Blank Sheet

Dumbledore's Army

After an afternoon of Medea hiding from Blaise in the library, Hermione turned up next to her. That in itself was as common as breathing, considering it was the library. Something was off about Hermione, though. She put down more school books than Medea had classes and spread them over the table, but she played with her quill, stared into the air and did anything but write her essay.

After a while, Hermione joined Medea at her table, bringing the parchment and a few books. While they sat in silence, Medea had the impression Hermione was hiding behind the staple of books and hoped she did nothing wrong. After an hour, in which Medea had finished a sloppy essay for History of Magic, Hermione had added only a few sentences to hers.

Hermione bit her lower lip and furled her eyebrows, often browsing through books without seeming to read. Medea soon wondered what was going on, knowing Hermione only as the girl who would turn in an assignment three days before due date and still twice as elaborate as any teacher could have asked for.

A boy walked by and eyed the two, and Medea noticed that Hermione was now bobbin up and down. Really curious, Medea stopped working and tried to portray a girl who had nothing better to do than listen to a friend's problems. It seemed to work, because Hermione put down her peacock feather quill and scanned the surroundings. Hermione leaned in and opened her mouth, suddenly flinching and letting out a noise of surprise. Blaise came from behind the bookshelves.

"Hey ladies!" he yelled cockily. Madam Pince reacted instantly, directing a hissing noise at him. Blaise only turned, flashed his gorgeous smile at her and didn't bother any further. The librarian let him alone and turned to hush other students, and Hermione's glare darkened.

"Gorgeous, can I copy from your essay? I've really had no time at all to do mine," he sat down at the girl's table, his best puppy's eyes focused on Medea. Hermione made a gagging noise and Medea saw her disgusted face when she glanced at her.

"Oh come on, Zabini! You've spent the whole day with your friends, making fun of the Hufflepuff first years," Hermione said, glaring. She moved away from him and put her books between them.

"It's not his fault, he's just had fun. Of course, you can have my essay," Medea said, her lips played by a broad smile. Hermione looked at them with disbelief. She glanced from Blaise to the essay, to Medea and back to Blaise again.

Hermione wrest the essay from Blaise, who was getting up to leave, and pressed the parchment to her chest.

"Do your homework yourself and don't exploit your girlfriend for it!" She said the word girlfriend as if it were a swear word and ignored Madam Pince's hushing. "Leave!"

Blaise looked startled and attempted to answer, but Hermione's warning expression browbeat him. Meanwhile, Medea was just as startled as Blaise, but she didn't know whether to like or to dislike Hermione's actions.

After Blaise had left the library, the two girls fell silent for a bit, both not knowing what to do or say. To break the silence, Medea uttered, still not knowing if to be thankful or not, thanks to Hermione who looked rather pleased with herself.

When they had sat in silence for a few more minutes, Hermione finally attempted to speak what Medea supposed had been the reason she had come. The bushy haired girl checked many times if nobody else was close and then leaned forward to Medea.

"Um...I've heard you stood up to Umbridge in my cause?"

"Yes, of course, the woman's a bitch."

"Well, er...so, don't you think we should have a proper teacher?"

"Sure, we're not learning a thing with her."

Hermione's ears went slightly red now and she checked one last time if somebody was listening. Medea's curiosity had been aroused ever since she noticed Hermione was behaving oddly, but now she couldn't wait to find out any longer. By now, both girls leaned over the table to the other, their hair hiding their faces from others.