"Astonishing talent," tiny Professor Flitwick squeaked, "why I can't remember such a natural in the charms. Just like his mother was, even better I might say…"

"Although I am concerned he appears to have dark circles around his eyes as though he isn't getting enough sleep every night. Presumably young Harry has already begun to learn the delights of extracurricular wanderings around the castle. Just like his father." McGonagoll sniffed. "And yes he does have his father's talent for Transfiguration. Certainly."

Dumbledore beamed and gazed around the impromptu conference that they were having.

"H-he i-i-is very g-good."

"Not exactly enthusiastic about my subject, but then very few people are." Professor Sprout said rather stiffly.

"He is mediocre," Snape answered in a very bored tone suppressing a sneer. "And I completely fail to see a need to hold a special meeting regarding his apparent talents. Potter is like any ordinary, arrogant first year who believes himself special because he can make sparks fly when he waves a wand. And I believe you all to be so blinded by his preceding reputation to be able to judge him evenhandedly."

They all avoided his eyes at the moment before Dumbledore took the initiative and cleared his throat. "Severus may I speak to you in private for a moment."

As they withdrew, Dumbledore inquired about how young Harry was faring in Slytherin House.

"He is learning I suppose. Learning to adapt that is."

Two days later at breakfast, Harry received his first ever piece of Owl Post. Iolanthe (he had named his owl after the famed Peverell ancestor who had married into the Potters that he had read when researching his family genealogy) swooped down but instead of landing where he could proffer some bits of toast and stroke her feathers, she dropped a letter and flew off.

It read:

Dear Harry,

I know I haven't introduced meself properly. I am Hagrid, keeper of the keys and grounds here at Hogwarts and I was the one who led ye and the other first yrs to Hogwarts from the train. Your parents were good friends or mine from the time they were at Hogwarts and I have fond memories of them both. If you would like, we could have tea over at me hut on Friday. I know you have a free period after Potions. I want to hear all about your first two weeks at Hogwarts. And if you need anything or have anything ter ask, I hope I can be of help.

From Hagrid.

Harry blinked and then quickly stuffed the parchment into a pocket. Pulling out a fresh piece, he scrawled a quick acceptance thanking the giant, Hagrid, writing that he very much looked forward to it. And strange enough he did. Hagrid might have looked… a bit funny when he first saw him but anyone who was friends with his parents and was willing to offer to tell him about them was worth meeting. No one he knew had ever offered before.

Now in his every spare moment apart from lessons and homework, Harry was determinedly rifling through every defence book he could find. As Quirrel never seemed to teach them anything as usual, and given his current predicament it was very important indeed.

Harry had been uncertain as to whether it was a good idea from the start. After all, what hope did he have of magically being able to defend himself against several sixth, seventh years ganging up against him? It was clearly hopeless and he did not wish to provoke them still further. But he did realize that to do nothing would be to invite only further torment, and that since eventually he would be able to defend himself against their likes, it was best to get an early start.

Counter-spells, shields, defences, basic duelling techniques, jinxes, hexes, anything. And he practiced. And practiced. For hours and hours. Returning to his dormitory as late as he dared, barely any earlier than the curfew in a bid to avoid his tormentors. And he had dared to strike back with magic. As he predicted, the curses were now harsher and they drew blood.

And so he mastered spell after spell, defence after defence to try and avoid total humiliation when he had to return to the dormitory to sleep and was immediately magically assaulted by several sixth and seventh years. He was quite certain he might be able to hold his own with any one of them in a fairly short period of time, for at least long enough to scare them off. But with three or four… well it was over quite quickly no matter what he did. Well at least they didn't descend to much physical violence at all as apparently they claimed it was beneath purebloods.

He had soon discovered from his research that he was being regularly subjected to the leg locking jinx, petrificus totalus of course, the stunner, the freezing charm, the tickling charm, the silencer, the disarming jinx, the bat bogey hex, incarcerous but much of what they used was apparently located in the Restricted Section so he couldn't even look up the counter spell. And he had no one to turn to, no one from outside the House because that would only further damage his reputation. Not Snape who for whatever reason was determined to turn a blind eye. The prefects were the attackers. But as Flint had predicted though none of the fourth or even fifth years or anyone younger bothered him.

What caught him off guard most of the time was the fact that many of his attackers could cast away without an incantation. Which made identifying and then countering the spell afterwards much more difficult of course.

And the one time he had managed to curse one of them back he had been rewarded with a truly savage one to the gut that made him squirm for days afterwards. He couldn't eat much without throwing up and indigestion.

One day at the library, he was working alone when he suddenly bumped into Hermione Granger who was carrying a large stack. As they toppled to the floor, Harry immediately apologized and began to help retrieve the books.

They hadn't spoken since on the train

"So how have classes been?" Harry asked brightly trying to smile, "I often wonder about what the other Houses' common rooms look like."

"Well Gryffindor is located…" but she stopped and was eyeing his serpent patch nervously.

Harry snorted. "Honestly, whatever they've been telling you in Gryffindor, not everyone in Slytherin is bad surely you can understand that. Just like there are probably plenty of bad people in Gryffindor too, and plenty in Slytherin house as well."

Her lower lip started to quiver slightly.

"Are you being bullied?" Harry asked solemnly, "I'll let you on a secret. I am." And feeling such a burden of stress these past weeks, he just confessed, it felt good to unload. And besides since she was apparently a fellow outcast there was little danger in telling her.

"Potter, you have to go to a professor. Forget your pride and so-called political ramifications. It doesn't matter, you have to think in the now. You are being hurt now." Her eyes were concerned but she also looked very alarmed.

"Well I feel I can handle it. I'm close to handling it. Besides I have a plan. That's why I spend so many hours here. Anyway, I often see you around here as well. What are you reading?"

She showed him the book on magical theory and Harry had to marvel at her intellectual precocity, it was definitely not something he could see himself reading for years yet.

"But anyway you're so smart," he noticed she had reddened slightly, "I'm sure Gryffindor House has won plenty of points because of you and there are plenty of first years I imagine who will need your help and would want to stay in your good graces." He gave her a grin. "I dunno, I should think you'd be quite popular."

"I guess they don't like me being a show-off. I understand. But it's not something I can help either. I… I don't do it to make other people look bad or to raise myself over them or anything. Not really. It's just… like a habit."

"You know you're smart. And anyone who's remotely smart can tell the same. I think that that should be enough, you don't exactly need to tell the world. If they fail to acknowledge it, their loss I say. You don't need to prove anything is what I tell myself, except only to yourself. And I feel you're so much smarter than me."

"Only at some things," she replied carefully. "I think you give good advice… you're good at reading people. Maybe." She grinned at him.

"Well at the very least you're being bullied for something you're doing that others find irritating, fair or not you can choose whether to change course. Me, I'm being victimized for something in the past I had zero control over. Because my reputation precedes me for better or for worse. And Slytherins can't look for help outside our House without looking really bad, but also I can't help you for example. What would your fellow Gryffindors say? Face it, we're essentially powerless to help each other when our Houses are in such animosity. Really if we were even seen together it could get worse for us."

Well I have one friend, she admitted. "Neville. Well I think that's only because he has to depend on me for his studies. He lacks confidence though, you see?"

"Anyway I need to find an empty classroom now to practice these spells." He showed her.

She gave a nod and a little smile and went back to her book. Harry thought it was cute and he left shaking his head slightly. She had quite large frontal teeth, but somehow he felt that they suited her.