MAGIANIMA // Hermione Granger

Can-Do Attitude

Avoiding Hermione's eyes proved an impossible feat for Atlas the next morning. The girl's concerned gaze only averted when she disposed of her clothes and disappeared for a quick shower, after that however she returned to openly staring at Atlas, questions behind those brown eyes of hers. Though she did not ask them and it seemed to take all of her restraint not to, movements quickly growing restless while Atlas remained ignorant, slowly and methodically donning her uniform and greeting Crookshanks when he awoke. Hermione noticed how Atlas refrained from storing her notebook within her bag, noticed how she gave the journal a wide berth and did not approach it even though her Charms homework lay beside it.

Again, she did not comment. Did not speak.

Until she did.

"Are you going to tell me what happened last night?" Hermione asked and Atlas froze, halting her movements before swinging her bag over her shoulder and turning.

"I made a potion for Astoria," Atlas supplied simply and Hermione grinned, apparently thrilled for her.

"Oh, that's wonderful news, Atlas! I'm very proud," she smiled, quickly hugging the girl tight and Atlas reciprocated, albeit gently, with little excitement in her movements. Hermione pulled away at that, slowly frowning when she noticed Atlas's expression, "you don't seem very happy about it."

"No, no, I am," Atlas rushed, a small but noticeably weary smile on her face, "I'm just very tired, Mi."

"I see..." Hermione frowned and swiped her hand through Atlas's damp hair, arranging it neatly and remaining silent for a moment, "that's understandable, I suppose. You should skip out on homework and get an early night tonight then."

"I swear I'm the only one you'll ever say that to," Atlas commented quietly as she leant to allow Hermione a better view of her rogue strands of hair. Hermione huffed, smiling softly, unseen by Atlas.

"Because I know you'll get it done regardless," Hermione said and Atlas shrugged.

"No way, you've totally got a soft spot for me," Atlas replied, standing again when Hermione finished and tilting her head to the side, tired eyes flickered with playfulness, "having such a pretty girl fuss over me is heavenly. You're making me swoon."

Hermione shook her head, smiling as she made a noise of contemplation, "it's been quite a while since you've made one of those playful comments of yours. Unfortunately for you, they do not elicit a reaction like they once did, back when we first met. I'm used to it, Atty."

"I'm not looking for a reaction, I'm simply speaking the truth," Atlas hummed and rubbed at her eyes, yawning as she glanced at her notebook a small frown forming on her face. The knowledge of what she would have to do today - what she would have to ask swiftly came back to her. She turned away and made for the door, hand on the handle, gaze angled to Hermione. "Shall we go then?"

"We shall," Hermione grinned, nodding her head as she followed after Atlas and hooked their arms together, apparently quite chipper.

That mood was quickly soiled at the arrival of the morning paper. They were sat, Ron and Harry chatting while Hermione received her Daily Prophet from a Short-eared owl, Atlas had been feeding the little beast some feed when Hermione let out a startled cry, drawing the eyes of everyone near. Even the owl bristled, adopting a very bulbous look, feathers all ruffled before flattening. The owl looked almost indignant before it took off, leaving Atlas put out, a handful of feed still sat in her palm. She frowned and put it away despondently while Ron and Harry enquired as to what had spooked Hermione so badly.

For an answer, she spread her newspaper flat before her, pointing at the twelve black-and-white photos printed upon the front page, all moving, all varying in their motions, ten of them wizards while the other two were witches. Most were manic, mangy looking folks, missing teeth, slick hair, a dirtiness earned through years of confinement. They were inmates of Azkaban, their crimes and names beneath each picture, each worse than the last. It seemed they saved the truly gruesome horrors for the finale.