MORALITY ( HARRY POTTER )

SIX.

Hermione Granger was currently sat in the Hogwarts library, head bent over books as she intensely studied and wrote down notes. Her bushy brown hair was larger than usual and when someone walked by, that was all they would see along with piles of books stacked taller than them. Her footlong parchment was also completed filled with ink and having not brought any more, Hermione had resorted to writing things in the corners and in any empty space she could find. The girl was attempting to use her wits by aiding out her friend as she looked at past Triwizard Tournaments and what their tasks had been. She wanted to see if she could connect the dots enough and figure out at least one task to help out Harry. However, it wasn't looking too good so far.

The Gryffindor girl sighed, leaning back in her chair as she took a little break. She winced at the pain in her neck and rose a hand to try and massage out the kink that now resided there. As she did so, the new, mysterious student, Eridanus Lestrange came to mind. Hermione remembered how gutted the boy appeared to be when Harry had been announced as champion. Of course, Hermione had felt a sinking feeling in her gut as her friend was sent off to his death, but for Eridanus it didn't make sense why he would be upset - he didn't even know Harry. Ron hadn't even seemed that saddened, more so upset that Harry hadn't told him of his plan to enter and that he would once again be in the spotlight. Hermione knew, however, that Harry had not been put into the tournament willingly and she was desperate to find out why.

But back to the topic of Eridanus, it especially didn't make sense as his cousin was Draco Malfoy whom was the exact opposite of Harry's biggest fan. Hermione made a mental note to corner Eridanus later with perhaps Ron on her side (even if he was mad at Harry, that didn't cancel out his curiosity of the Lestrange boy). The girl nodded to herself in affirmation before she was going back to her furious studying, the kink in her neck still prominently painful.

Unbeknownst to her, Eridanus Lestrange was already searching for Hermione as he knew the girl would attempt talk to him sooner or later and he'd rather make it sooner than later so he could get it out of the way. After a little probing at Draco as well as his own observations, Eridanus had figured out that Hermione spent most of her time studying in the library, therefore that is where he went first. Not even being in the library for more than a minute, Eridanus quickly spotted Hermione's bushy haired head bent over some books in a corner in the library and immediately headed over there.

Some students glanced at him curiously as he passed, still weary on the Lestrange boy. Eridanus himself made sure to stay far away from others, especially when at risk of accidentally touching them. It was a vast difference being in Hogwarts with many students opposed to having grown up in a large manor with very few residents residing there. The boy would get used to the crowd eventually, it was simply taking him time to adjust.

Hermione had been so caught up in her research that she hadn't even noticed when Eridanus sat down across from her until he spoke. “You don't think that they'll recycle ideas, do you?” He said snarkily, startling Hermione who nearly jumped in fright, looking at him with wide brown eyes.

“P-Pardon?” She stuttered out, confused as to not only what Eridanus was referring to but also what he was doing sat in front of Hermione. She had noticed how the boy usually liked to sit alone when not with Draco, and also how he seemed to avoid communicating with others as much as possible.

Eridanus raised his left brow, stiffly crossing his right leg over his left one before leaning back in the chair. He didn't appreciate how Hermione was acting stupid even though she was the brightest witch of their age. “The task makers wouldn't recycle ideas or make any vaguely similar.”

Hermione chewed on her lip nervously as admittedly that thought had not crossed her mind. “Of course they wouldn't.”

Eridanus looked pointedly at the book that Hermione had been reading, the girl glaring at him in return. She quickly snapped her book shut; a loud clap echoing around the library causing some students to look over at them in annoyance. Hermione blushed, shying away from the stares whereas Eridanus simply paid them no mind. Since arriving at Hogwarts he had been used to having many eyes on him as they observed the new student. Once recovered and the other students had lost interest and looked away, Hermione snapped at the Lestrange boy, “It's none of your business.”