Ch54. Meeting in the library

Dora, Hadrian, and Susan sat in the library, in their corner, studying. Dora was reading some NEWT level potion book while

Susan was holding her head above DADA as that was her weak point, she thought. She often complained to Hadrian she doesn't like how Professor Quirrell stutters since she doesn't understand a word from him. He advised her to learn by herself from books and she looked at him as if he grew a second head but after actually trying it, she was really liking it. Especially since Hadrian was right next to her if she needed help and Dora would always give her advice when she found herself really stumped.

Susan felt very fortunate for befriending Hadrian and Dora.

Hadrian was coursing through the theory of Transfiguration for the fifth year. It was mid-October and during the last month, he already went through the books for every year. He found out he needed someone to demonstrate to him the process if he wanted to recreate it wandlessly since his theory knowledge was quite lacking. It was Dora who volunteered herself, albeit reluctantly with a pout the size of Hogwarts, to show him the transfiguration since she was natural in it due to being Metamorph.

Hadrian found it such a pity Dora's complete dismissal of the field. He knew she had some unresolved issues and conflicting feelings about the field. She was picked on a lot due to being Metamorphmagus, after all.

Dora found the field useful but didn't deem it important enough to practice since it always came naturally to her and she was able to get by the subject with apparent ease on her natural talent. Hadrian long stopped pestering her about getting better at the theory and practicing more in Transfiguration. She was good, but a person can go only so far when relying purely on talent. And Dora reached her bottleneck long ago. Not that she particularly cared.

Through his perception, Hadrian recreated the transfiguration exercises for students after Dora gave him a demonstration and he was now able to perform animate to inanimate and vice versa transfigurations. He then wrote down his findings and differences about the reaction of his magic during said exercises and compared them to the course books theory. By now he had a notebook full of what he deemed 'bullshit' and another of what he thought was true.

As he was working on his understanding of Transfiguration, he occasionally peeked at Susan. The girl might have looked completely out of her depth for strangers. It was almost cute how depressingly she was clutching her head while pouting, looking as if she studied hard her most hated subject and still understood nothing. The book for the second year DADA in front of her was telling a different story though. Especially if Hadrian took into consideration that Susan, after seeing the speed he rushed through the books got really motivated and also started studying hard her favorite subject, Charms. She was, after the month of their evening library meetings at the start of the fourth year book as Dora complained at her speed.

As the group studied suddenly, a small figure bolted from behind the shelf, only to freeze in shock as she saw the table in the corner occupied. Hadrian lifted his head and saw a small bushy haired shy mouse-like girl watching them with an unsure eyes.

"Hello, want to join us?" He smiled in invitation at the girl and for a second thought she would run away.

Hermione didn't expect to be invited to a study group of her classmates. After a month and half at Hogwarts, she was of the notion everybody found her annoying. But she just could not help herself! So much knowledge! So much to learn! How come nobody wanted to listen to her explanations! She knew better! She had read it!

So when the invitation came, she wanted to run for it. But she soldiered on and with an unsure step, took the last remaining seat behind their table.

She recognized some of them. Harry Potter, the boy-who-should-have-been-a-Gryffindor, and Susan Bones, the no-so-chubby-anymore-redhead. It was rumored she started exercising with Harry and since then her chubby cheeks flattened and became firmer, showing her high-cheekbones and previously unseen aristocratic features. Her small round figure also became slender quickly since magic helped her to burn the unnecessary fat and her clothes now hung on her, much to the girl's embarrassment.

Hermione also noticed Susan's developing bust and thought that boys would really like her when they grow up. She had read that the boys liked bigger breasts more! That's why she always drank milk before going to bed! But the most prominent change in Susan during the last month was her eyes. She was still uncomfortable around others and quite shy but when she was next to Harry, she was almost fearless, glaring at Malfoy or Ron every time they came to bother them, clutching her wand protectively. Hermione found it scary.

Hermione didn't know the last woman sitting behind the table. She obviously remembered seeing her sitting most of the time next to Harry at the Hufflepuff table but never got to know her name.

Dora seeing the inquisitive gaze aimed at her, smiled as she introduced herself.

"Wotcher, I am Dora Tonks. Nice to meet you!" She gave the girl a cheerful wave.

"Hermione Granger." Hermion unsurely presented her name but then gathered her courage and slipped into her bossy mode. "Pleasure."

"Harry Potter." Hadrian chuckled.

"Susan Bones." Susan quipped, not raising her head from the book.

She did not like the bushy haired rabbit. If only because the girl always angrily glared at Harry when he always finished first in Transfiguration lessons and then started helping Susan.

At first, Susan was uncomfortable with the glares but after she spent time with Harry, she just found them increasingly annoying. Which might or might not have turned to dislike over the course of time.

"So, what are you studying!?" Hermione quickly forgot the awkward introduction of Susan as she saw the advanced books on the table.

"Ah... we are..." Hadrian blinked as he just now realized the state of their table. "well, we are studying some easy spells ahead." He then politely lied.

Hermione started bobbing her head in understanding.

"Yes! I also studied some spells ahead! Look!" She then whipped her wand out and proceeded to transfigure an empty cup into a book in thirty seconds. Something that was at the end of the curriculum for first years.

Hermione smugly swept her gaze through the people in front of her and found herself baffled at their nonplussed expressions showing no praise or recognition. It was then she remembered Harry Potter always took the first place from her in Transfiguration and her eyes sparkled. While she found it annoying being a second in academics, maybe she could improve herself and overcome him if she was tutored by him!

Hadrian suddenly felt chills run through his spine and a sudden pang of regret at inviting the little bushy-haired munchkin impacted his feeble heart.

Hermione sat down and peered over to the book under Susan's head.

"What are you reading?"

Susan scowled at her in irritation due to that but Hermione didn't even notice her reaction as she saw the fourth year book on DADA.

"MY GOSH! You read the book for fourth year students!" The sparkling of her eyes intensified and Hadrian discreetly dragged the fifth year Transfiguration book in front of him, under the table, out of Hermione's view.

Dora noticed, utterly bemused at their antics as Susan gave Hadrian a stink eye which he promptly returned with a kind eye-smile.

"You should totally tell Professor Quirrell!" Hermione gushed at Susan. "He could help you further!"

"No." Susan answered with a deadpan voice, still intently staring at Hadrian for inviting the girl over.

"But... but he is a teacher! He could give you more advanced books!" Hermione replied, affronted at the dismissal.

"No." Susan repeated in the exact same disinterested tone.

"Then, then, if you do not like Quirrell we could ask Professor McGonagall! She could tell the Headmaster! I am sure he could give you a few tips! He is the Headmaster, after all!"

"NO!" Both Hadrian and Susan shrieked. Susan more angrily at being pestered while Hadrian somewhat hastily at the notion of Dumbledore being involved in anything related to him or his friends.

Hermione blanched at their refusal to tell the teachers and looked sadly downwards.

"Look Hermione, was it? Susan's Aunt is the head of DMLE. Susan has to study ahead and has tutors during summer holidays. No need to tell the Professors, kay?" Hadrian used his bullshit skill full throttle at the sad confused bookworm to confuse her further and bullshit his way out by comforting her feelings.

Hermione nodded, somewhat cowed, and the air became quickly awkward.

"Hey, don't be such a bore, guys. Wanna learn more about potions?" Dora, the ever savior, waved a NEWT potions books around, emphasizing her 'wisdom', bringing a smile to Hermione's face as Hadrian sighed in relief and Susan shuffled closer to him, still glancing mistrustfully at Hermione with the corner of her eye.