Chapter 3 – Giggle Juice

As the group walked back to the school after detention, I ran ahead to catch up with Draco.
"Why do you always pick fights with everyone" I asked him, genuinely curious. He turned and frowned at me in confusion before putting the façade back on.
"I don't think that's your business, Badger" he snapped.
"Look, you have your entire life to be a jerk – why not just take five minutes to explain why" I snapped back, stepping ahead of him and turning to face him – walking backwards now to hold the conversation. He sighed and shrugged.
"I'm not picking fights; I tried to be nice to Potter when he arrived, and he threw it in my face. The Weasley's father makes my father's life difficult and as for Granger, she-" Draco stopped when he noticed Harry and the others had almost caught up to us. "You're five minutes are up" he grumbled. We had now reached the castle and Hagrid waved goodbye as we each headed to our dorms for bed.

I wandered through the halls the next morning heading to breakfast when I bumped into the Weasley twins; Fred and George, who were looking at something, trying to keep it hidden.
"What are you two doing" I asked, making them jump. Fred kept it hidden behind his back and looked to his twin and then to me.
"Nothing" George said quickly.
"You should head to breakfast Murph" Fred told me.
"But I'd stay away from the juice" Fred warned with a stifled laugh.
"What are you up to" Cedric Diggory asked the twins are he walked around the corner behind them. "You two are always up to something, and it usually isn't good."
"Nothing you need to worry your pretty little head about, Dig" George smiled, resting a hand on his shoulder. I looked between the twins and Cedric.
"Ok, I'm going to breakfast" I said as I turned back to the great hall. "And I'll keep your warning in mind" I smiled over my shoulder.

Breakfast was a hilarious disaster, it turned out that Fred and George had put some kind of giggle potion or something into the pumpkin juice and most of the Great Hall were in fits of laughter. Neville even wet his pants from laughing so hard, which of course made him upset. He made a run for the door, I assumed he was heading back to Gryffindor tower to get changed. I felt bad for him, he was always getting picked on, and he was such a sweetheart. Draco found Neville's accident funny, as did most of the Slytherin students. I got up amidst the laughter and wandered out into the hallway to find Neville. As I wandered through the corridors to Gryffindor tower, I found Neville sobbing on the moving stairs.
"Neville" I called out making him sit up with a start. He looked in my direction and wiped his tears with his sleeve.
"Hope, what-what are you doing here" he asked, his voice still croaky from crying. I made my way to where he was sitting when the stairs finally came back in my direction and sat down beside him.
"I came to see if you were okay. I don't think Fred and George meant any harm, they're the pranksters of Hogwarts" I told him, resting my hand on his knee. He nodded and sniffled.
"I know. But I wet my pants in front of the whole school and now Malfoy will never let me live this down" he grumbled sadly. I reached around to give him a hug. Neville was surprised at first but then hugged me back tightly.
"Well I have your back. If Draco wants to mess with you then he has to go through me" I smiled. I got up and helped Neville to his feet.
"Thanks Hope, you're a great friend" Neville told me, making me smile again.
"Go get changed and I'll see you in Herbology" I said, then turned and saw Cedric leaning against the wall. "Hello Cedric" I greeted him.
"Hope" he nodded in greeting. "That's a nice thing you did there, trying to cheer him up" he smiled.
"He's my friend. He's the first person I spoke to on the train, and he was so kind to me" I explained.
"No need to explain, you just showed what makes you a Hufflepuff; unwavering loyalty. You stuck by him even though you know most of Slytherin think he's a loser. You could be bullied by association" he said, stepping closer to me, until we were conversation distance, both on the stairs. I shrugged.
"He'd do the same for me…and the Slytherin students don't scare me" I told him, making him smile.
"Hufflepuff scored a great student when we got you" Cedric smiled before leaving when the bell rang. "See you around Murphy."

The day went by quickly and it was soon time for dinner, I slowly made my way to the Great Hall and found Malfoy standing with Crabbe and Goyle, blocking Neville's path into the Hall.
"Did you need a nappy before we go inside" Draco teased Neville, who went bright red in embarrassment. I quickly made my way over to them and stepped in between Draco and Neville.
"Do you ever shut up" I asked Draco with a snarl. He curled his lip in anger and his friends stepped closer.
"Well well well, if it isn't the little 'Puff" Draco said with a huff.
"Again with being a jerk? I feel sorry for you" I told him, shaking my head. To this Draco huffed a smile.
"I don't think about you at all" he laughed, making Crabbe and Goyle laugh.
"Oh Malfoy, someday you'll go far – and I really hope you stay there" I returned before taking Neville's hand and walking him around Malfoy and his goons and into the Great Hall for dinner. Neville didn't speak until we were inside.
"Thanks Hope, you really saved me back there" he said. I let go of his hand once he was at his spot in the Gryffindor table.
"It was nothing, you don't deserve to be treated like that" I told him, then waved as I headed over to the Hufflepuff table to sit next to Susan and Hannah. It was halfway through dinner when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned to see my father, who nodded towards the hallway for me to follow. I got up and followed him outside.
"I heard you stood up for your friend" he told me, reaching to brush my jet-black hair behind my shoulder.
"Malfoy was being cruel" I told him.
"I'm proud of you Hope. You have your mother's heart" he said, making me smile. He gave me a quick hug and then headed back in the Great Hall. I tightened my ponytail and tucked the loose strands behind my ears before heading back inside and finishing my plate of food.

A/N ~ Kind of a filler chapter, I wanted to start showing her relationships with the different characters. I know Snape doesn't seem like a hugger but I think if he did have a child, he would have had at least a little bit of affection for him/her. I'm hoping to hurry up and get to the next movie because I'm halfway through the book and I have so many ideas! Hope you enjoyed this chapter.