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incorrect when she said that some scandalous history of Professor Dumbledore could be located within the confines of the school library, as Saffron essentially asked the library itself, in the form of Hermione Granger, for such information and she received none of it. She should have known that in the library of Dumbledore's school there would likely be nothing negative about him in there.

Hermione being Hermione had to inquire as to why Saffron had a sudden longing to know about Dumbledore's past, after showing no signs of any interest in the past. Not wanting Hermione to know about her motives of finding out about why Dumbledore has hired two unqualified Defence Against The Dark Arts teachers in a row. Still under Lockhart's spell, Hermione wasn't able to see clearly when it came to the blatantly obvious flaws of the man. Therefore, Saffron told her that she was just curious, and so Hermione explained what she knew of Dumbledore to Saffron, none of which was foreign to her.

For the first time in their friendship, it seemed that Saffron and Hermione had to just agree to disagree when it came to Lockhart. Of course, they both agreed on the charm and physicality aspects, yes. But when it came to his teaching methods, Hermione remained intent on claiming that Lockhart was a perfectly qualified and adequate teacher. Deep down Hermione must have known that she was making excuses for the man, but she wouldn't admit that to anyone.

These differences also brought a shift in Saffron's bond with Lavender and Parvati. Ever since their first year in school, Saffron had always shared more in common with the pair. But now with Saffron agreeing with the likes of Harry, Ron, Dean and Seamus of all people, the girls seemed to have more in common with Hermione, in how they defended Lockhart.

This shift had caused Saffron to clip her tongue and after only discussing her distaste of Lockhart twice, she dropped it and let the boys and girls argue it out without her. It was easier that way. There would be a time and place for a discussion over Lockhart, and one week into school was neither the time nor the place. That was a conversation for another day.

The conversation for that point in time, as Ron walked through the Great Hall alone that Saturday morning revolved around why Harry wasn't with him?

"Where's Harry?" Hermione asked him, as he took a seat opposite them, wasting no time in buttering some toast.

"Quidditch," Ron told them hastily, his eyes fixed on his food. "He left me a note, I reckon he's been down there a while, Fred and George told me Oliver's taking it to the next level to make sure they win the cup this year,"

"Sounds good," said Saffron with the faintest of smiles. Oliver Wood, also known as her self-proclaimed future husband, was the captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team and practically breathed Quidditch. "What do you say we take some of this down and go watch? I could do with getting outside, we can meet up with Hagrid once he's done,"

"That's fine with me," agreed Hermione. "Hopefully they'll be finishing up when we get there, I'm looking forward to seeing Hagrid again,"

Saffron merely nodded. She didn't share the same feelings. Hagrid had caused so much trouble for them last year and she still hadn't found it in her heart to forgive him for it.

The three Gryffindors grabbed a pile of toast each and set off towards the Quidditch pitch. The sun had nearly risen completely when they got outside and there was a thin layer of fog hovering over the dewy grass caused by the immense rainfall the night before. They walked across the grounds and reached the Quidditch pitch, going on to choose some seats at the bottom of the stands. Little chatter was spared between them, as they chewed away at the toast they brought with them.

Upon not seeing any players on the Quidditch pitch, Saffron assumed the team had finished their practice and were in the changing rooms, washing after the session. Thus, it was a surprise to her to see Harry, Oliver and the rest of the team walking groggily (less Oliver, who looked full of energy) towards the pitch, in full uniform with their broomsticks by their side.

"Aren't you finished yet?" Ron called across to them, as surprised as Saffron was.

"Haven't even started," said Harry bitterly, staring over at them enviously. "Wood's been teaching us new moves."

Saffron let out a disappointed sigh at that. She had hoped they could have headed right over to Hagrid's to get it over and done with.

Moments later, Hermione let out a disappointed sigh, but for starkly contrasting reasons. "What are they doing here?"

Saffron followed Hermione's hand which was pointing to a group of males walking onto the Quidditch pitch in green robes.

"Wood doesn't look happy about it," pointed out Ron, watching as Oliver dismounted from his broom and instantly set off in the direction of the Slytherins. The rest of the Gryffindor team followed suit.

"Let's go see what's happening then," Hearing that Oliver didn't seem happy made Saffron want to know what could happen between the teams. The prospect of seeing Oliver having a strop was too good a prospect to miss.

"So typical," said Hermione irritably, as they made their way down to both groups of seven who were facing each other, with glares and stares present on both respective sides. "Just what we needed,"

When they finally reached the groups, Ron inquired as to what was happening immediately.

"What's happening? Why aren't you playing? And what's he doing here?"

Saffron's draw dropped. Stood next to his older brother Cygnus, with his chest puffed out and wearing his Slytherin robes with pride was Draco. A slight sickening feeling emerged in her stomach. The tension could be cut with a knife. This encounter was only going to go one way, and that way wasn't going to be pretty.

"I'm the new Slytherin Seeker, Weasley," Draco practically screamed smugness and arrogance. Saffron wanted nothing more than to punch that look off of his face. "Everyone's just been admiring the brooms my father's bought our team,"

The expression on Ron's face told Saffron that the seven shiny identical broomsticks were brand new and by virtue very expensive.

"Good, aren't they?" asked Malfoy rhetorically. "But perhaps the Gryffindor team will be able to raise some gold and get new brooms, too. You could raffle off those Cleansweep Fives; I expect a museum would bid for them."

The Slytherin side chortled at this.

"At least no one on the Gryffindor team had to buy their way in," The second Hermione opened her mouth, Saffron knew it was a mistake. Her tone was sharp and unpleasant, just what the Slytherin side needed to find an excuse to personally attack her in response. Although, when Saffron considered it, they probably would have regardless. "They got in on pure talent."

"No one asked your opinion, you filthy little Mudblood,"

As soon as that last word came out of Saffron's mouth, she let out a hoarse scream. Her instant reaction was to hit every single part of him that he could. But knowing that brute force would result in a Slytherin victory, she snatched her wand from out of her trouser's pocket and pointed it right at Draco, or rather at Cygnus who had jumped in front of Draco to shield him from Fred and George, who had made a start towards him.

"You'll pay for that one, Malfoy!" Ron yelled, he too had his wand out and pointed it in the direction of Cygnus and Draco. Shouting something inaudible, a green light shot out of Ron's wand. In turn, a shield charm was conjured by Cygnus.

At first, Saffron thought that Ron's spell had rebounded off of Cygnus' shield and hit him, but it turned out that Ron's spell had shot out of the wrong end of his wand, meaning he had him himself. With a piercing bang, Ron was knocked onto his back, where he lay in a heap on the dewy grass.

"Ron! Ron! Are you alright?"Hermione dropped to her knees to check on him.

With a small nod of his head, as he pulled himself upright, Ron tried to indicate that he was indeed alright. However, the vomit that contained several fat slugs that ejected out of his mouth indicated the very opposite.

Saffron shut her eyes to a firm close. In all the ways she thought the encounter could go, she never in a million years would have predicted it in ending with vomit in the form of slugs.

Only in Hogwarts, she thought in a mixture of bitterness and fondness. She opened her eyes.