One Last Try [HP Jamione fanfic]

17. Gorgeous

A/N: Oh god, it's been longer than I intended! So sorry.

I had a really rude and shitty comment on another of my fics the other day (which I deleted because I don't see the point in approving a rude criticising comment - dl:dr I say) so I really hope you guys like this chapter 3 I love every single one of you who leaves lovely comments and kudoses!

9th January 1975

The first week back at Hogwarts had been uneventful, filled with catching up with both friends and lessons. Lunch arrived surprisingly quickly that Thursday, her morning classes flew by. Hermione was the first of the Gryffindor fourth years at their table in the Great Hall, though she was quickly joined by Frank, Lily, and Dorcas. Alice was surprisingly nowhere to be seen.

Frank plopped onto the bench beside her. "You okay, 'Min?" Frank asked, pouring her and then himself some pumpkin juice, "You've been a little distracted today." He whispered, not wanting to draw everyone's attention.

"Oh." Hermione looked up from the book she was reading, "Yes, I'm fine. I've been thinking about OWLS, and how we should really start revising soon."

Frank chuckled, "We're not even in fifth year yet, 'Min."

She sighed, "I know. Doesn't mean we can't work hard, though!" She insisted, her fickle heart fluttering a little at Frank's wholehearted chuckle.

"Don't ever change," He said, still chuckling. He started loading his plate with some of the food on the table, and Hermione followed, scooping up some rice and a delicious smelling curry.

"Alright, Kitten?" Sirius suddenly asked. He and James dropped into the seats opposite next to Dorcas, as Remus sat on the other side of Lily on her right. She sent him a small smile, then glared at Sirius for the nickname she'd stopped bothering to ask him to stop using a long time ago.

"Fine, yes. What took you so long to get here from Herbology? We were all let out at the same time." She narrowed her eyes suspiciously at the three Marauders. They all just grinned cheekily and didn't respond. That was when she noticed Peter wasn't there, "Where's Peter?" She demanded, even more suspicious now.

Remus chuckled, "You're much too paranoid, Hermione." He said, shoving a chocolate muffin that he definitely should've been saving for pudding into his mouth whole.

Frank took pity on her, "I think Professor Sprout asked him and Alice to stay behind."

Hermione nodded, narrowing her eyes at the snickering and whispering James and Sirius. "I hate when they whisper." She said quietly. Lily narrowed her eyes at the duo and nodded her agreement, Remus burst out laughing, covering his mouth so muffin crumbs wouldn't spray everywhere.

"You hate when they do anything, love." He pointed out, his eyes crinkling with amusement.

"Too right," She snapped, though she didn't really mean it.

Lily was still scowling at the two silently, but she piped up, "They're the worst trouble makers." She snapped, meaning it when Hermione didn't.

They abruptly stopped talking then, sending identical looking glares at something behind Hermione, though Sirius' looked more amused than anything. Remus sent them a look, and he, Hermione, Lily, and Frank all swivelled around at the same time to see a boy she vaguely recognised, dressed in Hufflepuff robes, standing behind her.

"Um, hello?" She said questioningly when he said nothing, ignoring the glares she could now feel burning into her from the two dark haired Gryffindors.

The Hufflepuff, who was admittedly rather attractive, ran his hand through his hair, and with a sudden flash of recognition she realised this was Cedric's father! Amos Diggory. He looked a world better than he had last time she'd seen him in 1997.