Adrian Craddock and The Philosopher's Stone

Halloween

The days rolled by fast and soon it was Halloween. By now Aiden was by Hermione's side and, like her, avoided Harry and Ron. He also promised to give a few books on his family history to Hermione as Christmas gift, laughing when she looked disappointed that she would have to wait.

The two sat in Charms and were (unfortunately for Hermione) paired with Ron. She and Aiden ignored him and listened to the enthusiastic Professor Filtwick.

"Now class, one of a wizard's most rudimentary skills is levitation: the ability to make objects fly. Uh, do you all have your feathers." Hermione and Aiden held theirs up. "Good. Now, don't forget the nice wrist movement we've been praticing hmm?" he pulls out his wand and does the movement for emphases. "The swish-and-flick. Everyone." The class imitates the movement. "The swish-and-flick. Good. Now. enunciate: Wingardium Leviosa. Well then, off you go."

The whole class is then filled with students performing the movement and saying the incantation but not one feather rose in the air. Aiden simply had trouble with the swish-and-flick and concentrated on that. He didn't notice Hermione and Ron's interaction.

'Wingardium Leviosar' said Ron and, annoyed that it didn't work, started violently flicking his wand.

Hermione grabbed his arm. "Stop, stop, stop. Your going to take someone's eye out and, besides, you're saying it wrong: it's LeviOsa, not Leviosar." Ron looked annoyed.

"You do it then if you're so clever." he didn't hear Aiden silently mutter "She is."

Hermione then demonstrated the Levitation Charm to the irritated Ron. Aiden managed to perfect the wrist movement at the same time, so when they both tried it, both of their feathers rose.

"See everyone! Miss Granger and Mister Craddock have done. Splendid, well done you two." Professor Filtwick praised while Ron sulked."

Just then, an explosion makes everyone turn their head to the source. There sat Seamus, looking burnt, while his half-white burnt feather slowly fell from the sky.

"I think we're going to need another feather over here, Professor." said an amused looking Harry.

oOo

As the students left class, Aiden overheard Ron talking.

"'It's LeviOsa, not Leviosar.' Honestly, she's a nightmare. No wonder she hasn't got any friends."

Hermione then ran off with tears in her eyes. Aiden, who was walking alongside her, got really angry seeing his friend like that. So, he did the only reasonable thing he could think of: he kicked Ron in the shin before going off to find Hermione.

He found her just as she entered a girl's restroom. Hesitating a bit, Aiden sat down next to the door and listened to Hermione cry, his stomach being tied into a knot with every sob. Then he saw the door open and a girl in Hufflepuff colours walked out.

"Excuse me, what are you doing here?" she asked a bit suspicious.

"My friend's in there crying. I want to make her feel better."

The suspicious look disappeared before she replied. "Just go in." At Aiden's skeptical look she said: "No one goes in their anyway. Only to be alone or, well, cry."

Aiden sat up. "Thanks. My name's Aiden by the way."

"Jaclyn, pleased to meet you." then she walked off.

Aiden entered the restroom and, judging by the crying, knew in which stall Hermione was.

"Hermione." he called, trying to get her to come out.