Chapter 3: Remember the Good, Along With the Bad
On the way to Hogwarts, Hermione played with Mistoffelees while Harry and Ron spoke of quidditch. Ron had become the new keeper one year after Oliver left. This would be his 3rd and final year. Just as Harry was the best seeker ever on the Gryffindor team, Ron was quickly becoming the best keeper. Hermione, on the other hand, was the best supporter. She came to every game and every practice. She was the boys' good luck charm.
Hermione gazed at the two boys and then asked, "Harry, Ron…what is one of your favorite memories of your time at Hogwarts?"
This caught the boys off guard and caused them to think a while. Minutes of thoughtful silence passed by. The producer of the question spoke up first.
"Mine would, most definitely, be from out first year on Halloween night," she spoke. "The day was going good. Classed were great and I was first to make my feather float. But, my day went down hill after class. I hear you, Ron, saying bad things about me, causing me to go to the bathroom and cry my eyes out."
Ron cut her off, "Oh nice, Herm. How can me, making fun of you, be your favorite memory? Sheesh. If that is your favorite memory, I would hate to see your worst. They are probably filled with fluffy bunnies and sunshine."
"Shut up, you stupid git. I'm not done yet," she said as she playfully slapped Ron's arm. "Now, as I was saying, RON! I was bawling; thinking that I had no friends and that no one liked me. Just as I was at my lowest moment, a troll came in and tried to kill me. He tried to kill me, but you two stopped it. You saved me. That was the night that the three of us bonded and joined together as an inseparable team. And with out that bond that you two created, I don't know where I would be. Thank you both. I love you."
"Mione, there is no need to thank us," said Harry.
"Yeah Herm. We only saved your life."
And with that, Harry punched Ron's arm, thus beginning the tussle in compartment number 5.
The two boys rolled around in the floor, wrestling each other, while Hermione on, shaking her head and saying that they were acting immature. But one simple sentence brought her to the floor as well. As soon as she said, "you two need to act your age and be more mature," she was stuck in the middle of the two boys, laughing. They had pinned her and would not stop tickling her. That is, until they heard a voice.
"You three again. Oh wait, you've finally decided to kill the mudblood."
They stopped immediately and gazed in the direction of the voice. There, sure enough, stood Draco Malfoy, leaning against the door. He stood strait up and had a grin on his face.
"Oh, please Potter, let me help. I can torture her. Her better yet, just break her neck," he said.
"Back off, Malfoy. Leave Hermione alone," Harry said as he stood to his feet, Ron following suit. Hermione just sat up, angry.
"Oh noble prince. Be careful what you say to me Potter. In three more hours I will be the new head boy. I will have power over you. I might just create a scandal and turn you in as the culprit, causing you to become expelled. Expelled Potter. Expelled and out of my life for ever."
Hermione had had enough. She stood and confronted Draco herself, "and what makes you think that someone like you will become head boy? Are you going to pay your way to the position the same way you paid your way into becoming the Slytherin Seeker?" Hermione continued, "Money won't help to get you everything that you want, you know. Besides, most people get what they deserve, Malfoy…money or not."
"Oh really, Granger? Your little hand-me-down friend, he's gotten what he deserves? Had money, he'd get more. But then, his family is a disgrace and doesn't disserve what little they do have. And Potter, 'wonderful' Potter. Don't even get me started on your sorry ass, Scarhead. And as for you, you filthy mudblood," he said as he advanced to Hermione until he was only inches away, "the only think that you deserve is to die. Die a horrible death because no one cares about a mudblood. A poor, stinking, know-it-all, good-for-nothing, ugly, interfering, sorry, pathetic, mudblood."
Draco them slapped Hermione, hard, across her face, causing her to fall to the ground.
Harry and Ron would not allow such treatment of their friend. As Malfoy began to walk out the door, Ron slammed it shut. Draco, turning and about face to figure out the situation, was met by Harry's fist. The two boys were fist fighting for about five minutes. Their fight did not stop until Ron picked Draco up by his cape and threw the blonde out of their compartment and into the hall, locking the door behind him.
Hermione was slowly rising off of the floor, with help from Harry. Her hand was covering a large read mark that was now consuming half of her face. She had never felt such pain as being slapped by a man. It caused her whole face to sting.
Harry sat Hermione down and found a place beside of her, still holding her hand. Ron sat across from them, looking at the floor. No one said a word for a while.
Hermione finally said, "I remember the first time he ever called me a mudblood." She giggled for a moment and thin continued, "Ron, you remember? You tried to take up for me, only to have yourself spitting out slugs for hours."
"That was not fun, more was it funny, Herm. I don't wish that on anyone. Anyone except for Malfoy," replied Ron.
"That just wasn't your year for magic, was it Ron? Seamus was going better his first year than you were your second year," said Harry.
"I know. And it is all Dobby's fault, too."
"Ronald Weasley! How dare you blame that poor, little, house elf!" yelled Hermione.
"Let me handle this Ron. Mione, if Dobby hadn't closed off the barrier, we would have never driven the car. If we had never driven the car, then we would have never lost control of the vehicle. Finally, if we hadn't lost control, then Ron would have never tried to use his wand, thus breaking it in the process. But, no. It all happened. Thanks to Dobby trying to save my life," explained Harry.
"Oh you two! What am I ever going to do with two little boys for best friends," Hermione said loudly.
They all laughed and then reminisced some more.
Hermione was happy. For once she was truly happy.