Turning Violet

5 - Telescopes & Tongues

"Herms?"
"Is that okay? I can just call you Hermione if you'd prefer."
"No, of course, that's great, I mean - no one's ever called me Herms before. It's a strange nickname."
"I'm pretty sure it's Greek. That would be offensive," said Violet sincerely.

"No, no! I didn't mean it like that! The Greek name is Hermes, and I would never, ever, try to offend the Greek. They've given us so much - without their common Amphitheatres, our modern cinemas and show halls wouldn't exist! And even Hogwarts - the time it was being built, there was a large sector of England under Roman control, and the Romans' were practically next-door neighbours with the Greek so borrowed a lot of inventions and technology from them! In saying that, the Romans brought all that here with them. We get so much from the Greek, it would be in my great disinterest to offend them. Of course, I-"

Wednesday was the one day of the week where they were permitted to be out of their common room past 7:30, but they had to be ferried to and from the Astronomy Tower by one of the Gryffindor Prefects. It was seen as so standard, yet Violet was still on the excitement train that felt like a sugar high.

"Sit, sit," instructed Professor Sinistra, and all the first years sat themselves cross-legged. Astronomy was the only lesson in which all the Houses were together - it didn't really make a difference, for they managed to sit themselves in four subtly segregated groups. It had been well over a month into the term, yet Violet still hadn't found her feet. 

"As you may know, we can take a number of recordings and observations from the stars in the sky. You may find it daunting, but today, I will show you exactly how you can manipulate your observations. This is one of the most basic skills, and is how we can tell the time of other countries, as well as the temperature and general weather."

"Professor," asked Parvati, lowering her hand once she had been called on. "When do we get to read horoscopes?"

"That can be related to the placement of the stars, yes, but you'll find that subject and the rest of the mystical elements lie in Divination. You may elect that once you reach your third year. But for now, I want you to find a partner and a telescope."

There were more than enough telescopes for one each, but the Professor was easing them in, to Violet's dismay. She looked around and Fay was steadily ignoring her eye, not that it much bothered Violet - Fay would easily pick the students in older years than anyone actually in their class. And the others were all forming their own friendships - Harry and Ron, Lavender and Parvati, Dean and Seamus. Violet thought Hermione was lovely, but awfully bossy. Whilst the two had certainly become firm friends, Violet still felt slightly isolated from her peers, having not particularly hit it off with any of her other classmates.

"Violet, would you like to-" Hermione was advancing, and Violet grabbed her arm without a word.
"We're using this one," decided Violet. "It's right over the Black Lake."

"You can hardly see it. It's pitch black," observed Hermione.

"That's only because it's cloudy. On a good day, it would be moonlit."
"Is that what you would like?" Hermione asked. "To stand here in the middle of the night and stare at a lake?" 

"It's cool, Hermione, it's authentic. Or is it eccentric? I never know."

"Well - ooh, I should probably go help Neville, he looks lost - where on earth has Fay gotten to and why has she left him like that?" Before Violet could tell Hermione that she didn't have to insert herself into everyone's business, the bushy-haired girl had rushed off. Violet sighed, looking out her telescope. Seamus Finnigan, the sandy-haired Irish kid she'd met on their first night, was next-door to her telescope with Dean Thomas, a tall black boy from East London.