AN: I know this story seems really silly, but that's the way my muse is working. I really liked the idea when it came to me, so maybe things will deepen as we get further along. However, this chapter seems a bit better. And I really can't stand a certain character…so now I get to make her GO DOWN!

Chapter 4: School has begun!

Late night musings

Head Girl's Dormitory

The night the students arrived to Hogwarts was hectic as usual and bristling with excitement. Hermione found herself cuddled in bed in her new room, but felt rather lonely. She almost wished she was with some of the other girls in her year in order to get to know them. Although one girl in particular had given her some sour looks: Lavender Brown.

Hermione sighed. Then her face lit up. At least she'd made a couple of friends: Ginny Weasley and Harry Potter. She wasn't quite sure what to make of Ron yet. She knew that there was something in his letters over the years that intrigued her, and he was actually quite good looking once she saw beyond the shaggy red-hair. It was clear in his letters that he liked her, but what did he think of the new girl that she was?

Looking at her muggle digital clock, she noticed it was past her sleeping hour. She snuggled in and soon fell into a peaceful sleep.

In the Girl's Dormitory

Lavender Brown was not having an easy time going to sleep. Again. She had arrived at the train station set on her one goal for the upcoming year: Hooking Ron Weasley. He was quite the catch, even if others did not know it. Heck, any Weasley was and he was the one at her disposal. Not to mention he was easily overlooked by other girls, especially with Harry Potter around.

But the new girl seemed to pose a threat. She knew Ron's reaction on the train and at dinner confirmed that. What was it about the girl that Ron might like? Her hair was too bushy, her clothes worn too conservatively, and she hardly wore any makeup.

Well, Lavender decided, she would just have to dress more provocatively than usual. And maybe some extra make up wouldn't hurt, either. She smiled as she turned on her side. Yes, that was the answer.

Boy's Dormitory

Ron tossed and turned before going to sleep. He was having trouble already and classes hadn't even started! He didn't know why he felt drawn to the new girl, Hermione Granger, but something told him he'd never be the same again. He felt guilty, however, for over the years the letters from Maria had meant more to him than anything. He'd finally realized it last year, reading her letter after his birthday incident. Something in her words soothed him. He was in love with her. But then why was he feeling this way toward the new Head Girl? No answers came despite the ponderings in his head that lasted into the wee hours.

He was so wrapped up in his own thoughts that he didn't even notice Harry's tossing and turning, whose own wonderings focused on the same girl but for different reasons.

First Day Classes

Hermione walked toward the Gryffindor table with a bright smile of her face. She felt well rested and anticipated her first classes, ready to make her impression on the professors. At the table she found makings for a sensible breakfast: oatmeal, milk, and toast. She didn't take any sausages or potatoes, which Ron was heaping onto his plate as if it were his last meal. Fine, she thought, he can have my shares.

A few minutes into her breakfast Ginny came and sat down beside her. Harry soon followed, but took a seat next to Ron on the other side of the table. She watched as the newcomers took small portions of everything, and how Lavender and Parvarti each only took one piece of toast and a cup of coffee. She shook her head. Not healthy.

No one seemed to notice the tighter shirt and shorter skirt Lavender wore beneath her robes, which were kept open for all to see. Nor the perfect, yet heavy, job she did in applying her makeup. She waited for Ron, or anyone, to notice, but they didn't.

First class was charms, in which Professor Flitwick had a prearranged seating chart. Hermione found herself paired with Ron and waited for him to arrive. He was late, with Harry in tow.

"Sorry, professor." Ron mumbled as he and Harry went to the teacher's desk to get their assigned seats. Hermione rolled her eyes. Harry immediately went to his seat beside Neville, while Ron grimaced at his own placement. This time he noticed Lavender's scowl as he went to sit beside Hermione. But nothing else.

After hearing the course description, Professor Flitwick then went into a brief lecture about their first charm. The final half hour he left to the students to complete a new charm, which turned out to be quite complicated.

To Ron's dismay, Hermione was ready to attempt the charm right away. "Now, we just say the spell and the words we speak will magically engrave themselves on the stone. Sounds easy enough." She said as she looked at the piece of stone in front of them.

Ron groaned. He hadn't had enough sleep and breakfast was still brewing in his stomach. He was hoping for a little time looking over his notes before attempting the charm, but Hermione wanted to do the spell right away. Instead of asking for more time, he spoke the words without waiting.

"No, that's not it." Hermione told him in a matter-of-fact way. "Here, this is how you say it…" She then said the spell perfectly, much to Ron's dismay. The slab of stone suddenly lit up, and she spoke again. "Let justice prevail."

Sure enough, the letters started carving themselves on the slab.

"You're so clever, let's see what else you can tell it to do." Ron told her.

Hermione's temper started to rise. "All right, then." She spoke sternly, then the incantation again and said "

We who fight for the good shall triumph over evil."

Once again, to Ron's dismay, the words formed perfectly on the stone. This time in script. He groaned aloud, and shrank onto his pile of books, not noticing Lavender's snicker and the laughs of Dean and Seamus. Even Harry and some of the Slytherins chocked back a laugh.

Draco and his partner, Blaize Zabini, whispered to each other. They could tell there was an upcoming tension brewing amongst the Gryffindors. Draco smiled

At lunchtime all the upper classmen of Gryffindor were talking about Hermione. How she completed the Advanced Charm's first lesson perfectly. A couple of heads buzzed about Ron…how he was furious at how the new Head Girl had bested him. Little did they know, that later things would turn around.

"Ginny, could you please pass me a roll?" Hermione asked. Once again, she was seated next to Ginny and across from Harry and Ron. This time, however, Seamus had seated himself quite closely at her other side, much to Ron's dismay. He'd noticed this right away, even though Hermione hadn't, and was glaring at his friend.

"Problem, Weasley?" Seamus snickered.

Meanwhile, Harry, who had been talking to Hermione about their upcoming Advanced Potions class (which Ron was not taking, he was in advanced Herbology with Neville) asked "Hey, Gin, could you pass me one, too?"

Ginny picked up two rolls and handed them to them. She smiled at Harry as she handed him his roll, and when he smiled back the blush that crept onto her cheeks did not go unnoticed by Hermione. Her thoughts were broken, however, when she felt the person sitting on her other wide gently poke her arm.

"Hermione, has anyone told you about visiting Hogsmead yet?"

Hermione turned to him and nodded. "Yes, Professor McGonagall told me about it, its part of my Head
Girl duties to help lead the third year students their first time out next month."

"Well, this weekend the seventh years only get to go. Dean, Neville, and I are going together and we were wondering if you'd like to join us?"

Hermione paused for a moment. Harry had already asked her to join him and Ron, but she wasn't sure if Ron knew about it yet. And she didn't want to say that Harry invited her, Ginny might get the wrong impression. "That's very nice of you to offer, but I already have plans. Perhaps next time?"

In the meantime, Ron felt his hand clench his soup spoon. Harry leaned over to him and spoke in a low voice. "I asked if she would like to join us. I didn't think you would mind."

Ron's face turned red, and he relaxed and shook his head. "No, er, that's great Harry."

Ginny observed this, but judging from the reaction her brother had she guessed that Harry did indeed invite Hermione, but not for his own sake. She smiled, then giggled at her brother's reaction. She also guessed that her brother's anger over the rumored Charm's lesson had been quickly forgotten, as Ron could get over things quite quickly. She also could tell Ron had a "thing" for Hermione, but might not even realize it himself.

"Yeah, next time." Seamus answered, seeming disappointed. Ron's face returned to its normal color, and a slight smile crept out.

Meanwhile, Lavender and Parvarti were whispering at the end of the Gryffindor table, not far from the would-be-Trio.

"Lavender, just give it up. He obviously doesn't like you anymore, perhaps you should move on?"

"Did you hear that? I think Seamus just asked her out."

"Yes, and she just turned him down. What does it matter? And what is up with your clothes and make-up today? I mean, you don't have a 'date' later with some other bloke, do you?"

Lavender shook her head. Her eyes narrowed focus on the new girl. "No, just making sure he doesn't forget me, you know? He couldn't possibly think she's better looking that me. I mean, look at how she dresses and wears her hair and such. No care in it at all! What do they see in her?"

"Jealous?" Parvarti asked.

"Of course not! We'll see you gets him in the end. He probably just likes her because she's knew and all. You know how blokes are. And she dated Victor Krum…probably just wants a chance to meet him, or something like that."

Parvarti sighed. Her friend was not well…not well at all.

Friday

After the last class of the day Professor McGonagall had arranged for her house's seventh year students a special series of "seminars" throughout the school year, every three weeks, to go over some of the requirements for N.E.W.T.S. Since it was the first week of school, and this seminar was on a Friday (all others were on Wednesdays) she wanted to start with a special session for flying.

The students, who knew nothing of the details, met her outside the school front entrance. A few of them asked Hermione if she knew what was going on, but the Head Girl merely shook her head. This was a house project, and was not related directly to her extra duties.

As their head of house went into an introduction of how important it was to do well on N.E.W.T.S she then told them "I know it is just the first week of class and you are all probably a little overwhelmed with your advanced courses, and so I thought this session we would start with something less studious. Now, I know a lot of you are already excellent flyers, but there are some additional elements that may be required come your exams. For example…"

As she went on explaining, Hermione froze. She still wasn't comfortable with flying, at all, and had been putting off conquering her fear of heights when on a broom. She'd tried several approaches: Flying with Victor, rock climbing, and a ropes course. She'd once pondered the idea of jumping out of a plane, but her parents wouldn't allow it and she'd reasoned with herself that she probably would be too scared to jump anyway.

"Now," the Professor continues, "You will all be paired and given a list of some basics to watch and evaluate each other on. You can go anywhere you like, as long as it's on school grounds and you may not fly over the Forbidden Forest. Potter and Finnegan…"

The two boys approached their professor and were given a scroll. They still stood there as the Professor went back to her list. "Longbottom and…what are two waiting for? Off you go!"

Harry and Seamus then set off toward the quidditch pitch.

"Now, where were we? Oh, yes…Longbottom and Patil…Thomas and Brown (Lavender groaned)…Granger and Weasley…"

The Professor continued on with the remaining names as Hermione went and took the scroll from McGonagall.

Ron accio'd his broom and turned to his partner, his cheeks slightly pink. "So…I was thinking down by the lake? Hey, aren't you going to accio your broom?"

It was then Ron noticed that Hermione's head was faced down, but she wasn't looking at their instructions. "I…I don't have one."

"Well, I guess we'll have to go get one from the supply room."

Hermione nodded, still not looking up. Ron shrugged, and led her to the supply shed by the quidditch pitch to pick out a broom, then led her down to the beach area by the lake. He turned to face her, and noticed that she still couldn't face him. "What's gotten into you?" He blurted out.

Hermione shifted uncomfortably. "I…I can't fly."

Ron's face turned to one in shock. After charms the other day, Hermione had bested him – and everyone – once again in Transfiguration class. That time she'd been paired with Harry, and had surprised even Professor McGonagall by stating she already received her permit to begin finding her animagus form. Then he'd heard about her brilliance in potions, besting the top student who happened to be Head Boy, and early today she'd asked the professor for more challenging work in Arithmancy as she'd already passed the lessons outlined to them for the entire semester. Defense Against the Dark Arts class was another story. It was downright scary how fast she was with her wand and coming up with defense spell so quickly.

Ron was now gaping at her. "You…you can't fly?"

Hermione finally locked eyes with him and shook her head. "No, I can't. I…I've tried many times, but nothing seems to work."

Ron gulped. As he looked at the girl who'd topped everyone at everything else, he suddenly felt something…and the tears that seemed to be ready to burst out any second had him thinking fast. He didn't want a girl crying on him, and for some reason he knew this wasn't just out of annoyance.

"Um…how about I teach you? You know, from the beginning? For today, maybe we could…, I don't know, fly together? That way we can tell Professor McGonagall that we completed everything on the list. Then you and I could get together some times and I'll teach you. Then you'll be flying circles around us come N.E.W.T.S!"

The smile that Hermione gave Ron made him feel warm. He panicked that she might hug him, but instead she shyly asked, "So, what do we do first then?"

"Here…" Ron said getting on his broom. He'd never rode his broom with another before, but he'd seen it done. "Now, you climb on in front of me. We'll stay near the ground for awhile, and then see how you do. I suppose you've memorized the entire list by now?"

Hermione nodded.

"Okay, then you can just tell me what things we need to cover, and I'll lead the broom. Sound good?"

She nodded again, then hesitantly got on in front of him. As Hermione settled on the broom Ron reached his arms around her waist, one hand to guide the broom, the other to hold her. He felt her jump a little at their close contact, and couldn't help but feel something jump inside himself as well. As he hovered the broom up in the air, just ten feet, the only thought going through his mind was how good her bushy hair smelled.

He groaned to himself…I'm in trouble

To be continued...

AN: Wow...I had know idea things would start so quickly. Well, that just makes me think of things to happen in the next chapter :)