The mortifying ordeal of falling in love with your entire secret study group

8th year: Hermione

The next morning, Hermione lay in bed as she waited for her brain to wake up properly. She would have considered herself a morning person, but somehow she and Kellah, the only other Gryffindor, were the only ones still in bed.

Daphne exited the bathroom wearing a Muggle pant suit.

Hermione's brain short-circuited.

It was a simple grey chequered, tailored suit, her green and silver Slytherin tie a drop of colour. Hermione swallowed. Okay, then. She watched Daphne slip on her Hogwarts uniform cape.

"Morning, Hermione," Daphne smiled.

Hermione made a strangled noise, that might have been a reply.

"Would you mind if I go down to breakfast first?" Daphne picked up her school bag, remembered that they didn't have their time tables yet, and put it back on her bed. "I can wait, if you'd like to go together."

"Um," Hermione swallowed. "No, it's fine. You go ahead."

Was Daphne's suit even allowed? Hermione had never worn anything except the standard school uniform, at least in class. But then, Daphne was over seventeen, a returning eighth year, ex head girl and ex Death Eater – who was going to tell her what to wear? Hermione would like to thank her for wearing that suit.

By the time Hermione was fully dressed ready to go to breakfast, she was the last one in her dorm. But she was still about one second earlier than Harry and Ron, who came down their staircase with crooked ties and rumpled shirts. She rolled her eyes.

"Morning, Harry, Ron," she slung her arms around their shoulders and they left through the enchanted tapestry masquerading as their door.

"Bloody hell," Ron waved his hand around. "I think I have regrets. Do you think McGonagall will be mad if I ask to just take the exams now? I'd fail, sure, but I wouldn't have to wake up this early anymore."

"You giant baby," Harry sighed. "Let's just have one normal year. No dark lords, under no circumstances. I refuse."

"Don't jinx it," Hermione said mildly. They neared the Great Hall, the noise of hundreds of students on their first morning almost deafening. The last weeks of August had been so calm. "Do you reckon it would be fun if I eat with the Slytherins?" The question was out before she could rethink it.

Ron snorted.

"Uh – sure?" Harry shrugged. "We technically share a dorm now. And like, house unity and stuff."

"And stuff," Ron nodded. "It'll be entertaining for sure. But I don't know if I trust these snake friends of yours."

"Don't worry about that," Hermione waved him off. It had taken Ron a little convincing to believe that Hermione had been in a Slytherin study group since third year, but he'd come around. Harry had believed her easier, in the way that they often just understood each other. They came around, but hadn't yet met with the Slytherins. Like Hermione, their summer had been full of official or Weasley obligations. Harry's breakup with Ginny had hit him hard, but they were better off as friends.

"I bet Malfoy will explode," Ron said conspiratorially.

"You're on," Harry replied and they exchanged high fives just as the trio walked into the Great Hall.

With a wave to the Gryffindor table, Hermione skipped over to Slytherin.

Blaise saw her first. Daphne and Theo sat with their backs toward her, but they turned around after Blaise said something. Between Daphne and Theo was just enough space for her to squeeze into. Hermione smiled.