Hallowe'en

The following Thursday was Hermione's birthday, I didn't know until an owl came with a few presents for her. I felt kind of bad so I wrote to Auntie to grab me a book from the Black family library. The next day auntie sent the book, it was "Protective Charms and Their History". When I gifted it I felt even because she told me I'm the only one from Hogwarts to give her anything.

When I started asking around no one even knew it was her birthday, Neville, Ron, and Harry hadn't even known. Not to mention she had been focusing on studying so much that Harry, Ron and I were the only ones she talked to in or out of class.

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A few more weeks passed.

I have been trying to get Hermione to start hanging out with Neville, Harry, Ron and I more often but she would always leave at different times seemingly on purpose. I think at this point I can say for certain she likes books more than people.

Neville, Ron, Harry, and I are all eating breakfast when Shy came with my mail and Harry got a large package. Harry rushes to open it as it would run away, it turns out to be a brand new broom. The broom has a dark cedar handle, with sleekly pushed-down straw on the bottom. It would make a horrible cleaning device, but that's obviously not what it's made for.

As Harry finishes opening it Ron yells "That's a Nimbus 2000!" Ron looks really envious, "I've never even touched one."

His kinda foolish words make me smile, "Ron you have one two feet away from you, just touch it."

Ron's eyes dart between Harry and me, Harry just nods his head and pushes the broom closer to him. Ron slowly moved out his hand to the broom, the people who had gathered around watch him in anticipation. As he touches it he quickly pulls back his hand and squeals like a kid who just got a puppy.

As everyone around him seems to be just excited as Ron, Harry picks up the note. It was attached to the broom on the bristles, I lean over and read it from over his shoulder.

It reads: Oliver Wood will meet you tonight on the Quidditch field at seven o'clock for your first training session.

Signed Professor McGonagall

Both Harry and I look up at where McGonagall sits, she gives Harry a smile and a nod.

'Is this woman actually into children?' I wonder.

From across the hall, I can see Draco eyeing the broom confused, but the second we meet eyes he looks away and puts his head down. I roll my eyes at his actions.

'Does he think I will beat him here? I would obviously wait till we are alone.'

That week Harry started going to practice with Woods nearly every day. While he was gone I would go to the Library with Hermione we would talk about a lot of stuff. I learned that she was avoiding Ron and Harry because she felt that they didn't care enough about the rules. Which to be fair is true but I'm at fault too why isn't she mad at me? Probably because I'm smarter than her.

On Hallowe'en, I wake up in the morning to the smell of pumpkins and fresh fallen leaves. I quickly head down the stairs to find the common room has been decorated with autumn harvest colors and jack-o-lanterns. Even the breakfast is Hallowe'en styled, with Pumpkin puffs and toffy apples. Not the healthiest breakfast but I thoroughly enjoy it.

During Charms class we are told to pair up, I go with Neville, Harry pairs with Dean, Hermione reluctantly pairs with Ron. After we are sorted into our pairs Flitwick gives each of us feathers and started a speech.

"Now do not forget the wrist movement I taught you." Professor Flitwick paces back and forth with his eyes wandering around the room. "Swish and flick, remember, swish and flick. And saying the magic words properly is very important, too; never forget Wizard Baruffio, who said 's' instead of 'f' and found himself on the floor with a buffalo on his chest."

I raise my wand and am about to cast but Seamus at the table next to me interrupts with a yell "WINGARDIUM LEVIOSA!". The feather floats for half a second before falling back to the table bursting into flames. "I did it!" he yells.

Professor Flitwick speaks up "Next time try not to set it on fire Mr. Finnigan. Then we may perhaps consider it a success."

I look back at my feather and with a swish and flick speak "Wingardium Leviosa." the feather starts floating following my wand motions. I smirk as this is actually my first time casting this spell and I am a bit proud.

Professor Flitwick claps "Well done Mr. Black! Look here class, this is how you do it."

Ron looks over with Hermione and I can hear Ron say "Wingardium Leviosa." however he is using a short A sound, not a long A. I turn around to look and sure enough, his feather is in fact not floating. It perhaps appears to be one of the heaviest and most stable feathers I've ever seen.

Hermione gently taps its shoulder "It's not Leviosa it's Leviosaa." she says with a reluctant gaze.

"Well if you're so smart why don't you do it. " Ron says with anger.

Hermione clears her throat "Wingardium Leviosa" with a swish and flick the feather begins to float slowing going up as if being pulled up by a taut string.

Below us, at the head of the class, I hear Flitwick clapping "Good job Miss Granger."

I also give a small clap which causes Ron to turn around and glare at me. Seeing him glare at me I just shrug and give him a smile, he honestly looks defeated. I turn to look at what Harry is doing but just see him and Dean struggling to get any movement out of the feather at all.

'Looks like he didn't get his mother's talent at charms.' I think to myself.

After class, I walk out with Ron, Harry, and Neville since Hermione declined to come, probably not wanting to walk with Ron. While we are walking through the courtyard Ron interrupts the conversation Neville and I are having with his loud voice.

"I swear that girl is a nightmare, 'Leviosaaa not Leviosa' It's no wonder she doesn't have any friends," Ron says much to my distaste.

As he finishes his sentence Hermione walks past us in a near jog with her face in her books. I get a little mad and walk up behind Ron giving a good smack to the side of his head.

"You better go apologize to her later." I give him a stern glare.

"But she-" Ron tries to defend himself but Harry cuts him off.

"No, Ron that was kind of mean." Even Harry looks a bit mad at him.

"Ugh, fine, I'll do it after classes." Harry and I nod.