at everyone except Luna. Ginny took Luna's hand fiercely causing the girl to turn her gaze to the loyal ginger. Hermione cleared her throat and tried her best to smile at Luna.
"I will make sure to look back at the description within Hogwarts a History and talk to Flitwick about it. I would be happy to help."
Luna thanked her and there was a heavy pause following the conversation. Draco cleared his throat and looked back up at the blonde Ravenclaw seated across from him.
"I have found that tending the greenhouses is not my favorite and if you would prefer, perhaps we could talk to Mcgonagall about switching my greenhouse duties with your potions shifts."
Everyone turned to him and he shuffled somewhat uncomfortably. "I mean I am missing the dungeons and the dirt and manual labor do not agree with me at all, so it just seems fitting." He said in a huff in a poor imitation of his snooty demeanor from his early years of Hogwarts.
Luna looked at him, tilted her head slightly and smiled. "Thank you, Draco that would be lovely. I have found that the greenhouses are my favorite place to do tasks lately. The glass walls let me see the sky and there are loads of blibbering humdingers around greenhouse 5."
Ginny smiled and jokingly tossed a bit of her roll at Draco, "Look at you Malfoy, you are nothing but a big softy!"
Pink spots blossomed on his high cheekbones as he wordlessly caused the remainder of the redhead's roll to fly into her mouth stopping her laughter and thoroughly diffusing the heavy mood that had just moments before shrouded the table.
Whilst the rest of her peers were laughing at the exchange, Hermione turned to Luna and spoke in a gentle tone.
"Luna, if you ever have trouble sleeping go out to the common room. I have found that helps and often you might find someone else there to take your mind off things. Plus, the high ceilings and firelight bouncing off the mirrors might be more comforting than your room until I figure out the spell to enchant your ceiling."
This garnered a smile from the blonde and she simply and sincerely responded, "You are good friend Hermione."
The moment was promptly interrupted by a thick bubbling sound and the pungent smell of rotten pumpkins.
"As ucht Dé! What's a lad gotta do 'round here for a bit of a gargle!" Seamus exclaimed in a thick brogue sparked by surprise and anger while jumping back from his now rapidly curdling goblet of pumpkin juice.
Blaise laughed while pinching his nose and moving further away from the Irishman down the table. He sat promptly down next to Hermione jarring Neville to the side and forcing her to be pressed against Draco's side.
"If you wanted a bit of alcohol, there are better ways than experimenting at the dinner table," the suave Slytherin said with a smirk while draping an arm around Hermione's shoulders. Hermione did not respond since she had soon discovered that if she made any fuss with the overly touchy Slytherin he would continuously pick at her. Plus, she would never admit it out loud, but it was nice to now have friends that she could casually lean against or be touched by comfortably. This helped cushion her adjustment to being at Hogwarts without Harry and Ron.
Seamus' only retort was an enthusiastic rude hand gesture in their direction. Laughter burst out from the table until, with a sickly pop and a plume of smoke, the curdled pumpkin juice mimicked a geyser and covered everyone in the vicinity.
As everyone was dripping with orange muck and shell shocked, the stern tone of one Severus Snape was directed at Seamus.
"20 points from Gryffindor for your misguided experimentation and detention this weekend. Based on this incident, I will make sure that your tasks allow you to be further surrounded by smells and sludges."
Professor Snape rose one eyebrow while looking at the Irishman who was clearly trying to contain his anger in order to not receive further punishment. Appeased, the potions master glanced around the table with a cutting look and with a swift flick of his wand cleared the gunk off all surfaces including students. Dark eyes flickered to the casual drape of Blaise's arm around Hermione's frame and her pressed figure against Malfoy with a narrowed glance.
"Miss Granger, the hospital wing is in need of additional potions. Be ready to brew in an hour." With his terse command he gracefully swiveled and stalked toward the exit of the dining hall in a billow of cloaks.
Silence sat at his dramatic exit until it was pierced by the teasingly tone of the sassy dark Slytherin next to her.
"OOooooOOOO someone's in trouble." Blaise stated with a toothy grin.
With an overexaggerated eyeroll and promptly dropping his arm from her shoulders, Hermione gathered her bag and left the dining hall to go prepare for her unexpected brewing session with the rather acerbic professor.