Harry Potter for real hadn't expected Ron Weasley to suddenly decided that Hermione Granger had reached Friend Status. Nope. That had not been in his frame of reference. In fact, it felt so odd that he was half tempted to see if someone (possibly a brother) had decided to substitute for the redheaded fool.
Harry certainly wouldn't have gone so far out on a limb to talk with Hermione Granger if he'd known. No, he'd have waited for this friendship to be established (through time if nothing else), and then pushed for more out of Hermione. It was always easier to ask for more than it was to start something new.
Speaking of windfalls, Harry'd had one with his relationship with the twins. He'd finally been promoted from gofer to "arranger of other gofers" - actually because the twins had come up with a prank that required the assistance of many hands and more eyes.
That was the day that Harry'd learned of house elves, little creatures with big eyes and flopsy ears. Servile things, to the point where they made his stomach ache - he could have been that way. He might, at some point, gain enough power to help these poor, indigent creatures - forced to wear pillowcases, of all things!
But that wasn't today. Today, he was taking his first step along the path to power, by gaining revenge on the most ordinary of his bullies.
He would remember: It all started with Pumpkin Juice. He smiled as she drank, her eyes instantly alighting on someone she'd only been barely acquainted with before. Let her feel what it's like to be out of control. To do things, to need to do things, that you don't want to do.
[a/n: This Harry isn't a nice and forgiving Harry, no.
Leave a review! We will get back to learning and Hermione next time - the potion project is a slow brewing plotline.]