The Witness to a Rivalry?

~~~(POV: Alexander Aevum)~~~

~~~(Location: The Grand Hall)~~~

~~~(Date: September 3rd, 1991)~~~

~~~(Time: 8:15 AM)~~~

Granger and Greengrass stare at each other since the last comment from Granger. I don't know what's wrong with these two, but I don't like being caught in the middle. Literally, I'm sitting between them.

"Alex, maybe it would be better for us to sit somewhere away from a Slytherin."

I've never heard Granger talk like that. It's almost as if she's talking about Greengrass more than Slytherin. I can feel a piercing gaze on the back of my head and turn to see Greengrass staring at me. Waiting for an answer.

I sigh and stand up. Granger tries to follow me, but I place a hand on her shoulder and sit her down.

"I'll not be put in the middle of whatever problems exist between you two. I'll go and sit by myself. When you two work things out, I'll be open to conversations again."

I walk to the end of the Gryffindor table and sit alone as I eat. I could look into their minds and see what their issues are, but I don't invade the privacy of someone else's mind unless I have to. It's courteous to do so.

~~~(POV: Hermione Granger)~~~

~~~(Location: The Grand Hall)~~~

~~~(Date: September 3rd, 1991)~~~

~~~(Time: 8:17 AM)~~~

I look down toward the end of the table and feel bad now. I shouldn't have acted the way I did.

"What's your deal?!"

The origin of my problems decides to irk me further. I turn my head and stare Greengrass in the eyes. She stares back. I don't like the thought of Alex talking to her. I don't like it when he talks to any girl...

"Alexander is a really nice boy, and I'd like to be his friend. With you getting in the way, it's just going to make me try harder."

I take a deep calming breath, composing myself the best I can.

"I don't trust you. You're a Slytherin, and your house treats people like Alex and me less than dirt. Stay away from him if you know what's good for you."

Before I can stand up and leave, she grabs my wrist and pulls me towards her. We're face-to-face, and we have scowls.

"Let. Go. Of. Me."

She doesn't and instead does the opposite. She tightens her grip slightly, and we slowly reach for our wands. We're interrupted before we can proceed to violence.

The monotonous voice of the potions professor breaks into our battle of wills.

"I can trust you two aren't going to draw your wands in The Great Hall?"

We never break eye contact, and she lets my wrist go. We stop reaching for our wands. She stands up and backs away, never breaking eye contact.

"I suggest you go sit with your own house, Miss Greengrass. There are obvious problems here."

Greengrass nods her head slowly, turns around, and walks away. I look at the potions professor and see him roll his eyes as he leaves.

~~~(POV: Neville Longbottom)~~~

~~~(Location: The Grand Hall)~~~

~~~(Date: September 3rd, 1991)~~~

~~~(Time: 8:18 AM)~~~

I walk into The Grand Hall and see most of the early birds are present. After a while of looking for a place to sit, an open seat next to Alex is what I'm left with. It's not complicated to be around Alex, so I think I found my seat.

I sit across from him and start taking food from the trays before me and placing them on my plate.

"How was your morning?"

He looks at me with a slightly annoyed look, but it's not directed at me. Something must have happened this morning.

He doesn't want to discuss it, and I won't bug him.

"Well, well. Longbottom and Aevum getting chummy?"

I hear the voice that I dread. Draco and his friends are right behind him. He's staring a hole through Alex, and now that slime incident makes sense.

I wasn't there, so I only got the pieces. Now the puzzle is together. Draco has his full attention set on Alex, which is never good. I hope this doesn't find a way to become my problem too.