Chapter 17: The Girl's Thoughts
The upperclassmen filed into the Great Hall in a steady stream, chatting about their plans for the day and casting strange glances at the two first-year students standing side by side.
Hermione felt the weight of their stares and her face flushed a bright red. She touched her burning cheeks and realized how close they were standing. She shifted slightly, putting some space between them.
"Hey, cheer up," she said softly. "You haven't heard from your birth parents in years. There's no rush, is there? Once we finish eating, I'll go with you to see Professor McGonagall. We have Herbology this afternoon in one of the main building's classrooms."
"Yes, thank you for staying with me. I feel much better." Ethan wasn't one to wallow in gloom for long. He quickly pulled himself together and gave Hermione a bright smile.
"How's your Transfiguration class going? My first Herbology lesson went well; Professor Sprout was very kind." He asked about her classes next.
At the mention of schoolwork, Hermione lit up. "It was amazing, Ethan. Over the summer, I tried practicing Transfiguration, but the results hadn't been great."
But this time was different. Under Professor McGonagall's guidance, she managed to turn a matchstick into a needle with a point at one end.
Growing more excited, Hermione looked around for something matchstick-sized to give Ethan a demonstration.
It was perfect timing. He wanted to see what the Transfiguration technique he'd attempted over the summer actually looked like. As for trying it himself, that would have to wait until tomorrow afternoon.
Soon, unable to find a suitable item, Hermione gritted her teeth and plucked a feather from her quill. She laid it on the long table, chanted the incantation, and tapped the feather with her wand.
The white feather became a silvery needle at one end, while the other was still feathered. The transformation was incomplete.
"Wow, that's amazing!" Ethan clapped softly.
Hermione frowned. "I still can't get it perfect."
Now it was Ethan's turn to comfort Hermione. "You've done very well. It's only the first lesson. I think you'll pick this up the fastest, right?"
Hermione smiled and said proudly, "That's true, I'm the fastest learner in the class!"
"That's fine then. By the way, did Professor McGonagall assign any homework?"
"Oh no, I forgot!" Hermione shrieked, looking toward the long table for the parchment she'd only half-finished writing.
Ethan had asked because he'd spotted a solid-looking poltergeist in the distance, secretly carrying a roll of parchment and slipping out of the Great Hall. He didn't know if it belonged to Hermione.
When he realized he'd been spotted, Peeves quickly abandoned Hermione's homework and fled.
"It's Peeves." Hermione picked up the parchment from the ground and said angrily, "He was causing trouble on our way to class this morning, almost making me late. Now he's even trying to steal my homework! How awful!"
She worked diligently, completing the essay assignment Professor McGonagall had given her on the first day: interpreting Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration and practicing the reduction technique. She'd already borrowed a book from the library ahead of time, summarizing its contents and adding her own understanding to produce a lengthy assignment.
"How long was this assignment supposed to be?" Ethan asked, watching her write. "This one's already twenty inches, and you're still not done?" He was starting to worry that he'd have to write such lengthy essays for class. They had Transfiguration frequently, and he was beginning to worry.
"No, the professor only asked for twelve inches. I felt twelve inches was too short to fully explain the laws of transfiguration."
"Alright." Ethan relented. While waiting for lunch to be served in the Great Hall, he flipped through the only book he had with him.
Five minutes before lunch, Hermione let out a long sigh and stretched her slightly sore wrists. "If I were more used to the quill by now, I'd have finished ages ago."
She dried the ink on her homework, thought for a moment, and handed Ethan the book she'd borrowed from the library, Analysis of Gamp's Basic Transfiguration Laws. "You'll probably need it for your homework tomorrow. I'll lend it to you now, and you can return it to me when you're done."
"Thank you very much." He gratefully put the book away.
It was almost time for lunch, and he noticed a steady stream of first years whose morning classes had ended pouring into the Great Hall.
He waved to the Slytherin trio as they greeted him, then pointed at Hermione and smiled.
Hermione turned around and looked at them with a hint of disgust. "You and those guys are roommates?"
"Yes, what's wrong? You've met before?" Ethan asked, puzzled.
"I saw them. When Neville and I were looking for Trevor, we saw the three of them go into Harry Potter's compartment and get into a fight with the two people inside." Hermione said, briefly describing the encounter.
Draco isn't a bad person, but because he comes from a pure-blood family, he's used to acting superior. Once you get to know him better, you probably won't dislike him as much as you do now.
Based on what he had seen in the movie and Draco's performance yesterday, Ethan felt that although Draco had some flaws, he could actually improve.
Hermione pursed her lips and didn't reply. Her bad impression of the three wouldn't easily change just because of Ethan's words.
Soon, a large spread of delicious food appeared on the table, and the two temporarily dropped the subject and began talking about the food.
"It tastes great," Ethan said, satisfied.
"It is good, but it's a bit monotonous. Today's lunch isn't much different from yesterday's." Hermione commented.
It's only been two days. There will probably be more variety in the future.
As the two ate and chatted, they didn't notice Harry and Ron, who had arrived together, whispering to each other and occasionally pointing in their direction.
Ethan had actually noticed them long ago, but he didn't say anything because he didn't want Hermione to get involved with the two of them and experience hardships and adventures that weren't meant for her.
However, Hermione eventually realized something was off, because Ethan was attracting the attention of several older girls, who were laughing and preening to catch his eye.
Hermione looked at the well-dressed upperclassmen, then down at herself, and fell silent.
Ethan noticed immediately, but he didn't know how to comfort her, so he remained silent as well.
This made Hermione even quieter.
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