Harry Potter and the Blessed Blood
Friends
***Despite my plans to eventually own things, Harry Potter will never be one of them. ***
***HPBB***
"How in the world did he do that… and with the state he was in…"
***HPBB***
"Hey uh Harry?"
The raven-haired boy glanced over at his best, and probably only, friend as they walked down the hallway towards the main hall for dinner.
"Yes?"
"I think you have an admirer…"
Halting mid step the boy-who-lived turned around and caught sight of the bushy brown hair just before it darted behind a column.
The two boys waited for a few moments, until the girl realized she had been caught and peeked out from behind the pillar.
"Ms. Granger?"
"H-hello…"
"Are you okay?"
The female blinked in surprise, before slowly stepping out into the open, two books being hugged against her chest as if for protection, or comfort.
"Y-yes"
"Could I ask why…"
"Thank you"
This time it was Harry's turn to blink, "ummm for what?"
"Saving me" she whispered out.
He shrugged, "you needed help."
The bookworm gave a slight nod, before allowing the hallway to fall into silence once more. "I can do your homework for you." she whispered out.
This time both boys blinked in confusion.
"Um, what?"
"Your homework… I can do it for you… I owe you for…"
"Don't worry about it, you don't owe me anything."
The girl's jaw practically dropped. He had been in the medical ward for well over a week because he saved her and he didn't think that she was indebted to him?
Neville just smiled warmly at his friend, there was a greatness in Harry that only he seemed to be able to notice, but it was starting to emerge more every day.
"N-n-nonsense! You saved my life!"
Something in her plea brought forth memories of that fateful night pouring back into the young hero's mind. Memories of a young girl being taunted that she had no friends, images of her running off to hide, and it was then he realized that perhaps her insistence wasn't just about him... maybe she just wanted someone to talk to.
"Miss Granger…"
"Hermione"
The boy nodded, "Hermione, would you like to eat dinner with us?"
The smile that formed on the young girl's face seemed to brighten the entire passage as she nodded her head enthusiastically.
***HPBB***
As the two boys were going over homework one day in the Gryffindor common room their newest friend came walking up, her eyes downcast and a sullen expression on her face.
"Hermione, are you okay?"
The brown-haired girl glanced up at her raven-haired friend with near a deep sadness in her eyes. "I'm sorry... I didn't realize..." she whispered out, earning confused looks from the two boys.
"Didn't realize what?"
"Who you are... what you are famous for... I didn't know about... I'm sorry about your parents Harry."
The boy just blinked in confusion for a moment, and then shrugged, "It's okay Hermione, I don't remember them so..."
Before he could say anything further the girl pulled him into a quick hug, before running off to hide her tears for his sake.
Neville merely looked on in confusion, before shrugging and going back to studying, once again missing the wide-eyed expression on his friend's face.
***HPBB***
Over the next several days Hermione's thoughts drifted back over the previous two weeks and the changes that had been brought upon by a single boy's stupid words.
Ronald Weasley, if there was ever a bigger arse in Gryffindor then she was sure it would not fit through the door. Apparently, he had been jealous and annoyed by her comments made during class, which looking back she agreed could have been made a bit less snidely, and had taken it upon himself to call her faults to the attention of her classmates.
He had called her a 'know it all' and a 'friendless bookworm', and it was true. She had always valued books and knowledge after growing up with no friends of her own to keep her company. When she had received her Hogwarts letter it had been like a dream come true though, an entirely new world of information. New knowledge, new books, and most importantly a new chance to become someone different. A chance to make friends with those who would share her passion for learning. A chance to be considered 'normal' for once.
But it was not to be, within a week of starting at the castle she had already been ostracized from her fellow Gryffindors, to say nothing of the other houses. Not a day went by that she did not believe that the Sorting Hat should have called out 'Ravenclaw' instead.
With the facts she now possessed though… she doubted that even there could she have found friendship. Indeed, many of the Ravenclaw girls had become some of the worst bullies towards her.
After she had fled to the girl's bathroom following the scathing remarks, and stayed there crying for over an hour, a slight tremor alerted her to the fact that something was wrong. Moments later her hypothesis was proven correct as the door, and much of the wall surrounding it, was utterly destroyed by a massive monstrosity.
This was it, she was going to die after only a few months of her new life. It almost seemed… fitting that she would end up dying this way, alone crying to herself because of some boy. Just as she had nearly resigned herself to death she watched in shock as a small boy climbed onto the troll's back to distract it.
This of course lead to the monster slipping, and a gut wrenching cry of agony to fill the air.
Had she taken someone to the grave with her? In her frozen state had she killed someone, the only one who appeared to even try and save her? Any further doubt was shattered as a small pair of arms wrapped around the creature's neck.
It flailed about, roaring out with garbled tones as it tried to dislodge the child.
Yet he held firm, through all of it he held on until it felt backwards, crushing him once again beneath its tremendous weight.
Hermione Granger, constantly praised for her quick thinking and intellect, had frozen on a toilet and watched as a boy smaller than she came to her rescue and dropped an enormous monster to the ground in her defense.
Then she continued staring as the teachers came barging in. Somewhere in her mind a traitorous voice whispered that for all her trust in authority… if it hadn't been for a single boy's bravery she would be dead, without a single teacher or parent in sight.
Afterwards the boy had been levitated off to the medical ward while she was confronted by her Head of House.
"Ms. Granger what on Earth were you doing down here!?"
"I…"
"And to bring Mr. Potter along with you! I have half a mind to…"
"It was all my fault Professor. I thought that if I could stand up to the troll, to show courage I would be accepted." The lie passed so easily from her lips that Hermione was barely even aware she had spoken it.
"And Mr. Potter?"
"He… must have come looking for me after I took off. He was trying to persuade me otherwise Professor. He saved my life…"
The transfiguration expert let out a deep sigh, before rubbing her nose to clear the brewing headache. "I hope you realize how very lucky you were. Fifty points from Gryffindor for blind courage without thinking, and another fifty for endangering a classmate."
The girl nodded, holding back her tears at the first punishment she had ever received in school.
As she left the professor turned back one more time, "Ms. Granger… I do so hope you find the time to thank Mr. Potter…"
She had tried, so very hard in fact. Knowing that she had very little to actually offer such a person, Hermione Granger had tried to enlist her services to do his schoolwork… forever. He had saved her life after all and it was the one thing she seemed to be good at.
The boy had not only turned her down… but then offered her a place with him and Neville at dinner.
From there she had followed the two around near fanatically for the following days. There was… something about Harry that she couldn't quite understand. She felt… safe near him, as if everything was going to be right in the world so long as he was nearby. She felt smart, and yet normal at the same time. Like she had finally found a place to fit in.
Now it felt as if Hogwarts was… tolerable, fun even. She had found two people that not only enjoyed her company for who she was rather than just as a way of receiving academic aid, which they had refused several times until she practically forced them to let her help, but also someone who she could simply talk to.
Although Neville seemed to zone out every one in a while, or find something else to occupy his time during one of her 'tangents' Harry never did. He sat there, attentive and listening with a warm smile on his face. It was as if he enjoyed watching her explain the more complicated theories and ideas.
He never judged her, never scorned or ignored her. Heck there were times that he would even contribute, showing a surprising amount of insight when it came to certain topics such as charms.
All in all, it had been two of the most memorable and best weeks of her life.
***HPBB***
Something was different, well different wasn't quite the correct word for it. Obviously, life had been completely different since the young boy had begun his magical life at Hogwarts, and had continued to change since making friends...
Friends
The very thought brought a smile to the boy's face. He had never even dreamed of having anyone he could call a 'friend' and now he had two of them. Two people who he not only liked spending time with, but seemed to enjoy his company as well.
But regardless there was still something different about life, it had been since the 'troll incident'.
He felt... stronger.
Things that would have bothered or caused him pain before he no longer even noticed.
It had all started when one of his papers had fallen off the table next to his bed, he had tried climbing under it but to no avail, and had instead simply lifted the entire bed up. As in off the ground, without effort.
He had been so startled that it had dropped a second later with a crash, perhaps it was one of the many 'enchantments' that the school was using? Maybe all of the beds were magical in such a way that if something fell under them they could be moved so easily.
A few days later this was proven false as Ron had dropped something underneath his and tried for well over a half an hour to retrieve it.
Then there was the time in flying class when he had, fallen off his broom due to a rather powerful gust of wind.
Twenty feet down, and he hadn't even felt it.
What the hell was happening to him?
***HPBB***
Two days
Slightly over forty-eight hours is all it took for the rumor mill to hit full speed with the events surrounding the troll.
Oddly enough neither Harry nor Hermione had mentioned it to anyone save for Neville, and the raven-haired boy was quite sure he hadn't spoken a word to anyone else either.
Yet the evidence was undeniable. The strange stares, the whispers behind his back, quite a few of the older classman looking like they wanted to challenge him to something.
"Potter!"
Harry turned to see one of the older Gryffindors, whose name escaped him at the moment, approaching with long purposeful strides.
"Yes?"
"Is it true?"
"Is what true?"
By now the surrounding students had taken notice and begun to gather slowly.
"That you defeated a troll with sheer magic? A magic resistant troll?"
"Uhm…"
"AND then you didn't get a single freaking House Point for it!?"
"Well I didn't receive any points but I was a bit more concerned with…"
"BULL SHIT!"
The emerald-eyed boy took a step back, his mind resurfacing all the beatings that had begun when his uncle would shout in rage about something.
"I cannot believe this crap! The Slytherins make a freaking potion that doesn't fail and they get ten points apiece. Harry freaking Potter takes down a troll and saves a room full of students and he doesn't even get a freaking award!?"
"I- didn't…" Harry tried to whisper out and correct the man, but his fear and anxiety was beginning to catch up to him once again. Too many bad memories all at once.
"NOT ONLY THAT BUT THEY GET AWAY WITH CHEATING AT QUIDDITCH I MEAN COME ON!"
By now the other students, not just those in Gryffindor, were beginning to join in behind Oliver Wood's rallying call.
Harry, in the meantime, was practically hyperventilating from all the shouting and anger around him.
'Need to escape, run, hide…'
Luckily for him the attention was redirected when a loud bang sounded off from across the great hall and McGonagall entered in with several other teachers, having been drawn in by the shouting.
"What seems to be the situation here Mr. Wood?"
"Harry was just…" But when the attention redirected towards the young boy, all present found he had vanished without anyone noticing.
***HPBB***
It had taken several hours for the boy-who-lived to calm himself down in the owlery, a place he had grown quite fond of as it allowed him to spend time with Hedwig and simply be alone with his thoughts.
Finally, he was able to return to Gryffindor tower, and his two friends who had become worried about him.
***HPBB***
"Mr. Potter care to explain why your 'potion of animal repellent' is bubbling rather than fizzing?" Snape bit out as he stormed over towards the confused boy, who quite frankly couldn't tell the difference between the two reactions.
"Uhmmm I don't…"
A second later the boy's eyes widened as his cauldron exploded, throwing him backwards and earning shrieks and cowering from the other students. It was pure luck that Neville had dropped one of the ingredients, and thus had been forced to go back to the supply cabinet moments prior.
"F-fifty points from Gryffindor!"
Harry barely made out the comment as he slowly picked himself up from the floor and shook off the confusion from his mind.
For a moment… he wished that he hadn't as he was now being stared down by a vicious potions master. The young Potter flinched back in fear as the man began shouting in his face, truly losing his cool for the first time.
"OF ALL THE STUPID, RECKLESS, BONE HEADED THINGS TO DO YOU PATHETIC EXCUSE OF A WIZARD. NO DOUBT YOU RECEIVED THIS VAST INTELLECT OF YOURS FROM YOUR FATHER! I WILL HAVE YOU EXPELLED BEFORE THE DAY IS OVER NOW PICK UP THIS MESS AND GET OUT!"
The bespectacled boy nodded quickly and began to do so while the other students watched on in silence, for once even the Slytherin had remained quiet as well. Unfortunately, it took longer than expected due to his glasses being damaged in the explosion, but eventually he managed and quickly ran from the classroom, still covered in bruises and small amounts of blood.
Turning back to the class Snape's eyes narrowed, "WELL!? GET BACK TO WORK!"
The first years quickly did so quickly, with Neville being forced back to his seat after the professor leveled a deathly gaze at him as he had tried to get up and chase after his friend. It appeared that his fear over the older man still trumped the concern for his comrade.
***HPBB***
He should go to the medical ward but... well he had already developed quite the disliking of that place. The smell of disinfectants reminded him of the deep cleaning he had been forced to do at his 'home' and all the burns that the liquids had done to him over the years...
Strangely enough though...
The boy glanced at himself in the bathroom mirror once more, he had run to the dorm rooms to ensure there wasn't any serious injuries and on the way, the bleeding had stopped. But that wasn't all, the scars he had been nearly covered in from his life had begun to fade... even the ones he had been looking at for the last few years of his life.
It was almost as if just being at the school was helping him heal, or maybe it was just the side effects from all the magical potions he had ingested during his hospital stays.
His musings were interrupted by a frantic knocking on his door followed by, "Harry!? Harry, are you in there? Are you hurt? Do you need me to..."
The boy opened the door a second later, "I'm fine Neville see? Just broke my glasses is all."
"Just broke your glasses!? Harry your cauldron exploded in your face!"
"I'm just glad you weren't hurt."
The Longbottom heir's jaw dropped, who in their right mind shrugged off being blown up if no one else was hurt?
"We need to take you to Madam Pomfrey's."
"I'm fine Neville, I already checked myself over and..."
Seconds later the two heard an odd ringing sound, followed by one of the pictures speaking to them, "It appears as though 'Hermione' wishes to speak with you two."
Upon returning to the common area the boy-who-lived was engulfed in a bone crushing hug, forcing him to freeze up in shock once again.
"Oh my gosh I was so worried! I overheard what happened and ran all the way here! Are you hurt? Are you bleeding? Why aren't you with Madam Pomfrey? Are your glasses broken? What can I do to help?"
Thanks to the girl's ramblings, and Neville trying to convince her to just let him breathe, neither noticed how freaked out Harry had been. Luckily, he was able to pull himself together enough to appear normal just as she let go.
"I-I'm f-fine..."
"Fine!? Harry the explosion practically threw you across the room!"
Hermione's eyes widened in shock, before she began to glance over him again and check for injuries.
"You seem okay... but I still think you should go see Madam Pomfrey and get checked out... how did this happen? Did you accidentally add something wrong to the potion?"
"We were making the 'animal repellent potion' in class and Snape stormed over yelling about fizzling or bubbling or something and it just... boom." the blonde repeated.
Granger's eyes narrowed in thought for a few moments, before she began muttering to herself about inert chemicals and non-combustibles.
"Like I said I'm fine, just need to get these..."
Before he could even finish his statement, Hermione flicked out her wand and muttered something under her breath without paying attention, seconds later the glasses were fixed, better than ever.
"Thank you"
It wasn't what was said so much as how it was said that brought the bookworm out of her obsession and staring at the boy. His tone made it sound like she had brought him back from the dead or given him a priceless gift.
Even more shocking, if her wide eyed expression was any indication, was the warm smile in his face and eyes. How could anyone be that thankful for a simple fixing charm?
"Uhm... your welcome Harry."
"So, what were you muttering about Hermione?"
Neville's question brought the girl back to her surroundings, "I... need to do some research on something. I will meet up with you two after dinner okay?"
The two nodded, allowing the girl to run off.
"Girls are weird..." The Longbottom muttered out, earning a rather confused nod from his friend.
***HPBB***
Just as she promised their bushy haired friend did meet up with them after dinner, and was welcomed to the sight of Harry bringing out a small bag of food.
"I figured you didn't eat so..." the boy muttered with a blush, he had been remembering all the times where he had been forced to go without food, and there was no way he would let one of his friends suffer through the same.
Realizing she was indeed very hungry the girl graciously accepted, and after eating the large amount that Harry had, to Neville's shock, managed to steal, began her story.
"Okay so I got to thinking, I had reviewed the ingredients to that potion and there should have been no reason for the explosion, especially with what we were given in class. I had to go through a couple of more advanced books to be sure but I was right."
Neville took on a thoughtful look, "but it definitely did... I mean it practically blew the cauldron into pieces!"
"Do you still have them?"
Harry nodded, before running up to his room and returning a few moments later with the parts he had saved.
"Professor Snape made sure I took them all with me."
The blonde held back a rather unpleasant comment about the man, while Hermione began her investigation. "It looks like... something else was added."
"The ingredients came in packs with our names on them, there is no way that we added..."
The two children looked at the Longbottom heir for a moment as he seemed to silently connect the dots.
"Sabotage"
Hermione gasped while Harry looked down to the floor as he began to go over his day in his mind.
"You don't really think..."
"You said it yourself Hermione," Neville argued, "there was no reason for the reaction and everything came in packs... with our names on them. The only way this could have happened is if... Professor Snape did something."
"I know he is hard on Harry but... to try and injure him?"
Suddenly the bespectacled boy stood up, a darkness in his eyes for a moment that shocked his two friends, "not just me... Neville you were there just a few seconds prior. If you hadn't gotten up..."
"Harry the potion exploded in your face!"
"And almost yours too..." Once again there was a strange tone in his voice, a fierce protectiveness that sent chills down the other two children's spines.
"Okay let's just calm down for a second. We don't know Professor Snape did it. It could have been one of the other students or even an accident. So, let's just keep an eye out and be careful okay?"
The two boys agreed, Harry a bit more reluctantly, with their female friend and sat down to enjoy the rest of their evening in peace.
***HPBB***
Of all the holidays in the world Christmas is usually the one most favored by children, and the reasons why is obvious. Seeing family that so rarely come around, mountains of presents, hot chocolate, a fire in the fireplace… Harry Potter had never been granted any of these. He had never been gifted anything during this holiday, or any other for that matter, his only family was highly abusive, and the warmth was always directed away from his 'room'.
Then there had been the one Christmas in which all three Dursleys had left, locking him in for over two days… without heat. How he had managed not to freeze to death was still a mystery.
Now though things were different, the abuse was… well he had far more near death experiences at Hogwarts but at least he wasn't confined to a room barely his size.
He could eat and stay warm.
The only problem was… his friends had gone home for the holidays. He understood of course, if he had family waiting for him he would be doing the same thing. Both had apologized near constantly for over two days for 'abandoning him', Harry had waved them off.
"It's fine, I know you aren't leaving just to do so, you need to see your families. I will be here when you get back so have a good time."
They had agreed and left, with most of the staff and students going along as well.
Now the school was… eerily empty and Harry could wander the halls without fear of punishment or dealing with others. It was such a strange feeling of freedom.
After a day or two he found himself at the forbidden corridor once more… and a locked door. He should have walked away, left his imagination there and gone to do homework or anything else but the bespectacled boy had become so tired of locked doors and being kept in the dark.
Pressing his ear to the wooden barrier the boy closed his eyes… and listened. Something was on the other side, something breathing quite loudly… something large.
As soon as he heard a deep and menacing growl the scared boy inside took over, no longer having interest in trying to pick the lock.
***HPBB***
On Christmas Eve, Harry had once again taken to wandering the halls. Hogwarts was unusually quiet this evening as even the students and staff that had stayed behind were mostly gathered in the main hall for a celebration.
Harry, on the other hand, found himself avoiding that area, and the crowd that went with it.
Instead he had simply taken to exploring by himself, up until he peeked into one room and found it empty, save for a large mirror.
'Odd' the boy thought as he walked closer, drawn in by some unknown force, the bespectacled child had noticed some writing at the top around the ornate design, before he glanced into the reflective surface and froze in shock.
It was... Hermione, Neville, and himself. All of them sitting around a fireplace, smiling and laughing happily.
'This must be able to see into the future somehow.' the boy pondered, before shaking his head and leaving, never noticing the Headmaster in the shadows of the room watching him.
***HPBB***
Harry awoke the following morning to find something that he would have never expected… gifts. Not a roomful mind you but more than he could ever have dreamed about.
There was a box of chocolate frogs from Hermione, a Remembrall from Neville, and… a fine silk cloak with a note attached.
Dear Harry,
This was left in my care by your father. I have never been able to use it but perhaps you can find the way to do so. It is a cloak for when you wish to remain unseen, use it wisely.
-Albus Dumbledore
Why the Headmaster would have possession of something belonging to his father puzzled the boy to no end, but he quickly shrugged it off. It was the only item he had from his actual family so to him it was beyond priceless.
Suddenly a fact hit him like a baseball bat to the chest, which had occurred more than once in his time with the Dursleys, he hadn't bought them anything.
What was he going to do? He couldn't leave the castle and they would be back by the time that McGonagall returned from her holiday break as well. There was no time.
Harry strained his mind for something anything that he could get his new friends. Would they hate him if he didn't? Would they abandon him if he could not return the gesture on their first Christmas together?
No
That wasn't an option, he would find some way to buy something for them… he just had to figure out how.
***HPBB***
"But Headmaster..."
"Now now Hagrid I know that you want to give Harry your gift but I do not think it is a good idea at this time."
"But he don't even know his parents... does he even have one picture of em?"
"I am sure that he does Hagrid, but for right now I think we can both agree that reminding him of his loss, especially during the holidays when many of his friends are gone, would be a bad idea. You and I both know how very lonely this time of the year can be without family."
"I suppose..."
The aged wizard nodded in confirmation as the half giant sullenly left his office, taking with him the photo album of the boy's parents. It wasn't that he didn't want Harry to have the gift, he just needed the boy to focus on the here and now rather than dwelling in the past. No good would come from digging up old memories until the time was right.
More concerning than Hagrid though, was the messenger he had to personally turn back at the gates of Hogwarts. Apparently, someone had tried to drop off an unmarked package to the boy-who-lived. Unfortunately, with his reintroduction into society though Dumbledore couldn't take the risk that it was a trap from a Deatheater family and was forced to turn it away.
Still the boy had been given a few gifts via owl, and his father's cloak returned. How unfortunate that he had been unable to 'master' the cloak as he had the wand. Perhaps the secret would reveal itself in time? Either way this would at least create a sense of gratitude in the boy's mind for the Headmaster, and that could only be positive.
***HPBB***
Hedwig was a very happy owl. She had her boy, who was currently petting her while she sat in his lap, and an overflowing plate of bacon and various other treats that she could munch on to her hearts content.
All of this for the simple fact that her owner had found a catalog that he could order gifts from, and then used her to pay and pick up the merchandise. Apparently, he still wasn't aware that it was her job to do as such anyway.
Not that she was complaining, thus far the day had been filled with more luxury and pampering than most owls would receive in a lifetime. Next up was a pleasantly warm bath, followed by a drying session with a nice warm towel.
Life was good, Hedwig decided, as she nipped affectionately at her owner.
***HPBB***
As Neville and Hermione made their way back towards the Gryffindor common room their minds were in two different, yet oddly similar places.
Neville's grandmother had been thrilled when he had chosen to return for the holidays, and they had spent quite a lot of time going over his classes and everything he had encountered. To say that she was overjoyed that he had made two friends was an understatement.
When she found out who one of them was...
***Flashback***
"Harry Potter…"
"Yes grams… is there something wrong?"
"No, no dear of course not it's just… you are aware of your relationship to him correct?"
The blonde slowly shook his head in confusion.
"Your parents were very close to James and Lily Potter, and they were supposed to be his guardians should anything have prevented his godfathers from taking him. But with everything that happened…
Neville's mind was whirling, with the information before it came to a screeching halt, "w-wait you mean that…"
The older woman nodded, with a sad look on her face, "You and Harry should have grown up together."
***End Flashback***
It seemed as though fate, while often a cruel mistress, was finally deciding to grace the Longbottom heir with some luck. Not only was the one person he wanted to be close to his best friend, but should have been for years. This only cemented his determination to become the brother, and ally, that he always wanted to be.
For Hermione, the first vacation home from Hogwarts was a bit awkward. She had to explain virtually everything she had experienced in terms of classes to her parents, while trying to avoid the bullying and near death experience that would have certainly caused them to pull her from the school.
But even more odd was her mother's 'knowing smile' when she talked about Harry.
The two friends had found and sat with each other on the way back to the school, and had even bonded over a few of their classes, but the absence of the third was immediately noticeable. Although they could, and would, get along just fine it was Harry that brought them together as something more than just classmates.
Finally, they reached the dorm, and upon entering the common room found the bespectacled boy sitting in front of the fire place relaxing with a book in his hands.
"Harry!"
He glanced up, and a smile quickly formed on his face as he moved to greet the two.
After several weeks, the trio had finally been reunited.
***HPBB***
"Before I forget, I have presents for both of you."
A few seconds later and both Hermione and Neville had a package in their hands.
"H-Harry you didn't need to..."
"Of course I did... you bought me gifts didn't you?"
"Well yes Harry," Hermione muttered, a bit shocked that the boy had indeed purchased them presents, "but you saved our lives. That is more than enough."
The boy shrugged before his only friends began unwrapping with a collective gasp.
The Longbottom heir had received a very fine heavy cloak for the winter months, something that he had been sorely lacking before, as well as a pack of herbology tools.
For the bushy haired girl, he had bought an expensive quill set to allow for more comfortable note taking, as well as a book on magical customs that she might not have been able to read about just from the required school text books.
For his efforts, he received a bone crushing group hug.
***HPBB***
As the weeks passed, and the snow-covered grounds thawed, life continued as the schoolwork began to wind down towards the end of the first year. Classes were going well, homework was becoming easier, and life was on a pleasant streak, until...
"POTTER, LONGBOTTOM!"
The two boy's heads snapped up as their potions teacher stalked towards them, his cape billowing behind him with dramatic flair.
"Y-yes professor?"
"Care to explain why you are using the wrong measuring stick to stir your cauldron with?"
The two boys glanced at each other in confusion, there was a wrong tool that could be used to stir a potion?
"W-we were j-just u-using what was on th-the s-supply list." The blonde boy stuttered out.
"I am well aware of what the supply list says Longbottom, I wrote the potions section. You would have realized this if you have even an ounce of intellect in that head of yours!"
This time something snapped in the green-eyed boy, who rose to his friend's defense. "Then you would know sir that Neville is correct. If so what is the problem?"
The class grew silent and wide eyed as the student dared to talk back to their teacher.
"D-DETENTION FOR BOTH OF YOU!"
"Neville didn't…"
"I DON'T CARE POTTER!"
Before he could further retaliate Harry's arm was grasped by his friend, who shook his head as if to have him drop the argument.
The boy-who-lived did so a moment later, and sat back down.
***HPBB***
"This is totally unfair, we shouldn't be punished just because Snape has a problem with Gryffindors…" the Longbottom heir muttered as the two crept along through the 'Forbidden Forest'.
They had been assigned detention with Hagrid, who had taken them out to the forest in search for something hunting down local creatures. The half-giant had assured them that they would be fine, and he would remain within sight at all times… until he lumbered off.
"I'm sorry Neville, I never meant for you to…"
The boy shook his head, "It isn't your fault Harry, he just wanted to get us in trouble… I'm starting believe that he was the one who sabotaged your cauldron."
The bespectacled boy shot his friend a curious glance.
"W-well I mean I always thought he was guilty but… it just seems rather convenient for him. Especially since he was fairly close by when it happened."
Harry nodded and the two continued on in silence until they came to a small clearing… and beheld a sight that would haunt them for weeks to come.
***HPBB***
