𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐭 𝐚𝐢𝐫 [ON INDEFINITE HIATUS]

02 | The Snow

There was something about snow that always stole Hermione's breath away, she always thought it was underappreciated. If one just took a step back and genuinely looked at it, they'd see that snow was anything but frigid bitterness. The product of winter was truly beautiful. Cold, and unforgiving only because it was produced in coldness.

Hermione tugged the edges of her beanie over her ears, the tips of it were beginning to redden. The freshly fallen snow crunched underneath her boots, she wondered if they'd have time to go sledding later. It was one of her favorite activities to do with her parents.

She opened the door to a small bar on the outskirts of Hogsmeade. The boys sat at the table nearest to the door and shrugged off their thick winter jackets.

"Now we wait," Hermione smiled, taking her seat next to Harry. The trio waited in awkward silence as people began to pile into the cramped tavern. Familiar faces and curious eyes stared back at her own. When Hermione was sure no one else was going to show up, she cleared her throat and stood up.

She gave the small crowd a small wave, "Hi, I'm Hermione Granger but um... you all probably already know that."

Her friends and classmates looked at her with blank expressions.

She pressed her lips into a thin line and nodded, "Anyways, the reason we're gathered here today is that we need a teacher. One who knows how to properly defend themselves from the Dark Arts."

Harry pulled out a ripped piece of parchment paper and a quill. He quickly scribbled Dumbledore's Army across the page and set it on the table in front of him.

"I know most of you don't exactly trust me," he began, standing up as well. "But you-know-who is back and he killed Cedric Diggory right in front of me. So you can either choose to ignore me and turn a blind eye to the truth of what is really happening..."

Harry pushed the piece of paper to the edge of the table.

"Or you can join us and learn how to defend yourselves and others so the Wizarding World can live to see another day."

After a short and heavy silence, one by one, each student stood up and signed their names across the page. Soon, the tavern had been emptied out to only Hermione, Harry, and the Weasleys. The group put on their winter clothing and headed back to Hogwarts.

"Where do you suggest we practice?" Ron asked, burying his hands in his pockets.

Harry readjusted his glasses and shrugged, "We'll figure it out, as long as it's anywhere Umbridge won't discover."

They arrived at the school and their conversation became hushed whispers. A wave of warmth washed over the group as they entered the school.

"Oi, Mudblood!"

Hermione turned to see Draco approaching her. She unraveled the scarf around her neck and wrapped the knitted red and gold yarn around her forearm.

"What do you want, Malfoy?" she sighed, her shoulders slumping.

He let out an amused laugh and looked over her shoulder, his eyes scanning the group, "How was your little Gryffindor field trip? Did you make snow angels and play with Frosty the Snowman?"

The clique that always followed two steps behind him laughed at his pathetic joke. She paid them no attention.

"If you wanted to join us, all you had to do was ask, Malfoy," she said dryly, the corner of her lips twitched.

He practically guffawed, "Like I'd choose to spend time with Mudbloods and Blood Traitors."

Hermione's fingers tightened into a fist. he was really asking for it now. Just as she was about to lift her balled hand, she felt a tug on her arm, Ginny was pulling her away. What was it with Weasleys and stopping her from punching Malfoy?