Harry Potter And The Silver Coven
Book 1 - Harry Potter And The Dawn Of Chaos
It was around 10:45 on the Thursday morning, Neville and the rest of the Gryffindors hurriedly made their way down the front steps onto the grounds for their first flying lesson. It was a clear, breezy day and the grass rippled under their feet as they marched down the sloping lawns on the opposite side of the grounds to the forbidden forest, whose trees were swaying darkly in the distance.
Much to Neville dismay the Slytherins were already there, he quickly glanced at the dark haired boy who he had been dreading seeing. Ever since the sorting, Neville had tried his hardest to avoid Harry Potter. He felt terrible about it, he had been so nervous on the train ride but Harry had been so helpful and made him feel much calmer yet as soon as the boy had been sorted into Slytherin it felt like a wall had been placed between them. Unlike most boys his age he didn't outright hate Slytherins yet he still found it so difficult to speak to Harry when the others were around, he knew they would go mad and Neville wasn't ready to upset all of his house just yet. Plus the reputation the house had meant Neville wasn't sure if being friends with Harry was something he should actually do.
Alongside the Slytherins who were all clumped together were the broom, lying on the still damp grass, neatly in two rows, Neville had heard the Weasley twins complaining about how rubbish they were, apparently they would start to shake if you went too high and sole of them randomly darted in the wrong direction. This had made the feeling of dread Neville felt at the idea of flying lessons so much worse. He had never had much luck at home with brooms, he preferred to stay firmly rooted to the ground.
Their teacher, Madam Hooch, arrived shortly after the Gryffindors. She had short grey hair and yellow eyes like a hawk.
"Well what are you waiting for?" She barked. "Everyone behind a broomstick, come on, hurry up."
Neville looked down at his broom, it didn't look too bad, most of the twigs were pointed in the right direction.
"Stick out your dominant hand over your broom." Called Madam Hooch at the front "and say up."
"Up!" All around him brooms began to rise into the hands of his year mates. Harry's broom had shot straight into his, Neville could see him out of the corner of his eye. Some rose slightly but fell back to the floors, others just rolled around on the floor lazily. After a few minutes of trying Madam Hooch gave up and told the rest of them to just pick it up, Neville could feel his cheeks burning bright red.
Madam Hooch then went through with them how exactly to mount their brooks correctly, Neville was trying his hardest to ignore all of his friends around him who seemed to have done it perfectly, she had to correct him 3 times before he got his hand grip right.
"Now when I blow my whistle we will all kick off from the ground hard." Said madam Hooch "keep your brooks steady, rise a few feet and wait."
Nevilles heart felt like it was trying to push its way out of his chest, his vision was getting blurry, he really really didn't want to do this. He heard the voice of Madam Hooch in the distance, heard her counting, oh merlin had he missed it, he kicked hard.
"Come back boy!" Her shout snapped him back into reality, he quickly noticed he was a lot higher then he meant to go and that no one else was this high, oh. The dread filled him quickly, he was the only one who had kicked off, he had done it early. He kept rising, the ground falling beneath him, he was shaking, Neville couldn't stop it and then he slipped.
Line break
WHAM - a thud and a nasty crack and Neville lay, face down, on the grass in a heap. His broomstick was still rising higher and higher and started to drift lazily towards the Forbidden Forest and out of sight.
Madam Hooch was bending over Neville, Broken wrist, Ron heard her mutter. 'Come on, boy - it's all right, up you get.
She turned to the rest of the class. "None of you is to move while I take this boy to the hospital wing! You leave those brooms where they are or you'll be out of Hogwarts before you can say Quidditch."
A sharp bitter annoyance shot through Ron, the one lesson he had been looking forward too even after his stupid sorting was now on hold because of one injury, he looked fine.
No sooner were they out of earshot than Malloy burst into laughter. "Did you see his face, the great lump?"
Most of the other Slytherins joined in. Ron felt his frustration rise, how could the sorting hat possibly think he belonged in the same house as these bullies.
"Shut up, Malfoy,' snapped Parvati Patil.
"Ooh, sticking up for Longbottom?" said Pansy Parkinson, a hard-faced Slytherin girl. "Never thought you'd like fat little cry babies, Parvati"
"Look" said Malfoy, darting forward and snatching something out of the grass. "It's that stupid thing Longbottom's gran sent him."
The Remembrall glittered in the sun as he held it. Merlin Malfoy loved the sound of his own voice which was bad because Ron hated it, he always sounded so high and mighty, Ron wished someone would take him down a peg. Ron saw Harry move forward but before he could speak Ron heard his own voice shouting at the blond prick.
"Shut it Malfoy, give it here!" Everyone stopped talking to watch the two Slytherins.
"What did you say, Weasley?" The tone of Malfoy's voice put Ron on edge.
Swallowing the nervousness that Ron suddenly felt. "I said give the Remberall back."
Malfoy's laughter made his blood boil. "What do you want it for Weasley, hoping you can sell it, you could get about 3 Galleons, that is more than your family gets in a year isn't it." Ron's face burned red with shame, "No, I think it's safer if I don't give it to you but instead leave it somewhere for Longbottom to find." Malfoy had leapt on to his broomstick and was about to push up but quickly Ron threw himself forward. He slammed into Malfoy, knocking him out of his broom and sending the Remembrall flying.
"Oi, get off me." The surprise and horror in the blond idiot's voice filled Ron with a sense of pride.
The two boys kept tumbling, rolling around on the grass, Malfoy trying to push Ron off him and Ron desperately clinging to Malfoy, trying to ruff him up as much as he could.
"RONALD WEASLEY, DRACO MALFOY STOP THIS AT ONCE!" The two boys shot away from each other and quickly got to their feet. Ron's heart sank, McGonagall was running towards them.
"Never - in all my time at Hogwarts-" Professor McGonagall was almost speechless with shock, and her glasses flashed furiously, "- how dare you -"
"It wasn't his fault, Professor." A gryffindor girl said pointing at Malfoy
"Be quiet, Miss Patil." Ron couldn't help the small smile that appeared on his face at the voice of a Gryffindor defending his actions, it almost made up for the fact that the head of Gryffindor house was about to rip into him.
"But Malfoy." Now one of the boys spoke
"That's enough, Mr Thomas. Weasley wipe that silly grin off your face, You and Malfoy can follow me, now."
Line break
As Harry watched the stern Professor storm off closely followed by the two dishevelled boys, he couldn't help but feel bad. He could hear Hermione next to him muttering about how stupid he was and how Ron would be lucky if he wasn't expelled however Harry just felt bad for Ron. The boy was clearly struggling with something and Harry had enjoyed seeing Draco being pulled down a peg and if he was being truthful with him if Ron hadn't stepped in when he did Harry would most likely be the one trailing behind McGonagall. He had never liked bullies, they reminded him too much of his cousin.
Harry's eyes spotted something in the grass, the rest of the class were huddled into small groups, Gryffindors on one side and Slytherins on the other, him and Hermione stood closer to there fellow housemates but not quite included in the group, bending over to get a better look Harry could see that it was Neville's Rembererall. Quickly grabbing it, he slipped it into his pocket, this would give him the perfect excuse to talk to the boy again. Harry had really enjoyed the train ride and hated that just because of his sorting Neville was ignoring him, he knew that his house wasn't amazing, he wasn't deaf, he heard clearly what they said about him, those in his year were not as subtle as they thought and he had even overheard some of the older year talking about him, he suspected they had let him hear them rather than him sneaking up on them.
However, even still he couldn't understand why Neville had ignored him and now he would find out, and fix whatever was wrong with him and Nevilles friendship, even if that friendship had only really lasted a day. Harry still wanted to fix it.
It was sometime during lunch that Harry got his chance, Neville had been let out of the hospital wing and was sitting with his friends eating lunch, Harry watched them from the Slytherin table, Hermione had gone of to the library at this point, hoping to get all of the next week's homework done before Friday. She had finished it already but wanted to triple check everything, honestly Harry didn't understand how the girl could work so hard and never run out of energy.
Harry watched and waited, he ignored the talking of his fellow housemates, he just watched, just waited until Neville moved. Finally he did and luckily for Harry he left on his own, moving quickly Harry followed him. Staying just behind him until they had travelled far enough away from the main hall that no one was likely to interrupt them, he needed to start the conversation before Neville could make it too wherever he was going, most likely the common room.
"Hey Neville." The boy jumped slightly at the sound of Harry's voice.
"Ah Harry, how the hell did you do that, I didn't hear a thing."
"Sorry, got a lot of practice moving quietly, aunt and uncle hated it if I made too much noise when I was cleaning." Harry ignored Neville's reaction to that news. "I hope you're okay, the fall seemed pretty brutal."
"Yeah it hurt a lot, but the school nurse fixed me, she's lovely by the way."
"Well that's brilliant, I just wanted to give you this." He reached out and in his hand was the Rememberall.
Nevilles eyes widened in shock. "You found it!"
"Yeah, Ron made Draco drop it and I picked it up."
"Thank you so much, this means a lot." Silence fell over the two. It was uncomfortable. "I am sorry."
"Why?"
"I shouldn't have ignored you, that was a rubbish thing for me to do. It's just so difficult, everyone in Gryffindor hates you guys and I guess I just panicked. It won't happen again I promise but I understand if you don't ever want to talk to me again." The words came out quickly, Neville didn't seem to breath once while talking.
Harry couldn't help but smile. "Nev, breath, I appreciate the apology but it's all forgiven, Slytherin isn't exactly a walk in the park either so I get it. Can we just start over?"
"Yes please, I can't imagine how hard it is for you in Slytherin."
"Honestly not too bad, other than the odd comment they mostly leave me alone. I overheard some of the older years talking about some sort of truce they have, everyone leaves first years alone in my house. So I am safe until second year, then I might need your help fighting off the dark wizards." He had meant it as a joke but Neville seemed to take it seriously. "I am joking Nev, what can they really do?"
"Some of the rumours I heard about Slytherin make me think they can do a lot Harry." Harry was taken about with how worried Neville actually was.
"Well we shall find out next year." The nervous boy chuckled awkwardly at this joke. "Umm so I was planning on going back to my common room, then heading off to my next lesson."
"Oh yes I definitely should go get ready for mine as well, see you around."
"I hope so too, see you Harry and thanks."
"No problem" Harry turned and walked off, heading to the dungeons. Feeling pretty good, he hoped this feeling lasted, he liked having friends.
Line break
"Weasley" Hermione was interrupted from her reading by the sound of Malfoy shouting. God this is why she preferred her time in the library, it was a lot more fun in her opinion and definitely a lot less interruptions. She looked up from her book, Ron had just entered the common room, no one had seen him since the fight, not even other teachers.
"What do you want, Malfoy?" He sounded tired, completely exhausted. Hermione knew he was getting enough sleep because he wasn't often asleep long before Hermione and didn't wake up until after everyone else. Ron kept walking, not waiting for Malfoy to answer.
"I want to know what Mordred's name that was?" Malfoy was angry, he had lost Slytherin house 25 points and unlike Ron who had lost the same amount Malfoy really did care.
"It was me sticking up for a bully, do you want to see me do it again" Ron snapped back, Hermione rolled her eyes, when would he learn that fighting wasn't always the best way.
"You embarrassed me in front of the Gryffindor's, you lost us 50 points." Hermione really wanted to point out that technically Draco had lost half of that but she had a feeling it wouldn't help things.
"So? You were being an arse, someone needed to do it and I am glad I got the honour." Hermione couldn't help but agree with Ron, the boy needed to be better at how he handled it but Draco was definitely an arse.
"So you broke the first rule we learnt when we got the privilege of joining this house." Ron stopped moving at this point. "I know you come from an embarrassment of a wizarding family but I had hoped you had learnt a little bit of respect for your better."
"Oh I have had enough of you, honestly you're no one's better." Ron's voice had lost its earlier exhaustion and he was now a lot more heated, clearly Malfoy had hit a sore spot. "Piss off Malfoy" this seemed to be the final straw for the blond pure blood.
"You are half the reason Slytherin is not first, every single time one of us earns any points in lesson, you lose them for not listening to anything, you are a disgrace to this house, you are a disgrace to wizarding society."
"Come on Ron, it's not worth it." Harry had moved over to stand beside Ron, his attempt to close down the situation quickly backfired.
"Stay out of this. Malfoy wants to pick a fight then he'll get a fight." Hermione had had enough at this point she stood and walked over to stand alongside Ron.
"Ronald, don't you think you and Malfoy have lost us enough points today."
"Nobody asked you Granger, stop acting like you're his friend and sit back down."
"It doesn't matter if he's my friend Malfoy, I can talk to him, you on the other hand make me sick so just shut up and go away."
Malfoy drew his wand, pointed it at the trio, the whole common room stilled at this. Even the upper years stopped what they were doing to watch, to them they properly wanted to enjoy the free entertainment.
"What are you going to do with that Malfoy, it's not like you can actually do anything. We are first years, it's not like you know any spells." Ron sounded so smug, Hermione couldn't believe it, how did this boy not understand that Malfoy had actually been paying attention to his lessons and probably knew a few extra things.
"You might not know anything useful but some of us are proper wizards. Are you going to fight me without your friends and the element of surprise or do you need them to have a chance."
Ron stepped forward, his pride was wounded and Hermione knew this wasn't going to end well for anyone involved. "Both of you leave me alone, I don't need anyone's help to wipe the floor with you."
A bright flash of reddish purple light shot from Malfoy's wand, the incantation of the tripping jinx was out of his lips before Ron could even draw his wand. He slammed into the floor.
"Come now Ronald, I thought you were going to wipe the floor with me."
Slowly Ron pushed himself up, pulling his wand out of his robes he shouted. "Flipendo!" The spell shot from his wand but it shot the wrong way, hitting harmlessly of the wall.
Malfoy broke into laughter. "That was pathetic Weasley." Ron's face burned even brighter, Hermione was worried about him, a human shouldn't be that red. "Let me show you how it's done. Flipendo.'' The jinx shot out of Draco's wand much faster than it had Ron's and actually hit its target, Ron was sent flying backwards. "Honestly Weasley I think you should be thanking me. Now no one will forget you."
Ron shouted at the boy, no actual words, just a loud scream of anger.
"Now now Weasley, I have an idea, let's make you a proper Slytherin mascot. I learnt this one before I came to Hogwarts, father felt it would be best to know a few things before I came, Colovaria!" No light came from his wand and Hermione had no idea what that spell actually did. She quickly found out as Ron's bright ginger hair turned a bright green.
"How did you know that colour changing isn't covered until fourth year?" Hermione's shock was evident.
"Some of us have the advantage of a proper childhood, not whatever you muggles do. While you were ignorant of the true wonders of magic, I was learning exactly how to be a proper wizard." His words stung, she had spent her childhood being forced to learn everything her parents wanted her too and now she was in a world where that information was useless.
Ron stood still, he couldn't see his hair but the laughter coming from a few members of the house confirmed to him that Malfoy wasn't lying.
"One final gift for you Weasley, enjoy. Furnunculus!" The gold spell shot out and hit Ron right in the face, he let out a yelp. His hands flew to his face, pimples appeared all over it. "I think the changes are nice improvements. Don't you agree?"
Instead of arguing or fighting back like Hermione expected him too, Ron simply turned and ran. He disappeared before she could register what was happening.
"Oh look, I broke him." His voice was filled with such a glee that Hermione wanted to punch him, but before she could she heard Harry's voice from behind her.
"Flipendo" shot from his wand faster than any other spell cast today, striking Draco straight in the chest. He was sent flying back, slamming into a group of 3rd years. Before anyone could move Harry ran, following the path Ron had disappeared too, Hermione not long behind him.
Line break
"Ron, Ron." Harry shouted, chasing his roommate through the hallways which lead to their room. He could still hear the laughter coming from the common room and knew that Ron could too.
Ron slammed open the door, dashing into their shared room, Harry and Hermione not far behind him. For the first time Harry got to see the full extent of what Malfoy had done to him, his ginger hair was bright green, he ears had almost doubled in size and large pimples had appeared on his face, paint stained his robes and he couldn't stop his arms from randomly slapping him in the face.
"Ronald it is rude to ignore someone when they are clearly trying to help." Hermione's voice was filled with annoyance.
"Help. You think you can help me. I just got humiliated in-front of everyone in this stupid house by Draco Bloody Malfoy." His voice waved, like he was trying to hold back tears.
"Yes and I can help, look at me," she pulled out her wand and pointed it at Ron, he flinched slightly. "Finite" A red light shot from its tup, hitting Ron.
His face reverted to normal, his robes still had the paint on them but overall he seemed to be back to normal.
"What was that?" Ron asked in surprise.
"A counter curse to almost every single basic spell." She quickly put her wand away, "I am sure your robes can be cleaned up too,."
"Thank you Hermione" he sounded genuinely grateful.
"It's fine I've no desire to see you walk around with bright green hair in large ears any more than the next person" Her attempt at humour fell flat as Ron's face dropped. He turned away from the other two and an awkward silence filled the room.
"I got a feeling most people would actually, not exactly gonna win any popularity awards am I." The bitterness was clear in Rons voice. "Most of this house hates my guts, Malfoy was at least right about that."
"Ron mate, you need to talk to us. Why did you even start it with him?" Harry was desperate at this point, he had no idea what to do to get Ron to talk. Luckily it seemed the Redhead had reached his breaking point.
"Because I was sick of all of his comments, ooo look at Weasley isn't he so poor and weak and pathetic, someone like him shouldn't be in this house. Like I don't already know that." He snapped, his anger directed at no one.
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked carefully, this was the most Ron had opened up to them and she really didn't want him to close back up.
"I am not meant for Slytherin. The hat made a mistake, it must have because I should be in Gryffindor, just like the rest of my family."
"Ron…" Harry tried but Ron wasn't finished.
"You know I haven't heard anything from my mum or dad since I was sorted. No wait, that's a lie, I did get one letter that simply read. Well done on your sorting, enjoy your year."
"Well that's a good thing right?" Harry asked.
"Not really. My mum isn't the type of person who writes short letters. Normally they are filled to the brim with emotional stuff."
"But yours wasn't." Hermione cringed at the bluntness of Harry's reply, she wasn't an expert around loving and affectionate families, her own parents rarely put much effort into the mushy stuff, but she could see that the Weasleys were very much an affectionate family.
"I didn't get Leo." It came out as an almost whisper from Ron.
"What?"
"This is going to sound stupid but ever since Billy was first sorted into Gryffindor my mum has knitted this small lion toy for each of us. She called it Leo and that was our own little tradition within the family."
"Oh." Was all Harry could say in response.
"And to begin with I was just waiting, maybe she would send a snake or something like that but I haven't gotten anything. Just the letter."
"Maybe she's busy?'' Hermione tried to reason.
"My mum is never ever too busy for us. Never." There was no room for debate in Ron's statement.
"Is this why you have been so distracted and distant?" Harry asked, had they finally gotten to the root of the problem.
"Yes, I just hoped that if I failed then Snape would kick me out but it has been a month and nothing, not even a meeting with him."
"Ron you can't throw away your future just to…" Hermione sounded aghast.
"My future, if I don't get kicked out then. I don't deserve one because it means I am meant to be a Slytherin and and…." At this point Ron's voice broke, tears fell from his eyes.
"Oh Ron." Hermione moved to comfort him but he pulled away from her touch.
"You can't throw it all away for your family." Harry could understand his reasoning, hadn't he given up at school to please the Dursleys.
"Why shouldn't I?" The question was asked yet neither Harry or Hermione could think of a good answer.
"Because Mr Weasley, if your family only wanted you to succeed on their terms then they don't have your best interest at heart." The drawling voice of Professor Snape caused all three of them to spin around, he had entered the room silently, Harry had no idea when he had gotten here or for how long the intimidating man had been listening.
"Professor." Ron managed to stammer out. He was quickly trying to remove any sign of the tears.
Professor Snape walked further into the room, with a flick of his wand Ron's robes returned to normal, better than normal actually since some of the signs of their age disappeared.
"I heard about the incident with you and Mr Malfoy. I am here to reverse any effects that his spells might have had on you, but clearly someone has already removed them." His eyes flicked over too Hermione. "You are lucky that at this age any spells were easily reversed, explaining to Madam Pomfrey what happened wouldn't have been enjoyable for you."
"What did you mean earlier sir?" Hermione asked.
"I meant what I said Miss Granger, if Mr Weasleys family aren't supporting him simply because of his house then they do not truly wish him to succeed. Do not let the actions and more importantly reactions of your family cause you to throw all that you could achieve away. Do you understand Mr Weasley?"
The redhead nodded.
"Speak up."
"Yes Sir." He tried to sound a lot more confident than he felt.
"Good, the sorting hat does not make mistakes and does not change its mind. You are a Slytherin, it is time for you to accept that and move forward."
"Thank you Sir, for helping." Harry was grateful that the man had saved him and Hermione from failing their friend.
"I believe you would do well to learn from the words I gave to Mr Weasley Potter, do not let those who came before decide your future."
Harry was confused at his words but before he could ask what the man meant he continued.
"I will not punish you or Mister Malfoy for the event that happened within this common room, I feel both of you understand that it will not happen again." Ron looked relieved "However I will be punishing for your actions during your flying lessons. Instead of serving detention with Professor McGonagall you will instead be serving it under me. Do you understand?"
"Yes sir."
"Good, come to my office first thing." With that the head of the Slytherin house turned disappearing out of the door.
"Are you going to be alright Ron?" Hermione asked, worry clear in her voice.
"Yeah, I think I just need some sleep, thank you guys, I know I have been a rubbish roommate.."
"Don't worry about it." Harry dismissed his attempt at an apology.
The room fell into a comfortable silence, the three spent the rest of the night together in their room, rebuilding the friendship they had started the first night. Eventually they decided it was time to call it a night.
"Do you think my family really doesn't care anymore?" The question was asked quickly and quietly by Ron.
"I am sure they care." Harry tried to put as much reassurance into his reply as he could.
"Yeah, probably just been busy, night guys." And for the rest of the night Harry and Hermione tried desperately to ignore the sound of crying coming from Ron's bed.
LINE BREAK
Taking a deep breath Ron raised his hand and knocked on the dark wooden door. From inside he heard the drawling voice of the potions master.
"Come in Mr Weasley." Opening the door Ron gingerly entered. Making his way too in front of the desk and standing awkwardly as Snape continued to write. Without looking up Snape told him to take a seat and they sat in an uncomfortable silence. The only sound was the scratching of quill to paper. After what seemed like an hour but was more likely ten minutes Snape finally spoke.
"How are you feeling? any better?" There seemed to be actual interest within his voice as he asked.
"Yes, a bit better thank you." And Ron was surprised at the fact he actually meant it. Strange as it was but the shorter amount of sleep he had last night had left him feeling more awake and refreshed than any other night.
"Well, I'm glad to hear it. However it does not change the fact that for the past few weeks you have been a failure of a student. One whose performance has severely disappointed me and the other teachers at this institution." Snape's harsh words cut through Ron's good mood and the shame about how he had been acting returned in full.
"I'm sorry sir, but I really am and I want to do better. I can't promise that it will be easy and I might slip back but I do want to do better." It was the truth. Ron had a feeling that attempting to tell the man in front of him anything other than the complete truth would end badly for him.
"Your apology is appreciated and I feel that your other teachers would appreciate an apology so that is your first task for redemption. I want to hear from all members of staff that by the end of your next lesson with them you have given a proper apology. Also understand this Mr Weasley. I am giving you a chance to show me that you have what it takes to impress." The fact that he would get no more than the one was left unsaid but clear to him.
"Thank you Professor, when will my detention be because honestly I've got a lot of things to catch up on." Ron was dreading the amount of work he would need to do to get back on a level playing field with his year mates.
"You raise a very good point, you do have a lot to catch up on and as such I feel your detention would be better served revising the previous weeks" A slight sense of relief appeared in Rons chest. The shock clearly showed on his face however. "Do not act surprised Mr Weasley as while I'm sure you have heard some frightful tales of me from the other more lively members of your family. I am not a completely unfair man. As such, I have found you a tutor, someone who is eager to impress me and has offered a service in any way I might need, therefore I feel it is best that she'll be helping you."
"Is it one of the older students?" Ron asked, worried he would get saddled with one of the bigots.
"I am not going to waste the time of the more mature students who are under their own stresses to help students catch up. No, she is a first year student who has so far excelled in most areas and I sure will be well suited to remedying academic failure." A knock came from behind and Snape bid them enter. Turning Ron looked at the individual who would be tutoring him. He groaned.
Daphne Greengrass had just walked in. Her light brown hair was tied neatly in a ponytail. Her uniform was pristine, not a single crease which contrasted greatly with Ron's second hand robes.
"Hello Professor, Weasley."
"Thank you for coming. I was just explaining to mister Weasley that you will be his tutor. The outline is simple. You will need to meet up once a week until Halloween and after that it is up to you if you wish to continue. Understand that if you miss a single session then Miss Greengrass will come home and your punishment will not be as helpful to you."
Ron nodded his head.
"Good, now both of you go to breakfast."
The two first years left his office. Ron could see Harry and Hermione standing off to the side waiting for him and he started to walk over to them.
"Weasley, meet me tonight in the library after our last lesson."
"Fine Greengrass." He shouted back as he continued to walk off. Ignoring her muttering."
The rest of the day was without a doubt Rons most exhausting day at Hogwarts and his favourite. The apologies had been well received by the teachers he had today and while he would spend a lot of the week apologising he felt he had made a good start. Harry and Hermione had been brilliant, to start off with Ron was worried they would be unforgiving towards him, their actions before breakfast and throughout the rest of the day quickly dispensed this thought from the redhead. He slotted into the pair easily, quickly finding his place amongst the two. Hermione's passion and unrelenting push to achieve higher than the rest of the class was inspiring and Harry's natural talent with magic but his complete lack of ability to ever explain how or what he was doing was funny to watch. Hermione would resight the textbook definition of how to perform the spell they would be assigned and Harry would blankly look at her before performing it with three or four attempts yet he wouldn't be able to answer the basic questions asked by any teachers, that was unless it was defence, a subject in which he took to like a mermaid in water. Hermione however outclassed him in Transfiguration. Well to be fair Hermione outclassed everyone in that subject. Professor McGonagall seemed to find enjoyment in pushing the young muggleborn's buttons and watching her grow increasingly frustrated was a source of amusement for both the boys.
Hermione had let out a sigh of exasperation when she had turned to the two of them giggling to themselves in Transfiguration while she had been arguing with the teacher about why the rat wasn't changing colour so clearly she had failed while Professor McGonagall simply reminded her that it was working as the animal was clearly tinted yellow.
"Oh god, now there are two of you." The reminder that Ron was clearly welcome in the group made him smile.
His good mood however came to an end when at the end of Charms Daphne Greengrass came over to the group and practically dragged Ron away from the two towards the library. Finding a quite table she sat down and gestured for him to take a seat which he unhappily did.
"So how long are we going to be here?"
"Until you complete the assignments from Week one and not a moment sooner."
"What? all of them." That would take hours.
"Yes. Starting with potions. Do you have your books with you?"
"Yeah, are you going to help?" He asked, pulling out his second hand copy of the text books. The front cover had nearly fallen off.
"I will make corrections on your first draft while you complete the next assignment. You know that book clearly needs to be thrown away."
Ron felt his anger rise. "Well not everyone has endless money princesses."
"Don't call me Princesses. I was just saying it could do with a refresher."
Ignoring her, He started on his assignment. They sat in an uncomfortable silence until he finished. Passing it to her and stretching his sore hand before he started on the next one which was transfiguration. This continued for two hours. Ron would complete an assignment, pass it to Daphne who would make corrections and once he had finished the new one she would go over all of the errors he had made. No other conversation passed between them until he had finished the last one.
"Look I am sorry." Daphne said as they packed up. "My comment was insensitive and none of my business." Ron looked at her, trying to see if he could sense if she was lying. He couldn't.
"It's fine."
"I don't want all of the meetings to be this uncomfortable so why don't we start over." Ron couldn't find any issue with her logic, it had been uncomfortable and he would prefer the next month of meetings to be less so.
"Okay. Deal."
"Thank you." They walked towards the main hall in a slightly less uncomfortable silence.
"Do you need any help with the practical stuff? I would be happy to help there as well." Her offer seemed sincere but Ron didn't need her help.
"I have got Harry and Hermione for that but thanks for the offer."
"I mean in charms. Potter beats everyone in Defence which isn't shocking given his whole Boy-Who-Lived thing and Granger, as much as I hate her attitude, has me beat in Transfiguration but I am top of the class in Charms and I know you're pretty great at it too."
Ron knew she was referring to their first lesson where she had been the only one to notice him performing the locking charm first try. "When would you fit that into your homework-filled schedule? Isn't the plan to do all the written work I missed."
"well yes but we could meet up more. Maybe every Monday for written stuff and every Friday for practical work. How does that sound?"
Ron could see the logic in her offer. She was definitely better than his mates at charms so it wouldn't work to take her up on the help but he couldn't shake his dad's words. He had warned him away from the Greengrass family specifically and surely this would just be spitting in his face. However his fathers voice quickly replaced his Professor Snape's and the advice he had given him. Swallowing his doubt he spoke.
"Sure that works for me. Same time, same place."
Daphne looked happy at his answer. "Well we can't do magic in the library since Madam Pince would have our heads but maybe meet there and then go along to an abandoned classroom."
"Sure." They had arrived just outside the great hall. "Look thank you Daphne for the help. See you later." Ron turned and walked towards his friends. There was a lightness to his step that he hadn't had since coming to Hogwarts. Maybe things were looking up.
Dear Readers,
I do hope you enjoyed this chapter, it sets up a dynamic I am excited to explore later down the line. I am so grateful to everyone who has followed or favourited this story and I hope you enjoyed this weeks chapter.
Unfortunately there will be no update next week as it is christmas I am will be doing family stuff but the week after you will get two chapters at once to make up for this.
From Padington123