Long and low stone corridor ended with an obscenely noisy round common room in scarlet colors. Here and there sofas, armchairs stood chaotically, fireplace burned, students communicated loudly, someone settled on the floor by the fireplace and shamelessly cuddled, kissing. Normal theme. Look, some seniors passionately played something, occupying a table, sofa, couple of armchairs and window sill, while swigging something from dark bottles now and then. Typical dorm.
Not lingering in the passage, walked as if I know where I am going. But no sooner had I taken a couple of steps than I saw Hermione. She sat in an armchair and read a huge book. To her left was a table, and on the other side of the table, ignoring the girl's existence, sat Weasley and played chess with Potter. An impression was created as if they never communicated at all, and now stubbornly do not notice each other's existence.
Boldly heading in her direction, I held a smirk on my face from what was happening. But don't I care? Kids. It is characteristic of them to sulk at others because of trifles, but at the same time they fervently consider themselves adults. This is charming and cute, makes you want to give out some tease.
"Hi," I leaned over Hermione, putting the box with the cake on the table to her left.
"Um..." she reluctantly tore herself away from reading the book, and clearly wanted to give out some rebuke.
"Happy Birthday, Hermy," I put the bracelet on the open pages of the book. "And this is from Flitwick. Congratulation, and assurance that the bracelet works as it should."
"Hector," she gave out in a loud whisper, looking at me with shock and surprise. "Where is the uniform from... And how did you get in..."
"Is that important?" I smirked. "Look..."
I took the bracelet and put it on sister's left hand. As soon as it was in place, it immediately shrank to suitable size.
"It will protect from hexes and weak curses with which they love to dabble in school so much," I began to tell about the bracelet, while Hermione continued to surprisingly shift gaze from me to the bracelet.
"It will help monitor health, washing everything superfluous and unnecessary out of the organism. And also it creates comfortable temperature around you. Within reasonable limits. In winter do not recommend walking naked."
"Hector!" she was indignant in just the same whisper, blushing slightly. What, walks, or something?
"Read the note from Flitwick."
"Professor Flitwick," she corrected, as if on reflexes.
"And try the cake. Can reconcile with friends with its help."
"Where do you..."
"Hogwarts is full of rumors. Don't lose heart," I kissed her on the forehead, because of which she blushed worse than before. "Happy Birthday."
"Thank you..." she muttered quietly, but I already turned to leave.
Just as quickly as entered, I left the common room.
"And who are you?"
A girlish voice on the staircase landing forced me to turn around. As I assumed, based on the voice, this was a girl of about twelve-thirteen years. Fiery-red hair, wary gaze of swamp-green eyes, regular facial features; very bright and "correct" image.
"And who are you?"
"Answering a question with a question is impolite," the girl folded arms on chest, looking at me with an extremely serious gaze. Ooh, feel wild temper. Here manners are not needed.
"Hector," I looked at the girl expectantly.
"Ginny. Ginny Weasley."
"Oh, very nice," I extended a hand, and the girl shook it strictly automatically, only a moment later pulling back.
"I haven't seen you among Gryffindors before."
"There is an explanation for this," I moved a hand from neck down, changing tie color and other accessories on the robe, including lining color. "I am from another House..."
The girl clearly wanted to scream, or something like that, to raise alarm.
"...came to congratulate sister on Birthday."
"Sister?" this "Ginny" stared at me with doubt.
"Yes. Hermione Granger."
"A-a-ah, so you are Hector Granger," only insignificant traces of suspicion remained in the fiery-red girl's gaze. "I heard about you."
"Hope only good. To brighten up our acquaintance..."
Creating a clot of air around the hand, took out the wand, which made the girl nervous, released a stream of mixture of neutral energy and life energy, embodying one of "flower" contours from elven memory shards.
A flower of many fiery-red petals formed on my hand. Memory suggested that it looks like Mexican zinnia, but this was not quite so.
"Fiery star, Astra Ignis. Need to keep in water, like a water lily," I passed the flower into the hands of the girl looking at it fascinatedly. "Living in water, it blooms with fire as if contrary to circumstances."
I touched a petal with a finger, along which waves of real, not burning flame passed.
"How?.." not taking eyes off the flower, asked the girl.
"Magic, Ginny," I shrugged. "Don't ask, but hope that my visit to your common room will remain between us."
With a smile, like Cheshire Cat, I disappeared in space, while the girl looked around searching for me. Naive.
Well, mission accomplished. And most importantly, the moment is successful; surprised and, hope, pleased, during spiritual torments due to quarrel with friends, and also gave means for reconciliation. Even blind and deaf would notice Weasley's craving for food, and he won't pass by the cake. Main thing is how Hermione herself will present this matter.
With the beginning of the fourth week of study clubs and circles opened, but I myself didn't show attraction to anything from the fairly meager list yet. But my comrades, except Justin, participate in these clubs one way or another, which led to reduction of quantity of our common classes. Justin, by the way, lamented that for which year a club of vocal-instrumental theme cannot form in school, not counting the choir under Professor Flitwick's leadership.
"I would go there," he said at dinner on Friday. "But classical academic vocal I don't like at all, and not much of a singer am I. But playing something I wouldn't refuse. Maybe even learn to do it normally."
In general, studies went on.
Defense Against the Dark Arts became the most popular subject in the whole castle. If one believes students' conversations, then Lupin is almost the best teacher of this subject, and a student of any year of study could confirm this. Wonder what such phenomenal staff shortage is connected with?
Plunging into routine, but turning it into life schedule, I calmly and slowly studied magic, trying not to stick out unnecessarily; Dementors annoyed. Against them, of course, I worked out the Patronus spell to the state of mist or shield, but one should understand; training in class is a "spherical horse in a vacuum." Shouldn't reassure myself that allegedly I can drive away a Dementor in field conditions and using local school of wizardry. And yes, I am interested what became of that sprout, but so far I don't intend to run around neighborhoods and look for it; unreasonable in current situation.
Practice in potion-making with Daphne and under Professor Snape's supervision went by leaps and bounds. Bought ingredients disappeared with huge speed, for additional classes we had almost until curfew, and prepared four-five potions at a time. Of course, with professor's approval, like: "You haven't broken, blown up, melted anything yet, and I wonder if you will last long."