Haven't uploaded in a bit because I've been completely incapable of thinking what to write. I know where I'm going with the story, I'm just having a bit of trouble filling in the gaps. I really wanted to add something in between the last chapter and this, but didn't want to really fill it with useless crap, so I've instead done quite a large transition. Basically, from any point onward I'll be doing reasonably big transitions, basically because if I keep writing about every single day this fanfiction will be endless. So, I apologize if this chapter isn't as long as you'd like, but this is just a transition onto bigger and better chapters.
Two and a half weeks of ordinary classes and extensive library visits had passed. Friday the 4th of October found Hannah in the library, reading alone.
Hermione had been watching from the distance she had always kept, eyeing the unordinary Slytherin. She didn't know why she had the urge, or why she even cared, but she just had to talk to her. Perhaps it was her inquisitiveness towards those who seem vulnerable, or to those who seem different. Hermione had never really found herself surrounded by those who seemed to fit into the norm, anyway.
"Hannah…" Hermione approached, emanating her usual conveyance of awkward. Hannah looked up, unsure who was speaking. "I'm Hermione… I uhh…. see you here…. often… I was just wondering… can I sit here?" Hermione rethought her decision. Perhaps this girl was just going to stare her down and make her feel more embarrassed. Hannah nodded in response.
"Hi, Hermione." Hannah said, somewhat sarcastically. She couldn't stress how amusing she found the situation. She would've left the girl standing there awkwardly, but she felt too sorry to be such an arse.
"I... um… I was wondering… what you're reading?" Hermione awkwardly stuttered.
"I am quite aware that you have little interest in what I'm reading. I'm not going to bite your head off for voicing your original motives." Hermione smiled a little to herself.
"Oh… good. I was just wondering if you had any interest in learning… well… Defence Against the Dark Arts, really. Well, you see, we know Umbridge is a terrible teacher and doesn't let us use spells, so we were going to get Harry to teach a selection of people instead. I understand if you don't want to… it's just Harry thinks you're pretty cool, and, I sorta do, too." Hannah smirked a little in response.
"I have plenty of books I can learn from." Hannah replied.
"Yes, but, it's still not practical learning." Hermione argued.
"Convince me."
"Well, I mean, Harry is really good at mag…"
"I'm not concerned about his ability not being sufficient. I mean, try and convince me why I should go. Convince me why I'd be better off getting tutoring from a bunch of 5th years instead of from my head of house, or from Dumbledore, for that matter."
"Well…" Hermione's head reeled. "Firstly, you're the only Slytherin we even thought about inviting to come along, I mean, Harry and Ron literally loath Slytherins, they just really, really like you and think you should come along." Hannah raised her eyebrows. "And Fred and George will be coming, and a few other 7th years, so it's not like you'll be surrounded by 5th years." Hannah felt slightly more convinced with the thought of Fred and George going. "And… we'll be breaking lots of school rules, so we'd be disobeying Umbridge in about a hundred ways. I've heard about how often you're at detention, you can't deny that you'd want to get back at Umbridge."
"I've had my fair share of getting back at Umbridge." Hannah reasoned.
"Yes." Hermione looked solemnly. "Fred and George have told us a bit about that." Hannah smirked in response. "But I think you can agree there is no extent for getting back at her too much. You can also invite a friend if you want, but they'll have to sign the contract."
"Alright." Hannah agreed. Hermione looked taken back.
"Really? I mean, that's great. We have a meeting tomorrow at the Hogs Head during the Hogsmeade weekend."
"I'd rather not attend any meeting, to be entirely honest."
"Oh… well, okay. I'll tell you about it next time I see you then." Hermione smiled, before taking her books and leaving the library.
Hannah met up with Adrian the next day, before heading over to Hogsmeade village. Hannah hadn't been too involved with the wizarding world for as long as she could remember. She recognized a lot of the shops that surrounded her, but most likely only because she visited Hogsmeade as a small child with her parents. Probably to buy poisonous potion ingredients, or dangerous equipment. "You ever played quidditch?" Adrian spoke through the silence as they walked.
"I'd disappoint you with my answer." Hannah responded.
"You couldn't disappoint me that easily." Adrian replied. "I was just wondering, there's this quidditch shop over there." Adrian raised his arm in an effortless attempt to point. "In fact, I'm more than pleased that you have no interest in quidditch. That's where Draco and Pansy always hang out."
"Ha." Hannah let out a half-hearted laugh. "I haven't had a confrontation with Pansy since the last episode."
"Thankfully." Adrian added, somewhat awkwardly.
"So, you obviously play quidditch, then?" Hannah hopelessly tried to regain conversation.
"Used to. Stopped playing in my 5th year when they started playing brawn over brains. That, and the team just became completely misogynist. The team hasn't had a female play since my 3rd year."
"I take it you're not misogynist, then?"
"I don't hate you, do I? Last time I checked you were a female." Adrian raised his eyebrows at Hannah.
"Ahh, but have you checked?" Hannah let out a smirk at Adrian's shocked reaction. The two walked past the quidditch store, where Pansy gave Hannah a dirty look. "Anyway, do you know who Hermione is?"
"Hermione? The 5th year that hangs out with Harry?" Adrian questioned.
"Yeah. She came up to me in the library last night. She asked if I wanted to join some secret group they're forming where Harry basically teaches everyone Defence Against the Dark Arts because Umbridge is useless." Hannah explained.
"Yeah? And what did you say?"
"I said I'd go. But I said I wouldn't go to the meeting, which is where I'm assuming they'll be signing some magically bound contract. I wouldn't want to commit myself to it that much." Adrian nodded.
"What made you agree?"
"She basically just kept telling me that it'd be a good way to get back at Umbridge, and told me that Fred and George would be there." Adrian looked somewhat uneasy for a short second.
"Yeah?"
"She also said that I could bring someone along if I wanted." Hannah looked up at Adrian.
"You're asking me?" Adrian questioned.
"I'm subtly insinuating, actually. But yes, I am asking you."
"I'm sure they'd love another Slytherin in their little secret group." Adrian joked. "But sure, I'll attend if you want."
"Lovely." Hannah said with sarcastic enthusiasm, smiling up at Adrian. Adrian smiled back, before spending the rest of the visit in the bookshop.
As usual, PLEASE review, and please correct any grammatical mistakes. :)