A/N: If you feel alone, you can buy love, from a pay phone. As said by The Vines. I'm trying my best to move the so-called plot of my story along, but apparently I'm more involved with details to get that out, but I think these details are important on a specific level. I do hope that you're enjoying this story.

Last Chapter: Harry and Gregory Goyle are in the same Divination class and have similar visions, Ron isn't exactly happy about Harry's new friend…

Most of their first week at Hogwarts proved to be enlightening for their young minds, but rather uneventful. The Daily Prophet did not bring any news about sightings of Death Eaters or the dark mark. This lead Hermione to worry because she feared that something large may be in the works, but had no idea as to what it could be; she shared her feelings with Harry and Ron, even asking Harry if he had felt anything in his scar. Harry had felt nothing, so he told her that he hadn't felt anything. He even told her that he had been sleeping well at night, and noticing that his appetite was as healthy as ever, Hermione believed him.

It was during Lunch on Thursday afternoon when they were discussing the lack of bad news in the Daily Prophet. After lunch they had DADA and then double Transfiguration with Professor McGonagall. Not exactly an afternoon to look forward to. They were all highly skilled in DADA yet none of them particularly liked Snape and while they liked Professor McGonagall immensely, she was an incredibly strict (and talented) teacher. While watching Ron spear his lunch when slight venom, Harry noticed Goyle eating his own food. That morning's Care of Magical Creatures Lesson had been very fun.

Rudolpho Jr was now Rudolpho the third, as it seems the Live Ones only last for a few days before they "give birth" and expire. Hagrid was explaining to the students that while using careless magic around the Live Ones was dangerous, there were certain spells that caused interesting and often hilarious reactions with the creatures. Turning to the chapter of their book called "Magical Effects on Magical Creatures" Hagrid went over the section on the Live Ones with them.

"Ya see, when ya use a light spell aroun' em they'l respon' by doin' a sort o dance see," Hagrid said pointing to what the book said. "But if'n ya use a repelin' charm aroun' em, they'l fin' a way ter get closer to ya. An if'n yer usin' a stunnin' spell on em they'll esplode, sen'in' a magical wave out tha' could hurt ya, so jus' try usin' the light and repel spells fer now." Hagrid gave them the warning and a smile.

Harry and Goyle were watching as Crabbe used the lighting spell around Rudolpho III. "Lumos!" Crabbe said excitedly pointing his wand at Rudolpho III. It was light out and the sun was shining very brightly, but they immediately noticed that their Live One seemed to stand up on two legs and waved two arms around in some kind of dance. The entire scene was so comical that Harry and Goyle found themselves rolling with laughter as Crabbe waved his wand around in front of Rudolpho III getting him to dance in different ways. It was almost as though Crabbe was directing an orchestra.

Smiling at this thought, Harry looked back at his own lunch and ate heartily. All thoughts of Snape and McGonagall pushed from his mind for the time being. Noticing that Harry seemed happy, Hermione smiled and didn't mention anything further about the Daily Prophet or their lessons that afternoon. It occurred to her that she was very happy for her friend. Seeing him happy was often very rare and she was glad that he was happy, but she was also curious. What was he looking at that had made him so happy? She glanced in the direction he had been looking to see if she could figure it out, but all she saw was the Slytherin table. Surely they weren't making Harry happy. She was starting to form an idea in her head. Harry hadn't been feuding with Malfoy at all; with the animosity gone he had also befriended Goyle. Hermione wasn't as put off by the idea of being friends with him as Ron was, but she wasn't in a rush to be his best friend either. Harry seemed to think otherwise, but hadn't let it affect their friendship. Perhaps Harry was just glad to have a little freer license to walk through the passages without a random jinx hitting him.

As the three friends walked towards their Defense against the Dark Arts lesson, a flutter of girls seemed to waltz by them. They were smiling, giggling and whispering amongst themselves, staring at Harry and Ron. Ron was slightly abashed by this, but Harry didn't seem to notice. "Silly girls," Ron said, "Why do they have to do that? It's kind of annoying ya know."

"Oh please, like you don't like it!" Hermione pointed out as Ron's face turned a shade redder, if that was at all possible.

"She's right mate, you do seem to like it." Harry pointed out, laughing with Hermione at their friend.

"Not you too Harry." Ron stopped and looked at them both as though they were crazy.

"Oh come on Ronald. We don't want to be late Snape will have our heads if we are…" Hermione said impatiently as grabbed Ron's arm and pulled him along.

By the time they were halfway into their double transfiguration lesson, Harry was starting to fall asleep. When Hermione nudged his arm for about the tenth time that lesson, he didn't have to look at her to know what she was getting at. Professor McGonagall was giving a particularly boring lecture of turning a human into another land animal. The different concepts one had to remember when choosing the animal to turn into. Hermione was hanging on Professor McGonagall's every word, and Harry knew if he didn't take notes of his own, he'd have to endure the lecture again before Hermione would help him with their homework.

By the time they went to dinner, Harry was so glad to out of a classroom he didn't know if he'd ever be anything other than bored. He sat down at the Gryffindor table and helped himself to mashed potatoes with gravy and roast lamb. Reaching for a roll he noticed that Hermione wasn't buried in a library book as usual. She was playing with her vegetables and looking around wistfully.

"What's wrong Hermione?" Harry said with a mouth half-full, hoping he didn't spray his friend with food. She smiled at him and took a mouthful herself before replying. Apparently this was a new game they were playing.

"Just thinking about what it's going to be like when we graduate…" Hermione replied, as a little fleck of beans came out of her mouth. At the sight of food on his friend's face, Harry exploded with laughter. Hermione, upon seeing her reflection on her goblet, wiped her mouth while laughing hysterically as well. Ron, who hadn't noticed what his friends were doing, was looking at them as though they had gone insane.

"What's with you two?" Ron asked dubiously wondering what he had missed. Ginny and Neville also seemed to notice their friend's hysterical behavior gave and Ron questioning looks. Ron shrugged as Harry and Hermione quieted down, returning to their dinners.

"I think I know what you mean Hermione, but we don't graduate for a while. I say we enjoy ourselves while we're here." Harry replied finally, giving a very un-Harry-like answer. This was very different from an answer Harry might have given last year. Much happier, but it seemed fitting.

Harry had been oppressed in one way or another during his life, and this year, while Lord Voldemort was out on the prowl looking for a way to kill Harry. There was no way Voldemort was going to get to Harry while he was at Hogwarts. This hadn't led Harry into a false sense of security, but rather Harry knew that if he was going to defeat Voldemort, he was going to have to learn as much as possible while he was at Hogwarts. Why shouldn't Harry be allowed to enjoy his youth while he still had it? Harry was tired of feeling like a martyr, and while he was "the chosen one" no one really needed to know that. Harry wanted to be "just-Harry" for a little while. This was his way of being normal.

"Well now that you two nutters are calmed down, let's eat shall we." Ron said in a very Prefect-like manor. Hermione seemed impressed at Ron's rare showing of maturity and smiled at Harry before continuing to eat.

Once again Harry found his eyes wandering around the Great Hall until he found Goyle's large body at the Slytherin table. Unlike every time before this one, Goyle actually noticed Harry. Their eyes met for a minute and Goyle mouthed something at Harry. Figuring out what Goyle had said, Harry looked back at his plate and devoured his food hungrily.

After dinner Harry and Goyle met in the entrance hall. Goyle approached him slowly and casually, not wanting to attract attention, or make people think they were going to fight. When Goyle was near enough to Harry he finally spoke.

"Hey, I'm taking a… uhm... remedial Transfiguration course, I got a 'P' on my OWL and… uhm… the homework is kinda hard for me… I was…er… wondering if you would help me out. I heard you were in the… uhm, NEWT class, and I was… uh… hoping you could… uh… help me, please." Goyle said quietly, and he seemed somewhat reserved. Harry noticed that Goyle seemed slightly embarrassed at having to ask him for help. Goyle was staring at his feet, cautiously moving one of them on the floor in front of him. Harry moved his hand to Goyle's chin and moved his head so that Goyle would meet his gaze.

"Chin up Greg. Of course I'll help you. Get your books and such and meet me in the library in fifteen minutes. If I'm lucky we'll have Hermione there too, she loves the library." Harry said happily to his new friend. Goyle's face immediately lit up and he started to walk away, and then quickly turned around, stumbling on his feet and bumping into Harry.

Harry felt a jolt of life and feeling as Goyle's large body stumbled into him. He could feel Goyle's entire mass rubbing against him and they regained their footing. They didn't fall over, but they were holding each other up in an awkward way for a moment. Harry's right hand was on Goyle's left side, and he could feel Goyle's soft, pudgy skin under his robes as he righted his friend. The feeling of uncertainty crept over him as he quickly pulled his hands away from a now stable Gregory Goyle.

"I, uh, just wanted to say thanks Harry…" Goyle said his face very red as he turned and quickly walked to the Slytherin Common room to get his bag and books. Harry hurried up the stairs to the Gryffindor Common room to get his things and to see if Hermione would help him tutor Goyle. When he arrived, Harry found Hermione and Ron engaged some sort of silence contest. The two of them were furiously writing an essay sitting across from one another at their favorite couch, approaching carefully, Harry spoke.

"What's going on guys?" Harry was probably going to have to play the diplomat, but he hated it when his best friends were fighting. Ron answered first.

"I didn't do anything Harry, it's not my fault." Ron said indignantly.

"You didn't do anything Ron?" Hermione questioned, "No, of course you didn't do anything, other than make a fool of me!" Hermione shouted and started throwing her things into her bag; Harry noticed her eyes were starting to fill with tears.

"Hermione, wait, I need your help." Harry said hurriedly before she finished putting her things away. "I mean, I need help tutoring someone in the library. I don't know what happened between you two, but lets take a little time out and we'll figure it out." Harry explained, not wanting to see a level four melt-down in the Common room.

"Fine, take her side then!" Ron shouted as he ran to the boy's dormitory.

"I don't eve…" Harry's sentence was cut short by the sound of a door slamming. Hermione agreed that going to the library would be a good idea. She wanted to immerse herself in a large book for the evening. Harry hadn't quite told her who he needed help tutoring, not that he thought she would be opposed, but he wasn't going to tell her until she told him what happened with Ron.

During their walk to the library, Hermione relayed to Harry what had transpired while Harry was with Goyle. Apparently, she and Ron were getting started on their homework when Lavender Brown and Parvarti Patel walked up to their table and asked Ron if he was dating Hermione Granger. Ron told them no he was not. Hermione wasn't mad at Ron because of the truth of what he said. Hermione was mad at Ron because when he told them no, it seemed he said no as though she were the ugliest girl in the world. This sparked the fight that landed Hermione almost crying before Harry showed up.

"Well, I'm sorry about that. I'll talk to Ron later. When he's calmed down a little…" Harry trailed off. He wanted to change the subject. "Well, on a lighter note, Goyle asked me to tutor him in Transfiguration. I was hoping you could help?" Harry asked tentatively, not wanting to upset his friend any more. She smiled at Harry, something here was off and perhaps she was starting to see something. Harry had been incredibly happy lately, but she let that thought go for the moment. Seeing Hermione smile made Harry smile.

"Yeah, sure, I'll help." Hermione said as they walked into the library.