Legal: I own nothing.
Chapter 9
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The rest of the day passed rather uneventfully, and before she realized it, Hermione found herself walking alongside Neville, Dean and Seamus toward the Great Hall for supper. The rest of their year was further ahead of the foursome in the corridor, a sea of black robes interspersed with smattering of yellow, blue and green. She caught a glimpse of Malfoy's platinum hair up ahead and the smooth elegance of Zabini's saunter, but couldn't make out Theo's silhouette amid the surrounding students. With a pang, she remembered he'd been the first one out of class, with not even a glance in her direction. Instead, she'd been subjected to a somewhat appraising glance by Malfoy and a look by Greengrass that could only be described as aggressively protective.
She tried to tell herself it wasn't disappointment she felt at his obvious avoidance, nor uneasy by his friends appraisals, but even her subconscious couldn't be fooled. She'd just have to bide her time until he'd be receptive to her approach, less defensive.
The corridor was filled with the murmur of voices and the echoes of shoes slapping on stone as the eighth years made their way to the main floor, and Hermione found she was besieged with questions from the three male Gryffindors.
"What do you mean you've already found a partner?" Said Seamus incredulously, his brow furrowing in confusion. "Bimey, Hermione, it's only been a day! I knew you were keen…"
"What's not to get," Hermione interjected blandly. "I say I have a partner, I have a partner. First day or not. And for the record, they asked me!"
'It's like bloody fourth year all over again!' She thought a tad sourly. "Still no one believes me when I say I'm already partnered…"
"But what about us, Hermione?" Neville asked somewhat nervously, motioning to himself, Seamus and Dean. "There's four of us returning Gryffindors, surely you'd have wanted to pair with one of us…"
"Or did you partner with Ginny?" asked Dean with casual cheerfulness, giving no indication whatsoever of there being any residual awkwardness felt toward his ex-girlfriend. Hermione was secretly pleased, for as much as she liked Dean, she didn't see him being a long term romantic match for her stalwart and fiery friend.
'Come to think of it, I don't really see Harry being the best match for her either…' she thought with a twinge of sadness, and what felt like betrayal to her best friends.
"Oh come off it you three!" Hermione replied, fighting exasperation. They were adults now for Godric's sake, and could venture out past the confines of their house affiliations. They'd fought a war to ensure that!
"Neville," she said, turning toward her friend, "I'd rather have thought you'd want to partner with someone who shared some of your own interests. Someone, perchance, that you could target combining the fundamentals of Herbology and Potions with?"
Neville's cheeks reddened as she finished, in a tone free of guile, "Someone possibly in… Hufflepuff?"
She saw his eyes dart briefly toward the group of black and yellow clad students up ahead and knew she'd hit her mark.
"And you two," she said, motioning between Dean and Seamus, "I would have thought you'd jump at the chance to work together… I'd have thought you were already partnered, despite it being first day and all?"
Seamus's boisterous charm abruptly morphed into a dour countenance, and she heard vague mutterings whispered below his breath. Dean shook his head at Seamus, and replied bemusedly, "its a long story…"
"Not that long," grumbled Seamus, shoving his hands grumpily in his pockets, "he just thinks it's better if we partner as McGonagall says, is all… separate house or year and all that rubbish."
"S'not like I'm saying 'go and get a new mate' now Seamus," said Dean exasperatedly. "It's just a ruddy project…"
The two continued bickering, and Hermione chuckled at Seamus's continued pout, Dean's increasing annoyance, and Neville's preoccupation with the Hufflepuffs. As they descended the last stair and rounded the corner into the corridor leading to the Great Hall, Hermione spotted Ginny and Luna and, with a hasty goodbye to the boys, made her way over to join her two friends; all thoughts of Dean's expressions and muted mutterings forgotten.
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"How're you finding this years classes?" Hermione asked Ginny, as they made their way up to the joint common room following dinner. Luna'd said she'd meet up with them later that evening; not volunteering what she was doing in the meantime.
"They're alright," shrugged Ginny. "Better than last year, that's for certain! A bit slow going, being second day and all… though I assume it'll get more interesting and intense soon enough, especially since it's NEWTS. I'm looking forward to Runes and Potions, and charms of course."
"Me too," Echoed Hermione, for Ginny'd just listed off her own favorite subjects as well. Thinking about Potions, her mind trailed to Professor Slughorn and she said, "I wonder if Professor Slughorn will continue with his Slugclub dinners now that Harry's no longer a student?"
"Not sure," said Ginny, frowning slightly. "In a way, it was nice to be included in his bubble of esteem, however…" she broke off, looking slightly uncomfortable.
"The dinners were sycophantic and tedious as all get out," Hermione stated. She really didn't agree, despite being one of those selected, with the fawning and elevating of various students over others simply because the Professor deemed them a potential beneficial future connection. "But some weren't completely unbearable! I actually enjoyed a few...well, more than a few. Though never tell Ron that, he'd take the piss! And, seeing as we're entering the Wizarding world as full-blown adults next year; it wouldn't hurt to have a few contacts and exposure…"
"Exposure that's not tied to winning wars and knowing the 'Chosen One' you mean," said Ginny softly, guilt saturating her statement; guilt that overflowed onto Hermione, despite knowing the truthfulness of Ginny's words. Harry couldn't help the power that fame afforded him and the fallout for those close to him; but none of them — including Harry — wanted handouts without earning them, nor to be held atop of pedestals.
"Slughorn wanted me in his previous club for my abilities alone, not because of my ties to Harry." Ginny continued. "I want my abilities to get me ahead; not have doors open because of who I've dated."
"Dated?" Asked Hermione quietly. They hadn't talked yet about the awkwardness she'd witnessed at the station, she hadn't wanted to pry. Past experience taught her it was best to wait until it was brought up in conversation.
"Dated, dating, I'm not really sure… things are right confusing at the moment. I'm not sure Harry even knows what he wants, now that the war is over and his life and soul are completely his own." Ginny stopped walking and deflated against the wall, Hermione standing beside her with concern etched upon her brow.
"To be honest, I don't even know what I want anymore Hermione," Ginny said, looking at Hermione though bleak eyes. "For so long, all I had eyes for, all that I envisioned… it was always Harry. And now…" she broke off and looked down the corridor, her eyes seemingly vacant of their current surrounding and instead appearing introspective.
Hermione knew Ginny had pined for Harry for years before they'd dated, and the time they'd spent together, though short, had seemed to encapsulate the pinnacle of every teenage dream Ginny's younger heart had held. Had envisioned. Her and Ginny had spent countless hours chatting, crying and giggling over their individual infatuations and romantic dramas during Hermione's sixth year, but those hours were of a different time. A time before the war crescendoed, their cloaks of youth torn apart by grief and bloodshed, and they were reborn from the ashes of their past.
Enduring what all of them had that year changed a person, and so Hermione wasn't at all surprised to hear that both her friends now appeared to be struggling with their new realities and potentially separate aspirations.
She knew that on the career front, Ginny had her heart set on becoming a professional quidditch player, and for that she'd need sponsors and to capture the eye of scouts. It could take years to achieve — securing a professional league slot and not just a position on the community ale league — cultivating the right introductions and building a network.
Or, it could take a singular spectacular event thrown by their professor, such as the one two years prior at Yule tide.
An event like that one was the perfect opportunity to bring together all of Professor Slughorn's little marionettes — both past and present — to rub elbows and exchange pleasantries and professional inquiries. For all his pompous bluster and elitist favoritism, it count be argued that Horace Slughorn was indeed a good person to have in your corner.
"You don't have to decide anything right now Gin. Work for what you want, and maybe the physical distance will bring clarity to both you and Harry…"
Hermione sincerely hoped this would prove true; she didn't want either of them feeling trapped in a relationship out of duty or nostalgia. She cared too much about both of them to see either of them suffer the fate Ron and her had thankfully escaped this summer, if they decided they weren't a fit anymore.
"How're head duties?" Hermione asked as they began waking again, changing the subject to a more neutral topic. They were in the third floor corridor now and were approaching the statue marking the entrance to their new common room.
Ginny's face flushed and a flicker of apology trickled across her features.
"They're going… really well." Ginny said, her slight smile full of contentment and pride, though her eyes wouldn't meet Hermione's. After a somewhat awkward pause, she carried on hurriedly, "I am sorry, you know. We haven't really talked about this, and I know you've always wanted this position; but so have I, though I never told anyone about it since we'd all taken the piss out of Percy. I didn't even think I stood a chance after…" she broke off. "…Well, a chance. I even tried turning it down, but Professor McGonagall wouldn't hear of it…"
"Oh Ginny," Hermione cut her off, waving her hand dismissively. "She was right. You deserve the position and will do a wonderful job."
Ginny threw her a challenging glare and Hermione sighed, huffing, "Well I'm not going to lie and say I wasn't disappointed! Honestly, when I found out I wasn't even eligible for the badge, I was livid. But now that I'm back here, I know it was for the best. I'm perfectly fine with how things played out."
"But… this was your dream," whispered Ginny, still looking unconvinced.
Hermione shrugged, "Dreams change. People, change."
As they neared the statue, Hermione inquired about the Head Boy, someone she'd never met before; someone who'd be spending a lot of time alone with her close friend.
She was curious, and only slightly wary, but not because of his house affiliation…
"Luna was right about Terrance" Ginny said with a grin, seemingly happier since discussing the role of Head girl. "He's quiet, not a tosser like some of his ilk, and he seems to want to make a good impression… Don't think I'll have much issue, if any, with him this year."
She slid her eyes sideways, "It doesn't hurt that he's not a burden on the eyes neither." She let her eyebrows dance up and down as her lips curled into a dreamy smirk, causing Hermione to burst into laughter.
Hermione was pleased to see the spark she knew all too well rekindle in her friend's eyes, and she peppered Ginny with questions the rest of the way to the common room; all the while her mind straying to another, another who could burden her eyes any time he wished.
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When she and Ginny arrived at the statue, they gave the password and entered the short stone passageway that led into the room. The sight before them as they entered had them halting abruptly, and Hermione instantly felt comfortable as she took in their surroundings.
The room was large, but not cavernous, with vaulted ceilings, and gleaming stone floors. Four ornately carved stone fireplaces — two per side — sat on the walls flanking a series of oversized, lead-paned windows spanning the length of the wall parallel to the entrance. Windows that offered a stunning view of the lake and in the very distance, the faint outline of Hogsmeade.
The decor was a hodgepodge of the various house colors, though done up in a manner that created a soothing, balanced atmosphere. Not one that extolled visions of carnivals and children's care centers. The decorative style of furnishings seemed to have come from a sole time period, lending cohesion to what could have quickly become visual vomit, and throughout the room were interspersed vignettes of either soft cozy seating or sturdy work surfaces for studying.
Black fabrics of differing textures along with antique walnut set the predominate tones, with subtleties of gold, silver and bronze found in decorative inlays and ornamental accents of the various wood and stone furniture and fixtures. Each house appeared equally represented, whether in the melange of blues and greens of the area rugs, to the canary and cardamon damask drapes; a balance achieved with colorful focal points and artwork that assisted to create a pleasant and welcoming environment for all.
"This is —" Hermione began.
"Gorgeous!" Breathed Ginny, and the two looked at each other with a grin.
They noticed Neville, Dean and Seamus, along with other eighth year DA members lounging near the fire closest to the door. Ginny waved and began to head over.
"Gin! Hold up. Why don't we go sit over there and catch up proper? I have something to tell you…" Hermione said, pointing to a vacant set of plush oversized loungers near a fireplace furthest from the entrance.
"Alright," said Ginny, flashing Hermione an easy grin, and changed course, heading in the direction Hermione'd pointed. As they walked across the room, Hermione noticed the grouping of Slytherins adjacent to the seats her and Ginny were planning to occupy. The Slytherins were holding court over the grouping of oversized chairs and sofas nearest the bank of windows, taking advantage of their backs predominantly shielded either by stone or by glass.
'I wonder if they prefer their backs to glazing instead of fire,' she mused, thinking how cold and sterile stone and glass seemed, then cringed when she realized that, for at least two of their number, they probably would prefer anything to fire…
"Why are a bunch of the Slytherins staring at you Hermione?" Asked Ginny as they made their way across the room. "Did something go down in class? Is this what you have to tell me?" Hermione swivelled her gaze toward the gaggle of silver and green and saw Zabini, Malfoy and Greengrass all staring at her with various expressions.
"Somewhat," she replied vaguely.
Theo, she was relived to see, was seated beside Malfoy, but unlike his fair friend, hadn't raised his eyes from the book currently claiming his attention. Though, upon closer inspection, she realized she'd yet to see him turn a page since she'd looked in their direction; his hand was stilled, his posture slightly more ridged.
'Interesting,' she thought, reflectively.
Ignoring the other two staring serpents, she met Malfoy's eyes and gave a curt nod along with a raised eyebrow. She felt a sense of satisfaction fill her when a flicker of curiosity, suspicion and — 'was that approval?' — flittered across his face before smoothing once more into placidity. As she lowered herself into the seat nearest the fire — allowing her a decent view of the room as well as entrance — she saw him lean over and whisper something in Theo's ear, causing Theo's lips to twist and his eyes to raise and lock with hers.
She held his gaze as she replied, "Not class per say, It all began on the train…" And with that she filled Ginny in on everything that had transpired over the previous two days between her and Theo.
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A/N: To everyone reading, reviewing, following and favoriting this story, I thank you! Your words and interest warm my heart! I sincerely thank you!