"Well, it's a right little party in here, isn't it Crabbe?" Malfoy said, looking down his nose at them. He'd gotten taller over the summer, he could really do that well now.
Crabbe, as usual, had nothing to say. Malfoy, as usual, probably didn't want him to say anything anyway.
"Ah, piss off, Malfoy," Ron said.
"No need to worry, Weasel, I don't plan on staying around you lot, I think that would turn my stomach. Just had a quick question to ask. Did Daddy pay for your plastic surgeries, Granger, or you whore yourself for them?"
Ginny was pushing down hard on Ron's thigh to keep him from getting up and pummelling the blond brat, but she looked pretty livid herself.
"No? Neither of those?" Malfoy seemed disappointed no one had a comeback for him, so he plodded on, "Oh, I think I get it now. You're worse than mud-blood, aren't you – you're a god-damned half-breed."
Somewhat surprisingly, it wasn't Ron or even Ginny who punched Malfoy so hard a trail of blood from his nose fell back over his uniform as he was knocked to the ground. Harry was the one to loose his temper.
Hermione, suspecting the situation might worsen and Harry might get into terrible trouble on the first day back from school, did the first thing that came to her mind – she let loose a powerful blast of her allure with every ounce of effort she had. Every head in the cabin turned her way, entranced and attracted, aside from Luna and Harry, who stared at the stunned Malfoy still on the floor.
While Hermione stared back at all those staring faces in shock, Luna stepped up quickly for a girl with her lazy-looking mannerisms and pushed Harry aside to kneel down in front of Malfoy.
She took out her wand and pointed it at his nose.
"Episkey." She said, the broken nose snapping itself healed. Hermione drew back her allure at that moment, leaving Malfoy staring at Luna.
"Should be all better now, but you'd better go clean up the blood." Luna said, smiling and nodding, like he was dismissed.
Malfoy stood quickly and scrambled, Crabbe and Goyle on his heels, though Goyle did take one more glance back at Hermione before fleeing.
"I hope you don't get in trouble for that, Harry," Hermione said, "Thank you."
"I hope so too." Luna said, returning to her seat with that strange grace.
Her healing of Malfoy's nose wasn't mentioned. Hermione assumed either she did it to lessen the damage and therefore lessen Harry's chances of getting in trouble, or maybe she was just nice to everyone that way. Or just weird.
"Good on you, mate," Ron said, "I wanted to do that so badly myself, git deserved it. How dare he just stomp in here and talk to Hermione like that?"
"We should change," Luna said, "We'll be arriving soon."
The boys stood out in the hall first while the girls changed, Luna taking special care with her earrings and necklace. Hermione noticed that because, well, she was noticing Luna. She wanted to see if the year-younger girl's body resembled hers. It did to some extent. Luna lacked curves, certainly, but her skin was pale white and unmarked. There was that fairy-like grace again. She hadn't even finished her physical changes yet and she already...
While standing out in the hallway, Hermione noticed a blond head peeking out from a compartment before whipping back in when it noticed it was spotted.
Hermione joked to the other girls while they waited.
"Do you suppose Malfoy has Veela blood too? He's got the hair for it."
"I wouldn't know," Luna said, clearly not seeing the joke of it, "You can't sense that in males."
"I think she was joking, Luna," Ginny said.
"Oh," Luna said, looking a little fallen.
"Hey, would you explain to me what wrack-spurts are again?" Ginny asked suddenly.
She knew what she was doing, Hermione noticed – Luna cheered up again immediately. Wrack-spurts, huh? From the way Luna was talking about the nonsense, they had to be one of her favourite subjects. Great friend that she was, Ginny took it in stride, nodding and seeming to pay perfect attention to a topic Hermione found hopelessly dull and confusing.
It was almost a little sad when the small blond had to leave the group to go sit at Ravenclaw Table. Hermione hadn't known her long, but already considered her a friend. Harry's hand giving her a gentle squeeze reassured her. She pecked him on the cheek quickly by way of thanks. His expression was weird and Hermione was reminded that with her allure, maybe she shouldn't do things like that anymore.
At dinner, Dumbledore announced the Tri-wizard Tournament to the cheers of almost all students. Students delegations from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang would arrive.
The name Beauxbatons sent Hermione's heart into her stomach for a small moment. She'd promised Lacy in one of their conversations before school to take this year to think about the school in France. They had a whole class for Veela to learn about their history, culture, powers, and how to deal with prejudice. Apparently, it was a finer establishment than Hogwarts too, Hermione had found through research... not just richer, with higher standards of learning. A better place for Hermione's intellect, a better place to make a better future.
She'd promised Lacy to take this year to think about it. If she was going to depart from her friends someday, she certainly couldn't do it in such little time. She'd told no one about her considerations on it, not even Harry or Ginny. Her parents knew by default, but left the decision up to her entirely.
She had a whole year to think on this, so why was she thinking now? She shook the thoughts from her head and smiled with everyone else.
"It's going to be an exciting year!" Harry said, grinning, "Maybe in a good way this time!"
Hermione clinked her glass with him.
Classes started as normally while they waited for the delegations from the schools to arrive. Everyone seemed to be in high spirits and doing well. The trio hung out with Ginny and Luna after classes to finish homework together and just chat. In only days, Luna was growing more into her Veela inheritance.
Then, what Hermione feared might happen did.
Walking between classes one day, Rodger Davies asked if he could talk with her a minute. Harry squeezed her arm for reassure, but both him and Ron moved onward, leaving her to talk with him. Traitors! Hermione recovered from such thoughts quickly and smiled at Davies, trying to look as friendly as she could.
"Hey, I was wondering if maybe you might want to do something on the first Hogsmeade Weekend. There's this really nice place in town, sort of a book-shop tea house, I think you'd like it."
Hermione felt cold, trying to get a handle on herself. What should she say? God, why hadn't she planned for this? He had this confidence, almost charming confidence. He knew she liked books? Did that matter?
"Oh, Rodger, that's a pretty long way away... and, well, we've never really hung out before, like that..." She didn't want to offend him or make him feel badly about himself.
"Right." Rodger said, scratching the back of his head nervously. "I was thinking we might start hanging out that way. Well, you don't have to decide now and you might make other plans before then. I guess I just wanted to get a foot in the door, so to speak. I'll ask again sometime a little closer to the day. Just keep me in mind, all right?"
Hermione nodded miserably. Well, that had gone over a lot better than it could have. Mostly thanks to Roger rather than thanks to her. God, she hardly even knew him. She didn't want to – go out with him. Right? Did she want to go out with anyone?
Maybe it wouldn't be so bad. She didn't know what dating was like, really, and no one ever married the first person they went out with or anything like that. It wasn't some kind of huge commitment. She needed to get a move-on or she'd be late for class.
If only it had ended there.
"Parvati -" Hermione stuttered slightly in disbelief and shock, "I never knew that you were, well, that way."
Parvati blushed a bright crimson, "I... never really knew either. You... sort of helped me realize that, Hermione. Um, well, you might not... be... this way. You don't have to go out with me or anything, even if you are. I guess I just... well, I sort of wanted to say thank you." With those words out, Parvati seemed to calm down considerably. It was like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders.
"I mean it, Hermione," She went on, smiling, "Thank you for helping me realize this about myself. All these years, I've been forcing myself to fall over boys, be like my friends. I guess you can fall over girls just the same way."
She kept looking at Hermione, who blushed and stuttered again.
"I don't what to say. Um, thank you, Parvati. That's..."
"Are you?" Parvati asked, again looking a little nervous, though a lot less so than before.
"Am I...?" Hermione asked.
"Straight?"
"Oh!" Hermione said. She'd thought her face couldn't get redder. She'd known Parvati for such a long time now, it almost felt wrong to not have known this about her. Then again, Parvati hadn't known herself.
"I... don't know." Hermione said, "I've never thought about it."
Parvati giggled at her, "Well, think about it, would you?"
Hermione could only nod as Parvati started to walk away.
"Parvati!" She called after her, still blushing.
"Yes?" Parvati asked, turning back around.
"I'm glad... that you could realize that about yourself. I'm sorry for being so awkward, I have no problem with it, I swear."
"I know," Parvati said, giggling again, "You aren't the kind of girl who would have a problem with it. I just have to convince my parents to be the same way."
Hermione nodded for a while, until Parvati slipped out of sight.
That was certainly unexpected.
And questions were raised. In the middle of the empty hallway.
Well, she was at least partially straight, she felt sure. That would be, at least... she was straight or bi. There was a spectrum, she knew. She could fall anywhere on that bisexual spectrum, probably a lot closer to the mostly heterosexual side.
But was she... maybe a little?
God, she could think about this later, she was late for class!
"I'm telling you," Ron whispered, "I've got to do it today. Bloody Davies beat me to it!"
"I'm not arguing with you," Harry said, "Do it today, whatever."
"I have to tell you!" Ron said, "Or else I'll loose my nerves. Make me do it, Harry."
"I'm not going to do that!" Harry whispered back. Too loud of a whisper, Snape was glaring at them. Fortunately, Hermione choose that moment to whoosh into the classroom in a flurry.
"Sorry, sir!" Hermione said, "Sorry about being late, sir! Sorry about disrupting class!"
"Five points from Gryffindor, sit down, Ms. Granger. You can join Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley, like you always do." Snape seemed unmotivated to get overly angry at the moment. Lucky timing.
"Where have you been?" Harry asked.
"Parvati isn't straight!" Hermione responded in whisper.
"What?" Ron asked.
"Sorry! God, she might not even want people to know that yet, I'm such a mess. I mean, Parvati confessed to me. In the hallway. Am I straight?"
She seemed to be genuinely asking.
"I don't know!" Harry whispered back, "How am I supposed to know that?"
"I don't know!" Hermione said, flinging her hands up, "And earlier, with Roger, he asked me out. At least, I think that's what it was. I'm a little flustered right now, okay?"
"Can we just do the assignment before Snape comes over and pummels us into the ground?" Ron asked.
Hermione nodded. That, at least, was a path she knew. Schoolwork, a safe zone, where she didn't have to think.
"And Hermione..." Ron said.
She looked over at him. His face was red as a tomato Oh, no.
"Can we... talk... after class. You know... about stuff."
Hermione covered her eyes with her hand, "Not you too, Ron."
Ron seemed offended.
"What do you mean by that, not me too?"
"I -" Hermione started, "I don't mean anything by it. I just-"
"What I am not good enough for you now or something?" Ron whispered furiously.
"No! I mean, yes! I-" Hermione stuttered.
"Not right now, I think, is a good idea for when to have this conversation," Harry jutted in.
"Five points from Gryffindor, focus on your work, Mr. Potter." Snape called lazily from his desk.
Harry scowled. Why him all the time?
"Whatever!" Ron said, "I don't care anyway. Just because you're all... pretty... n'stuff... you're still a know-it-all! And annoying! I've changed my mind! I don't want to go out with you! I never did, I-"
"Ron!" Hermione said, in a shocked whisper.
"I mean -" Ron seemed to want to take it back instantly, but it was too late.
Harry was stuck in the middle, looking back and forth at the display in dismay.
"Are you longing for a detention, Mr. Potter?" Snape drawled, not even looking up from his papers.
"It's not me! I – I mean, no, professor, sorry, professor."
"Five points from Gryffindor." Snape yawned in the middle of it. That was more insulting than a deliberate insult and the Gryffindors in the room were starting to look mighty angry with the three.
At last, Ron and Hermione seemed to remember they were in a classroom and quieted down.
Harry didn't know what else to do. Hermione seemed to be on the verge of tears, working silently and efficiently.
He held her hand under the table, giving it a squeeze, then on impulse, tried to do the same for Ron.
Ron looked very offended at him.
Great. Now he was angry at both of them.
Harry rubbed his temple with his free hand.
Ron, stubborn as always, stormed off the moment class ended, leaving Harry to deal with the mess he made. No, he couldn't think of Hermione's feelings like that. She was far too dear to him. He directed her into the hallway by the arm and gave her a tight hug once he'd directed her into an empty classroom. The tears started flowing then.
"I – I'm sorry, Harry!" Hermione said, sniffling, "It's just – all of it together. Roger and Parvati and making Ron angry and Malfoy on the train..."
"You're still thinking about that?" Harry asked in surprise.
Hermione nodded miserably.
"I'm sorry, Hermione," Harry said, "You should have said something, we could have talked it out, or at least, I could have given that git another punch in the nose."
Hermione smiled at that, so, progress, at least.
"Maybe I'll give Ron a punch in the nose too." He said, sounding half-serious.
Hermione shook her head, "Don't be angry with Ron, Harry. You know him, that's just the way he is. We just need to let him cool off for a while."
Harry bit his lip, "That's not how friends should be, I think."
"Maybe not," Hermione said, "But we are anyway."
Harry couldn't say anything to that. Hermione cleaned her face with her handkerchief and they left.
Ron seemed equal parts ashamed and still upset. He didn't talk to either of them at dinner, sitting with Seamus and co instead. Ginny, meanwhile, unaware that anything had happened, was eating at the Ravenclaw table with Luna, as she did sometimes.
Hermione cleared her throat.
"Well, the other schools are coming tomorrow, so that's something to look forward to."
Harry nodded eagerly, glad for a topic of conversation, "Yeah, I'm pretty excited about that, actually. I'd like to see if I can talk to any of them. It'd be interesting to see what other schools are like."
"Oh, Harry!" Hermione exclaimed suddenly. From her tone, something had distracted her and she'd forgotten about the row with Ron completely.
She continued, "Take me with you, please, I'd like to do that too! We can go together."
Harry was pleased at her enthusiasm if it made her happy like that, "Yeah, absolutely. Tomorrow, okay?"
She nodded rapidly. That settled and Hermione seeming to be in much better spirits, they dug in to their meal.
Hermione certainly loved learning new things. Talking to the other schools, especially with Harry by her side to alleviate her nervousness, would be a great thing for her any day, but this time around, she had an ulterior motive too. Get to know Beauxbatons in specific.