This chapter is dedicated to Daniel Radcliffe, as it is his Birthday today (the 23rd of July). In the words of Emma Watson "Dan you didn't get lucky, you were and are the perfect Harry and will be forever," I'm not sure if I believe this 100%. But Dan you played Harry very well for 10 years of your life and for that, you deserve this dedication. Happy Birthday xx

Chapter Ten – Friendship

Term started to the snow on the ground melting away when sheets of icy rain began to pummel the ground. The corridors were still deathly cold and it was normal practise for students to walk around wearing scarves, gloves and even hats in between lessons. On the first day of term Hermione dragged Harry and Ron to the library after lessons to search for Flamel. Although Hermione was fast giving up hope that he could be located in the Hogwarts library, which was extremely disappointing. After an hour of Ron and Harry's moans Hermione let them leave whilst she checked out a new reading book. This time Hermione wanted something to do with potions as the last book she had got out was a herbology book and she was now interested in seeing the plants mentioned used in different ways. She also wondered whether she should get a book that mentioned alchemy as well, as that seemed to relate to potions. She slowly made her way to the right section, drinking in the sight of all the books as she went. Hermione had grown to firmly love the Hogwarts library with its old fashioned oak bookcases and leather bound, age spotted books. The whole library smelt of parchment and old books and there were lots of tables scattered around in corners with desk lamps for people to work at.

When she arrived in the vast potions section Hermione put down her bag and began to idly search the shelves. An enormous book on one of the lower shelves caught her eye. She bent down and heaved the book out. It was about a foot and a half tall, a foot wide and easily had over two thousand pages. It was very old so that the binding was beginning to crack and the pages were faded and spotted. Hermione squinted at the spine to see spindly gold letters spelling out 'Alchemy, Ancient Art and Science' By Argo Pyrites. Hermione thought that the book looked interesting and would do for reading each night before she went to bed, it looked like it covered more than one topic which would also be good. Making up her mind she stood up, clasping the heavy book to her front she made her way to Madam Pince's desk to check it out from the library.

OOO

A week or so into the new term Harry, Ron and Hermione were walking down one of the corridors on the third floor, they had just come back from the library, where they had arrived twenty minuets before, after a hurried lunch. Lessons were due to start in five minuets and the three of them were making there way to Defence against the Dark Arts. They reached a turning at the end of the corridor and Hermione said to the boys.

"You go on, I'm just going to pop to the loo," She nodded at a door to their left and walked inside.

Just as Hermione was about to come out of her cubicle a minuet or so later she heard two sets of footsteps enter the room and a high pitched, shrieking laugh. Hermione could tell immediately who it was, Pansy Parkinson. Hermione stood very quietly where she was and listened to what they were saying, not wanting to face them.

"…so the stupid old bag said if I didn't hand it in by Thursday then she would give me a detention as well as the five points she had already taken from Slytherin," Finished off Pansy.

"That is out of order, what does she expect you to do, spend every evening doing homework!" said another voice, Hermione thought it may belong to Daphne Greengrass but she couldn't be sure, it could have been Tracey Davis.

"I know, I'm not Hermione Granger!" Screeched Pansy

Hermione scowled and tried not to make a sound, there would be hell to pay if they knew she was here. Both girls were laughing now.

"Can you imagine being her," continued Pansy "With that hair, and those teeth!"

"I know I'd think I'd just want to die!" Shrieked either Daphne or Tracy.

"Merlin knows how she made any friends, do you think she put a spell on them, or made them a potion or something?" giggled Pansy

"Probably, it seems like the kind of thing she would do,"

Now still giggling the footsteps were walking towards her. Hermione froze in horror, had they realised she was in here. But the footsteps carried on walking into the two cubicles on Hermione's right. Taking her chance Hermione grabbed her bag, washed her hands and hurried out the bathroom, seething at what she had just heard. How dare they say that! She knew her face must be red from anger and hurt at what she had heard. She hated how comments about her appearance still upset her, even though she had heard them all so many times. And she couldn't believe that they said she'd put a spell on Ron and Harry to make them like her. In her rage Hermione walked straight into something quite hard, she stumbled back to see she had slammed into Ron, who was standing next to Harry. They both had their arms outstretched in case they needed to catch her.

"What are you doing?" Hermione asked, looking at them.

"Waiting for you, of course," Said Harry

"Yeah, although we'll stop doing it if you're going to try to walk through us instead of with us," Ron said, smirking.

Hermione looked at them both. The sharp green eyes and untidy black hair next to the calm blue eyes and shocking red hair. It wasn't a big gesture, waiting for her so they could walk to the lesson together, but it meant a lot to Hermione. She felt all of her anger and hurt that the girls in the bathroom had caused melt away as she smiled and began walking to Defence against the Dark Arts with the boys. Because even Hermione wasn't a good enough witch, to perform a spell or make a potion that could create the friendship the three children now shared.

OOO

January passed, ending the deep chill in the corridors and leaving only a slight cold and foot high of mud in the grounds. Hermione's parents still wrote weekly, detailing little things that were happening to them and continuing to ask lots of questions on Hermione's day to day life. Hermione was running out of things to tell them, her routine rarely varied. Which meant that in the third week of February, whilst Harry was at Quidditch practise Ron could be found placing a small table in between his and Hermione's armchairs after they had both finished their homework. Hermione had still not beaten Ron at a game yet, but she was improving. Ron had announced last week that he actually had to concentrate whilst playing now, something he insisted he had been only pretending to do before this.

As was custom now, Hermione began a conversation during the game, something which you apparently weren't meant to do whilst playing chess.

"Was the letter you got this morning from your parents?" She asked.

"No," Said Ron, staring at the board, "It was from Ginny,"

"I didn't know she normally wrote to you," Hermione moved a pawn as she spoke

"She doesn't, but she says that she's finally cracked and admitted that I'm less annoying than mum giving her all of her attention for these last five months,"

Hermione laughed and they both sat in comfortable silence for a few minuets, concentrating on the game.

"Hermione?" Ron asked

Hermione murmured to show she was listening.

"When you got back from Christmas, why did you say your parents found the sweets Harry had sent hilarious?"

Hermione looked up at him, "Where is this coming from,"

Ron shrugged, still looking at the board "I just remembered, I didn't think about it at the time but now…."

"Well, they found it all funny because they're muggles," Said a bewildered Hermione

"So?" said Ron, finally glancing up at her.

"Ron, you do realise the food is different in the muggle world, don't you?"

"What! Really, what's different, so the food we have for dinner is stuff you've never eaten before!" Ron said, stopping what he was doing to look up at her properly.

Hermione laughed at Ron's flabbergasted face, "No, no, that's all mostly the same I think. But all the sweets and most of the drinks are different here,"

"Different how?"

Hermione thought of the regular sweets that she had barely ever been allowed at home, they all seemed quite boring to all the wizard sweets.

"Well for starters the chocolate doesn't jump!"

"Does it taste different?" Ron asked quizzically.

"Uh, I don't think so,"

"Oh but you've never tried Honeydukes chocolate, have you?"

Hermione shook her head, she knew that Honeydukes was a sweet shop but she had never had the chance to try anything from there.

"Well, I don't know if that's different from muggle chocolate, what else is different?"

"Well, our jelly beans just come in normal fruit flavours, our cakes aren't normally shaped like cauldrons, our lollipops don't burn your tongue and our sherbet doesn't make you float of the ground!" Laughed Hermione

Ron frowned, "That all sounds quite boring,"

"Yes I suppose it is," Agreed Hermione

They were silent for a moment then Ron looked down at the board.

"Oh bloody hell, I've forgotten the plan I had in my head for the game now," He moaned, before staring intently at the board.

Ron sat like that for a few minuets, not noticing Harry walk into the room until he sat down next to him.

"Don't talk to me for a moment. I need to concen….." Ron glanced up at Harry's face and stopped midsentence. Hermione looked at Harry properly as well and saw the worry and fear etched around his eyes.

"What's the matter with you? You look terrible."

Harry leant in and said quietly, "Snape has decided to referee the match against Hufflepuff,"

"Don't play" Hermione said quickly, if Snape was refereeing it would be the perfect opportunity to hurt Harry in some way and make it seem like an accident.

"Say you're ill," Suggested Ron

"Pretend to break your leg," Hermione said nodding

"Really break your leg," said Ron enthusiastically

Harry shook his head at them, "I can't, there isn't a reserve Seeker. If I back out, Gryffindor can't play at all."

Right then Neville toppled into the common room. Everyone wheeled round to face him as he hit the floor with bang, Hermione recognized what had happened to him immediately. He had had the leg-locker curse put on him. Hermione watched, horrified as everyone to began to laugh at poor Neville, she sprang up and rushed over him, bending down next to him to perform the counter-curse. His legs sprang apart and he slowly got to his feet. Hermione stood as well and put a reassuring hand on Neville's arm whilst she led him over to where Harry and Ron sat. She gestured to the armchair she had just vacated and Neville sat down shakily.

"What happened?" Hermione asked gently.

"Malfoy, I met him outside the library. He said he'd been looking for someone to practise that on." Mumbled Neville.

"Go to Professor McGonagall!" Hermione urged "Report him!"

Neville just shook his head sadly and said quietly "I don't want anymore trouble,"

"You've got to stand up to him, Neville!" said Ron. "He's used to walking all over people, but that's no reason to lie down in front of him and make it easier."

Hermione frowned at Ron's lack of tact.

"There's no need to tell me I'm not brave enough to be in Gryffindor, Malfoy's already done that," Neville choked.

Harry pulled a Chocolate Frog out of a pocket in his robes and handed it to Neville.

"You're worth twelve of Malfoy," he said smiling. "The Sorting Hat chose you for Gryffindor, didn't it? And where's Malfoy? In stinking Slytherin."

At Harry's kind words Neville managed a weak smile, he unwrapped the Frog in his hand.

"Thanks, Harry … I think I'll go to bed … D'you want the card, you collect them, don't you?"

And with that Neville walked towards the staircase to the boy's dormitory, shoulders hunched with his lack of self-confidence.

"Dumbledore again." Said Harry, looking at the Chocolate Frog card. "He was the first one I ever…."

Harry gasped loudly and stared at the back of the card. He then looked up and Ron and Hermione.

"I've found him!" He whispered excitedly "I've found Flamel! I told you I've read the name somewhere before, I read it on the train coming here – listen to this: 'Professor Dumbledore is particularly famous for his defeat of the dark wizard Grindlewald in 1945, for the discovery of the twelve uses of dragon's blood and his work on alchemy with his partner, Nicholas Flamel'!"

Hermione's heart leaped into her throat and she grinned excitedly as she jumped from the armchair where she had sat after Neville had left.

"Stay there!" She squealed and raced up the stairs to the girl's dormitory. The book she had got out from the library weeks ago was called Alchemy, Ancient Art and Science. If Flamel was a famous alchemist, he would be in there. She raced into her dormitory and grabbed the book off of her bedside table before sprinting back down the stairs to the boys.

"I never thought to look in here!" She whispered "I got this out the library weeks ago for a bit of light reading."

"Light?" Said Ron incredulously

"Be quiet, I need to look something up," Hermione snapped

Hermione quickly turned to the chapter 'famous alchemists'. The chapter was split into sub-chapters in alphabetical order and Hermione flicked frantically through the old pages, muttering the names that she saw. Finally she came to Flamel.

"I knew it! I knew it!"

"Are we allowed to speak yet?" Ron grumbled

Hermione ignored his comment "Nicholas Flamel" Hermione said proudly, glancing at the page to make sure what she had seen was correct. "Is the only know maker of the Philosopher's stone!"

Both boys just sat there looking dumbstruck.

"The what?" They whispered

"Oh honestly, don't you two read?" Hermione said exasperatedly "Look – read that, there." She pushed the book towards them.

How could they not have heard of the Philosopher's stone, it was mentioned in more than one book Hermione had read? But only ever the concept of what one was, never the report of one being made. However as soon as she had heard Harry say Nicholas Flamel was an alchemist, she had guessed that he could be the maker of the Philosopher's stone, if what Harry had said about the package he had seen Hagrid pick up was true. It all fit. Harry and Ron finally looked up.

"See? The dog must be guarding Flamel's Philosopher's stone! I bet he asked Dumbledore to keep it safe for him, because they're friends and he knew someone was after it. That's why he wanted the stone moved out of Gringotts!"

OOO

Hermione watched as Snape glared at Harry across the potions class room. The closer the game came, the more horrible Snape was being towards Harry; criticizing everything he did, taking house points away for pointless reasons and purposely embarrassing him in front of the whole class. After a particularly horrible lesson a week and a half before the match Harry walked out of the classroom looking very down, only to be called over by Oliver Wood, the Gryffindor Quidditch captain to tell him there was a new practise scheduled for tonight. Ron and Hermione both watched as Harry nodded along to what Wood was saying, clearly worried about the game. Hermione was struck by a sudden idea.

"Ron, do you think we should do something for the match?" She asked, her brain still whirring with ideas.

"What, you mean make another banner?" Ron answered

"No, no, I was thinking we should think of something to do if Snape shows any signs of wanting to hurt Harry," Hermione breathed, leaning close to Ron so as not to be overheard by any passing Slytherins. As she did this she smelt something different. It took her a while to recognize where she had smelt it before, but she remembered; at the start of term feast. It was the smell of candle smoke and earth mixed together. Now Ron was answering

"You mean, like some kind of spell," He whispered back

Hermione now realised that the smell was coming from Ron. She thought back to the time she had smelt it at the feast and remembered that Ron had been getting a dish that was just in front of Hermione, that was when she had smelt it.

"Yes, what do you think?"

Ron grinned, "I think it's a great idea, and I can't believe you're prepared to curse a teacher!"

"Desperate times and all that," Said Hermione leaning away from Ron as Harry approached. She didn't want Harry to know they were scared enough to attempt something like this.

"McGonagall managed to get the Ravenclaw team to give us the pitch for the whole of tonight as they don't have a match until the middle of May when they play us," Said Harry as he reached them.

"Well that's good, you'll definitely be prepared," Hermione said encouragingly

"Not what I'm worried about Hermione," Said Harry dejectedly.

Behind Harry's back Ron smirked at her, Hermione rolled her eyes at him. If Snape wanted to hurt Harry she wasn't sure how much they would be able to do to stop him if he was flying round on a broomstick.

OOO

"Are you sure we're allowed to be in here?" Asked Hermione that evening as they arrived in the room.

"Hermione it's no way near curfew, and no-one uses this classroom," Ron answered, throwing his bag in a corner.

"How do you know?"

Ron sighed and looked at her "Because this is the room that the mirror was in,"

Hermione's eyes widened and she looked quickly around the classroom, half expecting a giant mirror to appear in the middle of the floor. Finally satisfied that there wasn't anything that could get them into trouble in here she turned back to Ron.

"Have you had any thoughts about what we should do to Snape because I was thinking….."

"Yeah actually I have," Interrupted Ron "I was thinking the leg-locker curse, you know the one Malfoy used on Neville,"

"Oh," began Hermione, but before she could tell him that it was quite a good idea he ploughed in.

"Think about it, if you lock his legs he will either fall of his broom, or if he does stay up he will still have to get his wand out of his robes and perform the counter curse, which will give Harry time to get the hell away from him."

Hermione nodded, "It's a good idea, better than any of mine I think," she admitted. "Although do we want him to fall off his broom?"

Ron laughed "This man is prepared to make Harry fall of his broom but you wouldn't do the same to him if you needed to? Anyway the fall won't do anything Madam Pomfrey won't be able to fix,"

Hermione nodded at his reasoning.

"Do you know the spell, because I don't." asked Ron.

"Yes, but I've never used it,"

"Tell me then,"

Hermione rolled up the sleeves of her robes and pulled out her wand.

"Ok the wand movement is just a sharp jab and the words are 'Locomotor Mortis',"

"Locomotor Mortis," Repeated Ron

Hermione nodded "Shall I go first,"

Ron now nodded, a look of apprehension on his face. Hermione walked until she was about six feet opposite Ron. She lifted her wand.

"Locomotor Mortis," She said, quickly jabbing her wand at Ron's legs

Hermione watched in quiet amusement as Ron's legs sprang together and he wobbled dangerously, trying to regain his balance.

"Hermione!" he called angrily.

"Finite," she said simply, waving her wand at Ron, his legs sprang apart.

Ron took a moment to observe his legs before reaching into his pocket and taking out his own wand.

"Right your turn, are you ready?" he asked

Hermione nodded and watched as Ron took a deep breathe to prepare himself.

"Locomotor Mortis," He said, nothing happened.

"You've got to properly jab your wand, not just wave it," Hermione explained

Ron threw her a filthy look.

"Ok give me a minute….Locomotor Mortis,"

Hermione, who hadn't been totally expecting it, felt her legs snap together; she completely lost her balance and promptly fell straight over. Ron, to her displeasure, laughed. Hermione scowled and sat up, pointing her wand at her own legs and muttering 'finite,'.

For the next hour they carried on practising the spell on each other. Until not only had they perfected the spell, but the art of keeping your balance when your legs were locked together as well.

OOO

The evening before the match Ron and Hermione met once more to practise the spell again, this time trying to perform the spell whilst the other person was running and jumping. They did this until they were semi-confident that they could hit Snape whilst he was flying on a broomstick. As they stood nervously in the stands waiting for the match to begin Hermione muttered,

"Now, don't forget, it's Locomotor Mortis,"

Ron slipped his wand up his sleeve and snapped at her "I know, don't nag."

Hermione didn't retort, as his nerves were obviously on edge at the moment. Instead she stood silently clutching her arms to herself and waiting. After what seemed like an age Snape walked onto the pitch, followed by the two teams.

"I've never seen Snape look so mean" Ron commented to her. "Look – they're off. Ouch!"

They were indeed off. Hermione glanced around quickly to see that Malfoy, who had sidled up behind them with Crabbe and Goyle, had poked Ron in the back of the head, before turning her attention back to Harry, watching him beadily. Behind her she could here Malfoy saying something rude to Ron but neither of them were listening. Hermione had crossed every single one of her fingers in her lap and was staring fixedly on Harry whilst Ron watched in anger as Snape awarded Hufflepuff a penalty because George Weasley had hit a bludger at him. Minuets passed and Hermione sat frozen, unable to look away from Harry in case anything happened to him, she couldn't let Snape hurt Harry. She was aware that there was some sort of conversation between Malfoy, Neville and Ron going on but she paid it no mind. Then out of nowhere Harry went into a sharp dive to the ground.

"Ron!" Hermione called "Harry -!"

She stood and stuffed her crossed fingers in her mouth, watching Harry with a mixture with terror and excitement. Harry must have spotted the snitch, he was gaining speed, shooting like a bullet towards….Snape!

"Come on, Harry!" Hermione screamed. She could no longer see properly as people taller than her were now standing up in front so she leapt up onto her seat, clutching at her own face and watching with wide eyes as Harry shot past Snape and pulled out his dive. Fist raised high for the crowd to see the glint of gold in his hands. He had caught the snitch.

Hermione literally danced with happiness and when Parvati in the row in front turned to smile at her she pulled her into a hug, both girls jumping up and down in excitement. When they let go of each other, Hermione turned to beam at Ron.

"Ron! Ron! Where are you?" she said, still shrieking with happiness and twirling around to try and locate Ron, who seemed to have disappeared. "The game's over! Harry's won! Gryffindor are in the lead!"

Finally Hermione heard a muffled 'what really' coming from below her, she looked down to find that Ron and Malfoy were fiercely punching each other and next to them Crabbe and Goyle were laughing at an unconscious Neville. Hermione happiness evaporates slightly.

"Stop, stop, Ron stop!" She half-screamed, jumping of her seat and grabbing the back of Ron's jumper.

Ron struggled against her for a moment but then sat up and looked down at Malfoy, whose left eye was slowly turning purple.

"Had to get a girl from saving you from being beaten up did you Weasley?"

Ron smirked "Sorry but who's the one with a black eye Malfoy"

Malfoy looked as though he would launch himself at Ron again so Hermione yelled out in desperation.

"Don't!"

Malfoy turned to look at her, kneeling beside Ron, anger etched on her face.

"Or what?" he asked, lifting his eyebrows.

"Or I'll – I'll…."

"I'll go and fetch Professor McGonagall,"

Hermione turned to see it was Parvati who had spoken, she had leaned over to see what the fuss was about and had spotted that Hermione and Ron were in trouble. Malfoy stared at Parvati, then seeing that she meant what she said he picked himself up off the ground.

"Crabbe, Goyle, come on, let's go, leave these losers alone,"

They all watched as the three of them walked away. Ron, who had been sitting up as straight as he could whilst Malfoy was there, sagged, leaning against the seats in front as he reached up to touch a cut he had on his lip.

"Are you al…Oh my gosh, Neville!" Yelled Hermione jumping up and turning to face Neville, forgetting all about asking Ron if he was okay. Neville lay on the ground, bruises forming on his face and completely out cold. Hermione gently shook his shoulders.

"Neville? Can you hear me? It's Hermione," She said, he made no response.

"We have to get him to the hospital wing!" she said, turning to look at Ron, Parvati and Lavender, who had been standing just behind Parvati the whole time.

Ron stood up, grabbed Neville's armpits and hauled him up. Then he took one of Neville's arms and slung it round his shoulder. Hermione quickly did the same. Parvati and Lavender walked behind, arms outstretched in case Neville was dropped. Together they walked like this all the way back to the castle and up the stairs to the first floor where the hospital wing was located. Madam Pomfrey let out a little shriek when they all walked in and Ron and Hermione deposited Neville onto the nearest bed. When they had done this Parvati and Lavender quickly left, leaving Ron and Hermione there.

"A fist fight I suppose?" She asked tersely, bending over Neville

"Yes, is he going to be alright?" Hermione asked, watching Neville's lifeless form worriedly.

"He'll be alright once I've seen to him. Are you going to tell me who did this?"

Ron and Hermione glanced at each other. Ron raised his eyebrows and Hermione nodded, somehow understanding what Ron meant.

"That's up to Neville," Said Hermione.

Madam Pomfrey muttered angrily and waved them away. Both of them turned to go. After a minute of silence Hermione finally asked.

"Are you alright? Does your lip hurt?"

To her utter surprise Ron smiled broadly.

"Alright, Hermione I'm more than alright. Harry caught the snitch in five minuets, Gryffindor are in the lead, I gave Malfoy a black eye and Neville stuck up for himself. What would be wrong?"

And you know the rest, the bump into Harry he tells them he saw Quirrel and Snape in the forest etc. etc.

I'm not that happy with this chapter, it feels like i'm hinting at romance between R&H which i'm NOT. I truly believe they felt nothing more than friendship for each other for 3 years. I didn't actually make up the whole practising leg-locker but. it says in the book they do that so... Please tell me your thoughts and suggestions in a review, i actually try to put in suggestions given to me by people, and if i like them i will deffinatley do them so feel free to do that.

Oh and the book mentioned is a real book in the wizarding world. It was mentioned in a very early draft of Philosophers stone. If you can find it anywhere on the internet, read it it's very funny (Fanfic won't let me post a link)

Oh please help, why does the doc manager thing say that the chapters have a life of 60 days, because that means chapter one only has about 10 days left i think. After that will it be deleted? I don't want to re-upload it because you'll all be getting notifications on a new chapter when its just an old one. And then it will all be in the wrong order. HELP.

Right, finally i will try to get H's version of 'through the trapdoor' up on the 31st because i think thats a goos way to celebrate Jo's and Harry's birthdays. However i want another chapter before that but i don't know if i have time to do two chapters this week. I'm all in a muddle so if nothing is uploaded here on the 31st please check out my profile because i may upload some kind of short one-short instead. Bare with!.

Please review, Hannah xx