The red and gold Snake.

Chapter 6: Gilderoy Lockhart

The next morning the Slytherins could enjoy quite a show. When Harry, Theo and Blaise entered the great hall, Hermione had already been sitting at the Gryffindor table and gave them a small wave before she looked back at her book.

"She's not reading one of Lockhart's books, right?" Blaise grumbled.

"She hasn't read anything else after we came back from Diagon Alley... except for the fairy tales I guess." Theo muttered.

"I don't get it. I read one passage because she seemed to like it so much, but it was only about Lockhart." Blaise muttered, sitting down and pouring himself some tea.

"You read the book because Hermione liked it?" Harry pulled up a brow at the Italian.

"No, I didn't." He replied dryly. "I read it because I was curious when I saw she liked it."

"So, you've read it because of Hermione." Theo said smirking. He took some cereals and poured milk all over it, ignoring the glare Blaise gave him.

Harry let his eyes slide over the Great Hall and three boys caught his eyes.

"Look... Weasley did arrive at last." He muttered, getting the attention of his two friends.

"Just in time for the mail." Theo said, looking at the owls that arrived. To Harry's surprise Hedwig was among them and landed on Blaise shoulder. The boy pulled up a brow but gave the owl something to eat.

"I think she missed you because there's no mail with her." He took a bite from his toast before giving the owl another piece of bread.

"Or she missed you." Harry said dryly, piling some scrambled eggs and bacon on his plate as he tried not to feel too betrayed by his owl. "She is sitting on your shoulder."

A roar of sound filled the Great Hall and all heads turned around towards the Gryffindor-table. While all the others tried to decide where the sound came from Harry and his friends knew that only one person could have done something very stupid, and that was Weasley. Hearing Mrs. Weasley yell through the whole hall made even Harry scrunch his nose a bit. She was terrifying.

"AND IGNORING A NICE GESTURE FROM THOSE NICE BOYS BECAUSE THEY ARE SLYTHERINS!!!! I DIDN'T RAISE YOU TO BE SO NASTY!!! IF YOU PUT ONE MORE TOE OUT OF LINE YOUR FATHER AND I WILL DRAG YOU BACK HOME!!!"

"I guess his mother wasn't very fond of him stealing the car and driving over here." Blaise sniggered.

"Oh, but he didn't drive here." Hermione had walked over to the Slytherin table, her timetable in her hand. "Apparently he flew over here with his dad's Ford Angelica and crashed into the Whomping Willow."

"Of all trees he could crash into, he chose the only one that could hit back." Theo chuckled.

"Miss Granger, aren't you supposed to be getting your timetable at your own table?" Snape had appeared behind the girl without any of them noticing.

"Oh, she's welcome at our table, professor." Daphne Greengrass, who had been sitting next to Blaise answered. "She's telling us a wonderful story."

"Oh really?" Snape asked, pulling up a brow. "It seems you made yourself beloved in my house, miss Granger." He handed Harry, Blaise and Theo their timetables and walked over towards Malfoy and his gang.

"So, what's your first lesson?" Hermione asked after giving Daphne a small smile. The girl gave her a smile back and her answer.

"History of magic with the Ravenclaws." She answered. "That and Herbology are the only things we haven't together with you guys."

"Yeah... we have those with Hufflepuff." Hermione muttered, looking over Theo's shoulder.

"Maybe you can help me with transfigurations sometimes." Daphne said with a bright smile. Hermione looked up at her, surprised. "I'm not that good, D.A.D.A. is more my subject." She said amused.