Chapter 9: You're My Best Friend/Monster Mash
Warning: Some use of strong language
After his harrowing adventure on the broomstick, Malfoy came storming up toward the Gryffindor table, surprised to see Harry surrounded by Gryffindors beyond his year.
"Well, Scarhead," Malfoy taunted. "Enjoying your last meal? I'm sure they kicked you out for that stunt."
"What you mean saving a precious family heirloom from breaking?" Harry retorted. "You're so much more brave on the ground, aren't you? Though I see Crabbe and Goyle aren't with you. Troubles in paradise?"
"You think you're so clever, don't you Potter?" Malfoy blustered. "You're just a half-blooded mongrel with a cut on his head. It's time a true pureblood showed you real power. I challenge you to a Wizard's Duel."
"Harry accepts!" Ron stood and shouted. "I'll be his second, who is yours."
"Harry does not accept," Harry looked at Ron before turning his attention back to Malfoy. "Heir Malfoy, under what circumstances do you file a grievance to duel?"
"Your existence is reason enough. Tonight, in the trophy room at midnight."
"That's not proper procedure and 'existing,'" Harry put air quotes around existing, "is not reason enough to declare a duel. We would have to have a referee to ensure both parties play by the rules. You set no terms and your grievance is insufficient. For those reasons, I see no reason to acquiescence your request."
"Acqui- whatever my request?" Malfoy was turning redder by the minute.
"Means no," Harry said to general laughter of the gathered Gryffindors.
Malfoy was outnumbered and had now lost the high ground. Everyone in the hall was watching the action with baited breath. Potter has outmaneuvered me.
"You'll get yours one day, Potter," he turned to stalk away when he slipped and landed, butt first, on the floor. Laughter sounded throughout the hall, even a few chuckles could be heard from the Slytherin table as a red-faced- whether from anger or embarrassment Harry did not know- thoroughly-disheveled Draco Malfoy retreated.
"Why didn't you fight him?" Ron asked.
"His reason was invalid and thus his challenge was meritless. Midnight? In the trophy room? That's got 'trap' written all over it," Harry said with as much nonchalance as he could muster. "By the way, nice job with the tripping jinx, Fred."
"Well we couldn't have you outshining us, Harry," Fred said, smirking. "Embarassing Draco Malfoy in front of the whole school? A most clever prank these halls have rarely ever seen. And I'm George."
"No, you're Fred. George is always the defense guy, the planner, to make sure you don't get caught. You're the impulsive, creative one," Harry said to general astonishment. Not even McGonagall could identify the proper twin. "And all I did quote the stuff that he should have been raised knowing. It was his fault for assuming I would not know, an easy trap to set."
"Well done, Mr. Potter," an auburn-haired girl wearing Hufflepuff colors came up with her hand extended. "Susan Bones, Heiress to House Bones."
"Nice to meet you Miss Bones," Harry shook her hand. "Neville speaks highly of you and your friend, Miss Abbott. How may I help you?"
"Just wanted to introduce myself," Susan said. "My parents were rather close with yours and my auntie knew them as well."
"Well met, Miss Bones. Thank you for the kind introduction. If your guardians are agreeable to it, it would be nice to hear more about my parents."
"I'm not sure how well auntie knew them and my parents… well they were attacked a few weeks after yours. Auntie is my guardian now."
"I'm sorry for treading on bad memories. I would like to be friends, if that is agreeable."
"Sure thing and feel free to call me Susan, by the way."
"Then you can call me Harry."
Susan walked away to rejoin her housemates, all of whom immediately to leaned in to interview her.
"Never a dull moment with you, is there, Potter?" Hermione elbowed him in the side.
"Apparently not," Harry shook his head. "Abandon all hope of a normal life, ye who enter mine."
Hermione laughed as they finished their meals.
The beginning of the next week, Harry received a long package delivered by four very tired-looking owls. Harry picked up the note.
DO NOT OPEN THIS AT THE TABLE
Enclosed is your new broomstick. This is a special case and Dumbledore has authorized this purchase for you. Train hard and remember what I said about grades.
Sincerely,
Professor McGonagall
Too excited to wonder about Dumbledore "authorizing" the purchase, Harry ran up to his dorm and unwrapped the parcel to see a brand new Nimbus Two Thousand, the same one he had seen on display in Diagon Alley, roll out onto his bed. Elated, he stowed the broom in his trunk before heading down to start his day.
On Saturday, Hermione awoke, normal as any other day but something felt different and she couldn't put her finger on it. Suddenly, it came to her: today was her birthday.
Usually this would fill her with joy but today, it brought sadness. She was away from her parents, who had no way to contact her unless she wrote to them first, and nobody at school would know it was her birthday. Not even her best (only, she cringed inwardly) friend. Harry was great but she was hoping she would have made more friends by now.
Sighing audibly, she went about her morning routine like normal, no reason to expect anything different. Arriving in the common room, she was shocked to find Harry down waiting for her.
"Good morning, Harry," she said as she cocked her head to the side. "You're never down before me, is everything okay?"
"What? Oh yeah I-I'm okay. Shall we head down to breakfast," He stuttered out.
Oh this isn't like him at all. Either something happened or he's up to something.
"Sure let's go," Hermione said aloud.
They walked in to the Great Hall and found their usual spots midway down the table, facing out toward the other tables. Before Hermione could reach to build her breakfast, Hedwig came in and landed in front of her.
"Good morning Hedwig. You're early this morning; I haven't even served myself yet.
Hedwig hooted and Hermione looked down to see she was holding a package.
"Is that for me?" Hermione asked. Another hoot.
Hermione freed Hedwig from her burden and opened the package. Inside was a locket necklace with a picture of Hermione on one side and her parents on the other. She opened the card that came with it.
Happy Birthday Princess!
We weren't sure how we would send this to you until Harry contacted us. He wanted to know when your birthday was and when we told him it was September 19, he offered to send Hedwig to us for us to deliver this. Know that wherever you go, we will be with you. We love you and miss you but are excited and your letters are wonderful to read. Have a wonderful birthday and we will see you at Christmas.
Love, Dad
Opposite her dads message, she saw her mother wrote something.
My Little Winter,
Happy Birthday! We were so overjoyed when Harry contacted us and allowed us to send something to you. It's painful to not be with you on your birthday but we are so proud of you and excited for the journey that you are just beginning to walk.
We love you so, so much,
Mom
Hermione turned to her best friend, tears in her eyes.
"You gave my parents a way to contact me!?" She pulled him into a rib-breaking hug. "I was so sad this morning when I realized they had no way to wish me happy birthday. Thank you! Thank you so much."
"That's not all," Harry said, pointing in front of her. "I wanted to do something myself."
In front of her sat a plate with a silver cover.
"You didn't," Hermione tentatively lifted the lid. Sat before her was a plate of Eggs Benedict with bacon and a fruit medley: her favorite breakfast.
"I asked your parents what your favorite breakfast is."
"How did you make this?"
"Fred and George apparently have a connection. If you want something to be done, ask them. They're really quite resourceful."
"Thank you," Hermione tilted her head toward Harry as she dug in. They finished their meal as normal and Harry invited her to walk on the grounds.
"The weather is still nice and we should take advantage of it while we can."
As they walked around the lake, Harry noted a nice copse of trees surrounding an open field of grass and guided her over to it.
"While we're here and have some privacy," He stared at his feet, and pawed at the ground. "I wanted to give you this."
Deep within his robes came a package of his own.
"Harry…" Hermione whined at little. "You already let my parents use your owl to contact me AND somehow got my favorite breakfast on my birthday. You didn't have to do anything."
"I wanted to. I've never had a friend to celebrate their birthday before and I wanted to make it special for you. Open it," he gestured.
Out of the paper came a new copy of Pride and Prejudice.
"You seemed really sad about losing this one, so I wanted to give you a new one. It has the impervious spell on it so it can't be ruined."
WHOMP! Harry was knocked over by a bushy-haired missile. Thank goodness I picked somewhere soft to give her this, he thought.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you! You are the best friend I could have ever asked for! I don't have the words."
"Hermione Granger? Not having the words to convey something? I think I crossed dimensions, I best be getting back?"
Hermione smacked him as she rose up off the ground, offering a hand to help Harry up.
"Thank you for making my day special."
"Well you deserve it. You've been a good friend to me and I wanted to show my gratitude by making you feel special on your birthday."
"You've done well."
"Okay, it is your birthday," Harry turned his head as they were walking. "What do you want to do today?"
"Library!" Hermione responded at once. "I know we've caught up on our homework and all but I'd like to explore the space and maybe read ahead but I know you usually play chess with Ron on Saturdays, so I'll head there alone."
"Not today. I told him I couldn't do it today, so I'm all yours today. The library sounds like fun, actually. I'd like to start digging into defense, since we're sticking to theory in class.
Hermione was shocked at Harry's reply. Nobody wants to spend their free time in the library. Even here, the library is only filled with students who use it only to complete their assignments.
After spending the day in the library, stopping only for dinner (they completely missed lunch,) Harry and Hermione trudged back into the common room, tired but pleased.
"Thank you again, Harry," Hermione gave him another hug. "You're my best friend."
From there, time sped on and before Harry knew it, Halloween had arrived. With the help of Hermione's organized mind, Harry was ahead in all his classes, doing well in everything except Potions and keeping up with his Quidditch training. Harry broke out of his musings to hear Professor Flitwick review "Wingardium Leviosa," which he introduced the previous class. Since Harry and Hermione had already shown an aptitude for the spell, Flitwick split them up to help the students who were still struggling. Harry was paired with Neville, Hermione with Ron.
"Remember class," Flitwick reminded the class. "The more magic you put into this spell, the more you can do with the object. You can move it harder, faster, further, stronger. Control your power and make the feather float."
"I just can't get this!" Neville was at his wit's end beside Harry. "I can FEEL my magic, I know the theory backward and forward and still I can't get this plucking feather to fly."
"Strange." Harry said. "I can feel your magic too, almost like a river that's been dammed. I would say just try to relax and…"
"No! No! No!" Hermione's exasperated voice cut through the rest of Harry's statement. "You're going to put somebody's eye out, waving your wand about like that. Just a swish and flick with the incantation Wingardium Leviosa. Make the Gar nice and long."
"Bloody hell! You do it then, if it's so easy," Ron spat, ignoring that Harry and Hermione both accomplished the spell the previous class.
"Wingardium Leviosa," Hermione's feather levitated off the desk and flew around.
"Windgardium Leviosa," Harry said as well.
Harry brought his feather into formation with hers and soon they were racing through the classroom.
"Excellent spellwork, you two!" Flitwick chirped. "10 points apiece to Gryffindor for creative use of a spell. She is right, Mr. Weasley. You're close to causing an accident if you don't focus."
As if waiting for that key phrase, Seamus managed to light his feather on fire.
When class ended, Harry stepped up to speak with Flitwick.
"Professor Flitwick," Harry began, tentatively. "I think there's something wrong with Neville's wand. I can feel his magic but it's not being channeled properly like I feel with my own. Almost like there's a disconnect between him and his wand."
"I'll put some thought into this. Thank you Mr. Potter," the diminutive professor dismissed him.
As Harry was exiting the classroom, he instantly knew something was wrong.
"She's a bloody nightmare, she is! 'it's Levi-O-Sah, not Levio-Saur' I swear she's just such a know-it-all."
Ron Weasley was holding court outside the classroom. Harry started to walk toward his best friend but couldn't get there before Mount Weasley erupted.
"It's no wonder she doesn't have any friends. I don't know how Potter can stand her! I'm sure he's just pretending so he can get better grades."
Hermione gasped and took a step back in shock. Her shoulders hunched and she marched through the congregated Gryffindors, speeding down the hall before Harry could catch her.
"Weasley!" Harry shouted. His housemates all turned to see an irate Harry Potter, his eyes glowing brighter as he marched up to the redheaded doofus. "How could you say that kind of thing? You know she heard you!"
"What!? It's true! She's an absolute nightmare!"
"She is a sweet, intelligent girl who just happens to be good at magic. She only seems like she knows everything because she STUDIES, you ignominious prat! You barely make it through your classes, only study enough to scrape Acceptables at best. You're a good chess player but you can't see that your strategy will lead you nowhere once school is done? You talk about Quidditch but have you forgotten that you need an 'Exceeds' average to play for the school team? Do not disparage Hermione because you can't be bothered to put in the fucking effort!"
"And the rest of you!" Harry rounded on his other housemates. "Yes, I am the only friend to Hermione. Why is that? Have you tried to get to know her, to talk to her? She's not all books and cleverness you know! Would it be so fucking difficult to take some time and get to know her? Now if you all don't mind, I am going to find my friend and try make up for the words of one ignorant jackass."
Harry stormed down the hallway, leaving a group of stunned first years in his wake. He searched Gryffindor tower first, dropping his heavy bag off to allow him to move faster. Up to the astronomy tower, down into the dungeons, he searched high and low but found no trace of his bushy-haired best friend. It was nearly time for the feast and he was back in the Charms corridor when the idea struck him: Portraits.
He moved to the end of the hall, down the stairs to where the hallway split into two directions: left or right. He spied a portrait of a young waif, looking out over her balcony.
"Excuse me," Harry called out. The lady turned his direction. "I am looking for a friend. Could you possibly help me?"
"I could. I saw where she went but first I need something," the painting said. "I await my lover and it has been ages since he's been by. I desire a sonnet."
"Seriously?" Harry cried out.
"No sonnet, no information."
"Fine…." Harry tried to remember all the Shakespeare he knew.
"My love is a fever, longing still
For that which longer nurseth the disease.
In faith, I do not love thee with mine eyes
For they in thee a thousand errors see,
But 'tis my heart that loves what they despise,
Who, in despite of view, are pleased to dote
Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
Thou art more lovely, and more temperate" *
"That will do, young squire," She said. "She is down to the left, in the bathroom there."
Harry thanked her and ran flat-out to the door. Arriving and taking a moment to catch his breath, Harry knocked.
"Hermione? Are you in there?"
"Go away! I know you heard what Ron said. Just leave me alone."
"I did hear what Ron said," Harry slowly opened the door and entered the bathroom. "I've been trying to find you ever since."
"Why?" Hermione's strained voice came from the furthest stall. "Why would you care about finding a bushy-haired, bucktoothed, bookworm? Famous Boy-Who-Lived could have any friend he wants, he doesn't need me."
"The Boy-Who-Lived isn't looking for a bookworm," Harry said slowly, keeping his voice steady. "Harry is looking for his best friend and he would really like if she came out and talked to him."
After a minute of excruciating silence, the door latch popped, the door opened and Hermione stepped out. Her uniform was crumpled; her tie knot loose and her eyes were red.
"I'm sorry for what Ron said," Harry said. "He was way out of line, especially the last bit. You're my first friend, my best friend. Why would you think that I would only be using you?"
"It wouldn't be the first time," Hermione said, her voice whisper quiet. "Back in primary, there was this girl LuAnne. She and I lived on the same street but never talked. One day, she sits with me at lunch and tries to be friends. As a result of being friends, I helped her on her studies. It wasn't until a few weeks passed that I overheard she was 'using me for my brains,' as she put it. 'Bossy bookworm is so pathetic, she doesn't even realize I'm not even really her friend,' I overheard.
Hermione was openly crying now.
"I ran home that day and it took daddy two days to bring me back to myself. 'You're my special girl, my princess. One day, you'll meet a friend who deserves you,' he said. I thought I found that in you that day on the train. Ron's words just brought that all back."
Harry launched forward and wrapped her in a hug.
"You are my friend," Harry said. "Whatever happens, whatever comes, I'm with you to the end of the line."
Harry took a deep breath. Hermione needed something; proof that she was his friend.
"I had similar experiences. Dudley, my cousin, was my bully growing up," Harry started speaking. He feared if he stopped, he wouldn't be able to continue. "He and his gang had this game they would love to play. It's called Harry Hunting. They would chase me across the school grounds, sometimes beyond even. Sometimes I would escape, other times, I didn't get lucky. It took me teleporting to the roof of the schoolhouse to get away once. They had to call the fire department to get me down. Vernon was so pissed that night when he got back from work."
Harry shuddered, remembering that night vividly.
"Dudley didn't stop there. A few kids tried to befriend me. He beat them up too, making them stay away. Vernon and Petunia encouraged it, I think. 'Freaks don't deserve friends,' they told me."
Hermione was weeping again, this time for Harry.
"At the station, I was worried I had been strung along. I was so excited to have a new school, to be away from Number 4, Privet Drive. Thought I could learn uninhibited, meet some friends and have a real life for once. When I couldn't find the platform, I thought I'd have to go back, that my dream was really just a fantasy; something to never come true."
Harry looked up into her eyes.
"Then this voice, this clear, angelic voice asks if I need help. She offers to help me find the platform, to help take me to school. In that moment I knew I finally had a friend.
"I am your friend, Hermione. Please don't leave me, Hermione. Please don't go where I can't follow. Neville is nice but I can't imagine this place without you. Hogwarts is amazing but it's you that makes it magical."
"Thank you, Harry; for being my friend, for coming to find me and for sharing that story. I know that must have been tough. I've seen the way you flinch at physical contact, the way you react to loud noises. I watch your eyes when you observe others, when you're in a new area. I realized you always sit in the Great Hall with your back to the wall. You've had a hard life, I know. I am sorry for doubting your friendship."
"If Ron called me a freak and told me I didn't have friends, I'd probably relapse too," Harry said. "Just promise me to talk to me next time, okay?"
Hermione nodded.
"Now you look tired and I'm famished. Let's see if we can catch the end of the feast."
Harry turned to head toward the door when it disintegrated, revealing a gargantuan mountain troll. Standing almost 4 meters (12 feet) tall, the troll stepped into the bathroom and roared as it advanced. Hermione screamed and pushed back to the far wall while Harry ran past the troll, sliding between its legs.
Looking back, he saw a petrified Hermione frozen on the wall. Without thought of recourse, he ran and climbed up the trolls back. Sensing Harry's motion, the troll twisted at the waist and Harry flew off, his body crashing into the wall near the stock-still Hermione.
Undeterred, running on pure adrenaline, Harry spotted the tree branch the troll was holding, noticing it looked a little like the matchstick in Transfiguration.
"Not sure if I can make this work," he said as he looked over his shoulder at his frozen best friend. "But I don't think I have any other options."
"Wingardium Leviosa," He swished and flicked. The club lifted into the air. Mustering as much of his magic as he could, keeping the wand movement as precise as possible, he incanted "Mutara Materia."
To his surprise, in place of the club, a large needle, big enough for Hagrid to use, levitated in the air.
"Wingardium Levi-Oh!" Harry's coup de grace was interrupted by the troll backhanding him into the sinks. The needle crashed to the ground as Harry collapsed. Angry that this insect took away his favorite weapon, the toll advanced toward the now unconscious Harry.
Seeing Harry in danger finally spurred Hermione into action. Noticing the needle Harry had transfigured lying on the floor, she knew what to do. She drew her wand.
"Wingardium Leviosa," she shouted. With as much magic as she could, she pushed the needle toward the troll.
The troll turned its head at the sound. The last thing the creature saw was the needle as it pierced through its eye and into the brain. With a gigantic thud, the troll dropped, unmoving onto the floor.
"Harry!" Hermione she shouted as she ran to him. Rolling him over, she repeated the same phrase over and over.
"Please be okay, please be okay, please be okay," Hermione said as she tried to wake him. At long last, he groaned and opened his eyes.
The first thing he saw was Hermione, amber energy blazing behind her eyes.
"Anyone get the number of that bus?" He shook his head, trying to clear the cobwebs. "Wait! The troll? What happened with the troll!?"
"Well you see…" Hermione's explanation was interrupted.
"What in the blazes happened here?" Came the screech from McGonagall from what remained of the doorway. "Why are you not with the rest of your housemates?"
Harry looked over to see Professors McGonagall, Flitwick and Snape inspecting the remnants of what used to be a girl's bathroom.
"I'm sorry, professor," Harry said as he tried to stand. Hermione kept a hold on him, pushing him back down. McGonagall took one look at Harry and sent a silver spell through the doorway.
"Ron said something that upset Hermione. I couldn't just let her be alone. Your house is your family, you told us. Family doesn't let family suffer alone. We were about to join the feast when the troll came in."
"But who killed the troll?" Snape asked derisively. "And where did they run off to?"
"Technically, I did, sir," Hermione said quietly. "I… didn't mean to kill it. I just wanted to pin it to the wall so it didn't hurt Harry."
"But where did you get the spear?" Flitwick asked.
"Harry did that actually," Hermione looked at her friend with pride. "He used Wingardium Leviosa to take the club from the trolls hand and then transfigured it into a… needle?"
Hermione finished her explanation and looked at Harry, asking for confirmation.
"I noticed the similarity of shape. Professor McGonagall said there was some flexibility in what you were transfiguring, so long as you thought through the composition of what you were transfiguring it into. I didn't know if I had enough power but I had to try. It was going to kill Hermione."
"So you're telling me," Filtwick asked, wide eyed. "That you combined two different practices of magic into one to defend yourself from a creature that most trained wizards find difficulty with? As a first year?"
Harry nodded, looking sleepy.
"50 points to Gryffindor! What creativity!" Flitwick and McGonagall looked equally impressed. "20 points to you, Miss Granger, for helping a student in need. 5 points from you both for missing the feast."
"Potter!" Snape shouted. "Detention! For missing the feast and being arrogant enough to think you could take on a troll all by yourself! So much like your father you are."
"Indeed," McGonagall stopped the Snape rant before he built up enough steam. "Only James Potter would try to transfigure a tree branch into a metal needle to take on a creature."
"And only your mother would come to help another classmate because of they were upset by something another student had done. Right, Severus?" She turned to glare at the black-robed bat. "You won't be serving detention for helping a classmate."
As McGonagall finished, Madam Pomfrey entered, gazing wide-eyed at the destruction around her.
"I got your message, Minerva. What appears to be the iss…" her eyes fell on Harry. Drawing her wand, she started to cast detection spells.
"Broken pelvis, dislocated hip, separated shoulder and broken arm," Pomfrey grew more incredulous as she read her scans. "Looks like a mild concussion too."
Pomfrey waived her wand, knitting the bones back together and allowed him to gingerly stand back up. Harry's hands were starting to shake as the adrenaline wore off.
"You'll need to take it easy for a few days. No strenuous activity. I also see signs of magical exhaustion. No spell casting for the rest of the week. I'll need to see you before classes on Monday before I clear you cast magic again."
"Do they need to spend a night in the Wing?" McGonagall asked.
"They just require rest and they'll be able to do that better in their own beds."
Pomfrey handed him a potion for pain, as well as a potion for dreamless sleep for the both of them.
"You'll want this for tonight. You have been through a traumatic experience and you both need a full night's sleep. If you are having any issues, don't hesitate to come to me in the Hospital Wing."
McGonagall waived Pomfrey out of the bathroom and turned to the two students.
"Both of you head back to your dormitories and grab something to eat. The feast is continuing up there. Please don't make a habit of this, Mr. Potter. I barely survived the antics of your father; I don't need you carrying on his legacy.
"I'll try but no promises," Harry smiled at her. "He told me Potters attract danger."
"On your way."
"And Mr. Potter? Miss Granger?" The duo turned at Flitwick's voice. "Come find me when you are healed. I would love to talk to you both."
Slowly, with the support of one another, they made their way toward their dormitory.
"Thank you for saving my life," they said in stereo. Laughing, they nodded to each other. When you take down a fully-grown mountain troll, there's not much else that needs to be said.
(A/N: I wanted this to be just the two of them to take on the troll and start building their natural teamwork. Ron certainly doesn't get to be the hero after what he said.
*If you're a Star Trek: The Next Generation fan, you might realize where the verses Harry recites come from. )