In Harry Potter as Neville Longbottom - Chapter 69: Hermione vs the saviour duo

The next day, the whole Hogwarts had the same atmosphere. Harry woke up in a cheerful and exciting mood. Getting the praise from seniors he barely knew to first-year students who looked at him with awe, he came to the breakfast table along with Ron with a big grin on his face.

The four long house tables were laden with dozens of plates of roast turkey and stuffing, cups filled with delicious orange juice, mountains of bread and eggs and bacon along with small servings of plum pudding beneath the enchanted ceiling (today, a bright, sunny blue).

Harry and Ron sat down at the Gryffindor table next to Hermione, who had her this year’s charm book propped up against the fruit basket.

The boy next to Ron wished them “Morning Ron, Harry” and the way he spoke reflected his exciting mood in sharing the breakfast table with the famous duo.

The news of Harry Potter and Ron Weasley coming to Hogwarts in the flying car has long been spread among the students and the appointment of a new DADA professor, Bill Weasley was also a hot topic.

However, Harry could notice one person who was not part of this happy and joyous atmosphere. Hermione Granger. He could notice the scowl on her face at the breakfast table.

“Ron, do you know what’s wrong with Hermione?” Harry whispered to Ron.

“No idea. Anyway, as long as she is not irritating me, I don’t want to chat with her too much.” Ron shrugged his shoulders and buried his face in the hot and delicious porridge.

Harry had no idea what irked Hermione, but he had no plans to ask her. He knew once he confronts Hermione, she will start her lecture on their behaviour.

He simply pretended not to see her expression and focused on the breakfast.

Some hundred owls came with the morning papers and packages bringing the news report of Harry and Ron’s adventure along with the pictures. It was amazing for some, reckless for some and for some simply more than enough to expel these two students but no one could do anything about it.

Ron and Harry were under Headmaster’s protection and were eating breakfast without any care. Professor Bill Weasley just looked at his youngest brother and was thinking if he hadn’t sent his letter to their mother, would she have sent a roaring letter today?

Suddenly Ron found an old owl who just fell on top of Hermione’s head and then bounced and fell straight into her milk jar spraying them with all the milk and feathers.

“Errol!” said Ron, pulling the almost dead tried owl out by his feet. Errol slumped, unconscious, onto the table, his legs in the air and a letter still tightly held in his beaks.

Ron forgot about the owl and ‘snatched’ the letter from his beak and started reading it.

“Poor Errol!” Hermione who directly used the only healing charm to remove fatigue in the last month picked him up gently in her palms.

Her wand gave a slight faint orange glow before Error could feel alive again. He then rubbed his head with Hermione’s face and then flew away.

Looking at Ron’s ignorant and slightly uncaring attitude towards their house pet, Hermione felt her anger rising. Hermione, who had read the whole news report twice to understand all details could not understand how her these two friends were so different from Neville’s group.

She worked so hard in writing a few books for the freshers that she almost collapsed during the holidays. Why did she do that? It was of course to guide the next generation of wizards and witches on the right path and educate them about wizarding society’s rules and its emphasis on secrecy.

She had boldly marked many times the caution of keeping the knowledge secret and highlighted the Ministry’s rules.

However, what was the result? The most famous and well-known student in the Wizarding World, Harry Potter along with his best friend, recklessly drove a magical car and was spotted by various muggles.

Plus, he never faced any punishment but was enjoying his breakfast and this has nothing to do with him.

Neville had warned her multiple times about the reckless nature of these two, but she still believed that Harry and Ron were not like that and even fought Neville on this topic.

Again, what was the result? On the first day of the second year, Neville’s words were proven correct, and these two boys were the most perfect example of the word flamboyant and attention seekers.

She regrets ever trusting these two friends she made in the past year. She decided if these two didn’t change their ways, she is going to ignore them and separate herself from their group.

Professor McGonagall was moving along the Gryffindor table, handing out course schedules. Hermione took hers and saw that they had double Herbology with the Hufflepuffs first. She left the breakfast table in hurry and caught up with Neville and others.

They crossed the small vegetable patch and headed directly towards the greenhouse where the classes of Herbology are generally held.

Harry at this moment was walking with Ron and found Hermione had disappeared in the crowd and could not help but feel slightly sorry for his earlier behaviour.

The class waited for a short time before Professor Sprout came striding into their view with a slight bandage on her left arm. Everyone could guess where she received these injuries as the Whomping Willow in distance was covered in similar bandages.

After she allowed the students to come inside the Greenhouse, students found different colours of ear muffs lying on the bench. The class was about a strange breed of plants that looked like an extremely ugly human baby with a voice fatal for anyone who hears it.

Neville and Hermione partnered together and worked on a plant while Hermione and Neville also competed for answering Professor’s questions winning more than 20 points for their house.

It was the first time anyone challenged Hermione like this and she loved competing with Neville. Professor Sprout always knew Neville had a very promising mind in the matters of magical plants and today he confirmed her suspicion.

Hermione enjoyed the company of Neville and laughed at the funny behaviour of Seamus and Dean. Somehow she felt this group was way better.