Harry stared at Hermione for a good long moment before remarking with a sigh, "Hermione, your parents must truly adore you."
Seeing her bewildered expression, he elaborated, "Did you notice the way Snape looked at me? That wasn't the look a professor should give a student. So, I see no point in playing nice with him."
"I reckon Snape's either green with envy over my fame or he's got some old grudge against my parents. That's the only way to explain why he's always targeting me."
Hermione still looked disapproving but said nothing more.
Just then, Ron happened to walk by. Seeing Harry standing in the corridor, he assumed he was still moping about the lost points in Potions, so he offered some comfort.
"Don't be sad, Harry. Fred says Snape's just a big, greasy bat, always looking for excuses to take points. Every Gryffindor's had points docked by him."
"Thanks for the thought, but I'm not sad. Snape's docked points don't even add up to the points I've earned in Charms," Harry stated calmly.
"Er... I thought you were... Well, if you're alright, I'll be off then. Seamus and I are meeting up for a game of Wizarding Chess."
Ron quickly made his exit.
"Harry, why were you so cold to Ron?"
Hermione seemed a bit confused by Harry's aloofness towards Ron.
"Hermione, I highly recommend you read The Pure-Blood Directory. That book mentions that the Weasleys and Malfoys are ancient rivals. The Malfoys represent pure-blood aristocracy, while the Weasleys are quite fond of Muggle-born wizards. Unfortunately, I'm the Boy Who Lived, and befriending either side would imply I support their ideals, but I have no desire to join this war."
"Your perspective on things is quite insightful, but friendship shouldn't be so calculating," a voice suddenly interjected.
Harry and Hermione both jumped. They hadn't sensed a third person was even there.
If Harry had known someone else was present, he would never have uttered those last words.
"Please rest assured, I won't repeat a word of that. I'm Cedric Diggory, a third-year Hufflepuff. I merely happened to be passing by," Cedric said, as if sensing Harry's apprehension, offering an explanation.
Harry's momentary panic quickly subsided. As he subtly pulled Hermione back, he said with an innocent tone, "Diggory, are you perhaps making a mistake while practicing spells and hearing things? Hermione and I were merely discussing what to have for lunch."
"In that case, I sincerely recommend the cream of mushroom soup. Its taste is truly exquisite."
Cedric offered a gentle smile, watching Harry and Hermione as they left the corridor.
As soon as they were out of the corridor, Hermione yanked her hand away from Harry's.
"I'm off to the library then. See you in the common room tonight."
With that, she scurried off in a hurry.
"I'm not eating in the Great Hall anymore! Hagrid's invited me to his place for a grand feast!" Harry called out to Hermione's retreating back.
Seeing Hermione change direction and head towards the Great Hall, he turned and went down a different staircase.
"I know I'm handsome, but is just holding hands really cause for such excitement? Could it be Hermione's first time holding a boy's hand?"
Harry muttered to himself as he returned to the dormitory to fetch his briefcase.
Hagrid had set up a large cauldron in the clearing outside his hut, enthusiastically adding ingredients.
Seeing Harry's figure appear on the path, Hagrid waved warmly.
"Harry! You're just in time! The spider legs just finished boiling!"
Harry approached and saw that the cauldron contained dozens of long spider legs.
Hagrid had simply plucked the hair off them; they didn't look appetizing at all.
"Hagrid, this is your 'grand feast'? Where did you get these?" Harry asked curiously.
"These are Acromantula legs. Aragog sent them to me," Hagrid said cheerfully.
Seeing Harry's puzzled expression, he added, "I forgot you haven't met Aragog yet. He was my old pet. I released him later, but Aragog still remembers me and sends me fresh spider legs every year."
"Harry, you start eating. I'll get you some rock cakes. They're splendid with the spider legs!"
Humphrey was devouring the spider legs with gusto, and Harry found that they actually tasted quite good. However, the rock cakes were impossible to chew, even when soaked in the spider broth.
The two of them ate the spider legs, chatting aimlessly.
"Hagrid, I read in the newspaper that a goblin at Gringotts suddenly went mad that day. Do you know what happened?"
"I happened to be there at the time. The goblin had just entered the Thief's Downfall when he claimed he'd been hit by an Imperius Curse."
"Are you saying a Dark Wizard tried to break into Gringotts? No wonder the newspapers only said a goblin went mad; they must have been furious."
"Anyway, nothing came of it in the end. The wizard who cast the Imperius Curse never showed up."
"Oh, by the way, Hagrid, are there any more spider legs? I'll take one for Hermione to try."
After Harry tricked her into eating it, he told her it was an Acromantula leg, which made Hermione rather angry.
"Come on, Hermione, you were enjoying it just a moment ago!"
"That's because I didn't know they were spider legs!"
"Acromantula, actually."
Harry blocked the book Hermione threw at him with a spider leg bone. Realizing she was a bit cross, he stopped teasing her and pulled out parchment to start his homework.
Harry picked up the book and placed it on Hermione's desk, then nonchalantly took her History of Magic essay, intending to use it as a reference.
"Harry! You have to write your own!"
Hermione tried to snatch her essay back, but Harry used a Levitation Charm to place the parchment out of her reach.
"Students should help each other. I can lend you my Charms homework."
"Professor Flitwick has already excused you from your Charms homework!"
"Then I can teach you how to master spells better."
Draco had been constantly trying to annoy Harry. Since Harry had promised Dumbledore not to initiate attacks on fellow students, he was feeling quite vexed.
Time quickly rolled around to Thursday again.
"I have a Cleansweep Two Thousand at home... I fly it all the time... dodging Muggle aeroplanes... unlike some people... all talk and no action... making a fool of themselves."
Draco was once again boasting about his flying experiences in the Great Hall, subtly mocking Harry in the process.
Hermione put down Quidditch Through the Ages, looking worriedly at Harry, reassuring him not to let it bother him.
"Hermione, if you'd been paying close attention, you'd notice the broom I use to clean Humphrey's... leavings..."
By this time, Hermione had read all sorts of Quidditch books and was no longer completely clueless about flying brooms, so she quickly understood what Harry was hinting at.
"Harry! Professors wouldn't allow you to bring that to class! And even if you have a vault full of gold, you should still be careful with how you spend it!"
"In fact, it's a vault of gold."
Hermione decided not to engage him further and buried her head back into Quidditch Through the Ages.