Chapter 3

Strange Rooms and Recollections

The next few days flew by as Harry scanned the library for the books on Hermione's list; she had listed three where most of the answers to the homework could be found. In a post script Hermione had hinted at recreational books he might in enjoy, since he could only bring home five.

He had spent almost ten months in the magical world and he still didn't know anything about his family save what he saw in the mirror. Harry asked Madam Pince if there were any books on wizarding families, she pointed out the genealogical books in the History section. Harry also asked her about esoteric magic, after giving him a hard glare she informed him that most of those were in the restricted section and he would need special permission for that. Harry assured her he was not looking for dark arts books but for a spell that would call up memories; she pointed out a rather large tome entitled Ancient Magical Artifacts, Enchantments, and Spells to Ensnare the Memory.

Ron, who had been eager to have Harry back in the dorms, had grown sullen as time went on and Harry had yet to tell them what happened in the last room. Harry had come down to the common room to retrieve a book when he overheard a conversation between his friends.

"He's just being a prat; he knows we all want to hear what happened," Ron was saying from a chair in front of the fireplace.

"Just give him a break; you heard Professor Dumbledore let him be," Hermione argued back from an adjacent chair, with her head buried in a large tome.

"Well we all know Quirrell is dead, I want to know how he did it."

"Don't you dare ask him, You-know-who killed him, the headmaster said so himself."

"Bullocks, Harry did it I'm sure of it, and I mean to find out how."

"Please Ron; let it be. I'm sure if you just let it alone he will tell us, he just needs to time to accept what happened is all." Hermione argued back, finally raising her head from the book.

Not really interested in hearing another row between the two, Harry stole around to the opposite side of the room, picking up his book before heading out the portrait.

Harry wondered along the corridors getting as much space between him and the dorms.

Walking past a tapestry of dancing troll, he closed his eyes and wished desperately for a place to hide till the feast. Opening his eyes Harry found a classroom door slightly ajar on the opposite wall so he crossed over and peered in. Desks were scattered about the room some held parchment and ink others held various books, like the owners had to leave suddenly; seeing no one around Harry closed the door behind him and fell into the closest chair.

He had no idea what had gotten into Ron; Harry recalled the first of his adventures: Which also started with Ron arguing with Hermione.

Ron had been making fun of Hermione as he walked out of a Charms lesson, punctuating her lack of friends. Harry had seen tears in her eyes as she fled away down the corridor. It wasn't until later at the Halloween Feast, when two of Harry's year mates said they had seen her in the second floor loo crying, that he decided to help her.

Approaching the door to the loo Harry stopped as the ghost of a girl floated out of the door. "Hello. Is there a girl in there crying?"

"Oh yes, bawling her eyes out that one, I can't even hear my own moaning over that." The ghost replied grumpily.

"Well is anyone else in there?"

"No, why? Do you want to go in there? It's a girl's you know?"

"Yeah, but she's been in there an awfully long time, I was getting worried about her. I'm Harry, Harry Potter, by the way."

"I know that silly; everyone knows Harry Potter. I'm Myrtle, you can go in I don't mind sharing with you." She said smiling and winking at Harry.

"Thank you Myrtle." Harry replied as the ghost floated back through the door.

"Hermione, you in there? Come out your missing the feast." Harry pleaded just outside of the door.

"Go away." Hermione sobbed. Harry looked round the hallway and after seeing no one, eased the door open and slipped inside. Hermione sat on the floor in front of a sink, her eyes red rimmed and puffy from crying and a tissue pressed against her runny nose. Harry eased down beside her asking "Come on what's the matter?"

"What's the matter?" She stated with a hollow laugh, her eyes narrowing, "I'll tell you what the matter is. Six years of primary, everyone laughing and pointing 'look at the know-it-all' 'what's the matter bookworm not found any friends'. 'Haven't found a book on friends yet'," she continued on in a mocking sing song voice, "getting taunted 'loner, loner' and 'teachers pet you'll never get a friend'. Of course than something would explode and they would be too scared to come near me, even to taunt. We had to move four times after I started school my parents didn't know what to do; they had taken me to specialist for years before Professor McGonagall showed up."

Fresh tears made their way down Hermione's cheek as she recalled the childish taunts. Harry for his part wasn't sure what to do so he just waited for Hermione to continue.

"When the professor showed up she explained that the explosions were manifestations of magic and they would go away once I learned to control it. She explained there was a whole world of people just like me, I could learn all about magic and make friends." Hermione said the last with a bitter laugh.

"I should have known better than to get my hopes up, this place is just like the muggle world, I'm just so sick of it. I'm leaving, I read that some people still take on apprentices, tomorrow morning I'll talk to the professor for more information and then I'm leaving."

She had stopped crying as a new determination set in, a fire kindled behind her eyes. Harry hesitantly put a hand on her shoulder before speaking, starting off slowly and softly as his heart urged him on.

"On the train you were so bossy…" Hermione's necked cracked as her head whipped around, but he continued before she could interrupt.

"I was so intimidated; you said you had the course books memorized and knew all about me. I barely knew my story at all let alone that I was in books. Of course I had looked thru my books but I didn't understand most of it!"

Harry took a breath unsure if he should or could go on, she had told him her secret and he felt like he owed it to her to share a little about his life as well.

"For the past ten years after my parents died I've lived with my aunt and uncle; they don't like me much, I have spent the subsequent years with them trying to beat the magic out of me. Dudley, my cousin, used to beat me up all the time until I got to fast for him to catch. After that he would pick on anyone that tried to talk to me, it made for a pretty lonely time. I would try to hide in the library at recess but the teachers thought that I was up to no good and toss me out if I was caught; the Dursleys made sure everyone thought I was a delinquent. It did help me get pretty good at sneaking though."

Harry said, mischievousness dancing in his eyes, a small smirk forming on his lips.

"I thought when Hagrid told me I was a wizard that I wouldn't be a freak any more, and since Dudley was off to Smeltings I might have a chance to make a friend too. Of course that was before I got here, everyone is pointing, staring, and whispering about me; Ron and Neville just stare at me in awe asking what you-know-who looked like. Dean and Seamus aren't nearly as bad but they talk about football and movies, stuff I wasn't allowed to do or see. So I can't really talk to them without going into the Dursley's treatment."

Harry was feeling a little braver now that the worst was out in the open and chanced a look at Hermione before continuing.

"I get singled out by Snape and then made the butt of jokes by the Slytherins, so I've taken to hiding again, taking a leaf out of your book trying to memorize the course books. But no matter what questions I answer from Snape I still lose points and get detentions. But I can't quit the only thing out there waiting for me is the Dursleys and I never want to go back there; I'm stuck. I know I haven't been there for you or even realized the problems you are facing, but now that I know I wish that you would reconsider staying. Why don't we give each other a second chance at becoming friends, I think we really are quite similar."

Somewhere in the middle of his confession Hermione had slid closer and was now hugging Harry with fresh tears flowing down her cheeks. She hiccupped and sniffled before telling Harry "Oh my goodness here I am carrying on, but at least mum and dad have always been there for me. Of course we can…" Hermione trailed off.

Harry looked up and saw all the color drain from her face; he slowly turned toward the door dreading to find a sallow faced potions professor sneering down at him. Harry was almost relieved to find a 3 metre giant staring down at him confusedly; a large club at its side. It was now that two things happened simultaneously, a high pitch scream from his right and a gut wrenching stench from his left. The scream must have cleared the confusion from the giant, with a grunt he lifted his club and smashed the nearest stall. Hermione was frozen in terror seemingly not breathing as she continued to scream even as Harry pulled her away from the incoming club and under a sink. Harry glanced around the bathroom thinking furiously 'Myrtle, Myrtle where are you?' With a splash a ghost head appeared from a toilet.

"What are you doing to cause such a rack…" Myrtle started moaning before screaming as the toilet she had been hiding in exploded under the force of the club.

"Myrtle for God's sake you're a ghost it can't hurt you, go get the professors quick, Hermione won't move and I can't leave her." Harry panted out while dodging blows of the club. As Myrtle disappeared thru the wall Harry ducked under the club as the giant smashed another stall divider. The giant was lifting his club for another swing as Harry darted between its legs; picking up a broken pipe he yelled out to get its attention.

"Oi, stink boy over here!" Harry hurled the pipe at the beast's head than picked up a bit of broken sink tossing it as well, shouting "Oi over here!"

While it may not have understood what Harry was saying when the pipe and then porcelain knocked against its ear it grunted before turning and lumbering towards him. Harry didn't know any spells he could use against the beast so instead he tried to avoid the massive club as he waved his hands and yelled to keep its attention on him rather than Hermione. He didn't know how long he danced about just out of reach of the club but he was tiring quickly and there were no professors in sight. Just as Harry was running out of options there was a crash from the other side of the room. Hermione had finally stopped screaming; while trying to make her way to the door she tripped over some debris landing nosily on the floor. The giant wheeled about at the noise and seeing her lying on the floor went for the easier target. Harry would later laugh about the sheer stupidity of what he did next, while Hermione would claim it was the bravest dumb move she had ever seen.

With a war cry Harry leapt upon the giant, gaining purchase on its hips he used the beast's leather vest to climb on its back; rearing back his fist he started punching the thing's ears. Three solid hits were all Harry managed before it grabbed him round the middle and pitched him at the wall. As he slumped to floor Harry saw a flash of white light before darkness overwhelmed him.

A soft bed was under him when Harry awoke, slowly he looked around to get his bearings; the stone walls were white and lined with beds a heavy antiseptic smell hung in the air of what Harry assumed was the infirmary. Sunlight was just starting to pour in the window as the memory of the beast and Hermione came back to him. He tried to jump out of bed shouting 'Hermione', but only managed to grunt in pain as he fell out of bed landing with and 'oomph' on the floor.

Someone must have heard him, for footsteps rushed towards him and he heard someone cluck their tongue.

"Seven broken ribs, bruised your tailbone, concussion, multiple contusions and lacerations, and eight broken knuckles; and still you try to get out of bed." The woman said accenting each problem while swishing her wand and floating Harry back to bed.

"Honestly, term has just begun already Mountain Trolls are loose in the school. And you Mr. Potter, a 1st year, wanting to wrestle with it." She clucked her tongue once again.

"Pardon me Madam, what about my friend Hermione Granger, is she alright? I am in the infirmary aren't I? Who are you?" Harry asked in one breath more like a stream of consciousness.

"I am Madam Pomfrey and you Mr. Potter, are indeed in my ward. As to Ms. Granger she is probably in her dorm asleep as should you if you had not chosen to go wrestling with a full grown Mountain Troll." She finished in a huff with a pointed look at Harry waiting for an explanation.

Harry's eyes however were focused on the ceiling as he replied, "Troll, that's what it was; I thought it was a giant." Harry turned his eyes back to madam Pomfrey before continuing. "I didn't intend to wrestle it, but I couldn't let it get Hermione it would have killed her."

"Indeed Mr. Potter, it may well have." Dumbledore said as he walked into the room, "Could you give us a moment Poppy; I would like to talk with Mr. Potter."

"Of course Headmaster, but please don't excite him nor allow him to get up, I had to regrow his ribcage last night and he has already disturbed them once this morning."

Madam Pomfrey replied sending a sharp glare at the headmaster and then one to Harry for good measure, before retreating to her office. Once she was gone Dumbledore turned back to Harry a concerned look on his face as he spoke.

"Tell me, how do you feel my dear boy?"

"I'm fine, but sir, is Hermione truly unhurt?"

"Yes, thanks to your quick action. I assure you she is unharmed we had to give her a calming draught and we sent her to bed."

"But sir didn't you check on her? She was so scared, and I wasn't sure what to do, we haven't learned any spells for giants, or well giant Trolls."

"I had Professor McGonagall lead her to her dorm to avoid questions and I believe she is even now being collected so that Madam Pomfrey can look her over."

"Thank you sir for taking care of her, I was really worried, when I saw the giant err… Troll I wasn't sure I could keep her safe." Harry stammered.

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled at the earnestness in Harry's voice before setting a hand on his shoulder. "My boy, it was you who we were most concerned with." He continued on as Harry's eyes dropped to the bed sheet.

"Poppy spent several hours mending your bones and knitting you back together. But before we get into that tell me, why were you not in your dorms?"

Harry cast his eyes about the room to avoid the headmasters penetrating eyes twisting the sheet in his hands only to stop as pain seared his knuckles.

"I went to see Hermione, she was missing the feast, one of the girls in my year heard she was on the 2nd floor. I heard her…well heard her behind a door so I knocked. We were talking a bit, we're both from the muggle world you see, about school and such when the beast came in. Hermione got scared so I tried to distract it but it heard her and when it started after her I sort of jumped on it. I think I managed to hit once before it threw me off, I must have hit the wall because I saw a flash of light and then I was waking up here."

"Well that is quite the tale, but I believe you have left some things out."

Harry's head jerked up in fear, looking into the calm blue eyes wondering the trouble he was in for being caught out.

"Naught to fear young man, all is well. Mr. Weasley will spend an evening with Mr. Filch, our caretaker, for conduct unbecoming of a student. As far as you," the piercing eyes held Harry's gaze for a moment before he continued. "Your warning through Myrtle allowed the staff and I to find and subdue the Troll before much damage was done, and I award you 15 points. For the defense of another student at the expense of yourself I award you 50 points and a Special Services Award, there is no amount of points or awards to equal a human life; for each life is precious Harry, even yours. Your life holds great value, remember that Harry, not because of some great deed of action or some lofty title but for the sole reason of being."

As Dumbledore finished his impassioned speech the doors to the ward opened to reveal Professor McGonagall and a red-eyed somber Hermione. Hermione kept her eyes downcast as she was led unresistingly to the next bed over paying little heed to her surroundings until a hesitant hand touched hers and a small voice spoke out.

"Hermione, are you hurt?" No matter the reassurances of the headmaster he needed to hear it from her, he had failed to protect her, if the professors had been any longer than surely she would have died. At his touch Hermione's head popped up, upon hearing his hesitant words fresh tears welled in her eyes and she threw her arms around him crying harder. Despite the pain in his hands and side Harry pulled her up beside him issuing a stream of platitudes.

"I'm sorry if I got you hurt," he whispered, "I just didn't know any spells. I promise I'll work harder, maybe we could look up some spells in the library when you get better."

Hermione pulled back, looking into his eyes, and hiccupped before she spoke. "You silly boy, I'm not hurt, you are." Drying her eyes with a conjured tissue, thanks to Dumbledore she continued. "You saved my life, you jumped on a fully grown Mountain Troll and tried boxing it round the ears, don't you know. I froze; I was so scared I couldn't do anything. You have nothing to apologize for, and if ever you need help with anything you've but to ask."

Suddenly, as if just remembering they weren't alone, they both flushed red and Hermione eased back to her own bed. McGonagall's lips had thinned but hers and the headmaster's eyes were bright with mirth before Dumbledore cleared his throat.

"Well now that that's taken care of, and are quite certain you're alright Ms. Granger, than you are both excused from classes today. Please do take the time to relax and try to enjoy the day. Mr. Potter if you are truly interested there is a lovely book entitled 'Tussles With Trolls', tell Madam Pince I recommended it, I am quite sure she would be happy to assist you with that and any other book you might desire."

Dumbledore gave each student a smile and wave before turning to Professor McGonagall. "Come along Minerva I will escort you, if you please, to breakfast. Good day children."

With a sweeping bow he took McGonagall's arm leading her out of the ward, small snickers following them down the hall. Madam Pomfrey than made her way over checking first Hermione, at Harry's insistence, than Harry before going back to her office.

"Oh Harry, I was ever so worried when you hit the wall…" Harry interrupted before she could begin crying again.

"It's alright," he started raising both arms and moving about. "I am good as new, better even; Madam Pomfrey gave me new ribs!"

Far from the reassurances he intended; Hermione was horrified at the extent of his injuries. Covering a gasp with one hand, she reached out to Harry with the other.

"Did you know they could grow bones, no wonder Dumbledore is so old, when something goes bad they can just chuck in the bin and grow new!"

Hermione had never seen Harry so animated before, and his enthusiasm was contagious. "I really haven't had the time to look up healing spells, what with classes and homework research. Maybe we could ask Madam Pomfrey what book she would recommend."

The two settled into their beds talking until Madam Pomfrey brought out breakfast and another potion for Harry. Before she could leave Harry spoke up once more.

"Thank you, not just for the breakfast but for healing me too."

"That is my job Mr. Potter, but you are still very welcome. You should be able to go back to your dorms this evening as long as you take it easy today," she finished with a smile.

"Oh, ok. Madam Pomfrey… where did you learn those spells and potions to heal me; here at Hogwarts?"

She eyed the children speculatively before replying, "Some I did in NEWTs most though were taught during healer training at St. Mungo's."

"What is St. Mungo's?" Hermione asked, "Is it a Uni?"

"No, at least I don't think so; it's a Hospital or rather the Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries."

"Are there books in the library with those spells?"

"There are a few that deal with common ailments in the main area, while most of the spells that I used on Mr. Potter are in the Restricted Section."

"Are they dark spells?" Harry asked uneasily.

"Of course not dear, the restricted section is not just for the Dark Arts, it holds material not suitable for the younger children. Some of the magic requires more control than you have available right now, if you were to use it without the proper guidance you might injure yourself or those around you. By the time you are in your 6th year you will have access to most of the restricted section."

Madam Pomfrey wrote the name of two books she thought would be most helpful for future healers, than cleared away the trays and phials before reentering her office. Hermione stayed in the ward with Harry until dinner after which they were shooed from the ward with a warning to avoid Trolls in the future.

That had been the beginning of his and Hermione's friendship; Ron's had come in later after having apologized for his behavior. Hermione, Harry thought, had been leery of Ron but by Christmas had accepted him. Harry didn't want to be bothered with Ron at the moment, after all when a mad dark lord was after your life it seemed to put things in a different perspective. Ron was still worried about what others were thinking not about whether or not he would be killed.

Now that Harry knew a portion of the prophecy he wondered if maybe Dumbledore was right in waiting to tell him; he had no idea how to not think about it.

Shaking his head to clear unwanted thoughts he opened the book and scanned the table of contents. There were five chapters dedicated to the Mirror of Erised, several chapters on a bowl shaped object called a Pensieve, and one chapter on memoriters, a wispy white strand of varied lengths that contain memorie[s] to be used in a Pensieve. There was however nothing that explained what Dumbledore had done. Harry turned to the back of the book as Hermione had suggested and found nothing; he supposed that Hogwarts: A History could just be unique.

Slamming the book shut in frustration, he wished he had the book that contained the spell Dumbledore used to bring up his memories. A small faded red book landed on his hands, Harry jerked his head round to see who had found him, there was no one there and the door was still locked from the inside, he stared down at the book, Legilimency: a guide to the mind.

Turning to the first page Harry read: Legilimency is the art of extracting emotions and memories from another person's mind. Those who have mastered legilimency are able, under certain circumstances, to delve into the minds of others and to interpret their findings correctly.

After reading through the introduction Harry stood up with a start, the book was exactly what he was looking for. Uneasy, Harry began walking the room listening intently for anything out of place before heading for the door. Harry stepped out into the corridor, letting the door shut behind him while he scanned for anyone close by. Seeing nothing he turned around and gasped, the door was gone and so was the book he had been holding.

A/N- I dont know if this chapter feels right, I might have to come back and edit it. I had to rewrite the Troll incident in order to get the characters where I need them without making later scenes to OOC or random. Of course with this change other chapters have to change a bit as well so the next update might take a bit. Cheers