The Girl Hidden In the Shadows (Harry Potter Fanfiction)

~5~

Nova looked up from reading her black coverless book when she heard an angry huff which followed by an angry motion of sitting across from her from on the couch; she saw her friend Hermione, crossing her arms in an angry matter muttering to herself; she distinctly heard the words of Harry and Ron, Nova smiling amused by this.

There wasn't a moment where she wasn't upset with them. She already knew this; Nova sometimes wondered how they could be such good friends when they were all different in a sense. Then again if one looked closer, their differences is what made it work.

"Well, hello to you too, Hermione" Nova said amused. She was in the single armchair, closest to the fireplace in the Gryffindor common room where she was huddled, with her legs propped under her; Azzie was on her lap, who was napping but woken up at the sound of Hermione's angry noise making before he settled his head again to sleep, although after her made sure to move his head to Nova's free hand as a gesture that he wanted to petted. Hermione finally looked up at Nova with look that she was not amused which caused the latter to chuckle.

"What happened this time?" Nova asked as she turned the page of her book and continued reading. Hermione huffed again as she leaned back on her seat.

"What do you think?" Hermione replied as Nova chuckled.

"What have the boys done this time?" she asked still reading the book.

"They never listen to me when I need them too," said Hermione raising her arms in exasperation. "They know that Professor Snape will have it out for them if they talk back but still decide to talk back to him, knowing they will get point deductions for Gryffindor."

At this, Nova glanced at Hermione. Snape was known for taking points away from Gryffindor students constantly especially when it came to Harry and Ron, mainly with the former. It wasn't a surprise to anyone anymore, but it didn't mean that the rest of the housemate of Gryffindor aren't going to be upset.

"How many did Professor Snape take this time?" asked Nova.

"Ten EACH," said Hermione. "It wouldn't have bothered me this much if not for the fact that today you and I made ten points each in Transfiguration."

Nova sighed as she folded a small piece on the top corner of the page and closed the book. She wasn't mad like Hermione, the house cup or points for that matter didn't really matter to her, but she knew it mattered to Hermione, given the girl prided herself in her book smarts and wanting to have the upper hand.

"Was there a reason for encountering Professor Snape today?" Nova asked. She knew they didn't have Potions today so the encounter with Snape should've been rare, so Nova was curious of these turns of events. Hermione looked at her.

"Malfoy," said Hermione as Nova kept her gaze at Hermione knowing where the female was saying without having to voice it. "You know how those three tend to get when they are near each other, and Snape happened to pass by – you know how he is with students that aren't from his house – Malfoy always instigates but he always gets away with it as usual. You think they would learn by now."

Nova rolled her eyes, shaking her head. Those two will never learn when it came to Draco Malfoy; they were like oil and water; unable to get along or mix.

"They're boys, Hermione," said Nova as she looked down at Azzie giving him attention feeling his purring in contentment. "I don't think we'll be able to understand."

The sound of the portrait opening followed by footsteps indicated the arrival of people and ironically enough it was the main topic of Hermione and Nova's conversation. Judging by their combined sour and angry looks, they were still upset at their encounter with Draco Malfoy.