September 27, 1991.
Professor Severus Snape stared silently at the Harry and Rose being, then ever so slowly, put their single essay down on the desk in front of them.
"And what, precisely, is this?" He asked quietly.
"The assignment on the interaction between the ingredients in the color changing potion, sir." The Harry half responded.
"Really, Potter?" Professor Snape asked. "And you believe it is acceptable for you to sign it with Harry and Rose Potter, do you?"
Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle shook with suppressed laughter on the other side of the room, taking glances at the Harry and Rose being who simply gazed at Professor Snape. It was four days since the full moon, and while their anger was still with them, they could control it much easier now.
"I am one being, Professor." The Harry and Rose being said. "If you like, I am capable of going against my nature and writing differently with each half of me, but it would make no difference."
"I am not as gullible as the other Professors here, Potter." Professor Snape stated coolly. "You would like us to believe that you deserve special treatment, that your status as a single being with Mrs. Potter somehow allows you to be above the rest of us. You will re due this assignment correctly, Potters. Have I made myself clear?"
"Yes, sir." The Harry half responded. "You wish us to do the assignment against our nature so that it appears two individuals wrote it."
"No, Potter." Professor Snape said furiously. "You will do the assignment as the two individuals you are."
"But Professor, I am one individual." The Harry and Rose being said.
"Rest assured, Potters, I will be discussing this matter with the Headmaster. Six points from Gryffindor." Professor Snape stated coolly, then swept to the front of the class and began his lecture.
Out of all the professors, Professor Snape was the one who didn't except them as they were. His eyes always seemed to reflect utter malice and hate toward them. They knew he hated them, loathed them. His classes were a trial for them, especially around times such as these. The Harry and Rose being remembered flying on their broom and the anger they felt toward Professor Snape was put to rest for the moment. They hoped Professor Dumbledore would help them to be excepted by Professor Snape, though ever since their incident with him during the full moon, he seemed to hate them even more.
October 31, 1991.
Halloween came quickly, despite their keeping track of when the full moon would next arrive. The homework and Quidditch practice three evenings a week kept them quite busy. When they woke that Thursday morning, they could smell baking pumpkin in the corridors and throughout the castle. Charms class was quite a treat, as they were finally going to learn how to make objects fly. The Harry and Rose being grinned at that along with the rest of the class, all of them eager to learn.
To the Harry and Rose being's disappointment, they weren't partnered with each other. The Harry half was partnered with Seamus Finnigan and the Rose half was partnered with Neville Longbottom. Ron, on the other hand, was partnered with Hermione. Neither were happy about this, and while the Harry and Rose being had made some effort to talk with Hermione, she didn't reciprocate.
"Now, don't forget that nice wrist movement we've been practicing!" Professor Flitwick said, standing on his usual pile of books. "Swish and flick, remember, swish and flick. And saying the magic words properly is very important, too, never forget Wizard Baruffio, who said V instead of f and found himself on the floor with a buffalo on his chest."
The Harry and Rose being attempted, along with Seamus and Neville, to perform the proper wrist movement and speak the spell. Quite frustrated, Seamus accidentally set fire to the feather which the Harry half put out with his hat. Calmly and concentrating, the Harry half flicked his wand and stated, "Wingardium Leviosa."
The feather lurched slightly, or perhaps that was the Harry and Rose being's imagination. At a table near, Ron was having similar difficulty and was arguing with Hermione on the proper pronunciation of the spell.
"You do it then, if you're so clever." Ron finally snarled and Hermione got out her wand.
"Wingardium Leviosa!" Hermione said after flicking her wand. The feather rose about four feet above their heads and Professor Flitwick clapped appreciatively.
"Oh, well done!" He said happily. "See here, Ms. Granger's done it!"
I can do this, the Harry and Rose being thought as Neville attempted the spell in vane. As the Harry half concentrated again and moved his wand more precisely, the Rose half said gently, "You're trying too hard, Neville. Calm down, okay?"
The feather floated from the Harry half's desk and Seamus threw his wand down in frustration. The Harry half let the feather fall and looked over at him calmly.
"Try not to be so frustrated. Here, let me show you." The Harry half said as the Rose half also spoke.
"It's like this, Neville, don't be too dramatic with your wand movements." She said. "It's a smooth motion." The Rose half demonstrated as the Harry half corrected Seamus's grip on his wand.
"Like this." He said, swishing it in a smooth and controlled way, then flicking. "See? Now try."
Grudgingly, and still frustrated, Seamus tried again, making the feather move a little. By the end of class, the Harry and Rose being had succeeded as Hermione had. Seamus was able to get one end to rise, but not the entire thing. Ron was in a rather bad mood, which the Harry and Rose being weren't surprised about.
"It's no wonder no one can stand her." He remarked as they entered the crowded corridor. "She's a nightmare, honestly."
The Harry half felt someone knock into his shoulder and the Harry and Rose being turned to see Hermione hurrying off in tears. They sighed, then turned to Ron and said, "She heard you, Ron, you really hurt her feelings."
"So?" Ron said, but looked uncomfortable. "She must have noticed she's got no friends."
"I'd imagine she has no friends because she hasn't worked out her insecurities yet, if that's what she has." The Rose half said. "I'm going to check on her."
She moved off quickly and the Harry half continued to their next class with Ron. The Rose half didn't find her, so rejoined them after a few minutes. Hermione didn't, and seemed to be absent throughout the afternoon.
As they were on their way down to the great hall, they overheard Parvati Patil telling Lavender that Hermione was crying in the girls bathroom and wanted to be left alone. The Harry and Rose being felt silly for not thinking of that, but had no idea which girls bathroom Hermione would be found in. They noticed Ron looking even more awkward and uncomfortable and smiled.
"Good to know you have feelings, Ron." The Harry and Rose being said.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Ron asked before they entered the great hall, the Halloween decorations causing him to forget about the conversation.
Despite the novelty of the magical decorations, the Harry and Rose being didn't forget about Hermione, and saw her nowhere in the great hall. They felt concern and decided the Rose half would look for her again after the feast. As they began to serve themselves something, Professor Quirrell burst into the great hall looking terrified.
After reaching Professor Dumbledore's chair, he slumped against the table and gasped, "Troll, in the dungeons, thought you ought to know." He then fainted. Some Defense Against the Dark Art's teacher, the Harry and Rose being thought with amusement.
The loud sound of just about everyone shouting and calling out was enough to drive the thought from their minds, but one remained. Hermione didn't know about the troll, and if it wasn't in the dungeons, she could be in danger. Several bangs indicating purple firecrackers erupted from Professor Dumbledore's wand, bringing silence to the great hall.
Prefects, lead your Houses back to the dormitories immediately!" Professor Dumbledore said authoritatively.
Percy looked quite satisfied and sounded very superior as he gave his orders to the first years. The Harry and Rose being didn't comment, but didn't like his attitude much. Nevertheless, they followed him along with the rest of the first years, staying close to Ron.
"Hermione doesn't know about the troll, Ron." The Harry and Rose being said quietly as they climbed the stares.
"What do we do?" Ron asked.
"We'll separate from everyone else and go find her." The Harry and Rose being said.
"Percy better not see us." Ron snapped.
"He won't." The Harry and Rose being said. "I'm used to evading people because of Dudley. Come on."
They ducked down and joined a group of Hufflepuffs moving the other way, their heads lowered as they made an effort to blend in and not be seen. The Rose half pulled Ron down a side corridor deserted of people, the Harry half following. They then began hurrying to the girls bathroom near the Charms corridor and heard quick footsteps behind them. Quickly, they ducked behind a large stone griffin and the Rose half peered around the edge carefully.
Professor Snape crossed the corridor quickly and disappeared from view. Their heart pounding, they moved on quickly.
"Wonder what he's up to." Ron whispered quietly.
"Who cares." The Harry and Rose being stated, but had a thought. They were close to the third floor, which seemed to be the direction Professor Snape had been heading. The dungeons were in the other direction.
As they crept up the next corridor, the Rose half smelled something horrible, like a public toilet no one cleans mixed with the stench of old socks. She held up a hand stopping them, and in moments, heard a grunting and shuffling sound. Ron pointed to the end of a passage to the left and the Rose half spotted something huge. Hurriedly, the Harry and Rose being shrank back with Ron and watched.
The troll's skin looked to be a dull gray almost like granite. It's body was lumpy like a boulder, it's head small in comparison. It's legs were short and as thick as tree trunks. It had flat feet and was holding a huge club that dragged along the ground, as its arms were quite long.
The troll stopped next to a doorway and peered inside, waggled its long ears, and made up its tiny mind. As it slouched into the room, the Rose half quietly crept forward, almost silent in her approach to the troll. The key was in the lock, but as she made to close and lock the door, she spotted the sign.
"Ron, it's the girls bathroom, Hermione." The Harry half said, the Harry and Rose being swallowing with dry mouths and trembling hands.
They stumbled forward as they heard a high, petrified scream of terror. Ron picked up his pace and the Harry half followed, the Rose half stepping quietly into the room, trembling and trying to remain quiet. Hermione was shrinking against the wall and looking as if she was about to faint. The Harry half and Ron hurried into the room behind the Rose half, who ran forward and to one side, shouting, "Hey you!"
The Troll turned to see what had made the noise and its eyes focused on the Rose half. As it made for her, the Harry half grabbed a tap and threw it hard. The Troll let out a roar as it lumbered around and spotted him. Ron, catching on, yelled, "Oy, pea-brain!"
He threw a metal pipe at the troll, though it didn't seem to notice the impact. It turned toward the sound of the voice, though, and started lumbering toward Ron, giving the Rose half enough time to run around it toward Hermione. She grabbed her and said quietly but firmly into her ear, "Run, run! Come on!" Hermione didn't move, petrified with terror. "I'll carry you if I have to!"
The troll roared again and sped its approach toward Ron. The Harry and Rose being knew they needed to distract the troll again and thought of something both brave and stupid. The Harry half took a running leap and put his arms around the troll's neck. It didn't feel him there, but it felt his wand which drove up its nose as he'd hung on. The troll howled in pain and flailed wildly, swinging its club, twisting and turning as the Harry half struggled to hang on. The Rose half hurried to try and distract the troll again as Hermione sank to the floor in fright, then the Harry and Rose being heard a call from the other side of the room.
"Wingardium Leviosa!"
It was Ron, who had taken out his wand. The club flew from the troll's hand and high into the air. Turning slowly over, it dropped hard on the troll's head. The Harry half pulled his wand free as the troll swayed on the spot, then jumped into the Rose half's arms as it fell forward, smashing to the floor with a tremendous bang that shook the room. The Rose half clung to the Harry half, both trembling and gasping with terror. Ron was staring at what he'd done, his wand still raised. Surprisingly, it was Hermione that spoke first.
"Is it dead?" She asked.
"I don't think so." The Harry and Rose being said, voices trembling. "Just unconscious."
The Harry half bent over and wiped his wand, which looked as if it was covered in lumpy gray glue, on the troll's trousers. Straightening up again, the Harry and Rose being gripped each other's hands, their skin clammy.
They heard a sudden slamming and loud footsteps, realizing the sound they'd been making must have been heard from the lower floors. Professors McGonagall, Snape, and Quirrell entered, Professor Quirrell taking a single look at the troll and sinking down on to a toilet with a whimper, clutching at his heart.
Professor Snape bent over the troll and the Harry and Rose being stared mutely at Professor McGonagall, who had never looked more furious. They swallowed, their throats dry, still trembling with a pounding heart.
"What on earth were you thinking?" Professor McGonagall asked with cold fury. "You're lucky you weren't killed. Why weren't you in your dormitory?"
Professor Snape gave the Harry half a swift, piercing look and he stared down at the floor. A small voice then came out of the shadows.
"Please, Professor McGonagall-they were looking for me." Hermione Granger said.
"Miss Granger!" Professor McGonagall sounded astonished, but still angry.
Hermione, who had managed to get to her feet, spoke again.
"I went looking for the troll because I... I thought I could deal with it on my own... You know, because I've read all about them."
The Harry and Rose being held in their gasp of sheer surprise, but Ron wasn't quite as adept at hiding his feelings. A clattering caused them to look over at him, realizing he'd dropped his wand.
"If they hadn't found me, I'd be dead now. Harry stuck his wand up its nose and Ron knocked it out with its own club. They didn't have time to come and fetch anyone. It was about to finish me off when they arrived." Hermione continued.
The Harry and Rose being didn't look surprised, and Ron picked his wand up off the floor. Professor McGonagall gazed at the four of them for a moment, then spoke.
"Well-in that case... Miss Granger, you foolish girl, how could you think of tackling a mountain troll on your own?"
Hermione hung her head, looking ashamed. The Harry and Rose being didn't know what to say, but perhaps it was better if they said nothing. Hermione seemed to be doing all the talking, and lying, no less. She was such a stickler for the rules they were surprised she'd do anything like that.
"Miss Granger, five points will be taken from Gryffindor for this." Professor McGonagall continued. "I'm very disappointed in you. If you're not hurt at all, you'd better get off to Gryffindor tower. Students are finishing the feast in their houses."
Hermione trudged from the bathroom and Professor McGonagall turned to Ron and the Harry and Rose being.
"Well, I still say you were lucky, but not many first years could have taken on a full-grown mountain troll. You each win Gryffindor five points. Professor Dumbledore will be informed of this. You may go." She stated.
They hurried from the room and didn't speak until they'd climbed two floors up, the Harry half wiping his wand on the inside of his robes to try and clean it a little more. The Harry and Rose being's heart was calming and they were more relaxed, relieved to be away from the troll.
"We should have gotten more than fifteen points." Ron grumbled.
"Ten for Hermione's five she removed." The Harry and Rose being said. "Points, not a big deal."
"Well..." Ron said awkwardly, then added, "Good of her to get us out of trouble anyway. Mind you, we did save her."
"Something that wouldn't have been needed if you hadn't insulted her." The Harry and Rose being reminded.
By this time, they'd reached the portrait of the fat lady and the Harry and Rose being glanced briefly at the door to their room.
"Pig snout." Ron said.
He and the Harry and Rose being entered the packed common room. It was rather noisy, everyone eating the food that had been sent. Hermione was standing alone near the portrait hole, waiting for them to arrive. There was an awkward pause before everyone said thanks to each other, the Rose half briefly clasping Hermione's shoulder. They would forever remember that moment, not only because of the event, but the friend they gained in Hermione.
November 8, 1991.
Professor Snape limped over to the Harry and Rose being, Ron, and Hermione who were close to a bright blue fire Hermione had conjured, which could be carried around in a jar, blocking it from view. They didn't know if it was allowed or not, but didn't want to take any chances, especially with Professor Snape.
"What's that you've got there, Potter?" Professor Snape asked, seeming to look for some reason to tell them off.
"Quidditch Through the Ages." The Harry and Rose being said, the Harry half showing him.
"Library books are not to be taken outside the school. Give it to me." Professor Snape stated.
The Harry half handed it over and he took it.
"Five points from Gryffindor." He stated, then walked off.
"He's made that rule up." The Harry and Rose being said angrily. "I don't know what's wrong with it, but I hope that leg of his is really hurting him."
They returned to the Gryffindor common room rather than spend more time in the freezing cold weather. Hermione, who had been much nicer to them after the incident with the mountain troll, read through their work and checked it. They wouldn't let them copy hers, but the Harry and Rose being were fine with that. Ron wanted to, which had prompted Hermione to ask, "How will you learn, Ronald, if you copy my work and don't do it for yourself?"
The Harry and Rose being were rather restless and their nerves were on edge for the coming Quidditch match. The Rose half would be called if she was needed, but Wood told her to hang out in the crowds since it wasn't likely she'd have to play. They were glad that at least one half of them would be safe. Given everything the Harry half had read about seekers in the book Hermione had lent him, they expected something to happen to him.
"I'm going to see if I can get my book back." The Harry and Rose being said, getting up.
"Better you than me." They said together. The Harry and Rose being grinned.
"Keep practicing that. Soon, you'll match us in our wonderful skill." The Harry and Rose being said, then turned and left the common room.
After knocking twice at the staff room door, the Harry and Rose being quietly pushed the door open a crack. The Rose half stared, getting a good look at something they probably were better off not seeing. Professor Snape and Filch were alone. Filch was handing Professor Snape bandages for his leg, which looked mangled and bloody.
"Blasted thing." Professor Snape said. "How are you supposed to keep your eyes on all three heads at once?"
The Harry and Rose being's heart leapt. Professor Snape had been on the third floor that night after all. The Harry half tried to close the door quietly as the Rose half hurried off. Better if only one of them was caught, a wise precaution as Professor Snape suddenly shouted with a face twisted in rage, "POTTER!"
"I just wondered if I could have my book back." The Harry half said, their heart pounding hard with fear.
"GET OUT! OUT!" Professor Snape shouted furiously.
The Harry half left and ran to the Rose half, sprinting back to Gryffindor tower with a pounding heart. After they entered, Ron asked, "Did you get it? What's the matter?"
"Professor Snape's leg was bloody and mangled." The Harry and Rose being said in a low whisper. "He was talking about keeping eyes on all three heads at once, he's trying to get past that three headed dog we saw on the third floor corridor. He's after whatever it's guarding and I'd bet he let that troll in as a diversion."
"He wouldn't." Hermione said with wide eyes. "I know he's not very nice, but he wouldn't try to steal something Dumbledore was keeping safe."
"Honestly Hermione, you think all teachers are saints or something." Ron snapped. "I'm with Harry and Rose. I wouldn't put anything past Snape, but what's he after? What's that dog guarding?"
"Whatever was in vault 713." The Harry and Rose being responded.
"Yeah, but what is it?" Ron asked.
The Harry and Rose being went to bed that night with the same questions on their mind. It was difficult for them to get to sleep, but as the Harry half ran his fingers through the Rose half's long hair, both relaxed at the familiar and comfortable motion, something they'd often done at the Dursley's when they had trouble sleeping.
November 9, 1991.
The great hall was bright, filled with the scent of fried sausages and the cheerful talking of the students looking forward to a good Quidditch match. The Harry and Rose being felt sick and quite nervous. In hours, the Harry half would be going to play Quidditch in front of hundreds of people. They clutched hands tightly and stared down at their empty plates.
"You've got to eat some breakfast." Hermione said to them.
"Not hungry." The Harry and Rose being responded. "I can't eat anything."
"Just a bit of toast." Hermione said. "You'll need your strength."
Swallowing, the Harry and Rose being reached out for some, hands shaking. Seamus then said, "Hermione's right. Seeker's are always the ones that get clobbered by the other team."
The toast the Harry and Rose being had taken a bite of seemed to turn to cardboard in their mouths. They swallowed, staring at each other and realizing their faces were green. They took deep breaths and tried to calm down, but it was useless.
At eleven o'clock, the team had changed into their uniforms in the locker room. Slytherin would be playing in green. Once the team was gathered together, Wood cleared his throat.
"Okay, men." He said.
"And women." Angelina Johnson said, who was a Chaser.
At the same time, the Rose half had joined Hermione and Ron in the stands. A banner was painted on a sheet Scabbers had ruined. The Rose half read Potter for President, spotting a drawing of a Gryffindor lion underneath. The paint flashed different colors and the Rose half smiled, the Harry and Rose being feeling a bit braver, heart skipping.
"Thanks for the support." She said. At the same time, Wood was speaking, continuing with his speech.
"And women, this is it."
"The big one." Fred Weasley added.
"The one we've all been waiting for." George continued.
"We know Oliver's speech by heart." Fred told the Harry half. "We were on the team last year."
"Besides, the big one would be the match for the Quidditch cup." The Harry half said hesitantly.
"Enough, you three." Wood said. "This is the best team Gryffindor's had in years. We're going to win. I know it." He glared at them as if to tell them, or else, but or else what, the Harry and Rose being wondered as the crowd spoke among themselves.
"Right. It's time. Good luck, all of you." Wood continued.
The Harry half followed Fred and George from the locker room, focusing on standing without his knees giving way. The crowd cheered loudly, but the Rose half didn't join in. She simply looked down and focused her eyes on the Harry half and the Quidditch field.
Madam Hooch was the referee. She stood in the center of the field waiting for the two teams, broom in hand. Once they gathered around, she said, "Now, I want a nice fair game, all of you." She seemed to be speaking particularly to a sixth year named Marcus Flint, the Slytherin Captain.
"Mount your brooms, please." She said.
The Harry half did so along with everyone else, the Harry and Rose being anticipating flying the Nimbus Two Thousand again despite the nerve racking circumstances.
Madam Hooch gave a loud blast on a silver whistle she carried and all fifteen of them rose into the air. Just like that, the Harry and Rose being were swept up in the joy of flight, the Rose half watching the team and staring around for the snitch.
"Hey!" Hermione said, noticing what she was doing and giving her arm a light slap. "Close your eyes and let the Harry half do this, or don't look for the Snitch."
The Rose half gasped as the Harry and Rose being felt a swell of great joy. Turning, she grabbed Hermione in an embrace and said loud enough to be heard over the crowds and announcing, "Thank you, Hermione! You accept me!" She laughed and turned back to the team, focusing exclusively on the Harry half, but after a moment, started gazing around again, watching the other players.
Lee Jordan,, the friend of the Weasley twins, was announcing the match and being watched closely by Professor McGonagall. The Harry and Rose being listened and the Harry half flew around the field, eyes out for the snitch.
When Gryffindor scored, they cheered while the Slytherin's howled and moaned. The Harry and Rose being were getting over their nervousness now and were caught up in the joy of the match.
"What a bunch of whiners!" The Rose half shouted.
"Budge up there, move along." Hagrid's voice carried.
"Hagrid!" The Harry and Rose being shouted in joy, though the Harry half was too far away to be heard.
Ron, Hermione and the Rose half moved closer to give him enough room.
The Harry half was keeping out of sight of the rest of the team, part of the game plan Wood had devised. He had to dodge a Bludger, which Fred beat toward the Slytherin's after making sure he was doing well. So far, he hadn't seen anything that was the snitch.
"Slytherin in possession," Lee Jordan announced. "Chaser Pucey ducks two Bludgers, two Weasley's, and Chaser Bell, and speeds toward the, wait a moment was that the Snitch?"
The Harry half dove in a rush of excitement, having spotted the snitch. Terence Higgs, the Slytherin seeker, had also spotted it and was flying along side the Harry half. The Chasers were doing nothing and the Rose half was looking in front of the Harry half, eyes also on the snitch. The Harry half picked up speed and the Rose half gasped just before Marcus Flint slammed into the Harry half, sending him spinning wildly. The Rose half shouted, "Cheating Slytherin!"
"Foul!" The Gryffindors shouted at the same moment.
The Gryffindors got a free shot at the goal posts, but the snitch had disappeared in the confusion. Dean was shouting, "Send him off, ref! Red card!"
Football, of course, the Harry and Rose being thought as the Harry half flew up high again, the Harry and Rose being looking together for the snitch, no longer caring if it should be just the Harry half's job or not.
"Oh dear!" The Rose half cried some moments later as the Harry half's broom gave a mighty lurch. "The Harry half's in trouble!"
As the Harry half's broom bucked hard again, he struggled to turn it back toward the Gryffindor goal posts to ask for time out. His broom was completely out of his control, though. Lee was still announcing, but the cry of the Rose half caught Hermione's attention, the Harry and Rose being feeling terrified.
"Looks like he's lost control of his broom." Hagrid said. "But he can't have..."
"Let me see." Hermione said, grabbing Hagrid's binoculars and staring frantically at the crowd.
The Harry and Rose being gasped as everyone started pointing up at the Harry half all over the stands. His broom had lurched again and began rolling over and over, then it jerked violently, causing the Harry half to dangle from it with one hand. The Rose half stared on helplessly, the Harry and Rose being feeling a desperate, helpless fear, wishing the Rose half could do something to help the Harry half.
"I knew it, Snape!" Hermione said.
The Rose half grabbed the binoculars from Hermione and stared at him through them. Professor Snape was in the middle of the stands opposite them, staring at the Harry half and muttering under his breath. Hagrid was saying something about nothing but powerful dark magic interfering with the broom, but the Rose half wasn't paying any attention, the Harry and Rose being more focused on the Harry half's circumstances.
"I knew it!" The Rose half shouted. "He wants the Harry half dead!"
"He wouldn'!" Hagrid said in a protesting manner as Hermione hurried off.
"See for yourself, he's doing something!" The Rose half cried, thrusting the binoculars into Hagrid's hands.
The broom was vibrating so hard that the Harry half could barely hang on. The Weasley twins were trying to fly up to grab him, but when they got closer, the broom jumped higher. The Rose half kept staring at the Harry half, who was struggling hard to hang on. Briefly, the Rose half glanced at the crowd again and barely spotted Hermione, then returned her gaze to the Harry half. Quite suddenly, he swung back on his broom and dove, the broom under his control again. The Harry and Rose being felt excited again, having spotted the snitch.
"Neville, look, look!" The Rose half shouted excitedly, pulling him from Hagrid's jacket, which he'd been sobbing into for the last few minutes.
Suddenly, the Harry and Rose being clapped their hands to their mouths and the Rose half swallowed, feeling something fluttering in the Harry half's mouth. The Rose half chuckled as the Harry half fell to the ground on all fours and stumbled to his feet, coughed, then something gold fell into his hand.
"I've got the snitch!" The Harry half shouted.
Flint was quite upset, moaning about how the Harry half hadn't caught it, but nearly swallowed it. It didn't matter, though, it still counted as the Harry half hadn't broken any rules. Privately, the Harry and Rose being never wanted to do that again. They didn't hear much of it clearly, though, as they were in Hagrid's hut with cups of strong tea in front of them.
"It was Professor Snape." The Harry and Rose being insisted. "I saw him."
"Rubbish." Hagrid said. "Why would Snape do something like tha'?"
The Harry and Rose being glanced at Ron and Hermione, who looked back at them.
"He's never liked me." The Harry and Rose being responded. "And besides, he tried to get past that three headed dog on Halloween. It bit him. We think it's trying to steal whatever it's guarding."
Hagrid dropped the tea pot in shock, then said, "How do you know about Fluffy?"
"You named that thing Fluffy?" The Harry and Rose being asked incredulously.
"Yeah, he's mine, bought him off a Greek chappie I met in the pub las' year. I lent him to Dumbledore to guard the..." Hagrid stopped suddenly.
"Yes?" The Harry and Rose being eagerly prompted.
"Now don' ask me anymore, tha's top secret, tha' is." Hagrid said gruffly.
"But Snape's trying to steal it!" Ron cried.
"Rubbish." Hagrid replied. "Snape's a Hogwart's teacher, he'd do nothin' of the sort."
"So why did he just try and kill the Harry half?" Hermione cried and the Harry and Rose being beamed while Ron looked at her strangely. "I know a jinx when I see one, Hagrid, I've read all about them! You've got to keep eye contact, and Snape wasn't blinking at all, I saw him!"
"I'm tellin' yeh, yer wrong!" Hagrid said firmly. "I don' know why Harry's broom acted like tha', but Snape wouldn' try an' kill a student! Now, listen to me, all three of yeh! yer meddlin' in things that don' concern yeh. It's dangerous. You forget that dog, an' you forget what it's guardin', that's between Professor Dumbledore an' Nicolas Flamel!"
"Aha!" The Harry and Rose being said victoriously. "Thank you, Hagrid, you're wonderful!" The Rose half jumped up and embraced him. Hagrid simply looked furious.
"What was that about anyway, Hermione?" Ron asked later as the three of them walked up the marble stairs toward the Gryffindor common room.
"What?" Hermione asked.
"The Rose half?" Ron questioned.
"Oh, yes." She responded. "I was looking up information about Harry and Rose and the single soul bond they'd talked about before. I actually found it in a book called Truth and Legend, A History. It was labeled as something legendary but there was one known occurrence of this in the year 542 A.D. There wasn't much information, but given that Harry and Rose do everything together, never talk to each other, and don't ever disagree, I postulated it might be possible for them to actually have this single soul bond. It just seemed natural to treat them as such from that moment on. I really do think they're a single being, have a single soul."
"Hermione, you're wonderful." The Harry and Rose being said, each half putting an arm around her shoulders before lifting her from the ground. "I love you too!"
Hermione squealed and shouted, "Put me down!"
The Harry and Rose being and Ron laughed, the Harry and Rose being swinging Hermione with beaming faces of joy. The castle echoed with their laughter, and once again, they were glad to have friends who accepted them, feeling joy and delight.