Chapter two - Jealousy and chores.

Chapter 2

It was night and the common room was practically in complete silence, while Ron, Harry and Hermione were sitting at a long table and studying. Harry had changed his attitude a lot, now he was friendly again with his friends and didn't explode at any criticism or negative comments they said to him. -Harry! -Hermione exclaimed, snatching his homework out of his hands. If you give this to Professor Snape I'm sure he will punish you forever," she said with brutal honesty, handing it back to him. Harry looked at his parchment and sighed. -Besides," Hermione continued, looking at the parchment with Professor Trewlaney's homework, "Do you really think anyone will believe that you were bitten by a Hippogriff? -Malfoy was bitten by a hippogriff," Ron objected from the sofa. -No, no. He was scratched by a hippogriff," Hermione corrected him, and Ron rolled his eyes, "and besides, that happened because he's an idiot and Harry isn't. Therefore, I suggest that you do something about it. So, I suggest you put something more realistic. I understand that you want the teacher to approve you in Divination, but what you're doing is wrong, and even Professor Trewlaney wouldn't believe it. I assure you he's believed worse, like a Muggle found out he was using magic and tried to run him over... that sort of story, you know," Ron muttered matter-of-factly, and Harry agreed. -Well, it's not right! -Hermione sputtered angrily, "Besides, Harry put this so-called hippogriff on it and it ripped his arm off and I see it here! You have to assume that the teacher will see it too... she's ridiculous, but not blind. -She's not as clever as you suppose," Harry commented, crumpling up the parchment and tossing it into the fireplace. -Dumbledore hired her for a reason, didn't he? She must have something that we have overlooked, very overlooked, really..." Hermione murmured, a little doubtful. -You can't say anything, you haven't been back to that class since third year, so you don't know what she's like," Ron reasoned grumpily. -You went on with that stupid subject, not me. To me Divination is a very imprecise 'art', it's not something you can leave to chance, but you can't be precise with it. Therefore, it's impossible for anyone to get everything right about a person's future," Hermione explained, sitting down next to Harry and helping him with his Potions homework. -Thank you, Hermione," Harry whispered, and leaned back to rest. But that doesn't take away from the fact that you don't take that subject," Ron replied, looking at Harry and Hermione with a not-so-disguised annoyance. Ron apparently disliked them being so close together and smiling at each other. At least not without him. What Ron didn't know was that Hermione always saw Harry as a brother, and that feeling was reciprocated by his friend. -Well... Ron, give me your essay," Hermione murmured after she finished chatting with Harry, holding out her hand. Ron raised his head in surprise. -What I...? Of course, of course..." mumbled Ron, taking the opportunity, but a bit confused. -Thank you," Hermione smiled at him, something she rarely did. Ron remained completely bewildered, watching Hermione with increasing surprise, but thinking deep down that seeing her smile was a good thing. -Are you... going to give him to me? -Hermione asked, as Ron had forgotten to hand her the parchment. -What? Ah! Yes, Hermione. Here..." he stammered, and went back to his own business, as Hermione wasn't going to help him with all his homework, just Potions. -And, to answer your question, Ron," Hermione said without looking at him and crossing things out on his parchment, "No, I don't take his class and it's probably worse than I think. But don't even think I'm going to check what you say, because I won't be stepping foot in that place again and I'm very grateful for it. Harry sighed and sat back down, picked up a blank piece of parchment from across the table and set to work. **** -Magnificent! -" exclaimed Professor Trewlaney the next day, holding up Harry's essay for all to see, "You definitely have a gift in the art of televangelism, dear," the teacher said in a soft voice, glaring at Harry and shaking the long, old-fashioned necklaces he was wearing. Ron held back his laughter and watched Professor Trewlaney as if she were some sort of clown. You had to admit: she looked ridiculous praising Harry for such an improbable invention that the boy wrote in a minute. Parvati and Lavender looked at Harry with some annoyance. They were both known to admire Professor Trewlaney and seeing her complimenting others did not please them at all. -So here we have another clairvoyant," the professor murmured proudly as she looked over Ron's essay. Now it was Harry's turn to laugh.