Book Two: First Year Chapter 1: All Aboard

  Oember 1st, the Hawthorne and Granger families arrived early at King's Cross Station. Both families, now well-versed in the routine, easily located Ptform Nine and Three-Quarters. The Hogwarts Express wasn't due to depart for nearly an hour.

  The mothers from both families were giving their children a final round of reminders: take care of themselves at school, don't fet to write—despite the fact that they had already managed a year of indepe living at Hogwarts.

  Mrs. Hawthored a kiss on Hermione's forehead, then turo Glenn with mock sternness. "You look after Hermio school, you hear? If any bully tries to mess with her, you give 'em what for. Otherwise, you'll be answering to me when you get back." She pyfully waved her fist.

  Glenn thought wryly: So much for unditional love.

  Meanwhile, Mrs. Granger was whispering something in Hermione's ear. Whatever it was, it caused the young girl's face to gradually flush red, and she gently swatted at her mother's hand in embarrassment.

  Notig the mother-daughter pair engaged in a private versation, Glenn, out of respect, had preemptively blocked his hearing. He heard nothing but couldn't help feeling curious.

  Nearby, with Glenn's help, the two fathers had temporarily bypassed the Muggle-Repelling Charm. They watched in fasation as young wizards disappeared into the wall, oblivious to the suspicious gnces from a nearby station mahe manager was debating whether to call for backup, especially given Mr. Hawthorne's intimidating muscur build.

  A thhly flustered Hermione pushed Mrs. Granger, who looked ready to say more, towards Mr. Granger. She huffed out a quick goodbye before being the first to ehe wall, Crookshanks in tow.

  Glenn caught Mrs. Granger winking at him and giving a thumbs up, which left him puzzled. He said his goodbyes and followed Hermiohrough the wall, feeling the fond gazes of both families on his back.

  Hermione waited flenn at the train door. Seeing his questioning look, she blushed but didn't respond. When Glenn simply said "Alright" and didn't press the matter, the young girl felt a mix of annoyand amusement. She tugged Glenn onto the train.

  The train was still nearly empty. After finding an unoccupied partment, they settled in side by side. Glenn hahe waist pack to Hermione, who pced the now someortly Crookshanks on her p. She rummaged through the pack, extracted "An Introdu to Transfiguration," and began reading silently, seemingly i on ign Glenn.

  Hermione snuck a g Glen out a small "hmph," and scooted closer to the window, away from him. At that moment, Glenn was ing a bck silk cloth around his eyes.

  Puzzled, Glenn wondered what had caused this sudden ge in Hermione's demeanor. Everything had been fihis m, but now she was sulking.

  His instinct told him to do the opposite of what she expected.

  So he also moved closer to Hermione.

  The young girl's hand holding the book froze, and after a moment, she shifted again.

  Glenn moved closer.

  Scoot~

  Move~

  Scoot~

  Move~

  Hermione found herself trapped against the window.

  "What exactly are y to do?" The young girl snapped her book shut, her cheeks flushed.

  "Nothing," Glenn replied ily. "Just noticed you were ag odd."

  "I am not!" Hermione hurriedly denied. "It's just... my mum said some strahings, that's all!"

  For some reason, as Glenn observed the blushing, flustered young girl before him, he felt an unfamiliar urge to tease her more. Aion, p an unknown time and now taking root during this moment, was guiding his thoughts. It was unpreted, strange, but not unpleasant.

  Although Glenn was still shorter than Hermiohe young girl was now half-lying against the window, and he found himself in a position of advantage.

  His lips curled into an uional smirk.

  Usually, Hermioook the lead in their as, with Glenn following her ideas and suggestions and corres.

  Occasionally, when they disagreed on minor matters, he would aodate the strong-willed girl.

  Now, rebelling occasionally and teasing her a bit felt quite... nice?

  In his nearly twelve years of life, this was one of Glenn's few newfound pleasures.

  Strange, he thought. Why am I thinking like this?

  The usually calm aionless Glenn keenly noticed the ge in his heart, clearly aware that it was because of Hermione.

  As Glenn leaned down, he suddenly pnted his hao Hermiohe distaween them shrinking.

  "Then why are you sitting so far away from me?" he asked, his voice low.

  Hermione looked at Glenn's faow just inches away. His hair fell onto her face, revealiures usually hidden behind long, curly bck locks.

  Feeling his warm breath, the young girl's mi into overdrive, her thoughts a jumbled mess.

  She felt as if she could see, beh the bck hair and silk c Glenn's eyes, those pitch-bck pupils staring ily at her.

  Hermione y frozen on the sofa, her hands propping against Glenn, not daring to move.

  Her blushing face turo the side, uo meet his gaze.

  Sensing the young girl's flustered state, Glenn's heart skipped a beat.

  "Meow~" Crookshanks, sandwiched between them, meowed in displeasure.

  Glenions immediately returo normal. He stood up, helping Hermioo her feet.

  "It's nothing," he said, his demeanor back to normal as he smoothed out Hermione's messy hair. "You were ag weird, so I was just teasing you—"

  The dizzy Hermione came to her senses, her dreamy gaze turning dangerous, her eyes fshing with anger.

  She was about to call Crookshanks to give him a swipe.

  "—mainly because someone's ing," Glenn finished.

  Hermioartled. She quickly brushed off Glenn's hand, hurriedly adjusted her clothes, and preteo read her book again. She g the distaween herself and Glenn—it was close, but she didn't bother to move.

  Cuddling is oo, she thought.

  "Hehe." Hermione suddenly giggled, then quickly covered her mouth.

  What am I doing! she chided herself internally.

  The flict between human reason aion erfectly embodied in one person at this moment.

  Unaware of Hermione's resentful gaze, Glenn steadied his e, feeling the vibrations on the floor, silently analyzing the information.

  The partment door slid open, and a round-faced boy peeked in timidly. "Hello," he said hesitantly. "I saw there were empty seats here. May I e in and sit?"

  "Of course you ." Hermione, also back to her normal state, raised her slightly and brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, indig her agreement. Glenn also nodded, and the small boy gratefully struggled t in a suitcase.

  Closing the book she had just opened, Hermione spoke first: "What's your name? I'm Hermione Granger, and he's Glenn Hawthorne. We're both Muggle-born. o meet you." The rapid-fire introdu left the small boy momentarily stunned.

  "Ah, um, I... I'm Neville Longbottom," he finally managed. "o meet you too."

  "Longbottom?" Hermione's eyes lit up. "As in one of the Sacred Twe pureblood families? What kind of magi you do? Is there anything special about its power or other aspects?"

  Finally entering a pureblood family member, she was eager to study the differences.

  It was also a ve way to alleviate her earlier emotions.

  The assertive Hermione fired off question after question, eager to uncover any distins between purebloods and others from the boy before her. Her petitive spirit and curiosity peaked, and both the young girl and Crookshanks, peering from her p, fixed their rge brown eyes on Neville.

  Neville was overwhelmed by the barrage of questions, unsure which to answer first. He waanize his thoughts properly to make a good impression, but his tratio shattering.

  What should I do? he thought desperately.

  He turned a pleading gaze towards the boy sitting quietly to the side, only to realize he seemed to be blind.

  Neville's heart sank further.

  I think I've made a terrible mistake, he thought.

  Neville was g inside, even though Hermione would promptly apologize after asking particurly sharp questions. But was there no limit to her interrogation?

  In short, he deeply regretted his decision to ehis partment.