(10. hermione for the win )

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IRIS WAS halfway through her porridge when she noticed Jade wasn't paying attention to her explanation of why powdered moonstone was superior to crushed. Following her friend's gaze across the Great Hall, she found herself looking at the Gryffindor table—specifically, at a pair of identical redheads who were apparently trying to convince a first-year to eat something suspicious-looking.

"Interesting view?" Iris asked dryly, her tone laced with amusement.

Jade's head snapped back so fast she nearly knocked over her pumpkin juice. "What?"

"The Weasley twins. You've been staring at them for the past five minutes," Iris replied, gesturing subtly toward the Gryffindor table.

"I have not," Jade said, suddenly very interested in buttering her toast with unnecessary precision.

"Mhm," Iris said, smirking knowingly. "Nothing to do with how one of them looks in Quidditch robes then?"

"Shut up," Jade muttered, her cheeks coloring slightly. She avoided Iris's gaze entirely, her attention fixed on her toast as if it held the secrets of the universe. "At least I'm not the one who—"

"Don't even start," Iris interrupted sharply, but the faintest trace of a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. She let her spoon rest against the edge of her bowl and leaned back slightly, enjoying her friend's discomfort.

Across the hall, at the Gryffindor table, an equally tense conversation was taking place.

"You still haven't asked her?" Hermione's whisper was sharp enough to make Ron wince. She wasn't even trying to be subtle.

"I tried!" Ron hissed back, stabbing at his eggs with unnecessary force. "But after what happened in the hospital wing—"

"What happened in the hospital wing?" Harry asked, looking up from his plate of toast and marmalade.

"Nothing," Ron said quickly, his ears turning the same shade as his hair. "Look, I'm done trying, alright? She practically threatened to hex me the last time I talked to her. Everyone can just stop going on about it."

Hermione set down her fork with an exasperated sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose as if she couldn't believe she was even having this conversation. "Oh, for heaven's sake," she muttered, pushing her chair back abruptly.

Ron's eyes widened in alarm. "What are you doing?"

"Something you should have done days ago," Hermione said, standing with a sense of purpose. Ignoring Ron's sputtering protests, she marched across the Great Hall toward the Slytherin table, her robes swishing behind her. Several heads turned to watch her progress—including Malfoy, whose expression shifted to one of amused suspicion.

"Greer?" Hermione's voice cut through the low murmur of conversation at the Slytherin table, making both Iris and Jade look up.

Iris raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised but not unsettled. "Could I speak with you? Privately?" Hermione added, her tone polite but firm.

Jade shot Iris a wary look, but Iris only shrugged and stood, catching Malfoy's strange look from further down the table. She ignored him, brushing off her robes as she followed Hermione out into the entrance hall.

"Well?" Iris crossed her arms, leaning casually against the stone wall. "If this is about the Arithmancy homework—"

"It's not," Hermione interrupted, cutting straight to the point. "Look, there's going to be a meeting. In Hogsmeade tomorrow. About learning proper Defense, since Umbridge is clearly not going to teach us anything useful." She took a breath, her words carefully measured. "Ron was supposed to ask you, but he's been a complete knobhead about it."

"Ah." Iris's lips twitched upward, her amusement unmistakable. "Is that the technical term?"

"In this case, yes," Hermione said, her expression remaining serious. "We need people who actually understand what we're up against. And whatever else you might be, you're good at Defense."

Iris was quiet for a moment, her sharp green eyes studying Hermione's face. The Gryffindor's earnestness was almost disarming. "Someone from Slytherin needs to keep their head screwed on properly," Iris said finally, her voice even. "Can Jade come?"

Hermione hesitated, her brow furrowing slightly, but then she nodded. "Just... be careful who you tell."

"Because we're Slytherins?" Iris asked, her tone neutral but her gaze piercing.

"Because Umbridge has eyes everywhere," Hermione said simply. Her answer was matter-of-fact, devoid of malice.

Iris inclined her head slightly, acknowledging the point. "Understood."

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Back in the Slytherin dormitory later that night, Jade was sprawled across her bed, her head resting on one arm as she watched Iris methodically sort through her potions supplies.

"Are you mental?" Jade finally said, breaking the silence. "A secret defense group? Led by Potter?"

"You don't have to come," Iris said without looking up, carefully measuring out a pinch of dried lavender. "But you heard what Snape said—about needing to be prepared."

Jade frowned, rolling onto her side. "It's risky," she said, her voice low. There was a tension in her tone now, one that hadn't been there earlier. "If we get caught..."

"Riskier than breaking into the restricted section?" Iris countered, her lips quirking slightly as she set down her mortar and pestle.

"That's different," Jade said, sitting up properly now. Her playful demeanor was gone, replaced by something more serious. "This is basically rebellion against the Ministry. Against Umbridge."

"Exactly," Iris said, meeting Jade's eyes directly. "And when has anything worth doing not been a little bit dangerous?"

Jade stared at her friend for a long moment, her brow furrowed in thought. Finally, she groaned dramatically, flopping back onto her bed. "Fine," she said, dragging the word out. "But if we end up in detention, I'm blaming you entirely."

"Wouldn't expect anything less," Iris said, a faint smile playing at her lips as she turned back to her work. She didn't need to look up to know that Jade was still watching her, a mixture of exasperation and admiration in her expression. For all her complaints, Jade had never been one to back down from a challenge—especially not when Iris was involved.

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