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My.
The word had spread like wildfire.
Who was 'Hermione' anyway?
Hermione had barely registered Emily calling her by the new nickname last night but either Emily was some sort of mutant Pavarti-and-Lavender-gossip-monster or else she had heard it from said monster, which she could only suspect was currently roaming the Hogwarts halls.
Either way the 'new girl' was now officially known by the Hogwarts population as 'My'.
From her failed attempts at breakfast the next morning to correct two fifth year boys on this mistaken name, who adamantly refused to believe that her name was in fact 'Hermione' and not 'My' because they heard so from Patricia who heard from Louis who heard from someone else that couldn't possibly be wrong because of some abstract reason they continued to argue upon Hermione guessed that her attempts in this matter of correction might be futile.
Hermione had slept in that morning and after waving Lily and Emily on she had arrived fairly late to the Great Hall and had slipped into one of the few remaining seats, hence placing her near the arguing fifth years.
Hermione had been so tired the night before that she had simply collapsed into her bed with the transfigured robe she wore still on. When she awoke however she was pleasantly surprised to find a wooden chest at the foot of her bed that had not been there before. Inside folded up neatly were a stack of school robes and casual clothes with a wand resting softly upon a pile of underthings. Hermione had picked up the wand gratefully and blushed at the thought of Albus Dumbledore picking out her bra; at the same time, absentmindedly, wondering how he had guessed her size right and then remembering that that was one of the sole things she would have been wearing when she had been found. The wand was not perfect, as is always when the wand is not picked out personally, but a letter from the Headmaster that Hermione found with the new garments explained that if she had any trouble with any of the items (wand included) that Professor McGonagall would only be to happy for an excuse to go shopping on any given weekend.
Hermione had dressed in some fresh robes before rushing down to the Great Hall for the remainder of breakfast. As soon as she looked at the piles of bacon and toast however her stomach had promptly reminded her that it was in no mood for food and she had spent the remaining ten minutes pushing a few eggs around on her plate.
It was not long before Professor McGonagall came down from the Head table and started handing out the student timetables to the Gryffindors.
Sixth year timetables took longer to hand out because first their subjects had to be cleared with their OWL scores for those subjects. Hermione's wouldn't since she had been 'home schooled' and had hence been passed judgement for her subjects, assumedly to the teachers, by Dumbledore. She did however still have to wait a little longer as Professor McGonagall started alphabetically administering the lists.
She saw Sirius as the first to get his timetable from the Professor who was obviously still angered by last nights 'prank'.
He simply winked at the fuming Head of House before catching Hermione's eye and galloping over to where she was still sitting at the table.
"Hi My!" He called loudly as he swung one strong arm around her shoulders.
"Hi," she replied not looking at him but glowering at the arm draped upon her shoulder.
He squeezed her shoulder gently and asked more softly "What's wrong My?"
"Argh…" she squirmed causing his arm to drop. "Nothing Siri, why do you ask?" she replied with heavy sarcasm.
He laughed.
"Hey, guess you're not a morning person, eh?"
He leaned over her shoulder to read the list of subjects she had in her hand.
"Arithmancy, yuk… and Ancient Runes?" he turned up his nose and as he stood back muttered something that she could have sworn sounded like "definitely Remus' type of girl".
"Oh well, we can still be friends!" he said with a cheeky grin once again gracing his face that seemed to stretch to touch both his ears.
He was too adorable. But wait – what did he just say again?
That's right. "We'll thankyou for that assessment Siri, I'm sure –"
But before she could finish scolding Sirius' presumptuous comment Remus had appeared at his side and her breath had caught in her thought.
I've got to stop doing that.
"Why does My keep calling me 'Siri' Moony?" Sirius asked his friend, a wrinkled brow showing his confusion. "Doesn't she know my name's Sirius?"
"Maybe because her name is Hermione, mate." Remus replied grinning brightly at Hermione who continued to unknowingly stare at Remus.
Sirius muffled a laugh which left no doubt in Hermione's mind that he knew her name perfectly well already.
"Miss Granger?"
Professor McGonagall thankfully interrupted and Hermione was given her timetable. She saw that she had Ancient Runes first off and before she could think even about textbooks Professor McGonagall had whipped out a small shrunken package and placed it on the table in front of Hermione.
"Your textbooks, dear," the older woman said smiling gently before heading over to Remus who was next in line being "L".
Emily didn't take Ancient Runes and so, instead, Hermione found herself being shown to her first class by Lily. It turned out that Hermione and Lily's timetable was in fact exactly the same and although the red-head seemed excited about this, Hermione instead found it detrimental to her early resolution of staying away from this particular group of people. However with further consideration, Hermione concluded that a relationship with Lily might be the least detrimental to her resolve. Sure Hermione knew how this young girl would die in a few years but in all fairness so might Hermione – she didn't know – and at least with Lily she didn't know a Future-Lily directly. She supposed the same argument could be made for James but Hermione dismissed this as he really did look too much like Harry for her to stay uninvolved.
That day, Hermione kept her head down in most classes, only answering questions when called upon. The content seemed similar to Hermione's own sixth year but already with some major differences. Hermione felt grateful for the Headmaster making her repeat as she was sure entering into 7th year unprepared would have tormented her to no end. She sat with Lily in each of her classes except in Arithmancy where Lily sat with her Ravenclaw friend leaving Hermione to sit with Remus, needless to say Hermione didn't complain. Other than that Lily, Emily and Hermione would sit together, usually in front of the Marauder boys, who would spend the lesson throwing scrunched up notes to the girls when the professor's weren't looking.
The most interesting part of Hermione's day came with her very last lesson, which just happened to be her only lesson that day shared by the Slytherins. Potions.
It was also the only lesson with seating arrangements and as Sirius had pointed out to her as they walked down to the dungeons; he was the only one without a partner. Hermione could sense Lily stiffen as Sirius said this and about five meters away from the classroom where the Slytherins were standing Lily swiftly pulled Hermione down a side corridor, a pleading look on her face.
"Lily, what is it? Are you ok?" Hermione startled at the girls behaviour.
"Umm… My I know that Sirius just said he was the only one without a partner, but can I please, PLEASE, ask a big favour of you?"
"Yes, of course. What is –?"
"I need to sit with Sirius. I mean not him –" she blushed, "it's just my partner, we… we had… well I just can't talk to him, ok? Slughorn won't mind if we swapped, I'm his favourite student, but… I mean, would you please…?"
Hermione agreed before the girl could have a breakdown and Lily threw her arms around her in a tight hug.
"Thankyou! Thankyou!" she gushed as she pulled Hermione back into the right corridor.
"Oh," Lily added in an afterthought "just so you know, he's name is –"
But before she could answer they were stopped by the sight of Sirius and James, wands drawn and pointed at a pale looking boy with lank black hair.
"My, my, my, what do we have here boys" Sirius gloated.
"Snivellus."