"Oh," Hermione murmured, voice quieting down when she heard the more somber tone of Lara's voice. "No, I don't think I've heard of them after all. Archaeology has always sounded very interesting, though. I don't know that I have the patience for field work, but it makes for interesting reading." Granted, most people thought of it the other way around, but Hermione wasn't most people.

"May I ask what kind of falling out it was? Did he discover something that seemed a bit too fantastical to believe?" If he'd been ridiculed for having come across a hippogriff or some such thing and not having the proof, Hermione would likely feel strangely guilty, just for being part of the community that kept that sort of thing a secret.