DYLAN MONTGOMERY.

lavender thought that the first years got smaller and smaller every year. she saw them all as they waited to be sorted and thought they all looked like children, although they were only four years below lavender herself. she couldn’t help but be EXCITED at the news of the triwzard tournament being revamped and launched at hogwarts this year, especially because it brought so many new faces to the school. it seemed like this year was going to be an exciting once, and for once it wouldn’t be because some scary serial killer wanted to hunt down harry potter and his friends. there was only so many years like that lavender could take : she so didn’t want another year of divination where no one stopped talking about harry’s untimely death. it made her too sick with worry to focus on anything else.
her movements were delicate and a little cautious as she sat next to hermione granger. they were roommates, but lavender still hoped that more of their friends came to join them soon.
“no, no interest. my face is much too pretty to risk getting hurt doing something scary and dangerous.” she mused, with a wry little smile. “i am excited about the tournament though. i have two words for you, ‘Mione : durmstrang boys. it’s every girls dream come true. have any of them caught your eye yet?”

though the two weren’t close, she didn’t have anything personally against lavender. they just didn’t seem to have much in common. lavender was popular, beautiful and fixated on boys while hermione was brainy, doing her best to make sure her best friends didn’t die and lucky if she wore a sweater that even matched. as they got older, hermione found that she seemed to differ more and more from her femme classmates and she wasn’t entirely sure what that was about. somedays she felt like a girl but other days she felt she fit best in that sort of grey area that took up space between the two “definitive genders.” it was too truthful and too close to home for her to actually spend her time researching it.

the vanity was something hermione never understood, maybe because she was too insecure. perhaps if she looked more like lavender she’d be more concerned about her looks. “though the rest of your body would be able to handle the risk?” the gryffindor teased with the perch of her brow, amusement evident on her features. though at the mention of durmstrang boys, hermione can’t help but roll her eyes, “PLEASE. as if this school needs more men parading around in their idiotic, toxic masculinity. i’ll pass.” though maybe a couple of them caught her eye which she’d never admit that aloud. “honestly i’m more excited to learn from the visiting professors. any classes you’re excited about this year?”

# d: lavender

oliver stood at the entrance of the great hall and took a deep breath to let his surroundings sink in. a part of himself was sad to know this would be the last time he’d get to experience the first day of school at hogwarts but he was distracted at the sea of new faces to feel properly somber. the head boy and quidditch captain made his way down the long gryffindor table before finally spotting a familiar face settled next to a stack of books. “hey hermione, this seat taken?” his eyes glistened in amusement as he sat next to her. “no, not interested to be honest.” oliver confessed. “eternal glory sounds nice and all but i’ve got too much going on this year.” he gestured to the two pins glistening on his robe. “and also, i can’t risk getting injured on one of those triwizard tasks, i still need to be in good shape to play quidditch after i graduate. but how about you? i think you’d do a good job, you’re clever enough.”

it was honestly quite refreshing to be indulging in company with someone who DIDN’T want to enter. it appeared as though most of her classmates were crazed by the idea of eternal glory and were acting more barbaric than normal. she knew most of them didn’t really understand how dangerous and challenging the games would be. “it’s refreshing to be sitting with someone who actually has a sturdy head upon their shoulders. though honestly i think you’d do quite well. better than fred and george who are convinced they’re going to win.” hermione paused and crinkled her nose, “don’t tell them i said that.” she was only jesting though there was some truth to her words. as the question reflects back at her she can’t help but chuckle, “absolutely not. honestly, i was kind of hoping for a quiet year at hogwarts. though something tells me i won’t get it.” even without the triwizard tournament her and her friends seemed to be a magnet for trouble, “excited about your classes this year? i believe we share a few.” thanks to the time turner from last year, she was a few years ahead in some of her classes.

with her nose buried in a book even hogwart’s infamous bookworm can’t help but peer up every now and then again, curious brown orbs taking in the excitement that surrounded her. she’d wasted no time in visiting the library before the festivities began, a stack of books towered beside her in the great hall. hermione was so fixated on her readings, she hadn’t even realized that her books were taking up a perfectly good spot in an otherwise crowded and packed dining hall. “oh sorry!” the witch said with a small smile toward the person who seemed to be looking for somewhere to sit, “there’s room here, if you’re looking. my parents keep saying they’ll need to charge me rent just to have a room for my books.” she said with a chuckle, clearing the way, “so. any interest in putting your name into the goblet?”