Oh. My Goodness. You guys are amazing! I was blown away when I woke up this morning to find I had over 1,000 people reading and 20 reviews. You guys are amazing! I know you might be doing a double take at how quick this update is, but alas, I can't claim it's solely cause I'm a quick typer. I've pre-written the first three chapters! But, because y'all have been so supportive, I'm re-writing the third chapter so it can stand up to Y'all's standards!
I hope you enjoy this Chapter!
"Harry James Potter! Where on earth have you been?" came the irate, panic filled voice of Hermione Granger. A groggy Harry Potter sleepily raised an eyebrow.
"Hmm? What'd you say 'Mione?" The bushy brunet bristled and sent a withering glare his way. Sheepishly, Harry realized the precarious position he was in further angering his friend and sobered up.
"Sorry, sorry. I feel asleep in the Chamber again." he admitted. Hermione's eyes widened slightly, but her disposition softened.
"Harry, that's the third time this week. You really need to be sleeping in a bed."
"Yea I know. I actually think I'm going to move one down there..." he trailed off. Hermione's heart tugged slightly. She hated watching this happen so frequently. Ever since the middle of third year, Harry had gotten into the habit of frequenting the Chamber of Secrets when he felt stressed or angered. She made quick note of the fact that this habit was becoming more and more frequent. Harry seemed to sense her sympathizing with him and decided to change the subject.
"So what's up with you?" he asked. Snapping out of her thoughts, Hermione hefted her backpack.
"Well, I need to go to the library, but I was going to stop by the Great Hall for some breakfast. Care to join me?" Harry flashed a toothy grin.
"Why Miss Granger, I would be delighted!" he cordially replied, shoving his shoulder out for her to latch onto. Hermione raised an eyebrow slightly. Harry wasn't usually in such a jovial mood after sleeping in the chamber.
Thinking harder, Harry wasn't usually in a jovial mood at all anymore.
Still, deciding to ride the moment, she gingerly linked her arm in his. As soon as she did, Harry set off down towards the Great Hall.
Skipping.
"Harry!" Hermione cried as her friend flew through the corridors, dragging his flustered friend behind him. She giggled at his antics, but inwardly took a note.
Harry was...unusually chipper today. Hermione had never seen the boy this eager to be, dare she say it?
Outgoing?
That simply didn't fit Harry's personality. Mentally, she concluded to discover what had caused this sudden enthusiasm. But, for now, her friend was happy. If anyone deserved to be happy, it was him. Smiling and latching tighter onto her friends grip, she picked up her pace.
It wouldn't do to lose a skipping race to Harry Potter.
"Blimey Harry! This is your fourth waffle!" Neville Longbottom astoundingly declared as he sat at breakfast. Next to him, Hermione gagged.
"You look like a barbarian, Harry" she muttered, hiding her head in shame. With a mouth still full of food, Harry leveled his fork at the two. Taking a massive gulp, clearing his windpipe, he gave a mock glare.
"Oi, Etiquette police. I'm hungry, bugger off." was his curt reply before shoving his face full of yet another strip of bacon. Hermione just shook her head and opened up her planner to check her schedule while Neville gave a hearty chuckle and taking another sip of orange juice.
The Great Hall bustled with activity that morning. Though most students did go to breakfast, the arrival of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang had led to a cluster of people all fighting for first dibs on the morning's best food. Harry, Hermione, and Neville had taken up residence next to the waffles, Harry having growled at the 1st year who had previously occupied the seat, scaring the poor boy off.
"Hey Hermione," Neville interjected after swallowing another swig of OJ.
"Yes?"
"Listen I've been having a lot of trouble in transfiguration lately, and I was wondering if you might be able to tutor me a bit on last weeks lesson?" he asked nervously scratching the back of his neck. Hermione looked up from her planner with a smile.
"Why of course, Neville! I'd love too! Here let me pencil you in to my schedule – Harry please close your mouth when you chew." she finished shooting a disgusted glare at Harry. He had the decency to blush and slam his mouth shut. As Harry finally finished his fourth waffle, a disheveled Ron Weasely slummed into the seat next to Harry. Hermione gave a pointed look.
"Nice of you to join us, Ronald." she said.
"Mffhgl" was the intellectual reply. Neville chuckled and Hermione's frown deepened. She opened her mouth to retort, but a thoughtful looking Harry beat her to it.
"Ah, truly spoken like a great philosopher! Words of wisdom!" he cried, waving a slice of bacon vibrantly through the air, finishing with it pointing at Ron. Said boy was glaring at Harry, obviously unamused.
"Piss off." he muttered. "I don't know why your in such a chipper mood." Harry frowned, thinking for a moment.
"Well...I had bacon?"
Neville spat out his orange juice in a futile attempt to contain his laughter. Ron was not amused by the new moisture on his robes.
"Well I don't know why the hell you all are so bloody happy. Our lives are miserable." he announced. Neville was still wiping his mouth clean and Harry was deeply interested in his food, so Hermione chose to answer.
"And why is that?"
"There's a bloody four page potions essay due in two days, Flitwick gave us a damn charms project." he preached. Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Honestly if you would just do your homework..."
"Oh like Harry or Neville has done it either!" Ron protested, looking to the two. Neville looked away bashfully.
"I uh...I actually already finished both of them." he admitted. Ron, angered by Hermione's triumphant look turned to Harry.
"Well then Me and Harry still have to-"
"Actually Ron, I've finished those too." Harry said, not even turning back to look at his friend. The shocked look on Ron's face made Harry feel immensely awkward, so just stared more intensely at his meal.
"It's Harry and I, by the way" The black haired boy quietly noted as he shoveled more grits into his mouth.
Ron was flabbergasted, to say the least. Realizing he was alone in his poor study habits and unwilling to allow Hermione to revel in her win, Ron decided to change the subject.
"Yea well we've still got to find dates to the Yule Ball." he spat. Everyone at the table tensed.
The Yule Ball had been a very sore subject amongst the fourth year Griffendors. Since Victor Krum had asked Hermione, the lion hearted women had been snatched up like flies. Ron in particular had taken the new very hard.
"Ronald you may need a date, I already have one." Hermione replied tersely. Ron snorted.
"Yea yea Victor bloody Krum. We know. Neville, Harry and I, however, can't get asked by the convenient quidditch star." he growled turning to Neville.
"So who you thinking of asking, Longbottom?"
When all eyes turned to Neville, the slightly awkward boy blushed deeply. Hermione, her feminine instincts taking over, pounced. There blood was in the water.
"Neville! Why are you blushing? Oh goodness Neville who did you ask? You asked someone didn't you? Who?" She cried, her smile nearly splitting her face as she turned to the boy. Harry smiled, also interested, however he sent an arm across the table gently, returning Hermione to her seat.
"Breath 'Mione let the poor bloke tell his tale" he chuckled. Neville shot Harry an appreciated look, but only continued to blush deeper as he watched everyone waiting expectantly on his answer.
"Well I uh...I asked...Hannah Abbot. We've been partners in Herbology for a while and I just went out on a limb." he admitted. Harry gave a big smile and chuckled at the pun while Hermione seemed fit to burst with joy.
"Good for you, Neville!" she praised, giving her friend a bone-crushing hug, causing the poor boy to turn redder than his tie. Ron, offering his reluctant congratulations, soon returned to sulking.
"Well, that's great and all Neville, but Harry and I still have to find a decent looking date before -" Ron began but was interrupted as Harry held his hand up.
"Actually Ron, I have a date as well."
Now that stopped conversation.
Harry, having satisfied his appetite, settled for absently pushing the food around on his plate as he waited the incoming flood of questions.
"What?" was the bewildered, unanimous response.
He sighed. Should have seen that coming. Lazily looking up, he smiled slightly and gave a grin.
"Yea, I know it's kind of sudden but I got a date for the Yule Ball."
Harry took a moment to glance around at the reactions of the table. Across from him, he found Neville wearing his characteristic 'I'm truly happy for you' face. Harry couldn't help but smile at that. Neville really was trying hard to be a good friend, he'd been doing it a lot lately. Maybe it was high time Harry started making something out of this friendship.
Glancing over he found Hermione. The poor brown haired girl was beside herself with joy. Harry gave another smile. Hermione, though she had started to branch out with who she hung with, going to the Ball with Krum being a prime example, had always stayed right by his side through thick and thin.
As he thought about this, however, a nauseating sense overcame him. Here were these too, being amazing friends to him, and yet what had he done for them? He had to cross out the times they had almost gotten killed helping him; if he had his way that would never even in the first place. Regardless, there really was so much he could be doing-"
Harry's contemplation was cut short by a rough shove to his shoulder.
"What the hell man? Why the hell didn't you tell me?"
Harry turned to face a less than pleased Ron Weasely, whom, he noted, had not been very good conversation this morning.
"Well 'cause I kind of asked her last night..." he trailed off. Hermione, long since tiring of waiting patiently, took the reigns.
"Well go on then! Who is it Harry?" she pried. Harry took a deep breath and crossed his fingers.
"Daphne Greengrass."
The shock that descended on the table was palpable. Neville was the first to react.
"Daphne Greengrass? Isn't she a-"
"A snake? You asked a bloody snake?" Ron roared, standing up and thrusting an accusing finger at Harry. Hermione made to calm him, but Harry's shoulder turned so that he was squarely facing Ron.
"Yes, She's in Slytherin. Is there a problem?" he glared. Ron's hand flew wildly through the air to match his outrage.
"Is there a problem? Your damn right there's a problem! You asked a damn snake to the Yule Ball! What the hell is wrong with you? They're evil!" he cried pointing accusingly towards the Slytherin table. Glancing around the room, Harry noticed that virtually all eyes were on them, and not just Hogwarts students, The Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students were all watching the scene unfold as well.
Silently, Harry wondered why the sort of things always seemed to happen to him.
His eyes trailed over towards the Slytherin table, honing in on a familiar blond haired Slytherin girl sitting there, quietly eating her morning eggs and muffin. Looking closely, he could tell she was smiling. Blinking in confusion, he realized she wanted to see how he would handle this.
'Well', Harry thought confidently to himself. 'How's this for handling it, Greengrass?'
"They're not all evil, Ron. They're just really bad at being friendly. Sure, some are gits, but I asked a girl I'm interested in. I kind of hoped you would be happy for me." he responded, rising from his seat to meet his friend's glare head on. Ron bristled.
"How can I be happy for you when your siding with those traitors?" he screamed. Harry's eyes narrowed.
"Ron your being unreasonable!" he ground out. Ron, however, was unfazed.
"No YOUR being unreasonable Harry! You're the one who's lost their mind! I'm not going to let you side with those snakes!" he resolved. Harry frowned.
"Then leave."
Harry could have sworn he heard the whole Great Hall gasp. Had they just heard Harry Potter defend a Slytherin over his best mate?
Surely not.
Harry's expression, however, didn't waver.
"What?" Ron sputtered as the anger in his expression gave way to complete confusion.
"You heard me. Leave. If you can't accept that, just leave. I'm going with Daphne to the Yule Ball. That's how this whole situation is going to go down. If you have a problem, feel free to keep it to yourself." he finished roughly. Glancing over towards the Slytherin table, he saw one very satisfied looking Daphne Greengrass push her plate forward and leave. Taking his que, Harry too pushed her food forward and proceed to brush past a speechless Ron and exit the Great Hall.
As he left, he couldn't help but snicker at the slow clap that had been started by some of the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaws.
Hermione and Neville sat, dumbstruck at the situation. Ron was left, sputtering blindly in outrage. Slowly, noise flooded back into the Great Hall as the new buzz zoomed through the room. Hearing second years next to her begin to whisper about what just happened, Hermione blinked.
"Wait." she began turning to Neville. "He never told us how this happened!"
Immediately collecting her books and tugging at Neville's arm, the duo rushed out. Ron was left standing alone at the table. Growling to himself, he sat down and began to gorge himself on breakfast. Being angry made him hungry.
"Bloody Prat."
"Well, I have to admit. I thought you would take my advice, but this seems a little drastic, hm?"
Harry grinned.
"Ah well maybe you sparked an epiphany of sorts Greengrass. Who knows." he replied, waiving his hand dismissively in the air. Daphne smirked as Harry joined her on a stone bench in courtyard. A small smile was plastered to Daphne's face, something Harry took immense pleasure in seeing.
"Thank You, Potter." she muttered. Harry tilted his head.
"Wait what for?" he asked, bewildered. Daphne just smiled and shook her head.
"So you have dress robes?" she questioned. Harry gave a small laugh, but then turned deathly serious as he turned to her.
"Haha yeah- No. I'm not wearing those things." he grit. Daphne giggled.
"Not that I mind, but it does have to be formal. What are you going to wear?" she asked. A very sneaky grin spread on Harry's face.
"Well I'm speaking with a contact later tonight, he's gonna go and pick me up one." he said cryptically.
"Ever heard of a tuxedo?"
Daphne raised an eyebrow at that.
"A Triwizard Champion arriving in the pinnacle of male, muggle fashion? I'm sure that's gonna go over splendidly." she dryly noted. Harry just shrugged, not particularly caring.
"Well, I'll look good!" he finished with a smirk. Daphne couldn't help but laugh as she stood up.
"Oh you'd better. I won't be going with a slob. But hey, I think your friend wants to strangle you for leaving so suddenly, you better talk to her." she chuckled as she collected her books. Shooting a quick wink his way, Daphne set off for the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom.
"See ya round, Potter."
Harry sat there smiling like a fool to himself. He had gotten a pretty cool date to the Yule ball. Taking a quick peek at Daphne's retreating form, he smirked.
'Not bad looking either' he mused jovially. Looking up at the sky, The-Boy-Who-Lived smiled. It was the first real smile he had shown in a long time. This...this sudden turn of events seemed to making him happy.
He did enjoy being happy.
His daydreaming, however, was cut short as a very large, very heavy potions book was flung into his chest.
"Harry James Potter."
Uh-oh. He'd done it now.
"This morning, you were outgoing. You've been funny. You've even been reasonable. You've gotten a date to the Yule Ball and told Ron off for being a prat." Hermione said slowly, making sure to accent every point with as much venom as she could muster. Neville, finding himself incredibly intimidated by the situation, decided to leave a minimum 2 meter blast radius. Harry mentally braced himself to be berated with a lecture, only to find one never came.
Instead, he felt Hermione slam into the now vacant seat next to him and slap on his shoulder like a prepubescent girl.
"Spill, Mister." she almost squeed, her smile once again forming. Harry just chuckled to himself and began to recount the tale of his sudden demeanor shift.
As he absentmindedly indulged Hermione's and Neville's curiosity, his mind wandered onto more other , more urgent matters.
'Oh shit, I don't know how to dance.'
I know it seemed super filler guys, and I apologize, but this was absolutely necessary. Why you ask? Well we're rolling right into the Yule Ball next chapter! So worry not! I just needed to make sure you all understood how the reactions go over with Harry's friends and outline his new attitude!
Now, I'm sure you've got a few questions on your mind. Allow me to 'hopefully' answer some!
1) Harry's acting a bit odd, isn't he?
Why yes, yes he is! You ever had like a huge epiphany, and the next day you just act different? I have, and it was crazy. I was given my little come to Jesus meeting by a friend, and I literally did a 180 the next day. Harry's shift is actually fairly reasonable I think. Now, don't go thinking it'll all be sunshine and rainbows from here on out, he's still got a lot of shit he has to deal with Cough Voldemort Cough. However, as GinGin1975 said, Harry will have a "Backbone", so look forward to all that entails!
2) Is this Ron bashing? Are you a Ron hater?
Ok, let me make this perfectly clear. I really, really hate Ron as a character. I find he virtually has no redeeming quality that can't be discredited as self-centered in some way shape or form. HOWEVER, this won't be a Ron bashing story. I know what you just saw might make you think other-wise, but I try and see it how I see it. Ron and Harry's friendship only works because, throughout the series, neither of them change dramatically.
Harry just changed dramatically. There's going to be a lot of tension there for the foreseeable future, and yes, Harry did just chew Ron's ass out. However, to all you Ron fans out there, he will be worming his way back into the plot and will be a helpful character, just not on the level he was in Cannon.
3) Neville's playing a big role this chapter. Is that intended?
Yes. Yes. YES! Harry and Neville are two sides of the same coin. The-Boy-Who-Lived and The-Boy-Who-Also-Lived-But-Not-Harry-Potter have so much in common, I could not understand why they didn't have a deeper bond. I really hope to explore that friendship and all I think it should have been!
4) Daphne Greengrass is only mentioned in passing in the book. She's pretty much a blank slate. How are you going to portray her?
Ah, that, my dear friends, is something you will have to wait and see!
Now, To directly answer some of your questions!
Alonsis 2- Thank you! I agree Harry was pretty OP! What I plan on changing this time for Harry is that he might realize he's about to be in war, and thus needs to start gaining experience! Basically, I'm giving him a boost of initiative!
ShadowBasilisk- I felt like such a doofus when I read that! Thank you for pointing out such an obvious hole!
Le Diable Blanc2- Parseltoungue is awesome! I really do want to make the most of this talent! It's not even explored well in most fanfiction (Only time I've ever really seen it used is smut!) but I do plan on exploring that! It's a very, very rare talent, and obviously going to have some serious perks for those who can do it!
RZA- I do hope it continues to be interesting enough for you to comment more! I'm looking forward to it! And you're not the only person to remind me to watch how I develop Daphne, and I'm really going to try my hardest to not fall into that cliché. I've kind of got her mapped out a bit differently though so I think it'll be ok!
Mr. Skellington- I...You freaking made my day. I can't even begin to describe how flabbergasted I was when I got that monster of a review! Thank you so much! I am going to lean towards it being complementary! Also, ugh trust me, amigo. Harry won't be getting any special 'auras' or powers. He's a wizard, he doesn't need anything else!
Unseen Writer- First Reviewer! Cookie for you! And honestly, I have no idea. My plan is 50k plus words, but really it's however long it takes to finish the plot. I'm fairly certain it will go parallel to cannon for the most part all the way to the 7th book, but nothings set in stone yet!
Well that's that! As always please Read and Review! I promise you I read every single one of them! They legit make my day and inspire me to write the next update so I can get even more feedback on what y'all think!
AN- Just as a little quirk, I'm a southern boy. Y'all is a word. Writing "You all" in Ron's dialogue early in the chapter took me about twenty minutes to get over! Haha just thought I'd ask if anyone else has trouble writing in different dialects!
The Doctor is In.
-Bayou