CHAPTER 4

Harry sat back down and grinned at her "I have always been able to tell when people lie or are being deceitful. Sometimes when people like Ron tell lies it is very noticeable but other times like when your father was told something that wasn't true but is not lying, I can tell that too."

Hermione looked confused "I felt some of what he was saying was not right like this wasn't the only empty compartment."

Harry smiled "Exactly, I knew he was being dishonest and when he brought up the fact he wanted to meet me and fate brought him to this compartment…"

Hermione added "You knew you couldn't trust him."

Harry nodded "Precisely and the fact that he insulted you before he even knew your name." Harry then looked into her eyes before he continued "Hermione there is something you should know about me before we become really good friends "I am not very good with people. I keep to myself and many of my former classmates thought I was something of a bookworm and teased me, you may not want to be my friend."

Hermione blew out her breath and relaxed. She was so afraid he didn't want to be her friend anymore and it bothered her greatly. "Harry, from one bookworm to another if you like reading half as much as I do we will get along famously. I was teased all through school as being a bookworm and know it all. I haven't had many friends either."

Harry looked at her and smirked "Oh I can read much faster than you I am sure."

Hermione smirked "Potter that fame has surely gone to your head so be careful it might explode."

Harry laughed in response "Granger I hear a challenge coming on and one that you are going to lose."

Harry pulled out a non Hogwart's book and took his wand and passed it over. Another book appeared on top of his that was an exact copy. Harry handed it to her.

Hermione smiled "Duplicus spell?" she asked him.

Harry responded with a positive nod and then added "Thirty minutes and start from chapter two I have already read the first chapter."

Hermione placed it on her lap "Page count or word count."

Harry smiled "I think pages so you can save face."

Hermione smirked "When you find out how far behind in pages I guess word count won't really matter." Hermione added smugly. "We should ask each other questions to make sure we comprehended the material." Harry nodded his agreement.

Thirty minutes later they both placed their fingers on the page and place they were at. Harry looked over at Hermione's and his mouth fell open "Ninety pages, really?"

Hermione answered "Told you and then she looked down at the page number that Harry was on "Eighty-nine!" She then looked up at Harry "My mom and dad can't read as fast as I do. That is better than fantastic and I am truly impressed."

Harry face fell "We take turns asking questions?"

Hermione smiled "Brilliant!"

They took the next ten minutes asking each other questions Harry got all five of his right and Hermione partially missed one. Hermione looked at him "I think we are pretty well matched Harry. I read slightly faster and you comprehend slightly better."

Harry smiled "I agree." Harry then looked out the window and thought for many minutes. Hermione wasn't sure what was going on.

She reached out and took his arm "Harry I am sorry if I have done something to make you mad. I can be a little irritating sometimes." Hermione lowered her head.

Harry turned quickly to her and answered "No, you don't understand. I like you even more because of what you can do. I was just very glad that I came to Hogwarts and I am very, very glad to have met you Hermione. You are my equal and I don't have to be alone."

Hermione's face lit up like a Christmas tree "Really Harry because I am glad too, about everything as well." They held each other's hand and sat back and relaxed and talked about their various experiences. They soon realized that they had gone through similar things in school but their home life was markedly different.

An hour after the cart lady left their compartment door; it was abruptly opened by a boy about their age. They looked up to see a blond headed boy with slick backed hair and very fine robes standing in the doorway. Harry could tell immediately that he reeked of arrogance, money, and more chips on his shoulders than he could carry around. Harry almost immediately took a dislike to him.

It was obvious that Hermione did too. "Excuse me," she said as she stood "Do you have no manners at all? Don't you know how to knock?" the blond kid looked at her and then sneered.

"Step aside girl as you no doubt have heard about the Malfoy's. I am Draco Malfoy and you will do as I say."

Hermione rolled her eyes at him. When he then tried to push past her she stuck out and slapped him across the face and she pushed back to shove him out of the compartment. "I don't care what name you call your pompass ass but I don't like you already." She stated with disdain.

Draco overcame his shock "How dare you strike me!" Harry had stood up besides Hermione and watched as Draco then pulled his wand from his sleeve. Before he could get it out fully, Harry reached over and pulled it out of his hand.

Harry held it up and then quickly snapped it in half. Draco's face was in shock and then rage "You can't do that to my wand."

Harry looked at him and with cold menace "Nobody pulls a weapon on my friend and gets away with it. You are rude, arrogant, and a bully and I don't like bullies."

Draco looked at him and then at the broken wand at his feet and then said "Wait until my father hears about this. You will be expelled, both of you." Harry's eyes flashed in anger.

Before Draco knew what was going on Harry's fist connected with his nose. Harry stood over him and looked down "While you go and cry to Daddy about your wand make sure you tell him that I broke your nose. I don't want to see or hear from you again unless you learn some manners and treat people better."

Draco stood up holding his nose "You haven't heard the last of me." He stated.

Harry and Hermione looked at each other and pinched their noses off and said simultaneously "Just wait until my father hears about this."

Several people had come out of their compartments and began to laugh at the sight before them and when Harry and Hermione imitated Draco they really began to laugh. Draco was so embarrassed that he ran out of sight. Harry and Hermione both went back to their compartment and closed the door.

A few minutes later an older student knocked on the door. Harry went to open it. "Can I help you?"

The taller boy with red hair stood and looked at him before he pulled a notebook out and a quill. "I need your name for my report about an incident that just occurred."

Hermione spoke up "What incident?"

The boy cleared his throat "A new first year was attacked by two students in this compartment."

Harry looked at him funny "Really we didn't see anything. You sure it was this compartment?"

The taller boy looked confused "Well the person that was attacked stated that a boy and a girl in a compartment had attacked him."

Hermione then smirked "Well that explains it because two other people left to wander the train to find other friends. So there were more in here than just us."

The taller boy looked really confused as he began to look down both aisles. Harry then added to his confusion "Have you checked every compartment on the train?"

The tall boy seemed very unsure never realizing that Harry and Hermione had not given their names "No I haven't. Perhaps I made a mistake."

Hermione smiled "It could happen to anyone. No harm done in asking."

Harry looked before he closed the door "Well good luck."

The taller boy answered without thinking "Thanks."

Harry turned to Hermione and smiled "Are all wizards stupid?"

Hermione laughed "From the ones we have met I might tend to believe that they are."

Harry grinned at her "Do you know any spells to change hair color."

Hermione laughed "I have read one or two."

Harry smirked at her "What say we change into our school robes and change our hair color. It should be enough to fool them."

Hermione stood up and pulled her school robe, a skirt, and blouse. "If just a change of clothes and hair color fool them, then I believe you are right about them being stupid."

Hermione looked at Harry and then made an internal decision "Close the blind and then turn around and face the door while I change. We don't have enough time before that boy will be back to separate and change our clothes. Harry did as she asked and then he did the same thing. They sat down after opening the blinds and were reading when the same boy came back and knocked.

Harry opened the door again "May I help you?"

The tall boy answered "My name is Percy Weasley and I am a fifth year prefect. Did you happen to see a brown haired girl and a black haired boy leave this compartment?"

Harry turned to Hermione who had changed her hair to a red color. Hermione looked surprised as she answered "No, our new friends just left to wander the train."

The blond haired boy turned to look at the taller boy. "Sorry we just got back a few minutes ago."

Percy skewed the look on his face "Would you tell your friends to come and find me when they get back?"

Harry answered sincerely "Absolutely. As soon as they come back we will send them to you." Harry closed the door and then lowered the blind as the taller boy left.

Hermione looked up at him "They are really stupid aren't they?"

Harry looked at her and grinned "You know a couple of people who have been picked on and bullied all their lives and highly intelligent could have a lot of fun with this."

Hermione looked at him and pointed her finger "Harrrry, No, we could get in a lot of trouble and we should focus on school."