Harry sits in the lunchroom, wondering at his life. Everything is so different from Hogwarts, different even than the muggle school that he attended before he even knew about Hogwarts. It's-- an adjustment is right actually, and he's looking for Hermione and Luna to try to find them.
He has a tray of food in his hand, and he isn't certain that any of it is actually meant to be edible. Alright, not all of it looks so bad, but when you're used to a glorious, magical feast that refills itself... this is a bit odd. There are people separating themselves based upon what they're... wearing apparently?
Harry doesn't quite understand.
At all. Thankfully, he managed to grab a table and he's claimed it for them. Now it's a matter of flagging them down... and mentioning to Hermione about their last period of the day. Who is teaching it exactly.
He knows that she must be the opposite of pleased.
Hermione, thankfully, shares her lunch period with Harry, and several other classes. She will admit that, much as she has been looking forward to this day, there's the usual nerves and trepidation at being thrown into such a new world. Hermione isn't one to openly admit such a thing, but she's kind of an insecure sort, especially when thrown into completely unfamiliar circumstances.
It's where her need to prove herself only becomse that much stronger.
It's all very bizarre.
Like some very bizarre social experiment, and she's not entirely sure what to think about their new classmates.
A tray will be placed directly across from Harry and soon after, Hermione will be sliding into the bench. Her hair is a bit out of sorts and she pushes it back impatiently. "Well?" she demands.
How has his day been so far, is what she means. In Hermione speak.
Harry is thankful they share so many classes together as well especially lunch as he doesn't fancy eating by himself. It's what he did back when he did attend muggle school before he'd ever learned of being a wizard at all.
It's part of why he was so hesitant about this, that and he knew he would miss Hogwarts. He does miss it, and this entire school seems so strange to him, but it's also not a terrible adjustment. It's not horrible in comparison, and it's actually nice to have something to do everyday that feels important at least for himself.
He can get a proper education and then decide his future from then on. It's giving him some power, some place in this universe that isn't technically his but might as well be after how long he's been here.
Harry glances at her tray and makes another face at the food there. It's a helpless thing. He glances at her, smirking a little at the Well in that demanding way of hers. Her hair is a bit out of sorts
( ... )
Hermione likely did something similar, as she'd had no friends before him and Ron. There wasn't an easy way to make friends, at least that is how it felt back then. Her friends were her books, and finding somewhere to sit was almost agony day in and day out. Comes with the insecurity thing that she is very resistant to let show.
It should be noted she has gotten better about that over the years.
She misses Hogwarts more than she can adequately put into words. The walls, the classrooms, the teachers--all of them a visible and painful reminder of how very much not Hogwarts it is, as keen as she will always be on learning, on advancing. Hermione has a great fear of being stagnant
( ... )
Hermione has gotten better about it, and Harry used to be more shy but he's obviously overcome that as well. The shyness came from quite a few aspects, but it seemed best not to speak up and it never won him many friends especially when he always wore Dudley's hand me downs which never fit.
Hogwarts was home more than any other place could be, but Harry has also learned that home is wherever she is, wherever his friends are really. If she's there, he can call it home. This is nothing like Hogwarts and it never could be. Harry is doing his best not to compare.
There's no music at all.
In Harry Speak /DIES, it is quite positive yes. It's about as positive as he can manage at the moment
( ... )
She has certainly always been outspoken, which has made up for the insecurity some. Social skills aren't something she developed until quite recently. It's what happens when you have your nose stuck in a book more often than not.
Not that this is something she minds at all.
She's had her friends, and those are the ones that have meant the world to her.
"I suppose everyone has a way of gathering by affinity," Hermione speculates with a musing sort of tone. She glances over at the tables when Harry mentiones them and starts watching. The tables are rather marked as it is. There is one table filled with only people wearing black clothes and dark make-up.
Er. Well, yes she can see what he means in that respect.
She beams at his saying the class was interesting. "Oh, Harry. Wasn't it? It's a good thing we got those supplies beforehand, isn't it?" she says with a knowing sort of voice
( ... )
Harry has had friends as well, and they are the important ones. He forgets about the bullies over the years, but he remembers every single person that he counted as friend.
He was lucky enough to count so many of them as friends at the end of it, and Harry has made friends in Chicago as well at his own pace. It's been a little nice in that sense.
"Yeah, makes you wonder if we all would have gathered by those houses even if there weren't a sorting hat," Harry says. Obviously, there were disagreements within houses and he had friends outside of his house, but the strongest friendships were there.
Harry glances back at his try. "It... was a bit, yes." The enthusiasm that she has for the class is nothing he shares even if he has to admit it was more interesting than he'd anticipated. And then he laughs. "Suppose it was. Without that, I'd.. be at a complete loss."
Joking? Who him?
"I don't-- It doesn't make any sense, does it? She'd have to know something."
Even knowing the true importance of friendship--Hermione has to agree with Harry on the strangeness of muggle school and their interactions with each other. It really is as if they have all sorted themselves into houses, only the houses are chosen based on appearances more than anything else.
"There might've been a natural inclination toward each other. A gravitation of sorts, but perhaps without the housing there would've also been more friendships and interactions between those that wouldn't have otherwise."
They were all Gryffindors.
Hermione was almost sorted into Ravenclaw, but she believed Gryffindor to be the best house. Still, now that she's older, she wonders what it would've been like had there been no sorting at all.
"I believe you would've been, yes," Hermione says importantly, well aware he is joking but nonetheless. It is important to be prepared, even if that means fighting a troll at Target.
She scowls again. "If she does know something of import, she has certainly been giving an erroneous impression all these
The houses are also much smaller that they've sorted themselves into. They're more like a group of five or up to ten but even ten is pushing it at times. They all congregate around certain tables and only seem to care for each other
( ... )
"It was home for us all," Hermione finishes for him, understanding what he is saying in none too many words.
Whether they were Gryffindor, or Ravenclaw, or Hufflepuff... or Slytherin, they were all a part of Hogwarts, and houses maybe only helped create that division along.
It's hard to say. Hermione believes in a system and order of things, but she sees the other side now, too.
"I'm certain she finds the sentiment nothing if not mutual," Hermione says, bristling. Crookshanks and that godawful cat are still not getting along, and she has to be that much more careful about when she lets Crookshanks out of her sight.
Which is nearly never.
"I don't doubt it will be. There isn't any changing it, however, so I will... attempt at giving my cooperation," Hermione says. Keeping the peace would be good.
This Trelawney is a younger Trelawney and they are all in the same boat.
"Yes, it was," Harry says after a moment and then he looks over at the crowd of people again, shaking his head. "But this? I don't know. You don't sense any... feeling of home here. I suppose we don't live here so it makes it more difficult, but there's no sense of we're... all the same."
At the end of the day, they were all Hogwarts, whatever houses they were.
There's not the same sense here, and he knows there are a lot of reasons that there are these differences, but it is one more adjustment to make.
"Oh, she... probably does. She never liked anyone who didn't agree with her opinions. I know she's quite a bit younger, but apparently that... hasn't changed even slightly," harry says, adjusting his glasses and glancing at her carefully.
He knows how much of a rage Trelawney can bring her to by mere mention of the woman and what she teaches and how she acts"I don't think anyone would be blamed... for walking out during a portion that wasn't correct or wasn't related to Biology? Can't really see her... staying on topic at all
( ... )
"It may be a matter of giving it time," Hermione says optimistically. She understands fully what he means and why he would mean it. She went into this knowing it wouldn't be the same at all, and what she'd get out of muggle school is something separate from what she got out of Hogwarts.
There won't be a day she doesn't miss it, and there won't be a day she feels a stronger sense of belonging here than she ever did there.
It doesn't mean she hasn't been enjoying the experience for what it is, despite the mounting uncertainty of it all.
It helps to have Harry there.
"Then again, there's apparently quite a bit we didn't know about her. Or Professor Lockhart, for that matter," Hermione says, only barely able to hide the contempt at the thought. She doesn't have a crush on him any longer, no, but Trelawney? Honestly.
"It isn't as if I haven't done so in the past, but that's hardly the point," she says with a sigh, propping her chin on her hand. "I would like to learn what would otherwise be a fascinating subject. She should've been
( ... )
"Yes, I know. I'll quit complaining at some point, I will," Harry says, and it's not that he is incapable of optimism. Well, in some cases, he really isn't the most optimistic person that there is. However, he will make an attempt
( ... )
"Might I have a date for this momentous occasion or is it still relatively unknown?" Hermione asks, quite capable of joking herself. She may get frustrated with the circumstances at times and try nudging him in several directions, but in this instance, she does understand both the reluctance and the uncertainty.
They are doing everything they can with the lot they have been given.
Some would simply fold, linger on their luck--or lack of it, as the case may be--and never try to pick up the pieces again.
It takes a lot of courage to rebuild when the rebuilding itself is in a completely different world. It would take a lot of courage to rebuild anywhere as it is.
"Well, yes, there's certainly that unsettling remark, but... during that week the journal network was afflicted by the Rift, their interactions with each other were..." her voice trails off, and she is not sure how to put it to words, or even if she wants to.
She isn't sure what it says, either.
"I would much rather she didn't teach us anything, but at least that isn't
( ... )
Harry rolls his eyes a bit at her joking, but he's smiling as he knows it's well placed teasing. There's a lot of uncertainty and reluctance, and she has been very understanding, but he can joke about it too.
"I believe it's... to be determined," he says finally, shaking his head just slightly. "You will be the first I inform when a date's been set though. Might be a while yet."
He's joking. He won't be complaining forever. Harry has been through quite worse, and complaining never helps at all. He'll adjust quickly within the first week, and there will be differences but at least, he'll be doing something.
It's a nice change. It does take quite a bit of courage to say goodbye to the life that you knew and begin again.
"Oh," Harry says, and he'd tried to blind himself of the memories that the professors/adults gave to him that week, but it hadn't worked in the slightest. "That... is right. They're both working at the school now that's... I'm afraid we might find out more
( ... )
She will just be ignoring that eye roll, thank you.
Hermione appears to be increasingly reluctant at the thought of finding out more about whatever has been going on or went on with Professor Gilderoy and Professor Trelawney. The one conversation she had with him about it was more than plenty, in her opinion.
But she'd have to agree with Harry on that one, much as they'd rather forget that week and the discoveries they made of others throughout it.
They'll likely find out just how close they were.
"At least Professor Lockhart is teaching a subject that appears to be quite suited to him?" Hermione asks. Look, she'll always have a bit of a soft spot for him.
And he does seem to be made for the theater.
Hermione smiles a little and shakes her head. "Not till another several weeks," she answers, shaking her head slightly. She is touched he has not forgotten, but this whole being younger than him business is still somewhat unsettling.
He has a tray of food in his hand, and he isn't certain that any of it is actually meant to be edible. Alright, not all of it looks so bad, but when you're used to a glorious, magical feast that refills itself... this is a bit odd. There are people separating themselves based upon what they're... wearing apparently?
Harry doesn't quite understand.
At all. Thankfully, he managed to grab a table and he's claimed it for them. Now it's a matter of flagging them down... and mentioning to Hermione about their last period of the day. Who is teaching it exactly.
He knows that she must be the opposite of pleased.
Reply
It's where her need to prove herself only becomse that much stronger.
It's all very bizarre.
Like some very bizarre social experiment, and she's not entirely sure what to think about their new classmates.
A tray will be placed directly across from Harry and soon after, Hermione will be sliding into the bench. Her hair is a bit out of sorts and she pushes it back impatiently. "Well?" she demands.
How has his day been so far, is what she means. In Hermione speak.
Reply
It's part of why he was so hesitant about this, that and he knew he would miss Hogwarts. He does miss it, and this entire school seems so strange to him, but it's also not a terrible adjustment. It's not horrible in comparison, and it's actually nice to have something to do everyday that feels important at least for himself.
He can get a proper education and then decide his future from then on. It's giving him some power, some place in this universe that isn't technically his but might as well be after how long he's been here.
Harry glances at her tray and makes another face at the food there. It's a helpless thing. He glances at her, smirking a little at the Well in that demanding way of hers. Her hair is a bit out of sorts ( ... )
Reply
It should be noted she has gotten better about that over the years.
She misses Hogwarts more than she can adequately put into words. The walls, the classrooms, the teachers--all of them a visible and painful reminder of how very much not Hogwarts it is, as keen as she will always be on learning, on advancing. Hermione has a great fear of being stagnant ( ... )
Reply
Hogwarts was home more than any other place could be, but Harry has also learned that home is wherever she is, wherever his friends are really. If she's there, he can call it home. This is nothing like Hogwarts and it never could be. Harry is doing his best not to compare.
There's no music at all.
In Harry Speak /DIES, it is quite positive yes. It's about as positive as he can manage at the moment ( ... )
Reply
Not that this is something she minds at all.
She's had her friends, and those are the ones that have meant the world to her.
"I suppose everyone has a way of gathering by affinity," Hermione speculates with a musing sort of tone. She glances over at the tables when Harry mentiones them and starts watching. The tables are rather marked as it is. There is one table filled with only people wearing black clothes and dark make-up.
Er. Well, yes she can see what he means in that respect.
She beams at his saying the class was interesting. "Oh, Harry. Wasn't it? It's a good thing we got those supplies beforehand, isn't it?" she says with a knowing sort of voice ( ... )
Reply
He was lucky enough to count so many of them as friends at the end of it, and Harry has made friends in Chicago as well at his own pace. It's been a little nice in that sense.
"Yeah, makes you wonder if we all would have gathered by those houses even if there weren't a sorting hat," Harry says. Obviously, there were disagreements within houses and he had friends outside of his house, but the strongest friendships were there.
Harry glances back at his try. "It... was a bit, yes." The enthusiasm that she has for the class is nothing he shares even if he has to admit it was more interesting than he'd anticipated. And then he laughs. "Suppose it was. Without that, I'd.. be at a complete loss."
Joking? Who him?
"I don't-- It doesn't make any sense, does it? She'd have to know something."
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"There might've been a natural inclination toward each other. A gravitation of sorts, but perhaps without the housing there would've also been more friendships and interactions between those that wouldn't have otherwise."
They were all Gryffindors.
Hermione was almost sorted into Ravenclaw, but she believed Gryffindor to be the best house. Still, now that she's older, she wonders what it would've been like had there been no sorting at all.
"I believe you would've been, yes," Hermione says importantly, well aware he is joking but nonetheless. It is important to be prepared, even if that means fighting a troll at Target.
She scowls again. "If she does know something of import, she has certainly been giving an erroneous impression all these
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Whether they were Gryffindor, or Ravenclaw, or Hufflepuff... or Slytherin, they were all a part of Hogwarts, and houses maybe only helped create that division along.
It's hard to say. Hermione believes in a system and order of things, but she sees the other side now, too.
"I'm certain she finds the sentiment nothing if not mutual," Hermione says, bristling. Crookshanks and that godawful cat are still not getting along, and she has to be that much more careful about when she lets Crookshanks out of her sight.
Which is nearly never.
"I don't doubt it will be. There isn't any changing it, however, so I will... attempt at giving my cooperation," Hermione says. Keeping the peace would be good.
This Trelawney is a younger Trelawney and they are all in the same boat.
Reply
At the end of the day, they were all Hogwarts, whatever houses they were.
There's not the same sense here, and he knows there are a lot of reasons that there are these differences, but it is one more adjustment to make.
"Oh, she... probably does. She never liked anyone who didn't agree with her opinions. I know she's quite a bit younger, but apparently that... hasn't changed even slightly," harry says, adjusting his glasses and glancing at her carefully.
He knows how much of a rage Trelawney can bring her to by mere mention of the woman and what she teaches and how she acts"I don't think anyone would be blamed... for walking out during a portion that wasn't correct or wasn't related to Biology? Can't really see her... staying on topic at all ( ... )
Reply
There won't be a day she doesn't miss it, and there won't be a day she feels a stronger sense of belonging here than she ever did there.
It doesn't mean she hasn't been enjoying the experience for what it is, despite the mounting uncertainty of it all.
It helps to have Harry there.
"Then again, there's apparently quite a bit we didn't know about her. Or Professor Lockhart, for that matter," Hermione says, only barely able to hide the contempt at the thought. She doesn't have a crush on him any longer, no, but Trelawney? Honestly.
"It isn't as if I haven't done so in the past, but that's hardly the point," she says with a sigh, propping her chin on her hand. "I would like to learn what would otherwise be a fascinating subject. She should've been ( ... )
Reply
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They are doing everything they can with the lot they have been given.
Some would simply fold, linger on their luck--or lack of it, as the case may be--and never try to pick up the pieces again.
It takes a lot of courage to rebuild when the rebuilding itself is in a completely different world. It would take a lot of courage to rebuild anywhere as it is.
"Well, yes, there's certainly that unsettling remark, but... during that week the journal network was afflicted by the Rift, their interactions with each other were..." her voice trails off, and she is not sure how to put it to words, or even if she wants to.
She isn't sure what it says, either.
"I would much rather she didn't teach us anything, but at least that isn't ( ... )
Reply
"I believe it's... to be determined," he says finally, shaking his head just slightly. "You will be the first I inform when a date's been set though. Might be a while yet."
He's joking. He won't be complaining forever. Harry has been through quite worse, and complaining never helps at all. He'll adjust quickly within the first week, and there will be differences but at least, he'll be doing something.
It's a nice change. It does take quite a bit of courage to say goodbye to the life that you knew and begin again.
"Oh," Harry says, and he'd tried to blind himself of the memories that the professors/adults gave to him that week, but it hadn't worked in the slightest. "That... is right. They're both working at the school now that's... I'm afraid we might find out more ( ... )
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Hermione appears to be increasingly reluctant at the thought of finding out more about whatever has been going on or went on with Professor Gilderoy and Professor Trelawney. The one conversation she had with him about it was more than plenty, in her opinion.
But she'd have to agree with Harry on that one, much as they'd rather forget that week and the discoveries they made of others throughout it.
They'll likely find out just how close they were.
"At least Professor Lockhart is teaching a subject that appears to be quite suited to him?" Hermione asks. Look, she'll always have a bit of a soft spot for him.
And he does seem to be made for the theater.
Hermione smiles a little and shakes her head. "Not till another several weeks," she answers, shaking her head slightly. She is touched he has not forgotten, but this whole being younger than him business is still somewhat unsettling.
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