Harry refrained from commenting, remembering what Hagrid had to say about toads.
A second later a knock came from the door. A bushy haired brunette stood at there. "Do you mind if I join you?" She smiled and showed prominent front teeth.
Harry arched an eyebrow at Neville in question. He had never had much to do with the girls at school. They had preferred to make fun of his clothes and messy hair, not that this girl would have any room to do so given her own bush. He had been more into advancing in kenpo, drawing, staying near the top of the class and out of the way of the school bullies Malcom MacDonald and Piers Polkiss than into the girls.
Neville shrugged and said, "Sure."
"I'm Hermione Granger." she extended her hand.
Neville looked shocked for a second. Harry pegged the girl as Muggleborn and extended his own. One of the things the etiquette book his Aunt got him, mentioned that Witches didn't extend their hands to shake, that proper behavior dictated the wizard extend his hand and if the witch allowed, it he was to kiss the back of the witch's hand like someone out of Victorian times. "I'm Harry Potter."
"Are you really?"
"Last time I checked."
"I know all about you of course-."
"Oh? Somehow I doubt that. Given that I've never given an interview and I have read what was written about me, I can tell you none of it was true. Except maybe some about what happened when I was a baby." Harry had determined that anyone who claimed to know him that had "read" all about him, was not high on his list of potential friends. He wasn't completely saying no way just not likely. He shook the hand she'd extended.
Hermione got a very abashed look on her face. "None of it's true? Then how dare they print it?"
"I ask the same question, but I expect money had something to do with it." Harry said in a subtly sarcastic tone. "Neville may I present Miss Hermione Granger, muggleborn witch and fellow future student. Miss Granger, Mr. Neville Longbottom."
This time Neville extended his hand and Miss Granger took it. She was surprised when Neville lifted her hand and lightly kissed the back as tradition dictated. Harry fought the urge to snicker at her surprised look. Find out all about magic indeed, she had probably focused on reading her school books and history not on culture and laws the way Petunia had him do. All of them startled when they felt the initial lurch of the train leaving the station.
"So are you both as excited as I am to go to Hogwarts, it's supposed to be the best magical school there is. It was such a surprise when I got my letter, but once I understood I was so pleased of course. Have you done any spells? I have, just a few simple ones but they've all worked."
"Miss Granger are you aware that you broke the law?" Harry asked he really didn't want to listen to this all the way to Hogwarts.
"I did?" she bleated.
" Yes it's the decree of the reasonable restriction of underage sorcery. People under seventeen are not allowed to do magic unless it is to save their life when not at school." Harry said.
"I didn't know that." she half wailed. "It wasn't in any of our textbooks or in the histories I read. I mean I practically memorized our books… Are you sure? It would be awful to be expelled the moment I got to school."
Neville spoke up to soothe her. "Harry's right such a law exists. But I think they make allowances for children who haven't been to school yet because our control of our magic is pretty erratic. And there are ways around the rules as well."
Hermione was quiet after that at least for awhile. Harry appreciated the silence while it lasted. He pulled out Magical Theory and started reading and making notes in the margins using a mechanical pencil.
"You shouldn't do that."
"What?"
"Write in books."
"You shouldn't be so bossy. A, it's part of how I study and b, it's my book I bought it and I can write in it if I please. Honestly. Do you have the sense God gave a goose?"
Hermione got another chagrined look on her face, and went quiet again.
Neville sat, not comfortable with the situation but unsure of how to change it. He could see that Hermione had certain notions of how things should be. Harry was challenging those notions starting when he said the books lied for money, continuing on when he pointed out Hermione obviously didn't know everything since she hadn't known about the restriction on underage magic, and now his saying he could do as he liked with his things. All of which were true. "So Hermione in your reading did you find out how we are sorted?"
"No, I hope I get into Gryffindor. I heard that Dumbledore himself was in it, but I suppose Ravenclaw wouldn't be too bad…"
....
Join my P@treon and get 60+ advanced chapters.
Link: p*atreon.com/0LordSilvere0 (Remove the *)
Free members get 2 chapters free.
Join Right Now