Chapter Text
If Hermione thought having Ginny around would offer some support as another witch in the group, she was wrong.
Hermione learnt quickly that the young witch grew up with six older brothers and in some ways, was more masculine than any of the boys in the group were. Ginny loved rough-housing and Quidditch, she could hold her own in an argument with Draco or cause just as much mischief as Theo. It was nice having someone that was hers though, Ginny had made it clear she was Hermione's friend above the others. Draco had begun referring to the red-head as 'Weasel' and the girl returned the affection by calling him 'Ferret'.
Hermione had tried to figure out why Ferret was the chosen nickname. Ginny had advised it was due to the boys pointy features, but Hermione thought he was fairly symmetrical and relatively good looking... objectively speaking, of course.
To Hermione's immense relief, Ginny wasn't a giggler or overly interested in boys and make up. She did take her studies seriously though and was always more than happy to spend her time in the library with Hermione. She figured that would change next year when Ginny could try out for the Gryffindor team but until then, she would just enjoy the company.
The classes they were taking this year were interesting. Hermione found herself enjoying Defense more than the others. Professor Fyren was enigmatic and calculating but she was a talented teacher. She always pulled from her own experiences with different spells and theories but was always willing to concede when she thought someone had a more compelling argument.
The optimism that Hermione felt on the train was holding strong so far. The boys were out all hours on the Quidditch pitch preparing for the try-out, leaving Hermione and Ginny to their own devices.
Hermione took the opportunity to spend yet more time in her favourite place. She perused the bookshelves looking for some light reading to do in between classwork. Ginny took the seat opposite hers at her usual table. It was tucked away towards the back of the library, allowing for more privacy and quiet.
Her hand brushed along the shelf in the section marked as recent Wizarding history. She had overheard some of the conversation about a war that the adults had had and she found herself intrigued. From what she could gather, Narcissa was pivotal in ending it but betraying her husband but she didn't quite know how. Sirius and Remus clearly bore the scars of the war as well but she dared not ask them about it. Whatever had happened, they were still healing from it years after.
Conveniently, she found a booked entitled "The first Wizarding War: Rise and fall of a Dark Wizard" by Bathilda Bagshot. Hermione could barely contain her excitement, she had loved the other books by Ms. Bagshot that she had read so far. The witch was a compelling writer.
She walked back to the desk she shared with Ginny and pulled out her wand. She waved her wand over the closed book, a faint glow emanating from within as she signed the book out into her custody.
"The first Wizarding War?" Ginny asked with a raised eyebrow.
"It's a passion project", Hermione responded curtly.
"Why?"
"I know some people who were involved, I was just interested in what happened".
"Oh, you don't know? My parents told us stories growing up".
"I was raised by muggles. I'm Muggleborn", Hermione waited for the inevitable wave of repulsion at the revelation.
"Fair enough. I can tell you the stories if you like?"
Hermione was hit, not for the first time, with the wonder of how this girl was related to Ronald and how pleased she was to be her friend.
"Yes, please. I would love that", she smiled eagerly.
"Okay, when the first war started my parents joined a group called the Order of the Phoenix. They said it was lead by Professor Dumbledore-"
"Dumbledore? But... he's so old!"
Ginny rolled her eyes.
"If you stop interrupting Hermione..."
Hermione nodded, a small smile gracing her features as a blush rose at being told off.
"He was their leader, at that time he was the only person this Voldemort feared so it made sense. My parents said that there was a lot of fear going around, lots of mysterious deaths - primarily of Muggleborns - and it was really dark times. My dad said that no matter what attack they tried, Voldemort was always one step ahead. Mum was pregnant with Ron towards the end of the war so she wasn't really out there seeing what what happening but Dad says the things he saw will haunt him until he dies. They lost a lot of friends, there was this one girl... Marlene I think her name was? They went to school with her, she was in Harry's dad year." Ginny looked to take a steadying breath.
"My dad was the one called out to her family home after she had been murdered. He said it was a death no one should have suffered but he wouldn't tell us anymore than that".
Hermione nodded her agreement.
"When did it end?" she asked quietly.
"Voldemort started to target Harry's mum and dad. Dumbledore hid them but there was really nothing anyone could do beyond that except pray to Merlin that they weren't found. Around that time, Draco's mum was pregnant, I'm not sure what happened on her side of things but she set a trap for her husband and Voldemort. Apparently she was working behind the scenes with Dumbledore for months, she hit Voldemort with an... Avada ..."
Ginny whispered, her eyes darting around for any one who may have been eavesdropping on them.
"Narcissa killed him?" Hermione tried to reconcile the doting mother she knew with the image of a woman capable of death. It was just so hard to picture.
Ginny nodded, "She ended the war, donated at least a quarter of the Malfoy wealth to the people who suffered as a result. She's just known as the Angel to everyone now".
Silence fell over the pair. Hermione had guessed that something bad had happened, Narcissa had admitted enough during the summer, but to hear more detail from Ginny... Hermione couldn't help but feel in awe of the woman who saved her.
Later, when the girls joined the boys for dinner, Hermione couldn't help but watch Draco. How much of his family history did he know? Was he more like his father or mother? She shook her head as if to erase the thoughts. Draco may be annoying, but he was clearly his mother's son.
She couldn't stop her mind from wondering where Theo came into it though. He spent all his time with Narcissa and Draco and was yet to mention any biological parents. Maybe one day, she would ask him.
Hermione tried to put the thoughts of the old war out of her mind. It was a long time ago, it would do her no good to let her curiosities bring up old scars. Maybe when she was older and had a more secure relationship with the adults that were now in her life, she might ask them questions. Until then, quiet, isolated research would have to do.
It was her love for her friends that lead to Hermione sitting in the cold, damp stands a few weeks later. Draco, Theo and Harry had not stopped talking about the Quidditch try-outs and when Theo batted his eyelashes and asked her to watch them, she couldn't say no.
The scarf and hat she was wearing did nothing to keep the bite out of the cold. Her nose was surely red by now. She was praying for a miracle to help her avoid hypothermia when the whistle sounded from below. Olive wood was directing the group of applicants. From what she could see, he was placing them into groups based on the positions they were trying out for. Draco and Theo went and stood to one side with three other students Hermione didn't know the names of, whilst Harry stood on the other side with only one other student.
The first whistle started and a group of students rose onto their brooms. With a wave of his wand, Wood summoned dummy players who flew quickly around the pitch. He then released the Bludgers.
Hermione assumed this was the try-out for the Beaters, based on the information she had gleamed from the boys. Two identical red-headed boys launched off from the ground. They whizzed around the pitch and skill that had Hermione gasping. They shot the Bludgers towards the dummy players with an accuracy that left no chance of the positions going to anyone else. Hermione watch for a few moments before turning her attention to the boys on the pitch. Draco and Harry were practically vibrating with excitement but Theo only seemed to be watching with mild amusement.
Wood blew the whistle again and the students came to a grinding halt. The other students who had tried out for Beaters were trying to hide their disappointment. Wood made a quick announcement that Fred and George Weasley were to be this year's Beaters and moved on to the next group.
Next up was the group Draco and Theo were a part of. Chasers, from what she heard Wood announce. These were to be the point scoring ones, Hermione was fairly certain. Draco and Theo's group contained three other girls from the older years. Hermione could recognise one as Angelina Johnson, but the others were unknown to her. She found herself cheering as Wood instructed the students to raise into the air. He released the Quaffles from the box and rose up on his own broom. From his heightened position, Hermione could clearly hear him.
"Right, whichever three of you who can successfully score a goal against me are on the team". He blew his whistle and the players started racing to catch the Quaffle.
One of the girls Hermione didn't know, got the ball first. She sped towards the goal posts and launched the ball through the taller of the hoops. Wood darted at a speed Hermione hadn't thought possible and swatted it away. The girl who took the shot made her way back to the ground. Hermione could hear a chorus of cheering and commiserations for her. Apparently her last name was Spinnet.
Theo got a Quaffle next, he moved forward at a more leisurely pace. He weaved from one direction to the next, Wood's eyes watching him like a hawk. He feigned a shot to the middle hoop and threw it to the tallest at the last minute. Wood knocked the ball away with the tips of his fingers. Theo looked towards Hermione with a wolfish grin and made his way back to the ground where Harry was waiting, offering the boy a friendly pat on the back.
Angelina didn't waste any time. She grabbed a ball and launched it through the bottom hoop with no effort exerted. Wood let out a shout.
"Yes! That's what we're looking for!" He directed Angelina back to the ground.
The other girl, Bell, was up next and she also managed to score. From what Hermione understood, both Bell and Angelina were on the team last year. Clearly their knowledge of how Wood flew worked in their favour.
Suddenly, Draco was the last to try out. If he couldn't score, the other two who had missed would come back up and try again until someone got the Quaffle through a hoop.
Draco caught on in his arms and shot forward on his broom. He weaved in and out through the stands, ignoring the confused look on Wood's face. When it looked like the Keeper had all but given up on guarding, Draco shot straight forward and launched the ball through the hoop.
He let out a scream of joy ad the ball flew past Woods head and into the top hoop. The Captain recovered quickly, a grin breaking out on his face as he flew up to congratulate Draco and welcomed him to the team.
The pair flew back towards the ground, it was the Seekers turn.
It amused Hermione to no end that her bespectacled friend wanted to try out for a position that depended on excellent vision. What if his glasses fell off and he couldn't see anything, let alone a tiny, flying, gold ball?
Harry mounted his broom regardless. It was just him and one other boy. Whoever caught the Snitch was their seeker. It was even darker now than when try-outs began that Hermione couldn't even see the glittering ball be released.
Harry sat very still on his broom while the other boy started circling. Hermione narrowed her eyes, what was he playing at? The minutes stretched on as Hermione leant forward on the edge of her seat.
Slowly, Harry began to rise up in a straight line. After what felt like an eternity, he launched himself into nosedive towards the ground. His hand was out-stretched. The other boy came hurtling towards him, Hermione was certain the other boy would get there before Harry. She held her breath as her friend suddenly pulled out of the nose dive and veered to the left. Before the other boy could realise what had happened, Harry had shot up into the air. His hand extended out and closed a fist around something. He looked triumphant and he turned and raised his hand to the stands, resting between his fingers - was the Golden Snitch.
Wood gave whistle to signify the end of the try-out. He announced to whoever was present that the Quidditch team for that year would be impossible to beat with their new Seeker Harry Potter. Theo bounced his shoulders between his two best friends good-naturedly.
Hermione raced down the stalls and on to the pitch. She launched herself into Harry's embrace, a smile splitting her cheeks. He retuned the hug tightly before releasing her. She turned from Harry to Draco and gave him an equally enthusiastic hug. The boy returned her attentions with a gentle pat to her back and she noticed a slight pink tint to his cheeks as she pulled away.
"Do losers still get hugs, Hermione?" Theo asked, still grinning.
"You're not a loser Theo", she responded pulling him into a hug.
"Good, between you and me, I didn't want to be on the team anyway. I'm not built for flying when it's wet or cold" he whispered in her ear as he squeezed the air out of her.
"I'm just glad it means I'll have company on the stands". Hermione gave him one last squeeze before releasing him.
No doubt, the boys would want to celebrate. Hopefully, it would be in the nice, warm common room... preferably in front of the fire.