Hermione was pacing the common room, book in hand, while Ginny sat tentatively on the couch. It wasn't really sitting, it was more of a perch, listening intently. Slowly, everyone else had gathered around to watch. Hermione was reciting potions ingredients.
"F is for Frogs Breath, to make your poison undetectable."
"F is for Frogs Breath, to make my poison undetectable." Ginny repeated.
"U is for Unicorn Hair, the main ingredient in Veritasseum."
"U is for Unicorn Hair, the main ingredient in Veritasseum."
"What is Deadly Nightsade?"
"Belladonna, used as a relaxant and can also kill."
"What is Veritasseum commonly known as?"
"Truth Serum."
"Very good. Are you finding anything interesting about this?" She turned and closed the book, putting it in her bag. Ginny considered this before nodding,
"I don't think the brewing is interesting, it's rather tedious. The theory behind it could be exciting though. What's next, more Chasing? Ballroom dancing?" She leaned back, shooting a glare around the room, "What are you lot staring at!?" They all looked away.
"I don't know." Hermione replied, choosing to ignore the others, "ballroom dancing would actually be nice but neither of us can and I'm not letting anyone else in, are you?"
"No. So, then, what? I start spouting Potions theory while you practice Chasing?"
"No, it's not enough, clearly." Hermione frowned, "we'll figure it out."
Things got even stranger when, at breakfast, Hermione and Ginny showed up in makeup. It was nicely done but not like them. Then, for absolutely no reason at all, they got frustrated and stalked out. Harry looked to Ron but Ron was already looking at him. Both shrugged and went back to breakfast. That day at lunch, Hermione jumped to her feet,
"Ginny! I've got it!"
"You do?" Ginny asked, frowning. She sat down her fork, "go on."
"We're going to get help. From a Slytherin. I don't know which Slytherin yet, I haven't thought that far. Daphne Greengrass looks like a good choice though, you think?" Ginny leaned around her, looking up and down the Slytherin table. Daphne Greengrass was one of Draco's lot, with dark brown hair that always fell about her in perfect waves. She didn't wear too much makeup like Pansy, and resembled a china doll with big dark green eyes. Ginny looked back to Hermione,
"That'll work on several levels. She was a Chaser for Slytherin… fourth year? Third, maybe? She knows the game. I don't know about her Potion skill but she's got other attributes we could use."
"Alright, you're dragging the Slytherins into this, I'd like to know what's going on." Ron said.
"We are bettering ourselves," Hermione replied, "honestly, Ron, mind your business."
"You can't better yourself by taking any help from them!" Seamus squawked. All were clearly ignored. Hermione and Ginny gathered their things and approached the Slytherin Table. Gryffindor watched on in horror.
"I can't breathe." Ginny whispered, "is he looking at me?"
"Not yet, they haven't seen us." Hermione whispered back, both holding their heads high, "just remember, focus on Daphne, no one else."
"Can you breathe?"
"Yes but my heart is about to come out of my chest, I'm sure of it- they've seen us." Slowly, one by one, every Slytherin turned to face them. Some looked irritated, others looked bewildered and all the rest appeared not to give a damn. Hermione ignored her true target, head held high as she and Ginny stopped behind Millicent Bulstrode and Theodore Nott. Daphne seemed to realize they were looking at her then and straightened from her lazy posture (a bit like a draped cat) and leaned over,
"May I help you?"
"I hope so," Hermione replied, focusing on keeping complete and total eye contact with only Daphne. That alone was a bit intimidating but better than the alternative by far, "we would- Ginny and I- be interested in speaking with you whenever its convenient, Daphne. We would like to be taught a few things…at the very least, interview you."
"On what?" Daphne countered, frowning gently, "most likely, no time is convenient."
"Fashion." Ginny replied, having found that she was, in fact, a Gryffindor and gathered that courage finally, "fashion, spells, your general heritage as a pureblood female and what that includes. That sort of thing." Everyone froze, all of their expressions strange.
"Why, Daphne," Theodore Nott cooed, "I think that was a compliment. Of all the girls they could have chosen, they chose you." Ginny subconsciously stepped away from him.
"I see." Daphne leaned back, retaking her lazy posture because there was no threat. Daphne really was pretty Hermione thought, in a delicate yet dangerous way. It reminded her strangely of someone else and that helped her as Daphne said, "why me?"
"Because we can't exactly ask Narcissa can we?" It was both flattering and showed knowledge of respected pureblooded women. Daphne perked up,
"Narcissa….?"
"Malfoy." Hermione replied, pointing to Draco, "Draco's mum." Ginny seemed to catch on instantly and nodded,
"She's pretty and pureblooded too."
"I'll tell her you said so." Draco smirked, "what is this? I mean, really? You might as well come out with it."
"Alright, you want the truth?" Ginny asked, "we really are just curious. It's beneficial knowledge."
"Beneficial, how?" Daphne asked suspiciously. Oh, Ginny's face said, you actually picked up on that.
"Fine," the red head chirped, "if you won't teach us, we'll go somewhere else."
"That is certainly agreeable." Daphne replied, revealing that she had no intentions of helping in the first place.
"Wait! Oh, I'm glad I thought of Narcissa!" Hermione crowed, unable to contain her excitement, "Ginny! I have an idea!"
"What? Or who? What?" Ginny asked, eyes lit with excitement. Hermione grabbed her hand and they heard as she pulled the redhead to the head table,
"If we can't get Narcissa, we'll go for the same blasted thing!" The Slytherins looked to Draco who shrugged,
"They picked you, Daphne, I'm not in this." He did, however, want to know who was as good as his mother.
"Headmaster!" Hermione gasped, sliding to a stop in front of his chair. He sat up from where he appeared to be both playing with his food and watching the students (especially these two) interact.
"Miss Granger, Miss Weasley, how may I help you?"
"I think we should have etiquette lessons, sir." Hermione blurted, "optional of course. A lot of us are going to go on to work at the Ministry and places like that where there are large social functions and the like. The majority don't know how to act at those things, if you'll recall our dancing lessons and the like from the Yule Ball. Again, it should be entirely optional, only for those who want to learn and maybe only a week or two? Please, sir, please?"
He leaned back, fully aware that many, many eyes were on him. The Great Hall was starting to go quiet in an attempt to see what was going on. Ginny's eyes got big and she pouted at him cutely,
"please, sir?"
"I see, and who would you have me get to teach this position?"
"Andromeda Tonks!" Hermione said proudly, clearly having been waiting for that very question, "if you tell her Ginny and I begged and pleaded, she might even do it for free!" He considered this as well, eyes twinkling. He was no fool, he knew they were up to something. Still, it wasn't a bad idea and could be fun and interesting in any case.
"If you can find a sizeable class, I will allow it."
"Right now?" Ginny asked. He nodded. She looked to Hermione, "he said now."
"Ummmm," Hermione turned and ran to Luna, the entire Great Hall quiet and listening now. "Luna, would you take an optional class for etiquette with me and Ginny? It would be fun!" Luna smiled and nodded before joining Ginny at the front. Cho huffed but went. Then Parvati, Lavender, and Padma joined. Hermione turned, searching people out while the Gryffindor boys attempted to be invisible. "Oh don't be ridiculous." She scoffed, "you'll always be useless at this stuff… Amanda! Hannah?" Both girls went and joined. She turned, "that's nine, Professor, how many do I need?"
"If you think she will agree to it, nine will do, I'm sure." Albus smiled. People began to whisper, wondering who Hermione and Ginny had suggested but not a soul would come off of the name.