Disclaimer: See chapter one.
Author's note: Thank you for the reviews. I really appreciate it. Don't worry about Snape's punishment it will be cleared up in this chapter. I hope you like!
To Complete A Family
Chapter Three: Friends
Rhian woke an hour later to someone calling her name. "Ugh" she moaned rolling over and opening an eye to see who the intruder was.
"Rhian…" Hermione called again.
Sitting up Rhian rubbed her tear stained eyes and looked at her dorm mate. "Professor McGonagall is downstairs." Hermione stated. "She wants to speak to you."
Nodding Rhian got out of bed and patted the wrinkles out of her robes before following Hermione out the door.
Down in the common room their Head of House was waiting by the fireplace. "Miss Snape follow me please." She said stiffly as she turned and walked out of the portrait hole.
Rhian followed behind quietly not daring to utter a sound. The duo walked in silence down several corridors until they reached the professor's office. McGonagall motioned for Rhian to take a seat in front of her desk.
"I wanted to speak to you Miss Snape about what happened earlier this afternoon in your father's office. Your father was just concerned and forgot his place for a moment." McGonagall paused to look Rhian over. "The punishment your father gave you I'm taking away, but you will have another punishment from me."
"A few of your classmates came to me and told me exactly what happened today in your flying lesson. While I do not condone your behavior I understand." A small smile appeared on her lips. "Your punishment is to a detention with myself tonight after dinner. And Mr. Malfoy has also been given a detention with Mr. Filch for provoking another student."
"Yes Professor" Rhian whispered. "May I go?"
McGonagall nodded.
Without another thought Rhian took off and hurried down the corridor making it to the Great Hall just as everyone was arriving for dinner.
"Rhian you ok?" Harry asked as they sat down to dinner. He had just told Ron about McGonagall's decision.
Nodding Rhian smiled. "Congratulations Harry. "From what I heard that would make you the youngest seeker in a…"
"Century" Harry said. "Wood told me." He replied.
Just then Fred and George Weasley walked into the Hall. Spotting Harry they hurried over. "Wood just told us Harry, congrats. We're beaters on the team." They said.
After excusing themselves the three were left to talk excitedly about the afternoons events. "You didn't get into too much trouble for tackling Malfoy did you?" Harry asked concerned.
"Nah" Rhian said dismissively. "Just a minor detention with McGonagall tonight is all."
Shortly after dinner Rhian said goodbye to her friends and headed up the stairs to McGonagall's office.
When she arrived she found her professor waiting beside several boxes filled to the brim with books of all sizes. "Good evening Miss Snape." McGonagall greeted. "Tonight your detention will consist of reshelving these books alphabetically the muggle way of course."
Rhian nodded and set to work. To be honest the task at hand wasn't all that difficult. But looking at all the boxes she knew she would be there for awhile.
An hour or two had dragged on, by now Rhian was on "P." Reaching into a box she pulled out a rather worn black leather bound book with fading gold letters. It was a potions book Rhian realized as she read the cover The Potions Master's Apprentice: the Official Guide to Becoming a Potions Master by Henry Blackburn.
Sitting back on her heels Rhian opened the front cover and noticed her father's name written in his tidy scrawl. Her father must have received this as a graduation gift many years ago when he had graduated from Hogwarts.
"I remember that book." Professor McGonagall's voice said from behind her.
Startled Rhian looked over her shoulder to find the professor looking at her from her desk. "Horace Slughorn, the potions master of your father's time here gave it to your father when he became his apprentice."
Rhian nodded flipping through the pages, noticing the fact that her father had scribbled notes in the margins of the book. As she went to put the book on the shelf a folded piece of parchment slipped out from between the pages.
Bending down Rhian carefully picked the parchment up and glanced behind her. McGonagall was now grading essays. As she unfolded the parchment and gasped in surprise, it was a letter addressed to her father.
"Rhian…" Professor McGonagall said looking up. "Are you alright child?"
"Yes professor." Rhian said quickly pocketing the letter.
McGonagall smiled slightly. "Its quite late." She replied glancing at the clock on her desk. "You're dismissed Miss Snape."
Rhian hurried out of her Head of Houses' office and made her way down the corridor heading back to Gryffindor Tower. Rounding a corner on the second floor Rhian smacked into someone coming from the opposite direction.
"Oomph"
Placing her palm against her head Rhian groaned. "Who's there?" she asked.
"Rhian…" a startled voice asked in the darkness. "Is that you?"
Recognizing the voice Rhian smiled. "Harry what are you doing out?"
"Yes Harry why are we out here?" an indignant Hermione asked.
Rhian could hear Ron snort. "You weren't even invited." He said.
"It doesn't matter guys." Rhian put in. "If we don't get out of here Filch is going to catch us.
As if on cue a scruffy cat rounded the corner it's red eyes peering up at them. "Mrs. Norris…" Rhian whispered backing up. "Run!" she whispered urgently as she turned and ran as hard and as fast as she could in the other direction.
The four Gryffindors ran down the corridor and up the stairs just as it started to move. When the stairs firmly latched to the floor they scrambled off the steps and hurried down the corridor.
Ron reached the last door first and yanked it but it didn't budge. "It's locked." He cried in exasperation.
Footsteps were getting closer. "Oh move over." Hermione cried pushing Ron aside and pulling her wand from within her robes.
"Alohomora" she whispered unlocking the door.
Rhian pushed the door open pulling Ron, Hermione, and Harry into the room. "Alohomora, its in the standard book of spells grade one." Hermione was telling Ron who was leaning against the door gasping for breath.
"I wonder why they have the door locked." Ron said
A sleepy snort alerted Rhian to the presence of someone or something behind them in the massive room. Cautiously turning around Rhian came face to face with a humongous three headed dog.
Rhian gasped catching the attention of her friends. "AHHHHHHH!"
Groping for the handle Rhian wrenched the door open and they all scrambled out just as the dog attacked. They ran all the way back to the tower.
"What in the bloody hell just happened?" Ron demanded.
Hermione shook her head. "Didn't you see what it was standing on?" she asked bossily.
"We were not exactly looking at it's feet Hermione." Rhian responded. "We were looking at it's heads."
Huffing indignantly Hermione turned on her heel and stomped up the stairs. "I'm going to bed before we get killed or worse expelled.
Rhian shared a look with Harry and Ron. "I'm going to bed too, goodnight guys." She whispered as she headed up the steps.
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After what had happened that night Hermione avoided Rhian and the boys like they were the plague glaring at them when they passed each other in the hall. The letter Rhian had found in detention that night lay forgotten in the bottom of her trunk.
A week later Rhian was sitting at the Gryffindor table with Ron and Harry when the owls flew threw the slots in the rafters. Rhian watched as the owls flew through the Hall depositing the mail they carried for their masters. But one stood out among the rest a beautiful snowy white owl came swooping towards their table carrying a long thin package.
"I never get mail." Harry said bewilderingly as he accepted the package from Hedwig's talons.
Tearing open the letter that came with it Harry read it all the while his emerald eyes widening with surprise.
"What is it mate?" Ron asked eagerly.
Rhian looked at it critically. "I think I know what it is." Harry nodded handing the note to Ron.
"Come on lets go open it." Ron said excitedly.
Rhian got up and followed the two out of the Great Hall where they ran into Malfoy and his dim-witted friends.
Malfoy seized the package from Harry and felt it. "That's a broomstick." He said throwing it back.
Rhian noticed the look of jealousy and spite written on the blonde's face,
"It's not any old broomstick." Ron blurted out excitedly. "It's a Nimbus Two Thousand."
Malfoy's face darkened before he stormed away. Rhian and Harry shared a smirk. "He's a bit jealous don't you think?" She asked as the made their way down the corridor.
"So you think that's a reward for breaking rules?" said an angry voice behind them. Hermione was stomping up the stairs just behind them, looking disapprovingly at the packaged broom in Harry's hand.
"I thought you were not talking to us Hermione." Rhian said. Hermione glared at her.
"Yes don't stop now." Ron added a little harshly.
Glaring at the three Hermione pushed past them and continued to stomp up the stairs.
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Quidditch practices began for Harry leaving Rhian and Ron to find ways to entertain themselves the evenings that Harry was out. Sometimes they'd even go out to watch the Gryffindor team practice.
Besides classes, homework seemed to take up the remaining time which kept Rhian and the others busy. Rhian could hardly believe that she had been in school for two whole months by now.
On Halloween morning the castle was filled with the delicious aroma of backing pumpkin causing Rhian's mouth to water. "I can't wait for the feast tonight." She said as they walked to their charms lesson.
Professor Flitwick was standing on his books as they entered the room. Rhian noticed that he seemed to be rather excited almost toppling off backwards.
"Good morning class." He greeted when everyone arrived. "Today I have decided that you are all ready for a practical lesson."
Excited murmurs rippled through the room as the students waited anxiously for their tiny professor to continue.
"Today class we will be working on the levitation charm." Flitwick said as he began to pair the students up.
Rhian was partnered with Harry while Ron unfortunately was paired with Hermione. The look on his stated he was not happy about it.
"Now don't forget that nice wrist movement we've been practicing!" squeaked Professor Flitwick. "Swish and flick, remember, swish and flick. And saying the magic word correctly is very important as well."
The class set to work trying to levitate the white feather in front of them. Harry and Rhian's feather lifted slightly but didn't lift off the table. Beside them Seamus and Neville worked on their own feather which eventually went up in flames thanks to Seamus.
Rhian noticed Ron becoming frustrated because the feather had yet to do anything. "Wingardium Leviosa!" He shouted waving his wand arm above the feather.
"Stop" Hermione snapped holding out a hand to prevent Ron's arm to move. "You're going to poke someone's eye out, besides you're saying it all wrong. It's not Wingardiumleviosa, it's Wing-gar-dium Levi-o-sa, make the 'gar' nice and long."
"You do it then, if your so clever." Ron snarled.
Rolling her eyes Hermione focused her attention on the feather. "Wingardium Leviosa!" she said.
The feather rose off the desk and hovered over their heads in the air.
"Oh well done!" exclaimed Professor Flitwick. "Everyone see here, Miss Granger has done it!"
Rhian noticed with dread that Ron's face had darkened.
At the end of class Rhian followed Harry and Ron out the door. "It's no wonder no one can stand her." She heard Ron tell Harry as the pushed their way into the crowded corridor. "She's a nightmare, honestly."
Rhian felt someone push past her and groaned when she saw Hermione hurry away, her books clutched tightly to her chest.
"I think she heard you." She said sadly.
Ron shrugged. "So, she must have noticed she has no friends." But as he said that Rhian noticed he didn't look comfortable.
When Hermione didn't show up to the next class and no one seemed to know where she was Rhian decided to go in search for her. Rhian searched in all the places where she though the girl might go but there was no such luck.
"Hermione is in the bathroom crying."
Rhian stopped as she was about to round a corner when she heard Parvati Patil say.
"Should we go talk to her?" Lavender Brown asked hesitantly sounding as if that was the last thing she wanted to do.
There was a pause of silence which Rhian could only guess that Parvati had answered with a shrug. "We'll be late for the Halloween feast." She stated.
"Come on." She heard Lavender reply. "I'm famished."
Rhian waited until she could no longer hear their footsteps before coming around the corner. What she had just overheard angered her. The other girls didn't care if Hermione missed out or the fact that she was distraught, thanks to Ron.
Entering the bathroom Rhian could hear the girl sniffling as she squatted on the floor spotting Hermione's feet in the second stall. "Hermione?" she called.
"Go away." Hermione said
Rhian sighed. "Hermione I'm not going anywhere. Not until we talk."
"Why would you want to talk to me?" she sniffed miserably.
Leaning against the wall across from the stall Hermione hid in Rhian closed her eyes. "What Ron said earlier was said out of jealousy." Rhian glanced at the stall door for signs of movement. "He was just frustrated earlier."
"He's right you know." Hermione whispered. "I am a nightmare."
Before Rhian could respond heavy footsteps could be heard approaching the girl's bathroom as an extremely foul smell permeated the air. "Hermione come out of their now." She ordered pulling her wand out of her pocket.
Hermione sniffed but unlocked the door and came out. "What is it? What's wrong Rhian?" She asked fearfully not liking Rhian's tone of voice.
Rhian backed towards Hermione until her back was resting against the stall door. The heavy footsteps came closer and a humongous figure lumbered into the bathroom. There standing in front of them was a twelve foot mountain troll. It had a large grey boulder like body with a tiny bald head perched on top. The smell coming off of it was horrendous. In it's hand was a large wooden club that dragged on the ground because it's arms were too long.
Small beady stared around the bathroom stupidly. Rhian gulped as it caught sight of the two girls cowering before it.
Hermione screamed only making the troll agitated. Rhian stood there frozen unable to move.
Running footsteps came into the bathroom. Harry and Ron appeared behind the troll.
Hermione opened the stall door pulling Rhian behind her. They had just flattened themselves against the floor when the walls of the stall came crashing down around them.
"Rhian, Hermione move." Harry called.
Rhian pulled herself out from under the rubble. Pulling Hermione behind her they hurried over to the sinks shrinking against the wall. "Harry, Ron help us!" She cried. "Confuse it or something."
"Oy, pea-brain!" Ron shouted picking up a piece of wood and throwing it at the troll's head.
The troll stopped and lumbered around, blinking stupidly at the two boys behind them. After a few seconds of consideration the troll swung his club at Harry.
Rhian snuck up behind it and grabbed hold of the club letting it lift her up and landing on the trolls shoulders. It took a few moments for the troll to realize that an eleven year old girl was on its shoulders. It's long arm reached and grabbed hold of Rhian's arm.
With great force the troll threw Rhian across the room where she smacked into the wall behind the boys with great force.
"Rhian are you alright?" Harry cried out.
Shakily Rhian stood. "I'm ok." She replied but her ribs were on fire.
Ron pulled his wand out. "Wingardium Leviosa!" He cried as he pointed his wand at the troll's club.
The troll swung his arm at Harry not realizing that his club was no longer in his clutches. The club was rising in the air above the troll. "Cancel the charm Ron." Rhian cried.
Canceling the spell the four students watched in amazement as the club came down on the troll's head. Stumbling forward the troll took a step and fell to the ground knocked out cold.
"Is…is it dead?" Hermione asked the first one to speak.
Harry walked over to the unconscious troll. "No I think its just knocked out."
A sudden slamming and loud footsteps made the four of them look up. Rhian knew that someone had heard what had been going on above their heads and had come to investigate. A moment later, Professor McGonagall had come bursting into the room, closely followed by Professors' Snape and Quirrell bringing up the rear. Rhian gulped fearfully. Quirrell took one look at the troll, let out a faint whimper, and sat down quickly on the toilet, clutching his heart.
Rhian's dad bent over the troll. Professor McGonagall was looking at Ron, Harry, and Rhian. Rhian had never seen her so angry. Her lips were white.
"What on Earth were you thinking of?" McGonagall said furiously. "You are lucky you were not killed."
Rhian eyed the toe of her shoe when her father gave her a piercing look. She wished she could disappear.
"Professor…" Hermione said from the shadows of the far corner. "They were looking for me."
"Miss Granger!" McGonagall gasped as she spotted Hermione who was now coming towards them.
"I went looking for the troll because I…I thought I could deal with it on my own… you know, because I read all about them."
Beside her Ron dropped his wand. Hermione Granger had just lied to a teacher.
"If they hadn't found me, I'd be dead now. They didn't have any time to get help. They arrived just before it was going to attack."
"Well…in that case…" McGonagall replied staring at the four of them. "Miss Granger I thought you of all people would know better then try to tack a fully grown mountain troll, and on your own?"
Hermione hung her head. Rhian glanced over at Harry and found that he too was speechless.
"Miss Granger five points will be taken from Gryffindor. McGonagall said. "As for you three…" she said turning to Rhian, Harry and Ron. "For your foolish bravery you each win five points."
The four were dismissed Rhian promising her father that she would report to his office tomorrow morning. Silently they walked back to the Gryffindor tower, but as they stood outside the portrait hole Hermione turned to the three.
"Thank you for saving me." She said.
Rhian smiled. "No problem, that's what friends do."
"Friends?" Hermione asked bewilderingly.
"Yes Hermione, friends."
A/N: that's the end of the chapter. I accidentally broke my 'y' key as I was finishing up the chapter. It took me awhile to get the words with that letter in it. Anyway I hope you liked it!
