28 February 1993
Hermione was happy to find that Eloise seemed much less hesitant about spending time with her outside the library. However, she was still deathly shy around Harry, Neville, and Ron. Especially Ron, ever since he helped her to the hospital wing, every time he so much as looked at her, her face would flush a deep red. Ron, the subtle boy he was, would loudly tell everyone she was barmy when she would run away from him with a feminine squeak. Now that Luna didn't spend all her time with thestrals, it was not uncommon to see the three girls walking together, chatting happily. Many of their classmates would stop to stare at the girl who stuttered horribly when called on in class.
Malfoy had been acting odd since returning from Yule break. He would stare at Hermione during meal times, not with his typical sneer but a evaluating look like he was trying to find something. Still, he would try to humiliate Ron, Harry, and Neville, especially Harry. At any opportunity he would mock their short comings with his house mates close by snickering and jeering. It was unnerving, when he passed Hermione in halls, he would simply stare and walk by, even turn to continue staring at her until she was out of view. Unfortunately for him, Hermione wasn't the only one who noticed his odd behavior. Fred and George caught him at meal times and were hatching a brilliant plan to show they're annoyance.
"I wish I were in 2nd year with you." Luna sighed wistfully as they walked down to Black Lake.
"It would be brilliant. That way you could come to Hogsmeade with us next year." Eloise grinned as she laid scarlet blanket on the ground beside the frozen lake. Luna nodded absently.
"Have I told you that I love my Christmas present lately?" Hermione chirped as she set up the Walkman and cast a sonorus charm, the Beatles filling the air.
"Not today but just about everyday since we got back!" Eloise giggled. Luna sat down and started to rummage through her rucksack. "Have you considered using shelves or something?"
"That would require emptying it." Luna hummed as she stuck her head in the bag.
"Doesn't the charm wear off?" Eloise asked quizzically.
"No, her mother created spells in her spare time." Hermione grinned as she started to sing along with the music. Luna crawled out of her bag with a huff, she had 6 butter beers, a couple pudding cups, some pumpkin pasties, and a handful of chocolate frogs.
"Tada! My organization works and the nargles can never steal from this bag." Luna said smugly as laid out the feast.
"I will never understand you, Luna." Eloise shook her head laughing as she grabbed a pudding cup.
"Why would you want to?" A voice interrupted their laughter and Hermione groaned audibly.
"Ugh, can't you just bugger off." Hermione sighed as she picked up a book.
"Now now, Weaslette. What kind of manners did your portly mother instill in you?" Malfoy smirked as the red head bristled.
"Obviously, better manners than yours did. Since at least I can tell when I'm not bloody wanted." Hermione whined petulantly.
"I think you need a refresher course. You are after all, a strong pureblood witch, a part of the sacred 28, even." Malfoy said smugly as he started walking towards the girls. Eloise hid behind her transfiguration book, trying to become invisible while Luna continued to hum along to the music.
"No thank you. I suffered through enough etiquette lessons."Hermione shuddered. This caused the unthinkable to happen, Malfoy laughed. Not smirked or snickered but laughed, with a smile with no malice. It was such an odd sight all 3 girls stopped to stare at him.
"At Least your mother taught you? I had to learn from French nannies." Malfoy smirked when his laughter subsided. "What is that caterwauling?!"
"This is The Beatles and they are amazing." Eloise snapped from behind her book.
"Something to say to me, you pockmarked mudblood?" The change in Malfoy was instantaneous. He immediately went stiff like he forgot they were even there and his eyes hardened as he looked at the tall second year.
"You shouldn't say things like that, Draco." Luna said bluntly as she frowned at the Slytherin.
"Listen here, Looney-" Malfoy was cut off as Hermione stood, glaring fiercely at him.
"No, you listen here, arsehole. You're not wanted here so unless you wanted to end up like your little girlfriend I would suggest you leave and never speak to my friends like that again." Hermione hissed, her wand slipped from her holster. While she may be at least 3in shorter than the blonde he still backed up from her in shock. She advanced with a feral grin on her face, "Never quite got her nose right, did they?"
"Oi! What's going on over here, Malfoy?" Ron yelled as he and Harry ran towards them, wands out.
"Nothing." Malfoy spat with his arms up to show he was unarmed, he threw another calculating look at Hermione before stalking away muttering under his breath. "She's not my girlfriend."
"What was he doing?" Ron demanded.
"Certainly not wishing her a happy birthday." Luna smiled serenely.
"It's Malfoy, he's been acting bloody bipolar this year." Eloise growled, her face red with tears in her eyes. Hermione plopped down beside her and laid her hand over hers.
"He's a twit. I've told you this before, you shouldn't listen to him. After all, I believe you beat him last year on exams." Hermione grinned, nudging her shoulder.
"Well, I'll be 1st this year." Eloise smiled shyly back.
"You lot! Turn down the bloody racket! I don't want to hear anymore about Malfoy on my bloody birthday!" Ron plopped himself on the edge of the blanket and grabbed a chocolate frog. "Now, shower me in riches!"
"Wow Ron, subtle." Hermione said wryly as everyone burst into laughter.
"It's my bloody birthday. No mocking the birthday boy!" Ron grinned and poked her in the ribs.
"Well, no poking the birthday girl!" Hermione shrieked and tickled the spot on the back of his neck, instantly making him fall over, a giggling mess.
"Wow, Ron." Harry said in disbelief as he sat down next to Hermione.
"Where's Neville?" Luna asked from inside her rucksack.
"Detention with Snape. Said he'll give you your gift after dinner." Ron grumbled as he hastily wiped his face. "Anyway, presents!" He grinned once more as he threw a box of Honeyduke's Finest chocolate at Hermione.
"Thanks, Ron. I put my gift in Luna's a bag so it might be a minute." Hermione grinned and put the chocolate off to the side. Harry nudged her side shyly and handed her a wrapped parcel before chucking another at Ron. Ron eagerly tore into the paper.
"Cor, mate! Thanks!" Ron's yelled excitedly as he opened a book on modern quidditch statistics. They only time Hermione had ever seen her brother so excited about a book, she sat and stared at him for a few moments before Harry nudged her.
"Oh!" Hermione gasped, blushing slightly. She unwrapped it to find a very large Hollyhead Harpies jersey. The redhead threw her arms around Harry in a tight hug. "Thanks Harry!"
"Err, Ron told me you liked the Harpies." Harry blurted, blushing brightly. Hermione just smiled and threw the jersey on, it swallowed her, coming down to her knees. "Err, well...I asked Ron." Harry ran his hand through his hair, looking sheepish.
"It's great, Harry. I'll just use it as a night shirt." Hermione clapped happily as Luna pulled herself from the bag with the rest of Hermione and Ron's presents. She threw 3 to Ron and 2 to Hermione with a smug grin. Eloise looked at the tiny blonde over her book with a small smile.
"Thanks!" Ron grinned as he opened his gifts, from Hermione a Chudley Cannons hat, which he immediately jammed on his head, the orange clashing terribly with his hair. Luna gave him an assortment of sweets her father brought home from his trips and Eloise gave him a strange sponge cake with brown sugar crumble on top.
"Amazing!" Hermione gushed as she opened the white converses Luna gave her, apparently her best friend was tired of her borrowing hers. Eloise gave her a copy of the magazine her brother wrote for, SPIN, and a Beatles t-shirt. "This is brilliant! Thank you!" Hermione quickly hugged the girls.
"What's that?" Ron asked.
"The magazine Eloise's brother writes for!" Hermione chirped happily and opened it to start looking at the pictures, Harry leaned closer to look over her shoulder.
"Err, well. I actually got you a years subscription. They come monthly, my brother sends them to my parents and they send them to us." Eloise babbled excitedly from behind her book.
"This isn't the only one?" Hermione turned to her friend with a grin. "I get a new one every month?" Hermione lunged at Eloise, knocking the book from her hands. Eloise squeaked but Hermione ignored her to continue hugging and thanking her.