"Harry can you please get up, I can't feel my legs," Hermione said nudging Harry
Harry opened his eyes and looked up at Hermione who was smiling at him, "Oh I'm sorry, what time is it?" he asked as he removed his head from Hermione's lap and sat up
"Its near midnight, I didn't want to wake you but I'm tired and I was losing the feeling in my legs," Hermione said as she stretched her legs, "ah much better."
"I'm sorry for crying on you, that wasn't very manly or nice for the matter," Harry said as he rubbed his eyes
"Its ok, do you feel better?" Hermione asked eyeing him
"Yea, listen I have to finish Snape's essay as well, I doubt I'll do it over the week and I really want to pick up my grades, do you think you could help me out a bit? I skimmed the books and I finished our Defense Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration and Charms books, I tried reading Potions and to tell you the truth it sounded really interesting but it was so complicated I figured I'd just ask the teacher to explain stuff for me but…well," Harry didn't need to finish the statement as Hermione already knew that Snape wasn't exactly fond of Harry and made it very apparent to everyone and Harry.
"Sure we can head up to the library tomorrow and do it together," she said with a smile, "one question though, if you've already read the DADA, Transfiguration and Charms book why aren't you doing better in those classes?"
Harry blushed at this point, "Well my aunt never liked it when I got better grades that my cousin and with the whole Boy-Who-Lived thing I really didn't want to draw attention to myself, I figured if I was just like everybody else they wouldn't be all celebrity crazed."
Hermione frowned, "Just because you don't like the attention, doesn't mean you should purposely scrub your grades and work performance, you're not helping anybody, especially yourself, by doing that. I understand that you don't want the uneeded attention but you must take yourself into account and realize that you have to do what's best for yourself and do the best you can otherwise you're only cheating yourself."
Harry thought for a moment and nodded in agreement, "Ron didn't help either, he's horrible at magic," he said more to himself
Hermione nodded in agreement, "What confuses me the most is that he's a pureblood and has multiple older brothers, a few who have already graduated, with all the schooling and books that he has, I would have thought he would have already read all the books up to fifth year at least," Hermione said, "anyways let's not talk about Ronald Weasley, he's not a very bright subject in either of our books," Harry nodded in agreement, "I was able to get the books for next year, I'm already finished with Transfiguration, so if you would like I can let you borrow it, I'm in the middle of Charms and I ordered the DADA book and it should be here soon so you can read that after I finish it. Do you already have your electives picked out for third year? I going to take Runes, A – "
"Mr. Potter and Miss Granger may I ask why you two are up at this hour?" came a stern voice causing both Harry and Hermione to jump from the couch and turn to find Mrs. McGonagall looking at them sternly
"My fault professor, I came downstairs for help on my Potions essay but I fell asleep on Hermione, she just woke me up and we were discussing classes," Harry said quickly
"I know that Mr. Potter, I have been standing here for the last ten minutes," McGonagall said, "as much as I do encourage students to discuss the lessons here at Hogwarts, I do not believe that the middle of the night is not1 the ideal time to be talking about such matters. Please return to your dormitories," McGonagall said. Harry and Hermione nodded. Harry helped Hermione pack her things and with an awkward handshake of goodnight they started to head to their dormitories
"Mr. Potter," Harry turned to McGonagall only to see that she was smirking? "I do expect you to be at par with Miss Granger from now on, I will not tolerate anything else understand?" Harry could only nod, "and another note Mr. Potter, I will be informing Flitwick and Quirrell, I will be keeping a keener eye on you so I expect better in every subject, including Potions – "
"But professor he doesn't like Harry at all, he picks on him on purpose," Hermione said as she had also stopped, she was curious after all.
McGonagall nodded more to herself than either of them, "I will speak to Professor Snape, should the treatment continue, please inform me, I will then proceed to find private instruction for the both of you," McGonagall said
"Both, Professor?" Hermione asked
"You will be as much as a target for Professor Snape's torture because of your relationship with Mr. Potter and as head of this house I cannot allow that," McGonagall said and smiled when she saw that both Harry and Hermione were blushing and beginning to protest about any relationship. They became silent when she help up her hand, "goodnight Miss Granger, Mr. Potter," and watched them, both still red faced, as they went to their dormitories
Harry awoke the next morning, giddy to get his study date with Hermione started. He was up and out of bed once again before anybody else and was halfway out the common room when he noticed Fred and George huddled in a corner. Curiosity got the better of him as he turned and headed towards them.
"Hey guys, what are you doing?" he asked peeking over their shoulders.
"Sweet – "
"Merlin's – "
"Beard – "
"You scared us there Harry," the said together
"Well we heard what a prat"
"Our brother was being"
"So we took the liberty"
"Of taking it upon ourselves"
"Of teaching him a lesson"
"Before you maimed him"
Harry nodded, "Alright but to be clear I had nothing to do with what you guys are doing, I don't want to be dragged down if this goes south."
"Oh don't worry about that"
"Harry, you see we're just going to – "
Harry held up his hands, "I don't want to know, that way I can say I had no knowledge of what you guys are going to do."
Fred and George nodded, "Smart move there Harry," they said together again
"Alright, I'm going to go down to breakfast, I'll catch you guys later," Harry said as he turned
"Hold on there, Harry"
"We have a gift of sorts"
"A peace offering so that you know we are with you"
"Even if it puts us against our brother"
Fred pulled out an old folded piece of parchment, "Here"
Harry took it and looked at it, "Uh thanks I guess?"
"Thanks he says?" Fred acted as if hurt
"After we just handed over" George continued
"Our most prized possession!" they said together
Harry looked down at the piece of paper then George and Fred before opening it to show a blank piece of paper, Harry deadpanned, "It's a blank piece of paper guys…what am I supposed to do with it?"
Fred and George adopted a sly grin on their faces, "Oh the wonders you could do" Fred said
"With that piece of paper"
"That my dear Harry"
"Is the secret to our success"
"It is a wrench, giving it to you, but like we said"
"It is a peace offering"
"We give the great"
"The awesome"
"The downright bloody brilliant"
"The giver-of-headaches-to-all-teachers"
"The Marauder's Map!" they finished overly dramatically
Harry looked at them like they had grown another head, before he showed them both sides of the paper to show they were blank, before saying very slowly as to a toddler "it's a blank piece of paper…guys as fun as this is I'm going to go down for breakfast," he said as he placed the map back into their hands
"Wait, Harry!" Fred said
"We'll show you" George said as he and Fred pulled out their wands and tapped the map together
"I solemnly swear that I'm up to no good," they said together.
Harry's eyes went wide when what seemed to be webs of ink began to appear on the pagr, spreading out on their own accord. The inks fanned to every corner of the parchment , they joined at points, crisscrossed; then words began to blossom across the top, great, curly green words that proclaimed
Messrs. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs
Purveyors of Aids to Magical Mischief-Makers
Are proud to present
The Marauder's Map
Harry looked at the paper fascinated as he say Hogwarts castle depicted in great detail on the paper, it showed the entire caste, including the different floors and Harry was surprised when he looked at the Gryffindor tower to find three dots in the common room, with their names under them.
Harry pointed to the dots, "Is that seriously us?"
Fred smiled, "Of course, watch the map closely now Harry"
Both Fred and George stood and moved away from Harry and to opposite sides of the room. Harry's eye went wide when on the map the dots named George and Fred moved away from the Harry dot and to opposite sides of the room. Harry looked at the map, then them, then back to the map before suddenly pointing to Fred, "You're Fred? I thought you were George the entire time!"
All three of them dropped to the floor laughing at Harry's joke.
Harry was enjoying his breakfast when Hermione walked into the Great Hall. Harry took note that she had pulled her hair back in a ponytail and could see that just the slightest amount of make up to her face. Nothing that was extremely noticeable but the faintest amount that showed that she wanted to look good without looking like a downright young girl trying to look good with makeup. Harry could tell that she had gotten pointers from her mother.
"Good morning Harry," Hermione said with a bright smile when she noticed him already sitting at the table with his potions book open. She placed her own book bag on the table since they were basically alone at the table except for a few 5th years and 7th years. She pulled out her potions book as well and opened it before she set up her breakfast.
"Good morning Hermione," Harry said returning the bright smile, before leaning in close, "why did you put your hair in a ponytail?"
Hermione blushed, something that she took note of that she was doing a lot of lately, "it looks better this way, it's always so bushy and a down right mess, I wish I just had wavy hair."
Harry shrugged, "I like it the way it is, but if you're looking to make it permanently wavy I'm sure there's a potion to make it that way. I think you look pretty either way."
Hermione was blushing to the roots of her hair, "Thank you Harry."
"I couldn't help but overhear that last bit of conversation but I think I can help," a soft and almost melodic voice said behind them. They turned to find two Slytherin first years standing behind them. They tensed a bit when they saw them. Out of the corner of their eyes they could see that the 7th and 5th year Gryffindors watching the two Slytherins closely.
The Slytherin girls however look innocent enough as they smiled at Hermione and gave a shy smile to Harry; their cheeks turning pink. Harry suddenly realized that it was Daphne and Tracey. Harry took note as he took in their features. Both had heart shaped faces with eloquent features; full lips, almond shaped eyes and perfect pale skin. Daphne had straight blond hair that went dark brown at the roots and ended just below her shoulders with eyes that were a mix of grey and green. Tracey had dark brown hair that cascaded in gentle waves to her mid back and eyes that were a bright and beautiful shade of hazel. All in all, these girls were probably the most beautiful girls to set foot in Hogwarts since Harry's mother and they had yet to reach their full maturity.
Hermione became a bit jealous as she looked at the two girls; they were everything she secretly wanted to be. She watched with a envious eye as she could tell that Harry found the girls attractive and could tell that the girls liked Harry.
It took her a moment to realize though that the girls were not only looking her but talking to her with hopeful eyes, "I'm sorry can you repeat that?"
Daphne smiled, "I said, my family owns a major line of magical beauty products, I would be more than happy to give you the potion, free of course…"
Hermione was surprised that the girl was willingly helping her, "Um that would be great."
Daphne's smile seemed to brighten the day, "Great, come on, we need to find a place to apply the potion and get everything else ready, we could make it a sort of girl hangout, just the three of us," she said as she extended her hand to Hermione, something that surprised all the Gryffindors that were watching.
"Oh I can't right now, Harry and I were going to go work on our potions essay," Hermione said kindly refusing
Harry jumped in quickly, he could tell that this was an opportunity for Hermione to make some more friends, "No that alright, we can work on it later, you should go Hermione," he said with a encouraging smile to Hermione, "if you need a place to do it, I'm sure me and Hermione have the perfect place to do it."
Tracey smiled, "That would be great, and if you don't mind, can me and Daphne tag along with doing the essay, we have to finish it too."
Harry smiled, "Sure meet Hermione up on the seventh floor in about ten minutes."
Once the girls had said their goodbyes and left Hermione turned to Harry, "What are you going to do during the meantime?" she was hoping to get out of this, she was worried that the Slytherin girls were up to no good.
"Oh I'll be around, besides I have to go out a practice Quidditch, I think we had practice yesterday and I missed it, though I think I just might just quit, I don't think I have the time to be playing and keep up with all my classes," Harry said thoughtfully
"But I thought you loved Quidditch" Hermione said confused
"Nah, I just like flying on my broom, besides Woods a bit off his rocker," Harry said as he and Hermione laughed.
Hermione stood next to the room of requirements; the room already ready, nervously. She wanted to believe that these girls were just trying to be her friends but her experiences with other children were countering it.
"Hermione!" Daphne and Tracey walked up to her. Daphne was holding a bag, she held it up, "everything we need is in here. Harry won't know what hit him after we're done."
Hermione took note that Daphne didn't say 'with you' but let it go as being overcautious, "Um, ok so this is the room," Hermione said as she opened the door to what seemed like a beauty salon. Daphne and Tracey looked around the room slack jawed, it had EVERYTHING.
"I can't believe Hogwarts has a salon in it!" Daphne said, "how come I haven't heard of this?"
Hermione wasn't sure if she wanted to tell them the secret the room but she also didn't want them to embarrass themselves if they ever thought o bringing someone here, "um it doesn't, this a very special room, it's not always here and it's different every time."
Tracey and Daphne gave Hermione a sideways glance before shrugging, "well we only need it for today so whatever," Tracey said before she moved over to one of the chair before indicating for Hermione and Daphne to join her in the chairs next to her, "so Hermione, tell us about yourself."
Hermione suddenly got nervous, "Um, well I'm a muggleborn and I like to read."
"And Harry," Tracey added slyly causing Hermione to blush, "don't worry we won't make fun of you, we were just wondering if you were willing to share?"
"Share?" Hermione asked confused
"Yes share," Daphne responded, "we were wondering if you were willing to share Harry, seeing as he is a lord, of more than one house on a side note, he will have more than one wife."
Hermione was shocked, this was all new to her, "wait WHAT?"
"Seeing as you are a muggleborn I guess we'll have to justify what we are saying and teach wizarding society," Daphne said
Half an hour later Hermione had reasonable reduced her temper, "So does Harry know all of this?"
"If you did not know I'm pretty sure he doesn't, besides he hasn't been raised in wizard society," Tracey said.
"earlier you said Harry was the lord of a house, more than one house on a side note…" Hermione inquired
"Ah yes, you see Harry is head of two ancient and noble houses the Potter and Black. Malfoy isn't the head of the Black only because he was born into the lesser house of Malfoy, still a noble house but not an ancient one and of much lower status. To illustrate my point I will have to point out the houses and their status in society. At the top stand the Potters, why you may ask? The House of Potter is actually a combination of houses that melded into one great house. Tracing the Potter line backwards you will find many Ancient houses, the Potters themselves, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Slytherin, Peverall, and the Blacks, of course Harry's father was not exactly the first to marry a muggleborn, but he was the first head of house to marry one. The Evans family in itself was part of the royal family in the muggle world, but that's not important in our world, what is, is the fact that Harry is the last of many of these lines. His father was able to avoid having to marry more than one woman because at the time he wasn't the last in the Potter line. After the war with Voldemort the line became extinct, Harry is the last remaining Potter, meaning he has to carry on a majority of these lines. The Black line cannot fall onto Malfoy because it would cause the house of Malfoy to become and Ancient and Noble house which is physically impossible."
"Next is the House of Black," Tracey picked it up, "now the house of Black used to be its own house but with its last head of house in Azkaban the house has now melded itself into the Potter line."
"Next is the House of Greengrass, my own house," Daphne said, "however, because of my family is not very large we are limited. I will one day become the head of my house until I bear a male child or until I die at which point a female child of mine will take my place."
"Then are the Bones and Longbottom, basically on the same level," Tracey continued, "And then we have a mess of minor houses that make up the Winzegamot including the Malfoys, they are the lowest house. They have wealth however because they are sly and cunning, stealing money from houses such as the Weasleys including their seat in the Winzegamot. In our society however they can never rise above, its how it is and always will be. Meaning that Harry is above his socially, politically and economically"
"I never thought I would be happy that wizarding society hasn't changed much since medieval times," Hermione sighed, "so basically what you're asking is if you can date Harry?"
Tracey and Daphne nodded, "Yes"
"But given everything you've just said how do I know you're not just doing it for social status and the money?" Hermione countered narrowing her eyes.
"Given that I'm from one of the ancient and noble houses, it wouldn't do anything for me really," Daphne said, "Tracey already has an older brother making her nothing other than a family member, if she were to marry Harry, she would carry on a line, most likely the Peverall, since the Houses of Hogwarts' lines have been stopped in respect to the founders, making her Lady Peverall, yes it is a major jump in status but Tracey was raised in both magical and muggle society."
"I see things the same way you do Hermione," Tracey said
"I don't know…" Hermione said. Everything they said made sense but her muggle raised thoughts were screaming that this was wrong and barbaric.
"Please Hermione," Daphne pleaded, "we really like Harry, not for his fame but because he a cute, shy and doesn't like his fame, even we can see that and it's…I don't know…perfect. He doesn't gloat."
"That's true," Hermione said; it was the same reasons she was attracted to him in the first place, he didn't gloat in his fame our use it in any way to get what he wanted, "well, I guess I'm ok with it, the only thing is you'll actually have to get Harry to like you. He doesn't open up to people and he's not into the whole Harem thing."
Daphne and Tracey smirked, "EVERY guy is into the whole harem thing Hermione, whether in magical society or magical society, and with girls and beautiful as we three are, there is no way he won't agree."
Hermione frowned, "that's true, you two are beautiful, how am I going to keep his attention?" she said more to herself than the two girls.
"I said WE THREE, honey I don't know who put in your head that you're not pretty but you are. They were probably trying to just make you feel bad for being better than them," Tracey said as she put her arm around Hermione shoulders, "but if it makes you feel better we will work on the stuff you don't like, first things first, you're hair."
Daphne then began to pull out products from her bag, "Ok so here's the hair manipulation potion," she indicated a purple potion, "I also have some skin clearing potion and some "body glow" potion which basically give your skin a beautiful soft healthy glow of perfection."
Hermione was surprised, "wow, how come everyone doesn't use this stuff."
"Because its ridiculously expensive," Tracey said, "I 'm lucky I'm her friend otherwise I wouldn't be able to use this stuff."
"The good thing about this 'stuff' as Tracey has put it, is that you really only have to take it once, which is why it's so expensive. The hair manipulation potion is one of the most expensive products because it does exactly what the name implies, allow you to manipulate your hair on a thought."
Hermione went wide eyed, "Really?"
Daphne smiled and then closed her eyes in concentration; suddenly her hair began to adopt a gentle wave before turning into large curls, "See? The only thing it can't do is change the color of your hair. But you'll never need another brush ever again, all you really have to do is run your fingers through your hair and it'll fix itself."
"How much is this stuff?" Hermione inquired
"Well…let's just say only upper class, very wealthy families can afford the potion alone," Daphne said, "the other products are also expensive as well the skin clearing one is not so much because although it completely heals all scars and makes you skin perfect, glamours will do the same thing, though you have to maintain them. The "body glow" uses many ingredients including unicorn hair and Veela hair so it's also very hard to make but its well worth the money in my opinion."
"Then why are you giving all of this to me for free?" Hermione asked
"Well we were hoping for you to be our friend," Tracey said, "we don't have many as we are already considered the Ice Queens of Hogwarts and our beauty has all the girls angry or insanely jealous of us. One thing though, if you go through this treatment, you'll most likely have to act like us because I can guarantee that girls will hate you and chase you."
Hermione looked at the products then the girls, was she willing to do this and suffer through that, was looking good that really important for her. her thoughts turned to Harry, she knew he would like it but wasn't it the opposite of everything she stood for? Changing for a boy, to look good just because it was what society wanted?
"I know what you're thinking and I thought it too before I did it," Tracey said, "am I really going to suffer through this just to look good? For a boy? For my self-satisfaction?"
"I guess when you put it that way, it seems like the wrong thing to do but look into yourself, I'm only bringing out the best of you, not changing you, these potions don't change a thing about you. They don't change your features, they don't change who you are inside. They just bring out what you were meant to be," Daphne said. She put her hand on Hermione's knee, "It won't change the reason Harry loves you, he loves the girl inside along with the girl on the outside, more so than the girl on the outside because that's who Harry is, he is a person who looks at you, not would looks at you, do you know what I mean?"
Hermione gave a wet chuckle as tears had begun to form in her eyes, "yea, I know what you mean," she then nodded, "ok let's do it."
I know its not my best chapter or work but I really wanted to include them because i like the girls
REVIEW for me please