A/N: I've finally crawled out of the little hole I've been hiding in ;_; A lot has happened !! I graduated high school last year and I started working !! So forgive me for my absence! I tried to fit in a new chapter , but sorry if it sounds weird because I think I typed it literal months apart. Hopefully it sounds good.


The One In Which Hermione Has A Staring Contest


When Draco and Harry entered the Great Hall for dinner, the eyes that were usually fixated on Harry since his arrival seemed to multiply in their gazes' intensity. The source was primarily at the Slytherin table. The older students didn't quite give much away through their facial expressions but the younger years barely contained their mild shock.

As they passed them to reach their year mates, Harry could barely catch the whispers but he did hear his name.

They're gossiping about them aren't they? Perhaps they're laughing... Did Harry do something wrong?

He really didn't want to end up a pariah like he had in primary. He thought Hogwarts would be hiss fresh start, but since being Sorted, people were behaving very strange and constantly whispering about him. They hadn't exactly... bullied him yet but it was only a matter of time.

Draco, who had been watching Harry carefully since they'd left the Potions Classroom , saw the worried look on the dark haired boy's face.

With a quick glance at the rest of their housemates, he managed to figure out the reason behind it. But surely Potter should love the attention, right? He's essentially an icon in the Wizarding World, he should be soaking up all the stares! Draco knew that if it were him, he definitely would!

However the blond couldn't help but feel a strange twinge in his heart. If it made the other boy feel uncomfortable, perhaps he could try and help alleviate the anxiety? Just this once... Then Potter would fend for himself.

Draco awkwardly gave the dark haired boy's shoulder a squeeze and gave him a small smile that he hoped seemed reassuring.

When those green eyes met his own and Potter seemed to ease up and managed to crack a small smile of his own, Draco deemed the mission a success and was very pleased with himself.

When they'd sat down, his pleasure was quickly shattered by one Tracey Davis opening her big fat mouth.

"Now how the bloody hell did you manage to get the Professor to not bite your head off, Potter?"she asked after swallowing a forkful of shredded chicken.

"There's many Professors in this school, Davis. Be specific,"Draco drawled.

The brunette rolled her eyes. "Oh sod off, Malfoy! I wasn't talking to you. Potter knows very well I was talking about Professor Snape!" she shot back.

"Language! And besides, you're very forward Tracey. Harry isn't obligated to say anything,"Hermione cut in.

"But you must admit, you're just as nosey as the rest of us," Blaise commented.

"You're just better at hiding it,"Pansy continued, glancing sideways at the brunette.

"I agree with Granger -- surprisingly. All of you are very rude. Instead of asking if your friend is alright, you're prattling about stupid stuff that can be asked later—,"scolded Theo but was cut off by Harry interrupting.

"No, it's alright. There isn't really much to tell. I didn't do anything..."Harry mumbled. "I do think he's a nice teacher — if a bit strict."

Tracey , who had been busy chewing on more of her chicken , started to scoff but a piece of chicken lodging itself in her throat had her choking.

"Oh dear Morgana— someone do something!"Daphne sputtered, her eyes widened.

"Do you think we can spell it out-?"Ron asked, , speaking for the first time since the morning. He was too nervous to eat his dinner, and with the Tracey dilemma, he had a distraction to put it back on the plates and avoid any possible tainting of his food from Fred and George. It was only a matter of when and not if his Mum would put the Twins up to 'sorting him out' for being a Snake.

People in the Great Hall were starting to stare and when the Professors noticed heads turning to the direction of the Slytherin table and spotted Tracey choking, McGonagall and Snape were the first to rush over.

To their surprise, a Third Year student named Cassius Warrington had managed to reach them first and made the choking girl stand, promptly performing the Heimlich Manoeuvre on her.

She ended up spitting out the chicken, gasping and coughing as she tried to compose herself. The girl had been shaken and felt very humiliated by the fact she'd embarrassed herself in front of the whole school thanks to her little 'scene'.

Professors Snape and McGonagall still went to check on her regardless and when they deemed her fine and dinner could continue, Cassius managed to gain 20 points for Slytherin.

When attention from the commotion had finally died down, Tracey muttered a quiet 'thank you' to Cassius, which earned a wry smile and dismissive wave.

"Don't worry about it,"he replied before sitting back in his place between his own year mates.

When the stares and chatter died down, everyone's attention went back to their meals. Hermione tutted at Tracey but still gave the girl a comforting pat whilst Daphne poured her a glass of water.

"Honestly, I wasn't even sure if you were even capable of keeping quiet,"Draco commented idly as he and Harry sat between Blaise and Ron.

Tracey pursed her lips, pale green eyes glaring at the blond balefully. The only true hint the extent of her mortification was how the tips of her ears glowed a bright red and her silence (which was admittedly surprising to observe).

"I think she's had enough of a lesson —,"Millicent began.

"Which she had coming, mind you,"Daphne cut in with a shake of her head.

"Which she had coming,"Millicent agreed before continuing. "But let's not tease her, choking is a bit scary. Let's just call it a one and done."

When subjects moved on to trivial things like homework, Hermione half-heartedly participated, her mind more preoccupied with a new puzzle that's caught her interest.

She undid her black hair clip on her left side, her hair that had come loose formed a curtain to hide her face.

Hermione pretended to comb it with her fingers so it wouldn't look too odd to her year mates, but she was more focused on watching Cassius Warrington.

She didn't understand. As far as she had been told by Tracey and Daphne or observed with her own eyes — a Slytherin would be the least likely kind of student to perform something like the Heimlich manoeuvre out of all solutions to help someone — that is , if they did at all.

Maybe it was more likely for a student who grew up around Muggles to do something like that. But for a Pureblood? Hermione didn't think so. Her Pureblood theory was further proved by Ronald's words. Of course using a Magical solution would be their first thought.

Hermione's eyes narrowed as she watched Warrington. Perhaps she was overthinking it. Muggle Studies was a thing at Hogwarts after all. It was likely the boy was studious and must've read ahead in the textbook and found a Muggle healthcare section.

Hermione startled a bit when she saw that whilst she was staring at the Third Year who was on the row across her towards the centre of the table, someone next to Warrington was staring right back at her.

Delphinus Augury.

His mint coloured eyes seemed to pierce right through her. She internally did a double take but refused to look away, meeting the stare head on with an impassive expression.

Delphinus raised an elegant eyebrow, his head titling at an angle minutely. Of course, his ever present smile was there as he daintily ate a bit of garlic bread.

The longer their stare-off lasted, the greater the headache Hermione could feel coming on. Eventually, it seemed that Delphinus let out a little snort before turning away to chat with someone else.

Hermione let out a little groan before fixing her hair once more and paying attention to her meal. She pulled a small face as she stared at her half eaten lamb chops and salad, feeling put off by the dizzy feeling in her head.

"How... odd,"Hermione mumbled to herself. Something about Augury made her skin crawl. He seemed pleasant enough but something at the back of her head told her something was terribly off about that boy. Hermione wasn't even sure if she wanted to figure out what exactly was wrong.

"Pardon?"Daphne asked with a concerned frown.

"Nothing,"Hermione replied quickly, sipping on her glass of pumpkin juice. "I must've misspoke."