Author Note: A new story. I am Rahmota not Rowling. I own none of this, anything you recognize is not mine, anything you don't recognize might not be mine, anything that doesn't exist is imaginary. Any problems with imaginary things is a sign that therapy might be a good idea.

Begin

Harry Potter was riding on the Hogwart's Express with his new friend Ron. As they traveled they talked about various things and Ron was about to show Harry a spell his brothers had supposedly taught him when the door to their compartment opened. A brown haired girl stood there getting ready to say something when there was a brief flash of light behind her eyes and her face went slack. A moment later she blinked a few times and drew her wand.

"Ronald Weasley get the fuck out of here and take that filthy rat with you!" She bellowed as she stuck her wand in the redhead's face."

"What the bloody hell!" He exclaimed.

"You heard me. Ronald Bilious Weasley sixth son of Arthur Weasley! In the name of all that is holy leave now or else!" She commanded.

Ron grabbed his rat and sidled out of the door past her. "Bloody absolutely Mental!" He whimpered before she slammed the door and casting several spells caused the windows to become opaque. Turning to face Harry she gave him a soft reassuring smile.

"I'm Sorry Harry my love. I needed to get him away from you. I can't talk long as I'm burning the Sun to power this spell. But a world without you in it is not a world worth living. So I need you to listen closely and pay attention, can you do that?"
"Yeah sure." Harry replied in confusion. "Of course."

"Good. I need you to be careful. Ron is not entirely what he seems, don't trust him or his family. His rat is an unregistered animagus and a criminal. Contact Susan Bones to get her aunt to help you with that. Professor McGonnagal will help confirm and capture the rat. Don't trust Dumbledore he doesn't have your best interests in mind. Susan's aunt and McGonnagal can help with that too. Get Pomfrey to check your health. Snape is out for himself. He's playing both sides and as long as you remember that, you can work with him. But do not ever trust him. He is a Slytherin to the core. Make friends with Neville Longbottom. He is your brother. He doesn't know it yet either though. Next year there is a girl named Luna Lovegood. She is your sister. As much as you might want to be her lover I need to be that girl, please. My name is Hermione. I'll hopefully leave some memories in her head when this message is done but I won't be able to send you anything else. It's getting dark outside so I'm almost out of time. Be careful Harry. There are people using you. I love you and she will too if you give her a chance. Never forget that Harry." She said in a firm caring tone of voice as the glow behind the eyes faded.

"Be careful Harry, I lo." the glow went out and her eyes rolled back in her head. She fell forward into his arms as he caught her. Moving to try and lay her on the floor softly she opened the dark chocolate brown eyes staring at him in annoyed confusion.

"Hello. Do you mind?" She demanded but in the tone of a confused and annoyed twelve year old.

"Sorry." Harry replied as she stood up woozily with his help. Looking around in confusion she asked, "What happened?"

"Uh I'm not entirely sure you'll believe me if I tell you. But. I'm Harry Potter."

"Hermione Granger. Pleased to meet you." she replied politely.

"So can you stay and tell me about yourself?" Harry asked.

She frowned as she looked at the windows which were slowly fading back into transparency. "Why?"

"Oh because you told me we should be friends." He said with a anxious smile.

"I told you?" She asked pinning him with her gaze. "Could you please explain that, in detail?"

Harry took a deep breath. He had been in the magical world for less than a week and already things were getting weird. "Okay. You opened the door to the compartment, your eyes started glowing and your voice started talking, but it was like an adult's voice. Someone used to telling others what to do. You told me a bunch of things and that I should trust you and be your friend."

"Is that it?" She asked looking like she was searching her thoughts, "I think I know things I didn't know. Maybe."

"Yeah well. Uh. She did say that maybe we should be more than friends." He bashfully said.

"Also something about a rat. And people named Neville and Luna, and Susan?" she looked at him worriedly. "I. You."

"Are you okay?" Harry asked worriedly.

Her eyes flitted towards his forehead then back at his hand on her arm which was gently helping her to stay upright as she was breathing hard. "I think I need to calm down. This is amazing. I think I received a thought message from a future version of me?"

"Oh. Okay." Harry replied like she had said she had received a doughnut from the trolley lady.

"You don't understand the significance of this do you?" she asked with a brilliant smile.

"Until a week ago I didn't even know magic was real. So if you tell me a future version of yourself burned up the sun to send a message back to yourself then I have no reason to doubt you. Whichever you." Harry said expansively waving his hands.

Hermione nodded, "Okay that's fair. Let's just say the energy involved to do that would have been extraordinary. Since I was helping Neville look for his toad I should go check on him. Also since you're supposed to know him maybe I could bring him to meet you?"

"That would be great. If you don't mind."
"No I don't mind at all. I think a walk might let me get my mind sorted out a bit." She said blinking a few times, "I have a few memories that are not mine, I think. Only they're like memories of dreams so I'm not clear about them."

"Okay. Will you be able to figure them out?" Harry asked with some concern.

"I think so. Dad says I have a steel trap mind so I should be okay."

"Good. I'm glad." Harry said with a relieved sigh.

"Oh. One more thing." She said as she stood shakily. Turning to look at him she pointed her wand at his face and said with a mischievous grin, "Occulus Reparo."

Harry's glasses unbent and the tape flew off as they became good as new. Grinning he said, "Thanks! You've got to teach me that one."

"I have a feeling I'm going to need to teach you a great deal." She said smiling as she stepped out of the compartment.

She had been gone only a moment when Ron Weasley slunk back into the compartment, "What was that all about?" he inquired.

"Uh. She is going to be coming back." Harry said quickly.

"Really? Why?" Ron scowled at the door.

"Because I like her and she is my friend now." Harry said in an amazed tone, "Maybe even my girlfriend."

Ron snorted, "Well you certainly work quick. Or did she declare you her boyfriend in that bossy tone?"

"Neither. I merely told him it would be mutually beneficial." Hermione said from behind Ron as he jumped giving a slight yip of surprise.

"Gah. Where did you come from?"

She gave a wicked grin as she said, "Well you see when a man and a woman love each other they."

Ron glared at her, "No. I know where babies come from I meant. You know what. Never mind. I was here first so I'm going to stay."

She looked at Ron with her eyebrow raised as she slowly drew her wand like she was contemplating what to do with it.

The tall chubby boy behind her watched the entire scene with a curious expression. Harry noticed there was a strawberry blonde haired chubby girl behind him that had an intrigued look as she tried to see what the fuss was.

"You're bloody mental." Ron accused her breathing hard as she pointed her wand at him again.

"Maybe. Maybe not. But I'm the one with the wand." She flatly said.

Ron grabbed his trunk and turned to leave, glaring at Hermione until she stepped aside and let him go. Once he was gone the other two entered the compartment.

"Harry Potter this is Neville Longbottom and Susan Bones." she said by way of introduction. Both of the others nodded their greetings back to Harry.

"Oh. Did you explain what happened to them or do we have to go through that again?" Harry asked as she shut the door behind them.

"No. We'll have to explain it to them." Hermione said as she sat beside him.

Harry took a deep breath then began to tell them exactly what had happened. When he was done both fo the new ones looked at him incredulously then looked at her before Neville said, "Okay. I don't know about the brother thing. But I wouldn't mind being your friend."

Susan smiled, "Yeah sure. And my aunt would love to know about an unregistered animagus hiding in the school? That would be a big deal for her."

"So your aunt is someone important?" Harry asked.

"My aunt is head of the DMLE. The Department for Magical law Enforcement." Susan replied.

"Oh. That would be important." Harry agreed. "Now can you tell me what an animagus is and why them being unregistered is bad?"

Hermione said in a lecturing tone, "An animagus is a witch or wizard who has developed the ability to transform themselves into an animal."

Susan nodded, "And why its bad to be unregistered is imagine if your owl was one. They could listen to everything you said or watch everything you did and then steal your ideas, steal any secrets. They could commit any crime then just blend in with a common animals."

Harry turned to look at Hedwig who stared back disinterestedly. "How would you tell?"

"Well each wizard retains certain markings in their animal form that reflects their human form supposedly. Plus Auntie says there are spells that can detect them as well as force them back into their human form." Susan explained.

"Spells beyond finite?" Hermione asked.

"Finite doesn't work on an animagus like that. The shift is an innate ability so requires a special spell." Susan replied."I brought a puppy home I found once and Auntie cast so many spells on it I thought she was going to glow."

"Wow." Harry said in awe, "That's a bit much don't you think?"

Susan looked glumly at the floor as she turned her hands over and over in her lap. "Well mum and dad got killed during the last war so she's a bit. Protective."

Hermione said into the sudden, leaden, silence, "Oh. I'm sorry."

Harry nodded, "Yeah."

Susan looked sympathetically at Harry, "I guess you can understand that."

Harry sighed, "Yeah."

Silence settled across the four youths for long minutes before Harry looked at Neville, "So do you think that we are brothers thing means we're actually brothers or if its figurative?"

Neville shrugged, "I have no idea."

"Do you think your parents could explain that?" Hermione asked eagerly.

"No. I seriously doubt it." Neville replied sharply.

Hermione worked her mouth for a moment before she replied weakly, "Oh. I see."

Neville frowned, "Sorry. My parents. My parents are not well. I live with my gramma."

Hermione looked shocked as Harry said, "I see. So. Uh. Well nothing to be ashamed of then."

"I'm not ashamed. I'm just. I feel. I dunno." Neville grumped. "But I'm not ashamed. I just don't like to talk about it."

Harry sighed again, "I wish I knew more about my parents. I keep learning little things in drips and drabs."

"There are several books written about you. Plus you and your family are mentioned in several others. I have them in my trunk if you want to read them." Hermione offered.

Harry nodded, "I'd like that. Maybe later?"

"Ok. So do either of you know who Snape is?" Hermione asked next.

"He's the potions professor. And a Death Eater." Susan declared.

"Gramma says he's Dumbledore's pet project and without his interference the board would have gotten rid of him ages ago." Neville added.

Harry nodded then asked, "What's a Death Eater?"

"The bad guys who worked for Voldemort." Hermione said then raised her eyebrows when both of the other students gave a startled shudder. "What?"

"Sorry. None of the adults say his name. He had a taboo on it so that a group of his Death Eaters would show up and attack whomever said his name." Susan explained, "I guess we picked it up from them since they've done that for as long as I can remember.

"Hmm. Speak of the devil and he shall hear." Hermione observed.

"It was effective." Neville said.

"But he's been destroyed. The death of the caster ends most spells."

"Most but not all." Neville said looking around like he expected a squad of Death Eaters to burst into the compartment at any moment.

"Okay so we'll have to come up with a nickname for him that we know what we're talking about." Harry pointed out then with a grin suggested, "How about the Big V."

"The big V?" Susan asked.

"Well my cousin is named Dudley. He wants people to call him the big D. Which he is one. One of the biggest." Harry smirked although the other three just looked at him in confusion.

"Uh. D. As in dick. Big D." Harry frowned, then shrugged. "It made more sense in my head."

Hermione patted him on the arm, "Okay. Big V works for the bad guy."

"So Snape was a Death Eater. How did he wind up working at the school?" Hermione asked Neville.

"Gramma says Dumbledore vouched for him, claiming he was a operative of his all along."

"Auntie doesn't believe that but then she and Dumbledore do not get along very well."

"What about Pomfrey?" Harry asked thinking.

"She's the matron at the school. She used to be a Healer in a mission in Africa so has seen a lot of things." Neville said thinking, "Gramma says she is a nice spinster woman that knows her job."

"Okay. And the Weasleys?" Harry asked.

"Well their dad works at the Ministry. Mum has mentioned him a few times. He works with the Muggle stuff." Susan said, "I've met him once when Auntie took me to the office with her. He seems nice, a bit daft but nice."

"They live not far from me in Ottery." Neville stated, "I don't know them very well as they don't move in the circles Gramma wants me to be in."

"Oh. And the Luna Lovegood?"

Both Susan and Neville looked at each other then shrugged.

"Blonde girl. Petite. Has a bit of a odd outlook on things but is really very sweet." Hermione expanded.

"No idea." Neville said.

"I've never heard of her." Susan agreed.

"Oh." Harry glumly said, "Okay. I guess we'll find out next year."

"Yeah." Neville said with an agreeable wave of his hand. "Depending on what happens maybe she'll be able to explain things."

"Maybe. So uh. Anything else we should really worry about with this right now?"

Hermione shook her head, "I think we've covered everything that the future version of me said that we can deal with right now. Unless you want to get into speculation about why she sent the message or other things."

"Not really." Harry said as the others indicated their agreement.

"Speculating on why she did that probably isn't going to help." Neville sighed.

"Okay. Well I kinda feel tired now so I think I'll take a nap, or at least rest, if you don't mind. You don't have to leave if you don't want to." Hermione said as she yawned.

"That was probably pretty weird." Neville said.

"It was different." Hermione admitted.

Hermione curled up on the seat beside Harry. She had put her head on his thigh causing him to nervously flinch for a moment. She sat back up, "I'm sorry. I should have asked."

"No. I. I just wasn't expecting that." He admitted.

She blushed, "Sorry. I suppose that was a bit forward."

He shrugged, unsure of what to say.

"Uh. Given that, what the future me said about us. I. Uh. Well." She seemed to run out of words briefly as she blushed.

"If you're okay with that I am. Its just a nap. Nothing more."

"Right. Just a nap." She agreed.

Harry tried to relax as she carefully adjusted herself so that her head was not near anything personal and was soon sound asleep.

…...

Harry, Neville and Susan had quietly chatted about Hogwarts, the magical world and various things. Commiserating a bit about having lost their parents and comparing how their childhoods had been.

Susan's aunt was a strict but fair woman. She was a spinster who had never married for reasons Susan did not know. Neville lived with his Grandmother who was a bit old fashioned. He otherwise did not talk much about her. He did talk about his greenhouses that his mother had maintained. Some of the plants he had which were rare and how they could be used.

Harry talked a little bit about growing up in a muggle house and neighborhood. Editing out some of the more unpleasant aspects of life with the Dursleys. Talking about how Hagrid had brought him to Diagon Alley and how he had met Ron.

"That's not right." Neville said frowning.

"What do you mean?" Harry asked.

"There are public floos just inside the doorway to the platform. No pure-blood magical uses the muggle entrance." Neville replied, "Even those of us that don't go in for the blood supremacy stuff. Its just less hassle and annoyance."

"That might explain the ash on Ron's clothes?" Harry asked suddenly realizing Ron had ash on his clothes and some on his nose. He had not noticed it before.

Susan nodded, "Yeah. Auntie is always going on about the cheaper grade floo powders that leave ash on your clothes. She's rather particular about the brand she uses."

Gramma's the same way. She says the cheaper stuff can fail and leave you in the thick of the fire." Neville agreed.

Harry looked annoyed, "So why would they be on the outside of the doorway?"

Neville and Susan both shrugged. "I guess they had their own reasons."

Harry wondered if he was one of those reasons. Things were beginning to not add up.

The door opened at that point and the blonde boy from Madam Malkins was standing there. Looking into the compartment like he was the lord of the manor. "Well isn't this cozy. I heard that Harry Potter was on the train."

"Well when you find him, give him my regards." Harry snidely remarked.

The boy scowled arrogantly at him, "Do you know who I am?"

"The tidy-bowl man?" Harry asked from a commercial from his aunt's telly program.

"I am Draco Malfoy, Son of Lucius Malfoy." He declared as if that was a royal patent.

Neville sighed, "Yes Draco. We know who you are."

"Longbottom. Nobody yanked your chain." Draco sneered.

Hermione woke up groggily, "Hullo? Who is this?"

"Well. Sorry to interrupt your repose princess." Draco sarcastically declared.

She frowned at him, "Draco Malfoy!"

"So I said." he replied superciliously.

"You. You arrogant, pompous strutting peacock. You and your friends can just go bugger off." She declared angrily.

"And who do you think you are telling me off?" Draco growled facing her. Harry just noticed the two boys standing in the corridor outside of the compartment. They reminded him far too much of Dudley's cohorts.

"I am Hermione Granger. And that's all you need to know."

"Granger? That's not one of the families." Draco looked confused.

"No its not. All the better for me." She snarled, "Now you are interrupting and being rude. So please leave."

Draco sneered, "Fine. I'd rather not associate with defectives that escaped Saint Mungo's."

Neville stood, "Watch yourself Malfoy."

Draco turned, "Oh yes. I had almost forgotten. How are dear mumsie and daddy?"

Neville looked like he was seriously considering which organ to remove first when a prefect came upon the scene. "What's all this?" he called out.

"Nothing you need to worry about Weasley." Draco sneered.

"I am a prefect Malfoy. This means any disturbances are something I need to worry about." Weasley countered firmly.

"There's no disturbance. This is boring me anyhow." Draco sniffed then turned and sauntered up the corridor.

Prefect Weasley looked into the compartment then shaking his head moved on.

"Well that was unpleasant." Susan quipped.

"Ohhh. I hate him so much." Hermione crossly declared.

"You just met him." Neville pointed out.

"Yeah and I feel like I've known him for several decades. Its one of those time travel things." She said tapping the side of her head, "Unfortunately aside from a few unspecific things I cannot tell you more. I think whatever method she used gave me partial memories, a sort of overview of her life. But if she had tried to give me too much specifics it would have erased me, or worse."

Neville got a horrified expression briefly before he clamped it down. "Oh yeah."

Hermione looked at him for a moment then got a sympathetic, knowing expression, "Right. I. Uh. I don't know the details but I won't pry. We won't pry right?" She looked earnestly at Harry.

"Right. Yeah." Harry agreed.

Neville looked bashfully at the floor. "Uh. Thanks. Maybe. Maybe someday i'll."

Hermione reached out to rub his arm briefly, "Its okay. I think I understand."

"So back to Malfoy. Don't feel bad about hating him. A lot of people don't like the Malfoys. They just are rich and powerful enough not to care about other people's opinions." Susan said.

Neville slumped into the seat, "Yeah. His father is another one the Death Eaters that got off because they claimed to be imperioused."

"Auntie would love to nail his hide to the wall." Susan confirmed.

Hermione looked like she was thinking hard, "There is something I was sent in that information but I don't know what. Something bad and dangerous about him."

"Take your pick about that. I've heard a lot of rumors." Susan said.

"Well I'll try and figure it out. Hopefully before its too late." Hermione said shaking her head.

"Suspecting Malfoy of doing something nasty is never a bad idea in general." Susan suggested.

"I agree." Neville stated.

"Okay so. This looks like its going to be a fun year." Harry said.

"Yeah." Neville agreed with a sigh.

…...

The rest of the train ride they discussed the history of the school, what sort of things they might expect and generally got to know each other. By Hogsmeade Neville, Harry, Susan and Hermione were confirmed friends.

Hagrid was calling for the first years when Harry walked up smiling, Hermione had not said anything bad about him, and as simple and innocent as he seemed to be Harry did not believe the big man was part of any schemes.

"Arry! Glad ta see ye made some friends on the trip." Hagrid said pulling Harry into a sideways hug while smiling at the others.

"Yeah. Its been an interesting trip." Harry agreed.

"Right, well get on down to the boats. I got to wrangle the rest o this lot." Hagrid said with a wink, "Make sure four to a boat now."

Harry and his friends moved down the jetty. Ron followed but at a wary distance as Hermione's head had snapped around to glare at him when he came close.

…...

Climbing the stairs from the boat house they wound up in a small antechamber across the corridor from two large wooden doors. To the left of these doors hung four large hourglasses which had a king's ransom in gems filling their upper compartments. Ron stood looking hungrily at the stones for a moment until Hagrid chased him back out of the corridor.

Draco stood scowling at Harry but remained on his side of the room with his cronies. Another small cluster of people were around a tall blonde haired girl. Ron was talking to several others and looking at Harry with a strange expression. Like he was trying to figure out how to get to him past Hermione.

Hermione stood close by Harry, holding his hand to the amusement of several girls. Neville and Susan stood near him too although they nodded or waved to some other students they apparently knew. Harry had looked down at his hand in Hermione's with a rather odd, surprised, expression. She was muttering something to herself under her breath that was too low for Harry to hear.

A tall middle aged professor entered the chamber looking around. She cleared her throat and said, "Attention. My name is Professor McGonnagal. You will please form an orderly queue as we are about to enter the Great Hall where you will be sorted into your houses. Your houses will be your family and you will learn to trust and depend on your house mates for the rest of your lives. No house is above the others and you are not prohibited from making friends from the other houses."

Looking around she raised her eyebrow when she saw Harry and Hermione but said nothing.

"Very well. Follow me." She ordered then turned around and led them towards the doors. Harry noticed another set of larger and thicker looking doors to his right. The large corridor went to the left to a large set of stairs and some other corridors. A ghostly girl was hovering near the stairs watching everyone wistfully. Harry felt an odd urge to wave to her which seemed to surprise her as she turned and shot up the stairs suddenly.

The Great Hall was filled with four tables running the length with a long table on a small stage at the end in front of a set of five huge windows. The ceiling was a starry night with several thousand candles hovering over their heads. Large stained glass windows lined the hall.

"Professor Dumbledore. Our new first years." Professor McGonnagal announced.

A tall long haired man that reminded Harry of a skinnier father christmas stood and smilled at them.

"Ahh welcome to Hogwarts. I hope your stay with us will be most enlightening and entertaining in equal measures." He nodded and two older students, a boy and girl, brought a stool with a ratty ancient looking pointed leather hat out. The hat had been patched multiple times.

One of those seams it turned out was a mouth that began to sing a welcoming song describing the four houses, how they chose their members and what their values were. Gryffindor the house of the strong, bold and brave, Ravenclaw the house of the smart, wise and quick witted, Slytherin the crafty, cunning and silent, Hufflepuff the happy house of humility, effort and honor.

Once the song was done and the polite applause faded Professor McGonnagal pulled a scroll out and called Hannah Abbott.

The blonde girl with the plait nervously approached the stool and was soon wearing the Yellow trim of Hufflepuff. Susan Bones was called next and settled on the stool. The hat made a humming sound for almost a minute before it finally said in a surprised voice, "Gryffindor."

She stood like she was surprised herself. Smiling at Neville, Harry and Hermione she walked to the Gryffindor table. The second years greeted her warmly.

Several other students were called forward then left with their new house colors trimming their robes and ties. Hermione was called forward. She had barely sat down when the hat called out Gryffindor without touching her hair. The professors all murmured to each to her while Professor McGonnagal looked at the hat briefly then with a pursed lipped expression nodded to Hermione to go to the table of the lions with a crimson trim to her robes.

Harry watched Neville get sorted into Gryffindor as well. He almost forgot to remove the hat but came back to hand it to Professor McGonnagal sheepishly.

Draco Malfoy got the same treatment by the hat that Hermione got. The only difference was the hat seemed to recoil away from him, avoiding his touch.

Harry wondered what it would do with him as he watched the other students ahead of him dwindle. When his turn came he took a deep breath and walked forward.

The hat settled on his head, slipping lower over his eyebrows. "Hmm. Well. What to do with you. A lot of anger, deep seated frustration, yet tempered with a very strong desire for fairness and justice. A desire for freedom above everything else. Yes interesting."

"Not Slytherin. Please not Slytherin." Harry muttered under his breath.

"Oh why not? You have the intelligence, the thirst to prove yourself."

"NOT. Slytherin." Harry emphatically repeated.

"Ohhh. Alright. Then it had better be Gryffindor." The hat sighed. The word Gryffindor though had been said out loud to the room.

The reaction at the Gryffindor table was ecstatic. Applause and shouts of huzzah rattled the roof briefly. Harry looked up at the professor when she removed the hat to see her actually smiling. Walking over he sat beside Hermione. The rest of the sorting went smoothly with no other major celebrations.

Once everyone was sorted Dumbledore rose and smiling said, "Welcome, welcome. Another year begins. I sincerely hope everyone is ready to learn something. That is why we are here after all. I shall not yammer on as we have a fine feast awaiting us. So tuck in!" He said clapping his hands.

Food appeared on the tables causing Harry's stomach to rumble greatly. He and the others began to eat until Harry felt like he was going to explode. The older students ignoring the new students for the most part.

The meal finished the plates vanished as Dumbledore stood again, "Very well now that our bellies are full I will get to the more soporific part of the tedium. Official announcements. I want to remind everyone that spellcasting in the corridors is prohibited, as well as a great many of Zonko's product lines. Mr Filch has a complete list on his office door. I want to congratulate Professor Quirrel on his return from sabbatical and accepting the Defense Professor position. The Forbidden Forest is called forbidden for a reason." He paused winking at the Gryffindor table. "I also want to warn everyone to stay out of the third floor corridor east lest they wish to die a most horrible death."

Everyone started murmuring at that. Harry saw Hermione frown as she listened to the headmaster. He wondered what she was remembering about this. He hoped it wasn't going to be that bad. Although the warning of horrible death did not make him feel very comfortable.

…...

Harry was settling into his dorm when Ron approached him, "Hey. What was with that monster?"

"What monster Ron?" Harry inquired calmly staring at him, although he was aware Ron was probably referring to Hermione.

"That Hermione girl. Bloody mental that one. Barging in like that and bossing me about."

"She's not that bad." Neville said in a warning tone.

Harry nodded, "I rather like her."

Seamus and Dean froze as they saw Neville walk to stand behind Ron. The tableau of the three boys, dirty blonde, red and black haired, was a study in contrasts. Neville was stocky, medium height, and looking quite grim. Ron was tall, lanky, and looked confused by the reaction he was receiving. Harry was a slender, slightly shorter than average, calm sea. With the way the three were acting Seamus and Dean did not know if they were about to see a fight.

"What's on with you Longbottom?" Ron demanded as he stood between Neville and Harry.

"You are Weasley." Neville declared stepping closer.

"Hey back off. You weren't there when she came in like a Hippogriff stampede." Ron growled.

"No, I was looking for my toad. She had been helping me." He countered.

"Aren't you gonna say anything Harry?" Ron turned swiftly to entreat him to help.

Harry crossed his arms, "I don't know. She may have been rude to you, but she's been nice to me. And you're not doing anything to endear me to you right now."

Seamus laughed, "She's a girl so that's a point up for her anyhow you look at it."

Harry smiled with a shrug, "He has a point."

"What?" Ron looked at the others.

"I am tired. I have had a long day and would like to get some sleep. So goodnight Ron. If you can calm down and be nicer I will talk to Hermione tomorrow about things." Harry told Ron in a voice that did not give much room for argument.

Ron scowled but with a shrug went to his bed and pulling the curtains ended the interaction. Neville nodded to Harry and went to his own bed. Seamus and Dean assured that the show was over went to their own beds to sleep. Harry stared at Ron's closed curtains for several minutes thinking before closing his own and declaring to himself he would most assuredly be speaking with Hermione tomorrow but probably not about what Ron thought he would.