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fortisleo September 14 2011, 10:21:39 UTC
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.

"Don't you think it strange the way that everyone is? I mean it's like sorted themselves," Harry says with uncertainty, watching as everyone seems to 'know their place' except for a few stragglers. "I was impressed too, and the class was... actually interesting."

He smiles a little at the face she makes.

"...right. About that, perhaps it'd be best to get earplugs? I don't-- I really don't think that she knows anything about Biology. She barely knows anything about her core subject. She might surprise us, but then again, I think there will be a lot of talk that neither of us like."

But especially her.

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sollers September 18 2011, 04:07:16 UTC
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.

The beaming expression doesn't last, as then they are discussing Trewlaney. "I fail to comprehend how she secured a position teaching at all, much less that particular subject. I simply don't understand, Harry."

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fortisleo September 18 2011, 04:30:06 UTC
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."

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sollers September 18 2011, 04:58:33 UTC
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 years."

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fortisleo September 18 2011, 05:19:14 UTC
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.

"That's what I would have liked to think as well," Harry says quietly. "I understand the tradition and the house loyalty that's supposed to want to make us work harder, but..."

But they were all Hogwarts at the end of the day.

That was proven at that last battle more than anything else. They would all fight and die for Hogwarts if necessary. Harry would have liked to know them all much better than he did.

Harry just laughs again after she insists that he would have been lost. It likely is true. Though he doesn't think he took nearly as detailed notes as Hermione did. No, he is certain he didn't.

...and that actually calls for laughter again.

"You never know, Hermione. Even if she did know nothing, they wouldn't keep her hired if she couldn't teach Biology, right? Either way, I know the class... will be frustrating."

Especially for her.

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sollers September 18 2011, 06:08:53 UTC
"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.

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fortisleo September 18 2011, 07:03:30 UTC
"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's not like she could do that when they had Divination class. It was all about Who Would Die next.

Harry takes a bite of the food. "And the food is not... Hogwarts--like." Subject change ftw. "It's... much more stale? That's a terrible word, isn't it? But I know, we don't go to school to... eat."

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sollers September 18 2011, 08:05:10 UTC
"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 given--oh, I don't know. Something else."

Something she didn't have to take.

Hermione laughs softly at his assessment of muggle school cafeteria food. "Terrible but perhaps appropriate," Hermione says, using her fork to poke at the food. "It might also be a matter of adjustment. Can't always have pumpkin pie, Harry."

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fortisleo September 18 2011, 08:27:08 UTC
"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.

They will miss it everyday. Maybe he has to remind himself of that. Every time that he feels like he misses it, feels like it isn't the same and couldn't be--

He has to come to grips with it. It won't be the same or anything like it. It will be its own experience, but it doesn't have to be a terrible one either.

It helps more than he can say to have her here too.

"...what? Oh, you mean about what he said about his relationship with her... previously? Like us..." Harry says trailing off a bit as he still isn't really entirely certain what that means about Trelawney and Gilderoy's previous relationship.

He isn't sure what that says.

"Yeah, I know you would. You'll have the textbook if nothing else?" He says as helpfully as he could. "I've no idea what she could teach instead. Home-ec?"

The idea is hilarious, Harry. He still thinks she'd be rubbish at that as well.

Harry smiles a little. "Yeah, that's... what I thought," Harry says, and he'll try a bite. "It's... not as terrible as it looks? I do miss the pumpkin pie, Hermione." Quite a lot at the moment.

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sollers September 18 2011, 09:14:28 UTC
"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 so different from back home," Hermione says, trying to keep her own complaining to a minimum.

"Fall is here, Harry. We will soon have pumpkin pie," Hermione says decisively. She will acquire it for them and it will be theirs.

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fortisleo September 18 2011, 09:52:13 UTC
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."

Granted, they are thankfully teaching different classes. They may never see them interact!

"Right! There's one more similarity for us to hang on to." An annoying similarity but a similarity nonetheless.

Harry laughs a bit at her decisive statement. "It is, and your birthday is nearly here as well." He hasn't forgotten.

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sollers September 18 2011, 23:00:10 UTC
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.

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fortisleo September 18 2011, 23:15:04 UTC
That is for the best, Hermione. He meant it in good fun, ahem.

Harry has no desire to know how close they were either. It is information that he can more than do without all things considered.

However, knowing them both, he would not be surprised if they found out sooner rather than later. Harry will still do all that he personally can to avoid knowing or avoid encouraging any potential information sharing on that regard.

"Yes, it's the one subject where lying is perfectly alright and rewarded," Harry admits after a moment, and he does not have a soft spot for him, but he does think better of him since he came to Chicago. "Wonder what that class will be like."

Harry has never really thought about theater before. It isn't exactly big in the wizarding world, wasn't a subject at Hogwarts either.

He shakes his head back at her, smiling in turn. "Yes, but I'll have remembered in a few weeks," he says, and he will do something though he hasn't decided what yet. "Is there anything you'd like for it by the way?" Oh, so sly, Harry Potter.

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sollers September 19 2011, 00:19:30 UTC
Hermione's rose-colored glasses when it comes to Gilderoy have been taken off, certainly, and she in no way, shape, or form condones what he'd been doing, but she genuinely sees a change in him.

At the very least, an effort to try and that goes a long way with her sometimes.

"I've no idea," Hermione says honestly. She wouldn't be taking a subject like that one ordinarily, but she felt as if she should, out of some display of loyalty. He must be nervous as well, and perhaps having familiar students there might help some. She doesn't know. "I have a feeling he just might thrive in that area."

And well. He already does look like a smashing actor.

Hermione smiles at him a bit gently. "Harry, you don't have to get me anything," she says, not entirely sly, no, but she appreciates the sentiment all the same.

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fortisleo September 19 2011, 00:45:03 UTC
Harry sees the change as well, that coupled with the fact that he did see Gilderoy in St. Mungo's hospital has led him to let go of a lot of the anger that he had in 2nd year. It seems like so long ago.

In comparison, Gilderoy wasn't really worth all that anger. He made quite a few selfish, terrible decisions, but Harry doesn't think he's evil or completely bad. Ah, maturity. Harry has grown.

"He would considering how he... has been acting for quite some time," Harry says with a small smile of his own, and he wouldn't be taking it either except he wanted to do the same for him and wanted to be in the class with Hermione. He took what classes he could with her as the narration has a feeling she's taking many more AP courses than Harry would be able to take.

Or want to take for that matter.

"Hermione," he says and he laughs a bit. "I know I don't have to get you anything, but I would like to." Harry will come up with something on his own, but if there was something she wanted, he'd have liked to give her that too.

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sollers September 19 2011, 02:04:56 UTC
It was so very long ago.

Hermione can hardly believe the difference between who they were in 2nd year and who they are now, well past Hogwarts and so many things from their world since they found their way here.

In December, it will have been a year for her. For Harry, it has been considerably longer. There isn't any other way for them but to move forward and with that comes a lot of growth. They both needed to grow in different ways, and for different reasons.

"We'll find out soon enough, won't we? He might even make you the lead in a play, Harry," Hermione says, unable to keep the amusement out of her voice. Hermione would definitely be taking some AP courses, but being surprisingly new to this herself, she and Harry would be sharing quite a bit.

As they well should.

"I don't know!" she says with a soft laugh, cheeks almost pink. "I'd like anything you'd give me, honestly. I hadn't even thought about my birthday, really."

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