Chapter 6

Hermione's head dropped into her hands, as another lesson went by, and yet again it was something she'd already studied. At Ilvermorny, she'd been attending the few masters' classes that the school had to offer.

Hogwarts, however, didn't have that option. Claiming that their 'advanced' arithmancy and runes would be challenging enough for Hermione, despite her voicing her concerns. No, the curriculum was all things that she'd taken last year. As the professor (honestly, she didn't even try to learn most of their names) was writing out the equations on the board (because no, Hogwarts didn't utilize no maj technology the way Ilvermorny did), Hermione flipped her mastery books she'd brought with her open and began to self-teach instead.

What a waste of fucking time… Hermione thought before engrossing herself in the material in front of her. The teacher, seeing Hermione reading, didn't disturb her, thankfully. When the bell signaling the end of class rang, Hermione was still so lost in the material she was reading that even when Theo sat on the edge of her table, she still didn't look up. It wasn't until he shut her book that she finally looked up, scowling before seeing who was in front of her.

"I don't believe that's the assigned reading, Ms. Granger," Theo purred, pulling the book from her grasp as she sat staring dumbly at him. " Runes: Advance Life with Ancient Studies. Twenty Fifth Edition , no that's most certainly not what we're studying at all." Theo said, sliding the book back towards Hermione. "I know this book isn't offered in our library, so I'm assuming you brought it with you?"

"If you must know," Hermione clipped, snatching the book off the table and shoving it into her bag, "I took this class last year, and at Ilvermorny I was set to begin my Runes mastery. So being thrown back into the dark ages because my mother decided to follow her dreams and ship me off to England, was not part of educational my plan."

"The dark ages? Are you saying you don't adore Hogwarts?" Theo asked, leaning back on the palms of his hands. He had the brightest sapphire blue eyes, and the way they sparkled with mischief all the time constantly had Hermione on edge.

Biting her bottom lip, Hermione paused for a moment. She'd already insulted the school, she was no coward, might as well double down on her claims with her reasons. "The moving stairs making everyone late all the time, the spying portraits that are horribly rude, and frankly some of the staff smells like musty linens. No, I can't exactly claim to be a fan of this fine institution."

When Theo didn't try to defend anything, she'd listed off, she continued, the words just pouring from her mouth as if it were a broken tap. "The riddles to enter Ravenclaw tower are so simple, a toddler could figure them out. How they call that security, I'll never understand." Theo only shrugged, making Hermione wonder what type of system was in place for the Slytherin common room.

"The fact that portraits watch you and report back to the headmaster is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard. I've only been here a week, and it's clear that they play favorites, only following anyone that insults them while ignoring those that kiss their ass.

"I don't think I need to mention the outdated curriculum again, but" Hermione dug through her bag until she found the assigned texts at the bottom. "These textbooks were bought new in the late 1800s. Is there anything this place updates? No computers, not even a fucking pen. They don't have electricity, instead using fucking candles and lanterns for lighting, as if that's sufficient for reading after dark."

When Theo still didn't stop her, Hermione didn't even pause as she continued her rant. "Bulky robes in potions class, like they'd want us to cause an explosion. Not to mention the complete lack of truly advanced course work, holding students back from getting a jump start in their Mastery programs ought to be criminal."

"So," Theo said, finally speaking up. "It's not just Hogwarts, but all of the English wizarding society that you find fault in. Because I grew up in one of the oldest castles around and we most certainly didn't have electricity. At the Ministry, everything is written and organized on parchment, though they have figured out the lighting problem as they're located underground."

Hermione threw her hands up in the air in frustration at this new information. She'd never looked too far into the British Ministry of Magic because she had no intentions of staying here. "Honestly, it seems as if English wizarding society thought the Victorian Age was the pinnacle of human evolution and decided to never advance again." Hermione deadpanned, her face going expressionless.

"And what makes America so much better?" Theo asked, sitting up straight, studying her as if she were the most intriguing creature he'd ever laid his eyes on.

"In America we literally live among no majs. Our lives are totally integrated, because why try to stay segregated from the majority of your country's population? It makes absolutely no sense. Witches and wizards hold positions in no maj public offices, did you know that? Our options aren't limited to just MACUSA, because basically all of us are related in some way to a no maj, and we have a vested interest in the laws and legislation they pass." When Theo didn't say anything else, Hermione's brain finally caught up to her mouth, realizing just how much she'd said and just how insulting she'd been.

"Are you sorry you asked?" She said, a bit more sheepishly than she normally would have. But this guy, there was something about him that had her acting and saying things out of her normal character.

"If I'm being honest, no. Your bluntness is refreshing. Did you know it's illegal to be openly homosexual? They won't punish you for it anymore, but the ministry won't protect you against hate crimes either. My father, he actually disowned me after he caught me and Drake holding hands when I was thirteen. He beat me so badly that I was hospitalized, and it didn't matter that my mother tried pressing charges, he was protected for defending his house's morals from my queer self." Theo reached out, grabbing at one of her curls hanging freely pulling at it, making it bounce. "So, when you complain about this society being complacent, I find I have to agree with you."

"I had no idea, I'm so sorry that happened to you," Hermione whispered. She couldn't imagine being treated that way by a parent. No, her mother had never been attentive and with her father living so far away, he never was very involved in her life. But neither of her parents had ever raised a hand towards her, her physical safety had always been one of their priorities.

"It's alright, it was probably for the best. If he hadn't done that, my mother would have most likely died staying with him. As it was, when he disowned me, and she chose me over him, their marriage was terminated in the same evening. She's since remarried her Hogwarts sweetheart, and he's a good guy." Theo stopped playing with her hair, but kept eye contact.

If his eyes were the sea, she'd be drowning in them. As cheesy as it sounded, it was the truth. When his thumb rubbed against her cheek, she leaned her face into the palm of his hand, not even having noticed when he'd reached out for her.

"I'm going to kiss you now, is that alright?" Theo whispered, bringing his face closer towards her's.

"Yes," Hermione breathed out, licking her lips just before he reached her.

A spark shot through her, when their mouths collided. And before she could deepen the kiss Theo was already pulling away. "Hopefully you can find something here at Hogwarts that doesn't make your entire year a waste of time and a disappointment."