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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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fortisleo September 19 2011, 03:24:05 UTC
Harry can hardly believe it either. It seems strange looking back, almost like looking back at a separate person, but then he realizes that so much happened in that time, they might as well be.

Experiences change them. They've had more experiences in that amount of time than many will have in their lifetimes. He can barely believe it, looking back at it all. It seems strange to him.

"I... really hope he doesn't do that," Harry says with a slight grimace. "I mean he'd have to hold auditions, wouldn't he? That's... how they do it in acting, right?"

If that's the case, he might try to purposefully fail his audition.

As well they should. It's made adjusting to this high school much easier having her there in most of his classes.

Harry smiles a little seeing that near pink tone to her cheeks. "I didn't think that you'd had, but I will be getting you something."

He looks down at his tray again, grimacing. "I suppose I should... find a way to eat this."

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sollers September 19 2011, 04:29:36 UTC
"It would be wise of him to," Hermione says, lips twitching the smallest of fractions. She believes strongly there would need to be a fair process, but his reaction was worth saying that alone. She tries some of the meat and swallows it down slowly.

... Interesting. This will definitely take time getting used to.

"I have never taken such a class, Harry. We shall find out eventually, regardless."

Hermione, you won't be so amused or smug if you are ever dragged up the stage to perform a monologue.

"Oh, very well," she says, busying herself with her food. She did get him a present for his birthday, and wouldn't have stood for anything but.

It's what best friends do.

Hermione smiles at him, glancing around. Since no one is paying attention to them, she whispers something under her breath while the wand peaks out of her backpack. It's impossible to really notice unless one was seated next to her.

"Should be good now," she says noncommitally, having tweaked her own lunch.

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fortisleo September 19 2011, 05:11:17 UTC
Hermione, Harry is not pleased that his grimacing has made you smile. If only her own reactions to things with a grimace didn't make him smile too, he could actually hold some water here.

He ends up laughing though, shaking his head. It might have been the smallest of fractions, but he noticed.

He sighs heavily. "I suppose we will, wonder if it is too late to drop that class..."

Gilderoy has already picked you and Harry out for parts, Hermione. The main parts. It's what he told Trelawney. There will be no amusement at all then!

It is what best friends do. He laughs a bit at her reaction. "Thank you for permitting me too," Harry says with a near smirk. She did get him one, and he would have been getting her one regardless.

Harry blinks a little, because yes, he is paying attention and notices the whisper under her breath. He smiles at her, raising his eyebrows.

"Hermione," he says with quite a bit of approval in his voice. He smiles, digging into it and having a bite. "It's much better. Delicious even and it doesn't look it." There really is a spell for everything, and Hermione knows them all. "Thank you. In the future, I suppose we could always bring lunches of our own."

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sollers September 19 2011, 06:02:22 UTC
Hermione kicks him lightly from underneath the table.

"Harry! You cannot drop that class once you've committed to taking it. We must see it through no matter what," Hermioen says, and these words will really come back to bite her in the butt since she has absolutely no desire to have a part in any of the school plays.

Least of all the very main parts. She will not know what to do with herself.

It will be strangely humiliating, that's for sure.

"Well. It was unforgivably stale," she says importantly. There's bucking up and then there's eating food that doesn't really taste like food, and can't be good for one's digestive system. It's simply not right. "It might be for the best if we did. The food at the Tower also took some getting used to, but it's infinitely preferable."

They are just not used to American cuisine, but Tower food is worlds better than school food, though there is always a spell to rectify that.

What would you do without her, Harry Potter? What would you do?

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