Chapter 9 - Halloween

It was now Halloween. Hermione was excited for her first Halloween away from home. She could finally eat lots of candy!

Unfortunately, during Tracking, her great day went down hill.

She was partnered with Weasley of all people. He was stomping around scaring all of the Pokemon away. Trying to help him out, she told him to be more quiet. He only glared at her. After that, he only seemed to get louder.

After class, she was walking between him and Harry. "Honestly, she is a nightmare!" Hermione overheard Ron say. Everyone around them laughed. Hermione could feel tears pooling in her eyes. She rushed past them to find a spot where she could be alone with her Pokemon.

She ended up in an out of order bathroom. She called out her three Pokemon, for once completely ignoring the rules.

Tears were pouring down her face as she sobbed. Her Pokemon crowded around her trying to offer her comfort. Her Milotic, who she had named Myeem, wrapped herself around her trainer to provide comfort.

Hours past like this.

There was a sudden crash as the door to the bathroom was knocked inward, revealing a large Pokemon. Taking out her Pokedex, Hermione found out that it was the ground and ghost type, Golett.

Knowing that normal moves wouldn't work on it, Hermione called out to her Pokemon to use Dragon Rage, Ember, and Water Pulse. It stumbled back a step. She told them to repeat the act again, then one more time. After the third time, the Golett collapsed into a dead faint.

Hermione sighed in relief. She gave all of her Pokemon congratulatory pats, rubs, and praise.

The Professors came rushing in. Seeing the fainted Pokemon and Hermione with her Pokemon, Professor Quirrell looked like he was going to pass out. Professor McGonagall asked Hermione what happened.

"Someone said something that upset me, so I was in here crying since the end of the first class. I called out my Pokemon so that I wouldn't be alone. Then the Golett bashed down the door. I had my Pokemon attack it as I was scarred that it might try to hurt us." Hermione explained.

Professor McGonagall softened slightly at that story. She believed her since all of the facts, including the girl's tear stained face and red eyes, led her to a similar conclusion. "I see. Ten points to Gryffindor for sheer dumb luck." Professor Snape, who she had yet to officially meet, snorted in disdain before sweeping over two the fainted Pokemon.

Hermione recalled her Pokemon now that she was sure that she was safe. She was then escorted by her head of house back to the Gryffindor common room.

Later that night, Harry approached her. Hermione eyed him warily, and he flinched. Frowning in confusion, Hermione waited for him to tell her why he approached her.

"Um, uh," he finally stuttered out, "I feel bad about earlier. I laughed. I shouldn't have laughed. My cousin used to bully me and I hated that. I feel like in that moment I became my cousin, and I really don't like the feeling. I just wanted to say that I'm sorry." Hermione's eyes softened.

"It's okay, if you truly feel bad about it. Do you... um... want to be friends?" Hermione's voice got progressively quieter as she spoke.

"Sure, if you want," Harry responded.