AN finished another two chapters because I have been going at a demon pace but I am sure it will slow down sooner or later due to university getting more intense. Here is another chapter nonetheless and it will probably be the last time I publish two chapters in the same week because frankly I like having banked chapters so if I fall behind, I can give you 5 guys more content. One user said they didn't like Harry and that is okay, the story is about change and Harry is a part of this. He will change but this is a slow burn fic so don't hold your breath. Leave reviews for me and I will probably write more because of the dopamine.

The next week had been different from the prior two. He noticed that Hermione wouldn't put up with any of the small talks they had captured only two weeks ago instead she would insert muggle headphones into her ears and listen to music. He had tried a couple times to get her attention but it was for naught as he was sure she was ignoring him. And it was killing him.

Only Luna knew he was working with her and he wanted to keep it like that for now. He knew his friend had once feuded with Hermione and he didn't want to bring up any old wounds. But it didn't stop the questions from Ron and Neville about his whereabouts. The whole school took notice even when the Slytherins were given days between pranks.

He of course wanted to get them but he was so occupied with research. He allowed Hermione to get back to class but he opted to skip them and continue their research. He felt good about his exams, if he even took them. He was far ahead and knew enough about the theory to get by. At least he thought so.

He wasn't entirely sure what his parents would think once Moony wrote them, he hadn't done something like this before so he was sure they would find it concerning. He had even made an effort to avoid his Uncle because he knew he'd try to get him to go to class.

But that wasn't important. He had a competition to win.

At some point he'd need an actual Dementor to start figuring out the finer parts but he was sure he'd be able to get one. The less time they spent around the thing the better he thought so he wasn't worrying about it quite yet.

He wasn't sure which of his friends other than Luna had applied, he knew Ron would've liked to but he didn't meet all the requirements. Ultimately he was sure his friend wouldn't have been able to reverse the tickling charm on his own. His friend was good with a wand but was about clueless on how magic actually worked.

Wait

You people don't understand magic is all

Ever since that moment she had been mum with him. He thought about it for a moment? It was arrogant to say, but it was true! They all thought it was… so knowable and in some cases mathematical but it wasn't! He only took Arithmancy because it had provided a challenge and it wasn't divination. But most of what they said couldn't have been father from the truth, at least in his eyes.

Maybe he had messed up. Only that night she had told him how he came off to her. Of course he didn't think that was entirely true but a few of her words had stuck with him. He wasn't sure why though! Her honesty was just so different… and it made him crave to speak to her which she currently didn't reciprocate.

Why would she be so mad though? Maybe she could call him an ass again but why the cold shoulder?

You people don't understand magic is all

Why would she get so pissed?

You people don't understand magic is all

For one of the first times in his life he felt dumb.

He tried to put himself in her shoes. They had a somewhat stressful conversation before and he got that. Although for him it had been nice and refreshing. They had even bonded some if you asked him. Then it had all just gone south!

Oh.

His mum would kill him.

Merlin how could he have been so… ignorant?

It explained it well. She was a muggleborn and admittedly he had been a little… arrogant? Was it so bad to be proud of your achievements nowadays! Maybe it was just Hermione who was jealous of his talent. It wasn't his fault that magic just came easy to him! But it wasn't at all what he meant by that.

They were set to be in the room an hour after dinner like they always did but he didn't feel right. He felt gross actually, like he had become a Malfoy… today that name was almost an insult to purebloods. Malfoy Sr had been executed years ago when anyone with the mark who couldn't pass an imperious test was sentenced to death. As far as they knew none survived… well there was one. Snape but he wasn't worth worrying about right now. But he had said something that the Malfoy heir would've said, well he might even still if everyone was out of earshot but he smiled at the last time the boy had said it in front of him. Malfoy had been throwing up mud for more than a month!

He needed to apologize promptly… it couldn't wait. He knew where she would be so he made his way down to the dungeons where the before mentioned professor taught. He made to knock on the door but then froze his hand before it could rap on the door.

No, he would wait for Snape to dismiss them. He remembered how important these classes were to her and she'd only be more mad if he interrupted and made a scene. Instead he stepped to the side and slumped down against the wall and down to his behind.

He could hear Snape's draw through the wall but paid it little mind. He took Snape's class of course but he wasn't one of his better students. It just didn't come so… naturally. Not to mention him and Snape had a weird relationship. He knew his father hadn't spoken to the man in well over a decade while his mum still had a soft spot for the man. Snape had been… harnessing at first but that had ended soon enough and the two had an understanding of sorts. He knew what Snape thought of him, and he knew if his parents and Remus weren't looking out for him then it was probably unavoidable that the man would be down his throat. He didn't know the full story but he had heard whispers from Remus about how Snape thought he was arrogant and lazy. But he was pretty sure Snape was only mad because the only magical talent he had was cooking. He had been told that Snape was a talented wizard but from his experience dueling the man in dueling club he wasn't all that good. Jealousy was probably scarier than any poison the man had brewed. But he was used to it, most people were jealous.

It felt like hours he was outside the door despite knowing that it wasn't true. But he got bored easy, maybe he should've gone out to the pitch and had a fly.

No

His inner voice was right there would be plenty of time for that later. They had a lot of work to get done but before that he needed to apologize for being an ass.

Finally the large door swung open and thankfully it opened to the other side. He watched the back of their heads as they filed out, some of them missed him completely while others stared at him in a way he was used to. Some of them stepped and stood around him which was annoying. But he couldn't miss her, she was likely to scurry away if he did. He spotted her brown hair easily, it was so unique among her peers in a good way. As gracefully as he could he jumped to his feet, shocking the growing crowd.

As she turned to leave he reached a hand out and touched her shoulder.

She jumped under his hand and there was a loud bang when her books hit the ground. She turned around quickly and met his gaze before her eyes went wide and her mouth went agape.

He scrambled for her books and handed them to her before she could say anything.

"Hey."

"Hi"

"Sorry for scaring you." He said, holding in a laugh. This wasn't the time.

In that instant the door to the dungeon swung open and the greasy git presented himself. He was a bit taller than Harry who was on the shorter side and his hair flowed down his shoulders. His large and pointed nose which usually pointed north was now directed to him.

"Potter. Haven't seen you in class lately, hope you do well on your exams…" the man said sarcastically.

"Oh not to worry I'll be just fine." Harry said with a large smile.

"Harassing Miss Granger? Can't say I'm surprised, your father did much the same." Snape retorted.

"Worked at well then it seems." Harry again said with the same shit eating grin he had perfected on the man.

He could see Snape's eyes furrowing and hid cheeks glowing pink.

"One day Potter you'll get a taste of real life." He sneered.

"Nah, I'm full. Thanks"

The man looked at him one more time with pure disgust before turning around and slamming the door behind him. He could hear a few students snicking now and it made him smile. Oh Snape never change.

Now he wanted them gone. He wanted to speak with her in private. He had one idea though, one he had never thought about doing before but it might just be crazy enough to work!

"Would you all mind… leaving?" Harry called out to the group.

They murmured for a moment before slowly turning and walking away.

Now they stood alone in the hall. She looked at him with the same look he had gotten here and there the last few weeks… cold. If cold was a look it was the one Hermione Granger was giving him right now. If there was an exam on it she would ace it! It was honestly beautiful how stone cold she could look, he'd have to ask her for lessons. But now wasn't the time.

"Hermione, I wanted to come and apologize and to explain myself. I'll just get right to it and if I'm wrong then… well I'm not. I said something two weeks ago that I didn't mean, not in that way. You see-" he stammered.

Why was apologizing so hard! Maybe it was the lack of practice! He felt just fine and confident before but now that he was looking at her he felt… bad. He felt nervous and he felt like a tosser for hurting her. He didn't mean to! But he had… and she had to be in a room with him for hours a day thinking he thought bad about her. It wasn't fair.

"Well you see when I said you people I just meant… everyone really! I didn't mean Muggleborns or half bloods or anything! I'd never say something like that I am not like that. I meant everyone except Dumbledore really." He managed to complete.

He found her eyes and he swore he could see them soften. Her lips loosened, why was he looking at those even? And she looked to him as if calculating.

"Well what do you mean then? Nobody understands magic?" She questioned.

"Yes and no. What everyone thinks is technically right but it's very… narrow and it almost misses the point. Taking the magic out of magic almost. I don't think I can explain better than that."

She stared at him for a while longer and it made him almost itch. He had never felt like this before, well maybe when he was young and he had taken lessons with Dumbledore before he really knew the man. But she wasn't Dumbledore!

"I believe you. Not that I understand what you mean but… you didn't come off like that to me." She said softly.

He felt something inside him stir, like he had just caught the snitch in the middle of a back and forth match!

"I promise. I'm not like that." He said confidently,

"Okay. Are we going to go work or can I get some dinner first?" She asked.

"How about you come have dinner with me. I can introduce you to a few of my friends?" He suggested,

"Um… no I don't think that's a good idea." She spoke quickly.

"Oh come on. I know you snd Ron used to like… have a feud or something but he won't be a problem I promise." Harry assured her.

"Why? Why does it matter? We're not friends Harry… we never spoke to each other until this contest. I accept your apology and I truly mean that. You don't have to do anything else."

He looked to her confused. Did she think he was only asking because he felt sorry? He wasn't. He was sorry of course but it had nothing to do with this. He just… he wanted to talk to her? It was just like before she was so easy to talk to and she was… honest when he asked and it was so nice or refreshing he didn't know but he did know that he couldn't stand the silence the last two weeks and he'd like to make up for lost time.

"No we're not friends. And we haven't spoken before I know that. But I… I've always kept a tight circle I guess and I like talking to you. So I'd like to introduce you to some of my friends." He replied honestly,

It was true. He knew it didn't look like it but he had kept a tight circle at school. Of course he was friendly with everyone but most of them couldn't tell you a few basic things about him that weren't outwardly obvious. She was different though… she didn't want to be his friend for the fame or his name. On the contrary he wasn't entirely sure she wanted to be his friend at all! Which made her all the more fascinating.

"I'll come. But if it gets weird I'm leaving." She stated.

He gave her a small smile before leading her out of the dungeons.