For once, Potions was actually pleasant for Harry. Hermione was nothing but kind and helpful, and her sudden change in attitude even caught Snape's attention.

He eyeballed the two students for a moment, before picking up their flask to inspect it. He made a curt nod in satisfaction. "I see the two of you have finally set aside your differences," he commented in his trademark dull, monotonous drawl. "Merlin knows what you could have accomplished by trying to get along earlier in the term." He shook his head in disbelief, before surprising each of the children. "A point to Ravenclaw, and a point to Gryffindor." He looked at the surprised expressions on both their faces. He lifted an eyebrow. "Yes, I'm as shocked as you are. As you were," he said, waving a dismissive hand before moving on to the next desk.

After Potions was over, Daphne invited Hermione to join Harry, Neville, and herself in the library to spend their shared free period. Hermione gratefully accepted, and she couldn't stop grinning at Harry the whole time they were together.

"Erm, Harry, do you like quidditch any any chance?" Hermione asked casually.

Harry shrugged. "I'unno," he replied. "I guess that sounds sort of familiar, but I don't rightly know what it is..."

Daphne, Neville, and Hermione looked at each other before looking at Harry, as if he had grown a third eyeball.

"You're kidding," gasped Hermione incredulously. "It's only the most brilliant game ever invented... I've read several books on it, actually - it's really fascinating!"

"There's a match coming up against Slytherin in just a couple of weeks," added Daphne. "You'll see what it's all about soon enough."

"Quidditch runs in your blood, Harry," chimed in Neville. "Your father was a pretty good player in his time, if memory serves..."

Hermione's eyes widened to the size of silver dollars. "You should see the plaques and trophies with your father's name on it... James Potter was a gifted seeker, and that's a bit of an understatement... you really ought to visit the trophy room when you get a chance!"

"And you fly much, much better than any of us," Daphne squeaked. "Trust me, Harry. You'd be a natural at quidditch. Probably any position. But you'd kill it as a seeker, I think."

Harry gave them each an uneasy look. "I don't know, you guys... I've never played a single organized sport in my life. And I may be good on a broomstick, but y'know... it still sounds rather... erm, dangerous."

"That's the whole appeal of the game, Harry," giggled Hermione. "Why don't you try reading Quidditch Through the Ages? It might stir up your sense of adventure."

"I, uh," stammered Harry. "I'll think about it."

That evening at dinner, Hermione once again joined her new friends at the Gryffindor table. Ron still kept a bit of distance between himself and Daphne, but he was getting tired of the awkwardness between them, so he swallowed his pride, and mustered whatever courage he had to saunter over between Daphne and Hermione. He tapped Hermione on her shoulder.

"Uh, hey there Hermione," he said rather nervously. His brow was starting to sweat some, but it was now or never, he thought. "Look, I'm awful sorry for shouting at you like that yesterday. It was wrong of me, and you didn't deserve that. I won't do that to you again, I promise." He offered his hand to her.

"I know I haven't been the best classmate to you, but you still really, really hurt me," replied Hermione in a soft voice. The corner of her lip moved upward slightly into a faint smirk as she took his hand. "But I think I'll be able to get over it. Thank you for apologizing and admitting your wrongdoing."

"And you're not ugly," Ron added in a low voice, not much more than a whisper. "And I really feel bad for scaring you like that..."

Hermione's face brightened up immediately. "You really mean it?"

Ron nodded. "I really mean it."

Daphne even nodded in approval. "Thank you for being true to your word, Ronald." She then grinned. "I'm sure you're just as tired as I am of things being so awkward between us. Why don't you sit across from us, next to Neville?"

Ron smirked. He traipsed to the other side of the table and plopped down next to Neville.

"Much better," he breathed out. He then looked at Hermione - a look of sincerity. "I don't expect us to be... y'know, friends or anything... but I do want to be able to at least talk to you like a civilized person."

"I wholeheartedly agree," replied Hermione. "And I'm sorry I haven't been fair with you either, Weasley." She pointed her head in Daphne's direction. "You're really lucky to have someone like Daphne that truly cares about you. She's perhaps the kindest, most gifted, and most selfless person I've ever known. I might not be here if it weren't for her efforts." Daphne's cheeks flushed a bright shade of pink.

"You were worth going after," Daphne replied casually. "Especially now that we're finally getting to know the truly wonderful girl I always suspected you to be."

This time it was Hermione's cheeks that turned bright pink.

Daphne beamed at Hermione. "Your housemates will warm up to you in time, I promise. Trust me on that... I sit between two very nice boys in Potions and I'm sure once they know the real you, they'll find you as delightful as I find them."

Hermione arched an eyebrow. "Goldstein and Grimseth, right?"

Daphne flashed a hundred-watt smile. "You got it. They're really, really bright, too. And they bring a bit of cultural diversity to Hogwarts, you see. Anthony is half Jewish, and Kellen is half Norwegian. I'm sure both of them would love to get to know you better. In fact, I believe Kellen tried reaching out to you the night we got sorted, if memory serves. He's a bit shy, but he's a very sweet boy. Like yourself, he's Muggle-born. He even showed me a 'Muggle magic trick'." She giggled softly. "He's really, really cute too. He's got such dreamy eyes."

Hermione's cheeks turned crimson in shame. "And I didn't even give him the time of day. Or Anthony, for that matter."

"Would you like me to go with you back to the Ravenclaw table? Maybe get you introduced properly?" offered Daphne. "There'll always be a spot for you here at the Gryffindor table, Hermione, but you really need to start building positive relationships with your housemates. It may take some time to develop, but I'll do what I can to help get you started. Come on, there's no time like the present."

Daphne led Hermione back to the Ravenclaw table, where she spotted two young blonde boys sitting next to each other. Daphne tapped each of them on the shoulder and grinned broadly. "Hi Anthony. Hi Kellen," she said in a friendly voice.

"Oh, hello there Daphne," replied Anthony with a grin of his own. "How's it going?"

"I can't complain," replied Daphne. "I'm just looking forward to another weekend filled with studying... what about you?"

"I suppose the same," Anthony said with a smirk. He then arched an eyebrow. "So Daphne... are you friends with Granger now? What sort of black magic did she use on you?"

Daphne glared at Anthony. "Grow up, Anthony," she growled. "As a matter of fact, yes, I am friends with Hermione... but it was I that reached out to her. It didn't take me long to discover that buried inside her callous exterior was a sweet and gentle soul. Which is why I'm here - I'm hoping that perhaps you and Kellen could give her another chance. She's willing to put the past behind her; and I'm hoping you two boys can do the same."

Anthony and Kellen looked at each other for a moment; both boys then turned toward Daphne. "I don't know," sighed Anthony. "It's kind of hard to just forget about how she treated us. You're a Gryffindor - you don't have to see her in our common room or dormitory area. As for us, there is no escape until lights out."

Kellen then threw Anthony a bit of a glare. "Maybe we should give her a chance, Anthony," he said in a soft voice. "The fact that Granger's willingly befriended another student speaks volumes... maybe she really did want to try and turn over a new leaf. "

Anthony cocked his head. "I also remember how she completely ignored your attempt to befriend her just before the Start-of-Term Feast, Kel," he countered. "That's sort of hard to forget."

Kellen shrugged. "Hard to forget, but not so hard to forgive." He turned and smiled toward the two girls. "Daphne, I always knew you were talented, but I think I underestimated exactly how talented you really are... you're clearly bringing out the best in Granger, something that nobody in Ravenclaw seems capable of doing." He thrust his hand out toward Hermione and flashed a friendly smile. "Let's try this again, shall we, Hermione? You need at least one friend in your own house, and it might as well be me."

Hermione returned the radiant smile, but gently pushed Kellen's hand down. Instead, she wrapped her arms around Kellen in gratitude, which he reciprocated. "Thank you, Kellen," she said softly. "Daphne thinks very, very highly of you, for what it's worth."

Anthony cleared his throat, then tapped Hermione on the shoulder. He grinned as he extended his hand. "What's good for the goose, is good for the gander," he said with a chuckle. Again, Hermione pushed Anthony's hand down and embraced him. "Thank you for giving me a chance," Hermione said to Anthony.

"Would you like to sit with your housemates now, or would you like to rejoin us at the Gryffindor table?" asked Daphne.

"Gryffindor table, please," replied Hermione without any hesitation.

"All right," giggled Daphne. "Now, you might have a couple of acquaintances in your house, which is good, but you'll really want to have good relationships with your roommates as well. I can't imagine how everyone's been surviving these first couple of months."

"It's a bloody nightmare," sighed Hermione. "I've cried myself to sleep more than I care to remember."

Daphne nodded knowingly. "That does not surprise me. I think Mandy Brocklehurst and Renata Fairchild are a couple of your roommates, are they not?"

"They are," confirmed Hermione. "We had it easy with the boys - but you're going to really have your work cut out for you with my roommates!"

"I'm not one to back down from a challenge," giggled Daphne. "But that's for another time, I think."