Harry and Hermione are only part of the way through the year when something interesting happens.
They are just minding their own business far, far away from the boisterous children. Harry is glad they are celebrating but he doesn't really want to when it's the anniversary of his parents death.
In typical Hermione fashion, the girl in question snarls at the adults' pathetic attempts at trying to get them to attend. He knows Hermione deeply respects McGonagall, even admires her so her lashing out on his behalf is rather touching.
They find an empty classroom, clasp hands and kneel together. Hermione brings candles out of nowhere and he realises what the small, rattling box she gave him earlier was for. The matches are struck and candles lit and they sit in silence, their heads bowed.
Hermione surprises him by speaking aloud, telling his parents about him and how proud they should be. Harry watches the flames and he can almost feel a presence. The candles do not flicker during Hermione's speech.
They sit in companiable silence.
And then, of course (because the universe is never going to give Harry a break, even when - especially when he's doing something important), a loud thud breaks their concentration.
The terrible smell comes next.
Hermione's brain works as quickly as possible and Harry swears he can hear cogs turning. Something large and something that smells foul. It's either a troll or a giant. Probably.
She crosses her fingers, they're doomed if it's a giant.
Harry doesn't hesitate to grip her hand. He's sure some would see this as 'unmanly' or whatever but Harry's a boy not a man and Hermione's little brother (or so she says. Harry's not stupid enough to disagree and he likes being a brother so...).
A tall, stinking, thick TROLL enters the tall room and they reflect that maybe the high, ornate ceilings aren't that great after all. Hermione thought the architecture was impressive and Harry just thought they looked cool.
Harry is drawn from his memories when Hermione squeezes his hand. He puts some pressure back, as a reassurance. It's nice to know someone cares enough to make sure he is ok.
Hermione allows herself to relax a little when the troll's eyes seem to sweep right over them. What a basic mistake! The troll swings at Harry and a crack follows.
Hermione thinks it was his ribs. She tries to address the situation through cold logic but she can't. Logic has never failed her and it's an odd feeling.
She looks down at Harry's bent body. He smiles at her weakly before passing out. Anger, the likes of which she has never felt before consumes her. The bluebell flames - that took her forever to work out - burst out of her wand.
She won't know it until later but she's just cast a Protego Diabolica. Towering blue flames burst out around her. Her and Harry are surrounded by a ring of blazing blue flames. Hermione remembers the time she learnt blue was hotter than orange when it came to fire.
With a truly horrifying smile - it's oh so satisfied - she directs the flames towards the troll. No one knows it yet but this spell will become the her signature one. It's easy to see why - as soon as the flames touch the troll, it burns. The fire is so intense that not even it's bones are left. She didn't even know that was possible but it is magic.
Hermione is tempted to not extinguish her flames - they are truly fascinating - before she remembers Harry. Her little brother is curled up on the ground clutching his bloody midsection. To make sure he doesn't move more and hurt himself, she casts a full body-bind on him.
Of course just as she's attempting to use Wingardium Leviosa on him - she doesn't really fancy dragging him -, the teachers appear.
Somehow, she supposes they won't believe her. She's a first year, Hufflepuff and a girl. The Wizarding World is biased whether they want to admit it or not. Although some would gladly say so. Her mind flickers briefly to Malfoy.
She settles on the innocent goody two shoes. She's not sure how it will work - she did nearly bite their heads off earlier. She'll just have to wing it, figure out the details as she goes. It's more suited to Harry but he's is no state to help her.
"Miss Granger" 'Ms' she corrects internally, her eyes fixated on Harry.
"What on earth happened?"
Hermione opens her mouth to respond before realising she's crying. She turns around to face them, locking eyes with Professor McGonagall.
The memory of the troll smacking Harry comes to the forefront of her mind. She looks at Dumbledore speechlessly. Why wasn't she strong enough to stop it?
"There was a troll" she manages. "It smacked Harry and..."
"And what?" demands Snape.
"It was there and then it was gone."
She gestures to where she incinerated the beast. There is absolutely nothing there. She's not technically lying so she should be fine. Rule number 1 of lying is to be as truthful as possible. She visualises it as she meets his gaze: she looked down at Harry and when she looked up once more, it was gone.
Dumbledore speaks again.
"Thank you Miss Granger. I suggest you escort yourself and Mr Potter over there to the Hospital Wing. I dare say you need it."
Hermione nodded weakly. Better for him to think she was a shaken best friend rather than a troll killer. She really needed to look into the spell she used: she'd been aiming for her bluebell flames and they were - just on a different scale. The fire had reminded her of descriptions of Fiendfyre but that was orange and reportedly more uncontrollable. Her blue ring was admittedly on the wild side but it was hers and it obeyed her. Obeyed wasn't the right word - it listened. Like Harry listened to her and was hers.
This was the pivotal moment that Hermione Granger began to grasp magic and it her.
But there is still a long way to go until she truly understands it. First, she has to figure out how to get Harry to the Hospital Wing. She hopes the teachers just hadn't realised how injured he was because otherwise, she feels obliged to seek... retribution.