A Taste of Magic

Chapter 92: 92nd Course - Forward Momentum

"Someone looks happy," Hermione commented.

"I'm very happy!" Lavender held up her essay. "I got an Exceeds Expectations on my Potions essay!"

"That's great!" Hermione smiled. "Good work!"

"Thanks! I can't believe it! All that tutoring and reviewing has really paid off. I used to only do Acceptable on Potions things too without Harry's help."

"We can keep things up and do well on O.W.L.s," Hermione said. She sighed at Lavender's doleful look. "With plenty of breaks, yes."

Lavender giggled. "I know it's important to stay on top of things."

"I guess I've learned the merits of relaxing here and there," Hermione conceded with a smile.

"Finally," Parvati said, sitting down beside them. "It only took you five years. Or has it only been one and it's Tracey's influence?" She gasped and looked at Lavender while Hermione narrowed her eyes. "Lav! We've been friends and trying to influence Hermione for years and she's ignored us, only to succumb to her girlfriend of less than one!"

Lavender giggled harder. "To be fair, I'm sure Tracey has other ways to influence Hermione that we don't."

"They only hold hands apparently with no confirmation of if they do anything else," Parvati said cheekily.

Lavender's smile grew as Hermione's glower intensified. "Have you asked Tracey?"

"Oh say, that's an idea-"

"Don't you dare!" Hermione shouted. She flushed bright red when people in the common room turned to stare at her outburst and Lavender and Parvati shrieked with laughter. "You two are awful!"

"Sorry!" Lavender laughed, hugging Hermione. "We're just being girlfriends and teasing you because you have a girlfriend."

"Don't tell me you can do it too?" Hermione groaned. "Make perfectly normal and innocent things sound so dirty."

"It only sounds dirty because you think it's dirty," Parvati said airily. "A mark of a dirty mind." She glared as Hermione's orange magical hand clamped over her mouth meeting Hermione's equally intense glare.

"We get a lot of uses out of that spell," Lavender smiled. "And muzzling Parvati is a very good use for it."

"This is turning into a regular thing," Harry remarked, walking over and seeing Parvati fuming silently while gesturing emphatically with her crimson magical hand. "Isn't there a thing about prefects not supposed to be using magic on others?"

"You're right," Hermione grumbled and canceled the charm.

"Thanks Harry!" Parvati beamed. She exchanged glares with Hermione. "I should talk to someone about you abusing your prefect powers!"

"Go on then!" Hermione said.

"Harry! Hermione's abusing me with her prefect powers!" Parvati said.

"No! Really?" Harry gasped. "Did she have a good reason to?"

"I don't think so!" Parvati cried.