Ancient runes were exactly what Hermione needed after her first potion lessons. She had managed to put it to the back of her mind. She was starving by the time she planked herself down next to Harry who was in a heated discussing about Quidditch trials with Ron.
"But the sooner we do it the more practices we can get in before the first game" Ron whined.
Harry sighed "It's the first day back I'm not going to hold trial without giving people an advance warning".
"Okay" Ron mumbled before asking Hermione why she had left so suddenly after potions.
Coughing suddenly on a piece of pasta Hermione stuttered out that she didn't want to be late for her next class.
"That's why there's a warning bell" Ginny laughed as she sat down next to her brother.
"Did Malfoy say anything to you?" Harry asked suddenly.
Shocked Hermione's head snapped in Harry's direction "No… What in the earth gave you that idea?"
Harry narrowed his eyes sensing her awkwardness "Just thought I saw something during potions" he said.
"Well whatever you saw I'm sure it was just sexual tension. Right Mione?" Ginny laughed despite the glares she was getting from the golden trio, however, no one seemed to notice Hermione's slight blush.
"Oh lighting up you lot. Come on Mione we need to meet Pansy before muggle studies" Ginny told her.
The girls walked over to the Slytherin table despite all the looks and stares they were getting from more or less every house.
Tapping Pansy on the shoulder Ginny asked if she was ready to go.
"Hey Granger" Draco winked.
Ginny nudged her in the side to answer but Pansy had already kissed both boys cheeks and was soon dragging the girls away giggling.
The moment they were out of the great hall Pansy pulled the two girls round the corner out of earshot of other gossiping students.
Pansy then turned on Hermione "What the hell was that about?" she asked.
"I don't know" she told them.
"Oh come on something must of happ-" But Pansy was cut off by Ginny who yelled "Was that what Harry was on about?"
Hermione turned to walk away before saying "I don't know what you're talking about"
Ginny and Pansy gave each other a look before running to either side of Hermione and wrapped their arms around her.
"Mione... Do you secretly have a crush on Draco?" Pansy laughed.
Stopping mid step Hermione turned round so she was facing both girls "That's absurd"
"But you're not denying it" Pansy smiled.
"I don't have a crush on Malfoy!" Hermione shouted.
Several people who were heading to their next class before the corridors got busy stopped and looked at the three girls: two were laughing hysterically while the other turned red and attempted to drag the other girls down the corridor.
"Look what you've done now. Come on let's just get to class" Hermione muttered.
Upon arriving the girls realized that most students had already arrived and had sat in groups splitting the class into a Slytherin side and a Gryffindor side. Sighing Ginny pointed to a group in the middle of the divided line with a silent agreement the girls sat together.
"Ugh I really don't want to take this class it's pointless I mean I don't have anything against muggle's anymore especially after spending a summer in their nightclubs" Pansy winked at Hermione "But that doesn't mean I want to learn all about them" she moaned.
"It'll be fine" Hermione sighed looking up from the textbook.
"Are you seriously studying!" Ginny laughed "you know everything about muggles"
Hermione just nodded continuing with her reading until she was interrupted by the entrance of Cormac and Neville who sat behind the girls. They were followed in by Ron and Harry who pulled a seat over so the four could sit at the one table.
The teacher soon arrived after their entrance "Hello, I'm your new muggle studies teacher: Professor Dawson" looking around the class he asked where some of the Slytherin's where.
As If on cue Malfoy followed by Blaise and a few other Slytherin's came sauntering in the room before they could say anything- as if they would apologize thought Hermione- Blaise looked at the teacher with wide eyes "Nate?"
"Blaise. Long time no see" the teacher smiled slapping his back next he turned to Malfoy "Draco" he smiled.
Shaking his head at the group of Slytherin's "Go to your seats and no more hiding in the courtyard"
Draco and Blaise who had took the seats in front of the girls asked how he knew where they were.
"It's an old hiding place" He chuckled.
Mr. Dawson took a register and began talking about today's lesson "As you all know you have a dance this weekend and the band that's performing is a group of Gryffindor's" Hermione nodded and he continued "I've seen the set list Dumbledore has given me and its more or less all muggle music so that will be today's lesson" Waving his wand a laptop appeared which was hooked up to the projector in the room. "This is a very handy device called a computer which you will all learn about soon but for today we are going to use a very popular muggle website called YouTube"
Hermione's eyes widened she didn't think something like that would work in Hogwarts she turned to the side and saw her band mates smiling and the rest of the class looking as confused as ever.
"So in the muggle world you have every type of music just like the wizarding world now does anybody know a band or artist?" He asked the class. Most hands were raised from the Gryffindor side but surprising everyone in Slytherin- Pansy raised her hand.
Whispering to Hermione she asked "What was that person's name again Lady what?"
"Gaga" Hermione answered.
"Miss Parkinson" Mr. Dawson said.
"Em…Lady Gaga?" She asked questioningly.
Nodding his head he typed her name into the computer "Do you know which song?"
"Something about a disco stick" Pansy replied.
"Have you been watching dodgy videos again Pansy?" Blaise chuckled.
"Shut it Zabini" Ron muttered "Least she's trying" this caused major shock throughout of the class. The confident Slytherin didn't even have a reply the only thing running through Blaise's head was his wonder if he was in an alternative universe.
The rest of the class sat in silence staring at Ron as if it was going to prove he never just stood up for a Slytherin of course this never came true. Ron had changed since the war despite the fact it was Slytherin death eaters that killed his brother he had learnt that it wasn't the younger generation that should get the blame as their parents had brainwashed them into thinking and acting the way they did. Hermione was proud of him sure he hadn't fully forgiven them yet and still grieved the death of his brother but he was on his way at least he was being civil.
"You heard what I said Zabini stop embarrassing her" Ron declared more loudly.
"She's done a lot more things to be embarrassed about trust me" he replied with a wink.
Completely unlike anything Hermione had ever seen him do he stood up in an angry haze eyes fixated on the Slytherin who looked up speechless. Pansy looked on in shock she couldn't't move, couldn't't even speak. It was Hermione who shot up after him grabbing his shoulders and pushed him back.
"NEVER SPEAK ABOUT A WOMAN LIKE THAT AGAIN!" he shouted.
Harry was next to rise "What the hell mate" he whispered trying to push him back down into his seat.
"Get the fuck off me Harry!" Ron shouted pushing his hands off him "Who do you think you are"
"Miss Granger can you take him outside to calm down" the teacher asked her.
Grabbing Ron's hand Hermione walked him outside and they sat down on the steps like they did when Ron found out the fate of his brother. Hermione was silent letting Ron calm down a bit before she asked any questions. When she was positive he wouldn't react badly she asked him in her politest manner what the hell he was doing.
"I'm just venting" he looked down at the floor slowly shaking his head.
"Ron" she said softly "What's the real problem. I'm not Harry I won't believe a stupid excuse- do you like Pansy or is it something else?"
He just shook his head at me "It wasn't really about Pansy. This morning during our free period - I mean maybe I heard it wrong but Harry was- he wouldn't do that. It doesn't matter Mione"
Hermione looked at Ron she could see it wasn't all right he didn't know what to do whatever it was he was really hurt.
"What did Harry do?" she asked.
"Look I don't know I walked into the library searching for you and their he sat with some Ravenclaw talking about Ginny" he replied.
"What's sort of things was he saying?" Hermione wondered out loud.
"He was boasting saying stuff a brother really doesn't want to hear about his little sister but when I made my appearance noticeable I asked him what they had been talking about - he just replied that they were telling each other about their summer. Then just before lunch I saw the Ravenclaw and made him tell me what Harry had been saying and I heard it all right. Ginny would be completely mortified I don't really want this getting back to her and I cant punch my best friend without the reason getting revealed despite how much I want to. Hermione what do I do?" Ron told her.
Hermione was stuck it wasn't something she would ever believe Harry would do especially to one of his best friends but Ginny was one of her closest friends and no one would every speak about her like that.
"Is that why you went off on Blaise?" Hermione asked despite already knowing the answer.
Ron just nodded shamefully. Hermione went all to tell Ron that he should just tell Ginny if she was strong enough to fight in a war she was strong enough to deal with this.
"I guess your right" Ron sighed " Let's get back in"
Standing up the two friends walked back into the class the whole room going silent upon their arrival. Hermione went back to her seat but Ron walked straight up to Blaise's table making him quickly rise.
"Zabini. I'm sorry" Ron spoke with a voice that proved he was sincere. Putting his hand out for Blaise to shake Hermione smiled It was the first time that a Gryffindor and Slytherin had ever apologized without being told to. After the two boys shook hands the teacher went on with the lesson.
Half an hour had passed since the incident and in those moments the young wizards and witches had learned about: Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Pink, Muse and the amazing Beatles. The teacher looked out at his class smiling they seamed to be enjoying themselves.
"Miss Granger what is one of your favourite songs?" the teacher asked.
"Oh I have loads- I love Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody" she replied.
That was the last song the class heard that day, the bell rang and they all headed to their last class of the day but before Ginny managed to get out of the door Ron pulled her aside and revealed his story about Harry.