A/N: Hermione's POV, still third person.
Hermione Granger had a dilemma. As a child, she was bullied because she was smarter than most. Even her parents, loving as they were, admitted that children usually hated smart peers.
However, when she transferred into Surrey's local elementary school at the age of 9, she was immediately drawn to one Harry Potter, who, despite being pretty disadvantaged due to being an orphan, was the brightest child she had ever known. Rivalling her in grades, she soon found herself approaching him regarding classes, which he was willing to answer.
Soon, she was enamoured by his thoughts on many things, and wanted to be his friend. However, he was bullied worse than she ever was, which stopped her.
When her Hogwarts letter came, straight from Professor McGonagall's hand no less, she knew that she could have a new start and many friends. On the Hogwarts Express, she was called out to, by Harry no less, and on the train ride, she finally had her first friend- the famous Harry Potter himself.
She was currently doubting that friendship while crying in a toilet cubicle, because Harry seemingly didn't care for Ron's insults, only closing his eyes every time. Harry had come and offered to anything as an apology, and she had decided that it was nearly impossible to not do so. However, she needed assurance that Harry was truly her friend. So, she knew what to say.
"If you want to be my friend now, you have to protect me from all harm, and tell me all about your life. I can't and won't trust you if you don't do either."
Hermione saw the pain in Harry's face change to relief and resignation, which confused her.
"Protection and my 'home' lifestyle, is it? That can be arranged. Can I have a drop of your blood, please? It's for the protection." Confused, Hermione gave him a drop of her blood, and watched as he consumed it.
"Now, please close your eyes and look for the memories of 'Absolute Aegis'. That will explain your protection."
Upon searching her mind, she immediately found the memories that she asked for. Her first response was shock- he actually managed to give her protection from the Killing curse, which she (in her usually unassailable fashion) found from books had no defences. That alone was enough to send her mind reeling from the possibilities, and allowed her to finally figure out how he had survived it as a one-year-old infant.
She found herself truly reeling though, when she found that she would be unaffected by any spell or potion which were harmful to her, unless she gave permission- how, was still a secret, but she decided that that could wait. This alone was beyond what she expected. Now, she could only die of natural causes.
"This is too much, Harry!" she sputtered when she found her voice (after 10 minutes). "You can't possible believe that I would be in that much danger from any student here! You'll have to limit-" "No chances, not when Quirrelmort is in this castle. Also, Basilisks are more dangerous than you think. Like I said, I'm leaving nothing to chance, not when it concerns you. As for Ron, I knew you'd appreciate it less if I mopped the floor with him- and yes, I only let that lump people call my cousin pummel me because of my home life, sorry- so I want to give you something that guarantees my protection, should you wish it. You've probably read about it- the Champion's Oath. Yes, or no, Hermione? Your choice."
The person in question had her own conflicts- The Champion's Oath basically had the oath giver obligated to protect her or become the receiver's slave, which was enforced by magic. in this case, Harry would protect Hermione, or become her slave. This decision decided his life, and he wanted to give it as compensation for a comparatively small mistake. The Absolute Aegis was already more than enough. However, some small part of her wanted to make him do it. She decided to go for another path though.
"Let me know about your home life, then I'll decide." she said, determined to only accept the oath if his home life consisted of pummelling Dudley Dursley.
Harry immediately took his wand out, and said "You're going to pass out for about 2 minutes, while I'll be out cold for an hour, at least. You'll have enough time to decide then. Regardless, Ron won't insult you ever again if he values his life." Saying so he cast a spell- "Memory Share- One Target" and promptly passed out after pointing it at her. Hermione also passed out and recovered in a few minutes.
Two and a Half Hours later-
A/N: Back to Harry's POV
When Harry regained consciousness, his first sight was that of a weeping Hermione. Concerned, he asked "What's wrong? Was it that bad? I would wager you made your decision by- OOOFF !" when he was interrupted by her tackle hug (almost breaking his ribs, but then, who was he to complain? He felt he had hurt her worse).
Hermione's wails were loud enough that he was glad for the silencing charms and privacy wards that he had placed when he had entered the cubicle. As it was, he thought he had lost his eardrums. He simply held her and didn't utter a word of complaint as he felt a warmth that only she had ever given him.
When Hermione stopped wailing enough to form sentences, her first words were "Forget the conditions, Harry, I can't, and won't ever ask you to take the Champion's Oath, and anyone asking you to do so will have to face a honour duel against me! I can't believe how horrid life was for you, and I can't believe what I've done in light of what I now know! WHY didn't you say ANYTHING!? My parents could've gained legal custody anytime in light of your circumstances!
" I have a few apologies of my own, Harry. I just hope I haven't betrayed your trust in me with what I've done", she finished. Nonplussed, he said "I don't care, Hermione, I already know what you were trying to do. I could also see why you would do so, and honestly, I'm grateful that I could help you any way I could, even with my Multiverse-bedamned fame. There's nothing you have to apologize for."
Surprised that Harry would know, what she had done, she blurted "How would asking for friendship by promising an introduction to the real Boy-Who-Lived be acceptable to anyone, forget you? It's a betrayal of trust, and I had yours. I wouldn't expect anyone to accept such an action regardless of circumstances. So tell me, Harry, Manny, how is it OK with you two?"
Cupping her face with his right hand, which was still weak , (t)he(y) proceeded to shock her with his answer. "You are the only one who has my absolute trust. I wouldn't expect you to do anything detrimental to me without a good reason. And why should I deny you anything you want? When I saw you being bullied at school for the last time before Hogwarts, I made a promise to myself, that when we next met, I would become your friend and never deny you anything that you wanted, when it was within my power to give- in fact, I knew that I would never stomach using Experience Absorption (both of them ruled in favor of English names) on you, which makes you the only one who has never had her life 'copied' by me. So, if anytime you want to use my fame to your advantage, you officially have my permission to do so. Why I never left the Dursleys, though, can wait. For now, it's the Halloween Feast that beckons us, so let's go" he finished happily.
Hermione could only nod, her appalling behaviour towards him only starting to sink into her. Seeing sadness and self-disgust in the chocolate orbs that (t)he(y) adored, (t)he(y) told her "Nothing by you is unforgivable to me, just remember that. Just tell me about it, and you won't ever have to worry about it in the future. Let's go."
Just as they left the cubicle, they encountered one scary mountain troll, and Hermione screamed loud enough to be heard near the Great Hall... Manny had removed the silencing charm and wards, so he knew the teachers would hear her.
Cursing, (t)he(y) pushed Hermione back into the cubicle and used Absolute Aegis in that cubicle. Then, as they planned within their minds, they saw the troll hit the shield with a Troll statement that made all calm leave their body. As one, they pushed out enough power and sent a conjured dagger through Trolley's (A/N: Yes, I named it) head, then sent a banishing charm at it. Trolley's death was truly horrible, and it showed in Hermione's face.
"Harry, did you just... kill it?"
"Not as much as I wanted to disembowel it- take her my arse... Nobody attacks you, and that's final!" yelled Harry and Manny, who had reentered their joined state of mind.
"Language!" was the amused rejoinder from her. "Still, I do believe you get the Troll Slayer achievement."
"Mr. Potter and Ms. Granger, what in the name of Magic is going on here?" asked a sneaky Professor McGonagall.
"That would be my question, Professor Minerva!" retorted a fuming Hanny (the two, having noticed their fused state, decided to name that state as well as designate it to be a third mind). "How in the Multiverse-bedamned world did a mountain troll enter!?"
"Be that as it may, I believe your presence in a girls' lavatory demands explanation." was her acid reply
Hermione jumped in, wailing, "He was comforting me, Professor, because Ron had crossed a line when took a dig at me after Charms class today. Please don't blame Harry, Professor, it wasn't his fault!"
Hermione shocked Hanny, who knew that the truth would work just as well, but hadn't expected his arse to be covered as well. That forced them back apart, and Harry took control.
"We'll need to talk to Albus later. For now, dismantle the Troll and place the proceeds in a vault in Hermione's name. I'm claiming it as per law"
Manny switched over "Ronald Weasley isn't going to get away with this... I'll give him a stern scolding later, as I should have. For now, Hermione will spend a night without anyone nagging her for details. I expect your support on this. Let's go, Hermione." Finished, he dragged her to the common room.