True Friends
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters :(
A/N: Here is chapter 3! I hope the story is good so far, I'm not exactly sure if everyone is in character, but I've tried my best! Thank you to everyone who reviewed my first two chapters, I really appreciate it! (I love feedback)
Harry speedily made his way up the creaky stairs of the head quarters of the Order of the Phoenix. After walking down the now carpeted pastel green hall, he opened the door of the bedroom he had used the previous summer. Harry quietly entered the room, and was amused to find Hermione and Ron in the middle of an intense chess match. 'At least some things haven't changed,' he thought grimly. Before he could even put down his trunk, Hermione jumped up from her chair and threw her arms around Harry.
"Harry! We didn't hear you come in!" said Hermione excitedly, even after hugging him, she could barley contain her enthusiasm.
"Great to see you mate!" Ron said brightly.
"Hey, aren't you forgetting something?" Harry said mischievously. Ron and Hermione quickly looked at each other before Ron swiftly closed the bedroom door.
"Well, we really shouldn't be telling you this…" began Hermione nervously.
"Ron's Mom is making your birthday cake now, it was supposed to be a surprise!" Harry's face broke into a grin, he had never had a birthday away from the Dursleys, it was sure to be an experience.
"Now that Harry knows that we haven't forgotten his birthday, can we please get something to eat?" said Ron hopefully. 'How can Ron think of food when he knows he isn't going back to Hogwarts?' thought Harry. 'Maybe Dumbledore really didn't tell them about the new school-'
Harry's musings were abruptly interrupted by Ron roughly shaking his shoulder.
"Harry, are you okay?" said Hermione, her brown eyes filled with concern. Harry sighed deeply to himself, he really didn't want his friends to have to leave Hogwarts because of him.
"I was just thinking, Professor Dumbledore told you about the new school, right?" said Harry hesitantly. It took a moment for Ron and Hermione to register what Harry had said, but he reasoned the headmaster had been true to his word as the atmosphere in the room quickly changed. The Gryffindor trio sat down on the floor, no one was eager to discuss this topic of conversation.
"It's okay Harry, we already know, Professor Dumbledore told us a week ago." Said Hermione kindly, she was trying hard to keep the tremor out of her voice.
"Aren't you guys upset that we can't go back to Hogwarts?" Harry said, he couldn't believe how calm his friends were, since he himself was more nervous then he had ever been before.
"Well, when Dumbledore first told us we were pretty upset…" Ron mumbled.
"Harry listen, we've had a week to think about Professor Dumbledore's plans, and you know, I think he's doing the right thing." Said Hermione with finality in her voice.
"You two learned about this a week ago? I only found out about Dumbledore's plans yesterday!" said Harry angrily.
"Listen Harry, Professor Dumbledore couldn't tell you far in advance about the new school by owl post because it could have been intercepted," reasoned Hermione.
"Yes... I guess your right-"
"When has Hermione ever been wrong?" Said Ron Foolishly. "Besides, think about all the things we won't have to put up with anymore! No more Snape, Malfoy, Slytherins, no more of Hagrid's pets…"
"Okay Ron we get the idea!" said Hermione forcefully. "I think going to a new school is a wonderful opportunity, imagine all of the new things we might learn."
"You two are impossible, we are being forced to leave Hogwarts and all you can think about is Snape and school work!" Harry said angrily. For the second time that day, Ron and Hermione shared a significant look with each other.
"Hermione, I thought he knew…" began Ron uneasily. Hermione lightly slapped him on the shoulder before speaking.
"Professor Dumbledore gave Ron and I a choice, we don't have to leave Hogwarts if we don't want to." It took Harry a moment to realize what his friend had just said.
"Wait, you mean you wan'tto go with me?" asked Harry.
"At first we thought we could never leave Hogwarts, but Hermione reasoned that you would have to go no matter what so…" Ron trailed off.
"So we knew we had to go with you!" finished Hermione. "Harry, don't get us wrong, we love Hogwarts, but our friendship is more important." After a minute of awkward silence, Harry looked at his two friends and smiled.
"I couldn't have better friends then you two," he said quietly. Hermione was trying very hard to stop herself from crying, while Ron was awkwardly staring at his hands.
" I honestly don't mind changing school, as long as it's not Durmstrang. Can we please get something to eat now?" said Ron, who was clearly trying to change the subject. Hermione rolled her eyes.
" I am a bit hungry," Harry admitted sheepishly.
"Okay, enough talk lets go see if dinners ready," said Ron. Before anyone could protest, he began dragging Harry and Hermione out of the room.
2nd A/N: Please Review! (oh, and by the way, are authors supposed to respond to reviews? If anyone knows I would really like an answer! Thank you!)