Chapter 6: Meanings Of Friendship

The next morning, Daphne was gathering her things and getting ready for her day. She had a strange dream that night about coming across a lost faceless boy with dark hair, and she had to help him find his way. It ended when they reached their destination, and before the boy could reach where Daphne was, a hole appeared and the boy fell inside. It had shocked Daphne that she instantly jumped into the hole. And that's where she had woken up. It was still early, but she couldn't fall back asleep and decided to just stay awake and study.

Daphne rubbed her eyes. "Did someone have a late night with a certain boy?" Tracey slyly asked. Daphne looked over to see Tracey sleepily sitting on the edge of her bed look at her.

Daphne shook her head. "No, I had a strange dream and couldn't fall back to sleep," she told.

Tracey raised an eyebrow. She wasn't expecting an actual answer. "Do you want to talk about it?" she asked.

Daphne shrugged. "It was only a dream," she muttered.

"Having nightmares again, Greengrass?" someone snidely said. Daphne and Tracey turned to their fellow classmate, Pansy Parkinson, who was looking into a mirror and brushing her hair. "Is your magical teddy bear not keeping you safe in your dreams?" she said with feigned pouting. Daphne glanced over to her bed where her teddy bear sat out in the open. She usually put it away when she woke up to keep everyone else from seeing it. She blushed a little.

Tracey glared at Pansy. "Be quiet, Parkinson," she hissed. Pansy giggled as she stood up, grabbed her bag, and left the dorm. Tracey turned back to Daphne who was quickly stuffing her teddy bear back into her trunk. "There's nothing embarrassing about sleeping with a teddy bear," She suddenly said, walking over to Daphne, taking the teddy bear back out of the trunk and handing it to Daphne. "Where'd you get it?"

"My sister picked it out for me before I left for Hogwarts," Daphne answered, a small smile appearing on her face.

Tracey smiled at Daphne's smile, happy to finally see her smile for something. "You shouldn't be embarrassed for who you really are," she told Daphne. "Don't close it all in. Let it out, be yourself."

"I am being myself," Daphne mechanically replied, smile gone as she gently placed the teddy bear in her trunk.

"You and I both know you're not," Tracey said to her.

"And what do you know!?" Daphne suddenly retorted, raising her voice and her tone different. "You don't know anything about me!" she hissed, grabbing her bag, standing up, and leaving the dorm.

Tracey was taken aback as she sighed. She thought she was finally getting somewhere with Daphne, but it turns out that she was wrong. Moments later, Tracey was leaving the dorm with her bag over her shoulder, leaving the common room and into the dungeon halls. She walked up the steps towards the Great Hall where she saw a tired looking Josh dragging his bag towards the Great Hall. "Oi, Black!" she called.

Josh slowly turned in lazy bewilderment and watched as Tracey jogged up to him. "Good morning, Davis," he greeted.

"You can call me Tracey," Tracey corrected. "How was Daphne last night?"

Josh shrugged as the two continued towards the Great Hall. "Same as usual, I guess," He answered. "Though she seemed to soften a little when I was getting frustrated with the Orion constellation."

"That's interesting," Tracey mumbled.

"Why do you ask?" Josh asked as the two entered the Great Hall, catching the eye of a certain Gryffindor.

"I was just wondering," Tracey sighed. "I almost got her to open up to me this morning, but she snapped at me." Tracey and Josh looked over to the Slytherin table to see Daphne reading a book and eating breakfast. "Maybe I should give up and just be alone."

"Don't give up," Josh told her. "Keep trying, we'll eventually get through to her and she'll finally understand. If not, well, you still got me as your friend."

Tracey raised her eyebrows in surprise. "You think of me as your friend?" she asked.

Josh lazily smiled. "Of course," he replied. "Why shouldn't we be and don't say it's because of the Houses we're in, because I don't care about that." Tracey lightly punched Josh's arm as the two then went their separate ways. Josh walked over to the Gryffindor table, yawning as he sat down. He looked over at his friends, all who seemed too tired to eat, except Ron who was wolfing down his breakfast.

"Last night was fun," Ron commented after swallowing his food. "We should do things like that more often."

"We can't break any more school rules," Hermione sighed in annoyance. "How many times do I have to tell you?"

"Oh come off it," Ron replied. "Look at Malfoy!" Harry, Hermione, Josh and Sophie turned to look at Malfoy. He was glaring towards Harry, appearing angry and disappointed as if he were hoping to see that Harry was expelled. "He's miffed that you're still here, Harry."

Harry shrugged. "I just want to get some more sleep," he commented, not caring about Malfoy at the moment. "What do you think that thing was guarding anyways?" he lazily asked.

"It's either really valuable or really dangerous," Ron answered.

"Or both," Sophie said, then looked over at Josh who was staring ahead. "Don't you think Josh?" Josh really hadn't heard anything of what his friends were talking about as he was thinking about a way to get Daphne to talk to him outside of studying. Tracey had opted to sit a few seats down from her and eat breakfast alone. "Josh!"

Josh jumped, and looked over to Sophie and Hermione who were looking at him. "Yes I agree with you," he blurted out. "What were we talking about?"

Before anyone could answer, owls swooped in and fill the Great Hall delivering the daily mail. Harry, who wasn't expecting anything, was surprised when a large package landed in front of him. It was long, and it had a not on it which read for Harry to not open this package at the table. As Harry and Ron continued to talk about what could be in the package, Josh went back to his breakfast. The bell soon rang and Josh stood up though was surprised when Harry and Ron grabbed the package and quickly ran off.

Josh followed Hermione and Sophie out of the Great Hall and towards their first class of the day, Transfiguration. On his way there, his mind wondered to what that three-headed dog was guarding. It was either valuable or something really dangerous, to keep something in, like a prisoner? No, that could not be safe to keep some bad wizard in the school. It would have to be something valuable, but what magical item would be so valuable to be kept in at Hogwarts.

"Josh!" Josh snapped out of his thoughts, expecting that Hermione or Sophie called him, but it wasn't. It was Tracey. She had jogged up next to him as they entered the Transfiguration classroom. "Let's sit together," she suggested with her nonchalant expression. Thought, before Josh could ask her why, Tracey dragged him to a table at the back and sat down together. The duo watched as other classmates clambered in. Daphne looked stoic as ever, expressionless, sitting at the front of the classroom. Draco and his cronies entered, looking sour as if they were sucking on a lemon. Harry and Ron ran in at the last minute looking excited and gleeful. Ron had whispered to Josh that the package was a Nimbus two thousand, which was the latest broomstick to have been made.

"Why are we sitting together?" Josh finally asked, turning to look at Tracey.

"Why not?" Tracey replied. "I just didn't want to bother my time and sit next to Daphne. I felt I should sit next to a friend."

Josh nodded in understanding. "I get that," he agreed, "But with a Gryffindor, in front of you housemates? Why not sit with him?" Tracey looked over to who Josh was pointing to. It was the dark-skinned skinny boy who went by Blaise. At the moment he was picking a piece of lent off his cloak, looking at it and then flicking it away. He then leaned his chin on his hand, already looking bored.

"He's a bit strange," Tracey told Josh. "Pretty quiet and keeps to himself. He doesn't even hang out with his dorm mates."

"Maybe he too could use a friend," Josh suggested as he tilted his head.

Tracey shrugged. "Maybe," she muttered. "But I wanted to sit with you, mate," she added, patting Josh on the back. "I don't even care if you're in our rival house, or some kind of half-breed or whatever."

"Hey, I don't care about that either," Josh replied, placing his arms on the table. "All that matters is your character." Tracey nodded in agreement. The two sat in silence as there were a few minutes left until class would begin. "Not all of you are like Malfoy."

Tracey grimaced. "Who would want to be like that dolt." She straightened her look. "Any ideas on who your father might be?" she asked.

Josh shook his head. "No, not yet," he answered. "All of my mother's family went into Slytherin's house with the exception of my Great Aunt Linora who was put into Ravenclaw. She's was pretty smart until one of her experiments killed her by accident."

"Sorry to hear that."

Josh shrugged. "I only met her when I was a baby. But that still doesn't explain why I'm in Gryffindor. Was your father in Slytherin?"

"My mother was," Tracey corrected. "Though my grandparents were from different houses. Slytherin and Hufflepuff." Josh leaned back in his chair. Maybe his father was just in Slytherin and he himself was just different. He was mover brave, he guessed. Maybe. Josh sat there in thought not noticing his friends glancing back at him sitting with a Slytherin. Two out of his four good friends glared towards Tracey.

After classes that day, Harry bid his friends goodbye as he was to go learn Quidditch from the Gryffindor's captain, Oliver Wood. Hermione suggested that they go to the library to finish their schoolwork. Ron, of course, rolled his eyes and opted not to do that and instead to find Dean and Seamus to hang out with them. Sophie agreed with Hermione though Josh actually had a prior engagement. He had to go work on his Astronomy with his tutor Daphne Greengrass.

The trio of Gryffindor entered the library and went their separate ways. Josh walked around until he found where Tracey was, sitting at a table waiting patiently. She boringly looked over to Josh as he walked over to the table. "Are you sure this is a good idea?" she asked.

Josh shrugged. "Why not?" he replied. "I can just tell her that you need help in Astronomy too."

"But I already know how to do this stuff," Tracey sighed, leaning on her elbow.

"Do you want to be her friend or not?" Josh asked. Tracey rolled her eyes, and didn't answer. Josh smirked as he sat down next to her and waited for Daphne. The two didn't have to wait too long as Daphne appeared a few minutes later. She furrowed her eyes when she noticed that Tracey was at the table sitting next to him.

Daphne walked over, setting her bag on the table. "What are you doing here?" she asked Tracey.

Tracey rolled her eyes and stood up, but Josh grabbed her by the sleeve and dragged her back down. "I invited her," he answered, looking Daphne in her eye.

"Didn't know you two were friends," Daphne commented, clenching her teeth.

"Yeah, well, we are," Tracey snidely said, "We talk, we study, we laugh, we have fun. It's what friends do. Especially the talking part."

Daphne glared at Tracey who glared back. "I told you," she started, looking at Josh and getting a bit vexed, "That I'm not here to make friends. I'm here for my education. I don't want to get to know you. I don't want to know your favorite subject or magical creature or what it is you're afraid of. I don't care!"

"That is so ridiculous," Tracey angrily replied as she jumped to her feet. Josh frighteningly was looking in between the two now angry girls. "You'll just be lonely and that's no way to live!"

"I don't care!" Daphne cried out, suddenly getting more angrier. "All friends do is abandon you and leave you behind! And you never hear from them again because they forget you! And you try to write to them but they never respond! And they..." Daphne stopped herself, her eyes were brimmed with tears. She looked at Josh and Tracey who were looking at her sadly. She couldn't believe what she was saying or what she was letting out. She fiercely rubbed her eyes. "Anyways, that's none of your business," she sniffed. "This tutoring is over. I'm done with it. Find someone else to help you, Emrys!"

"What?!" Tracey and Josh blurted in unison.

"Don't take this tutoring thing away from Josh!" Tracey said. "He's rubbish at Astronomy and can't read a star map is it was lined up in between his eyes."

"Hey!" Josh protested, "I mean she's right, but I would have worded it differently."

"You don't think I know what you two are up to?" Daphne hissed. "I'm not an idiot. You both have been trying to talk to me and get to know me, but what you two need to realize is that I don't want to get to know you, either of you! I just want to get my education and - "

"Shut everyone out!" Tracey finished for Daphne in annoyance. "Stick to yourself and just be cold to everyone!" Daphne glared at Tracey. "You know what you are!? You're a real Ice Queen, that's what you are!" Daphne clenched her fists in anger at being called an ice queen. She grabbed her bag and quickly ran out of the library.

Josh jumped out of his seat. "Daphne!" He shouted, but it was too late as she had already stormed off. Josh turned to Tracey who looked a mix of anger and regret. "That was a little mean."

"I...I...," Tracey stuttered and then clumped down into her chair. "I'm sorry. I just got angry and annoyed. At her. How can she...Why...I just don't understand."

"Neither do I," Josh sighed, sitting into his own chair. "But you heard what she said about friends. How they leave and forget about you."

"Yeah, that came out of nowhere," Tracey said, placing her face in her arms, resting on the table. Josh sighed as he leaned back in his chair. He figured that there was no coming back from this. His pursuit to be Daphne's friend was over, and he guess he had to just move on. Find other friends. He looked over at Tracey. She was a start, and he did like her. She was fun to be around and pretty funny as well. He did like Harry, Hermione, and Sophie as well, though Ron was still on the fence for his hateful prejudice against all Slytherins. He was kind of funny sometimes. Josh had also made a few others friends as well. Most of the Gryffindors in his house were on good terms with him, and he did like Neville a lot. He was a clumsy boy but entertaining to watch.

Weeks had passed by and Hogwarts was by far the most interesting of schools for the new first years that were attending. The new students were learning a lot of theoretical and physical magic, as well as magical lore. Everyone seemed mostly in high spirits except for the friction between Hermione and Sophie, and Ron and Harry, though mostly between Ron and Hermione. No one really brought up their late adventure on the third floor, and the last time it was, Hermione would chide them into not breaking anymore school rules. Nothing else out of the ordinary had yet to happen.

It was now the day before Halloween. Tracey and Josh were more acquainted these days as Josh seemed to be her only friend. No one outside of Slytherin house wanted to be her friend and none of the other Slytherin girls didn't want to be her friend either. She was a half-blood and they also thought Tracey was weird. Josh was happy to be her friend. She too had given up on her pursuit to be friends with Daphne and would look elsewhere for friends. Soon enough, a new prospect had arrived in a dark skinned Slytherin boy after Charms class.

Tracey was walking down the hall, by herself as usual, when she heard voices in the next corridor. "Look at the little snake," she heard as she move closer. "Look at him, he's just as useless as a real snake!"

"Kind of looks like one too!"

Tracey turned into the corridor to see two third year Gryffindors picking one of her fellow classmates. She realized that it was Blaise Zabini. All of his things were scattered on the ground. He had his arms over his face and head as paper birds magically flew around him and pecking him all over his body. He was trying to protect himself and yelping every time a paper bird pecked him. This suddenly made Tracey's blood boil. How dare they pick on one of her own. She stomped her way over. "Oi!" She yelled out. The two thirteen year old's stopped laughing and turned towards Tracey who suddenly gulped as they glared.

"Look wha we ave ere, " one of the boys said. "Another snake!"

What was she doing? She should have just walked away, right? No! She had to stick up for Blaise even if it meant that she was going to be the next target. "Leave him alone!" Tracey shouted. "Or else!"

The two Gryffindors laughed, looking at one another. "Or else wha'?" one of the boys asked. "Wha' can a firs' year do to us? We ave mo' magical knowledge than you do!"

Tracey gulped again. "Yeah, well...I," she racked her brain for a response. They were right. They probably know more magic than she did. She only knew a few charm spells, and was not very good at Transfiguration. She could disarm them. Yes! She could do that! Tracey reached into her pockets, but fumbled for her wand which fell out and dropped to the floor.

The two Gryffindors fell into a pit of laughter. "She can even hold her wand!" they said. Tracey, now very embarrassed, knelt down to pick up her wand. "Oi! Stop right there!" Tracey looked up to see the two boys with their wands pointed at her. She looked over at Blaise who was still being attack, but trying to see what was going on around him. She looked back at the Gryffindors. "Don't mess with the lions, sweetheart," One of the boys said. "We've got a very mean bite."

"Locomortis!"

The curse appeared out of nowhere as the two boys' legs suddenly pulled and locked together. The two thirteen year old's waved their arms around to keep from falling, but it was to no avail as they fell to the ground. Once they had fallen, behind them was Josh who was chuckling to himself as he walked over to the scene. "I have been waiting to see how that jinx worked," he said.

"Emrys!" One of the boys shouted in anger, glaring at the younger Gryffindor. "What are you doing?!"

Josh raised his eyebrow. "Helping out a friend..." He glance at Blaise, seeing him being attacked. "Or two..." Josh ran over and pushed Blaise to the ground. He yelped in protest, though Josh raised his wand towards the birds. "Incendio," He incantated, and flames burst out of his wand, striking the birds, and burning them to a crisp. Blaise looked up at Josh who looked down at him and smiled, holding out his hand. Blaise took his hand and Josh helped him back up to his feet.

"What's the stupid incantation to free us from this," One of the boys growled.

"I don't know," The other growled back as the two boys tried to stand on their feet, but it was no use as they kept falling over and cursing to themselves. They finally stood to their feet and quickly hopped away.

"Josh Emrys," Josh introduced, shaking Blaise's hand that he was still holding onto.

"Blaise Zabini," Blaise greeted as the two let go. "Thanks, for that."

Josh looked over to Tracey who picked up her wand. "Are you alright?" he asked.

Tracey nodded. "You have to teach me that," she suggested. "I could use it against other bullies."

"I sure like to learn that as well," Blaise said eagerly as he knelt down

"Sure, no problem," Josh said, as he knelt down to help Blaise.

"I see you like to shoot first and ask questions later," Tracey commented as she walked up to the two boys.

"I already had the answers," Josh replied, smirking. "I just needed to..." but he trailed off as someone behind Tracey caught his eye. Tracey noticed and turned around to see Daphne walking towards them, her face in a book. She didn't notice the three others as she continued to walk towards them. Tracey didn't say anything when she go close and bumped straight into her, both of them falling to the ground.

"Excuse me - "

"Why don't you watch where you're going!" Tracey bellowed from the ground. The book that Daphne had been reading fell out of her hands, sliding over to Josh's feet. Josh picked it up and saw that the book was entitled Ancient Wizarding Bloodlines. It seemed interesting and Josh wondered if he should check this book out when Daphne was finished with it.

Daphne slowly stood up, blushing a little. "I'm sorry, I was a little distracted," she apologized to Tracey, holding her hand out towards her classmate.

Tracey ignored her hand and stood up on her own. "Didn't know this was in the syllabus," Blaise commented, glancing over to the book in Josh's hands. Josh held the book out for Daphne who accepted it. Josh noticed her face softened when she looked at him.

"Thanks," Daphne mumbled, hugging the book, glancing up and seeing Tracey glare at her. Daphne quickly looked away and but on a blank face and then continued on walking down the corridor.

"There she goes," Tracey said, as Daphne passed. "The infamous Ice Queen. No friends. Just nothing."

Daphne stopped in her tracks. Only Josh noticed Daphne close her eyes and slightly wince. She continued walking though a little quicker, almost turning into a jog when she turned to corner. Josh sighed and stared over to Tracey. "What?" she exclaimed towards Josh's look. He shook his head and then jogged after Daphne. He wanted to make sure if she was okay.

Josh turned the corner though Daphne had already disappeared. He sighed yet continued to walk down the corridor. He turned into another corridor and was passing an old classroom when he heard voices.

"Stop!"

Josh stopped in his tracks. That sounded like Daphne. Josh quickly burst through the door and was met with a strange sight. Daphne was on the floor, her book was feet away from her. She was crying and hugging herself, but she wasn't alone as Tracey was there standing in front of her, glaring down. "I didn't want to be your friend! Why should I? I'm just going to break your trust and hurt you!" The girl shouted at Daphne. "I only wanted to be your friend because I felt sorry for you! But I was never going to be your real friend! I'm going to eventually leave you like your best friend did, so I wouldn't have to see your face again! You're nothing and you'll never have any friends! I never really liked you. I'll abandon you like Saria did because we hate you so much! You'll never hear from us again!"

Josh couldn't believe what he was hearing. Who did this girl think she was? Filled with anger, Josh ran up to the girl. "Hey!" He shouted, gaining the girl's attention. "Leave..." Suddenly, the girl began to transform into something else. "Her..." It's skin turned grey and decomposed with black soulless eyes. "Alone." Josh finished, his eyes widened, his anger now replaced with fear as what stood in front of him was a undead human, or in magical words, an inferius. His heart raced at the inferius moaned and growled as it began to make its way towards Josh.

Josh began backing away in horror holding out his hand. "No!" he cried, "Get away from me!" The inferius then lunged at Josh and it would have caught him if it wasn't for Daphne who pulled him out of the way. The inferius knocked into some chairs and tables, falling over. Daphne and Josh fell to the ground next to one another in entangled arms. "Thank you," Josh breathed out. The Inferius moaned as it stood to its feet very slowly. "How did that thing get here?" he asked as the two eleven year old's sat up.

"That's not a real inferius,' Daphne informed. "It's a boggart. It takes the form of whatever you fear the most. Come on!" Daphne cried, standing to her feet and pulling Josh up to his. "We have to get out of here!"

"Well how do we stop it!?" Josh asked as Daphne grabbed his hand.

"I don't know, let's just go!" Daphne replied and pulled Josh along and out of the classroom, leaving the book she had behind. The two eleven year old's ran out of the old classroom and into the corridor, quickly running down into it and then turning into another corridor to finally hiding into a clear alcove. They were breathing heavily with their heart beating fast, but safe nonetheless. They sat quietly for a few minutes, still reeling from what had just happened. Josh had his eyes closed and thinking 'It was not real' over and over in his mind. He could hear Daphne sniffling every now and then to herself. Josh opened his eyes to see her wiping her eyes and remember what she said about the boggart. That it would transform into their deepest fears. He understood is deepest fear which was an animated dead body. Though, what was Daphne's? What did hers mean? Why did that thing turn into Tracey and say all those mean things.

"Is that what you're afraid of?" Josh suddenly asked wiping her nose. "Tracey?"

"No," Daphne scoffed with a shake of her head. "I'm not afraid of her." Josh thought back to the words the faux Tracey said.

"Is that what your afraid of then?" Josh asked, looking down. "That Tracey will be your friend but won't really be your friend." Daphne didn't say anything except slid to the floor. Josh sat next to her, and gently looked at her. "Daphne," he said softly. "Who's Saria?"

Daphne slowly looked up at Josh, her eyes twinkling with tears. She fiercely wiped them away, exhaling to keep from crying heavier. "Saria was my best friend," She shakily answered after a few moments of silence. "She was my best friend a couple years before I came to Hogwarts. A little older than me." Josh nodded. "We used to do everything together. Hang out, have sleepovers, braid each others hair, sneak into my father's library and read the books on advanced magic and potions," she told with a teary grin. "We were inseparable."

"What happened?" Josh asked.

Daphne sighed heavily. "It was her turn to go to magical school. Her parents were french so they sent her to Beauxbatons back in France," she answered. "She promised me that she'd write me everyday."

"But she didn't?"

Daphne shook her head. "She wrote to me at first," she explained. "Telling me all about school and magic. Then all about her new friends. Soon her letters became less frequent from once a week, to every two weeks, a month, and then by Christmas, they just stopped coming. Saria stopped writing to me even when I kept writing to her." Tears began to flow from Daphne's eyes as she retold her painful story. "She never wrote back to me. She didn't even come home for the Christmas holidays. And when the year was over, she never came to see me. I tried to see her, but her mother said she didn't want to see me. The whole ordeal broke my heart, so much. I had a best friend and she left me, Josh." Josh looked straight into her eyes when she said his name. "She abandoned me," she cried and then fully let go, crying harder than she was before.

Josh, a little unsure of what to do with a crying girl, just decided to do what his mother did for him when he was crying. So, Josh scooted closer towards Daphne and put his arms around her. He was surprised when she leaned into him, grabbing his cloak and crying into him. Josh awkwardly sat and patiently waited until she was done. Daphne stopped crying a few minutes later, and sat up, pulling away from Josh, blushing. "That's why," Daphne sniffed and then stood to her feet. "That's why I don't want to make any friends. I don't want to feel that pain anymore. I don't want to give them, you, or Tracey that opportunity." Daphne quickly turned away from Josh and sprinted away before Josh could say or do anything.


Josh awoke the next day to the delicious smell of baking pumpkin wafting throughout the entire castle. Josh sat on his bed, his legs dangling over the edge, thinking about the day before and all that he learned about Daphne Greengrass and her fears, not to mention what it was like to be faced with his fear. He was practically a bumbling idiot. If he couldn't face a inferius, how would he ever face anything dark and dangerous. "With magic," Josh mumbled to himself. But how was magic going to help Daphne with her trust issues? He needed some help. Josh hopped off his bed, got dress, gathered his things, and quickly ran out of the dormitory. He had to get to Tracey and tell her some of what he learned but not everything as it wasn't his story to tell.

Josh entered the Entrance Hall and looked around, waiting for Tracey to appear. He didn't have to wait long and noticed her and Blaise walking up from the Dungeons, speaking animatedly. Josh walked up to the two Slytherins. "Morning," he greeted.

Tracey smiled. "Hi, Josh." Blaise nodded in greeting.

"Blaise, could you give us a second?" Josh asked the Slytherin boy. Blaise nodded and continued on to the Great Hall.

"What's up, Josh?" Tracey questioned as Josh pulled her over into an Alcove.

"I know why Daphne is so cold," Josh informed her. Tracey looked skeptical. "Look, when I chased her yesterday, something happened..." Josh then went on to tell Tracey about the details of what happened when Josh went after Daphne, running into an old classroom, where they found a boggart, which revealed their true and deep fears. He didn't tell Tracey about Daphne's friend, just about what she was afraid of.

"I can't believe it," Tracey said, looking down.

"I know," Josh agreed.

"You're afraid of an undead corpse," Tracey said, "They're like not that powerful! You just have to catch them on fire."

"Hey!" Josh protested. "They're creepy and...and slimy!" Tracey laughed, lightly punching Josh's arm. "Look, we're not talking about me, but Daphne. I mean you still want to be her friend right?" Tracey shrugged, she wasn't so sure anymore. Josh sighed. "Well I do," he affirmed. "And I'm going to prove to Daphne that I'm a good friend and that I won't abandon her. I think you should think about it too. She might not think so, but she does need friends. Good friends, and I think that's us." And with that, Josh turned to leave Tracey to her thoughts.

Later that day, the Gryffindors and Hufflepuff were in Charms class, and they were a bit excited today as Flitwick deemed that they were ready to start making object fly. Something they had seemed to want to try ever since Flitwick had made Neville's toad zip around the classroom. Flitwick had put the class into pairs. Harry's partner was Seamus, Ron was Hermione's. Josh couldn't tell who was angrier at their pairing between Ron and Hermione, and his partner was Sophie, Neville was paired with Lavender and Parvati was paired off with Dean.

"Now, don't forget that nice wrist movement we've been practicing!" squeaked Professor Flitwick, perched on top of his pile of books as usual. "Swish and flick, remember, swish and flick. And saying the magic words properly is very important, too...never forget the Wizard Baruffio, who said 's' instead of 'f' and found himself on the floor with a buffalo on his chest."

This proved to be a bit difficult for most of the students in class. Harry and Seamus swished and flicked, but the feather they were supposed to be sending skyward just lay on the desktop. Seamus got so impatient that he prodded it with his wand and set fire to it - Harry had to put it out with his textbook, which too caught fire. Flitwick had to come to the rescue to put out the fire.

Josh and Sophie had a little trouble as well. Sophie had some how made their feather do the opposite of Harry's and Seamus's. It froze. Josh seemed pretty amused by this. Sophie sighed in frustration but kept trying. Josh couldn't help but watch in bemusement.

"Are you going to sit there and laugh at me, or are you going to try it out!" Sophie growled through her teeth and then crossed her arms in annoyance.

Josh cleared his throat. "Watch and learn, Roper," he said, and then swished and flicked while saying, "Wingardium Leviosa." But nothing happened. Josh blushed as Sophie giggled at him.

"Not so easy is it Mr. Big Wizard," She laughed.

"That was just a warm up," Josh replied, rolling up his sleeves and then decided to concentrate. It was Sophie's turned to watch him in amusement. He knew he had to make the feather levitate, that was all. It was that simple. "Wingardium Leviosa." He said, but once again nothing happened. Feeling frustrating, Josh said it again, but this time, he said the words so fast that the frozen feather flew straight up and stuck itself into the stone ceiling. Josh and Sophie watched the whole incident with wide eyes. The looked down at Flitwick who was shaking his head in disappointment though Josh could swear he was holding back a laugh.

Ron, at the next table, wasn't having much more luck. "Wingardium Leviosar!" he shouted, waving his long arms like a windmill.

"You're saying it wrong!" Hermione snapped at Ron. "It's Wingardium Leviosa, not Leviosar."

"You do it then if you're so clever then. Go on," Ron snarled, setting down his wand to let Hermione go at it.

Hermione rolled up her sleeves, swished and flicked her wand at the feather and delicately, yet firmly said, "Wingardium Leviosa!" Their feather rose from the desk and hovered about four feet above their heads.

"Oh well done!" said Flitwick clapping. "Everyone see here, Ms. Granger's done it. Five points to Gryffindor!" The whole Hufflepuff class shrank, throwing daggers Hermione's way wanting to be the first to preform the spell correctly so they could get points. But who could be the know it all Hermione Granger.

At the end of the class, Josh was leaving the classroom next to Harry and Ron. Josh could almost feel the anger coming off of Ron though you could see it on his face as well.

"It's no way no one could stand her," Ron said to his fellow Gryffindors. Josh sighed. "She's a nightmare, honestly!" Someone then knocked in between Josh and Ron hardly and they saw it was Hermione. Josh sworn he heard her sniffing when she passed by. The boys stopped and watched her walk away.

"I think she heard you." Harry said staring at the back of Hermione's retreating form.

"So," said an uncomfortable Ron. "She knows that we're not friends."

Josh turned to Ron and was about to say something but someone else beat him too it. "You're a right prat you are, Weasley!" Sophie growled from behind the boys. Ron's neck turned red as she ran past the boys in hopes of catching her friend.

Hermione wasn't in the next class. Nor did Josh see her until dinner, though he did spot Sophie who was already at the dinner table when he got there. He decided to sit next to her.

"Where's Hermione?" Josh asked Sophie. The Great Hall looked amazing for Halloween. A thousand live bats fluttered from the walls and ceiling while a thousand more swooped over the tables in low black clouds, making the candles in the pumpkins stutter. The feast appeared suddenly on the golden plates, as it had at the start-of-term banquet. There were plenty of candies and sweet treats littered along the table.

"She's in the girl's bathroom, still crying," Sophie quietly answered. "I tried to get her to come to the feat because I hoped it would brighten her up, but she didn't want to come. I even offered to stay but she just wanted to be alone." Josh nodded, turning and seeing a shameful Ron who overheard her eating sweets and staring down. It seemed as if he was ignoring his guilt with his sweets. "Don't worry, I'll pack up some of this, grab her from the bathroom, and we'll have our own little feast in the dorm. Just the two of us - "

The Great Hall doors burst open loudly. Everyone turned to stare as Quirrell ran in sweaty and disheveled. "Troll, in the dungeon! Troll! In the dungeon!" He screamed. "Thought you ought to know," he finished then fell to the ground as if he fainted. Most of the students starting screaming their heads off. Josh felt Sophie grab his wrist.

"Silence!" Dumbledore ordered as loudly as he could, and the students quieted. "Prefects, lead your houses back to their dormitories immediately! Teachers, we shall head down to the dorms! Go!"

All the prefects shouted at once as the Professors began to leave towards the dungeons.

Percy Weasley was in his element, puffing out his chest. "Follow me! Stick together, first years! No need to fear the troll if you follow my orders! Stay close behind me, now. Make way, first years coming through! Excuse me, I'm a prefect!" He shouted as he led the students out of the Great Hall.

"How could a troll get in?" Harry asked as they climbed the stairs. Ron, Josh, and Sophie were climbing behind him, Sophie was still holding onto Josh who barely noticed. She was very frightened at the moment.

"Don't ask me," Ron said. "Trolls are really stupid."

"Maybe Peeves let it in for a Halloween joke," Josh said, looking down at Sophie who had just tugged on his arm. "Sophie, what is it?" She tried to speak. "What's wrong with you?"

"She's terrified of Trolls," Neville said, next to them. "It's what she afraid of the most."

Sophie nodded and then murmured out one word, "Hermione."

Josh suddenly went wide-eyed and stopped, grabbing onto Harry who turned to questioningly looked back at him. "Hermione's in the bathroom still!" he informed Harry whose eyes widened.

"We have to go get her!" Harry declared. Josh nodded.

"Let's go," He said, and then turned to Sophie, grabbing her hand. "We'll go get her and bring her back, okay?" Sophie nodded and then clung to Neville. "Look after her," Josh told Neville who nodded.

Josh and Harry gave each other nod and began making their way back down the stairs, through the crowds of Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs. Ron turned to see his friends had left, inhaling heavily and then followed after them.

Harry and Josh were able to slip away to a different corridor then made their way to the girls' toilets. They turned the corner, and heard hurried footsteps. Josh and Harry hid into an alcove, hoping it wasn't a prefect. It wasn't. Instead, it was Snape hurrying along the corridor.

"Wonder where he's off to in a hurry that's not towards the Dungeons?" Harry wondered. Josh was wondering the same. Once the professor was out of sight, the two Gryffindors continued on their way behind Snape.

"Look, he's heading to the third floor," Josh noticed.

Harry nodded but something foul smelling interrupted their smelling sense. "Oh merlin," Harry whispered, as he and Josh covered their noses. "What is that smell? It's horrible!"

Suddenly, the two heard a grunt and loud footfalls coming from a corridor. Harry and Josh were stunned to see the troll appear out of nowhere. The troll was about fifteen feet tall, with dark green skin and a dumb look. It was holding a club that it was dragging around. "It seems the troll's left the dungeon," Josh spoke.

"And he's heading into the girl's bathroom," Harry whispered fiercely. "We have to save Hermione!" Josh nodded in agreement.

The two boys moved closer to the bathroom when they suddenly heard a scream. "Hermione!" The two boys yelled in unison as they ran into the girl's bathroom. Once inside, the two boys saw that the place was a mess and that Hermione was cowering in a corner with the Troll hovering over her.

"Come on, we have to confuse it or something," Josh said. Harry nodded and the two boys ran up towards the piles of wood and started throwing some at the Troll. This seemed not to faze the troll at all.

"This isn't working," Harry growled, "What do we do?"

Josh pulled out his wand and thrust it forward. "Locomortis!" He shouted. The curse soared toward the Troll's legs for it to only bounce of and fly towards Harry, locking his legs causing him to fall over. "Sorry Harry!" Josh quickly ran over to Harry to undo the spell, not noticing that the curse had gained the attention of the troll. It was making it's way over to Josh and raised its club.

Harry noticed this. "Look out," he shouted and tackled Josh to the ground.

"Thanks," Josh thanked as the two turned to see the Troll turning back on them. It growled stepping forward. "Now what?" Josh asked.

"Oi! Pea brain!" A small piece of stone struck the side of the head of the troll. He turned to see Ron standing at the entrance of the bathroom, tossing up a rock.

"Ron!" Harry, Josh, and Hermione shouted in surprised unison.

"You there!" Ron shouted, throwing another stone at the head of the troll. "Get away from my friends!" He declared and then pulled out his wand, thinking about the last charm he knew. The troll turned it's full attention towards Ron who glanced at Hermione. She did the swish and flick motion. Ron nodded, turning towards the troll who raised its club. "Wingardium Leviosa!" he said in a loud and clear voice. The troll's club was pulled out of its hand and hovered high over the troll's head. The troll was suddenly confused looking up at its hovering club. Ron smirked and let go of the spell, and the club fell and clonked the troll on top of its head. The troll staggered moaning and groaning until it finally fell to the ground. Unconscious.

Everyone stood up and gathered around the troll.

"Is it dead?" Hermione asked.

"I don't think so," Harry answered, examining the troll. "Just knocked out." It suddenly let out a growled, causing the quad to jump in fright, but it stayed down.

They jumped once more when the doors slammed open and the sound of shuffling and running footsteps were heard. The four Gryffindors turned to see McGonagall, Snape, and Quirrell enter the bathroom. McGonagall looked at the three boys. They had never seen her so angry."Explain yourselves, immediately." she commanded.

The three boys gulped and started sputtering all at once.

"It was my fault Professor McGonagall," Hermione spoke up. McGonagall turned to her with a shocked look.

"You? Ms. Granger?"

"I went to look for the troll. I read about them and thought i could handle them," Hermione lied. "If Harry, Josh, and Ron hadn't found me, I'd probably be dead." The three boys turned to looked at Hermione in shock. Was Hermione Granger telling a outright lie to a teacher? The boys immediately wiped the shocked looks off their faces.

"Well, in that case," McGonagall started. "Ms. Granger you foolish girl. How could you think you could take on a troll?" Hermione bowed her head. The three Gryffindor boys were speechless."Five points will be taken away from you, Ms Granger. Now you should head to your dorm where the feast is being finished." Hermione nodded and left the bathroom. McGonagall turned to Harry, Josh, and Ron. "Well i still say you were lucky. But not many first years could take on a fully grown mountain troll and live to tell the tale."

"Well, the trick was team work, professor," Josh said a little sarcastically but shut his mouth when McGonagall was giving him a stern look.

"You each win Gryffindor 10 points, for sheer dumb luck," McGonagall said. "Professor Dumbledore will be informed of this. You may go."

The three boys hurried out the bathroom, but not before Harry and Josh noticed Snape's bleeding leg.

The trio of boys didn't speak until they were two floors up. "We've should've gotten more then 30 points, maybe at least 50 each, i mean we practically saved the whole school," Ron grumbled, but was smiling nonetheless.

Josh rolled his eyes. "Who cares about points. At least we're still alive." He said. Harry nodded in agreement. "I had no idea trolls were impervious to magic. I guess brute force was the way to go. Good job there mate," he praised to Ron.

Ron shrugged yet smirked. "Just paying homage to Gryffindor house and all, being brave," he said.

"Well, you did a great job saving not just us, but Hermione as well," Harry said, patting his best mate on the back.

Ron smiled. "Good offer for her to get us out of trouble like that," He commented, speaking about Hermione. "Mind you, we did safe her life."

"Maybe she didn't need saving have you insulted her in front of everyone," Harry replied. Josh gave a nod while Ron looked away with guilt on his face.

"Maybe I was a bit harsh," He said, rubbing the back of his neck.

Moments later, Harry, Ron, and Josh entered the Gryffindor common room where it was revealed that the remaining feast was being held. The whole room was abuzz. Sophie appeared out of nowhere to hug in turn, Ron, Harry, and then Josh, hugging him a bit longer than the others.

"Thank you," she thanked as Hermione shyly walked over.

"Don't thank me," Josh replied, nodding over to Ron. "He did all the hero work." Ron smiled and waved.

"Thank you, Ron," Sophie said.

"Yeah," Hermione spoke up. "Thank you, Ronald, for saving my life."

Ron gave a sheepish smile. "I wouldn't have had to if I didn't upset you," he said to her. "I'm sorry, Hermione." He apologized. "I shouldn't have said what I said. I was frustrated that I couldn't do what you did in class."

"But you did, Ron," Hermione said. "You did it in the face of danger and I couldn't think straight for a moment. Not to mention you just barged in without a second thought."

Ron shrugged. "Well a friend was in need of saving," he starting as Hermione looked up at him, her facing lighting up. "I was happy to help out. I'm sorry again."

Hermione smiled. "Apology accepted," she said, holding out a tasty treat. Ron accepted it and stuffed it into his mouth, letting out a pleasure hum. Sophie also had a treat and held it out for Josh, looking at him shyly. Josh smiled and accepted the treat.

"Don't I get a treat?" Harry asked looking in between his friends who were given treats.

A/N: A lot going on in this. We see why Daphne is the way she is. But we all know they'll eventually get through to her. And we see a bit of a different Ron. I think I'll go a different way with him, yet still prejudice towards Slytherins, for now. He might change his mind a bit earlier.