Samuel... well Harry... was getting frustrated with the stares and whispers. He was struggling to answer to Harry Potter. He's been going by Samuel Darlington since he was adopted. He wasn't new to magic, he was just new to this much attention. His father was a fire brigade squib in London and his mother was a half blood witch who had stayed home to home school him in both muggle and magical education.
She had been furious when the Professors kept calling him Harry Potter. While learning who he was born as was a surprise, he had been blood adopted. He was legally, in both worlds, Samuel Darlington.
The fact that the Headmaster kept calling him Mr Potter around other students was annoying. He'd already sent a letter to his mother about it. She planned to head to Gringott's to talk to the Potter Account Manager to discuss the issue. He couldn't wait to see Dumbledore try to say Potter and magic stops him.
"Look at little orphan Annie trying to be a big bad snake " Samuel rounds the corner to see Hermione Granger surrounded by Ron Weasley and some of his friends. It's only been 3 days of school, but gossip was strong within its walls and people were quick to learn who was who. Sadly that meant new targets to bully.
"Hey leave her alone!" He pushes his way through to shield her. "Why don't you go back to your common room and mind your business about other people's problems."
"Whatever Potter, you shouldn't be lingering around those dark families. Your a Traitor to the light!" The red head stomps off with his little cronies.
"Are you okay? They didn't hurt you, did they?" He turns to check her out for injuries. She shakes her head and bends to pick up her scattered belongings. He helps before walking with her to the next class.
Professor Snape was waiting at the entrance to his class as students walked in. He raises an eyebrow at the sight of his 2 loner snakes walking together but Samuel just shakes his head slightly. He already knew his head of house was working on a Christmas gift for the girl that they hoped would give her good results.
Professor Snape teamed up everyone into 2s. He was glad they didn't share the class with Gryffindor, the Hufflepuffs were quick to warn quite a few lions were cauldron melters.
He was paired with Hermione. He didn't mind. After his introduction of the class and an overview of safety and proper ingredient cutting, he gave them a potion to work on while his apprentice made the potion at the front of the class as a demonstration. Hermione was a diligent worker, making no mistakes as she cut and chopped.
He decided in the end to sit with her in all their classes for the rest of the week. She was smart, he could hear her answering the questions under her breath when she doesn't raise her hand to answer. There was minimal talking, and she didn't gush over him and his 'famous story'. She respected his privacy and need for quiet and when he did sit with the other boys and talked Quidditch or school work, she went to the library or her room.
Whether she realized it or not, he had made his claim clear to all others that he wouldn't tolerate anyone in their house or others, bullying her.
He felt the need to protect her. And he would do just that.
--
Hermione didn't know what to make of the popular boy who had become her shadow. Despite him prefering to be alone most days, it wasn't because he didn't get along with anyone. He was kind, well mannered, and well respected outside of those who loved calling him a blood traitor. He easily made friends, and knew when to avoid the fan girls.
He was handsome. Green eyes stared back at you as if they could read your soul. It was obvious he was going to be tall and break some hearts as he gets older. She was sure he'd have his choice of girlfriends when he got to the age of showing real interest.
Between the 1st years in their house, Samuel, Draco Malfoy, Theo Nott, and Blaise Zabini were know as little princes. Proper gentlemen, good grades, and not bad on the eyes, had gossip wondering who will catch their eyes while in school. She knew from Gwen most purebloods arranged marriage contracts with the chosen couples for their heirs. Draco. Samuel, and Theo all wore Heir rings. Pansy mentioned you had to start early to catch the prize.
Case in point, she was sitting in the middle of all the boys at dinner flirting and clinging away. It made her cringe. She quickly finished her food before slipping away to the library.
It has been 3 weeks of school, and she had not decided on the best way to make money yet this summer. Or even the holidays.
Transfiguration was something she thought might work. She found some advanced textbooks to make transfigured items permanent and maybe even become animate.
She pulls the book she needs and goes to find an empty classroom. She places a row of rocks on the table and pulls out her wand. It was Samuel a 7th year hufflepuff who had explained imaging what you want an object to transfigure to in your mind as you did the spell that helped her become successful in the class. Once she understand, it felt easy to do, a natural thing to do.
The rocks were becoming animals. Some muggle, some magical. Horses, owls, penguins, Hippogriff, niffler, unicorns and dragons. By the time she was done, she had a couple dozen. The hard part was having successfully placed charms on the animals.
--
It was quite in the castle. Winter Break had begun and majority of the students had went home. She was the only Slytherin in her common room this holiday. She didn't mind. She never celebrated a holiday before. The Grangers didn't bother. A few pass through fosters sometimes had their own traditions that were interesting to watch but she never had reason to start any of her own. Maybe when she's older she'd put it under consideration to try.
For now though, she looked at her animal sculptures in glee. She finally did it. Her animal companions were playing arrive each other in the table. A cushioning charm and a shatter proof charm should keep them from breaking.
On paper, under her notes in what she did, she had a few lost of spells she can charge extra for for the customers if they wanted them. Changing the animals color, a tracking charm between animal and owner. Etc. At the moment they were all protected from being claimed without her permission.
They had more personality than she expected. She enjoyed their games as she carried them back to her common room. She warded them in an area to safely play while she read on the couch.
She woke to a darkened room. The fire was her main source of light. She looks up to see Professor Snape looking at her quizzically.
"Ms. Granger you were missed at the dinner, are you okay? You don't usually linger in here, " he frowns.
"Apologies Professor, I had just completed a personal project and I guess I fell asleep after, " she shrugs. Even the few months here at the school, she wasn't a big eater, not used to having food at every meal. She was sure a missed meal here and there wasn't a big deal.
"Personal project? Is nothing dangerous like the Weasley twins pranks is it?"
"No sir. In fact, if you don't mind, I'd like if you could check out the results for yourself?" She smiles. She points at the 'playpen' she decided to call it. In the darkened room, he hadn't seen them.
She watched as he walks over and bends down to survey them. Many of them were asleep but the penguins, the horse and the Hippogriff were up and playing around. She enjoyed seeing the Hippogriff flying, being the only one with wings awake at the moment. Maybe more winged animals were needed. She only had him and a couple of dragons, and 1 owl.
She turns away from her creations to noticing her professor was staring at her without an expression.
"100 points Ms Granger, for successful use of advanced magic that is not taught in this school. Congratulations," he stands up. "I suggest we show these to Professor McGonagall in the morning. And I'm assuming, you have a purpose for them?" She nods.
"Yes sir, I'll be selling them sir. I'm too young to work at the moment and wanted to be able to have money off my own, " she briefly explains. She felt no need to say she had no where to live come summer and needed money to find an inn to stay at. She was sure it wouldn't be cheap staying in a inn. She'd be questioned if she went to a muggle hotel.
He rummages in his pocket and holds out his hand to her. He drops 2 Galleons in her palm. "I'll take a black dragon." She opens the wards just enough for him to pull out the sleeping black dragon the size of his palm. She resist the urge to Aw when it's tiny mouth yawns before snuggling into his hand.
The next morning he gives her a room warded to his and her signature only, for her to work in. A netted 'play area' was placed on one side of the room for her completed companions to stay.
After that was settled, they met with Professor McGonagall. She was impressed to say the least. As she currently had an apprentice, she offered her an apprenticeship upon her 3rd year. She says yes. She'd have a Mastery before she graduated. She was so happy, she hugged the 2 professors.
She doesn't see them smile to each other over her joy. McGonagall buys the Hippogriff.
As snow falls outside Christmas morning, she wakes up snuggled deep into her blankets. She eventually gets up, knowing breakfast was french toast.
At first she doesn't notice the small packages at the foot of her bed as she slips on her slippers. She doesn't know what to think when she sees them.
The 1st one was from professor Snape. It was the proper certification and paperwork to run her own business. A note upon the papers let her know she just needed to pick a name and write it on the papers that will automatically update the file at the Ministry. With the papers, was a black velvet bag and a key. A Gringott's vault under her name. She still needed to meet with them officially but it was linked to the bag already to place and pull money from. She grabs the 4 Galleons and watches them disappear and then drinks her hand in to pull them out again. She jumps around in excitement. It was the best winter holiday of her life.
She opens the next package. Professor McGonnagall. 2 gift certificates to Flouish Blotts, and to Madam Malkins. She would definitely be saving those for later.
There was also a pretty wand holster and a book on Transfiguration and charms she had never seen in the library.
The 3rd package caught her most by surprise. It was from Samuel. A Book : Wards and Other Protective Enchantments. With it was a gold locket. Attached was a note explaining the necklace was charmed to nullify hexes and charms aimed at her. There was also a notice me not on it that would activate once she put it on.
She didn't know what to say. She puts the necklace on and gets ready to go eat. After that she had thank you letters to write.