November 1st, 1991

Neville and Harry were in the hospital wing, inside Madam Pomfrey's office. Madam Pomfrey had called them to her office right after their classes for the day were over. When Pomfrey was checking Neville for any injuries, Harry asked her why she called him. Madam Pomfrey looked at Harry and said, "You think I didn't see you and Neville talking and then running from the great hall?" Both Harry and Neville were shocked by this news. A surprised Neville asked her, "You saw us?" Pomfrey said, "I did. Now there better be a good reason for why you both went to the third floor, despite professor Dumbledore's instructions."

Harry said, "Because Hermione Granger was in the third-floor bathroom. She didn't know that there was a troll in the castle. We both thought that the troll might go there and attack her. So, Neville got Ron and I followed them." After Madam Pomfrey had thoroughly checked Neville and was satisfied, she sat on her chair and said, "So what happened afterwards?" Neville said, "I distracted the troll while Ron tried to use the levitating charm to hit the troll with his stick." Harry then said, "I just went and opened the door. I said to Hermione there was a troll and then left for the dorms." Neville said, "Hermione then told Ron how to pronounce the charm correctly. It worked and Ron levitated the stick to the troll's head and then dropped it." Madam Pomfrey chuckled and said, "Clever way to deal with the troll. And you Harry are really a sneaky Slytherin." Harry smiled and said, "The hat did say I was very sneaky. Just proving myself." All three of them laughed at that.

But Harry then said, "Madam Pomfrey, are there any trolls in the forbidden forest? Is it possible that the troll sneaked into the castle?" Pomfrey said, "No. Forbidden Forest has many dangerous animals, but no trolls. And even if there was a troll in the forbidden forest, the castle has protection charms on it. So, someone would have to bring the troll inside to bypass the spell." Neville said, "But who would bring a troll in the castle?" Harry said, "Even if we assume that someone did bring a troll into the castle, professor Quirrell saw it first. Why did he not deal with the troll himself? He is the DADA professor, dealing with a troll should have been very easy for him." Neville said, "Unless he brought the troll into the castle."

They both looked towards Madam Pomfrey, who herself looked like she was giving this idea of the two boys some serious thought. She then said, "That is a very big assumption. One you don't have proof to back with." Harry said, "But it makes sense Madam Pomfrey." She nodded her head and said, "Regardless of it, you need proof to prove your accusations. Do you have any?" Harry shook his head. Seeing him look dejected, Madam Pomfrey said, "Want to fly for a bit?" That seemed to perk Harry up as he asked, "Can we?" Pomfrey smiled and said, "I think that your actions from yesterday deserve some reward." She then took the two boys to the quidditch stadium and gave them two brooms. Harry immediately got on the broom and began flying, Neville flying just behind him.

Madam Pomfrey sat on one of the seats. She was thinking what her boys had just told her. Their arguments were sound. The reason behind the argument was sound. She even believed their argument. But the thing that was making her doubt their argument was that Quirrell didn't have any motive to get the troll into the castle. As for him not doing anything, that could be explained by his cowardness. He was easily scared and was fearful of nearly everything. But that still didn't answer how did a troll come into the castle, bypassing all the protection spells and charms.

But for the moment, she thought to leave the topic and enjoy watching Harry on a broom. But what neither she nor the boys saw was that Hermione had seen the two boys flying. This puzzled her for two reasons. The first was that Harry Potter was flying. But he was not allowed to fly by Madam Hooch. She had refused him to attend the flying classes. But the way Harry flew, not even Malfoy fly like that. And he boasted of being the best broom flier in their year. But Harry was miles ahead of him. The second thing that puzzled her was that Neville was flying with Harry. Everyone in Gryffindor disliked Harry Potter. They berated him, called him the next dark lord and thought he was as evil as Malfoy. She thought even Neville thought of that about Harry, especially after the rememberball incident. But it looked as if the two were very good friends. One could even say best friends.

Hermione herself had never believed in the rumors spread about Harry. She had seen him in the classes. She had even seen him in the library few times. Nothing about him screamed evil to her. Nothing about him made her feel that he was like Malfoy. He just looked like any other student. Always doing his own work, not bothering anyone else or interacting with anyone else. She even felt that she and Harry were very similar in that regard. Both of them were in a way outcasts. But the reasons for that were different for each of them.

As she made her way towards the library, she felt that things were slowly changing for her at Hogwarts. Throughout her childhood she was always alone in school. She was called bookish and nagging, a stickler for rules. She was made fun of for her bushy brown hair and her big front teeth. She never had friends and always felt different and out of place. Her place of comfort was the library, reading books and getting immersed in the world they created. But after she got her letter to Hogwarts, she thought that things would change for her. That she would finally be in a place where she didn't feel like an outcast. Where she would feel like she belonged. Where there wouldn't be any prejudices and stereotypes.

But the wizarding world wasn't that. She soon learned that the wizarding world had its own prejudices. It had its own system and ideals. She soon learned that her having non-magical parents meant she would be an outsider for those who felt people like her shouldn't have magic. That she would always be different for these people. But she didn't let it affect her. At least she tried to.

But when Ron said what he said yesterday, it really affected her. Because to her, it just showed that she would always be different. She would always be alone. No one wanted to be her friend. In the muggle world, at least she still had her parents, her biggest supporters. But here she didn't even have them. It made her feel very lonely. She had never felt like that before. Alone, friendless, no one to talk to. Truly alone and lonely.

But now, she felt that things were becoming better for her. After yesterday, she felt that Neville was her friend. He had seen that she wasn't in the great hall. He dragged Ron along to help her. When it came to Ron, she felt conflicted. Yes he too had helped Neville. It was him who knocked the troll after all, albeit after she told him the correct pronunciation. But it was because of him that she was in that bathroom in the first place. She felt conflicted. Eventually she decided to give him a chance. Because after all his fault, he did come to help her.

Another thing that was running in her mind was the troll from the day before. She was still curious as to how a troll managed to get into what was a very heavily protected castle. The same thing that Harry had thought was running in her mind. If three first-years were able to knock a troll out, why was a DADA professor unable to do so? Did Quirrell bring the troll in the castle? But then she had seen blood on Professor Snape leg when he had come with professor McGonagall. She had seen him limping in the potions class few hours before. But what could have caused that? Was that a proof that it was him who got into the troll into the castle? What was the motive? There were so many questions and no answers. Hermione decided to leave the thinking to professor Dumbledore and McGonagall. There were other things to think about.

The next day however, to her surprise, Neville introduced her to Harry. And it looked like Harry himself was as much, if not more surprised, than she was. Harry had been quiet, letting Hermione and Neville do much of the introduction and talking. Hermione knew that she had been right in not believing the rumors that were spread about Harry, for he was the complete opposite of those rumors. Slowly, he started speaking more and involved himself in the conversation. He didn't initiate the conversations, but Hermione didn't expect that from Harry. And that's how the friendship between Hermione and Harry started.