Harry fidgeted beside her and she heard Ron tell him in a loud whisper that the first years were midgets. Hermione shifted against the hard wooden bench and tried to keep her mind on the Sorting. It was a traditional part of the school, she berated herself firmly; she should pay attention and be respectful. It was an effort. Ron continued his side whispers to Harry the entire time despite her chiding looks which were partially because she felt jealous that she couldn't be as sanguine as he in ignoring the Sorting. Harry only came alive as a Michael Gilligan was sorted into Ravenclaw, clapping loudly and cheering. She remembered that the boy was the first recipient of the Lily Potter scholarship.
The Sorting Hat finally finished and the Headmaster made his usual bizarre and eccentric welcome of odd words before food appeared.
Ten minutes later, Harry sat beside her, poking at his chicken dinner without enthusiasm.
"Eat, Harry!" Hermione remonstrated in a whisper. "You can talk with Sirius as soon as the feast is over."
"Luna said pudding would cheer me up." Harry muttered, pushing his chicken away and reaching for the treacle tart.
"You're going to be starving by breakfast if that's the only thing you eat." Hermione pointed out, exasperated. "It's just sugar!"
"Save a slice for me." Ron said, waving a forkful of mashed potatoes.
Hermione noticed Ron was eating much more neatly than ever before. She wondered if it was Andy's influence or the new robes Ron wore. Perhaps, she considered, having new things had increased his want to keep them nice whereas he'd never had any respect for his second-hand things, not even his wand.
Harry's plate consisted of a huge slice of treacle tart, a large blob of cream, and nothing else but he was at least eating it. Hermione sighed.
"So, I wanted to talk to you about Quidditch, Harry." Angelina spoke up, gaining Harry's attention. "You're my Seeker right?"
"I meant to say congrats at getting Captain." Harry grinned. "And sure, if you'll have me!"
Angelina beamed with pride and rubbed the shiny badge that was pinned to her robes. "'Course I'll have you; you're the best Seeker here! We need a try-out though; apparently we're allowed a reserve for each position this year and we need a Keeper."
"Ron's going to try-out for Keeper." Harry said immediately, nudging Ron who almost dropped his fork.
"Yes…me." Ron managed to get out as Angelina pinned him with an interested stare.
"Well, you're a Weasley which is a good start." Angelina nodded sharply. "You've been practicing?"
"All Summer." Fred chimed in.
"Him and Ginny." George added.
Angelina peered down the line of her Quidditch team on their bench to the younger Weasley. "Chaser or Seeker?"
Ginny almost swallowed her tongue. She went bright red but her chin was up. "Chaser but I didn't think I'd get a place till next year."
"Charlie helped us practice when he was over from Romania." Ron blurted out.
Angelina smiled. "Well, try-outs are this weekend."
"This weekend?" Ron went white under his freckles.
Harry scooped up more tart. "Don't worry, Ron, we can have a practice session tomorrow evening."
Ron calmed down a bit.
"Can I come along, Harry? I'd like to get some more practice in too." Ginny asked.
Hermione's eyes snapped to Ginny, surprised she'd been brave enough to ask. Maybe her advice to Ginny for her to find something Ginny and Harry both liked as common ground was actually helping Ginny overcome her timidity where Harry was concerned.
"Sure," Harry motioned at Angelina, "we could make it an official practice session for anyone wanting to try-out, right?"
Hermione bent her head to head her smile. Poor Ginny. Harry was either completely oblivious or far too knowing for him to have suggested that. She was thinking oblivious.
"Sounds good to me. I'll get the pitch booked soon as dinner is finished." Angelina said, grinning. "I want that Cup, Harry!"
"As long as you don't drag me out of bed at five o'clock in the morning like Oliver, I'll do my best." Harry countered, grinning back at her.
Angelina gave a very unladylike snort. "No chance! And if you catch me making airy-fairy speeches to motivate you, you have my permission to douse me with cold water?"
"So," asked Fred.
"How are you going…" continued George.
"…to motivate us?" Fred leered at her. "I vote for…"
"Kissing!" chorused the twins.
Harry went red and almost choked on his tart.
Hermione patted his back and handed him some pumpkin juice.
Angelina snickered. "I'll consider it for Harry," she said with a wink at Harry, "but definitely not for you two!" She laughed at the over-the-top outraged expressions on the twins' faces.
Hermione laughed along with the others and tried to ignore the plummeting sensation in her tummy at the idea of Angelina kissing Harry. Angelina was very beautiful. This, Hermione reminded herself, was why she had originally decided looking at Harry as a potential boyfriend was a very bad idea.
A clinking sound of a goblet drew their attention towards the Headmaster.
"Ah! Thank you for letting me interrupt the end of your splendid meals!" Professor Dumbledore smiled benevolently around the Great Hall. "I have some announcements…" he presented the new members of staff and everyone politely clapped.
Hermione spotted Harry's wide smile at the announcement of the new Healer. "Do you know her?" She whispered.
"She was one of my Healers at The Valley Clinic." Harry said.
Hermione brightened. Perhaps she could go and talk to Doctor Jordan? It would be useful to get an idea of what she needed to do from someone who had already attained both a Healing Mastery and a Doctor's qualification.
There were yells of approval for Tobias Hilliard and Hermione rolled her eyes at how Parvati and Lavender squealed. Great, she mused; no doubt she'd have to listen to endless rambling about Hilliard's eyes and his hair and his perfect duelling body – not that she paid attention to that kind of thing herself.
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