A/N: some of you know that there is a hurricane on the east coast. i live in pa and there is a good chance that we'll lose power today or tonight possibly for a week. so i'm going to update today instead of weds. and if by some miracle i get the next chapter completed before the power goes out. i will update Even If... also. for those of you that are keeping up on both. if i can get chapter 8 completed for this story before then i will post again today. thanks for your patience
A Siren's Song
Chapter 7
Several of the teachers were sitting at the Head table, eating and watching the students interact with one another. Professor Dumbledore noticed that the Beauxatons weren't really attempting to converse with anyone else. They came into the Great Hall as a group and left together as a group. It seemed as if the other students hadn't even noticed that they were there.
Professor McGonagall noticed that mostly all of the Drumstrang students stuck to the Slytherin table. She saw Draco Malfoy attempting to converse with Viktor Krum; but it looked as though he was more occupied with a young witch from the Gryffindor table. Chiding herself for getting involved in student affairs she went back to her breakfast.
Professor Snape, was watching Hermione as she sat and laughed with her friends. She was smiling and eating her toast when the Weasley twins, came in and plopped down on either side of her. They were asking her something, and when she nodded in the affirmative. They started pouring pumpkin juice for themselves.
He watched as she helped them fill their plates, and he watched as she spooned what was left of her porridge into her mouth. He switched his attentions to the Hufflepuff table, where he saw one Cedric Diggery fending off the attentions of some of the younger girls at his table. He watched as the lad stood from his place, and gathered his things. Then he watched as the boy dropped a note into Hermione's lap as he walked by. Professor Snape never would have seen it if he hadn't been paying attention. He wondered what the note said, and then he wondered why he wondered what the note said. I'm starting to sound a blithering idiot, Snape thought scowling out at the House Tables filled with stupid dunderheads.
Meanwhile at the Gryffindor table, Hermione picked up the note that fell in her lap as Cedric walked past. "What have you there Hermione?" Fred asked.
"It looks like a note," Hermione said.
"Well are you going to read it?" Ron asked with a huff. Why would anyone want to give Hermione a note? It's not like she's all that pretty, he thought.
"Give me a moment and I will Ronald," Hermione said in a huff, "on second thought I think maybe my note and I shall adjourn towards class. After all it is my note, and my business, and I don't recall their being a rule that my business is your business."
"I'm sorry," Ron said, "I didn't mean to offend you."
"Apology accepted," Hermione said sitting back down. She opened the note, and smiled at the neat penmanship. It read as:
Dear Hermione,
I know that we haven't known each other to terribly long and I was wondering if you would meet me in the library this evening after dinner. If you've nothing else going that is…
You see I've finished with the book I borrowed the other week and I was hoping that you could help me find the books I need for my next assignment. If it's not too much trouble that is…
Your Friend,
Cedric
"Well what's it say?" Fred asked.
"Oh he was just wondering if I could come to the library tonight to help him find the books for another assignment," she said with a smile.
"Sounds like he just wants to get you alone for a little bit," George said.
"or he really just needs the help of the girl who knows the library really well," Ginny said in his defense, "you know not everything is about what you're thinking it is."
"Ginny's right," Hermione said with a sigh, "why should I refuse someone help when they went through all the trouble to ask?"
"Don't know," Fred said whispering into her ear, "perhaps he thinks you're beautiful and being close to you is the closest thing to heaven?"
She smacked him on the arm lightly, "I'm not beautiful," she said in a whisper back to him, "but that you think so is endearing."
"Fred never lies," George whispered, "you're really very beautiful."
She leaned in and gave both Fred and George a kiss on the cheek. Standing up, she gathered her thing, "I have to stop at the Library before class to return a few books, and I'll see you guys later."
As they watched her retreating form, Ron suddenly became suspicious, "what's going on between the three of you?" he asked.
"Why does there have to be something going on," Ginny asked before Fred or George could get a word in. "the fact is that Hermione doesn't see herself as a pretty girl, and there is nothing wrong with them trying to boost her self-confidence a bit. She certainly doesn't get it from the two of you."
Ginny stood, gathered her things and followed after Hermione to the library. All eyes at the Gryffindor table rested on Ron, "what?" he practically yelled, "I don't understand what the big deal is about Hermione all of a sudden? The way you all are acting one would think she's the Bloody Queen of Sheba! Frankly I don't see it, she's just one of the boys, she's our resident bookworm, and I don't get what's so special."
Lavender and Parvati were taken back by Ron's cruel words, they looked at each other and then to Fay Dunbar, a girl that they all shared a dorm with. "I think that it's time to go to class," Fay said, "don't worry about Hermione, she's pretty good at taking care of herself. I'll see you all later."
Lavender not being able to think of anything to say stood and left the table, Parvati wasn't too far behind her.
Meanwhile up at the Head Table, the teachers were talking amongst themselves, "can you hear what they're saying Albus?" Professor McGonagall asked.
"Not really," Professor Dumbledore said, "but I can amplify it for you if you like."
"Yes," Professor McGonagall said, "with students storming out of the Hall I think perhaps it would be a wise idea to find out why."
Suddenly there was no reason to turn up the volume at the Gryffindor table because Ginny was Ranting loudly at one Ronald Weasley.
"Why does there have to be something going on," Ginny asked before Fred or George could get a word in. "the fact is that Hermione doesn't see herself as a pretty girl, and there is nothing wrong with them trying to boost her self-confidence a bit. She certainly doesn't get it from the two of you."
They watched as Ginny gathered her things and stormed out of the hall, no doubt to follow Hermione to the library to be sure she was alright.
"What?" he practically yelled, "I don't understand what the big deal is about Hermione all of a sudden? The way you all are acting one would think she's the Bloody Queen of Sheba! Frankly I don't see it, she's just one of the boys, she's our resident bookworm, and I don't get what's so special."
No the boy wouldn't get what's so special about her, Snape thought, she certainly doesn't deserve your ire, and I can't believe I'm admitting this even to myself, the girl could do much worse than the Weasley Twins or even Cedric Diggory from the look of things. Katharine, I can't believe the things you make me go through. As he finished his musings he bid farewell to the other teachers and headed off towards his own hole in the dungeons, after all he was the dungeon bat.
x.X.x.
Ginny followed after Hermione as fast as she was able. She caught her as she was entering the library¸ and followed her towards the corner row of books that was slightly hidden from the Madam Pince's desk.
"Hermione," Ginny spoke reaching out towards the girl with her hand, "are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Hermione said, "your brother is an insensitive git."
"I know," Ginny's said, "And I gave him a dressing down before following you here. In fact I think Fred and George might be hot on my tail."
Hermione turned around with a small smile on her face, "oh Ginny," Hermione said as her arms latched around the other girls neck as she cried softly.
Ginny whispered to Hermione that everything would be ok, and that Ron didn't know what he was missing out on. Surely someday Ron and Harry would notice that she was a girl. Ginny told her that on the day that they finally noticed Hermione she would help her get her revenge on them. Hermione laughed and thanked Ginny for making feel better.
Hermione and Ginny left the library arm in arm, running into Fred and George on the way out through the door.
"Umph," Ginny and Hermione made the sound at the same time. The air rushed from their lungs making them a bit light-headed. They'd have fallen to the ground if the Weasley Twins weren't so quick on their feet. Fred grabbed Hermione, while George steadied Ginny. Fred's arms wrapped around Hermione's waist holding her to him.
"Hello Hermione," Fred said, "fancy meeting you here."
"Do you bump into unsuspecting wizards often?" George asked.
Hermione looked up at Fred like she'd been caught stealing cookies from the kitchen. She blushed a beautiful red color when Fred's arms tightened around her.
"It seems you've startled her into silence dear brother," Fred said, "are you alright? You really should just ignore Harry and Ron, they're blind idiots."
"Yes," Hermione said, "the slight still hurts though. It's funny I get more attention from my best friends brothers than I do from my best friend. Not that I don't appreciate the attention I get from you two."
"We know love," Fred said, "but you two should scurry along to class, wouldn't want you to be late."
"Thank you," Hermione said as Ginny started to leave for class, "Ginny, Fred, George, thank you." She hugged each in turn and gifted them with a kiss on the cheek, even Ginny.
As she walked away a giant smile spread on each one of their faces, Ginny turned and beamed a smile at her older brothers and skipped off towards her morning class.
Fred and George turned and walked towards their first class, it wouldn't do any good to be late for class. There would be time to speculate later on what to do with the attraction they felt towards the little with that seemed to have the whole Gryffindor house in an uproar.
The day continued on without a hitch, after Harry, Ron and the other 4th years finished with their morning classes they found their way towards the Great Hall for lunch. To their surprise Hermione was not at lunch. Or rather she had already been to the Great Hall and took her lunch to the courtyard, when she and Ginny and some of the other Gryffindor girls were eating lunch.
"It's a conspiracy," Ron said, "we treat on girl badly and the rest, follow in her footsteps."
"Yes Ron," Harry said in an annoyed voice, "because the slight you gave this morning was so endearing all the girls took it personally."
"I just don't get what's so great about Hermione," Ron said in an irritated tone, "sure she's our friend but it's not like she's anything special. She's not all that interesting to look at, she's overly bossy and she thinks she knows everything. I really don't see what's so important about a sleep inducing harpy who doesn't do anything but study, rant and nag about things that don't concern her."
"You're an idiot," Harry said, "I won't say anymore because you obviously aren't going to listen to a word anyone says on the subject. But you might want to remember that she's our friend, and if you plan to keep her as one you might want to quit being such a git."
"I'll take that into consideration," Ron said going back to his food, "as for right now I'm eating, can we please not talk about Hermione anymore."
Harry sat down and grumbled a bit under his breath. A few moments later Neville and Seamus came in and sat down. "Where is everyone?" he asked.
"The girls are eating in the courtyard," Harry said, "I think it might be something to do with the slight from this morning; but you know girls they could have had it planned weeks ago. Either that or they're chasing after Krum again."
"Probably the latter," Seamus said, "I don't think half the girls in Gryffindor get along with Hermione half the time. It's not her fault, she's just not as vain as them. They care far too much about their appearance, Hermione doesn't really need to primp in front of the mirror to much she's pretty as she is."
Neville and Harry goggled at him, they weren't quite sure how to take Seamus's announcement about the girls in Gryffindor House, although he was pleased about what was said about Hermione. Perhaps hearing someone else say she was pretty would make Ron think before he spoke next time. "what? i pay attention to what goes on around me," Seamus said baffled by everyone expression.
Ron just looked up at them, "I thought we agreed not to talk about Hermione while I was eating?" he asked.
"You asked me to stop," Harry said, "You didn't say anything to them."
Ron grumbled under his breath, finished his lunch and left. Neville, Seamus, and Harry just sort of looked at each other like they had been hit in the face. A few minutes later the Weasley twins, Lee Jordan, and Dean Thomas walked into the Great Hall. Dean was in their year but always seemed to get held after class for some reason or another.
"What did we miss?" Dean asked, "And where is everyone else?"
"Girls are eating in the courtyard," Harry said, "Ron stormed off because we kept talking about Hermione. We think Lavender and some of the younger girls might be chasing after Krum."
"Ah good ole Krum," George said, "Has Hermione thought about what favor she wants yet?"
"I don't know," Harry said, "I haven't had the chance to talk to her much lately. She's been hiding away in the library in her spare time looking up stuff on house elves."
"You could always go to her you know," Fred said, "She spends some of her free time down at the lake."
"And with Ron continuously making an ass of himself I doubt that she'll be hanging around the common room until he apologizes."
"Might be a while then," Dean said, "You know how selfish he is."
"Then perhaps we should run him off so that she can spend more time in the common room," Fred said, "I can think of a few ways to get rid of him."
"Or we can owl mum and tell her that Ron'd being jealous git because of the attention Hermione's getting," George said, "I bet she'd send him a howler."
"the first thing she would do is ask what Hermione has done to get so much attention," Ginny said from behind them, "then she would send a howler to Ron for being mean; which in turn would make Hermione feel worse about herself."
"So what do we do sister dear?" George asked, "Ron shouldn't be able to drive Hermione from the common room if that's where she wants to study."
"Well then bring the Basilisk back to life and have him Petrified," Ginny said grabbing a plate and filling it with food, "or better yet, petrify him yourself. That should work, unless Mrs. Sprout has a grown crop of Mandrake root."
As Ginny gathered her lunch the boys continued, "sorry to interrupt again," Ginny said, "I'm off to the courtyard, can't boycott lunch if I'm her with you guys."
They all looked up at her and smiled, she laughed as she turned and walked out through the doors of the great hall. She had to get to the courtyard. After a few moments the boys snapped out of their thoughts and started the conversation right where they left off.
"Ah not totally sure," Harry said, "Neville you spend the most time down in the green house does Professor Sprout have any grown Mandrake's?"
"I don't know," Neville said, "but I can find out. Give me a couple of days and I'll find a way to ask her without being suspicious."
"Are you guys seriously talking about hexing your brother because he was mean to a girl?" Lee asked.
"It's not just a girl were talking about," George said, "she's the Pride of Gryffindor, Smartest Witch of her Age, she The Gryffindor Know-it-all. Gryffindor Princess. I'd say she's more than just some girl."
"Maybe," Lee said, "but you've got to admit you all seem a bit more concerned about her than you should for her just being a friend to your brother."
"So what?" Fred asked, "We like her, always have."
"Probably always will," George finished, "all the more reason to help her."
"How would getting Ron out of the common room be beneficial to her?"
"Well she wouldn't have to deal with Ron," Ginny said, "she's enough to deal with, without him yelling at her and trying to put her down."
"Alright," lee said looking at Harry for a bit of help, "we've Herbology later today, we'll come up with a reason to ask Professor Sprout if she's an adult mandrake crop."
"Alright," Neville said, "on that note, we've got to get to class or we'll be late, and Hermione will never let us hear the end of it. Oh and we'll most likely land ourselves in detention."
"Well lets go then," Harry said, "we'll catch you guys later."
"Later Harry," Fred, George and lee called after them. Seamus and Dean followed Harry and Neville out of the Great hall without looking back, wondering what it was they had gotten themselves into.
x.X.x.
Gryffindor Girls in the Courtyard.
Hermione and Ginny sat under the tree in the courtyard chatting and eating lunch when Lavender and Parvati strolled up to them and started talking. "Can we sit her with you?"
"Sure," Hermione said.
"Hermione," Lavender said, "don't let Ron get to you, and he doesn't know what he's saying."
Hermione looked up at lavender with a shocked expression, "thank you," she said, "I appreciate your saying so."
"Oh no need to be so formal," Lavender said, "we've shared a dorm long enough to drop the formalities."
"Alright Lavender, " Hermione said, "so was lunch terrible?"
"Terrible," Parvati said, "I swear that boy just doesn't know when to be quiet."
Ginny and Hermione laughed, "try living with him for 13 years," Ginny said.
"No thanks," Lavender and Parvati said together.
They were eating and having a good time when Katie and Angelina came up to them and asked to sit down, "the boys seem to be having a boys only conversation in the Great Hall," Katie said, "thought we'd join you for a bit of Gryffindor Girl Spirit, or something like that."
"Sounds great," Ginny said, "we should do this more often."
"What have secret girl meetings to conspire about boys?" Hermione asked.
"Oh yes," lavender said "that sounds like something I could get into."
"I think it's something most of us could get into," Parvati said in a cheery voice.
"I've got something we can discuss," Ginny said on a more serious note, "how to get Ron out of the Common Room so that Hermione here can actually spend some time in her own house without confrontation?"
"We could always just hex him," Parvati said, "or cause him to have an accident."
"Or we could as Dumbledore to set up a house tournament for wizard's chess," Hermione said, "Ron wouldn't be able to resist the urge to rub his winning in everyone's faces."
"That sounds like a good idea," Ginny said, "it could be held on Saturdays, and then we could actually spend time together outside of the library."
"That's a good idea," lavender said, "I still like the idea of hexing him."
"You can still do that," Hermione said, "just do it on Mondays so that he'll be all better by the time Saturday comes around."
Everyone laughed at Hermione's idea, "alright," Ginny said, "We'll look into the chess idea. But for now perhaps we should get going to class. Harry would never let you live down being late to class."
"True," Hermione said, "how about we meet again at the end of the week to discuss further ideas?"
"Sounds good," Katie said, "we'll let you know what days' work best for us. Could we possibly come up with some way to get in touch with each other."
"We could all think about it this week and then we can throw our ideas together to come up with a solution later," Parvati said.
"Wonderful," Katie said.
"Now we've really gotta run," Angelina said, "Snape will have us in detention for sure if we're late."
Everyone said their goodbyes, before running in separate directions.
Meanwhile in the hall way a couple of professors were standing and watching, "do they do this often Minerva?" Dumbledore asked.
"I think it's a new development," Professor McGonagall said, "but I'm not opposed to the idea."
"Keep an eye on them for me?" Professor Dumbledore asked, "we don't need them getting into too much trouble."
"No that would be disastrous," Professor McGonagall said, "but I'm interested in seeing what they come up with."
"Shall we make a friendly wager?" Professor Dumbledore asked.
"And what would be the terms?" she asked intrigued.
"If I win," he said eyes twinkling with mischief, "you agree to have dinner with me, alone, in my office."
"And if you lose?" she asked with a bit of a smile.
"Well then you can take your time and decide what it is you would like me to do for you," he said with a twinkle in his eyes.
"Well then I would say that you have to buy the staff drinks at the three broomsticks the next Hogsmeade outing," she said snarkily.
"Is that really what you would like my dear?" he asked a bit disappointed.
"Albus," she whispered into his ear, "if I wanted to get you alone to have my wicked way with you, I wouldn't wait for a bet to do so. But as you seem so keen on waiting for a wager to try and do so I'm afraid that I might eventually have to take matters into my own hands."
"And how do you plan on doing that?" Dumbledore asked suggestively.
"That's for me to know," she said poking her finger into his chest, "and for you to wait in agony for eons and eons before finding out."
"You're a very wicked witch, Minerva," Dumbledore said, "I'll get you one of these days and then you'll have no way of escaping me."
"Oh I look forward to it," she said with a smirk in reply, "but now I must go, or my students will be running ramped in the classroom. Of course if I'm lucky I might get to hand out a few detentions."
And with that she sauntered away without so much as looking back at him. Dumbledore could' t help but feel elated at his bantering with Minerva. He maybe an old wizard, and she herself might be 85 years his junior; but he would still have her. If only they could stop playing this little game of cat and mouse that they had been playing for the last 15 years then perhaps he could feel content in life. Perhaps… well perhaps not, after all he still had to make sure that Harry defeated Voldemort. He had to make sure that Hermione's parents told her about her birth mother and how they came to be adopted, and he had to make sure that no one was hurt in the process…. It was going to be a long year. Hell it had already been a long year…
x.X.x.
Severus Snape was attending to his class of dunderheads, they were being extra stupid today it seemed as some of the 5th years seemed not to be able to follow directions. Over at the Weasley's table he saw sparks and rushed over, just before it exploded, he was able to put up a shield before everyone in the surrounding area to get an eye full.
"YOU IDIOTS!," Professor Snape bellowed, "what are you thinking of? You should be concentrating on what you're doing and not gossiping. GET OUT!"
"But professor," they tried to explain that it really wasn't their fault this time. They hadn't been talking about anything, or even thinking about anything. They really thought that the potion they were working on could be beneficial to learn.
"I don't want to hear it," Snape growled at them, "now remove yourself from my class room before I'm forced to remove you myself."
The twins looked at one another before standing up, and gathered their things, "you may not believe us professor," George said, "but we really didn't do it this time."
Before another word could be said, the two of them stepped out of the classroom and disappeared. They had more than an hour before their next class, so they went to the library. It was time to get serious, because they were sure that they would be given detention. Perhaps they deserved the detention last time they pulled something. Perhaps the next time something happened it would be their fault; but it really hadn't been them this time, it really had been just an accident…
TBC…
A/N: I want to thank everyone for the wonderful reviews, they are appreciated. i'll see if i can't finish the next chapter and post it today if possible. Cheers
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.
