Chapter 3 - Hermione is always there

Harry was not very popular at the moment. Half the school thought, he was behind the attacks. He also found out, that it wasn't really easy for him beeing not so popular. He didn't like beeing famous. He didn't care about that. He just didn't understand, why people suspected him, how liked him before. Most students thought that he was the hair of slytherin. Bullshit. But he was finding, that it was starting to get uncomfortable, obvious to the fact, that there really was something attacing students. After Hermione had asked Professor McGonnagall about the Chamber of Secrets, she had told the class, that legend said, that Salazar Slytherin, who was one of the founders of Hogwarts, wished to be more selective about the students attending to Hogwarts. They had been told, that Slytherin wanted to keep the school to students, who were "purebloods". She had told them about how Salazar Slytherin had built an hidden Chamber in the castle. According to legend, the Chamber was the home of - a monster. That was the moment, that made all three of them speechless.

Harry was standing in the common room, leaning in on a wall. Hermione had been insulted as a Mudblood by Draco Malfoy two times in a row in the last 24 hours. He was accused of beeing the one, who opend the chamber of secrets, he also found out, that he could talk to snakes. Another problem was, that there has been attacks on students now - so far only muggleborns. Harry thought it was quite disgusting and absolutely stupid to say, a pureblood is less worth it, than a half or pureblood. "I mean, look at Malfoy and Hermione, she's better than him. But she's muggleborn...", Harry thought miserably. He didn't understand, how a Gryffindor could possibly be the hair of Slytherin. There was two attacks on muggleborns. Colin, while taking a picture - Harry had found that out, after Dobby left, telling him, he was the one, who hexed the bludger, in the Hospital Wing - and Justin. Harry had found Justin, and Filch "caught" him, when he was kneeling over him. Since then, Harry was accused for beeing the attacker. He also kept on hearing this voice in the wall, and now he was sure, to what or who ever that voice was belonging, was the attacker. All of the students were petrified. Not killed. Luckilly. Harry and Ron both suspected Malfoy beeing the culprid, but they didn't now for sure. So now they were bruing a polyjuice-potion in a girls-lavetory. Of course, that was forbidden, but the three of them had decided, that it was for the sake of all the muggleborn students, just like Hermione herself. Harry felt worried for Hermione at the moment. He didn't want her to get attacked.

Harry looked up. Hermione was standing in front of him. "Hey, Harry", she said softly. "Hey", he replied kind of lame. He didn't feel great. He usually was treated better at Hogwarts. This reminded him of the Dursleys right now. Maybe not quite as bad, though. "What is it?", Hermione asked quitley. "Don't really know.", Harry answered. Hermione eyed him carefully. "What?", Harry asked, getting quite annoyed. "Oh nothing!", Hermione shot back in a harsh voice and stormed of. "Absolutly great!", Harry thought. He needed fresh air. He went to visit Hagrid, only to find out, he wasn't there. On the way back, some of the students pointed at him and started whispering. Harry roled his eyes. He had enough of this. He looked for Ron. He found Hermione instead. She was doing homework - in a empty classroom. Harry smiled. This was so typical for her. "Hermione", he said. She looked up, startled. When she saw, Harry, she looked back at her book relieved. "Harry", she replied in a whisper. "How's the potion doing?", he asked curiosly. "Well it is still two weeks until it is ready. There is nothing we can do until then", she answered matter-of-factly. Then Ron came into the classroom. "Guys, i've been looking for you for one hour, where have you been?", he asked a bit mad. "Here", Hermione snaped at Ron. Harry just shrugged, as if he didn't know where he was in the last hour. Ron justed sighed and then he said: "Do you know, what's going to be done with the petrified ones?. Harry didn't have a clue. But Hermione knew something. "I've overheard a conversation between Professor McGonnagall and Madam Pomfrey. They said something about a mandrake*-potion that could reawake the petified students. But I think it might still take a while until it is ready. The mandrakes still have to be pulled, if I heard correctly.", she said. "How is it you just know everything, Hermione? Snape's right about you sometimes. You are quite a know-it-all.", Ron said. Harry knew, he didn't mean to hurt Hermione, but Hermione didn't look all to happy after this statement. She glared at him. "Sorry, Hermione, you know I don't mean it like Snape does", he said then. "Just forget about it, it's fine, Ronald.", she said. Harry roled his eyes again. Why were they always bickering around? Harry came up with an idea then. "Say Ron, your father should know a little about Hogwarts history. Could you maybe ask him about the Chamber of Secrets? I mean, he must know something!, Harry blurted out. "I don't really think, he knows more than McGonnagall - besides I don't really think he's gonna answer me, since I flew his car into that freaking tree, and then it drove off. I think, he's pretty mad.", he replied. Harry was a bit disapointed.

They spent the rest of the day doing homework until dinner in the great hall. Again, all the students were glaring at Harry and whispering.

3 hours later

Harry was sitting on the floor in the common room. He was depressed. Really depressed. He was the only one in the common room, since everyone else had went to their dorms. Ron went to, for some reason Ron was very tired at the moment. He had bags under his eyes and his mood wasn't really on the top of his best. So he was there alone. Alone. He kind of felt alone, since Justin had been petrified, which was weeks ago now. Suddenly someone walked in to the hole. It was Hermione. She sat down beside him and looked at him for a while. Then she said: "Harry, what's wrong?". Then Harry answered: "It's just... why doesn't anybody trust me? They all believe it is me behind these attackes but - why? I am a Gryffindor. And I am not even a pureblood. Hermione took his hand and started rubbing it. "Listen", she said. "I don't why they all bellieve it is you. But what does it matter, Harry? They will come to there sences one day. As I told you at the end of last year: You are a great wizard. And even more: You are a great person, and my best friend. I think you care to much about, what others think. You can't change there mind anyways. Just try to ignore them, I'm telling you, it's the best way...". Harry said nothing. He just looked at her, directly into her brown eyes. A switch was flicked somewhere in his brain. He looked at her gratefully now. She had always done so much to help. She and Ron were his first two and now best friends. He knew, he could trust them. Then Harry said: "But when Malfoy called you Mudblood the other day, you didn't just ignore it." "Yeah it was the first time in the wizarding world somebody called me a ... whell you know...?", Hermione asked a bit sad. "But I'll have to learn to ignore that to. I bet it's not the last time he said it to me...", she said. Harry sighed. "Sorry for bringing it up, Hermione", he said a bit ashamed. "It is okay, Harry" She gave him a smile. Harry liked, when Hermione smiled. "By the way, Hermione, what do we need for the polyjuice-potion?", Harry asked. "A bit of who you are changing in to.", Hermionen replied. "Usally you take hair." "Sounds tasty", Harry snorted. "Well you want Malfoy to talk to you or not?", Hermione said amused. "Well, I guess so"; Harry replied, not all to Happy, that he had to drink a potion with hair of a Slytherin in it.

Eventually they had to go up to their dorms. It was past midnight and they were both very tired by now. "So thank you, Hermione. For... I guess saying all those nice things to me...", Harry mumbled a bit shy. "Oh Harry, it's nothing but the truth. Believe me, it will be fine.", Hermione said. She hugged him tightly. One of her bone-crushing hugs, as usual. Harry blushed and he didn't understand why. They said goodnight and went up to their dorms.

Harry was just got into bed with one last thought. Hermione. He found himself thinking about her more often lately. He wore a big smile as he drifted to sleep. One thing he knew. Hermione, no matter what, would always be there for him. As long as it was her and Ron - nobody else made any difference.

To be continued...

*Sorry for probably spelling that wrong, I just don't have any clue, how to write that at the moment. :)

A/N: Hope you enjoyed!

Stay tuned for more!

Have a great summer ! :)

Bye, for now.