It had been two months since the start of the school year, and Hogwarts was buzzing with excitement and rivalry. The fourth-year students in Ravenclaw were often praised for their exceptional intelligence, and one name always stood out above the rest—Siddarth. He had earned *Outstanding* marks in all his subjects since his first year, a feat that didn’t go unnoticed by the staff. Professors often praised him in front of the younger students, urging them to strive for the same level of excellence.
One such student, Hermione Granger, was growing increasingly frustrated with the constant comparisons. As bright as she was, Hermione was unaccustomed to anyone being academically superior, and the mention of Siddarth’s name gnawed at her. Sitting in the Gryffindor common room one evening, she voiced her frustration to Harry and Ron.
“It’s not fair,” Hermione said, pacing in front of the fireplace. “Every class, they keep bringing him up—‘be like Siddarth,’ ‘Siddarth’s top of the class.’ It’s exhausting! I study all the time, and I still can’t reach his level.”
Ron, who had been lounging on the sofa, looked up with a smirk. “Who cares about him? If you want, we can go have a word with this genius.”
Hermione frowned. “Ron, he’s a fourth-year. We’re not even allowed in the Ravenclaw common room.”
Harry, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, shot her a cocky grin. “Please, Hermione. I’m the Boy Who Lived. They’ll let us in.”
Hermione hesitated, but Ron, being as reckless as ever, jumped up. “Come on, Hermione. Let’s see what this Siddarth is all about.”
Against her better judgment, Hermione agreed, and the trio made their way toward the Ravenclaw common room. When they arrived, the enchanted eagle-shaped door knocker posed a riddle, as was tradition in Ravenclaw. To Hermione’s astonishment, it granted them access, likely recognizing Harry’s fame. Inside, they were greeted by the sight of Siddarth sitting with Adrian Malfoy, Cedric Diggory, and Kevin Ariston, the four of them laughing about something private.
Harry, who had been expecting some sort of grand intellectual, wasn’t pleased by what he saw. Instead of a serious, bookish student, Siddarth was relaxed, laughing with his friends. His face showed no signs of pressure or stress. And worse still—Harry’s eyes landed on Adrian Malfoy, Draco Malfoy’s older brother, sitting comfortably in Ravenclaw’s common room.
“What’s a Slytherin snake doing in Ravenclaw?” Harry spat, his voice sharp.
At the sound of Harry’s voice, Siddarth turned his head, his deep blue eyes locking onto the intruders. He recognized Harry and his friends immediately but showed no sign of deference.
"Mind your own business, Potter,” Siddarth said coolly, leaning back in his chair. “And I’d like to know how you got in here.”
Ron, ever the hothead, stepped forward, jabbing his finger in Siddarth’s direction. “We’re here because Hermione wants to talk to you. And you’d better show some respect. You’re talking to Harry Potter—the Boy Who Lived!”
Siddarth raised an eyebrow and smirked. “Oh, I see. The famous Boy Who Lived. As if I care.”
Harry’s temper flared at the remark. “You don’t give a heck that I’m Harry Potter?”
“Not in the slightest,” Siddarth replied, his tone biting. “Do you really think your name matters to me? You’ve done nothing to earn your fame, Potter. I’ve earned my place at this school, while all you’ve done is survive a curse.”
Ron, now furious, stepped in front of Harry. “You take that back! Harry’s a hero, you—”
Before Ron could finish, Siddarth stood up, his wand already drawn. In a flash, he muttered a spell under his breath, and Ron and Harry were sent flying backward, crashing into the wall outside the Ravenclaw common room. A stunned silence fell over the room as the other Ravenclaw students looked on in shock.
Hermione, who had stayed quiet through the whole exchange, stared at Siddarth. She had seen his name on the top of the academic lists, but this was her first time seeing him in person. And the moment she laid eyes on him, something in her froze. Siddarth was strikingly handsome, with sharp features and those piercing blue eyes. He exuded a quiet confidence that was undeniably magnetic. For a brief moment, Hermione forgot why she was there at all.
Siddarth’s gaze shifted to her. “And you? What do you want?”
Hermione blinked, pulling herself out of her daze. “I... I just wanted to ask about some of the subjects. I heard you’re the best student in Hogwarts, and I thought maybe... you could help me study?”
Siddarth sighed and gave her a faint smile, one that made her heart skip a beat. “I’m not your tutor, Granger. There are plenty of Gryffindor seniors who can help you. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have better things to do.”
Hermione, her face flushed, nodded and quickly left the common room. As she hurried down the corridor, her mind was spinning. She had come to confront Siddarth, but instead, she found herself drawn to him in a way she couldn’t explain.
Back in the Ravenclaw common room, Cedric turned to Siddarth, looking both amused and concerned. “You know that was Harry Potter, right? You just hit the Boy Who Lived with a spell.”
Siddarth shrugged, unconcerned. “I don’t care who he is. He came into our common room uninvited, insulted my friends, and acted like he owned the place. He needed to be put in his place.”
Adrian chuckled. “I’ve never seen anyone stand up to Potter like that. It’s about time someone did.”
Kevin, grinning, chimed in. “Honestly, why is he so full of himself? ‘The Boy Who Lived’—who cares? We’re all wizards here.”
Cedric, shaking his head, added, “Still, you know this could get you into trouble. You hit *Harry Potter*, Siddarth.”
Siddarth met Cedric’s gaze, his expression unbothered. “If there are consequences, I’ll deal with them. I’m not bowing down to anyone just because they have a famous name.”
As the group continued their conversation, laughing about Harry’s bruised ego, Siddarth’s thoughts briefly drifted back to Hermione. There was something about her—her fierce determination, her intelligence—that intrigued him. But for now, he brushed the thought aside. He had more important things to focus on than a couple of Gryffindors who couldn’t mind their own business.
