Chapter 4

Hermione hadn't written to Oliver since the night she'd fallen asleep after receiving the dragonfly. She got up and got dressed, heading down to breakfast that morning. She still wasn't talking to Harry or Ron, too annoyed that he got away with breaking the rules, and got rewarded for it.

She was surprised when not one, but two owls flew in and dropped packages for her before flying off. One she had expected, but two? Reaching for the first, she found that it was from her parents as she expected. Inside, she found a new day planner and a note. Picking up the note, she read:

Dear Sweetheart,

Happy birthday! We know it's late as your classes have already started, but maybe you can make use of this. Since you started at a new school... Well, we weren't really certain what else to get you. Hope you have a great day, and we miss you!

Love,

Mom and Dad

Hermione smiled. Yes, she could definitely make use of that, and it wasn't like her parents could go to Diagon Alley for her present without her. Setting it aside, she turned to the next package and found that it was from Oliver.

Opening it, she found another package, this one wrapped in beautiful paper that had vines that grew with flowers that blossomed as you watched. There was a note on top so she read that first.

Happy birthday, Hermione.

I haven't heard from you in a while and can only think that you are either busy with your lessons or are mad at me about Potter being made Seeker. I hope it's the latter.

Anyhow, I just wanted to let you know I hadn't forgotten your birthday, and I got you a little something after hearing that it was one of your favourites — seeing as how it's hardly ever in the library anymore.

I wanted to remind you — in the off chance that you had forgotten something — that tomorrow I will be training Potter as Gryffindor Seeker. I also wanted to take the opportunity to invite you to come along so that we can meet in person. I will leave the decision to you. I will still be here if you want to talk if you haven't written to me because you are mad at me.

Oliver

Hermione looked up and looked around the table but didn't see anything out of the ordinary, so she turned back to the package and carefully opened it, to gasp. Inside was a brand-new copy ofHogwarts: A History.

Hermione reached into her bag, and pulled out a quill and parchment with one hand while moving her plate to the side with the other before she composed a response.

19 September 1991

Oliver,

Thank you for the birthday wishes and the present. It's wonderful. Now I can return the copy I borrowed from the library. I got a day planner from my parents. I feel so bad that they don't know what to get me anymore, and what I really would like, they can't get for me because they can't get into Diagon Alley without me.

I guess I will have to sign up for Flourish and Blotts newsletter and ads to be delivered here and then mark what I'd like before sending it to them. They can order from them for me, can't they? I haven't set up a Gringotts vault yet. When we went to get my supplies, we stopped there to exchange Muggle money but that was all.

Anyway, yes, I was upset with you — well, not really with you, but with Harry and the situation. I am still mad at Harry about it, but not with you. I mean, you're only doing what Professor McGonagall said, right? And it's not like you've found someone better than Harry is, have you? I might come with him tomorrow. We'll see.

Hermione

Hermione pulled out her wand and tapped the parchment and it folded itself into an owl. As it flapped its wings, she said "Oliver Wood," she hesitated, biting her lip. "Find him if he's got a free period, if not, lunch time. Go on now."

She watched as the small parchment owl flew off, then put her things back in her bag along with her new book, and day planner, carefully folding the magical wrapping paper inside the cover before turning back to her breakfast.

The next morning, Hermione sat near but not exactly with Ron and Harry during breakfast. She was contemplating making up with them when the owls flew in to deliver the mail. One dropped a letter for her, and she was about to open it when she saw two owls with a long, thin package come in and drop it in front of Harry and a third one drop a letter on top before he could rip into it.

He opened the letter first, and his face lit up as he showed the note to Ron. Ron's face fell a bit, but Harry couldn't stop grinning as he slipped the long package under the table and stepped on it to keep someone from nicking it.

"Let's hurry and finish breakfast so then we can go open it in the dorm before class," Hermione heard Harry tell Ron. She eyed them suspiciously as they tucked into their breakfast with gusto. She did the same, forgetting about the letter of her own.

She finished first, and excused herself, rushing out of the Great Hall and back toward the common room to wait for them to return. She stopped just shy of the stairs to the second floor when she heard voices.

"What do you want, Malfoy?" Ron's voice carried up the stairs, followed by the sounds of a scuffle.

"Hey! Give it back!" Harry's voice reached Hermione's ears as she crept closer to the stairs to watch what was going on.

"That's a broomstick! You'll be in for it now, Potter!" Draco snarled, tossing it back to Harry. "First years aren't allowed!"

"There isn't any trouble here, is there, boys?" Professor Flitwick asked as he came out of the hall and found them.

"No, Professor," Harry said, clutching the package.

"Potter's got a broom!" Malfoy accused, pointing his finger at him.

"Ah, yes, yes. I know," Professor Flitwick said. "I received a memo about it and the special circumstances. What model is it then, Mr Potter? I hope it's a good one!"

"It's a Nimbus Two Thousand," Ron replied smugly as Malfoy's jaw dropped. Hermione had to stifle a giggle at his face, it was just too comical.

"Ah, nice one!" Professor Flitwick said. "Well, go on then, I suppose you want to open it and put it away." Hermione saw Harry nod as she crept away from the stairs and up to the second landing.

It wasn't long before she heard running footsteps and stepped out on the landing with her hands on her hips, making them stop in their tracks.

"I suppose you think that this means you'll get rewarded every time you break the rules," she remarked in a huff.

"I thought you weren't talking to us," Harry said.

"Yeah," Ron joined in. "Don't stop now."

Hermione glared at Ron before turning away and running up to the seventh floor ahead of them and into her dorm. She sniffed as she opened her bag, putting her planner away till later. She reached in and grabbed her new copy of Hogwarts: A History and hugged it to her, as tears started to trickle down her cheeks.

She cried for a few minutes before she took a deep breath and wiped her eyes. She put the new book in her trunk and retrieved the one from the library, exhaling a breath. She planned on dropping it off on her way to her next class.

"Oh, Hermione!" Neville called as she came down from the dorm and waved at her to get her attention. "I've been looking for you. Glad I found you."

"What is it, Neville?" Hermione asked in concern, seeing him flushed.

"You forgot this at the table," he said, and pulled a letter out of his pocket, crumpling it in the process.

Hermione smiled at him.

"Thank you, Neville," she said as she took it.

Neville nodded and headed back to the portrait.

"Well," he said. "I just didn't want Malfoy to get it. See you in class."

Hermione waved at him.

"See you."

Hermione sat on the step for a moment and opened the letter.

20September 1991

Hermione,

I'm glad at least I am forgiven. I hope you'll come with Harry tonight. I'll be looking for you. Maybe we can talk after his training?

Oliver

Hermione smiled, biting her lip for a moment as she wondered just how to work it out. Shaking her head, she stood up and headed down to the library so that she could make it to class on time. That day nothing else bothered her. Oliver would be looking for her to come to the training with Harry.

Later that night, after dinner, Hermione excused herself and headed up to the common room. Not long after, she heard Harry and Ron come in, but was relieved they didn't see her sitting in one of the chairs in the common room that faced a window.

"What time do you have to go?" Ron asked.

"I have to be down there by seven," Harry replied.

"Wow, sure not much time," Ron answered.

"Nope," Harry said. "Have you seen Hermione?"

"No," Ron said in a voice of disgust. "Why?"

Hermione swallowed and sunk further down in the chair.

"I don't know," Harry said. "I was just wondering since I hadn't seen her since dinner."

"Oh," Ron said. "Well, I don't know, but who cares?"

Hermione swallowed and squeezed her eyes shut against the tears that threatened to fall.

"Well, anyway," Harry said. "I better go up and get it and head out."

"Okay," Ron replied. "I'll see you when you get back."

"Alright then," Harry said and headed for the stairs.

Hermione waited a moment and peered around her seat to see Ron sitting in one of the chairs by the fire. She slipped out of her seat on the other side, so he wouldn't see her, and hurried up the stairs to her dorm. She grabbed her new book out of her trunk and headed back down the stairs like she'd been up there all the time and was just coming down.

She glanced up at him as she reached the bottom and saw him scowl at her. She humphed and headed for the portrait hole, leading out into the castle, not sure if she was in front of or behind Harry.

Out on the landing, she decided to wait, taking a seat on one of the window ledges and started to read. After a few moments, she looked up seeing Harry pass by and sighed in relief.

Snapping her book shut, she jumped off the ledge and followed him.

"Harry, wait up," she called, causing him to pause and turn to look at her.

"Oh," Harry said. "There you are. What do you want, Hermione?"

"I - well, I'm sorry, Harry," she said. "I guess I just... I don't know," she hesitated. "I guess I was just frustrated. It seems like all you and Ron do is shirk the rules. Look," she said when she saw him scowl. "I don't want to fight, I said I'm sorry. Now can we just forget it?"

Harry exhaled in a huff, still bristling. "Fine, whatever," he said. "I gotta go."

"Okay," Hermione said brightly and followed him down the stairs.

"What are you doing?" Harry asked, stopping again.

"Going with you," Hermione replied.

"No, you're not," Harry said.

"Yes, I am," Hermione returned.

"No. You're not," Harry said a little stronger this time.

"Yes. I am," Hermione replied.

"No, Hermione," Harry said, growing angry this time. "You're not. No one's supposed to know."

"You told Ron," Hermione said pointedly.

"That's different," Harry replied.

Hermione scowled at him before heading down the stairs, noticing him gape at her as she walked by.

She stopped suddenly as she was grabbed by the arm and whirled around to face angry green eyes. "You're not going," Harry snapped. "Now go on back to the common room!"

Hermione glared at him. "Fine!" she retorted angrily as she wrenched from his grasp. "But who said I was going for you?"

This made Harry blink at her in surprise. "Hermione," he said in awe. "What are you talking about?"

"You're going to be late," she replied. "Just go. Go!"

Harry sighed and shook his head before turning and heading downstairs.