Chapter 4
Upon hearing who McGonagall chose as Head Boy, Ron was, predictably, furious. So furious in fact he stopped shoveling food into his mouth, his jaw dropped wide open and stared at her in shock for a minute before going on a lengthy, yet also predictable, rant about how he can’t believe a Death Eater was chosen for the position.
If she were being honest with herself, she knows it comes from jealously over the position. While Ron would never admit it in recent years, and he certainly never got the grades to reflect it, Hermione knew he had wanted to become Head Boy for years, even more so once Percy became Head Boy himself.
So while his tirade was exhausting to put up with, she really was not surprised. Harry on the other hand was a surprise. He tilted his head, paused for a moment and responded with a quick, “That makes sense,” and that was that from him.
Ron paused to look over at Harry in betrayal, and then went back to telling her she had no business being alone with someone the likes of him. Frankly, as much as she cared for Ron, this conversation was boring her. There’s only so many times she can remind Ron that Draco was acquitted.
All summer everytime Malfoy, or another one of their Slytherin classmates, was brought up, Ron went ballistic. It was predictable and his lack of new arguments made her feel like she was arguing in circles with him. Since he had made it clear long ago he was unwilling to see reason, she decided to just let him rant to whoever he could get to listen and talk to Ginny instead.
And what does Ginny want to talk about? How “bloody fit” she thinks Malfoy looks this term. To this Ginny earns a smack on the side of her arm and Gin claims that just because she can’t touch doesn’t mean she can’t look.
She rolls her eyes at her, but appreciates that Ginny has always been more quick to forgive others than she ever has. She loves that her best friend is willing to give people a second chance, even if those close to her resent her for the idea.
Soon, breakfast is over and she heads to her first class alone, Arithmancy. Harry, Ron and Ginny all elected to take another year of Care of Magical Creatures. While she would have loved to have another year with Hagrid, studying Arithmancy is much more fascinating. It allows her to solve complex magical problems with clear cut answers and developing equations for calculating various outcomes. Her practical mind always feels calm when working on Arithmancy.
Walking into class, she sees something new: a seating chart. Professor Vector has never done this before, but there it is on bold lettering on the board up front. Hermione hurries her way up and sees that she is sat next to Theodore Nott. Her mind immediately flashes back to him petting the thestrals last night. He looked calm and contemplative. Shocking, because in her experience riding a thestral causes nothing but total and paralyzing anxiety
She’s never spoken to Theodore before, but knows he was not particularly involved in the war, even if his father was. He’s always been one of the best in her year, behind her and Malfoy of course, and is glad she is paired with someone who may be able to do their fair share of the work.
She looks around and sees he hasn’t arrived from breakfast yet so she walks over to their assigned seat in the back left corner and begins to set up her desk. While quills are required for NEWTs, she prefers to take her notes with a pen, finding the refilling of a quill tiresome. Truly the only quill she enjoys is a sugar one.
As she is fiddling with her pens and paper, she hears the chair next to her slide out and Theodore drops himself into the seat. She chances a glance over at him and he is already fully relaxed into his seat, not bothering to set up any parchment. Immediately, she catches his eye and she awkwardly averts her eyes.
Great… Caught staring on the first day.
Theodore however seems unfazed and turns fully to face her.
“Pleasure to meet you, Ms. Granger. Call me Theo,” his hand extending towards her in greeting.
“Hello, Theodore. I think I may know who you are from, you know, eight years of classes together,”. She resists the urge to roll her eyes but extends her hand towards him.
The seconds their hands touch, her magic jumps. She can feel her magic warm and flow from her fingertips throughout her entire body. Theo seems totally unaffected.
Maybe it was some sort of magic static electricity?
Before she can think too hard on it, Professor Vector enters. Great, another thing to add to her mental list for later. Malfoy and Theo - two too many Slytherins for the first day.
Although, if she’s being honest with herself, most of what Professor Vector is saying she knows. Can’t hurt to begin to start that mental list. Priority Number 1 is to figure out how to get Ron to stop whining about the Slytherins. She’s been stuck on this one for over a month so there’s no use unpacking it today.
Draco Malfoy however… that’s a new one. He truly did look like he wanted to vomit when she began to talk about making a schedule for rounds. It can’t be that he hates making schedules that much, otherwise why would he be Head Boy. She supposed he could actually have to vomit, but for some reason this seems the least probable reason.
Maybe, he is about to vomit at the thought of spending time with her? She really believed he had gotten over his blood prejudice. His testimony at his trial was heartbreaking. Hearing about the horrors him and his mother went through at the hands of his father and Voldemort - that’d shake the belief system of anyone. Is he that good of an actor? Could Malfoy truly fake that to stay out of Azkaban. If so, he deserves an Oscar.
She snorts to herself at the image of Draco Malfoy being given a gold statue of a naked man at the Oscars. Theo shoots her an odd look but she shrugs him off.
Class is coming to an end and she’s once again thankful she’s so far ahead in the curriculum. Not a word of the lecture was absorbed. Her younger self would be horrified.
She packs up her stuff and turns to Theo to say goodbye. A relatively pleasant seatmate she has to say. “Goodbye, Theodore.”
She’s turning to go when he lightly grabs her wrist.
“I told you,” he lightly kisses her knuckles, “Call me Theo”.
All she can do is nod and rush straight out of class, hoping she is hiding her blooming blush from anyone and everyone.