A/N: Thank you JeanAndBilius, notsing and Cc for the amazing feedback. Since it is Easter today, I figured, why not make a chapter with 3,000+ words? I was really bored during the my Easter party, so I went straight to work in finishing Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. This chapter includes the moments when the trio make an everlasting friendship, their detention with Hagrid in the forbidden forest and I added moments between Ron and Hermione after Ron got badly injured from playing on McGonagall's gigantic chess board. I even elaborated on "Ron's furry problem". So what are we waiting for? Happy readings! :D
Disclaimer: I most certainly DO NOT own Harry Potter or anyone of the characters. The one and only J.K Rowling own them, not me! Also, there are some curse words in this chapter!
*Everyone looks at Ron*
Ron: Bugger off, will ya?
Hermione: Ron, just let them read the fanfic.
Ron: Fine!
Chapter 5 ~ The Werewolf, Bookworm, and The Chosen One
"She's a nightmare, honestly. No wonder why she has no friends.."
Those words rang in Hermione's mind. Ron was right, she hadn't even made a single friend from her 3 last month's attending Hogwarts. She was at the girls loo bawling her eyes out.
"I j-just want friends.." She sobbed to herself as she exited the stall. She wiped her tears with her thumb and saw a tall gigantic troll in front of her. Hermione yelled out in fear of the ugly troll that looked ready to kill her as it rose its heavy wooden bat ready to hit her.
"GET AWAY FROM HER!" Hermione heard Ron yell out in anger as his eyes turned dark blue. Harry saw the sudden change from his best friend and stepped back a bit. The troll turned around to see Ron and Harry pointing their wands to the troll. Ron had his brows furrowed in concentration ready to beat up the troll's arse. The troll picked up Harry in its hand.
Ron's eyes widen to see his friends in danger. He started growling in as anger built up within him. He pointed his wand to the troll's bat.
"WINGARDIUM LEVIOSA!" Ron said and the bat flew over the troll as it was about to hit Harry. It landed on the troll and it fell down unconscious. Hermione ran up to Ron and hid behind him. Harry took out his wand from the troll's nose to be surprised with troll boogies. Harry wiped off the boogies on his robes.
Ron turned around to see a terrified Hermione looking up to him. Ron suddenly felt his guilt spreading around him like a wildfire. His dark blue eyes turned back into those recognizable crystal blue eyes.
"Are you alright?" Ron questioned Hermione with concern in his voice. Hermione nodded her head in response.
"You three! Explain yourselves!" Ron turned around to see Professor McGonagall and Professor Quirrell.
"You see-" Ron was then interrupted with Hermione. "It was my fault, Professor McGonagall, I was so interested in trolls that I accidently led one here. These two were just trying to save me." Hermione lied to the professors in order to save Ron and Harry from trouble.
"I'm very disappointed in you Miss Granger. 10 points from Gryffindor. However, you two get 10 points each." Professor McGonagall looked at the trio and her lips went thin. She turned her back from the trio and exited the loo with Professor Quirrell.
The trio then exited out of the bathroom.
"If you didn't keep your thoughts to yourself, we wouldn't be in this mess," Harry said to Ron.
"Well, at least that'll make up for all the horrible things I said about Hermione.." Ron responded back to Harry. Harry kept his mouth shut along the way to the Commons.
"What are friends for?" Ron looked at Hermione and she looked at him. Dark brown chocolate eyes met the werewolf's crystal blue eyes. She smiled sweetly at him and Ron's ears turned a shade of pink.
It was the second day of December and the trio was at the Commons. Hermione was reading Hogwarts: A History as she was curled up in a soft purple blanket in front of the warm fireplace, while Harry and Ron were playing wizard's chess. Classes were about to start in a moment so the three of them decided to have some free-time.
"Checkmate!" Ron called out in victory.
"How'd you beat me? My defense was looking good.." Harry questioned Ron.
"Better luck next time, mate," Ron said to Harry with a wide smile. Harry just smiled and let Ron have his little triumph. Ron then, sat next to Hermione and Harry followed him. Hermione noticed their presence and looked at them.
"Why do you always read that book?" Ron asked Hermione.
"Well, it's really fascinating. Just look that this.." Hermione responded to Ron as she flipped to the next page. Ron saw a picture of a werewolf and instantly cringed at the sight of it.
"The book here says, that once there was a student that was a werewolf and he would always go to the Shrieking Shack to transform into a werewolf. They don't know who the students were, so their name is written on here.." Ron suddenly felt a headache coming up. It was that time of the month.
"Umm, I'll be right back.." Ron quickly got his satchel and went straight to the hospital wing.
"Ah, Mister Weasley. Please sit over here." Madam Pomfrey instructed Ron to sit on the edge of a hospital bed. She quickly got a teaspoon of the green liquid and poured it into Ron's mouth. The taste made Ron almost regurgitate. The mix of bitterness and a zing of sour filled his mouth. He then heard the doors of the hospital swing open. It was Dumbledore.
"Hello, Ronald.." The man with a long silver beard said to him with a little smile.
"Hi, professor," Ron said feeling a little dizzy.
"How are you feeling?" Dumbledore questioned him.
"Awful.." Ron responded as he started to rub his stomach. Dumbledore nodded and grabbed a chair to sit in front of him.
"The pain keeps on getting worse as years and months pass by. What's happening to me, professor..?" Ron questioned him while having a sad expression on his face.
"Ah, your body is maturing and your emotions as well, which is perfectly normal. Your body is getting ready for you to transform into a werewolf. By the ages of 11-21, a werewolf may experience this pain every month, because they are ready to transform into a werewolf." He replied back.
"What does the potion even do?" The boy with flaming rain hair said to him as he started playing with the hem of his uniform.
"The potion helps reduce the pain you go through every month and it also reduces the chances of you being a werewolf. That's why the potion is very important." A moment of silence filled the hospital wing. Ron then took a deep breath.
"Why did you even accept me in this school? Can't you see that I'm gonna grow up and become a bloodthirsty monster?" Ron said as he started to become tenser. His breathing becomes more like huffing and puffing.
"I wanted you to come to the school because I know you'll make very close friends that can help you and your problem. I don't want you to feel like an outcast in your family or out there in the wizarding world. Even if are a werewolf, I still want you to experience being a wizard for once, instead of worrying about your current conflict." Ron started to breathe back to normal. He then started to rub his forehead and stood up.
"I wish I was never bitten by a werewolf.." Ron then walked away to Potions class. The headmaster stood up and cleared his throat as he went back to his office.
Ron sat down at his desk. Harry and Hermione came rushing to his side. Harry was to the right of him and Hermione was to the left of him.
"Ron, are you okay? You just rushed out of the Commons without any explanation." Harry told his best mate.
"Y-yea, I'm fine. I just want to be alone for a bit." Ron said to Harry as he forced to keep on a smile, he but failed horribly.
"Whatever it is Ron, I hope you're okay.." Ron turned around shocked to hear those words from Hermione Granger herself. She was never that nice to Ron. All Ron would remember about Hermione was that she was his friend that kept on nagging him about homework. Ron's ears turned pink and looked away from Hermione. Ron then saw Harry smiling widely.
"Shut up Harry." Ron retorted to Harry. Harry just couldn't stop smiling.
"Mister Potter, why are you smiling?" Snape said coolly appearing in front of the three of them. Harry's smile was quickly washed away from seeing the big nosed professor with greasy black hair standing in front of them.
"Well..?" Snape looked directly at Harry's eyes.
"It's n-nothing professor.." Harry lied to him. Snape briefly looked at Harry seeing through his lies.
"5 points from Gryffindor for lying to a teacher.." Snape then rushed back in front of the class.
"Bloody hell, I bet Snape was nothing but the basher in a party.." Ron whispered to Harry.
"Oh, Mister Weasley. Care to join Mister Potter for detention tomorrow?" Snape caught Ron whispering to Harry.
"No sir.," Ron replied back. Snape then pointed his wand at the chalkboard. The board had a list of ingredients on how to make the potion called, "Antidote for Common Poisons". Snape heard the sighs and groans of the students but shunned away their noises.
"This'll be taken as a grade, Your finishing product look teal colored. Understood?" The class nodded their heads in response. "You have all of the class period of complete this, but first I need to assign you your partners." Ron knew he wasn't going to be paired with Harry, that's for sure. Hermione was probably going to be the dumbest student in this class.
"Mister Potter and Mister Malfoy.." Snape said out loud. Harry's eyes narrowed and walked up to Draco and sat next to him avoiding eye contact at all times.
"Mister Finnegan and Miss Brown." Ron was shocked to see Seamus, who was (in his opinion) the dumbest student in the Gryffindor side because of all the numerous of times he blew up his potion or it blew up in his face. Lavender on the over hand was a gossip girl along with Patil.
"Miss Granger and Mister Weasley.." Ron's eyes widened open. He was going to partner up with… her? Ron sat next to Hermione. After everyone was called out they began making their potions.
"Alright Ron, we need to make the potion absolutely perfect! I- We need to get a good score or else, I- we'll get a failing grade." Hermione then got out the measurements while Ron got out all the ingredients.
"Here Hermione.." Ron gave her all the ingredients in a neat pile to Hermione's surprise.
"Wow uh, thanks, Ron.." Hermione started pouring the ingredients in with the exact measurements. While Ron read the ingredients up on the chalkboard, he stopped Snape looking at him. Ron didn't even hear Hermione calling for him. He started to growl at Snape, something was suspicious and he could smell it.
"Ron! I told you to stir it!" Ron snapped out of his trance and went to stir the solution.
'Bloody git, he's probably looking at me because he's brewing up a potion for me.." Ron scowled at the idea while stirring and looking down at the potion. "Honestly, Ron, is everything alright?" Hermione looked at Ron. "I'm fine.." Ron snapped at her in a whisper. Her eyes narrowed and felt back to put in the next ingredient. Ron could feel Snape glaring down at him smiling at his mistake.
"Potter, you fool. We're suppose to stir while putting in the ingredients." Ron heard Malfoy talking to Harry in an angry tone.
"Sorry.." Harry mumbled trying to sound apologetic to him.
"You dumbarse.." Malfoy insulted Harry. Ron suddenly gripped onto his stirring stick tightly almost breaking it. His knuckles almost turned completely white. Ron was now stirring the mix in a fast and furious past. Ron's eyes started to turn scarlet in anger.
"Time's up.. Step away from your cauldron," Snape announced to the class. He took out his clipboard. He walked up to Ron and Hermione. They poured their potion in a potions bottle. Snape observed the teal colored bottle and smelled it.
"Perfect Miss Granger, however, Mister Weasley I'll give you 7 marks because of how distracted you were today. You were looking around the room like there was no tomorrow.." Snape said coolly and went away from their table.
"That slimy git.." Ron snarled to himself. "Well, you were pretty preoccupied during the lesson.." Hermione pointed out to Ron.
After class, the trio was on their way to Charms class until they were stopped by Draco and his goons.
"Ello there Potter. I see you got the Weasel and Miss Know-it-all, eh?" Crabbe and Goyle started to laugh like idiots not knowing what the hell they're doing.
"I heard you insulting Harry during Potions class, Malfoy.." Ron said through gritted teeth.
"You're a nasty little eavesdropper, Weasel." Draco retorted back. "Watch your mouth you arsehole. Next time I hear or see you bullying Harry or Hermione I'll beat your sorry arse up!" Ron retorted back as his eyes turned dark blue. This made the three of the bullies run away in fear. Ron was now gripped into the handles of his satchel rather tightly.
He remembered that Harry and Hermione were there behind him and they witnessed the scene. They both looked shocked and worried at what they had just witness.
"Come on, let's go.," Ron mumbled to them while trying to calm down as they went to Charms.
It was December 21st, the day that marked that the full moon was going to make an appearance at night. The students planned on looking out the windows as they admired the full moon in all of its glory.
Ron however, feared the worst. He was eligible in transforming into a werewolf.
After Ron ate his breakfast, he rushed to Madam Pomfrey but heard her talking to someone.
"Minerva, I fear that he might become a werewolf tonight.." She heard the nurse say to Professor McGonagall.
"Poppy, Mister Weasley is a unique type of werewolf. As soon as Dumbledore got the letter about Molly's youngest son, Ronald, who was bitten by a werewolf, paid a visit to the Burrow. He touched the scar on him and sensed something about him. He transforms when his negative emotions get the best of him. Another way would be when there is a full moon, but that's going to be rare for him to transform under the full moon." McGonagall elaborated to Poppy.
"Ahh, very interesting.." Madam Pomfrey saying as she looked out the window to see the sun shining brightly.
"Phew, I thought I was going to transform into a nasty beast.." Minerva and Poppy turned around to see the very relieved young wolf.
"Mister Weasley, what did I say about using your hearing powers for eavesdropping?" Professor McGonagall questioned Ron in a stern tone as her lips turned thin.
"Sorry professor, I'll just leave.." Before Ron could get out of the hospital wing, he heard Madam Pomfrey reminding him something.
"Ron, don't forget to consume the purple potion. I don't want to see a wild werewolf on the loose on school grounds." Ron nodded back.
"But, Professor McGonagall said that it was rare for me to transformed under the full moon.," Ron said to her. "Please just take the potion, I don't want you to risk that chance.." With that last warning from Madam Pomfrey, Ron went back to Harry and Hermione.
"I hate this bloody punishment!" Ron, Hermione, Harry and Draco were caught outside of their dormitories past 8 at night ,and they were served detention with Hagrid from Professor McGonagall. The worst part that she had to go in the bloody Forbidden Forest. A forest full of the unknown and strange creatures. Apparently, they were searching for a unicorn's cadaver that laid in the gloomy forest.
Harry and Draco were partnered up as Ron and Hermione went along with Hagrid. "What if there're sp-spiders lurking out in the shadows?" Ron mumbled to himself.
"Man up Ron, come on, let's continue forward!" Hermione declared as they ventured out into the woods. It was near the end the month of May and Hagrid felt like the allergies were getting to him but hid his weakness to everyone but himself.
"Hagrid, do you have the potion?" Ron whispered to Hagrid. "Don't worry, I got it.." The giant showed him the potion bottle. Madam Pomfrey told Ron to only drink the potion when he is at the pain. If he's not in pain, it would cause him serious and severe health issues.
Ron cached up with Hermione as she continued on walking while looking around for the corpse.
"Isn't the moon amazing Ron?" Hermione and Ron looked up to see the half moon illuminated through the dark skies and clouds. "Y-ye.." Just by a quick glance of the moon, Ron felt like cringing. He wished that he could just look at the moon without worry like the others.
"Ah, the half moon, eh?" Hagrid followed the eyes of the children. Ron then sniffed the air and smelled Harry and Draco. He even heard them screaming in fear. He smelt their fear, especially Malfoy's. That git finally got what was coming.
"Guys I know where Har-" Before Ron could continue on, he fell on his knees in anguish. He clenched his uniform under his robes tightly, as he was gasping for air as his eyes slowly turned a darker shade of blue.
"Hagrid!" Hermione yelled out panicking. She had just witnessed her best friend falling in pain. He rushed over and poured a teaspoon of the green potion and Ron drank it. He took a deep breath remembering where he was. His eyes turned back to its crystal blue color. He looked up suddenly to see a worried and frightened Hermione.
"Hagrid, what happened to him?" Hermione asked Hagrid as she kneeled down next to Ron to make sure he was okay. "Uh, the forest can give off some horrible symptoms to people who wonder around here.." Hagrid lied to Hermione. "Uh, alright.." Hermione responded back and helped Ron to get up. Ron stood up and they ventured on forward.
'Something is wrong with Ron and I'm going to figure it out someday, someway..' Hermione said to herself. Ron turned around and they both gave each other reassuring smiles.
"Ron! Please get up!" Hermione was shaking Ron's unconscious body that laid on McGonagall's chess board. "Please, wake up Ron!" Hermione pleaded as tears rush down her cheeks to Ron's face.
Ron's eyes started to flutter open and awoke to see a crying Hermione. "Er-my-nee?" Ron mumbled. "You're alright!" Hermione hugged Ron tightly in a bone crush hug. Ron could feel his eyes turning red. "Uh Hermione, I can't breath.." Hermione pulled away from him as she blushed.
"Where's Harry?" Asked Ron. "He's at the next room facing Snape." She responded to him. "Oh, come on we have to get Dumbledore!" The duo rushed out to find the headmaster.
"Mister Weasley, Miss Granger, why are you two up so late?" They bumped into Dumbledore. "Professor, Harry, he-" Before Ron could finish Dumbledore went straight to where Harry was without any hesitation.
"Bloody hell, come on, let's go to the hospital wing." Ron and Hermione went running to Madam Pomfrey and saw that she was organizing potions and herbs.
"Madam Pomfrey.." Ron said as his voice echoed through the room. "What is-, Merlin's beard! What happened to the both of you?" Before Ron and Hermione could respond, the nurse set them to lay on the bed. Hermione's bed was next to Ron's so they could see each other.
"I'll be right back with some pain reliefs and herbs for you both.." Madam Pomfrey left the two alone. Silence filled the room as Hermione and Ron looked around the hospital wing, waiting for someone to start up a conversation.
"Ron.." Hermione said.
"Yea?"
"You were really brave enough to sacrifice yourself in order for Harry. You really are a true Gryffindor.." Hermione said softly. From hearing those words, Ron's ears turned pink and Hermione just blushed. She could not believe she had just said that but, it was all so true.
"Without you reminding me about what the weakness of the Devil Snare, Harry and I wouldn't've been able to see you alive and well. You're brave and clever." Hermione blurted our another compliment.
"Well, you're brilliant.." Ron said without even thinking what was coming out from his mouth. "Without you, Harry and I couldn't even last a day." Ron chuckled at the thought and so did Hermione. To him, seeing Hermione smile or laugh lightened his world up in a new level. Her smile was so angelic and her laugh was so harmonic to Ron's ears.
"I don't think I'd last a day without you.." Hermione said. "Why so?" Ron asked her. "Without you, I won't laugh anymore and if I don't have some fun every so often, I'll just be a grouchy know-it-all.." Ron smiled at the compliment.
"I wonder how Harry's doing.. I bet he'll beat Snape's arse." Ron said. "I hate it when you swear, swearing is so disgusting and impolite." Hermione retorted back. "Bloody hell, looks like you have to get used to it. Well, since you're my best friend.." Hermione's eyes widened up. "B-best friend?" Hermione croaked out. "Yes Hermione, you're my best friend." Ron repeated seeing her smile brightly, it looked as if she never really had a best friend before.
"Alright you two, I've got everything!" Madam Pomfrey walked up to them and gave them wrinkled up herbs. Ron ate it and it didn't really taste like anything. "Ew! It's all bitter.." He heard Hermione mumbled. "It should taste bitter because that means you still have wounds that still need to be healed." Ron forgot all about his healing factor that he had possessed. He guessed that was the good thing about being a werewolf.
"Well, you two need to get some rest. You'll be all nice and refreshed after breakfast the next day." The nurse left them around and the lights went out. The only illuminating courses were a candle slowly melting away and the moonlight.
"Goodnight Ron.." Hermione yawned out and laid facing away from Ron. "Night Hermione.." He stared up at the ceiling and quickly went to sleep. Hermione however, was having a hard time sleeping. She worried whether or not Harry was okay.
"Hermione. R-run.." She flopped around quickly as she heard Ron sleep talking. "Her-mione.. Run.." Ron then went back to snoring loudly.
'Run? Run away from what?' Hermione questioned to herself. What was she running away from? A monster? A natural disaster? Ron? Nah, why would she run away from Ron? Hermione took a last look at the sleeping Ron and drifted off to sleep.