Magical Origins
Year 3: Outfox
Harry slowly wakes up to see several people looking at him.
"How long have I've been out?" Harry asks as he sits up carefully.
"Almost two hours," Daphne said.
"I managed to catch the Snitch, but the Dementors came." Tracy Davis said in a shaking voice.
Harry then notices that they were all holding goblets. The smell of chocolate was influential in the air.
"Tell me exactly what happened," Harry said, looking at them.
"It happened so fast, all we know was that you suddenly fell off your broom and that's when the Dementors came. That Morris girl went down a few moments after. They started attacking everyone, if Dumbledore hadn't acted so quickly, things would have been a lot worse." Daphne said.,
"He was furious, really furious. He cast a spell, it was all white and shaped like a bird that caused them something fierce, they ran as soon as it appeared." Blaise reported.
"Harry, there is something else when you fell, your broom was thrown into the Whomping Willow, and the tree… it…" Artemis, at a loss of words, urged on Goyle to come closer to show off the poorly wrapped object in his lap.
Goyle unraveled his Slytherin flag and show Harry the destroyed Nimbus Two Thousand and One.
"I'm sorry to hear what happened during the match. Is there any chance you can get your broomstick repaired?" Professor Lupin asks as he was walking with Harry outside the castle, on the Wooden Bridge.
"No, the tree smashed it to bits," Harry said sadly.
"Are you going to order a replacement?" Lupin asks as they walked around.
"In time, I will," Harry said as he follows Lupin. "Professor, why is it that the Dementors affect me so much? More than anyone else?"
"Listen to me, Harry," Lupin said as he turns to Harry. "The Dementors are amongst the foulest creatures to walk this earth. They feed on every good feeling, every happy memory we hold dear. Until a person is left with nothing but their worst experiences. They affect you greater than any of your classmates is because you have horrors in your past. True horrors that your peers can't even begin to imagine. You are not weak, it has nothing to do with weakness. You have nothing to be ashamed of." Lupin said as he rests on the bridge.
"I'm scared, Professor," Harry said honestly.
"I'd consider you a fool if you weren't," Lupin said in a joking matter.
"When can you teach me?" Harry asks.
"I'm no expert in fighting Dementors," Lupin said cautiously.
"Lily and I almost died because we have no defense against them. They literally drain us faster than anyone else. We need to learn how to resist them." Harry said, strongly.
Lupin gives Harry a robust hard look.
"It is very unusual for a Slytherin to worry so much about a Gryffindor. In my time here, we could barely tolerate each other. Yet you are concerned for her wellbeing. You seem almost shocked to hear that she nearly died after she fell a hundred feet from her broom. Very well, I'll make the arrangements as soon as I can. Do try to understand, though, you'll have to wait. The full moon is approaching." Lupin said.
"Why did they come to the match? I keep hearing that they…"
"The Dementors are hungry. Their lack of food has run out, and the roaring crowd of a Quidditch Match would have drawn them in likes moths to a flame. It's their idea of a feast."
Harry said nothing as he watches the owls fly overhead.
While everyone was shaking off the Dementor attack, Ron Weasley was walking around in a strange mood. He boasted loudly that Harry got what he deserved from the Dementor attack, but he was disappointed that he didn't die by falling off his broom.
Professor Snape was furious, and it was no hard guess to figure out why.
Ron was punished so severely that everyone soon learned not to remark on Harry's near-death experience in Quidditch. But that didn't stop the damage done, though. Many Slytherins didn't take kindly that the youngest Weasley boy wanting their star dead.
It didn't take long, but both houses nearly erupted into a full-scale war.
Especially as at that very moment, Ron was making a mocking impression of a terrified Harry falling off his broom that several Slytherins did not find funny. At all. And so, they did what no Slytherin, or the other houses for that matter, had ever dreamed of doing. They got up and got straight up in Ron's face in the middle of a meal. They stood glaring down upon him at Lion's table.
Everyone was stunned by the unexpected boldness of the Slytherins.
Ron had lost all courage and sat back down, looking at the High Table for help.
Percy Weasley got up and docked twenty points from Slytherin and ordered them back to their table.
The reaction was the opposite.
Almost everyone at the Slytherin table stood up and started drawing wands.
The Gryffindor table followed suit. The situation was exceedingly tense.
Lily tried to get Ron to apologize to get the Slytherins to let the matter go, but then he said something that made everyone's blood turn cold.
Ron Weasley called Lily a Mudblood.
Lily whips out her wand and fires a jinx at Ron. Temper well and indeed fired up, Ron was already finishing his own hex, but Lily's jinx caused him to lose aim and fire his hex at an unfortunate Slytherin girl. Her subsequent yelp in a surprise set off the powder of tempers, and all hell broke loose.
The Slytherin's immediately began firing spells at the Gryffindor's, with the Gryffindor's retaliating soon after.
The Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff students had both fled once the first few spells started flying
Somewhat belatedly, the teachers got up and tried to quell the maelstrom of chaos, with little success as the students were too busy focusing on the other students to even notice the teachers.
Ron Weasley was the primary target, and he was crawling on all fours under his House table to get away from the Slytherins.
One by one, Slytherin's and Gryffindor's started getting taken down, too hurt, or just unable to even stand from the variety of spells and hexes afflicting them.
Dumbledore enters the room and waves his wand towards his throat.
"SETTLE DOWN!" Dumbledore shouted in a booming voice. Each of the students was startled by the great booming of Dumbledore's words and ceased all actions upon hearing him.
The teachers got in between the two houses as the Slytherins were giving the Gryffindors a death glare.
"Now, tell me what happened and who started the fight," Dumbledore asks in his grandfatherly voice.
The Slytherins all turn to Ron Weasley, who paled as they were all looking at him. Lily walks over to him and pulls him to his feet. Her orange eyes were blazing in place.
"What have you done now, Mister Weasley? Causing an incident that caused two houses to fire spells upon each other cannot be overlooked. Now tell me what happened?" Dumbledore sternly asks.
Percy tried to get up, but Lily beat him to the punch. Telling Dumbledore precisely what Ron was doing and saying and how the Serpent Table didn't take kindly to Ron's remarks and his desire that Harry nearly died during the Quidditch match. After calling her a mudblood, she jinxed him, but he had fired a Hurling Hex at a Slytherin. That's when the Slytherins fired upon the Gryffindors, and the two tables soon erupted into an all-out brawl.
"I see," Dumbledore said sadly. "I'm afraid I cannot ignore this. Mister Weasley, you will spend the rest of the month in detention. You will also no longer be allowed to visit Hogsmeade for the rest of the year." Dumbledore said.
"Mister Weasley has already two months of Detention headmaster," Snape said with his lip curled. "I don't believe giving him more detention will solve anything. As he hasn't expressed any regret for his actions, I believe immediate suspicion is required if Mister Weasley is to learn anything. As well as having a sit down with his parents since his behavior hasn't improved."
"If detention isn't working for you, then perhaps suspension will work," Dumbledore said regretfully.
"It's Potter fault, Professor!" Ron shouted.
"How so?" Dumbledore asks considerately, though his eyes showed he wouldn't be impressed if Ron's answer was less than satisfactory.
Ron opened his mouth, but no words came out. It was clear that he couldn't think of an excuse.
"In my office," Dumbledore said tiredly.
Later that night, Ron Weasley returned to Gryffindor tower. He notices everyone was quiet and looking at him.
"What?" Ron said, bluntly.
"Why did you have to pick a fight today?" Hermione asks.
"I didn't, they came to me…" Ron protested.
"The only reason why Gryffindor had your back Weasley," Angelina Johnson said carefully. "Is because you're in Gryffindor. But, when the fight broke out, you were trying to run away and leave us behind!"
Many in Gryffindor nods their head.
"Where is Lily?" Ron asks.
"She's going to burn you, Ron!" Hermione said in a loud voice.
"Now see here," Percy shouted.
"Do you think she's going to take being called a Mudblood kindly? Remember what happened to Malfoy when he called her a Mudblood. She burned him badly. Do you honestly think that you will be given an acceptation? She doesn't take insults well, and you know as well as I do how she ends them." Hermione said.
"I made a mistake," Ron said weakly.
"A mistake that may have cost you your friendship with Lily!" Hermione said in a loud voice.
Ron Weasley said nothing. There was nothing he could think of that would make Lily understand. He also knew Hermione was right, and Lily was going to get him back for his words. She was well known for burning half of Slytherins when they pissed her off. She was also magically powerful, knew more spells than half the house.
Ron was well aware that he didn't stand a chance against her.
He would apologize to her, make things right. Maybe then she wouldn't burn him.
The days passed, and tension between Gryffindor and Slytherin fell back into a constant simmer. After the fight between the two houses in front of the teachers, everyone was on edge. The two could barely tolerate each other, and classes were filled with tension.
The teachers sensing that tensions were going to explode soon decided to remind everyone of the special event coming up to get their minds off the house rivalry.
Hogsmeade was coming up just before the holidays.
It certainly had an effect as it got everyone excited. For a time, everyone forgot about the house rivalry and were intent on doing some Christmas shopping.
Everyone except Harry, who for the life of him, could not find his permission slip that his aunt signed.
Ron was walking with Seamus and Dean. When he stops cold at the sight of Lily standing there.
"See ya Ron," Dean said as he takes off, followed by Seamus.
"Lily, I didn't mean…" Ron began slowly, but a fireball was released from her wand, causing Ron to scream out in pain.
Lily smiles as she turns on her heel and walks off, intent on going to Hogsmeade.
Harry was under his invisibility cloak, trying to sneak into Hogsmeade. He was tired of being left behind and wanted to go into the village. Hearing his peers speaking of Hogsmeade made Harry jealous of their freedom. So he decided to grab his Invisibility cloak and just slip by unseen.
Harry was sneaking out in the courtyard when he was suddenly grabbed by the Weasley Twins.
"Good try, Potter."
"but not good enough."
Harry struggles to break free, only when they were inside the castle, did they removed his cloak.
"What are you two doing, I'm trying to get into Hogsmeade." Harry hissed.
"We know." The twins said together.
"You'll never get in that way," Fred said.
"We know a better way," George said as he hands Harry a piece of parchment.
"What's this rubbish?" Harry said, holding it up.
"What's this rubbish, tell him, Fred," George said with a laugh.
"Well, in our first year, when we were young and innocent…"
Harry snorted; with a reputation as immense the Weasley Twins, he doubts a time they were ever innocent.
"Well, more innocent than we are now," Fred said good-naturedly. "We got into a bit of trouble with Filch."
"With what?" Harry asks.
"The usual. We release a dung bomb in the corridors, and Flint was threatening us with the usual." Fred said.
"Detention, expulsion along with hanging us by our toenails," George said.
"We noticed a drawer that had the label Confiscated and Highly Dangerous."
"Don't tell me," Harry said tiredly.
"Well, what would you have done," Fred said with a grin. "George created another diversion by dropping a dung bomb, and I whipped the drawer open and grabbed this."
"It's not as bad as you think. We don't reckon Filch ever figured out how to work it, even though he suspected what it was." George said.
"And what is it?" Harry asks curiously.
"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." Fred and George said together as they point their wands on the map.
The ink slowly appeared on the map, causing Harry to remember something similar to Riddle's diary.
The lines slowly form together, allowing Harry to read the top.
"Mister Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs proudly present the Marauder's Map," Harry mutters.
Harry paused as he realized this was the map Sirius had told him about. The map he made with his dad and friends.
"Now, there are seven secret passages that lead out of the school. We know that Filch knows about these four. These three are the only ones we believe we know about. There are also secrets rooms and passages. Something many students don't know about and don't realize are there. Like this one on the Fourth Floor, the mirror leads to a large room we suspect is used for dueling." George said.
"Now the three passages Filch knows about, don't bother with them. However, this one has got the Whomping Willow planted by it. So no one can get near it to use. This tunnel has been caved in, so it can't be used anymore. This one, behind the one-eyed witch, this tunnel leads straight into the Honeydukes cellar." Fred said as he used his finger to trace the tunnels.
"Right, now when you're done, don't forget to clear it. Just tap it with your wand and say 'Mischief Managed'; otherwise, anyone will be able to read it." George said.
"Why are you guys doing this?" Harry asks as he holds up the map in question.
"We haven't forgotten," Fred said with a grin.
"We owe you a lot. Especially as Percy and Ron have both been hounding you lately, and we wanted to make it up to you. Not to mention, you've bought us countless pranking supplies. Besides, Ickle Ronniekins has been nothing but trouble lately, and if upsetting him means giving you something that he desires, well…" George said.
"Is your brother really that big of a problem?" Harry asks.
"He is, always going on about what a Dark Lord you are, or more like who you're going to become," Fred said.
"Besides, we can see past Ron's tantrums," George said.
"If you really want to make it up to me, you can get me your brothers Rat. And I'd be willing to pay you both your weight in gold." Harry said.
"You really want that rat? You've been offering little Ronnie deals all summer. Don't know why he's so attached to the damn rat." George replies.
"We can't make promises, but we'll see what we can do," Fred stated calmly.
"Fair enough," Harry said.
The twins bid their farewell and walk away towards Hogsmeade.
Harry stared at the map and realized that his father once helped make this map. Sirius had told him some of their adventures with the map, how they would travel the grounds and the school, finding all the nooks and crannies that most didn't even know existed. Harry slowly looks at the One-Eyed Witch.
Unlike Ron Weasley, who would have abused this map, Harry only wanted to use it to get into Hogsmeade. He would also keep an eye on Lily when he needs to and find her if he had to.
Harry puts back on his Invisibility Cloak and walks towards the One Eye Witch. Harry looked at the map and paused. Snape was lurking nearby, and he would come running if he heard a noise.
Harry waited until Snape was clear out of the area before turning his attention to the One-Eye Witch statue.
Harry looks at the map and could see words on the map floating above the statue.
"Dissendium!" Harry said as he taps the One-Eyed Witch. As if something had caused the stone statue to split in half, the statue opens up and reveals a hidden passage.
Harry walks in, and the door statue slams shut behind him.
It was dark in the tunnel, and hard to see anything in front of him. Harry activates his Mystic Eyes and walks forward.
Harry didn't know how long it took, as he ventures down the dark tunnel. He just kept walking, onward to get into Hogsmeade.
Harry finally saw the stairs.
Harry steadily begins climbing the seemingly endless steps, and it felt like forever. Almost like walking up Hogwarts staircase.
Finally, once Harry saw the top, he places his hand on it and slowly lifts.
No one was currently down in the cellar. Harry jumps in the room and puts the cellar door back where it was.
He was amazed the owners weren't aware of the secret tunnel. Perhaps because it wasn't in a corner and somewhat hidden in plain view that it caused them to overlook it.
Harry walks carefully up the stairs before he could see a horde of Hogwarts students all piling the store, buying every kind of sweet they could get.
Harry removes his invisibility cloak and joins the crowd. No one was any the wiser. Harry walks towards the window and looks at the Castle in the distance. It was amazing that he was actually at Hogsmeade. If Ron Weasley could see him now, he would throw a fit. Harry laugh, knowing Ron was cleaning the dungeons as part of his punishment.
Harry first thought was to find Artemis or Blaise. Maybe even Daphne, someone to show him around the village. Harry remembers Daphne telling him about the Three Broomsticks and how delicious the Butterbeers were.
Harry was almost out the door when he notices Artemis was examining some sweets. She has yet to see him.
Harry walks up until he was next to her. Still, he didn't say anything. He was doing all he could do suppress his grin.
Artemis picks candy and seemed to be thinking about how she could get him to eat it.
"I wouldn't take that even if you said it was good," Harry said after leaning in her ear.
Artemis drops the jar in shocked. She turns to see Harry grinning from ear to ear.
"Harry, how did you…" Artemis said in shock.
"Full of surprises, aren't I," Harry said with a laugh.
"How did you get out here?" Artemis asks in a serious tone.
"Later, wheres the Three Broomsticks?" Harry asks.
Artemis looks at him but nods her head as she leads him out the door.
"How did you get to Hogsmeade?" Artemis asks in a low voice, the moment they were outside.
Replying in kind, Harry told her about the Marauder's Map and the secret passage in Honeydukes cellar.
"So there are hidden passages at Hogwarts. I've heard the rumors, but I never could find even one. Countless students spend their entire academic careers, trying to just find just one. The map also has a hidden feature?" Artemis said.
"It shows where anyone is on the map, where they are, and what they're doing," Harry said.
"Are you going to use this to…?" Artemis asks, not finishing her question.
"I am, the sooner I can get that rat, the better. Weasley is his usual stubborn self about letting it go." Harry said bitterly.
"You last offered to pay him twice his weight in gold. I know for a fact that's more money than his whole family has seen in twenty years. Why does he love that rat so much?" Artemis breathed.
"Who knows," Harry said with a shrug. "Fred and George are going to help me capture that rat. I promised to pay them both in their own weight in gold. Though I think they're a bit suspicious that I'm willing to pay that much." Harry said softly.
"When I tried to confiscate the rat when Weasley had it had between classes, he cried out…"
Harry snorts.
"Okay, he screamed and called me all kinds of names before Professor McGonagall came along. I think Professor McGonagall is also getting suspicious. I think it would be best we come clean to Professor McGonagall. Have her prove it. Already people think we merely want the rat to torment Weasley." Artemis said.
"Perhaps your right. Though how do we explain this to Professor McGonagall?" Harry asks.
"Well, we'll just have to start somewhere. Perhaps we can explain things once everyone has left for the Holidays." Artemis said.
Harry said nothing as he and Artemis enter the Three Broomsticks.
Harry grabs a Butterbeer and drinks sitting across from Artemis, who seems lost in thought.
"You going to report me?" Harry asks.
"Merlin's beard, no. You deserve to be out here, Harry. Not locked up like you've done something wrong. If anyone realizes you're here, questions will be asked. Can you get back to the castle before someone comes running along to report to Professor McGonagall?" Artemis replies with a worried look.
"I'm sure I can outsmart a couple of know-it-alls," Harry said proudly.
Harry sat where it was difficult for the owner Madam Rosmerta to see him correctly. Artemis made sure she went up to pick up the food and drinks to ensure that Harry wasn't seen.
"Harry?" Daphne said as she appeared with Tracy and Blaise.
"Hey, guys," Harry said as he gestures for them to sit down.
"Did you find your permission slip?" Daphne asks at once.
"Merlin, no, I have no clue where it's at. Kind of pointless at the moment, seeing how I don't have a guardian." Harry said.
"But how did you get to Hogsmeade?" Blaise asks with raised eyebrows.
"I walked," Harry said simply.
They stare at him with questionable eyes.
"You guys going to report me to Professor McGonagall?" Harry asks.
"Merlin beard, no," Daphne replies, but she bits her lip. "Granger will, she's here," Daphne said in a low voice.
"Not Granger." Harry groans.
"Does she know Harry's here?" Artemis asks at once.
"Doesn't look like…" Tracy began, but Hermione suddenly gasps out loud at making eye contact with Harry.
"I've got to go," Harry mutters as he gets up as Granger takes off from the Three Broomsticks. "Take my bag back with you, Artemis," Harry said as Madam Rosmerta pulls Granger back.
"You have to pay for your drinks, girl!" She snaps.
Harry quickly passes Granger and disappears into the street. Granger pays for her drinks and takes off after Harry only to lose him in the sea of students.
It was a race against time as Harry slips back into the cellar. Suddenly something strange happened. Harry's body suddenly shot forward as if it was being possessed or had apparated. Harry pulls out the Marauder's Map and quickly sees he was at the end of the tunnel by the One-Eye Witch statue. Harry opens the statues and sees that Granger had just entered the grounds.
Harry quickly uses the map to get to the Slytherin Common Room. He knew that once there, he would be safe. As Harry expected, the Common Room was empty. Most of the first and second years were out in the courtyard. There were few students who were inside the Common Room.
Harry went to his dorm and pulls out his charms homework. He finished it ages ago, but he walks to the table and decides to go over the advance charms Professor Flitwick had given him.
Barely ten minutes had passed when Professor Snape enters the dorm.
"Potter," Snape said softly.
"Professor?" Harry said, keeping a straight face.
"Come with me," Snape replies in his calm tone of voice.
Harry gets up and grabs his book and paperwork.
Snape said nothing as he leads Harry, as to where Harry expected, to Professor McGonagall's office.
"I see, there you are, Potter." Professor McGonagall said as Harry enters behind Professor Snape.
"Am I in trouble, Professor?" Harry asks in an innocent tone of voice.
"Miss Granger has told me that she saw you in the Three Broomsticks at Hogsmeade just fifteen minutes ago." Professor McGonagall said. Granger looks at Harry in stun as if she couldn't believe he beat her to the castle.
"Really?" Harry said with a raised eyebrow. "I expect such lies and false accusation to come from Weasley but not you buck-teeth," Harry said. Hermione flush in frustration and anger. "I thought you dealt with facts."
"Mister Potter!" Professor McGonagall as she heard the insult.
"Sorry, Professor," Harry said, not sounding sorry at all.
"Where have you been all day, Mister Potter?" Professor McGonagall asks.
"I was exploring the castle for a bit. Then I decided to finish my charms homework and go over the advance assignments Professor Flitwick assign me." Harry said as he shows his book and parchments.
"Where did you find him, Severus?" Professor McGonagall asks.
"In the Common Room, going over his charms homework," Snape admitted.
"But it's true, Professor! Potter was in the Three Broomsticks." Granger protested.
"Can anyone verify your story?" Professor Snape asks.
"Wynter, Zabini, Greengrass, and Davis," Hermione said at once. Harry was doing all he could not burst out laughing. He knew at once none of them would even think of turning him in. Also though he asked them earlier, they clearly impressed with his ability to bypass Hogwarts and the Ministry's security to get into Hogsmeade.
"Well, we can confirm who is lying shortly. They're returning to the castle as we speak." Professor McGonagall said as she looks out the window to see the sea of students returning.
"I'll fetch them." Professor Snape said as he turns on his heel and walks out of the room to grab them. Harry says nothing as he sits down.
It didn't take long for Snape to reappear with Harry's company.
"Okay, why am I being pulled into Professor McGonagall's office?" Artemis asks with a confused look on her face.
"The better question," Tracy said slowly. "Is why are we all being called in."
Harry knew at once Artemis told them what to say. Harry was trying so hard not to smirk in Granger's face. Knowing full well her very witnesses weren't on her side at all.
"We didn't lose Hogsmeade privileges, did we?" Daphne asks with a worried look on her face.
"No, Miss Granger has reported that she has seen Mister Potter in the Three Broomsticks." Professor McGonagall said.
"What is she talking about?" Daphne said with a frown on her face.
"Potter was with you all at the Three Broomsticks," Hermione said in a loud voice.
"Do you see things, or have you lost your mind?" Tracy said with a raised eyebrow. "Sure, we were talking about Harry, but he wasn't there with us."
"She's probably referring to the fact we were thinking of trying to smuggle Harry to Hogsmeade next time," Blaise said.
"Explain yourself." Professor McGonagall demanded.
"It's simple, Professor. We know Harry is without a guardian and still can't visit Hogsmeade. We don't think it's fair to him at all. He's done nothing to be left out like this. We want Harry to experience Hogsmeade before the school year is over with." Daphne said calmly.
"I see." Professor McGonagall said slowly.
Hermione Granger look like she was going to rip out her hair.
"Speaking of which Professor, I still can't go to Hogsmeade. Despite the fact, I have no current guardian." Harry said.
"I'm afraid, not Potter."
"This is not fair. If anything, if I have no guardian, I should be allowed to determine if I can go or not." Harry said.
"You are still underage, and…"
"I have no guardian!" Harry snaps out loud. Professor McGonagall flinches at Harry's tone. "That makes me a legal adult. I should be able to let myself decide this matter." Harry said in a loud voice.
Everyone turns to stare at Harry. It was rare for him to raise his voice.
"We've never had a situation like this before Mister Potter. Normally for the Third Years, a student's parent or guardian must provide permission. I'll speak to Professor Dumbledore and see if you can go for the remainder of the school year." Professor McGonagall said.
"Professor, I swear it, I saw Potter in the Three Broomsticks," Hermione said.
"Call in Filch and see if he saw me leave or return to the castle," Harry said, knowing at once the Caretaker didn't see him at all.
"I don't think that's necessary." Professor McGonagall said.
Harry said nothing as he gets up only for Artemis to drop his bag at his feet.
"Don't look at me, it's hard to carry both my bag and yours is full of sweets." She said with a smile.
Harry smiles as he picks up his bag. He turns with the rest of his school mates and walks out of the office, leaving behind a distraught Hermione Granger.
Hermione Granger tried to figure out a way how Harry Potter beat her to the school. She didn't see him running down the grounds as she ran as fast as she could.
"What's got you down, Hermione?" Lily asks as she drinks from her flask.
"I saw Potter in Hogsmeade," Hermione admitted.
"That can't be right. He doesn't have permission." Percy Weasley said at once.
"Well, he was in the Three Broomsticks," Hermione said.
"Report him," Percy said at once. Looking smug at the idea.
"I did, he managed to wiggle his way out of it," Hermione said in a downtrodden voice.
"How?" Lily asks.
"Wynter, Greengrass, Davis, and Zabini all lied to the Professors about Potter being there. They claim they were simply talking about him." Hermione said.
"Oh, Hermione, you've got a lot to learn," Lily said with a grin.
"What do you mean, had they told the truth…" Hermione began, but Lily interrupted her.
"Exactly the point, if they had told the truth, Harry would have been in trouble. That is why they lied instead." Lily said.
"That makes no sense. You don't lie to a Professor when someone has…"
"Hermione, you don't seem to understand this at all. You see, some people care more about their friendships with people than rules and regulations. They were never going to report him. In case you forget, Potter spends a lot of time with them." Lily said with a smug look on her face.
"That makes no sense what so ever," Hermione said.
"One day, you'll understand. Just pray it doesn't cost you a friendship when you do." Lily said.
Author Notes: Hermione Granger sure doesn't seem to understand the concept of being there for your friends. I've noticed that a lot about her. It was only when she was older than she seems to understand that. How did you guys like the chapter? Bet surprised everyone with the House Duel. Please R&R
Over forty chapters now and still going strong! Thanks for all my reader's support!
