Chapter 11: After Holiday Blues
Hermione gave a sigh. "When will I finally get back?" she thought to herself with a frown.
The holiday break was winding down. Hermione loved getting to spend time with her parents and having a late Christmas with them. She was very thankful to Harry for letting her spend the first half of the break with him so she could actually have the best Christmas Break possible. Now though, things were seeming to just drag on, even if they started off really good.
Her parents had taken off a good bit of time for their late Christmas and her mom was more than happy to start teaching her how to cook. "I never really thought I would get to do this kind of mother/daughter thing with you. Cooking just never seemed like your thing," her mother said as she fondly smiled to her daughter.
"I never thought I would want to really learn about cooking, mom. I kind of decided I wanted to learn about it shortly before Holiday Break began. After experiencing Davey's cooking, I decided to really focus on learning it," Hermione easily admitted.
"Oh? Is this because of Harry?" her mom couldn't help but say in a conspiratorial voice to her daughter.
"Mom!" Hermione whined while blushing. Her mother chuckled and smiled wider. Hermione then sighed. "Yes… partly," the young witch said.
Hermione's mom just looked to her with a raised eyebrow.
Hermione pouted. "Okay… Mostly… I still did want to learn it anyways, but it wasn't really something I saw as a priority until recently," she finally admitted.
"I was at a bit of a loss when you first asked. Aren't your meals provided by the school? When would you even have time to cook except during breaks?" she asked her daughter.
"The school does provide our meals and is pretty much a feast every night, if you choose for it to be. I'm in Hufflepuff though. We actually have more of an apartment style living setup, if you will. They put four to six of us in a dorm. Each dorm has a cooking area of its own, a living room and bedrooms. You can get ingredients from the kitchens or order them from the nearby village and cook for yourselves. Most don't usually do that though and we do have to attend some feasts no matter what," Hermione said.
"That sounds nice. I'm not sure I like the idea of a bunch of eleven and twelve-year-olds living together like that though," her mother said with a half frown.
"That's why we have a seventh year student as an RA. There's also the fact each house has six Prefects who check on students and enforce the rules along with a Head of House," Hermione told her. They were waiting in the kitchen for their second dish of the break to cook in the oven.
Hermione was for the most part upfront with her parents. She didn't really tell them the Hufflepuff dorm rooms were co-ed though. She was pretty sure her parents might pull her from Hogwarts if they learned that while claiming she was too young for such things. Her dad would try at least.
Her mom might be a bit more okay with it, so long as her daughter promised not to do anything inappropriate and to not room with any boys. This is why Hermione was further worried her parents would be disappointed in her for specifically choosing to room with a boy, if they ever learned the whole truth. It would be even worse for her because her mom would realize she was crushing on said boy.
[-] [-] [-]
Christmas Break had been great and Hermione did love it, but as she was realizing towards the end. It was getting boring. Her parents already needed to return to work without extra time off. That meant Hermione spent most of her time alone in her family home now.
This had never been a problem for her before Hogwarts. She loved being able to read in any room and in any chair she wanted uninterrupted. She would even turn on the radio to listen to music in the background while she did so.
After Hogwarts, it all felt different to her. She had friends at Hogwarts. She never really had friends before. She fully realized it was definitely something you wouldn't know you'd miss until you had them. She had always wanted friends of course. She just never realized how lonely not being around them could be once you had friends.
In Hufflepuff, there was always someone near her. She would still read for fun and mostly in silence, but it was nice being around others, especially Harry. Her magic loved feeling his magic nearby. It wasn't just him though. She loved hearing Hannah softly humming to herself as she worked on homework at one of the tables. She would share a couch or chair with Harry or Susan too as they did homework, read, or just spent time together.
Then there was seeing all of the different and fun hairstyles Tonks came up with each day. Tonks was generally great to be around and interesting. Their RA loved talking about classes and the magical world as a whole. Hermione learned so much from just causal conversations with the older girl. She really missed the way Tonks would sometimes use her abilities to given comically over the top expressions, or make other silly faces only a metamorph could accomplish.
Harry was also missing from Hermione's life here at home. She had feared what it would be like once she left the Rust District. Her magic yearned for Harry's. It started off manageable, but it didn't last. Hermione was pretty sure this was due to her stocking up on being around Harry the last few days.
After they fell asleep with each other on the couch Christmas Night, Hermione found ways to have more close contact with him the rest of her stay. Harry seemed to like it and she would almost swear he was doing the same with her.
She even went so far as to sneak into his room a time or two in the middle of the night when she had trouble sleeping. The two would sit together and quietly talk some before she returned to her own bed. Hermione really loved those moments.
She was almost caught by Davey one night. The two ended up falling asleep together in Harry's bed. Luckily Hermione woke up early and sneaked back to her own bed and pretended to be asleep when the other girl started her day. Hermione was sure Davey was none the wiser to what she had done.
Hermione let out a longing sigh as she put down the book she was reading currently. She was surprised to recently find a limit in how much she could read before her mind would start to drift. It took a good while to reach her limit, but she still had a limit now.
In the past, she didn't seem to have any limits on how long she could read. She spent many a night reading until she passed out in the wee hours of the morning before the sun rose. It was so bad her parents made a rule for her when it came to reading. She would still sometimes go past her allowed reading time.
Now, she couldn't keep reading until she passed out anymore. Her mind would start to think of Harry and the others after enough time. She would think about that night she accidentally got him in trouble with Jett. She still felt guilty about that, but she had a different reason for that feeling now.
She had secretly loved quietly sitting up there on the rooftop with him while she leaned on his back. She also loved how she saw a different side to Harry and his life that night. It wasn't pretty, but she loved learning about him and seeing more of who he was.
"Things really do seem duller without Harry around…" she said to herself as she gave a frown. As much as she loved spending time with her parents, she was more than ready for returning to Hogwarts. She was going to grab a hold of Harry when they met again and probably have to be pried off him. She would then move to her other friends in turn and maybe have to be pried off them as well. She really couldn't wait to get back on the Hogwarts Express.
[-] [-] [-]
Professor Snape was looking over his early semester lesson plans again. He hated how he had to make a lot of adjustments to them. It didn't help matters his Gryffindor and Slytherin First Year class was unusually stretched grade wise this year. It was almost as if the Gryffindors weren't even trying in his class. He knew their 'excuses' they used among each other, but he didn't buy them.
He may favor his own house, which Head of House didn't, but he was still fair when it came to grading. There was no way his professionalism would allow him not to be. He just had high standards for all of his students and refused to accept adequate as exceptional or outstanding.
The true reason why Slytherins seemed to do so well in his class is because they tried their hardest and then some in Potions. He was their Head of House and they wanted to at least not have his ire knowing he wasn't easily impressed. All of the houses were like that honestly.
Gryffindors tried harder than usual in Transfiguration. Ravenclaws did the same in Charms and while Hufflepuff was the house of the hard working, they went above and beyond their usual in Herbology. Most of the students felt they would disappoint their Head of House if they didn't take extra care and put in more work in their class.
Professor Snape would admit he found his other first year class more curious. One would think in a Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff Potions class it would be the house of the wise who took the top and the others would be more scattered but rather evenly distributed. With this first-year class, it was different.
Two Hufflepuffs, Harry Potter and Hermione Granger, were easily in the lead and by a good margin. If his colleagues were to be believed, they were the top of the year with the rest of their house not too far behind. Ravenclaw usually saw Slytherin as their house rival grade wise, but with this first year class it might just be the badgers who warranted such attention.
Harry Potter looked almost exactly like his father, which annoyed Snape to no end, but he at least seemed to take more after his mother personality wise. Harry was still easily very different from both of his parents.
Professor Snape wasn't full sure how he grew to be like this though. The boy was strong like his mother, but unlike her, he was quietly strong and more composed than she usually was. These traits were a far cry from his father as well so he doubted Harry's personality was a mix of the two.
Lily Evans was known equally for her compassion and her temper. She wouldn't mind getting her hands dirty if you provoked her either. Harry was more, dare Professor Snape say it, cunning and careful than his mother.
Harry knew how to be subtle and how to take care of things quietly without going overboard and getting in trouble. He knew how to defuse situations and how to ignore or handle some of the less than flattering beliefs some Slytherins held. The snakes as a whole still seemed to realize Hermione Granger was off limits oddly enough.
Professor Snape wasn't sure how Harry achieved that. He didn't want to know. He just knew this was the case from how his own students acted around the boy.
There was a part of Severus Snape that was impressed by the way Harry seemed to operate. He also might take a little joy in the fact James Potter would be rolling over in his grave if he knew his son would be a model Slytherin. The Potions Professor would never admit it, but he whole heartily agreed with how Harry didn't mind muggle-borns.
He, himself, didn't like certain attitudes in that regard. Given his role as Head of Slytherin and spy for Dumbledore, he put up with it and played along. In truth, he believed there was nothing wrong with muggle-borns and the wizarding world owed them more than they knew.
He would even go so far as to say the wizarding world would no longer exist without muggle-borns. "That or the population would all be old and ancient like Albus Dumbledore by this point." he thought to himself with some amusement.
Professor Snape wished he learned that lesson sooner. He partially had the right idea when he was younger. He was friends with Lily Evans, a muggle-born witch, but he was foolish in other ways. The Slytherin Head realized his own faults. He also knew his liking of Lily when he was younger was a mix of a crush, desperation for something good, and to a lesser extent obsession. He had grown out of that soon after Hogwarts, but became foolish and tried too much to blend in with those who seemed to rule Slytherin.
Something that was honestly surprising to the professor was how much Harry's closest friend, Hermione Granger, shared with his mother. Hermione was very different, but there were similarities. She was also muggle-born. She was extremely smart and bright, maybe too much for her own good, and very loyal to her friends. He knew Lily put up with a lot from him until he finally went too far in his fifth year. Hermione also wouldn't back down when pushed or standing up for her friends, even if she was rather introverted on a whole.
Hermione flew in the face of everything the pure-blood idiots believed. She also really stuck out and not in the best of ways, especially at first. Professor Snape would admit she seemed very much a know-it-all and teacher's pet at first.
She was all too eager to prove how smart she was and that lead to her being annoying in her own manner towards professors. Hermione at first would do twice again what her assignments required. Some professors might appreciate that, and Snape did appreciate a student who went beyond what was required, but there were limits.
However, it seemed Hermione learned this. Professor Snape was under no illusion her realization was because of Harry Potter. The boy knew people. Professor Snape realized this while discussing the "Brightest Witch of her Age" with his colleagues.
The frizzy haired Hufflepuff approached her assignments differently depending on the professor. Professor Flitwick loved it when students went twice again what was required and Hermione did so for his class. Professor McGonagall appreciated it when students pulled from other sources, and Hermione did so for her class. It was the same story for all of her classes.
Hermione seemed to have an uncanny ability to learn just what was most appreciated by her different professors without going so far as to bother them. On top of that, she learned how to properly participate in a class without becoming an annoyance, but still shined plenty bright. The other professors chalked this up to her being such a bright and wonderful student.
Professor Snape believed otherwise.
Harry Potter was brought up a lot as well, naturally. This annoyed Snape and reminded him too much of how James loved to be the center of attention. He had learned though that Harry didn't enjoy the spotlight in that way, but he still knew how to deal with it. In addition to that, Professor Snape realized something the other professors overlooked. Harry dealt with his professors in the same manner Hermione did, but he started to do so much sooner.
Yes. Harry Potter deserved to have an eye kept on him. That wasn't necessarily a bad thing as most would have thought. The Potions Professor intended to do so in his own ways.
Professor Snape smirked to himself as he enjoyed his last respite before the students returned from holiday break. "James Potter… How does it feel, you annoying bastard, to know your son seems very much a prefect Slytherin, even if he is in Hufflepuff, and not Gryffindor's favorite son, as you were?" he thought.
It was a shame Harry wasn't in Slytherin. He might have been the one to whip the house back into shape. It hadn't been so in a long time. Everyone thought of Voldemort and Death Eaters when it came to Slytherin. They never thought of the true greats like Merlin, even Severus regrettably didn't think much of them during his years as a student. He, like so many others, focused too much on the wrong sorts from Slytherin.
He was pretty sure that was why so many of the bad ended up in Slytherin, instead of being more spread around. It was hard to shake a reputation once built by others. In the case of Slytherin House, that meant more of the bad congregated there. Professor Snape could only hope one day that would change.
Maybe once Voldemort was truly dead and never to come back, when his work as a spy was no longer needed, he could actually start to change things in his house. He first had to survive and ensure the self-proclaimed Dark Lord didn't return. This was important for such a chance to happen in the first place. Not an easy task, but one worth it should he succeed.
[-] [-] [-]
Harry Potter walked through the train looking for Hermione. He arrived a decent bit early, but he had a feeling Hermione was already there and possibly had been for a good while. As he walked the train, he made sure to greet those he knew and was on good terms with. He finally found the compartment Hermione picked.
Harry couldn't help but smile as he stood in the doorway. Hermione was reading a book and seemed a bit anxious but she was concentrating on it. "I had a feeling you'd already be here, Hermione," he said to her.
Hermione looked up at hearing his voice and smiled so brightly it was as if light had returned to the world. "Harry!" she greeted happily. She then moved so fast it was almost as if she appeared right before him. She quickly wrapped him tightly in a hug.
Harry was surprised by the intensity of it. He knew she was a huggy person and he had no problem with receiving her hugs. There seemed to be a bit of desperation or something to it this time mixed in with her happiness. It also felt as if even her magic was excited and happy to see him again. He would admit he missed her, even more than he thought he would, but there was something more going on here it seemed.
He pushed those thoughts to the back of his mind for now. He returned her hug just as tightly and was surprised he felt as if there was something else in the hug from him as well. Harry next did something that surprised him as she buried her face in his chest. He kissed the top of her head. He wasn't sure why, but it felt like the right thing to do. He couldn't really tell what Hermione's reaction was, but she at least didn't push him away. He felt he could sense happiness from her at the gesture.
Hermione blushed as she felt Harry kiss the top of her head. She smiled even wider and seemed to overflow with happiness. She buried herself further into his chest as she relished being held like this. Her magic seemed to respond strongly as well. It seemed more eager and excited to greet him after being apart from him for so long, even if it was just half the break since they last saw each other.
"I suppose we can't just stay like this," she said with a small giggle. She was actually sad they couldn't.
"I don't mind it, but I suppose not," Harry agreed as they let go.
Hermione still felt really happy and wonderful to be with her best friend and crush again. The two sat down together on the same seat in the compartment. "How was your holiday after leaving with your parents?" Harry asked.
"It was great! At first… It was okay afterwards. Then it felt like it started to really drag on too much towards the end. I missed you… a-a-and everyone else," Hermione answered blushing again at her slip up.
She really hoped Harry didn't pick up on it. She by no means was shy in her affections towards him, but she still didn't want him to get the wrong idea. She knew the wrong idea was actually the right of it, but it was still so embarrassing.
"Was the whole magic calling thing really bad?" Harry asked in concern. Hermione nodded carefully. "I noticed it more myself," Harry admitted. Once she left, he started to sense what they talked about that night to a degree.
"It wasn't too bad at first. It did get worse as the break went on though. Maybe it was easier at first because of how much time we spent with each other? Maybe it was the contact we had with one another?" Hermione mused out loud in thought.
"Now that we're going back to Hogwarts, we can look more into it. We'll also be in the same room again, so we can try to explore it more like you suggested," Harry told her.
"I'd like that. I was thinking at first we could just do something simple, like not closing our bed curtains at night," Hermione said.
"Okay… But I don't know if I snore or not. So, be warned," Harry said jokingly to her.
"I've never had anyone complain before at least, but that could be just how we are in the Rust District. Given our pasts, some people love hearing others just around them. They claim it reaffirms they're no longer alone. That's what some people have said at least," Harry added more seriously.
"I didn't notice any snoring from you during the break," Hermione admitted. She thought what he said was both kind of sad and sort of sweet in a way.
"If you do notice it back at Hogwarts, you have to tell me. Perhaps I can ask Neville for the silencing charm they use on Ron's bed in Gryffindor," Harry said with a grin.
Hermione giggled to that. She gave a silent sigh of happiness after a moment. She really did miss being around Harry… and the others… of course. They just weren't here yet so she couldn't tell them that.
"Do we tell the others?" Harry asked her.
Hermione was in thought for a moment. "I don't think that's a good idea. Not yet at least. Maybe once we learn more, or if we can't figure anything out on our own. I'm not sure whatever this is that's going on is something well known or common, even in the magical world," Hermione said. Harry seemed to understand her reasoning and nodded in agreement.
To Hermione, there was more to it than she said. She meant her words, but also really wanted to keep this to herself. It was selfish of her, but she wanted to have this whole magic calling thing be something between her and Harry. She wanted it to be a secret they shared with each other. She wasn't yet ready to hand off Harry to the co-star of his love story, whoever the lucky girl was. She hoped it would be her, but she wasn't sure. She was just Hermione. And he was Harry!
After they finished their discussion, the compartment door slid open and Susan smiled to them both. "Hello! Good to see you again," she said.
Hermione stood up and smiled brightly as she gave Susan a welcome back hug. It wasn't as intense or long as the one she gave Harry though. Susan returned the hug and gave Harry her own greeting hug. "I missed you both," she said as she sat down on the opposite seat from Harry and Hermione. "How was your Holiday Break?" Susan asked them.
Before Harry and Hermione could respond, the door opened again quickly. Hannah almost shot right inside as she closed the door behind her. Hermione didn't even have time to greet her properly before Hannah breathlessly said, "I know who Nickolas Flamel is!"
All three of the other Hufflepuffs' eyes shot wide open in surprise. "How?!" Hermione couldn't help but almost shout.
Hannah caught her breath and plopped down by Susan. "It was completely by accident. I didn't learn everything about him either. I figured it would be too strange if I was suddenly very interested in frantically tearing through old books in our family's library."
"Come on! Please get on with it," Susan said in a pleading manner.
"Okay. My family always plays a few games of Witch and Wizard Trivia. We take turns reading out a card and the others answer as quickly as they can. The cards usually have three or four facts before giving the answer at the bottom and reward less points the more clues are given. I got Flamel's card!" Hannah said excitedly.
"He's a very well-known Alchemist, but that isn't as well studied as it used to be. He is really good friends with Dumbledore and was our Headmaster's old mentor! Can you believe that?! He's even over 600 years old!" Hannah said with awe as she recited the card's facts from memory.
Hermione's eyes widened at the mention of Alchemy, but she waited for Hannah to finish what she was saying. Hermione then got up and pulled out a rather large book from her trunk. She flipped through the pages quickly in search of something, but there were a lot of them.
"A bit of light reading?" Harry asked with a hint of amusement in his voice as he gave her an easy-going smile.
Hermione looked up into his eyes for a moment and blushed as she looked back down and nodded. "I knew my parents would be really busy towards the end of Holiday break. I wanted something I could really sink my teeth into and was about magic. Here!" she in triumph.
"Nickolas Flamel is the only known creator of the Sorcerer's Stone! … and apparently loves opera…" she read the last part in puzzlement. That was a really odd factoid to list for someone, especially in this book. He must be a really private person, and they didn't have much else to write.
"The Sorcerer's Stone?! I thought that was just a myth," Susan said in amazement.
"What does it do?" Harry asked her.
"It's supposed to be able to turn any metal into gold and provides the Elixir of Life. The Elixir of Life gives the drinker immortality, or so the legends say," Susan filled in for him.
"That's got to be it!" Hermione started. "That's got to be the package Hagrid took from that vault and what Fluffy's guarding."
"It does say he's really close to Professor Dumbledore. Not sure why such a legendary item is at Hogwarts, but I guess if Nickolas was to trust it to anyone… It would be Dumbledore, his friend and apprentice," Hannah said.
"I think you're right, Hermione and you too, Hannah. I really don't like it. If we could figure out what it was, I'm sure others could. That is a prize too tempting for most to pass up. That would attract both the right sort and wrong sort of people," Harry said.
"I agree. I bet there's more guarding it though. I doubt Fluffy alone would be enough. Though… why would they lock the door in a manner that a simple Alohomora would unlock?" Hermione wondered.
Hannah frowned. She frowned deeper. "What is it?" Susan asked in worry. It was bad if her best friend was acting like that.
Hannah continued to frown. "You all don't suppose someone's already working on getting it? Do you? We know Professor Snape thinks someone is, but he's the only professor that seems to think that. I doubt Professor Snape, who's always talking about being careful and meticulous in class, would leave it so easy to get through that door behind him," she said.
"I really hope not… It would have to be either the staff or someone who knows how to enter and exit Hogwarts' Grounds without being noticed going for it in such a manner. Both of those options are bad. I think you're right again though, Hannah... That would explain it. Why put obstacles back up if you are taking your time dismantling the defenses and no one seems to suspect you?" Susan said with deeper worry.
"Then it is a good thing Hermione and I mentioned it to Hagrid. We did so by mistake, but he said he would speak to the Professors about it. He probably meant Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall. I'm sure even Hagrid would know not to speak about it too much. It was an accident when he told us. He was just surprised we accidentally found Fluffy," Harry said. The girls seemed a little relieved by his words. They would all still worry about it in their own way though.
After they were all silent for a moment, Susan spoke up to break the quiet. "I still can't believe that dog you two saw is named Fluffy, even if Hagrid is his owner." She gave a shake of her head. The others couldn't help but laugh about that. They spent the rest of the train ride happily sharing their holiday breaks with each other.
[-] [-] [-]
Once the students were all back at Hogwarts, it was surprising how quickly they fell back into their routine. People were getting excited about the first Quidditch match of the year. Gryffindor kept saying how this game would be their chance at redeeming themselves.
Ron was especially sure of this, even if he wasn't on the team himself. He was getting annoying with it though. He kept pointing it out to every Hufflepuff he came across. He seemed to think the game was already decided and Gryffindor victorious.
"He's almost as bad as he was when Gryffindor played us," Draco started one day to Harry after Ron carried on about how great Gryffindor's team was. "In our case though, it was understandable given how our houses are and the same old Lion idiocy they all seem to have."
"I get supporting your team, but he is ridiculous about it. Then again… maybe we should think it's a good sign he's supporting them so much," Harry mused with a chuckle.
"Why do you say that?" Draco asked.
"I've heard he's very fanatical about his favorite pro-team. The Chudley Cannons," Harry said.
Draco couldn't help but laugh to that. "Ahhh yes. The team that is always in a 'Rebuilding' year and will definitely win the cup next time," he said.
"The exact same one. I'm not an expert on Quidditch, but I get a feeling he'll feel very foolish after the game. Cedric is really good and other Seekers seem to bounce off him given his build compared to them," Harry said.
"I've heard much the same. Even Flint doesn't dare antagonize him too much. And Flint sees such things as strategy," Draco said.
"Getting in your opponent's head is a strategy. Carrying on too much just cheapens the effect, because people start to think that is all you can do," Harry said.
"I have to ask again though. Are you planning on trying out next year?" Draco asked Harry. After his showing at their flying lessons, several first years asked Harry much the same many times.
"I'm getting a broom for sure. I don't know about trying out for the team though. Maybe if they have some kind of substitution team I will. I love flying for the freedom though. I wouldn't want to have to worry about a game as well. I like watching Quidditch. I just don't know if it's for me to play," Harry said.
"That's a shame really. I'm trying out and I was hoping for some serious competition," Draco said.
Harry gave him a look. "It might be just a little too early to decide you will be on the team," he said.
Draco smirked. "The current Seeker is in his last year. I am pretty good at flying and I've played seeker several times before in pick-up games. I usually end up being the one who catches it. Plus… I have a plan… Father agreed to it already," he said mysteriously.
Harry had a few ideas what the plan would be, but he left it alone. "I suppose each House handles who gets on the team differently. You do really like the game and know a lot about it. So... hope it goes well for you. I'll be zipping around plenty on my own next year during breaks and after classes. I'm surprised more people don't have their own brooms to fly for fun," he said.
"While the rules only say first years can't own a broom, many seem to assume it also means anyone not on the Quidditch team can't own one either. A bit silly when you think about it. It's always been that way though, so people continue to treat it that way," Draco answered Harry.
Harry nodded in agreement. "It's foolish to think just because something has always been done one way and one way only. It has to always be done that way," Harry said.
Draco looked to Harry at those words. He thought on them. He frowned a little. Some people have tried to use such words to argue against his father's beliefs.
"We still shouldn't just ignore things that have traditionally been done a certain way entirely and believe it is wrong. But you are right in this case," Draco tried Harry with his words. He wondered how the other boy would answer.
Draco found Harry surprising in many cases and so did others in Slytherin. Draco figured that was why he and others didn't seem to mind Harry, even when Hermione was with him. Some even occasionally brokered conversation with her that wasn't exactly nasty.
Harry looked to him with a raised eyebrow. "I wasn't saying anything was wrong with traditions," Harry said simply. He then looked over as some of his fellow Hufflepuffs called to him. "Are you going to the game?" Harry asked. He then gave a chuckle. "I can see you doing that just to annoy Ron once Cedric catches the Snitch."
Draco gave a chuckle and nodded. "That and to gather information on my future opponents. Like I said. I have a plan for next year and it will succeed," he said as the two went their separate ways.
Draco had more on his mind than he thought he would after that conversation. Harry's words reminded him of what his mother said many times when his dad wasn't around. She didn't fully support his beliefs, but she did hold on to tradition rather closely. More so than his dad did, who often used tradition as a justification for his actions. Harry may have spoken in a manner that suggested Draco's previous statement was completely off topic, but he could tell there was more to Harry's words many times.
[-] [-] [-]
As game day approached, Ron became even more annoying and unbearable. It got to the point even his brothers, the twins, told him to cut it out, in their own fashion. This really was something considering they were on the team and even they felt Ron was being overly obnoxious about the game.
The Hufflepuff team was getting plenty of support from their house, which was to be expected. The Hufflepuffs still tried to keep a certain level of politeness about their support around others. Harry really appreciated that. It was kind of stupid to get into fights and such over a sports team. He saw plenty who did and found it more disappointing each time it happened.
When it came to the day of the game, all of Hufflepuff met with the team in the Common room to wish them luck. Harry walked up and said to Cedric, "I'm sure everyone has already told you, but we're rooting for you and the others. Though I've heard you don't need it."
Cedric chuckled. "So, I've been told as well, Harry. I always say I'm not that impressive really. I am good and I will admit that, but I can always use the support of Hufflepuff," Cedric said with a grin.
"Then it is good we will be rooting for you after all. Good luck out there, Cedric," Harry said.
He then made sure to address the rest of the team in turn as well. Cedric usually got most of the support since he was the seeker and that was a very important position. Harry knew it took the whole team to win. He'd heard plenty of stories of games where the opposing seeker caught the snitch to help save some of their team's dignity from a very humiliating loss. Harry also knew people appreciated being recognized for their roles as well. At this time though, Harry didn't realize how much Cedric appreciated him seeing off and giving support to the rest of the team in the way he did.
[-] [-] [-]
Ron frowned. He was worried. He was making a point of dodging Malfoy whenever he could. The game was over. Hufflepuff won big. Gryffindor had a great team! Except for the seeker.
Hufflepuff had a great team! And a great seeker. Cedric knew how to use his size to his advantage and he didn't have to make any compromises with his flying to do so.
He'd swear he could hear Draco's smirk around every corner of the castle. Ron didn't like it one bit at all. He was glad he was used to eating quickly and in big bites at least. It had come in really handy right after the game.
The meals were unbearable for him! People kept laughing and laughing and some would shoot him looks before laughing. He knew they weren't all laughing at him, but seeing the looks he was getting from people sure made it feel that way to him.
Neville sighed as he looked to Ron. "I hate to say it… But you did kind of bring this upon yourself," he said.
Ron just grumbled to himself in reply. He knew Neville was right, but still that shouldn't matter.
"Wittle Ronnikins is just sad—" one twin said.
"He once again has to eat his own foot –" the other replied.
"If he was at least on the team –" the first started.
"He'd still be eating his own foot but –" the second said.
"The laughing would have stopped after the first day," they said together before chuckling and walking off.
Ron hated the twins at the moment. Everyone, even from the other houses, had been polite to Fred and George and even told them they played really well. Most were sympathetic to them and the team as a whole. Everyone knew Gryffindor had trouble with getting good seekers that could play at the rest of the team's level.
"If they all know that… Why are they treating me this way?" Ron thought to himself in complaint. He didn't get it.
He really didn't get it at all.
[-] [-] [-]
"Look! It's hatching!" Hagrid said in excitement. He had just placed a really large egg on the middle of his dining table in his hut. It was in the middle of a fire until a moment ago.
Four first years were excitedly watching with him as well. Susan was holding her breath in her excitement. Hannah was trying her best not to seem as if she had been hit by a Dancing Legs Jinx.
"Oooo! Look Harry! Look!" Hermione said in an almost breathless voice from next to Harry. She was holding on to his left arm with both of her hands and squeezing tighter than Harry honestly found comfortable. He was excited too though and found her actions far too cute to complain.
Many would wonder where Hagrid found such a large egg and why it was roasting in a fire for so long. With any other type of egg, they would be right to wonder that. However, this was a dragon's egg! It was supposed to be surrounded by fire and heat. Hagrid told them if it was with a roosting mother the mama dragon would breath fire on it from time to time and would always keep it very warm.
Most would probably point out this was most likely illegal. And it really was. The first years were too excited to watch a dragon hatching to care. It was something very rare to witness. This being the case, all four would more than kindly look the other way, even Susan, whose aunt was the Head of the DMLE, agreed to this arrangement.
"That's it little one… Push. Push," Hagrid cooed to the egg in encouragement.
[-] [-] [-]
Harry, Hermione, Hannah and Susan first learned about Hagrid's Dragon Egg by chance in the library. They were studying together as they did, anyone who was close friends to Hermione would be doing the same, when they noticed Hagrid trying and failing to remain unnoticed in the library.
It was an impossible task. Hagrid was far too big for the place and he never really visited it for this long or like this. He had most of the books he wanted or needed. Any books missing from his collection he'd order or Madam Pence would actually behave like a librarian and help him find. She usually pulled them for him so he wouldn't make a mess of her domain.
With everyone else, it seemed like she just shushed them for daring to cough or breath too loudly. She had more important things to do, like read her books. Harry was pretty sure the books she was reading weren't for polite conversation.
The four students asked Hagrid what was up and he acted very suspicious indeed. Once he was gone, Hermione looked where he was and told the others it was a section about dragons. They immediately went to meet with him after that and he was more willing to share what was going on then.
He even got them very interested in dragons themselves. Hannah ended up looking into them more thoroughly and even impressed Hermione with how much she did. They all ended up agreeing to help Hagrid how they could.
Harry received a note earlier today. It was simple and was hastily scrawled out. There wasn't even a name on it, but Harry knew who wrote it from their handwriting. The note simply read, "It's time."
[-] [-] [-]
A baby dragon cry was heard soon enough as the egg fell apart. "Dawww… Ain't he tha cutest?!" Hagrid was cooing even more so.
The first years were staring in awe as the baby dragon broke free of the egg. It had little wings and everything. It was rather cute in a dangerous way.
The dragon suddenly sneezed. Harry and the others jumped back as a gout of fire came from it and lit Hagrid's beard on fire.
"Heh heh! Little Tyke!" Hagrid said as he patted out the fire, something he would get very used to doing in the upcoming days. "Hey there little guy!" Hagrid cooed again as he held out a finger trying to touch it.
The dragon gave a baby dragon growl and snipped at his fingers. Hagrid brought them back just in time. "Dawwww… He already knows who his mummy is!" Hagrid said in the manner a proud parent would from watching their own child. "How are ye, Norbert!" Hagrid said. "Are ye hungry?" he asked with a chuckle.
A baby dragon cry was all Hagrid got in reply.
The four Hufflepuffs were in awe of what they witnessed. It was exciting and cool. It was also far scarier than they thought it would be. They didn't think a dragon would be able to sneeze up fire like that right after hatching. They were excited and worried for what the upcoming days had in store for Hagrid.
Regardless, they knew this was an experience they would always remember. They were also glad they weren't the ones who decided to raise a baby dragon… In a small wooden hut… Near the Forbidden Forest's edge.
"I really hope Hagrid flame proofed everything," Susan said as they finally left to head back. The others nodded in agreement. She said exactly what was on their minds.