Chapter 12: Playing in the Snow
"Are you sure she said it was alright to bring me along," Hermione asked him, her tone worried.
Harry glanced at his best friend and smiled in encouragement. Hermione came across as such a confident girl, it was easy to forget sometimes that she could be insecure just like anyone else. It was easy to forget sometimes that this was the girl who hadn't had real friends before coming to Hogwarts. She was just like Harry in that. Neither of them had experienced true friendship before being told what they really were and being offered the opportunity to come and learn about magic.
"You read the parchment yourself," Harry reminded her as he bumped her shoulder. "You know that Malfoy invited you along."
Hermione smiled at that even as she adjusted her scarf. She would need it too. It was bitingly cold outside. They had experienced a heavy snowfall again overnight. "She's not so bad you know," Hermione admitted cautiously as they took their first steps out of the castle.
Harry looked at her quizzically. "Oh?" he asked wondering just when Hermione had interacted with Lyra Malfoy.
"We have Ancient Runes and Arithmancy together," Hermione informed him. "We were partnered during my last Ancient Runes class. She's wickedly clever in deciphering runes," she admitted with a bit of awe mixed with annoyance that she was clearly bested by someone.
"She probably was tutored in it before Hogwarts," Harry said as a way of easing Hermione.
She seemed to mull that over for a moment. "Perhaps," she said and that seemed to make her feel better. "But my real point was that she was polite and courteous. I didn't expect it of her and honestly, I feel ashamed of myself that I didn't. I've never had an argument with her or any other altercation with her. It's Parkinson that I cannot stand, and I think I projected a lot of that on her because she and Parkinson move in the same circles."
Harry grimaced at that. He was guilty of that too. He had liked the girl he had met in the robe shop and then discarded any chance of friendship with her when he learned her father was a Death Eater. It had been self-preservation on his part, but it had also been cruel. Lyra Malfoy wasn't her father. He consoled himself now as he trekked across the snow-covered grounds toward the stables with the reminder that he was going there at Lyra's invitation. He didn't know if she'd allow them to become friends, but he hoped that they could be something better than the mere acquaintances they had been for the last two years.
"We all make mistakes," he said to Hermione. "Look at us and Ron," he pointed out.
She grimaced at that. "Don't remind me," she muttered darkly. "We got into it again this morning while you were at breakfast with Neville."
Harry frowned at that. He had stayed longer at breakfast to chat with Neville who had come down late. Hermione had gone back up to Gryffindor tower with Fay Dunbar to help the girl with a bit of homework. Harry hadn't noticed if Ron was still at breakfast or not. He had been actively attempting to ignore Ron whenever possible now because he didn't want the conflict. Between his regular lessons, his lessons with Professor Lupin to learn the Patronus Charm and his anxiety about Sirius Black, he had decided that it would be best to just avoid Ron when possible until he was willing to talk to Harry properly instead of hurling insults and accusations at him.
It was surprisingly nice going to classes without Ron at his side. It was nice to study without Ron trying to distract him into slacking off. It was nice to see the improvement in his grades. It felt like something toxic had been removed from him with Ron's absence. It made Harry feel a little bit sad, but not sad enough to want Ron back beside him again.
"What did he do?" Harry asked because he just knew that Ron had started it. Hermione had taken to avoiding Ron as well after Harry had talked with her in the library.
"Apparently, I'm a horrible influence on you," she sniffed.
Harry stopped walking and gave her an incredulous look. "What?" he asked confused. "But that's absurd. You're my best friend. You always listen to me even when you think I'm being crazy. You help me study and help me with homework. You encourage me to do my best at everything. I fail to see how that is a horrible influence," he finished, clearly angry on Hermione's behalf.
She blushed even as she smiled brightly at him. "Thank you, Harry," she said softly. "You're my best friend too you know," she added after a moment and Harry felt warmth flood him at that.
He had known, of course, that Hermione thought of him as her best friend. Her actions always backed up her feelings in that regard. She always worried about him. She wrote to him during the summer holidays. They were always long letters telling him of the things she had learned and the places she had been during the holiday. Her letters were always something to treasure even when she was riding him a bit about studying and homework. Ron barely wrote to him during the holidays and then it was only to complain or with information about when Harry could visit him. Really the evidence that Hermione cared more about his friendship than Ron did was there all along.
Hermione huffed then, clearly remembering her fight with Ron. "He thinks that you spend too much time studying now and not enough time having fun," she said. "Those weren't his exact words but that's what he meant," she said with a wave of her gloved hand.
He nodded. Yeah, that sounded like Ron. "He isn't even talking to me," he reminded her as they continued their trek to the stables.
She nodded. "I know. I think he thinks that if you start slacking off again," she paused and gave him a look clearly meant to warn him that there would be severe consequences if he did. "that he'll be able to just go back to the way things were."
"Without an apology?" Harry's tone was dubious.
She sighed and there was a world of regret in that sigh. "Don't be so surprised, Harry," she said. "We've both let Ron get away with plenty of transgressions without holding out for a real apology."
She was speaking from experience he knew. How many times had Ron made Hermione walk away in tears? Some of the tears were of frustration at Ron's bull-headed stubbornness, but others were of genuine hurt. Thinking back, he couldn't remember a single time he had heard Ron actually apologize to her. It made him feel uneasy that he hadn't paid attention to that. He should have. Yet, he hadn't wanted to get involved when his two best friends were squabbling. Hermione was a smart girl, able to fight her own battles. He had probably told himself that so often that it became second nature to ignore when Ron and Hermione were fighting so long as they got over it in a day or so. This wasn't his first disagreement with Ron, but it was the first big one that had lasted more than a day. In the past, Harry would have allowed Ron to easily hang out with him again without the apology because he'd be just grateful that they weren't fighting any longer.
"It's different now," Harry said softly.
She nodded. "Yes," she agreed. "We're growing up. I think before, I was just so happy to have friends," she said wistfully. "I forgave him things that I shouldn't have because of that."
"I did the same," Harry admitted.
"Ugh, are you lions always so maudlin?" came the smooth tones of Theodore Nott from behind them.
Harry spun around, wand in his hand though he didn't take aim just yet. He felt the now familiar irritation that burned in him when he saw the Nott scion. Once again Nott was escorting Lyra Malfoy and Harry hated the sight of her hand on his arm.
"Theo, you promised you'd play nice," Lyra reprimanded the blond-haired boy.
"I was being perfectly polite," Nott argued back.
"You were baiting them," she insisted firmly. "You were poking at lions. If they bite you, I won't defend you. Not when you deserve it," she said in a teasing tone that made warmth curl inside of Harry.
"Very well," Nott said after a moment. He then looked at Hermione and Harry. "If you eat me, I suppose I will have deserved it."
Hermione snickered at that. "I'm sure you'll survive. I don't have a taste for snakes," she said.
Nott's pale green eyes lit up in amusement. "So, refreshing to speak with a witty lioness," he said in praise. "Normally my interactions with those of your house are imbeciles."
Harry winced at that knowing that Nott was referring to Ron. His estranged friend had taken delight in teasing Nott the previous year about Nott's father being investigated for owning dark magical artifacts. Nott the elder was acquitted, but Ron was insistent that he had bought off the authorities to get the case dismissed. Harry didn't know if that was true or not. He supposed the Nott family might have a lot of money and therefore could bribe plenty of people, but now with his new mindset, he couldn't rule out the idea that maybe, just maybe Nott the elder was innocent and the case fell apart due to lack of evidence against the man.
Hermione's smile was all faux innocence when she said: "Yes, well, it can't be that surprising that Slytherin isn't the only house with its share of imbeciles."
Lyra giggled at that. "Granger has you there," she said to Nott.
Nott nodded conceding the point. "Alright, I accept defeat," the boy said playfully. "Now can we see this beast of yours, Lyra?"
Harry watched as Lyra's smile fell into a scowl. "He's not a beast," she insisted firmly. "You call him a beast one more time and I'll wash your mouth out," she warned.
To Harry's surprise, Nott held up his hands in surrender. The boy swiftly apologized, but Lyra still seemed annoyed with him. She left the boy's side and sidled up to Harry.
"Come on, Potter," she insisted even as she took his arm and turned him back toward the stables. "Let's go see my dog."
Harry couldn't hold back the small smug smile that she had chosen him as an escort over Nott. He willingly led her into the stables and marveled at how large they were on the inside. Outside the building had looked like a small barn, yet inside the space was quite large. There were a large number of horse stalls and other rooms off to his left side.
"I take it you've never visited the Hogwarts Stables before?" she asked of him.
Harry shook his head in the negative. "I never had a need to," he admitted.
She nodded at that. "This is where most of the animals are kept. Those stalls in the back corner are for the Thestrals. They're hearty creatures, but even they need some cover from the snow. Some of Professor Hagrid's creatures for the class are stowed away in here to keep them out of the elements. Also, some of the animals necessary for feeding us are kept here," Lyra explained.
"Animals for feeding us?" Hermione questioned.
Lyra nodded and glanced back at Hermione and Theo. "Yes, the House-Elves tend to chickens and pheasants and a few other animals as well."
Harry nodded at that. "Of course," he said. "I never thought to ask where the food came from. Gryffindor table has eggs and bacon available for breakfast every morning."
"Oh, I see," Hermione said in that enlightened tone that she got when she learned something new that interested her. "It does make sense that there would be animals here to assist in the feeding of so many people."
"Some of it is outsourced of course," Nott mentioned, talking mostly to Hermione. "A lot of business for Hogsmeade Village comes from the school. Pigs for ham and bacon come from the village. Fresh fruits and vegetables come mostly from the village since the Hogwarts greenhouses are mostly for the plants Professor Sprout teaches us about."
"Venomous Tentacula," Harry said simply.
Lyra smiled. "Mandrakes," she replied causing Harry to smile.
"Did Hogwarts always outsource to Hogsmeade Village?" Hermione asked.
"The castle has always had an agreement with the village but once most of the food sources came from within Hogwarts grounds itself," Lyra replied.
"I wonder why they don't put that in 'Hogwart's a History'? It would be interesting information to learn," Hermione said with some consternation.
Harry shook his head at Hermione's tone. He knew that tone well. It meant that she was annoyed that she had thought the book so thorough and now found it had lacked information. He then let himself think about it for a moment. "The book focuses mostly on the features of the castle and the founders right?" he asked Hermione.
She gave him a slight glare. "You'd know if you had ever read it, Harry."
"Wait. You mean Potter has never read the book?" Theo asked surprised. "I thought everyone had read that book. Isn't it practically mandatory for Muggle-raised students?"
Harry blinked in surprise. He hadn't been told that. But then again he had learned over the last two years that there was plenty of introductory information to the magical world that he had missed out on. Hagrid had not told him about a lot of things, and he hadn't let Harry know that he could pick up books to help him understand the world around him. "No, my guide didn't tell me," he was embarrassed to admit. He noted the look of disbelief on Nott's face before it turned sharp and calculating. Nott then looked at Malfoy. Harry glanced at Lyra and hated seeing the silent communication going on between her and Nott. It spoke of closeness and understanding of each other that Harry didn't think he'd ever be allowed to have with the Malfoy scion.
Hermione bit her lip then. "Harry, you never told me that Hagrid didn't give you the materials you needed," she said gently. "I would have shared mine with you if I had known. I still have them, if you would like to read them."
It was on the tip of his tongue to say not to bother and that there was no point now since he was already a third year, but he bit that back. He forced passed his embarrassment and really began to think about it. There could be useful information there that he needed to know. Knowledge was power and he was coming to understand that. "Yes, thank you, Hermione," he accepted her offer.
The four students fell silent when a happy bark was heard. Harry turned just in time to see the Grim rushing toward them. "Is that?" he heard Hermione say just before he was knocked against the wall by the exuberant dog. He heard the beautiful sound of Lyra Malfoy's laughter as the dog licked his face.
"Ugh," Harry said even as he began to gently but firmly get the dog to settle down. Dog slobber was not what he had imagined when he had thought of seeing Lyra's dog again. "I guess you're feeling better," he said to the dog.
"Looks like he remembers you," Lyra said with a pleased tone to her voice.
"He wasn't well when I carried him," Harry protested.
Lyra nodded and the look she gave him was full of fondness. "Yes, but you did carry him, Potter. You held him close and made him comfortable all the way to Hagrid's cottage."
"You call that a cottage?" Nott sneered, ignoring the glare Hermione sent from beside him.
Lyra rolled her eyes. "Theo, your idea of a cottage has ten bedrooms and two different dining rooms."
"Oh, and White Hall is a small intimate house then?" Theo sniped back.
Harry watched them in confusion. He wasn't used to seeing the Slytherin's like this. It was like he was inside their guard, able to see them for what they were truly like instead of the social mask they had to show the rest of the school. Were Lyra and Nott trying to allow Harry and Hermione to become their friends?
Or was it a trick?
Harry hated the part of himself that had to ask if it were a trick to lull him and Hermione into some sort of trap, but he couldn't help it. He still didn't know if he should trust any of the Slytherin students, even when he longed to be closer to Malfoy. At least one good thing happened, the Grim settled down just a moment after Theo had mentioned White Hall.
"What is White Hall?" Hermione asked.
"It's my mother's home," Lyra said easily. "Her dower property. My father is currently denied access and he never felt comfortable there even before then. It is saturated with my mother's magic and her families magic," she explained to them. "Father has never felt comfortable with the feel of the Black family magic. I don't know why."
"Because he's weaker than your mother's family," Nott said with a nod. "And Lucius is the sort of man who likes to think he's invincible."
Lyra simply nodded, whether it was because she agreed of Nott's opinion or was in mere acceptance of it, Harry couldn't be sure. He watched as she began to pet the dog. The beast leaned happily into her touch. She smiled sweetly at the dog. "I'll take you to White Hall. You'll have plenty of space there and you'll never have to worry about Lord Malfoy trying to dictate how you will live," she promised the dog. "But for now, perhaps we should go outside to play for a little bit," she said.
The dog barked happily and then raced outside of the stables. With a laugh, Lyra and Hermione both made to follow him leaving Harry and Nott to follow after them. They spent the next hour with each of the children taking turns petting the dog and playing fetch with him. To Harry's delight, the dog knocked Nott over twice when the boy had been standing too close to Lyra for Harry's taste. If he didn't know any better, he could have sworn that the dog had done it on purpose. Maybe the dog was just being protective of his mistress? It made Harry smile either way, grateful to watch the handsome pureblood knocked on his behind.
It was with some regret that they returned the dog to the stables. Lyra took some time to cast warming charms on the dog's bedding. She then settled down to brush the animal. Harry sat with her, helping to hold the dog's head for her as she gently brushed the fur around his healing injuries. Harry felt the dog shiver slightly when she brushed gentle fingers over his wounds. "How is he?" he asked.
"He's healing nicely," Lyra answered. "His wounds are mostly healed. I imagine it'll take two more thorough doses of Master Snape's healing potion for him to be back to one hundred percent."
"Master?" Harry asked with some confusion.
"It's his proper designation," Lyra said easily. "He's a Potion's Master. He's the youngest to have achieved that honor in a very long time. He's arguably the most skilled Potion's Master in Britain."
"He is, but there will always be those who think they are better," Nott said easily from where he was seated on a bench beside Hermione watching them.
"So, calling him Professor or Master are both acceptable," Harry mused.
She nodded. "Professor because he works as the Potions Professor here," she said as she gracefully arose and went to put away the comb. "Potter, Granger, so long as you both promise to never hurt him, you have my permission to come and visit him. It's clear that he likes both of you. Grim's are great judges of character, so he must feel that he is safe with the two of you."
Harry nodded. "He's a great dog. I still don't understand why the villagers hurt him. I mean, okay so he's a big boy and it could be scary having him come at you all exuberant, but clearly, he doesn't want to hurt anyone."
Nott shook his head at that. "Naïve Potter," he said. "He doesn't want to hurt you. He'd be a real danger to whoever he wanted to hurt. Still, you have a point. The villagers probably didn't bother to discover his temperament before they hurt him," he conceded in the end after a nudge to the ribs from Hermione.
He marveled at that. Over the last two hours, Nott and Hermione had managed to form some sort of strange acquaintanceship if not friendship. They had spent much of the time that Harry and Lyra had groomed the dog discussing magical culture. Harry had learned quite a lot just by listening to them, but most of his attention had been on Lyra and the dog. He had become mesmerized watching Lyra take care of the dog.
Noting that the dog had fallen asleep on his charmed blankets, Harry arose as well. He helped Lyra ensure that he had fresh water and food and then the four students exited the stables back into the cold winter wonderland. They walked slowly together toward the castle and Harry couldn't help but think that each of them was reluctant to leave the side of the other. Harry certainly didn't want to leave Malfoy's side just yet.
He's not sure what made him sense it, but he turned to Lyra and pulled her to his chest, turning her away from the oncoming snowball just before it could have hit her square in the face. He vaguely heard Nott's voice snarling in rage at the perpetrator, but he didn't pay attention to what the Slytherin boy was saying. He was too busy admiring the pretty blush on Lyra Malfoy's cheeks as she looked up at him with gray eyes. Her hand had found its way to his chest and his arms were still around her, holding her close. He had to tell himself twice to release her before his arms would finally obey his command.
"Are you alright?" he asked her after he was sure that he wouldn't reach out and grab her again.
"Yes, thank you," she said softly.
He wanted to say something else but then he truly took note of who Nott had been yelling at. Ron stood with Cormac McLaggan, Seamus Finnigan, and Dean Thomas. By the look on Ron's face, he had purposely tried to pelt Lyra with the snowball.
"It wasn't funny, Ron," Hermione said, hands on her hips in a display of real annoyance.
Ron glared at her. "It would have been if Harry hadn't ruined it," he shot a venomous glare toward Harry. "And what's this then Potter? Consorting with the enemy?"
Harry's eyes narrowed at that. Ron had always viewed the Slytherin's as enemies. Of course, it would have been naïve for Harry to have thought that Ron would just play nice with the idea that Harry was hanging out with Lyra Malfoy today. Harry hadn't really paid much thought to Ron and what he would think because they were fighting and because he was still trying to figure out if he wanted Ron to remain his friend. He didn't trust Ron, not really, not anymore. He felt a twinge of hurt in him at that, but he couldn't and wouldn't deny the truth to himself. Ron just wasn't the friend that he had thought he was.
"I don't know what you are talking about," Harry said, firm in his resolve that he wouldn't forsake whatever had grown between him and Lyra today for Ron's nonsense. He had done enough of that, hadn't he?
"They're Slytherin's!" Ron exploded as he glared at Harry.
Harry smirked at that. "Oh, is that why their scarves are green and silver?" he asked with faux innocence. "Glad that mystery is solved."
Ron's glare turned into an evil scowl as Nott, Hermione, Dean, and Seamus snickered. "They're slimy snakes!" Ron protested and then his look turned downright cruel. "But I don't know why I'm so surprised. I mean, you should have been in Slytherin anyway. Don't know why the hat bothered to put a snake like you in Gryffindor. You're even a parselmouth. You belong in the dungeons with the rest of the filth."
Harry felt rage flow through him as he took in Ron's words. He heard Hermione's gasp and he heard Nott cursing about the little Weasel under his breath. Yet it felt so far away. So distant. What he felt, all he really felt in that moment was a cold rage. He didn't bother to speak to Ron, didn't think about it. They were past the point of words now. He drew back his fist and then let it fly in a perfect arc, catching Ron on the chin and sending the taller boy staggering back into the arms of Dean and Cormac.
"What the hell, Harry?" Seamus yelled at him, clearly surprised but Harry was able to note that the Irishman was also delighted by the drama unfolding.
Ron was struggling to get up, his face red with anger even as he cradled his jaw. "Let go of me," he ordered Dean and Cormac as he struggled to escape their clutches so he could have a go at Harry. Nott came up on Harry's left side, keeping his body subtly between Hermione and the Gryffindor boys. Meanwhile, Lyra's hand shot out and grabbed Harry's right arm. She held it in a tight grip as though she were afraid he'd punch Ron again. She wasn't wrong to think it, he wanted to punch him. He had chosen that boy over Lyra once, and now he knew that he'd never do it again.
Ron had broken what existed between them and Harry's punch, well it had shattered the last fragments of their friendship. Only now did Harry realize that his friendship with Ron had been so superficial in the first place. He had known the boy could be venomous, but he had never thought he'd turn that venom on Harry. Yet just because Harry wasn't doing everything Ron's way, he had.
"Mr. Potter!" called the voice of Professor McGonagall as she marched across the snowy ground toward them.
Harry felt Lyra's hand upon him ease a bit and become soothing and comforting instead of restraining. She knew the same as he did that McGonagall must have seen him punch Ron. He would get a detention for sure.
The Head of Gryffindor House came to a halt before them. She eyed them critically for a moment and then she turned to Hermione. "Ms. Granger, what happened here?"
"Potter punched Ron," McLaggan spoke up at the same time that Ron started to babble.
"Harry punched me for no reason," Ron insisted.
Professor McGonagall gave the two boys a cold look. "I asked Ms. Granger," her firm rebuke silenced them. "Now, Ms. Granger," she prodded as she turned her gaze back to Hermione.
Hermione gave him a slightly apologetic look and he simply nodded. He didn't want her to lie for him. He never wanted to put his best friend in the position where she would have to lie for his sake. Then Hermione launched into the tale of how Harry had protected Lyra from being hit by Ron's snowball followed up by the verbal confrontation that led to Harry turning everything into a physical altercation.
"Well, I am surprised at you, Mr. Potter!" Professor McGonagall stated and Harry felt her censure. He didn't like the feeling of disappointing his head of house because he genuinely liked McGonagall, but he didn't regret punching Ron. Even knowing he was gaining detention with either Filch or Snape, he didn't regret it.
"30 Points from Gryffindor for allowing anger to cloud your judgment," she pronounced. "And detention with Professor Snape tomorrow afternoon," she said firmly.
"Yes Professor," Harry said not bothering to fight the punishment. He did wish it could have been Filch instead of Snape though. He knew how the Potions Master hated him.
She then whirled on the smirking Ron and scowled at him. "As for you," she declared. "You'll be having detention with me tomorrow afternoon. And 30 points from Gryffindor for verbal cruelty toward your fellow students."
"But Professor, that's not fair," Ron protested.
"Make that an additional 10 point loss for arguing," she declared. Ron wisely shut up at that point. "Now, run along, all of you."
Harry held out his arm for Lyra to play proper escort as he had seen Nott do many times. "Thanks for holding me back," he murmured.
"No need to thank me, it wasn't needed by that point," she said even as she placed her hand on his arm. "Have you ever played escort before?" she asked him curiously.
"Never," he easily admitted. "But I've spent three years now watching Slytherin boys do it so, I've picked up a few things."
She hummed in thought at that. "Would, would you and Granger want to learn more about Pure-blood etiquette?" she asked.
Harry looked at her and slowly smiled. She was asking like she expected him to say no. If she had asked him a year ago he would have. It sounded stuffy and boring, but it would be time spent with Lyra. A year ago, Harry wouldn't have been able to realize that she was offering him a part of herself, a look into the world she had been brought up in. Even if he never liked etiquette, he should learn it. Wouldn't he understand all these purebloods better if he did learn the nuances of their world?
"I can't speak for Hermione, but yeah, I would like to learn," he agreed.
"Count me in," Hermione agreed easily from her position of being escorted by Nott. Really, Harry thought he should be alarmed at how swiftly those two got along.
"Great, maybe we can start next weekend, provided you aren't serving detention for harming Weasley again," Lyra said.
Harry nodded as he led her inside. He didn't stop escorting her, even with the strange looks he was receiving from some of the other students. He had Lyra Malfoy on his arm, only an idiot wouldn't take some measure of pride in that.
He walked Lyra all the way to the entrance of the dungeons and then he reluctantly agreed to release her so that she and Nott could continue to their common room. "Thank you for inviting Hermione and me out today," Harry said in an attempt to draw out the minutes with her.
She smiled and it filled him with warmth. "Thank you for being such good company," she said and then she turned away heading down the stairs into the dungeons. When Harry turned it was to see Nott had raised Hermione's hands to his lips. The pureblood boy kissed Hermione's knuckles and then released her hand.
"Until next time," Nott promised Hermione and then he too went down the stairs into the dungeons.
Harry raised an eyebrow at Hermione when she turned to look at him.
"Oh, shut up," Hermione insisted as she blushed, causing Harry to laugh.
They slowly turned away from the dungeons and chose to head to the library together. Neither wanted to chance to see Ron in the common room just yet. "Well," Harry mused as he walked beside his best friend. "We know that Nott cannot be a blood purist."
"How do we know that?" Hermione asked less because of disbelief and more because she wanted to hear Harry's reasoning.
"He kissed your hand," Harry reminded her just to see her blush again. "He wouldn't have done that if he were a blood purist. Even if he were being polite, he wouldn't have taken it that far."
He had the satisfaction of watching Hermione smile brightly at that before they reached the doors of the library. By mutual agreement, they searched for books on Pureblood etiquette and though they only found two old and obscure books they settled in at a table and began to read together for the remainder of the afternoon.
Sorry it has been so long since I have updated this. I should probably mention now that this story is not exactly going to be Ron Weasley friendly. However, I don't think it will be full of Ron-bashing either. I don't intend to turn Ron into some awful character, but he had really awful traits in the books that I disliked. Those bad traits and timing are his enemy in Defiance. Harry started the year questioning his friendship with both Ron and Hermione. Harry's going through some growing pains. Ron is too and it looks like in the Defiance Alternate Universe they were not cut out to grow in the same direction as friends. It is hard to believe in a universe where Harry and Ron could have remained best friends if Harry fell in love with any rendition of Draco Malfoy and Lyra is this universe's Draco even if she doesn't act as bratty and entitled as he did. Anyway, enough of my rambling. I hope you have enjoyed this chapter of Defiance.