Insight | Hermione Jean Granger x Fem!OC

Chapter Four: Mudbloods and Bowtruckles

Maxine hasn't stopped thinking about the visions, they really do arrive at the most random times, making it nearly impossible to predict when they would happen. Hermione wouldn't stop asking her what's wrong. There is no way she would tell Hermione, because even Maxine finds it hard to believe. Most visions are hard to understand and it was difficult to tell how significant they actually were; like the Cornish pixies. Regardless of how important they were, the pain was always there.

Hermione had woken up Maxine to get breakfast. Ron had told them that he found Harry's note about Wood's new Quidditch practice schedule.

Once they arrived at the Great Hall, they grabbed some toast and began walking towards the Quidditch stands and sat down.

Maxine was halfway through her toast when she noticed Hermione staring at her. She paused, and turned to the bushy-haired girl confused. "Is there something on my face?" she asked, wiping her mouth self-consciously.

"No, it's not that. I was just wondering... how did you know they were pixies?"

Maxine blinked. "What are you talking about?"

"In Defense with Professor Lockhart," Hermione pressed. "You said 'Cornish Pixies' right as Lockhart showed us the cage."

Maxine tried to shrug it off. "Oh, that? Just a guess... Hey, look, it's Harry." she said, hoping to change the subject as she spotted Harry approaching them.

"Aren't you finished yet?" said Ron.

"Haven't even started," said Harry, looking jealously at the toast and marmalade they had brought out of the Great Hall. "Wood's been teaching us new moves."

Maxine tore her toast in half and handed it to Harry. "Here, have some."

"Thanks," Harry said, taking it gratefully. He ate it quickly before mounting his broom and kicking off the ground, soaring into the sky.

Hermione turned back to Maxine. "So, are you going to tell me how you knew? It wasn't just a guess, was it?"

Ron glanced between them, frowning. "Knew what?"

"Maxine knew exactly what was in Lockhart's cage before he even opened it," Hermione explained.

"It really was just a guess," Maxine insisted, though her voice wavered slightly. "I mean, wouldn't I have told you both if I'd known for sure?"

Ron raised an eyebrow. "You've got to admit, it was spot on. I'd never have guessed that right."

Maxine's guilt gnawed at her. She didn't want to keep secrets from her friends, but she thought it was better to stay quiet until she had more answers. She sighed, "Look, if there was anything to tell, you'd be the first to know, okay?" She said, trying to reassure them.

Hermione sighed, she knew Maxine was hiding something again, but decided not to press for any more answers. "Alright, but you'd better not be keeping anything dangerous from us."

Maxine gave a weak smile. "If there's anything important, I won't keep it to myself." She looked down and saw several people in green robes were walking onto the field, broomsticks in their hands.

"Oh, no." Maxine said as she nudged the others.

Maxine, Ron, and Hermione went down to the pitch and were crossing the grass to see what was going on.

"What's happening?" Ron asked Harry. "Why aren't you playing? And what's he doing here?"

He was looking at Malfoy, taking in his Slytherin Quidditch robes.

"I'm the new Slytherin Seeker, Weasley," said Malfoy, smugly. "Everyone's just been admiring the brooms my father's bought our team."

Ron gaped, openmouthed, at the seven superb broomsticks in front of him.