Chapter Text
Hope was bumping shoulders with Hermione as they made their way to their defense class. Neville was going on about the area Sprout had set aside for him to start his garden.
“We told you we would help you, Neville,” Hermione pointed out.
“Even if I have to get my hands dirty,” Hope added with a grin.
A bright flash caught Hope off guard, her hand covering her eyes.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you, I was just so excited to see you,” a voice said just in front of her.
Hope spotted the mousy brown-haired boy with a huge grin on his face.
“I’m Colin Creevey,” he introduced. “I think you’re wonderful, do you think I could get an autograph?”
Hermione and Neville try to cover their chuckles behind Hope, whose face was red.
“Uh...” Hope said blinking in surprise at the young Gryffindor.
“Dude, don’t be pushy,” Ginny’s voice caught her attention. “He’s Muggleborn, don’t mind his enthusiasm.”
“I’m sorry,” Colin said. “I was just so excited to meet her. You said she was awesome.”
Ginny smiled. “Yes, but you need to get to know her first.”
“Right, need to make friends first.”
“How about this, Colin, when is your birthday?” Hope asked.
“April 3rd,” Colin remarked.
“I’ll give you one signed picture, one. I don’t like fame but if you don’t sell it, I will give it to you. Since Ginny here seems to be vouching for you.”
Colin beamed. “Really? You promise? Why?”
“We all need heroes, even if I don’t feel like one. Do you promise?”
“I promise.”
“Got a fanclub already, Potter?” Malfoy drawled.
“Aw, are your feelings hurt Malfoy that everyone thinks you’re nothing?” Hope shot back.
“You’re not that amazing,” Malfoy snarked.
“She is though!” Colin jumped in. “Not only did she defeat a dark wizard, but she was also second in her class last year. Then, she helped create the self-defense and dueling clubs. Youngest Seeker in a century.”
“I tied with her.”
“And Hermione beat everyone, come on, we have to get to class,” Neville pointed out.
“See you two later,” Hope waved off Ginny and Colin.
Entering Lockhart’s classroom, Hope frowned at all the pictures of himself on the walls. Neville rolled his eyes at seeing the pictures.
“It looks awful,” Daphne whispered as she came to stand between Hermione and Hope. “He is so full of himself.”
“Does that surprise you?” Hope wondered.
“No. I saw Malfoy; his face was red. Know anything about that?”
“One of Hope’s new fans was gushing about her to Malfoy. He didn’t approve,” Hermione told her.
“Sounds about right. So, Granger, going to one up everyone this year?”
Hermione quirked an eyebrow.
“If anyone presented a challenge I might enjoy the year.”
Daphne laughed. “You can be my partner for the year. I hear you’re a little shoddy on the practical.”
Daphne pulled Hermione to a desk, the two having a heated argument. Hope took a seat, and she was surprised when Tracey sat next to her. Neville shrugged, joining Ron at his table.
“Hey, Chosen One, ready to see how useless the teacher is?” Tracey questioned.
“Is that what everyone is going to call me?” Hope groaned. Shaking her head as she pulled out the books that she had to get.
“Blame your fellow Gryffindors. They are the ones who spread the rumor. Although, I think it's only the girls in the school who use it.”
Hope made a face but shrugged, realizing she couldn’t fight it.
The class began with Lockhart going on about himself, which got a lot of eye rolls from the class. His quiz, fifty questions all about his achievements before he unleashed a hoard of Cornish Pixies on the class. Hermione, with her brilliant knowledge, was able to freeze them in midair, giving Daphne a smug smile when she did. The remaining students gathered up all the pixies, getting them back in their cage before taking off.
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As classes continue in slow fashion, Hope finds herself enjoying her morning runs again. It helps with the stress of classes and her healers still came by for her checkups and sessions. While her magic was officially at full capacity, Waters began cutting her checkups to every other month. Allard maintained once a week to help Hope adjust.
Hope was coming back from a run when she was spotted by Alicia.
“What’s up?” Hope asked as she approached the older girl.
“Oliver is calling an early morning practice. He apparently has new plans for the team,” Alicia shrugged, covering a yawn as she spoke.
“We did great last year,” Hope complained.
Alicia shrugged.
“Go get ready.”
Hope nodded, heading off to get changed and grab her broom. She bumped into Colin, who had a groggy Ginny with him.
“He wants to learn about Quidditch, told him I’d teach him,” Ginny explained.
“You’ll love it,” Hope promised. “You need to watch what we do and when we have our extra practices, you can use my broom to train with them.”
Ginny smiled, nodding her head.
Oliver spent far too much time explaining his new plans for this year. Talking about how they would come after them after last year. Hope was practically falling asleep against Katie, who was nodding off.
Finally, they made it out to the pitch, working through Oliver’s new plans. Thanks to Ginny and Hermione, Colin was limited to taking only a few pictures of Hope while she practiced. Neville was content to watch them practice.
Halfway through practice, the Slytherin team showed up, which made Oliver’s eye twitch. The team landed, making sure that Oliver didn’t swing on Flint.
“We reserved the pitch,” Oliver told Flint.
“We got permission from Professor Snape to train our new Seeker,” Flint responded.
“Take it up with Madam Hooch,” Oliver shot back.
“We have permission.”
“Take it up with her,” Oliver called as he all but shoved his team back towards the pitch.
“Not so fast, Wood,” Flint shouted after them.
“In the air guys, we still have an hour of practice.”
They nodded, heading back to practice while the Slytherin team fumed on the ground.
“Nicely done,” George told their captain.
“They just want to get under our skin,” Oliver shrugged.
Once their time was finished, the team, still ignoring the Slytherins, went to get changed. Ginny was practically jumping on Angelina and Alicia when they exited the changing room. Katie dragged Hope into the conversation as Angelina explained what they taught Hope and why they did. The four of them exchange tips about flying and playing.
After breakfast, Neville was dragging Hermione and Hope out to the new plot for his garden. He was bouncing and his excitement was contagious. The three enjoyed their afternoon digging in the ground, laughing and chatting as they did. Sprout was nice enough to bring them lunch, giving them pointers on their work while they ate. Their day ended just before dinner, where they were chatting happily about their day.
“Ew, no, not on my uniform,” Lavender complained when Hope sat next to her. “What did you do? Why are you covered in dirt?”
“Helping Neville with his garden,” Hermione told her with a grin. She wiggled her dirty nails at Parvati who looked green.
“Don’t look so upset,” Neville teased. “These new ones are going to help you two.”
Lavender and Parvati stole Neville’s attention about the new plants.
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Hermione was groaning, grabbing at her hair.
“What’s wrong?” Hope asked in a quiet voice as she looked up from her papers.
“My head hurts,” Hermione complained.
“Well, I don’t think grabbing at your hair is going to help.”
Hermione glared at Hope, who was smiling.
“Come on, let’s go relax in the common room.”
“What about the feast?”
“We missed last year, what makes this year any different?” Hope questioned as she began picking up their books.
Grumbling, Hermione followed Hope back to the common room. She face planted into the couch when she got there. A few students who say were snickering. Hope took their things to their room before sitting on the floor in front of the couch. She had some letters to write.
“What’s wrong with her?” Neville asked.
“Headache,” Hope responded.
“I’ll bring you back some food.”
“Thanks, Nev.”
Hermione was asleep and Hope took the quiet time to go over what had been sent to her since she left.
Andy had admitted that she’d hugged Narcissa on the platform but hadn’t said anything to her. She still didn’t understand why Hope liked her so much but was willing to give her sister a chance. Dora sent letters about her training and how it was progressing. Some funny mentions of workplace disasters. Ted was sending her reminders of the chess tournaments that were coming up for her to go to. Remus was letting her know that thanks to Ted and Andy, he was able to get a decent place to live with a somewhat steady job and income. He also sent along some stories about his childhood.
Hope was humming as she wrote each letter. Neville returned with three plates, shaking his head.
“We seem to make this a habit,” Neville pointed out as he took his seat. Hope was quick to grab a plate, making sure one was kept warm for Hermione when she woke up later.
“She is already stressing and it’s October,” Hope pointed out.
“Why is she stressing? It’s not like she doesn’t have the highest marks.”
“Not sure, I’ll talk to her later about it.”
As they ate, Neville asked about her letters home. Hermione didn’t wake up until the other students returned.
“Look at you, what are you stressing about?” Lavender asked while she poked Hermione’s shoulder.
Hermione swatted at Lavender’s finger, trying to ignore everyone.
“What’s got everyone keyed up?” Neville questioned.
“Oh, right, you guys seem to miss all the fun. Mrs. Norris was petrified, and someone wrote on the wall in blood saying, ‘The chamber of secrets has been opened. Enemies of the Heir Beware.’”
“That’s not ominous,” Hope remarked as she nibbled on a roll. Tilting her head as she thought about it. “Sounds like someone is out to hurt people.”
“Petrified? An odd thing to happen to a cat,” Neville added with a shrug.
“Mr. Filch is up in arms about it,” Parvati told them. “Thankfully, Professor Sprout has Mandrakes and they’ll be old enough later in the year.”
Neville frowned. “Why wait all year? You can get what you need through ordering it by owl.”
Hope dropped her head in her hands, groaning.
It took a second before Lavender was throwing her hands up and Parvati was shaking her head.
“Not again,” Neville grumbled.
“Malfoy said something about Muggleborns, I’m assuming there is some history about this Chamber of Secrets that the Slytherin know about,” Lavender remarked.
“I’ll ask Daphne when I see her next,” Hope added.
“What’s wrong now?” Grumbled Hermione as she pushed herself into a sitting position. Lavender handed her the plate for her which she accepted with a nod.
“Chamber of Secrets opened. Something to do with Slytherin. Need Mandrakes to mature to make potion to unpetrify Mrs. Norris,” Lavender explained.
“Why not just order it?”
“That’s what I said,” Neville pointed out.
Hermione’s hand froze as she looked at Hope. Blinking, her mind seemed to process what was said. Hermione groaned.
“Not again,” Hermione huffed.
“Right,” the others said together.
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“Hey Chosen One,” Daphne greeted.
“Ice Queen,” Hope responded.
“Whatcha want from me?”
“Answers.”
“What are you going to give me?”
“A not bloody face?” Hope replied.
Daphne snorted.
“It was said that, like forever ago, Salazar Slytherin got into it with the three other founders. Something about only keeping Purebloods in the school and not wanting to accept Muggleborns. This led to a huge fight with the other founders and Salazar dipped. He made some threat about hiding a monster in the school that only his heir could control the monster. Some like, fifty years ago, the chamber was supposedly opened, and a student died.”
“It’s someone from Slytherin?”
“Not likely,” Daphne replied. “Look, I get we get a bad rap but why wait until your second year? Makes no sense. You could’ve been overwhelmed with a shitty hand your first year would have worked out in their favor if you were split thin. I’ve looked over the new crowd of Slytherins, no one seems likely but eh, you never know.”
“Fair point,” Hope responded. “No one knows what kind of monster it is?”
“Nope, which to be fair, isn’t a surprise. I’ll keep an ear out on the others in case someone notices something.”
“I appreciate the information. Sounds like another fun year for me.”
“Aw, is fame getting to be too much for you?” Daphne teased, shoving her shoulder.
“Not fame, this whole ‘let's see if we can kill Hope’ vibe is a little annoying. But sure, let’s condense it down to fame. Seems about right.”
“Just think, you get a chance to hurt Malfoy in your Quidditch match.”
“Oh, right, little bastard got them all new brooms.”
“You could fly circles around him. Wait until he goes against Cho, who is almost as fast as you.”
“She did give me a nice match last year. Diggory isn’t half bad either, a bit bigger than most Seekers but skilled regardless.”
“See, nothing to worry about,” Daphne told her.