"Wow, this is really cool Daphne!" Parvati says, ogling the pages. "I'd heard about these on the train ride here. I thought they were really interesting, but didn't think I'd get to see them. If I get any I'll be sure to get them to you. Even if they're duplicates I'm sure you can trade them."
"Please do, I have quite a stock of duplicates that I brought with me in hopes that some other students would also collect them, and maybe we could trade. None of the Slytherins collect them though, saying that they're a waste of money." Daphne says, her cheeks slightly red.
"I know Ron Weasley and his brothers have a collection, write down some of the ones you're looking for and I'll see if maybe they have some duplicates to spare, plus the Weasley Twins are phenomenal at getting sweets into Hogwarts anyway, they may have an arrangement to get the cards from people." Neville says, as he stops to look at a card showing a Troll. "Is this what the Troll in the bathroom looked like?"
"No, that's a river troll, the one in the bathroom was a mountain troll. It's a bit bigger with a kind of brownish-gray skin as opposed to this purple skin." Harry says, pointing out a few differences.
"Turn the page and the Mountain Troll should be there, I had to break up that set because there were two three-piece sets back to back, but they only make collector books with pages for four cards." Daphne says, while pulling the next name from the hat. "Hannah, you're up."
"Okay!" Hannah says excitedly, before pulling out a small basket from behind her. "I really love cooking, but baking especially so I managed to talk Professor Sprout into letting me use the kitchens sometimes, and I made some muffins. Please try them." Hannah says, opening the basket and showing the group a large batch of muffins.
Everyone is excited to taste them, Daphne making noises of extreme contentment. "Oh Hannah, these are great! They're really sweet too!"
"Thanks, I used some honey in the dough on this batch, and I thought they came out really well." Hannah says, obviously proud of her skills. "I want to open up a restaurant when I'm older. Nothing fancy, but just a nice place to unwind with some good food."
"Keep it up like this and I'll be a lifelong customer." Daphne says, utterly devouring her muffin. Harry had seen Dudley get quite into his food, but he never seemed to enjoy it quite the way Daphne was enjoying it now. Harry however had to agree that the muffins were delightful.
"Next up is Hermione!" Hannah says, having pulled the Ravenclaw's name from the hat.
Hermione stands up and from her bag pulls out a bizarrely shaped lump of yarn. "This… was supposed to be a hat, but I'm not very good at my knitting yet. That's what I've been trying to do by the way, knitting. My grandmother taught me the basics a few years ago, and I had always told myself that I'd try and get better, but never really had the excuse. Now I do."
"Oh, that can segue into mine pretty well then, since I've been weaving." Padma says, pulling a small loom from her bag. "Seems like Hermione, Parv and I get to have a bit of a sewing circle!" The group laughs at the joke.
Hermione pulls Lavender's name from the hat, and Lavender pulls out a series of magazines. "I just love all the celebrity gossip, and I've been funneling some of what's happening at Hogwarts to my mom for her 'Rising Stars' column. Apparently her readers are really interested in that seeker from Hufflepuff, Cedric Diggory. His dad is apparently a member of the wizengamot, and the family is pretty wealthy. He's also dreamy, so he's one of the most eligible bachelors at Hogwarts."
"That's interesting," Harry says looking nervously, "You haven't said anything about me have you?"
"Oh, Mom really wants to know, but I wouldn't let her know anything without your knowledge Harry. She has a tendency to scandalize things, so I wouldn't want to get you in any trouble" Lavender says. "You're my little secret til you're older!"
Harry flushes as Lavender pulls out a name. "I got Padma who already told hers, so it's just Harry and Neville now." Lavender says, looking between the two boys. "Neville! Gryffindor courage! You're first!"
Neville flails a bit before regaining his composure. "Ugh, yeah. I like to garden in my spare time, it's why I think I like Herbology so much. I've got a greenhouse back home that I used to spend as much time in as I could. I thought I'd try the same thing here, but since we've had the club I haven't needed to. The time in Herbology, and doing our self study has been enough to keep me occupied, and just having you guys as friends has kept me happy. I'm really glad we started doing this." Neville says, a smile on his pudgy face. Harry understands where Neville is coming from. Before Hogwarts, before magic, Harry had never felt like anyone even cared about him. Vernon Dursley surely hadn't, and while once upon a time Petunia Dursley may have, Vernon had surely removed that part from her. Harry was glad to be surrounded by friends.
"I'm glad you all are around as well. I never had any friends growing up because they would all tease me because I cared more about books than toys or the tellie. You guys have just accepted me for who I am, and I can't thank you enough for that." Hermione says, her normally composed demeanor breaking away to reveal a girl who really just wanted to belong. Taking the initiative for the first time, Harry wraps Hermione into a hug, not as tight as those Hermione has given him, but equally as warm. Padma joins on the opposite side of Hermione, as the rest of the Sphinx Club all huddles in, surrounding the Ravenclaw trio in a bubble of purely positive emotion.
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