4. The Study Group

Greenhouse One had work stations that were set up for three students, so Harry, Neville, and Daphne took the one on the end.

Harry could see that the bushy-haired girl, Hermione Granger, had joined Parvati and Lavender at a table nearby.

"You will not be working with any dangerous plants yet," Professor Sprout informed them. "But Herbology is a hands-on subject, so you may begin pruning alihotsy bushes."

Somewhat to Harry's surprise, Neville directed the procedure like an impresario. Harry had often had to work in Aunt Petunia's garden, so he too had no difficulty. However, Daphne was hopeless. They assigned her to take notes, which she did meticulously.

At the end, Professor Sprout beamed at them and gave them ten points for Gryffindor.

Harry noted that Hermione was scowling in their direction. He didn't much care, but saw that it made both Daphne and Neville uneasy.

When they headed to the Great Hall for dinner, the redheaded boy named Ron Weasley shouted, "Harry! Over here!"

Harry noticed that he'd surrounded himself with others in their dorm and saved just the one seat for Harry.

"Sorry, not enough room," he called back, seating himself next to Daphne and across from Neville.

"Harry…if you want to sit with the Weasleys…" Neville said hesitantly. "I mean, I…understand if…"

"I'm fine where I am," Harry insisted.

Neville beamed, and even Daphne managed a faint smile.

Ron glowered in their direction, then started stuffing himself, laying waste to the table and spilling food everywhere.

"Doubly glad now," Harry muttered. "He's worse than my cousin Dudley, and I didn't think anyone could be."

Daphne gave him a quick sideways glance. "Could we do Herbology together? I mean, I promise to take good notes?"

She sounded so uncertain that Harry exchanged a quick glance with Neville. "Sure, I think the three of us will make a good team."

Her smile came again, and Harry thought it charming.

The redhead tried again when they headed to their first flying class. "Hey, Harry, ever tried Quidditch? It's the best game ever!"

"I've never even been on a broom before," admitted Harry.

"Me neither." Neville was visibly nervous. "Gran was afraid I'd get hurt, so I wasn't allowed."

"I wasn't either," Daphne confessed. "I'm a bit scared to try it."

"Cowards," sneered Draco Malfoy. "I've been flying since I was three!"

"I bet on a toy broom," whispered Daphne.

Pansy heard, and yelled "Shut up, Greengrass! Like we'd ever care what you think!"

They all rose into the sky, but no sooner had they gained any height than Daphne screamed as her broom suddenly accelerated. Harry, glancing back, saw Malfoy laughing with Pansy, and suspected they'd done something to the broom.

Daphne was very high and white with terror; suddenly there was a loud crack as the broom split in two, and she was falling.

Harry didn't think; he reacted. At once he dived after her, managing to bring his broom beneath her body and catch one arm. He eased them both to the ground, and Madam Hooch hurried over.

"Both of you…hospital wing right now!"

"I'll take them!" Neville quickly volunteered.

Daphne had a strained arm, which was healed in minutes.

"Thank you for saving my life, Harry," she told him.

"You most likely wouldn't have died," he assured her. "We weren't high enough."

But Daphne persisted in being grateful; why she thought it amazing that he'd helped was beyond him; anyone would have done it!

Still, she took to trailing after them, and he and Neville accepted it. She rarely spoke; Harry wondered if she was just shy, or…he too had been quiet, at the Dursley house. He said nothing to Daphne, but he wondered.

A problem arose during Charms, which they had with the Ravenclaws. Professor Flitwick opted to partner everyone with a different house member, so Harry found himself working with Padma Patil. She was quietly cooperative, and they managed to get their feathers to hover, though not to reach the ceiling.

"Well-done!" Flitwick exclaimed. "An excellent beginning!" He awarded each of them five points.

Hermione Granger glowered at them, and turned on her partner Michael Corner. "You're doing it all wrong! We'll never get anywhere if you don't pronounce it properly…it's this way!" She flicked her wand, but all her feather did was twitch.

"All it takes is practice," insisted Flitwick. "By next class, I expect all of you to perform the spell."

"We've almost got it," Padma whispered. "Can we meet after dinner to practice?"

Harry happily agreed. Since he no longer had to refrain from getting good marks to appease the Dursleys, he intended to do his very best.

Neville begged Harry to let him come to the practice session, and once again Daphne cautiously trailed after them, almost as if she felt frightened that, if they noticed, they'd order her away.

Padma had found an empty classroom on the fourth floor, and didn't object to the presence of Neville and Daphne.

By the time curfew was near, all four had achieved a successful levitation charm.

"I can't wait to show Terry Boot." Neville beamed at them.

Daphne confessed she was working with Lisa Turpin; she also seemed pleased with her progress.

"Maybe we could make a study group," Padma suggested. "No one in Ravenclaw wants to; they are very competitive about marks."

Harry promptly consented; he could see the use of a study group. Neville and Daphne looked thrilled.