Harry stepped out of the fireplace in the Gryffindor common room.

"Bloody hell, Harry!" Ron said startled.

"Where were you? Hold on, how were you able to use the floo network?" Hermione asked puzzled.

"I was at Flourish and Blotts."

"How is that possible?"

"Well, I was given special permission and special arrangements were made."

"Who would do that?"

"Dumbledore made it happen."

"Why?"

"To help. He said that under the circumstance that he didn't see there being a problem."

Harry set the books down on the table. Hermione immediately grabbed the books and looked at them.

"Curses and Counter Curses and Concealment and Un-spoken Curses and more." Hermione read the titles out loud and gave Harry a questioning look.

"Hey, the store manager said that both books would be ale to help. Don't forget that Dumbledore knows that I was looking for something to help so there should not be a problem."

All five of them read through the books as much as they could. They took notes, wrote down things that could be helpful and worked on wand movement only.

"So when do we try these out? And who are we going to try them on?" Ron asked

"Ron! We are not doing this for revenge, we can't be just testing them out on any one it wouldn't be right. If we did we would be no better than Malfoy and who ever he got to attack us." Hermione said in a firm tone.

"Thank you Hermione. We need to be able to practice and we need a place to do it in. I'll have to talk to Dumbledore or McGonagall about it."

"But Harry if we can't test these out on any one, how are we going to test them? Objects won't exactly tell us what they'll do on a person." Ron inquired.

"We will test them out on ourselves. I am sure we can figure out what has been used on us. But I only want us to cast in defense!" Harry explained and got several looks of 'are you crazy.'

"Look I am not crazy. It's the only way. Come one, we have the counter curses. Now we won't have to go to Madam Pomfrey."

"But Harry we are just first years, how are we supposed to make these hexes, jinxes, miscellaneous spells and non-serious curses work?"

"That's easy Hermione, we practice, concentrate and believe that we can do it. Just think if we can pull this off imagine how advanced we will be." Harry explained.

Percy enters the common room, "What are you five doing up? Go to bed! It's late! You are not supposed to be up!"

"Percy it's okay really. We are working on something important. Professor McGonagall and the Headmaster would be okay with this, trust me." Harry explained.

"I don't care what you're working on. It's late. All of you go to bed, now!"

"No!"

"Excuse me, Mr. Potter."

"Percy do you know what your brothers, Hermione and myself have been going through for several weeks now?" Harry asked very annoyed.

"Yes I do. But still…"

"But still nothing Percy. We are not going to bed until we are ready. If you have a problem with this take it up with Professor McGonagall or the Headmaster. Good night Percy." Harry said smugly.

"Oh I will be talking to both of them. I'll let this go for now but if I find out other wise there will be consequences to face, I will not tolerate rule braking."

"Uh Percy we are in the common room not running around the school or grounds." Harry had to point out.

Percy just gave Harry a look and then left the common room.

"Way to go Harry." Fred commented

"I am impressed." George complimented.

"No one has ever talked to Percy like that before." Ron added.

"Like I really give a shit."

"Harry, he's a prefect."

"I'll say it again Hermione. Like I really give a shit."

"Harry…."

"Hermione he was really getting on my nerves. We don't get much time to work this out. I fear that before too much longer the asshole that has been tormenting us just might step things up a notch, and who ever ends up in the hospital might not ever leave. I can't let that happen."

Hermione, Ron, Fred and George went to bed several hours later. Harry stayed up for a while wondering if there was such a thing as a shield charm. Then it hit him he would ask Dumbledore about it. If they exist then he would know about them. Harry quickly scribbled out a note to Dumbledore and had a house elf take it to Dumbledore's office.

* * * * * * *

Halloween morning at breakfast McGonagall gave Harry a note from Dumbledore. After he read the note he got up and went straight to see Dumbledore.

"Harry, I am impressed with you and feel that you are wise beyond your years. I don't think that even I would have thought of, which I didn't think of, shield charms and spells. If you haven't figured it out yet, yes there are shield charms and spells. After reading your note I took the liberty of ordering a copy for you. You and your friends will be able to make most of them work some are pretty advanced. I hope to be able to give it too you soon. Another reason why I wanted to see you is that I get the feeling that there is something you want to say but can't seem to bring yourself to say it. Is this true?"

"Thank you, Professor for ordering the book. I just don't know if I should say anything. I am not even sure if there is anyone that I could trust enough to not freak out. I don't know if anyone could handle it. I am barely handling it as it is."

"I appreciate your honesty, Harry. Whatever it is that is hard for you to deal with I hope that there will be someone that you could tell and that would take it well and possibly help you to deal with it better if not possibly help you understand why. Before I let you go." Dumbledore picked up a folded piece of parchment and handed it to Harry, "give this to your teacher. It's just saying that you were with me discussing something of importance. You should not have any problems if you do let me know. Good day to you Harry."

Later that day Ron and Hermione asked Harry what Dumbledore had wanted. Harry explained that he had sent a note to Dumbledore asking about shield charms and spells. He went on to tell them that there is indeed a book and that Dumbledore had ordered a copy and hopes to give it to him soon.

"Wow! Shield charms and spells would help a great deal. But aren't they a bit too advanced for first years? Hell wouldn't they be a bit too advanced for Fred and George?"

"Not according to what Dumbledore told me Hermione. He said that we would be able to work most of the charms and spells in it." Harry replied.

* * * * * * *

Harry had just started to eat his breakfast when he noticed several owls carrying a large package. He smiled knowing what it was. Once the owls dropped it in front of him he grabbed the note, tore into it and pretended to read it. He handed the not to Ron.

"A Nimbus Two Thousand. Lets get out of here and open it.' Ron quietly but quickly said.

On their way out they saw Crabbe and Goyle who were blocking the entrance hall. Draco stepped up and grabbed the package out of Harry's hands.

"Give it here Malfoy." Harry demanded.

"How did you get this?" Draco asked in a demanding voice.

"None of your damn business Malfoy. Now give it back!" Harry said agitated.

"No! First years aren't supposed to have brooms. I'm taking this to Filch."

"THE BLOODY HELL YOU ARE. IT'S MINE. NOW HAND IT OVER!" Harry yelled.

Professor Flitwick came around the corner, "Now, now boys. No arguing."

"Harry got a broom delivered to him." Draco said with smirk on his face.

"Yes, yes. Professor McGonagall told me all about the special circumstances. Congratulations, what model broom?"

"A Nimbus Two Thousand." Harry replied.

"Professor, Malfoy won't give it back to Harry. He say's he's going to give it to Filch." Ron said

"Mr. Malfoy, give the broom back to Mr. Potter, he has special permission to have it. I suggest you give it back now." Squeaked out Professor Flitwick.

Draco thrust the broom back into Harry's hands looking really pissed.

After Professor Flitwick walked away, "How do you rate? Why is it that you get a broom and no other first year is allowed to have one? What makes you so special?" Malfoy demanded

"You'll find out soon enough, Malfoy." Harry replied.

Harry and Ron managed to stifle their laughter as Malfoy walked off confused and very pissed off.

Once in their common room Harry and Ron unwrapped the Nimbus Two Thousand. Though Harry had already seen it, touched it and flew on it, he still wasn't able to avoid being mesmerized by it. Ron was nearly drooling.

"I can't wait to give my broom a go…."Harry caught himself and stopped himself from saying 'again'.

They put the broom away, under Harry's bed and rushed to class.

They just barely made it to class on time and quickly took their seats. Harry sat next to Seamus Finnigan. Ron was left with sitting next to Hermione. It was uncertain as to who was angrier about it. They soon forgot that they were angry about having to work together once finding out that they would be learning how to make things fly.

Professor Flitwick reminded them that the wand movement was 'swish and flick'; he also had them say aloud the incantation 'Wingardium Leviosa'. After some time for practice he had the class give it a try.

Ron could barely get the feather to tremble. Hermione was attempting to be helpful when saying, "Come on Ron you can do this. Swish and flick. Clearly say 'Wingardium Leviosa.' Ron still seemed to be having a problem. "

"I can't do it. I give up. You give it a shot."

Hermione had her feather flying up in the air, higher and higher on her first try.

Professor Flitwick noticed, "Look everyone, Miss. Granger has done it. Well done, Miss. Granger. Ten points to Gryffindor."

Harry smiled and then for real worked on getting his feather to fly.

"Well done, Mr. Potter. Another ten points for Gryffindor."

Around seven that evening Harry headed out to the Quidditch field to wait for Oliver Wood.

Harry headed out to the Quidditch field early. Since Oliver Wood was not there yet, Harry decided to take a spin on his Nimbus Two Thousand. Harry climbed on the broom and soared up in the air. He flew around and around, dived, pulled up on his broom and zigzagged all over. He was really enjoying himself. It was the best feeling, flying on his broom.

Oliver Wood had showed up a while ago. He watched Harry on his broom and thought that Professor McGonagall was right. He was confident that this year they would take it all the way.

"Hey, Harry come on down." Oliver hollered.

Harry landed very gracefully right in front of Oliver.

"Sorry, I got here early. Couldn't resist."

"It's okay Harry. For tonight I just want to go over the basics of the game and go over the rules with you. Practice is three times a week."

Harry had gone through this before so he nodded in the right places and repeated things at the right time so Oliver would know that Harry was taking it all in. Oliver quickly went over the rules with Harry, and then called it a night.

It had been along day for Harry. He was just wanted to go to bed, but Harry remembered that it was Halloween and he had to go to the dining hall.

Harry walked into the dining hall and took a seat. He looked up and down the table a few times as well as the door.

"Has anyone seen Hermione? I haven't seen here since Charms class. Has she already been down to eat?" Harry inquired.

"On my down I heard Parvati talking to Lavender. Parvati was saying that Hermione was in the bathroom for quite a while. She also said that Hermione was crying and wants to be alone." Ron replied.

'I wonder why' Harry thought.

Harry was about to take a bite of food when Professor Quirrell ran into the dining hall. Just before reaching the high table he gasped out, "Troll…in the dungeon…just thought you should know."

All but Harry and Ron panicked. They stayed seated while everyone else got up and tore out of the dining hall. Suddenly there were different colored sparks flying from somewhere, it looked like fireworks exploding. Everyone froze in place. Dumbledore instructed the prefects to lead their houses to their dormitories at once.

Percy called out his commands to the first years. Harry placed a hand on Ron's arm to stop him from getting up and following the rest of the first years.

"What?"

"Hermione. She doesn't know. She's in the bathroom remember, we can't leave her there. We have to do something."

"Are you kidding me? We should alert a teacher."

"No time. We need to act now."

"No one can see us deter from going to the dormitories."

"I know, but we have to at least try. Ron how could a troll get in?"

"I have no idea. I've been told that trolls are really stupid. Maybe someone let it in."

Ron and Harry slipped away without being seen. They ran down the hall, ducked out of sight. They heard footsteps coming in their direction. They saw Professor Snape hurriedly walk past. Once the coast was clear they left their hiding place to head to the girls bathroom when they saw the troll enter the bathroom. They looked at each other and ran for the bathroom.

Harry and Ron were doing their best to distract the troll, to confuse it so that Hermione could get out. The troll ignored Harry and went straight towards Ron who had nowhere to go. Harry pulled out his want swished and flicked and said "Wingardium Leviosa."

The troll's club soared up in the air a little bit and then it came down right on the troll's head knocking it out.

"Hermione, you can come out it's safe. The troll is knocked out. Come one let's get out here." Harry said.

Hermione stood up and attempted to brush herself off when they heard some thing slam and footsteps approaching. They looked up at the door to find Professor's McGonagall, Snape and Quirrell.

"What were you thinking? You all could have been killed. You should be up in your dormitories. Some one better explain to me why you are not." McGonagall demanded.

Harry had something really good to say, but before he or Ron could say anything Hermione spoke up.

"Professor it's my fault. Since I've read up on trolls I thought I could handle it myself so I went looking for it. Thankfully Ron and Harry came along when they did or I would be dead."

"Miss Granger! I am very disappointed in you."

"I know it was stupid."

"You are one foolish girl. Five points will be taken from Gryffindor. Miss. Granger you may go." McGonagall said. Hermione left the bathroom.

"As for you two. You are very lucky. I don't know of any first year that could have taken on a full-grown mountain troll and live. For luck, bravery and saving a student you have earned ten points for Gryffindor, each. Go on to your dormitories now."

Harry and Ron quickly left.

"That was nice of Hermione to get us out of trouble." Ron admitted.

"Yes it was very nice. We should thank her you know."

"Why? We saved her life she owed us that." Ron said a little disgruntled.

"No. She didn't owe us anything Ron. We did the right thing. If we were better people and if you were a bit nicer to her she might not have been in the bathroom. Ron you have been pretty rude and mean to her. Even though Parvati said that Hermione wanted to be left alone we should have went and checked on her. Or at least I should have been a good enough friend to have checked on her any way."

"But she's so bossy and an insufferable know-it-all."

"So what. Just remember that she is Muggle borne. She probably feels that she needs to work twice as hard. She is dedicated to what she wants. And Ron, lately she hasn't been all that bossy. Don't look at me like that. She has been trying to encourage you. She knows you can do it and so do I. Hermione is the perfect person to study with. She doesn't make any noise, bother you or interrupt what you are doing. She's quiet and that is exactly what one needs when studying."

Once they reached the fat lady, they said "Pig Snout", the portrait swung open so they could enter.

"Did the two of you still get in trouble? How much more points did we lose?" Hermione asked.

"We didn't lose any. In fact Ron and I earned Gryffindor ten points each. So in actuality we gained fifteen points. Oh and thank you for getting us out of trouble. I just can't believe that you lied, for the most part. I am glad that we got there in time." Harry said.

"Yeah, thank you Hermione." Ron mumbled.

"It's okay. Oh, thanks for saving me."

From then on Ron and Hermione seemed to be getting along better, could even say they were behaving like friends.

From time to time Ron thought that there was more than friendship gong on with Harry and Hermione. But then he would think that if they were an item why would they lie about it.