Disclaimer- The only thing I own that has to do with Harry Potter is hardcover editions of all 7 books, a Slytherin knit hat, and boxer briefs with the Hogwarts crest on them. I'm just playing with JKR's characters and having some fun with them. I don't make money from this fic.
A/N- Last night the site kept giving me server errors (even clicking on a story in my favorites gave me the error) and I couldn't upload this chapter or edit it. It wouldn't even let me see reviews for the story. Boy was that annoying. Anyway, some things people have said- is Molly Weasley's behavior explainable in a non-menacing way? Yes. Am I allowing that in this story? Hell no. ;-) Snape's different reaction to Harry won't be explained just yet but eventually it will. I rather like keeping some of the mystery.
I put in a single paragraph about Dumbledore in this chapter and just want to point out- I know I'm not giving him much time thus far in the story. In the original books he didn't communicate with Harry directly until Christmas and I'm trying to keep up with that whole 'Dumbledore has limited contact with Harry' trope. I guess if I had to lay out a theme the first chapter is about Harry meeting Hermione and getting help from 3 professors. This one's would be Harry and Hermione bonding with their housemates as classes begin. Oh, and to my mind the best way to fight bigotry is education. That's important because it's also going to become a theme.
Oh, and to all my fellow citizens of the U.S.A. football or footy in this story is what most Americans call soccer but the rest of the world doesn't ;-)
It took just a week for Ravenclaw to see that The-Boy-Who-Lived was very studious. He and Hermione even set up a study group with the other first years. This worked out well because Hermione was the first to grasp Charms and Transfiguration, Padma Patil and Anthony Goldstein were surprisingly skilled in Potions, Terry Boot and Mandy Brockelhurst had the green thumbs for Herbology, Lisa Turner really had a patience for History of Magic that put the others to shame, and Michael Corner was quick to pick up Defense Against the Dark Arts. Harry was really into Charms and DADA, so all of them would sit together an hour or so a night to do homework together, helping one another out. The older students, from second year Cho Chang to third year Roger Davies and fifth year Penelope Clearwater, also would sit in and explain anything the first years didn't understand, including the best way to cut your ingredients for potions or the occasional reference to a book that would help with their homework that was in the library.
Aside from doing homework in their study group, they learned about the magical world from the purebloods and half-bloods. In turn Harry and Hermione, being the only two muggle-raised students of the first year group, taught their new friends about the non-magical world. The older students were very interested in this other world most of them had never experienced and so finally Hermione decided to write to her parents using Harry's owl, Hedwig. They seemed happy that Hermione was making friends and soon Hedwig was engaged in trips between the Granger residence and Hogwarts, taking money (provided by Harry) and returning with muggle toys and games. She brought board games like Monopoly, Candy Land, and Guess Who, muggle playing cards, small rubber balls, and even a deflated football. Hermione had laughed when she saw the football and told Harry that her father loved watching footy and was always trying to get her to play with him in the yard.
One thing that really fascinated the other ravens was the muggle candy and books written about magical creatures like vampires and goblins and elves and dwarves. They were fascinated with muggle fiction. About halfway through their second week Harry visited Professor Snape for a 'detention'. Severus checked Harry's back. There'd been scars from being beaten with a belt on it and he'd made a salve for Harry, "Your back looks blemish free. Your ribs are no longer visible and you're a healthy weight and proper height for your age. Did Miss Granger assist with the salve?"
Harry blushed and nodded. Snape chuckled to himself, "Do you feel healthier, Harry?"
"Much better," he nodded, "Hermione says I've stopped eating my food so rapidly and I've decided to start playing with the muggle football that her parents sent us. Professor Flitwick cast a spell to keep it inflated. All the first years in Ravenclaw have been kicking it around. Roger, Cho and the older students are joining in too." He grinned, "We're going to have games once a week."
Snape smirked. "I'm glad you're enjoying Hogwarts. Filius says you're teaching your fellow students all about the muggle world?"
Harry nodded eagerly, "Hermione's parents buy us things and Hedwig delivers them. At first I paid for alot of the things; especially for Hermione and me. Now the others will pay us the money for items they want. Hermione and I work out the conversion and then they pay us in wizarding money. Over Christmas Hermione will get the money converted to pounds and her parents will have all the money. Plus a little extra. You know, for shipping."
The former-Death Eater laughed at that. Harry and Hermione, according to Filius, studied hard but also enjoyed playing with the other children and getting to know them. Ravenclaw house was the perfect place for them both. He sent Harry on his way with a note in case he didn't get back to Ravenclaw tower before curfew.
Severus Snape leaned back into his chair in his rooms. Harry was adjusting well and he knew it was in no small part thanks to one Hermione Granger. Harry clearly was developing a crush on the young girl. He thought that was cute. Harry's first two weeks in the school were proving quite pleasant. Clearly the lad had never been happier and Severus was glad to be a part of it. His thoughts went to Harry's parents. Other than looks, Harry was nothing like James. But then, he wasn't all Lily either. Harry seemed to be a blend of his parents. He was studious like his mother, but made friends easily like James. The boy seemed thrilled to have friends, and the ravens didn't look at Harry and see a hero. They saw their friend. A smile crossed Snape's face as he leaned into his chair and summoned a book and a drink. Not a bad start to the year so far. Lily and James would be happy that their son wasn't alone and that his heritage didn't matter to those that mattered the most to him.
Now that he had a clean bill of health and his body was proper for his age Professor Flitwick took his measurements with a magical measuring tape he'd conjured and sent them off to the Grangers so that they could buy Harry some new clothes with some of Harry's money. Filius, Pomona, and Severus had also tossed in some galleons to cover the costs for a complete new wardrobe.
The very next evening Filius Flitwick entered Ravenclaw's common room only to be pelted by little bouncing rubber balls. To the relief of his students he laughed it off and offered them assistance in charming them after Hermione, Terry and Padma explained that they were testing which spells could make them bounce the highest. Seeing their head of house amused by their antics, and also intrigued by all of the muggle games and toys they'd had delivered, Roger Davies and Penelope Clearwater asked Professor Flitwick to charm the football so that there could be no cheating (since he was impartial) when they began to play footy on the weekends.
Before October had hit Hogwarts all of Ravenclaw looked fondly over Harry and Hermione, acting as their brothers and sisters. For two lonely children who'd never had any friends, it had been a whirlwind month. Professor Flitwick watched, proud of his ravens, as they became one big happy family; no other house in Hogwarts had such a tightly knit feeling. If the first years were bullied in any way then Roger or Penelope stepped in and took care of them, though they weren't alone. Flitwick caught Cho Chang and Marietta Edgecombe standing with Hermione one day when Draco Malfoy was trying to harass Hermione while she'd been walking alone to class. His pride in his house grew as he watched a grateful Hermione thank the two older girls, who'd then walked her to class.
As Halloween grew closer Harry decided to ask about his grades. Professor Flitwick gathered them from the professors and Harry was stunned to see that while Hermione was the top student of their year, not that that surprised him since she was scarily brilliant, Harry was in the number two spot. Both of them were certainly not in danger of losing their positions, according to their head of house. He smiled and promised to study just as hard before asking Professor Flitwick a surprising question, "Sir, why don't we learn about goblins?"
Flitwick blinked, "How do you mean, Harry?"
"Well I think it's condescending to call them a 'magical creature' but I asked Roger and Penny and they said that goblins aren't covered in Care of Magical Creatures. The older students told me that History of Magic sort of covers them and Professor Binns loves to drone on and on about 'goblin uprisings' but if goblins are so hostile to wizards why would wizards let the goblins manage their properties and gold and investments?"
Filius smiled. "Well to answer your first question would be complex. No I would never consider a goblin to be a magical creature either. I'm descended from goblins myself, on one side of my family. Your second question is an excellent one. It falls into pureblood ideology, though."
Harry thought about this, "So since some wizards think that blood status means more than ability, they think that being human is superior to being a goblin?"
"Most wizards think that way, even those that don't believe blood status matters," Filius explained. "I daresay you can understand that this position makes no more sense than blood making a difference."
Harry smiled, "If Hermione, myself, and Terry all cut open our palms they'd all bleed the same. You couldn't look at Hermione's blood and tell me that she's muggleborn. I met Griphook at Gringotts and he seemed nice. A little surly. Is that just because most wizards think they're superior? He was alot nicer once he realized I didn't know what was going on or where I was."
Filius nodded, "Some goblins no doubt hate wizards; most just despise them for their attitudes toward them."
"You must have it hard then sir," Harry said, "straddling two worlds. Kind of like alot of the halfbloods do."
"I manage," Filius smiled. "I am on good terms with the goblins. I also love teaching."
"Professor Flitwick, does goblin blood look the same as giant blood or human blood?"
The wise half-goblin smiled, "They do."
"So then my blood and Griphook's blood would look identical. Wizards sure make such simple things difficult." Flitwick just chuckled as one of his favorite students left his office. He had to agree. Wizards made things much more difficult than they were. Perhaps Miss Granger and Mr. Potter could change that.
On Halloween they entered their Charms class together, "Hey Harry," Ron said, "I saved you a seat."
Harry looked at him like he was insane. "I don't even know you," he said, sitting down next to Hermione at the two-person workstation. "He's getting more and more desperate."
"It's actually rather sad," Hermione got out her book and they looked over the spell together. Hermione's skill with Wingardium Leviosa proved to enrage Ronald Weasley, whose feather didn't move at all. Harry cast it easily; he and Hermione had read ahead because they were both interested in Charms the most. Ever since Flitwick had charmed a watch for each of them that would act as a shield for minor curses, hexes, and jinxes they wanted to learn more about them.
Terry and Padma sat at the workstation next to them and Terry spoke, "Hey mate the weather's looking good this weekend. Think we can have another game?"
Harry nodded, "Hermione and I drew up what the goals look like and Penny offered to transfigure them for us since we can't do it yet. We're thinking this time we could see if Hufflepuff wants to play and we could trade out players after half the game is over."
"That sounds wicked," Terry grinned.
Hermione laughed, "We're pretty excited too. Justin Finch-Fletchley plays footy and he said that if we could charm his ball too then he'd be happy to teach the Hufflepuffs how to play."
Padma smiled. That sounded fun. So far they'd played boys vs girls and odd years vs even years. More changeups sounded pleasant. Like Hermione, Padma had never been athletic. But playing footy with her classmates was fun and very lighthearted, and she noticed that no matter your athleticism everyone was just playing to blow off steam and have fun.
They all noticed the glowering Weasley but they all ignored him. They were used to how the redhead seemed to covet Harry, who wasn't interested in even speaking to the obviously jealous and rude prat. Once class had finished Harry took Hermione's hand, like he always did, and they headed on to their next class. Maybe the other houses would have said something about their closeness, but Ravenclaw respected it. There were also bets going for how long until the two started dating. Roger had found out and at first was angry, but he had to admit Hermione and Harry were always together and always happiest when they were together. He'd joined in on the bet. It wasn't mean-spirited or condescending; just playful fun as they all looked upon two people who they viewed as their younger siblings.
Albus Dumbledore was stumped. First Potter wasn't a Gryffindor, then he learned that Molly had never even seen the boy, and now Ronald Weasley was unwanted in Harry's large group of friends. He had to get the Weasley boy into the lad's good graces, somehow. He couldn't exert control over him otherwise. He needed Harry Potter pliable and humble, and this Harry Potter was definitely not pliable. The Weasley boy's jealousy would keep Harry in line and mostly solitary. Maybe now was the time to act. A little Halloween adventure might be right up the lad's alley. That would endear Weasley to him and Albus could begin his efforts to guide Harry down the path he'd already laid out for him.
At the Halloween feast Hermione and Harry sat together as always, though Penny was opposite them and Roger Davies was sitting next to Harry. Ravenclaws didn't sit in their year groups; everyone changed it up. Tonight Cho, Roger, and Terry were discussing strategy for the Hufflepuff game. Professor Flitwick had cast the charms on Justin's ball and the Hufflepuffs had agreed to play with them that weekend provided it was a friendly game since most of them had limited experience with the sport if any at all. They'd all agreed and decided to have it as a practice match, with all the muggleborns that knew the sport explaining the rules clearly. Everyone was glad the rules were simpler than quidditch, which fascinated Harry after his first flying lesson but made Hermione nervous. "I just wouldn't want to see you get hurt," she explained to him. Harry appreciated that more than he could say. Hermione was the first person to ever care about his well-being and while she wasn't the only one at Hogwarts that did, Hermione was the one who mattered the most to him.
They were all having a wonderful time when Professor Quirrell appeared, "Troll…in the dungeons…just thought…you'd like to know." He fainted on the spot and chaos hit the hall.
The prefects were ordered to take all the students back to the dorms and Hermione frowned, "Wouldn't it be best to keep us all here? How do we know where the troll has gone since Professor Quirrell saw it?"
"That's a good point Hermione," Penny said before rushing to the head table and Professor Flitwick.
"Fifty points to Ravenclaw, Miss Granger," Flitwick declared, "Ravenclaw, all of you stay here in the Great Hall. We don't know where the troll is and I don't want you in the castle with them. I want a roll call, prefects. Make sure all of our students are accounted for." Penny nodded and walked back down to the table, counting along one side of the table while the other prefect counted the other.
"The same to you Hufflepuffs," Professor Sprout said, "None of you leave and I want a head count to make sure no one is skiving off." Snape followed through with Slytherin, and all three houses found that all their students were accounted for. After placing their prefects in charge of the houses they left to go after the troll.
Only Gryffindor left the hall, which confused the other three houses. Especially when Hermione explained her theory, "Could any of us, even the seventh years, take on a troll? Who's to know where it is? If it was released in the dungeons then all of the Slytherins could be walking into death, but what's to stop it from getting to the path of the other dorms? It's safest to stay here until the professors find it."
"You're brilliant," Harry grinned at her.
She blushed at the compliment, "He's right," Roger nodded, "that's a perfectly logical explanation. I might not like Slytherin but I'd really rather not hear that one of you got flattened by a troll because the headmaster wanted us all in our dorms. Besides then Marcus could make excuses for losing at quidditch."
Even the Slytherins laughed at that. It would be a Slytherin thing to do, taking advantage of an unpleasant situation. But all of them knew that a troll could flatten you with a single whack of his club and so even the most bigoted among them had to admit that if it weren't for a muggleborn first year they could have been killed. Daphne Greengrass got up from the Slytherin table and walked over to Hermione, extending her hand to the girl, "I'm Daphne and thank you for looking out for all of us, even people who've been calling you names," she turned her head and glared at Malfoy, who squirmed uncomfortably in his seat.
Hermione stood and accepted the hand, "I'm Hermione and you're very welcome. If you're interested in playing the muggle game of football with us you are more than welcome to do so. Ravenclaw is setting up to play Hufflepuff in a friendly game this weekend."
Harry nodded and stood, "It's good exercise and a good way to bond with our house."
"Maybe we could all come watch your game this weekend?" Daphne asked.
"Sure," Padma nodded, "only 11 people can play at a time so we could teach you the rules while we sit out. Professor Flitwick charmed the ball Hermione's parents sent us to prevent cheating."
"My dad says he wishes that could happen in muggle footy. Then players couldn't cheat by using their hands."
"You play the whole game with your feet?" Now Slytherin was all curious, even Malfoy, and so Ravenclaw cleared off some of their house table and Hermione sat on it with Harry, Padma, Roger, Terry, Cho, and Penny as they explained the game to a bewildered Slytherin.
After they finished explaining it Harry suddenly had an idea, "Wait if a Slytherin served as a referee then it'd be even more like a real game! Then when Slytherin plays Hufflepuff a raven can be referee and when Ravenclaw plays Slytherin a puff can be referee. That way it appears fair even if it's a friendly game."
Everyone thought this was a brilliant idea and chatted away even if the food had vanished from the hall. When Pomona, Filius, and Severus returned to the hall they were surprised to see Hermione sitting and talking with Daphne Greengrass, Susan Bones, Padma Patil, and Tracy Davis. Even more surprising was how they all looked at the professors as though this was a common occurrence, "Is it safe to go back to our dorms now?" Pansy Parkinson asked.
"Yes," Severus answered, "We have taken care of the troll. Why are you all intermixed?"
"Daphne thanked Hermione for saving all of Slytherin's lives and then she offered to let us play football with them and they taught us the rules," Tracy answered.
Cedric nodded, "And then Harry suggested that a Slytherin serve as a referee for our unofficial game this weekend and we all decided it'd be fun to play together."
Severus couldn't hide his smile. Three houses uniting together all thanks to a muggleborn witch and muggle-raised wizard. "Miss Granger do you think you could order another football for Slytherin house to practice with? I will of course pay for it."
Hermione nodded, "Of course professor. Hedwig can send the request when I write my weekly letter home to my parents tonight."
Flitwick smiled, "I think your parents would do well to open a Gringotts vault. Then students could send the funds for those muggle toys and games you ask them for and Gringotts owls can deliver the items in question."
This was news to all the students present, not just the muggleborn ones. "They can open a Gringotts vault even though they're muggles?"
Daphne tilted her head in thought, "I presume because their daughter is a witch? Since they know about magic it's not against the statute of secrecy. And it would certainly make it easier for them to buy her school things if they could put in some muggle money, converted into galleons, for use."
"Five points to Slytherin Miss Greengrass," Snape said, "that is correct. Professor Flitwick could assist you with that deed over the winter break, Miss Granger."
"Oh that would be wonderful Professor," Hermione smiled. She turned to the Slytherins, "If you lot want anything muggle like we have in Ravenclaw just ask. I'm sure Justin from Hufflepuff could help out too. I'm sure you all would like the game Monopoly and some of the other muggle board games we have." The boy in question nodded and the professors took the students back to their dorms after Snape gave Hermione a few galleons for a football.