18th December, 1992
"He was right there, Hannah! Who else could it have been?" Ernie paced up and down the deserted corridor, waving his arms in agitation. The castle was quiet and the only light came from the torches on the walls. A snowstorm raged outside the windows, much like Ernie was raging inside, and the wind rattled the glass occasionally, breaking into the eerie silence that had blanketed the school. The normal hustle and bustle of students roaming the corridors at that time was absent. All classes had been called off after Justin and Nearly Headless Nick had been found Petrified and everyone was staying inside their common rooms. Ernie, however, hadn't been able to sit in the common room with everyone around him speculating who the culprit might be and had slipped out. Only Hannah had seen him go and followed him to the corridor they were currently in.
Ernie's angry footsteps echoed in the deserted passage as Hannah trotted along behind him, trying to keep up. "You don't know that. Look, if it was really Harry Potter, why would he attack two Gryffindors?" she argued.
"Creevey kept annoying Potter, I told you that already. I heard the ghost nearly got Potter into trouble with Filch sometime too. You heard him talk about his Muggle relatives. He obviously hates them and he's taking it out on all of us!" Ernie shot back.
"But he's a rather nice boy, Ernie. Besides, if he really hates the Muggles, why would he risk doing something like this and getting expelled? He'd have to live with them all the time then. And one of his best friends is a Muggleborn, surely he can't have anything against them," Hannah reasoned.
Ernie rounded on her angrily. "Don't ask me to figure out how the mind of an evil, twisted Dark wizard works! What's up with you, Hannah? You're supposed to be a Hufflepuff. Where's your loyalty, eh? Potter's a danger and he just attacked one of my friends – one of our friends – and you're trying to justify his actions!" He regretted his outburst when he saw Hannah's eyes fill with tears. "Hannah – no, I didn't mean to yell – Hannah, wait!"
"Please don't stay up here for too long, it isn't safe," she muttered before sprinting away.
Ernie slapped the wall in frustration. He hadn't meant to say that, he'd always had a big mouth. It was just that he was scared and Justin had been attacked just two hours ago and he was worried. Fear was even scarier when you didn't know what you were afraid of and Ernie was no Gryffindor. Deep, deep down, he knew that Harry Potter couldn't possibly be the Heir of Slytherin but it was far easier to blame a solid, breathing boy and fear him than a silent, unseen shadow. In Ernie's mind, Harry Potter had hurt his friend and he couldn't stand to hear anyone defend the boy, not even timid little Hannah who barely spoke up at all!
An hour later, he made his way back to the common room, his mind much clearer than before. He was feeling immensely guilty about shouting at Hannah, even if he firmly believed she was wrong to still trust Potter. He found her sitting in a corner of the cosy room, alone, looking pensively at a painting on the wall. He walked through the room to her, nodding at students as they patted his shoulder consolingly or nodded grimly at him. He sat down and cleared his throat.
She looked up, startled. "Oh! Ernie, thank goodness! I was beginning to worry."
Ernie felt guiltier at that. He remembered how she had been concerned for his safety even before she'd run off though she must have been angry and upset.
"I just wanted to say that I'm sorry, Hannah. I shouldn't have shouted at you like that. I was angry and I was – I still am – really scared. I'm scared of whatever's lurking out there but I shouldn't have taken it out on you," Ernie apologised.
Hannah's eyes softened. "Ernie, you accused me of not being Hufflepuff enough because I wasn't supporting our housemate."
"Yeah, I'm sorry about that too." Ernie looked sheepish. "I talk too much."
"No, I'm not offended. It's just, well; being fair is a Hufflepuff quality too. Are you being fair by accusing Harry of something you have no proof he's done?" Hannah looked him in the eye.
Ernie was thrown by her question. He hadn't expected quiet Hannah Abbott to say that. Now that he thought about it, though, he realised she was right. He wasn't being fair at all. "I…er…I guess not," he admitted. "I'll try to, er, look at things more objectively now. But I still don't believe he's completely blameless either!"
She smiled. "That's alright. As long as you're going to make an effort."
"Aren't you afraid, Hannah? I mean, we're not Slytherins, so we're not safe. We're not Ravenclaws who are smart enough to get themselves out of trouble and we're not brave like the Gryffindors. Don't you need to blame someone whom you can keep an eye on so you won't be as scared?" he asked her suddenly.
"I'm scared, of course! I'm terrified of going to bed at night sometimes. But you know what? If anything happens, I'm confident that I'll have someone to face it with. I know that I'm not very faithful myself yet, but I also know that our loyalty means that we'll stick together and that makes me a little less scared. My Mum always told me that the dark is not as scary if you're holding someone's hand and that's what I believe now too. If you need to talk about it, Ernie, I'm a good listener."
"I guess neither of us are very good Hufflepuffs yet," Ernie mused.
"That's what we're here to learn," Hannah replied with a small smile.
Ernie and Hannah had started off as mere classmates. They didn't understand each other with mere looks and gestures like best friends did, they didn't know little details about each other like good friends did and they didn't even know each other's birthdays like friends might. But all relationships start with communication, by two people airing their feelings and opinions and just talking and listening to each other. If, in that conversation, the two people strike a chord; that marks the beginning of a friendship. And Ernie and Hannah had just begun theirs.
21st November, 1994
No one really understood why timid Hannah Abbott was friends with boisterous Ernie Macmillan. Some people wondered how they could be friends. Hannah was shy and she usually gave in to the more powerful speaker so wouldn't that make their friendship controlled by one person? In fact, many believed that Ernie just convinced her to stick around so that he could boss over her and have an audience for his pompous speeches. Very few people realised however, that just because Hannah didn't talk much, it didn't mean that Ernie didn't understand what she wanted to say.
"Stop fiddling with it," Ernie said, without even looking up.
Hannah's fingers dropped from her "Support Cedric Diggory" badge immediately and she looked sheepish. "Sorry," she muttered, taking a sip of her Butterbeer.
"Do you have Falco Aesalon? I can swap Bowman Wright for him," Ernie said nonchalantly as he sorted through his pile of chocolate frog cards. It was the first Hogsmeade weekend of the year, just before the first task of the Triwizard Tournament was due to happen. The two of them were sitting a table in the Three Broomsticks, swapping cards. Hannah sorted through her pile with one hand while the other rose unconsciously to her badge.
"Oh for Merlin's sake, Hannah, stop worrying at that badge. You'll only tear your clothes if you keep that up!"
The two friends looked up. Justin and Terry had arrived and Justin was frowning at Hannah.
"Well it's bothering me, okay? I don't like it," Hannah said defiantly.
"How can you say that?" Ernie demanded. "Potter doesn't need the fame! Cedric wasn't even mentioned in the paper!"
"Yeah, he's stealing the glory we haven't had in centuries! He's just an attention-seeking –"
"He doesn't look like he wants any of it!" Hannah said loudly.
Terry looked stunned that Hannah had interrupted him; she never did that. She glared at him and continued hotly. "Have you lot even seen him lately? Look around, all of you. He isn't even here. Hermione's sitting there, Ron's ditched them and that Skeeter woman's made him the object of ridicule. It's so bad that he can't even be here to relax on a Hogsmeade weekend. We all find a couple of tests and exams too strenuous to deal with and he has to think about a dangerous, life-threatening task! Why would he want to go through so much just to get a few days of fame which he already has?"
"Why do I care?" Terry shot back immediately. "It's the fact that Hufflepuff's being overshadowed yet again that's ticked me off."
"Don't you care about Hufflepuff, Hannah?" Our house? The most underappreciated, average house that has finally got a chance to shine until Potter ruined it?" Ernie asked.
"I do, of course I do! But it just doesn't seem…" Hannah trailed off, not wanting to say the next word.
"What, fair?" Justin guessed correctly. "You think it's unfair that Potter is being held responsible and having to face consequences for something he didn't do – or so he claims – is that it? Well is it fair that Hufflepuff still has to suffer, no matter under what circumstances? Or that a boy who entered by perfectly fair means and won his position doesn't get the recognition he deserves?"
"I guess not," Hannah admitted.
"Potter's going to be an easy opponent for Cedric, I reckon. He's already beaten the kid once," Terry said confidently.
"Hmm, yeah," agreed Hannah.
"Come on, Hannah, let's get some more drinks," said Ernie suddenly, standing up. He wagged his finger at the other two boys. "Don't try to nick any of our cards, I've got them all accounted for." He led Hannah around the tables, pausing only to greet Professor Moody and Hagrid who had just arrived.
It was only when they were safely at the bar that he spoke. "If you don't like the badge, you can always take it off."
She smiled ruefully, unpinning her badge. "You saw that I didn't really agree with what they said, did you?"
"We've been friends long enough. I understand you," he said. "Look, I won't lie. I do agree with them and I think you should support Cedric but I also understand what you mean about being unfair to Harry. I've done that once already and I don't want to just blame him again. Also, I want to be loyal to the house, but I'm also loyal to my friends and I'll defend your feelings if I have to." He took the badge from her hands and leaned over, dangling it just beyond the counter. "We could always accidentally have 'lost your badge' to the unruly crowd here," he suggested. "What do you think?"
Hannah smiled at him and shook her head, pulling him back. She firmly pinned the badge to her shirt again. "If you're learning about fairness, I'm learning to be loyal. My house needs my support."
"Let's get that drink and walk back to the castle, shall we? I owe you a Bowman Wright card. I might have a Ptolemy somewhere too," said Ernie
"You do? I want it! I can't believe I don't have a single one of him, he's so common!"
Yes, Hannah and Ernie had many doubters, but when the pair walked around as they did just then, arms around each other and chatting and laughing enthusiastically, everyone could see that they weren't just friends; they were well on the road to being best friends.
28th May, 1996
"So how long have you been studying for?"
"Er, sorry Ernie, I have to go see Professor Sprout!" Justin scrambled away before Ernie could ask him to wait and answer his question first. Most people had found Ernie to be a pain that week. He would get that manic glint in his eye and ask people about their studying habits. That would have been fine except that most of them barely put in half the hours he claimed to and that scared them a lot. With only two weeks to go for OWLs, everyone was on tenterhooks and Ernie was not helping matters.
"Ernie, there you are!" Hannah called out when she spotted her friend.
"Hannah, where have you got to? I've studied for about six hours today. I wanted you to get me some dinner so I could put in at least four more hours before I go to bed and – wait, where are you taking me? Hannah, no, I need to study!" Ernie protested loudly as Hannah simply grabbed his hand and dragged him out of the common room.
"We," she said, pulling him all the way to the entrance hall, "are going to take a break." She led him to the lake. There weren't many people around since the bell for lunch had just gone and everyone was in the Great Hall. Under the beech tree by the lake was a picnic basket and a large basket of food. Beside that was a collection of games.
"What's all this?" Ernie asked.
"Like I said, we're taking a break. I had a nervous breakdown last week and you're on the verge of one too," she replied.
"No I'm not, I'm doing great! I can do hard work, that's why I'm in the house in the first place."
"Please. I can see right through your sudden interest in everyone's studying habits. You're afraid you're not doing well enough and you're trying to make yourself feel better by scaring everyone else. Not on purpose, of course. And just because we're meant to be hard workers doesn't mean we can't have some fun."
Ernie blinked. "How did you know that? How did you know I've been feeling extremely stressed and scared?" he admitted.
"I'm your best friend," she replied, rolling her eyes. "I don't need to hear you say it out loud to know what you're really thinking."
"We're best friends?" Ernie's voice sounded hopeful, yet doubtful. "I've never had a best friend before."
"Of course we are! Don't you think so?"
Ernie smiled widely. "Yeah, yeah I do. I just didn't think you felt the same way too. I'm glad we're best friends."
She smiled, "So am I. Now, what do you say we get started on lunch and then play some silly games to take our minds off the OWLs?"
He scanned the pile of games she'd brought. "Brooms and Bludgers? I haven't played that since I was six," he said with a grin.
"The best games are the classics," she shrugged, grinning back.
When their other classmates brought their thick books out and threw the pair incredulous and slightly jealous looks, they didn't care. Sometimes, you didn't need Calming Draughts or Cheering Charms to distract you from your troubles and worries. All you needed was a best friend to be silly with.
2nd May, 1998
"So this is it." Ernie and Hannah stood in a corridor – the same one they had argued about Justin with in their second year – oblivious to the chaos around them as students rushed past on their way to the Room of Requirement.
"It's time to decide whether we'll have a future our OWLs can actually be used in, Ernie," said Hannah.
"Are you scared?" Ernie asked.
"I'm terrified," she replied. Her brow creased. "I'm okay at spells but I'm no Gryffindor."
"It's okay."
They both looked at each other for a moment, trying to say everything they wanted to. "Hey, do you know why one of Hufflepuff's colours is yellow?" Hannah asked suddenly. "It means that we're the best friends anyone can ever make. It symbolises our loyalty. We'll stick by each other and face it all together, no matter what happens," he said with a small smile.
"Hannah - " There was so much Ernie wanted to say - he didn't want to lose his best friend, he wanted to tell her to run or hide, he wanted to tell her to be careful. But, for once, he was at a loss for words.
She hugged him suddenly. "See you after the battle?" she whispered.
He hugged her back. "Definitely." Perhaps she'd heard him loud and clear after all.
They'd be okay, because they would be keeping an eye out for each other whenever they could. They would be strong and they'd make it because they had something the Death Eaters didn't – friendship and loyalty. They would fight, no matter how bad the odds were. They would do their duty to the school and they would do anything to protect their friends. They would fight together; and together, they would be unstoppable.
June 18th, 2004
"I wish Mum and Dad were here." Hannah sighed wistfully as she looked into the mirror.
"Don't you dare cry," Susan threatened, smoothing out her friend's white dress. Hannah had never been particularly beautiful but the kindness and gentleness in her face made her one of the prettiest girls on earth. On her wedding day, in that lovely dress with her hair done up, Susan thought that she had never seen any bride more beautiful than Hannah.
A knock on the door made them both look around. Ernie poked his head in. "Are you ready to go? Everyone's in the tent and it's almost time."
Hannah nodded and he grinned. "Good, we'd be late otherwise. I'd hate to have everyone think I was too selfish to give you away so I spirited you to China where we could live as friends forever or something."
Hannah rolled her eyes as they positioned themselves at the mouth of large marquee. He smiled down at her. "I'm honoured to be giving you away. I'm happy it's to Neville, there couldn't have been anyone better."
"You're just saying that to get free drinks at the Leaky Cauldron next time," Hannah said cheekily but she couldn't hide the blush and the wide smile that appeared on her face at the thought of her soon-to-be husband.
"You know me too well," Ernie laughed.
"Best friends can read minds, remember?"
She looked up at him. Suddenly, the lights flickered in the passage and went out. For a moment, she was scared and excited at the same time. She didn't want to lose her best friend just because she was getting married; what if things didn't work out, what if she messed everything up somehow? She had barely begun to feel alarmed when she felt Ernie's hand slip into hers and squeeze reassuringly. It was too dark to see for sure, but she knew Ernie's face had that all-knowing, kind smile - the smile he always gave her when she needed comforting.
Yes, Ernie talked too much and Hannah too little. But the best friendships are between those who understand that it's what their friend doesn't say that's often more important than what they do.
Do let me know what you thought with a review :)
I just wanted to say something about Brooms and Bludgers. In my mind, this is the wizard equivalent of Snakes and Ladders, just more unpredictable because the Bludgers will be zooming around the board and you get knocked down a few squares if they hit the square you're on. Brooms obviously take you higher up.
This was also for the Yellow Rose Bowl competition with the quote "Everyone HEARS what you say. Friends LISTEN to what you say. Best friends listen to what you DON'T say."
