Hogwart's Courtyard

Ron's POV

Seeker? How the heck did that happen?

Oh, don't even bother telling me teachers don't play favorites. 'Well, you broke the rules, but, since you did so skillfully, we're not only going to pardon you, we're going to reward you!'

The worst thing is how I have to pretend I'm happy for him.

"Seeker? But first years never make the team! You must be the youngest player in-"

"-a century, according to McGonagall."

Thank you, oh Harry the wise.

Not being one to dwell on misfortunes, I had already planned a new attack. I had bewitched a room to fill with a poisonous gas that would kill him when he entered.

I'm trying to drag Harry over there when my 'brothers' pop up, bragging about their positions as beaters.

Their bragging is making Harry not want to join the Quidditch team. If my attempts here fail, then Quidditch may turn out to be a blessing in disguise. What better way to kill someone then to get them a spot as the most vulnerable player, in the most dangerous sport.

"Oh go Harry! Quidditch is great! And you'll be great too!" Come on, follow me…

"But I've never even played before! What if I make a fool of myself?"

A few more steps, come on…

Hermione's POV

I detected the room Ron was luring Harry into, just in time.

"You won't make a fool of yourself. It's in your blood."

I latched onto his arm, and began yanking him off. I had just the thing to show him, that would distract him from Ron, and, hopefully, help us get along better.

Ron's POV

"I didn't know your dad was a seeker!" Great, flying would probably come naturally to him.

"I didn't know!" He said, wide eyed.

As we walked off, something the headmaster had said came to mind.

"Furthermore, know, that the third floor corridor is off limits to those of you who do not wish to die a most painful death."

Quickly, I casted a spell that would move the staircase toward that fateful corridor.

"What's happening?" Harry said, as the stairs began to move. Idiot.

Hermione sighed. "The staircases change, remember?"

Finally it came to a stop.

"Come one," Harry called.

"Yeah, before the staircase moves again."

Hermione's POV

Something didn't seem right. I felt like I was being led on.

"Does anyone feel like, we're not supposed to be here?" Harry said, tentatively.

That's it. "We're not supposed to be here! This is the third floor, it's forbidden!"

Suddenly we heard a meowing.

"It's Filch's cat!" I said.

"Run!" Harry called, taking the words out of my mouth. The last thing I needed was for him to get expelled. If only I knew why this corridor was forbidden.

Harry yanked on a door. "It's locked!" He reported.

"We're doomed!" Ron wailed, unhelpfully.

"Oh move over!" I shoved both boys out of my way. Alohomora!" I said unlocking the door. "Get in," I said, ushering the boys in.

Ron's POV

She was falling right into my trap.

"Alohomora?" I asked. It was a beginner's spell, not one I'd expect her to use.

"Standard book of spells, chapter seven," she said, explaining how it was the only unlocking spell that wouldn't raise Harry's suspicion.

"Filch probably thinks this door was locked," I said, stalling for time.

"It was locked!" She snapped.

"And for a good reason," Harry's voice floated over.

Hermione's POV

You have got to be KIDDING me! Is the whole world against me?

I glanced down at the three headed dog's feet, noting the trapdoor. So, at least there was a reason behind keeping this thing up here.

I pulled out my wand to fight it, but then noticed that the boys had made a break for the door.

Good point, no sense in fighting what can be escaped.

Back in the dormitory, Ron was fuming at his failure. He voiced his ire through shock at the dog.

I pointed out the trapdoor, to which Ron made a nasty remark.

I had had enough of him. "If you two don't mind, I'm going to bed before either of you comes up with another plan to get us killed, or worse, expelled."

It didn't really come out the way I wanted it to. My point was, I can protect Harry from Ron's attempts on his life, but if Ron kept also trying to expel Harry, then I would always need to be around.

But, as Ron made another snide comment, I realized that Harry and I were fast becoming enemies.

That night, I pondered a way for us to become closer. People always were closer after having nearly faced death together, maybe I could make that work to my advantage. Though as far as I know, Harry is totally oblivious to Ron's attempts.

He hadn't even realized the spell I put on his bed to make Ron not able to attack him there as he slept.

It was a very hard spell, so I had to put it on the one place I knew Harry would be the most vulnerable. His bed.

Charms Class

Ron's POV

Over the next few weeks, Hermione kept me occupied, so that I was unable to strike at Harry during Quidditch practices, or sabotage his broom. A Nimbus 2000. Try and tell me they don't play favorites.

One Charms Class, Hermione and I were paired together. Harry was paired off with Seamus Finnigan

I quickly cast a spell on Seamus's feather to explode when Seamus cast the levitation spell on it too many times.

I turned back to my feather 'trying' to make it fly.

Hermione rebuked my obviously weak attempts, and proceeded to show off. Well, of course I could've done it, but I'm trying to act like a normal first year, while she flaunts her powers like an Auror.

Behind us, I heard Seamus begin repeatedly try and make his feather fly.

On the fifth try, I heard the feather explode. Hermione caught my eye, an eyebrow raised. I turned to see the damage.

Of course. I hadn't stopped to think exactly how much damage an exploding feather would do. Namely, hardly any at all.

Angrily I shot a crying curse at Hermione. Petty, I know, but I couldn't help it.

Later I loudly made fun of her. I know she's trying to worm her way into his good books, and I couldn't let that happen.

"She's a nightmare, honestly! No wonder she hasn't got any friends!"

Hermione walked by, trying to rid herself of the crying curse.

"I think she heard you."

Great Hall

Ron's POV

At the Halloween feast, my wand was acting up. A side effect of a spell Hermione had shot at it, which was irritating, as she wasn't here right now, and I was wasting precious time in which to poison Harry.

"Where's Hermione?" Genius Harry asked, only just realizing her absence.

"Pavarti Patil said she's in the girls bathroom, crying," Neville, my one time, almost accomplice answered.

I was just wondering what that was all about, when there was a sudden distraction.

"TROLL! IN THE DUNGEON! TROLL IN THE DUNGEON!" The pathetic Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher wailed, running into the Great Hall. "Thought you ought to know," he whimpered, before fainting.

The Great Hall exploded with the sounds of people screaming. I played my part, until Dumbledore roared at everyone to be silent.

As we followed the prefects back to the dorms, Harry yanked me aside.

"What?" I asked.

"Hermione, she doesn't know!" He yelled. Well, fine, if you want to track down a troll, be my guest.

Girl's Bathroom

Hermione's POV

I had just been alerted that a troll had been sighted in the dungeons. Was school really supposed to be this dangerous? Really?

Anyway, Ron's cursed curse was just wearing off, and not a moment too soon, as my security sentinel spells had shown that the troll was, amazingly, headed my way.

If I was able to take it out, quickly and quietly, no one would ever know, and Harry would never be in danger.

I stepped out of a stall and stood facing the troll.

Alright, troll 101, let them vent their initial violence on something inanimate.

I ducked back into the stall, letting him smash his way through the stalls.

I then ducked under the sinks, letting him smash those as well.

I looked up to see, to my horror, that two boys had entered the bathroom.

"Help yourselves!" I yelled at them, but Ron's quick spell silenced me, so all that came out was 'Help!'

Harry began throwing wood at the troll.

Never excessively anger a troll. Take them out quickly and efficiently.

Ron began egging the troll on, yelling at it.

Harry then did something very stupid.

He jumped at the troll, leaping on its shoulders, and ramming his only weapon, his wand, up its nose.

Didn't he realize that I could easily take out the troll as soon as the silencing spell wore off?

The troll then grabbed Harry and began violently swinging his club at him.

"Do something!" Harry yelled.

Ron, looked around, with a mock look of helplessness. "What?" He called back, innocently.

"Anything!" Harry pleaded. "Hurry up!"

My voice was back, but I was in no position to help Harry. Ron was, though.

Muttering a spell, I put a momentary control on Ron, who began to levitate the troll's club above its head.

"Cool," controlled Ron said, stupidly and vacantly.

The club smashed down on its owner's head, sending the troll sprawling on the ground.

Harry jumped off just in time.

I blinked. "Is it dead?" I asked. The blow hadn't looked fatal, but I wanted to make sure.

"No, just knocked out," Harry said.

He went and yanked his wand out of the troll's nose, and wiped it on his robes.

It was just looking like we'd get out of this cleanly, when the door burst open, to reveal the teachers.

"Explain yourselves, both of you!" She ordered.

Ron began to explain how Harry had dragged him there, while Harry tried to explain his side of the story.

"It's my fault professor!" I announced. They all turned to stare at me. Great, what was I going to say?

"I-went looking for the troll. I'd read all about them and thought I could handle it." I rapidly thought of an excuse. "But I was wrong. If Harry and Ron hadn't found me… I would probably be dead."

She then proceeded to dock points for lack of judgment, and award points for taking out a troll.

Whatever.

But Harry seemed really friendly to me afterwards, and within a few days, I had managed to befriend him.