Chapter IX: Start of Term
(Astoria P.O.V)
Astoria had felt the tension in the room like gravity. Each girl seemed to glare menacingly at the Beauxbatons Front-Girl, while each boy with hopes of getting a girlfriend this year stared venomously at the Bulgarian super-star. Harry being one of the exceptions to both, being neither affected by the silver-haired girl or angry with Krum. In fact, what Astoria saw in Harry's face was a satisfied smirk, and a flaming desire in his eyes to hopefully get a chance to fly with him and test his skills.
She, however, was focused on another member of the Durmstrang party, the curly-haired blonde she'd met the night of the World Cup. While that night certainly contained its share of horrors, meeting Damyan was certainly a highlight of the event, So that's what he meant about seeing me again real soon, Astoria thought to herself, He does have a flair for theatrics, I'll give him that.
She watched as the boys of the Durmstrang Institute dispersed towards the Slytherin table, and Astoria nearly choked on her water as she watched Malfoy of all people move for someone else. However, Damyan broke from the group and Astoria felt her eyes widen in confusion as the boy took a seat beside her at the Gryffindor table. As they locked eyes, a large smile formed on his face and she watched as the look of sheer relief flooded his body, "Oh thank goodness you're okay," the boy said softly, "I heard about the attack and I was afraid something had happened to you, but sending mail is a bit difficult when I only know your name."
"Yeah, I'm okay, I got out of there relatively unharmed," Astoria said with a smile, "You're really slick though, when you said we'd meet again sooner than I thought, I definitely didn't think it'd be like this. Why didn't you tell me there was a huge tournament that was going to happen?"
"It never really came up," Damyan said with a laugh, "Plus, we're way too young to compete anyway."
"What do you-," Astoria started but the sound of Dumbledore clearing his throat shifted her focus to the bearded Headmaster.
"Now that all our guests have arrived," Dumbledore spoke, "Allow me to explain the TriWizard Tournament in its simplest terms. Eternal glory! That's what awaits the student who wins the Triwizard Tournament, but to do this, that student must survive three tasks. Three extremely dangerous tasks."
"Pass," Harry said beneath his breath which caused Astoria to chuckle beneath her breath.
"While I am certain that many of you will be willing to put your name forth for the sake of competition, I must inform you that only those wizards of age will be allowed to compete!" Dumbledore spoke to the boos of the crowd. Many of whom clearly seeking the fame the competition provided the victor.
"Sweet," Harry said with a grin, "Saves me the trouble of finding an excuse not to compete."
"Each school will be represented by a single champion," Dumbledore began silencing the crowd, "The champions will be chosen by an impartial selector, the Goblet of Fire. Anybody wishing to submit themselves as champion must write their name and school clearly upon a slip of parchment and drop it into the goblet, aspiring champions have twenty-four hours in which to put their names forward. On Halloween, the goblet will return the names of the three it has judged most worthy to represent their schools. The goblet will be placed in the entrance hall tonight, where it will be freely accessible to all those of age who are capable and wish to compete."
"For now though," Dumbledore continued, "I believe I have kept you all waiting long enough, let the feast begin!"
Instantly the piles of food erupted onto the table, and with joyful glee, she and Harry quickly reached for the food as she watched Damyan politely lift the food onto his plate, taking his time with every bite. Feeling a bit embarrassed, Astoria slowed herself despite her hunger feeling insatiable, and with a smile, she spoke, "So, what year are you in?"
"Second year," Damyan said kindly, "You?"
"Second year," Astoria said with a grin, "Looks like we'll be having some classes together."
"So who's this, Short-Stack? Your boyfriend?" Harry asked in a teasing tone.
"N-no," Astoria snapped back her face ballooning once more.
"Awe, that's a shame," Damyan said with a grin, "And here I thought things were going so well."
Harry laughed as Astoria elbowed each of them in the side, "Sorry, sorry." The two said in unison.
"Really, I apologize," Damyan spoke in a formal manner, "I was just making a joke. I would like to get to know you better though, especially seeing as you're my only friend at this school."
"What about the other Durmstrang kids?" Astoria asked questioningly, "And there's no need to be so formal, we are friends right?"
"Oh yes, I apolo- sorry," Damyan said catching himself, "Manners have kind of been drilled into me from a young age. Being the minister's child makes me a public figure and making any mistakes would reflect poorly on my father. It's really important that I'm always on my best behavior as the world certainly hasn't forgotten about Grindelwald and Durmstrang has certainly garnered a bad name which reflects poorly on my country."
"That sounds like a lot of pressure," Astoria responded sympathetically, "But you didn't really answer my first question."
"Oh yeah," Damyan said scratching his head, "I guess you could say it's because I don't really fit in over there. I mean, Durmstrang is a great school, but it's very, Militaristic. We have classes like charms and herbology, but mostly it's just martial magic, and I don't really care much for fighting." Damyan smiled sadly, "I just never think fighting is the best first option, I know it's necessary sometimes, but Durmstrang teaches the attack first, ask questions later method. A pacifist like me isn't really liked much over there."
"That sounds awful," Astoria spoke, "But if you don't like martial magic, what do you do at your school all day."
"I draw," Damyan said with a bright smile, "I really like art. Photography, Drawing, what do the Mundane, I mean muggles call them- ah motion pictures, I'm a big fan of those too."
"My sister likes art," Astoria said remembering Daphne's doodles when they were kids, "But it was more of an absent-minded thing. Why do you focus so much on drawing?"
"Because a good painting can live forever," Damyan said with a smile, "The world always seems so focused on destroying things, I want to make something that's permanent."
Astoria smiled, she didn't know much about art, but she liked seeing the look in her friend's eyes as it lit up like the stars in the night sky, "Would you show me sometime. Some of your art I mean. Daphne's always telling me I should try to appreciate higher art forms, but most of the time they're just soooo boring."
"I have a cartoon collection you might enjoy," Damyan said with a chuckle, "Though the speech bubbles are all in Bulgarian so I'll have to translate."
"I love cartoons!" Astoria said with a smile, "My favorite one's Ned the Niffler. He's an animagus that-"
"Always gets in trouble for stealing shiny things from people," Damyan finished, "I used to love that one too. Ned the Niffler was actually the first real thing I drew, though I mostly traced it because I was just starting out. It's too bad the main artist died a few years back. But that's what I mean about good art lasting, people remember Ned the Niffler even though the artist is gone."
"Yeah, I kinda get it now," Astoria said with a smile, "Now I'm kinda excited to see your cartoons, maybe you have the next Ned."
"I don't know if I'd say that," Damyan said shyly, "But I'll gladly show you what I've got."
Astoria felt Harry looking down on her with a slight grin and with her ballooned face she turned to face him, "What's so funny, huh Harry?"
"Easy there Short-Stack," Harry said with a smile, "I'm just glad to see you making some friends, no need to try and poke my eye out."
"I'm sorry," Damyan spoke responding before Astoria even had a chance to reply, "But are Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived and all of that?"
Harry smiled as he brushed aside his hair revealing his scar, "So I've been told."
"Oh wow!" Damyan spoke, "If you have the time, could I draw you and then have you sign it. I bet it would be one of my best works and-"
"Don't give him a bigger head," Astoria said teasingly, "He's already insufferable enough."
"Tell me how you really feel why don't you," Harry said with a laugh as he ruffled Astoria's hair, "Tell you what though, if you really want a great panting, you should paint whoever wins the Triwizard Tournament. I'm not big into being photographed, but I'll see if I can talk whoever wins into giving you their autograph instead."
"That would be awesome," Damyan said with a smile, "Thank you, Mr. Potter."
"Just Harry's fine," Harry said brushing it off, "Any friend of Astoria's a friend of mine."
"R-right, thank you then, um- Harry."
"Even the Minister's son of another country stumbles around you," Astoria said with a chuckle, "Honestly is there anywhere you aren't famous."
"It's a blessing and a curse Short-Stack," Harry said with a chuckle, "Trust me."
(Harry P.O.V)
The cool summer breeze filled the top of the Astronomy Tower as Harry wrapped his arm around Daphne's waist, the two silently overlooking the castle grounds eclipsed by the night sky. Harry smiled as he ran his thumb across the back of his girlfriend's hand, "Didn't think you'd be up for sneaking out after dinner, Princess," Harry said with a chuckle. "Really didn't think you'd have it in you."
"Oh please, Flyboy," Daphne said with a chuckle, "Even I can bend the rules a little bit. It's not an exclusively Gryffindor trait after all. Though I will admit that you seem to have a propensity for doing it."
"Thank you," Harry said with a smile, "It is what I do best. When I was younger, Tonks and I would get into so much trouble with Andromeda because we'd always be sneaking out of the house for late-night snacks." He grinned sheepishly, "It took us a while before we were any good at it though. Having a cloak of invisibility definitely makes things easier."
Daphne grinned as she leaned further into him, "Before I met you, I didn't really get into much trouble. Even with Tracey, the worst we ever did was sneak into a Weird Sisters concert. We later found out it was a charity event and we didn't have to pay in the first place, but Tracey sort of forgot that detail."
Harry snickered to himself before he dared to ask, "Speaking of Tracey, how was the carriage ride up to the castle?"
"Don't ask," Daphne said with an exhausted look, "That girl's relentless. Sometimes you'd think she forgets she has a boyfriend of her own to bother."
"I'm sure she didn't forget," Harry said with a laugh, "But I can't really blame her all that much, we are the most interesting couple at Hogwarts after all. You're welcome for that by the way," Harry finished with a teasing grin.
"Oh please," Daphne said with an equally amused laugh, "I carry the interest in this relationship. Nobody's ever asking about what you're getting up to after all. I, on the other hand, have to play two-thousands questions with Tracey about if my virtue is still intact."
"And, is it?" Harry said with a laugh before feeling a smack on his bicep.
"What part of first boyfriend escaped your memory, you dolt," Daphne said flicking him gently on the forehead, "Honestly Flyboy if that smirk wasn't so damn charming I'd smack it off your face."
"You think I'm charming," He replied with a grin, "You really are getting better at this complementing thing."
"Shut up Flyboy," she said in a warm tone as Harry rested his head gently atop hers.
"Speaking of charmers," Harry said with a distant look, "How are the Durmstrang Students, their headmaster doesn't seem like the most pleasant person."
"Given that most of them seemed to take a liking to people like Malfoy, I'm not a fan," Daphne spoke with a shudder, "Krum was fun to watch though, Draco invited him to play Quidditch and Krum shut him down flat. It was pretty entertaining."
"You speak so highly of him," Harry said with a laugh, "Should I be jealous?"
"I already have the future best Seeker as a boyfriend," She spoke with a smile and Harry grinned looking down into her blue eyes, "Don't see why I'd want to downgrade." Harry laughed as Daphne gently grabbed his low hanging tie, "But I'll admit, I was glad to see you not drooling over our French guests like most of the male students."
"I already have the most beautiful witch in the wizarding world as my girlfriend," Harry mimicked, "Why would I want to downgrade?"
"Good answer," Daphne spoke with a musical laugh.
Harry leaned down quickly catching her lips before breaking apart with a smile, "It looks like this year's going to be full of excitement though," Harry said, "With the TriWizard Tournament and Mad-Eye here, it might be even crazier than last year."
"Please don't sound so excited about that," Daphne spoke. "Wherever there's anything even remotely crazy, you always find a way of getting involved."
"I solemnly swear I won't get into anything too crazy, Princess," Harry said, "Plus, I'll be spending my free time helping you and Astoria with some spellwork, or causing some minor mayhem with Corner, I won't really have time to get up to anything too insane."
"I guess that's the best I can expect," Daphne said softly before taking a short pause, "Harry, it's getting kind of late, we should probably get back to the common rooms before they send a scouting party to find us."
"Ten more minutes?" Harry said softly squeezing her gently.
"Okay," Daphne spoke turning to lay across Harry's lap, "Ten more minutes."
Ten minutes had never passed so quickly, but as Harry watched Daphne's head began to wilt, he smiled helping her to her feet before they soon found themselves beneath the cover of his dad's invisibility cloak. I wonder if mom and dad ever did this? Harry thought fondly to himself as he placed his wand on the Marauder's Map and watched it unfold. "He seems so carefree," Daphne spoke, "But Sirius is a genius, Remus and your dad as well I suppose. The number of hours it must have taken to craft something like this, it's almost staggering to think about."
Harry grinned as Daphne finished in a less than impressed tone to herself, "And then to use all this potential to simply not get in trouble from their pranks. It's honestly unbelievable."
"That's true," Harry said with a slight whisper, "But it does make sneaking out to see you after hours a lot easier. Guess my old man's still looking out for me, huh?"
Daphne smiled gently as Harry felt himself take her hand in his, before together, crouched beneath the silver-translucent cloak, they silenced their footsteps and left the tower. Harry couldn't help but feel amused as he watched Daphne's eyes open at the number of secret passages his father and friends had discovered at their time in Hogwarts, and his laughter became hard to contain as he turned to face Daphne's shocked expression at finding their way towards the dungeons in record time.
"You know Princess," Harry whispered, "There is a broom closet nearby if you want to share one more parting gift."
"Will you stop looking so smug," She hissed back shaking her head, "Honestly Flyboy you're-"
But before he could finish, Harry quickly leaned over beneath his cloak stealing a kiss from her lips, snickering quietly under his breath as he saw Daphne's wide-eyed expression and heavy blush on her face as she found herself gently pinned against the wall, "Sorry," Harry whispered with a smirk, "Couldn't wait."
"I-idiot," Daphne spoke trying desperately to cool her expression as Harry took her hand once more, trying to quickly make it to the Slytherin Common Room, knowing that Tracey would probably sound the alarms if Daphne hadn't returned soon. Harry had honestly forgotten how cold, dark, and damp the lower part of the castle not being used as a classroom was. Goosebumps formed quickly upon his skin as they descended closer and closer while he strained his eyes to see. They walked quietly through the dark passage was before he heard Daphne whisper, "Hang a left here."
Harry nodded, but suddenly he stopped, and instantly, his hand reached for his forehead gripping his scar tightly as he found himself before previously mentioned broom closet. "Flyboy are you-," Daphne started, but before she could continue, Harry quickly placed his hand over her mouth, lifting a single digit to his lips quieting his Princess as he carefully flicked his wand out getting into a ready position before he reached once more for his map, awaiting whoever was inside the closet.
The scar didn't hurt as it had in the presence of the Dark Mark during the World Cup, but it still burned slightly beyond a ticklish feeling. Snape and Karkaroff? Harry thought to himself as he glared in confusion towards the map, Why would they-
"Don't you feel it, Severus?" A man with a rather thick accent spoke, "The burning on your arm, he's coming back, I just know he is."
"I don't have time to speak of such foolish nonsense with you," Harry heard Snape snarl, "I have classes to prepare for in the morning."
Quickly Harry reached his rune inscribed hand to meet Daphne's prepared for the worst, knowing that together they would have the strength to at the very least escape if things went south. The door opened and Harry's eyes turned into a glare as he saw the Dark Mark, moving like a snake across the Durmstrang Headmaster's forearm.
Harry felt his blood boiling at the visual of the Dark Mark, his wand being gripped tightly in his hand. Sirius had spoken about how he had heard rumors of Karkaroff's avoidance of prison by forfeiting Death Eater names, but the story the Durmstrang Headmaster had pleaded was the one of the Imperious Curse. However, Harry didn't care much for excuses, whoever wore the brand, in his eyes, was an enemy. He snarled lowly as Karkaroff spoke, "Please Severus, there must be something you have to stop the pain at least. I only came here to be granted some shelter by Dumbledore. The Dark Lord is growing stronger there is no denying that, you know it to be true as well as I."
"Harry," He heard Daphne whisper in his ear as she squeezed his hand, "I'm right here, focus on me and calm down."
He took a deep breath allowing his occlumency to rebuild itself before he watched in horror as Snape handed the Durmstrang Headmaster a vial of sleeping draught, "It'll help you sleep through the night," Snape spoke coldly, "Something I imagine is difficult knowing that you're only free now because you betrayed him."
"As did you, Severus," Karkaroff spat in a hushed whisper.
"Did I?" He answered with a blank stare before Harry watched the Black Bat escape through the walls of the corridor without saying another word. Harry pulled Daphne as close to him as possible, together, they held their breath desperate to not make another sound while the Bulgarian man marched away in a hurry mere inches from their face.
"Snape's one of them," Harry said quietly, "I don't care what anyone tells me, he's with Voldemort. Sirius told me to be cautious of him even though Dumbledore testified on his behalf, but personally, I don't care what Dumbledore believes." Harry felt his body trembling in anger despite his calm expression, "That bastard has the nerve to insult my father while he walks around promoting Voldemort's cause. No wonder he's always treated me so poorly, here I was believing it was a stupid grudge, but no, he's working with the enemy."
"Look at me Harry," Daphne whispered, and Harry turned to her trying to keep his patience, "I don't think you're right about Snape. He's a cold bastard, but do you remember last year when my face was bruised." Harry nodded, remembering their confrontation about the attack, "Draco struck me for supporting you. Snape stopped him. If he really was a Death Eater, why would he go through the lengths of disciplining the son of another Death Eater? It doesn't make sense."
Harry let out a heavy sigh, "I still don't trust him," He then looked down at Daphne, "I'm going to write to Sirius tonight and get more information on Karkaroff, he may not know much, but anything helps. Until then, you should probably keep Dobby on standby. I don't want anything happening to you because of your closeness to me."
"Flyboy," Harry heard Daphne whisper as he grabbed his lose hanging tie, "Stop talking like that."
"Daphne I-,"
"I don't know why you feel it's your job alone to stop every single death eater, but it's not, at least not yours alone," She spoke looking earnestly in his eyes. "When you came to talk to me, that night back at Grimmauld Place, you told me you knew you couldn't do this without me. When we spent that night together, I rested my head on your chest and I heard your heartbeat, I felt you wrap your arms around me as you burrowed your face in my hair, and I realized I don't want to lose that feeling."
Harry looked into her Icy Blue eyes that burned with passion as he heard Daphne continue, "I know the attack on the World Cup shook us all up, and I know you're a more powerful wizard than I am, but I'm not some random civilian or your subordinate. I'm your girlfriend Flyboy, I'm your partner and I want to protect you just as badly as you want to protect me. So okay, I'll keep Dobby at the ready, but not so I can run away, I'll keep him ready so I can get to you, and we can kick the ass of whatever wants to come after us together. Understood."
Harry's mind echoed the last line of the prophecy, Either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives. In the end, despite all the kind intentions, Harry knew he was destined to finish the fight alone. But as he looked down at his girlfriend staring at him with expectant eyes, he forced a smile to his face, "And here I thought that I was the one in charge." His face then shifted into an apologetic smile as he nodded, "Sorry, Daphne, I had this same problem with Corner recently. I'm just really bad at accepting help."
"You," Daphne spoke trying to lighten the tone with sarcasm, "The great Harry Potter are admitting to being bad at something. Maybe the world really is ending."
"Very funny Princess," Harry said squeezing her hand gently once more, "Come on though, let's get you back to your Common Room before Karkaroff decides one vial wasn't enough and comes back to raid Snape's supplies, or worse, before Tracey comes after me for kidnapping."
Harry watched as Daphne nodded, taking his hand as she guided them the rest of the way towards the Common Room entrance. Harry did his best to smile one last time as he looked down at her but before he could even whisper a soft goodnight, she pressed her lips to his once more before slipping out from under the cloak and whispering softly, "Goodnight Flyboy, Sleep Well."
He watched as Daphne spoke the password, entering the Snake's Common Room before his face turned passive and sad. He knew he needed every single person that had volunteered to fight against the Dark Lord and his forces, but as much as he wished he could ignore it, as much as he wished it wasn't about him, he knew his destiny. He took a heavy breath as he felt his chest warm at the memories he shared of the Princess, the calming feeling she provided him, the strength she gave him to practice harder even when he felt at his limits. I do need you, Daphne, Harry thought solemnly to himself, but in the end, there's a part of my path that I must walk alone. He grit his teeth at the thought, I'm sorry, I'm not sure how I'll win yet, but I swear I will. And after I do, I'll spend the rest of my life making up for all the craziness that I've put you through if you'll allow me, I promise.
(Hermione P.O.V)
Hermione laid awake in her bed, her mind in a torrent of thoughts as she reflected on what she's seen today. They're not normal, Hermione thought to herself, Harry I guess I can understand, he's the same guy that ran towards the horde of Dementors last year, but how did Michael and Neville get strong enough to help in the World Cup attack. Just last year Michael was a class clown, and Neville was a Teddy Bear, but now, they've gotten strong enough that Harry trusts them to watch his back in an actual fight, they're growth is insane.
She shoved that thought aside she looked over at the note she had opened and re-read at least twenty times since it had been delivered to her by Professor Flitwick. Her hands had trembled when she had seen the author of the note was none other than Dumbledore. She had thought that somehow she'd gotten in trouble, her heart-ached as the idea of having her future prefect title stripped from her overwhelmed her mind, but as she read the later, a new problem filled her mind, anxiety.
Ms. Granger,
I apologize for the suddenness of this notice, but I am writing to inform you that you shall not be attending classes as normal tomorrow. As you are the student with the overall highest marks in your year, the Professors have agreed that since Ms. Belmont is the equivalent of a fourth year at Hogwarts, she will be shadowing you as she adjusts to Hogwarts. Professor McGonagall has given her permission for you to be absent from the first Transfiguration class of the year as it will primarily be a review of the year three materials. During this time, I request that you show Ms. Belmont around the Hogwarts Grounds. I believe it wise to leave this duty to you and not a member of our staff as I feel it will allow Ms. Belmont to acclimate more naturally to the student environment.
Warm Regards,
Headmaster Albus Wulfric Brian Percival Dumbledore
While the name had brought a momentary smile to her lips, the content of the letter had sent her heart into a tizzy. She was bad enough with people as it was, the only friends she really had was because Neville had decided to be kind and invite her to their group, but now not only was she being bestowed with the duty of showing around another student, she was assigned a wizarding celebrity. Hermione had thought that being around Harry made her less vulnerable to celebrities, but it was much different. Harry didn't want people thinking of him as famous, Claire was famous, and unlike Harry, she profited on it.
If her bushy hair wasn't naturally bad enough, her bed-head from her restless night had made it worse than she had ever seen before. She had spent nearly half an hour in the shower trying desperately to make her hair look like less of a mess before preparing her school uniform. Hermione meticulously buttoned each bit of the fabric before snapping on her skirt and adjusting her leggings. She looked awkwardly at her makeup that her mother had gifted her in case their assumptions of a school dance were correct, and for the first time in her life, Hermione genuinely considered asking for help from Cho Chang of all people on how to use it properly. However, just before she was about to swallow her pride, the warm words of Neville popped into her mind, "You look good Hermione," and instantly, she shook the thought out of her head before she prepared her bags.
The September breeze ran through her hair as she began her march towards the edge of the Forbidden Forest. She loved Hogwarts, to her, it was one of the most amazing places on earth, but every step towards the Forbidden Forest had made her feel uncomfortable. Honestly, the proximity to the forest was the main reason why she detested the walk to Care of Magical Creatures despite her enjoyment of Hagrid as a professor. This year though, Hagrid's hut wasn't the only stand out beside the forest as nearly two-hundred yards from the Half-Giant's front door was a powder-blue carriage the size of a large house.
Hermione gulped as she approached the door, her thumbs spinning rapidly around one another as she tried to gain her bearings. She took a deep breath, attempting to shove down her anxiety and trembling with nerves, she knocked quickly upon the wooden door. Shuffling soon emerged from beyond the door, and while Hermione had stared down Daphne's resting bitch face many times during their academic competitions she had never felt so small as when the silver-haired Veela that had ensnared the entire Great Hall opened the door with a less than amused expression, "It's very early, can we help you?"
"Um, right," Hermione said her hand shaking beneath the older girl's stare, "I'm actually here for Claire, Professor Dumbledore said she was supposed to shadow me today."
"Ah yes, Madam Maxime informed us of this last night," The girl said with an uninterested look before turning back into the carriage, "Levez-Vous, Claire," The silver-haired beauty spoke, "Your tour guide is here."
Instantly Hermione felt her blood boil, and while she was for giving people the benefit of the doubt, part of her wondered if Michael's initial assumption was correct and these girls were nothing more than stuck up jerks, "Merci, Fleur! Vous verrai-je à déjeuner?"
"Il semble que nous n'ayons pas beaucoup de choix sur le sujet," Fleur responded with a huff.
Hermione was nowhere near what she would consider fluent in French, but the way the two were talking in such a condescending tone about Hogwarts had really touched a nerve. If you hate being here so much, Hermione thought to herself, Then why don't you just leave? Her thoughts were silenced however as from the carriage emerged the pink-haired girl, dressed in fine blue-silk robes. She had seen Claire from photographs and from a considerable distance but as she stood before the teen-model face to face she felt a pang of jealousy fill her veins.
The girl was flawless, not a single zit, visible pores, slight discoloration were present, her features were as perfectly symmetrical as possible and her teeth were stunning. She watched as Claire and Fleur kissed each other's cheeks before she stepped out of the carriage, as the door slowly closed behind her. Hermione felt herself grow red from staring absent-mindedly for too long before she heard the girl speak with a beautiful accent, "You are Hermione, non?"
Hermione nodded, regaining a bit of her presence from his initial swell of jealousy as she spoke, "Yes, that's me. It's nice to meet you, Claire."
"Likewise," She said, and though it wasn't calloused it certainly didn't sound honest, "Professor Dumbledore told Madam Maxime that you were the smartest of your year. Is that true?"
"Well, I do work really hard," Hermione spoke nervously, "I do well enough I suppose."
"Vraiment?" Claire spoke, "Intelligent and Humble, a rather rare combination wouldn't you say? Most girls our age tend to just be focused on boys rather than studying. Very noble of you."
Hermione's eyes widened in surprise at receiving a compliment from the teen-model and nervously she spoke, "Well, boys don't really pay that much attention to me so it was never really a concern." She looked away from the french girl in embarrassment as she spoke, "I'm not exactly the type boys drool over as soon as I walk into a room."
"Ah yes," Claire spoke, "That shameful display from last night." She sighed heavily as she spoke her head, "Trust me, Hermione, I'd much rather be like you than me."
"W-why?" Hermione asked in confusion, "I mean, I imagine the paparazzi can be a nightmare, but to be able to get everyone's attention without even trying, to never have to be nervous about talking to the boy you like, that doesn't sound awful."
"On the surface, I guess it does sound pretty nice," She said with a smile that while sad looked staggeringly beautiful, "But at least when you see a boy staring at you, you know it's not just because of what you are, you know there's a genuine attraction there." Quickly she shook her head, brushing her vibrant-pink hair behind her shoulder as she spoke, "But enough about this topic, I believe you are to be showing me around Hogwarts, non?"
"Yes, of course," Hermione spoke, a bit stunned at how callous she could become on nearly the drop of a dime, "Would you like to stop for breakfast first?"
"Ah, no thank you," She said gently, "My palate hasn't quite adjusted yet to the different qua- type, different types of food offered here."
Hermione tried her best to hide her bewildered expression as she glanced at the French Girl, She seemed so kind a few seconds ago, and now she seems so prissy. Is she really the same person? She forced down those thoughts as she refocused her mind, "Okay, so, how about instead of breakfast I start by showing you around the castle grounds, and then we'll head to class."
"That would be much preferred, thank you," She spoke in the same plain tone.
Hermione did her best to keep her cool as together, she guided the french model along the grounds of Hogwarts, stopping at the Black Lake, the Quidditch Pitch, the Clock Tower Courtyard, and the large Wooden Bridge before entering the castle itself. She desperately attempted to keep her feelings of ire in check as she walked through the castle, showing the diva the Transfiguration Classroom, the Potions Class, the Defense Against the Dark Arts corridor, the Greenhouse, and yet nothing seemed to garner a single notable reaction.
Hermione had tried to sprinkle in some facts she thought may have been interesting, but the girl remained unfazed, it was almost impossible to believe that the girl following her around was the same girl that had showed her a hint of kindness and even complimented her intelligence less than an hour ago. It wasn't until they had spotted a group of first-year girls hiding in a corridor near the Magical Runes classroom did Claire speak, "What are they waiting for? They should be in class, non?"
"They should be," Hermione said shooting the first years a glare which to her credit did send one running up towards what Hermione noticed to be the Muggle Studies classroom. She then sighed at the others who remained unmoved, "They probably found out Harry has Runes first and they're waiting to see him."
"Harry?" Claire spoke, "Do you mean Harry Potter?"
"Uh, yes," Hermione said, her composure slightly rattled as she saw a glimmer of interest in the French Girl's eyes, "He came back to the Wizarding World last year, I thought it would be a global story."
"It was, I'm not surprised he's here," Claire spoke correcting herself, "I'm just slightly surprised to hear you speak of Harry in such a normal fashion. Are you two friends?"
"Um," Hermione said her eyes burning a hole through the ground as she pondered the question, "I guess we're kind of friends, I mean, we're not very close, but I do consider him a friend at least."
"If you know," Claire spoke nervously, "Is he a lot like the storybooks? Gallant and brave, noble and kind, or is he more of the quiet type, or perhaps he's a bit brooding but with a heart of gold. Do you know?"
"It almost sounds like you have a crush on him," Hermione spoke, not realizing she had said it aloud before feeling her cheeks rise with an embarrassed blush.
"I suppose," Claire spoke nonchalantly as if her accusation had startled the girl at all, "Though I only know him from fairy tales, I suppose that's why I'm interested in learning if they have any merit."
"He's um," Hermione spoke trying to think of the right words, "In some ways, he's a lot like the stories. He's always been really kind to me and even allowed me into his group when they saw I was alone at Hogsmeade, and during that same trip, he ran into the fray trying to help people when Dementors attacked the village. So I guess he is brave and kind. I'm not sure if I'd call him heroic in the traditional sense though, and I wouldn't really say noble either, but he has loyalty in spades. He might get into trouble sometimes, but he'd do anything for the people close to him. You don't have to look further than how he treats his girlfriend to see that. Honestly, he's not really like anyone I've ever seen before."
"His girlfriend?" Claire spoke, "Ah yes, the blonde girl from the World Cup photo, of course."
Before Hermione could respond, the door to the Magical Rune classroom swung open, and as the students piled out she heard Harry whine, "Come on Princess, you don't have to write down every single rune. It's only the first day of class, we're sure to go over it a bit next time."
"Fine, fine," Daphne said with a sarcastically annoyed tone, "You're so needy Flyboy."
"Whatever Princess," Harry said with a laugh and Hermione watched as she saw Claire's eyes follow Harry. She watched as Harry took Daphne's bag and smiled down on her as she asked for it back before responding, "Nope, if you want it back looks like you're going to have to let me walk with you to your next class."
"You have Charms next, I'm going to the Greenhouse, you're going to be late. You don't really want to get in trouble on your first day back, do you?"
"Have you met me, Princess," Harry said with a laugh, "But if you don't want me to be late then you better get a move on."
"This is the most ridiculous blackmail I've ever seen in my life, and I'm mad at myself that somehow it's working," Daphne spoke as Harry bent down gently kissing her forehead before she sighed, "You're impossible you know that?"
"Yeah, I know," Harry said with a smile as the two left the classroom, hand in hand, so enamored with each other, that Hermione saw that the whole world seemed to fade away around them as they walked through the crowded hall towards the Greenhouse.
"So that must be the Girlfriend," Claire said with a sigh, "They look happy."
"Yes, that's Daphne, their relationship, it's somewhat odd that they'd gravitate to each other like that, but they really are a good couple," Hermione spoke with a gentle grin.
"Oh well, there goes my idea that Harry Potter could be the one," Claire said with a bit of whimsy in her voice.
"You don't sound very broken up about it," Hermione said in confusion, "Most girls at Hogwarts were heartbroken when the two started dating, some of the crazier ones still haven't given up their pursuits. I guess I'm just shocked that you don't seem all that upset about it."
"What's there to be upset about," Claire said with a shrug, "They love each other, it's quite beautiful, non?" Hermione watched in amazement at the undisturbed attitude on Claire's face before she continued, "Anyway, I believe it's time you show me the charms class."
"Right," Hermione spoke with a nod, "It's just up this way." And as Hermione led the Minister's Daughter up the hall towards the Charms classroom, she couldn't help but wonder to herself, This girl is just one big mystery