HP: A Sociopath Gamer In Magic World [ Chapter 20: This is called a letter! ] (Patreon)

"Ah, there's that house loyalty! Some might mistake you for a Hufflepuff at this rate," I told her as I took a prepared letter from my robe, "however, you should know by now that there is no such thing as loyalty in Slytherin."

She was glaring at me now, but her attention quickly left me and focused on the envelope. "What is that?"

"This is called a letter."

Oh, the glare intensifies. "I know that! I mean what's inside it!"

Dangling the envelope teasingly, I smiled at her, "This right here, is everything you need to secure your spot at the top of the Slytherin Girls."

I handed the letter to her which she opened unhesitant, taking out four pages full of notes.

With every line she read her eyebrows rose higher and higher, "No way. This can't be true- But now that I think about it- I can't believe-"

Just as she was about to turn to the next page, I snatched the letter out of her hands, "Now, now. That was only a sample."

She momentarily glared before her face took a stoic expression, "It looks like I underestimated you Charles. You make a pretty good Slytherin."

"Why thank you. I take it you want this information then?"

She crossed her arms and tried to look uncaring, but it wasn't fooling anyone, "You hold some dangerous information, if certain people find out you know this, then you could get seriously hurt."

Oh, she was subtly trying to threaten me to give her the information for free. How deliciously devious of her.

"Come on Daphne, give me some credit. You don't seriously think I would expose myself like this without covering all my bases?"

"No, I suppose not," she admitted, "Well what do you want?"

"I so glad you see things my way. Oh, and don't worry, it isn't anything too difficult."

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I didn't have to wait long to see the results of our talk.

Within a day, I could see that the hierarchy among the girls had changed, as evidenced with Pansy carrying Daphne's books to class.

I could practically taste the hatred that the girl was radiating.

I was leaning on a stone pillar just watching the show that Daphne had promised me.

This time when we made eye contact, instead of pretending not to know me she greeted me in a tone that was warmer than her usual monotone one, "Charles, good morning."

"Good morning Daphne, ladies."

"I sent my father a letter for the books you requested."

"How kind of you."

I bid them a good day as I walked through the castle without a care in the world.

Soon I would have all the tools necessary to attempt to clear the Zombie Dungeon.

But all of that could wait as I had more pressing matters to attend right now.

Walking into the library, I spotted my target at a secluded chair hidden behind a bookcase.

"Granger."

She looked up with a scowl, but it was no use faking it since I could see her pupils dilate and her breath hitch.

"Charles," she said simply.

"So, what is little Miss Bookworm doing inside on such a nice day like this?" I asked pulling a chair facing her.

"Hmph. Just a bit of light reading today. I thought I'd give a handicap. I suggest you take it," she said impudently.

"You? Give me a handicap? I suggest you stick to studying, your jokes are getting terrible."

"Is there a reason why you chose to pester me?"

"A reason? Hmmm? Now that I think about it, there was one."

"Don't hurt yourself," she said without glancing up.

Oh, her tongue had gotten sharper since we met. I loved a witty opponent.

"Well when you're done, you can open this," I told her, placing a brown wrapped packaged on the coffee table beside her, along with a pink frosted cupcake that had a single candle. "I suggest you hide it, before Madam Pince notices it."

Without another word I walked away.

[Increased closeness with Hermione Granger.]

I held back a smirk, and instead focused on my next move.

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Hermione Granger POV:-

Unable to focus on her book she headed back to her room, the brown package under her arm with the cupcake hidden in her sleeve.

Luckily there was no one inside.

"I wonder how he knew it was my birthday?"

She got on top of her bed and placed the cupcake on her nightstand.

Carefully she unwrapped the package and immediately noticed it was a book. A fairly used and worn book at that. However when she saw the title she couldn't help the feeling of excitement and barely held back a squeal of happiness.

"Hogwarts: A History- Second Edition!"

Her fingers gently traced the bold letters on the cover.

Opening the book, a birthday card fell out.

It had a picture of a blue bird and a brown mouse in the middle of a battle. Opening it she read the note that was left behind.

"Early bird catches the worm,

But the second mouse gets the cheese.

Hope this serves as comfort.

There is no shame in getting second place."

Despite the slightly arrogant message Hermione couldn't help but be touched by the sentiment behind it.

Charles was different than what she had initial expected.

When he had declared himself her rival during the second week of school, she expected a bitter rivalry mirroring the one that Potter and Malfoy seemed to have, yet it wasn't. It could even be considered bitter-sweet at times.

She admitted that it was fun to finally have someone that could challenge her, push her to her limits at times. Perhaps it was just her imagination, but she noticed that she was picking things up at a faster rate.

He was also the closest thing that she had to a friend at this school, and unlike those ungrateful brats at her old school, he wasn't intimidated by her intellect.

She almost regretted not going to Ravenclaw. Charles always bragged about their personal library and study groups.