Defense was shared with the Hufflepuffs, and was, quite frankly, a joke.
Professor Quirrell couldn't stop stuttering, and as he instructed them, he seemed terrified of his own subject manner. His lecture was awful and hard to follow, and about halfway through, Hermione stopped taking notes.
Quirrell had already given them the wrong instructions for two of the jinxes in the book that Hermione had already practiced and seen work. If he didn't know what he was talking about, what good was his course?
Idly, Hermione looked at the syllabus he'd handed out, checking to see if attendance was a grading factor like it was in Transfiguration.
"Tell me if he says what the homework assignment is," Hermione whispered to Theo. "I'm not listening to this prattle if I don't have to."
Theo gave her an astonished look as Hermione opened the textbook, hid it underneath her desk, and began to read.
Hermione hid her smile. She had approached Theo sweetly after lunch and insisted he carry her books for her to their next class, reminding him to block any incoming curses along the way. Blaise and Tracey had laughed uproariously, while Draco had watched on with a curious expression. Theo had scowled while Pansy outright glared, but he'd thrust his arms out accommodatingly and escorted her to Defense like a perfect gentleman, to Hermione's deep satisfaction.
When the class ended, Hermione swept up her books and jotted down the homework assignment (6 inches on methods to repel vampires) and looked at Theo, who was looking at her with dread.
"I'd like to go to the library for the rest of the afternoon," she told him. "Carry my books there?"
Theo made a face, but obligingly gathered up her books.
Hermione enjoyed the looks of shock, confusion, and satisfaction that flickered across other students' faces as they caught sight of Theo escorting her to the library. Any attention she could get at this point that made people wonder about her, Hermione figured, would help lay the groundwork for people thinking she was 'special'.
"Theo," she said, as they continued up the staircases, "why was it such a shock to you when I transfigured the matchstick?
Theo gave her a look, but this one Hermione couldn't read.
"Two reasons," he said slowly, watching her reactions. "First, it's supposed to be a difficult assignment. It's a challenge, and it's what we'll still be working on next class, if the prefects were telling the truth. It usually takes the week for people to master."
Hermione's eyes widened. She hadn't realized that when Theo had made his challenge, he was thinking long-term, throughout the week. He'd probably planned to get ahead by working on it outside of class – not to achieve it first thing.
"Second," he said, his eyes holding hers, "is you're Muggleborn. You're not supposed to have strong magical power, at all."
Hermione scoffed. "First, I'm New Blood," she corrected. "Second, regardless of what I'm supposed to have, I do."
"That's the thing," Theo said, his expression unreadable. "It generally works like this: Purebloods are the strongest; their blood is pure, and their magic has been passed down undiluted for centuries. Next are halfbloods; with half Muggle blood, you can't expect them to be as strong as a pureblood, no matter how hard they try. Muggleborns are the weakest, of course – their magic is just a fluke, and they'll never reach the level of a proper witch or wizard."
"But you…" he cast his eyes over her, and Hermione fought the urge to flinch. "You mastered that challenge without a thought. It was like it was child's play to you – you didn't even hesitate. That's a kind of power that hasn't been seen in a while, even though it's just a first-year class."
Hermione gathered her nerve and looked at Theo directly.
"Maybe I'm telling the truth, then," she said, her eyes holding his. "Maybe when I say I'm New Blood, I'm not lying, like you all are so desperate to believe."
There was a poignant silence as she stared him down.
Theo broke eye contact first, looking away.
"Maybe so," he said, shoving her bag at her. "We're at the library. Am I dismissed?" He sneered.
Hermione grinned, and swept him a curtsey, or as best she could do in her school skirt.
"You're dismissed, Theodore," she said in her most regal voice. "I'll expect you at dinner to escort me back, of course, but otherwise, enjoy your free time."
Theo stalked away from the library, anger in his every move, and Hermione fought the urge to giggle as she went into the Hogwarts library, excited.
