This is a really short one, but I'm late for class, see ya!
The Defense
"Did you see them?"
"They look like students!"
"The ones in black leather…"
"What are they doing here?"
"Did you know…"
By the time the first week of school was over, the eight teenagers had not just been noticed, but were the victims of murmurs and questions wherever they went; causing most of them to groan and sigh when they saw groups of students approaching. Hermione knew that Harry didn't like the attention one bit, because 'it messed up with their rounds and distracted them when they tried to put up wards'. He had been moody all week, and each time they saw Dumbledore, he threw a glare his way (maybe even muttered a curse or two, but nothing serious). Blaise and Draco pretended to look bored and unaffected (they had, after all, been against going to the magic school, and they had to protect their pride, much to Hermione's outrage), but deep inside, they were as glad for the attention as her boyfriend, Ron, was – the git.
The bushy-haired witch stopped with the ward she was placing on one of the hallways – Protego Maxima, Fianto Duri, Repello Inimicum, really, the etymology and effects of the three spells together was fascinating – to gently massage her temple against the coming headache. Ronald, insufferable as always, was making her loose her calm. He was (for the lack of a better word), absorbing the attention, gloating and 'talking' to anyone – any girl, in fact – who approached him.
Hermione shuddered to think she was jealous (she was not, really), she had never really considered herself the jealous girlfriend – or, god help her, the sticky one – until she met Ronald, clearly. That boy…
"Hermione, did you stop the spell?"
Luna. Great. She had noticed. Hermione sighed and replied that she had, that she was about to start again, to not worry.
"Alright, then, I'll tell Harry."
Taking a deep breath, Hermione lifted both wand and hand, and making sure there was no-one out – it was, after all, just after one in the morning – she returned her concentration to the spell.
"Protego Maxima!" she murmured softly, but with force. A ball of light burst from the tip of her wand, while a twin one appeared from her hand, both floated until they reached the celling, where they slowly stretched to form a thin paper-like cover, lighting strongly, once and then, apparently disappearing.
Hermione knew better, though. The spell was still there, defending, protecting. Well, maybe the spell and her relationship with Ron weren't so different. Maybe they had stopped being a strong blinding light, but that didn't mean they weren't still there. There was hope.
Hermione allowed herself a smile before the next spell.
"Fianto Duri!"
"Repello Inimicum!"
With each new ball of light striking the celling, the thin cover shone as brightly as the first time, until the shine never really left.