A/N: First, I want to say a massive thank you to all of you who have liked, favorited and reviewed my story so far. It means the absolute world to me. Second, I want to apologise for how long it has been since I have updated. Unfortunately, my fiance left me a few months before our wedding and it has been a very messy situation and is still ongoing. I will try to update every few weeks, but I can't promise anything until my situation is over, which will hopefully be soon.
Please keep the reviews coming. I appreciate every single one of them.
MrsBlack.M
Xx
Chapter Three.
September 6th, 1993. Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom.
After having the rest of the week off Malfoy had finally returned to classes; he still was complaining about his arm and had Pansy cooing at him every five minutes; each time he would groan and move his arm as if the position it was in was too painful.
"He really is playing it up, isn't he?" Harry and Hermione rolled their eyes at Ron's comment.
"Well, it is Malfoy. Did you really expect anything else?" Harry responded to him while Hermione was unpacking her book bag, she didn't even bother responding to him. She was still frosty towards him for his comments on the first day of classes and didn't want to put Harry in the middle more than he already was by causing another argument between her and Ron this week. Before anything else could be said the new Professor walked into the classroom from what the students assumed to be his office. "So sorry I'm late; the other Professors have found something in the staff room that I decided to take off their hands for our lesson." He was smiling around at the students. "Now, if you would put all your books away and follow me please." Hermione looked up in surprise and mild disappointment and slowly started putting her books back into her bag.
The class was making their way through the hallways when Peeves made his way down the hall. Having spotted the class and its teacher he started singing, "Loony loony Lupin, loony loony Lupin,"
"None of that Peeves please." Lupin looked mildly amused as Peeves blew a raspberry at him, turned around bent over and pulled down his pants. "Is mooning these young students really necessary Peeves?"
"That's your job innit Mr. Moony?" Peeves stated cackling loudly while the class just looked on in amusement. Lupin turned to the class and rolled his eyes, "this is a handy little trick. Now, watch closely. Waddiwasi!" He pointed his wand at Peeves and the students watched as the wad of gum Peeves was chewing flew out of his mouth and lodged itself directly up one of the poltergeist's nostrils. Sneezing and spluttering Peeves turned around and flew off through one of the many corridors.
"That was bloody cool sir!" Seamus called out. "er- um, I mean really cool?" the boy realised he'd cursed in front of a professor and tried correcting himself. Lupin just laughed "thank you Mr. Finnigan. Shall we press on then?"
The class were looking at their teacher in awe and respect both at what he had done to Peeves and that he didn't seem to care about Seamus' language.
They walked down another two corridors when Professor Lupin paused at a closed door. "Inside please." The class made their way into the staff room, it was bigger than was expected and empty except at the end of the long table where the resident potions master looked up sneering at the sudden noise disturbing him from his tea break. As Lupin followed the class in he made to close the door Snape stood. "Leave it open Lupin. I do not want to stick around to witness this catastrophe." He made his way to the door and paused, "I don't think anyone has warned you yet, but this class contains Neville Longbottom, I advise you not to entrust anything to him, unless Miss Granger is whispering the answers into his ear." Both Neville and Hermione went as scarlet as the Hogwarts Express as Harry glared at the greasy haired professor; it was bad enough that he bullied the students in his own classroom, let alone in front of other teachers in a class that is not even his.
"Is that right?" Lupin pretended to be interested and tapped his finger against his chin. "I was hoping Neville would assist me with this lesson. I am sure he will perform perfectly."
Neville, if possible, turned a brighter shade of red. Snape sneered at the other teacher for a moment before he turned on his heel and stormed off. Harry was looking at the defence professor and smiled when Lupin rolled his eyes at the petty man as he shut the door with a snap. He moved to the other side of the room where only an old wardrobe sat. "Now then, gather around so everyone can see. Neville come stand up here at the front of the wardrobe please."
"Wait, y-you actually want m-my help, sir?" The nervous boy stuttered the sentence out.
"Well, I do not consider myself a liar. Honesty is quite important to me you see." Professor Lupin smiled gently at the boy. Neville moved up to the front of the class but then jumped in terror as the wardrobe gave a wobble and banged against the wall.
"It's alright. There is nothing to worry about. You are all perfectly safe." Remus looked over the class seeing fear in more than one face. "It is just a Boggart."
A few of the students, namely Neville and Seamus looked at Lupin as if he were as loopy as Peeves claimed.
"This one moved in here yesterday and I requested the headmaster leave it for my third-year class to handle. They like dark enclosed spaces, under beds, wardrobes, and kitchen cupboards just to name a few of them. Now, who can tell me what exactly a Boggart is?"
Hermione's hand was in the air before Remus completely finished his sentence. "Yes, Miss Granger?"
"Boggarts are shapeshifters." She said and continued at his nod. "They take the shape of a person's worst fear, that's what makes them so terrifying."
"Correct Miss Granger. Now, a Boggart only takes shape when it is face to face with someone; this means that no one knows what a Boggart looks like when it is alone. This means, that when we let it out" Remus ignored Neville's whimper of terror "we will have an advantage before we even begin. Harry, have you spotted what the advantage is?"
"Er.." Harry was trying to ignore the fact that Hermione was bouncing on the balls of her feet with her hand waving in the air and gave the question a bit of thought. "Well, there are quite a few of us, it won't know what shape it should take?" Seemingly unsure of his answer, he turned it into a question.
"Exactly Harry, exactly." Hermione put her hand down looking disappointed that the professor did not call on her again. "It is always best to deal with a Boggart with at least two people. They then become very confused. Should they turn into a flesh-eating slug or perhaps a headless corpse? I once saw a Boggart make the big mistake of trying to frighten two people at once. Turned into a half-slug with human legs and arms. Not exactly the most terrifying thing to see. The charm that repels a Boggart is quite simple, but it does require a wee bit of thought. The thing that really finishes a Boggart is laughter. What you need to do is force it to take the shape of something you find funny. We shall practice without wands for the moment; repeat after me please… Riddikulus."
"Riddikulus!" The class practically yelled.
"Very good. Once more."
"Riddikulus!" They repeated.
"Alright, saying the word is the easy part. Neville, this is where I require your assistance; step forward please." Neville looked as if he was walking to his doom. "What is it that you fear most?"
"Professorsnape," he said the name so quickly no one understood.
"I'm sorry Mr. Longbottom what was that?"
"Professor Snape." All the Slytherin's laughed and jeered at him. Neville was looking down in embarrassment at his admission.
"Ah Professor Snape" Remus chuckled lightly "well, he frightens all doesn't he?" Fucking Snivellous, he thought "Now Neville," everyone grew extremely curious when Neville nodded and smiled at what Professor Lupin was whispering in his ear. He stepped back and pointed his wand at the wardrobe. "Remember Neville you need to visualise it." He flicked his wand and the door of the wardrobe creaked open slowly and the Boggart Professor Snape stepped out sneering at Neville. He whimpered and took a small step backwards. Harry noticed this and called out to his friend, "you can do it Neville." All the Gryffindors joined in yelling encouragement at Neville, and it gave Neville the little boost he needed "Riddikulus!" He yelled. There was a loud cracking noise and the clothes that Boggart Snape was wearing morphed; his trousers and robe turned into a green dress that came down to his shins and a huge bright red handbag, his dragon hide boots turned into black heeled ankle boots and finally the most hideous wide brimmed vulture topped hat appeared on his head. The class paused for a moment in astonishment and then broke out in uncontainable laughter; no one more so than Harry. Remus wished he could show the rest of the Marauder's this memory, serves the bloody greasy git right for causing himself to be a third-year students worst fear. Neville beamed at his accomplishment. That was the first time he had performed a spell correctly first go out of the gate. The boggart paused confused.
"Parvati! Forward!"
The witch stepped forward; Boggart Snape focused on her. CRACK! The Boggart changed again, this time into an ancient mummy with blood-stained bandages. It's faceless head turned to Parvati and it started walking towards her, slowly dragging its feet stiff arms raising.
"Riddikulus!" CRACK! The mummy's bandages around its feet unravelled; it became tangled and fell face first onto the staff room floor which then caused its head to come clean off and roll around.
"Seamus!" Lupin called.
Seamus jumped past Parvati in excitement. CRACK! Where the mummy had been laying a woman with floor length black hair and a green tinged skeletal face appeared. A banshee. She opened her mouth and let out a long shriek that caused the hair on Harry's and Hermione's arms stand on end. Remus winced at the volume the Boggart Banshee screamed.
"Riddikulus!" Seamus shouted. CRACK! The Boggart Banshee turned into a rat – CRACK! A clown – CRACK! A pool of blood - CRACK! A giant cockroach.
"It's confused! We are getting there. Mr. Weasley!"
Ron ran forward; the Boggart focused on him and turned into an Acromantula; a spider that stood over six feet tall and covered in thick black hair had more than Ron terrified. It snapped its pincers and started advancing towards the red head. Harry thought his friend had completely frozen, remembering their last trip into the Forbidden Forest at the end of last year and meeting Hagrid's friend Aragog.
"Riddikulus!" Ron bellowed pointing his wand at the giant thing. The creature legs vanished, and the body rolled along the floor towards the group of students who all quickly got out of its way; it came to a stop in front of Harry. Remus stepped forward as if to prevent the Boggart focusing on Harry. The Boggart morphed again; a giant hooded creature appeared in front of Harry and the temperature in the room dropped as the creature seemed to take a deep breath in with a horrible rattling noise. Harry raised his wand but-
"I don't bloody well think so!" Remus stepped in front of Harry. CRACK! The Dementor was gone and in its place hung a glowing silvery orb. "Riddikulus." Remus said and the orb deflated flying around the room like a balloon letting air out. The Boggart exploded into smoke and was gone.
"Excellent!" the class started cheering and clapping. "Okay now let me think, five points to each of the students who faced the Boggart- and five for each Hermione and Harry."
"But I didn't do anything!" Harry protested.
"You and Hermione answered my questions correctly Harry." Remus said smiling. "Alright everyone, great lesson. Homework, please read the chapter on Boggarts from your textbooks and I would like half a roll of parchment summarising the chapter to be handed in on Monday. You are all free to go." He said dismissing the class.
Harry was the only student who left the class unhappy. Why didn't Lupin let me face the Boggart? Did he think I would pass out like I did on the train? Maybe he thinks I can't handle it? No one else seemed to have noticed.
"How awesome was I taking on the Banshee!" Shouted Seamus.
"What about my Mummy?" Parvati said excitedly.
"I think Neville wins with Snape in that dress!" Everyone within ear shot burst into laughter, even the few Slytherins that had heard Ron's comment laughed.
"He is going to be pissed when he hears about it. I hope he doesn't punish Neville for it." Hermione looked worried for her first friend.
"I wonder why Lupin is afraid of crystal balls?" Lavender said to Parvati curiously.
"Maybe he heard a bad prophecy and is just waiting for it to come true?" Parvati shrugged and she and Lavender walked away from the rest of the group, neither one of the girls seeing Hermione's gaze focused on them. When Ron spoke again Hermione put her thoughts aside for another day. "That was the best Defence Against the Dark Arts class we have ever had!" Ron and Harry both did not seem to hear the comment Lavender had made.
"Yeah he was much better than that idiot from last year." Hermione said, "I wish I got a turn with the Boggart."
"What would it have been for you?" Harry asked.
But before Hermione could respond Ron cut in with a snort. "An assignment that didn't get an O?"
Hermione just looked at Ron. "You're an idiot." She walked off.
Bloody hell, here we go again. Harry rolled his eyes.
Dinner that night started off as a quiet affair with Hermione and Ron ignoring each other while Harry clicked his tongue awkwardly at the silence between his friends. Just as he opened his mouth to say something to break the tension, a loud flutter of wings sounded around the Great Hall, everyone looked up in astonishment as owls started dropping copies of the Daily Prophet to students and teachers alike.
SIRIUS BLACK SIGHTED NEAR HOGWARTS
Mass murderer and betrayer of James and Lily Potter Sirius Black has been sighted in Dufftown; this is only kilometers away from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, current location of The Chosen One, Boy-Who-Lived, Harry Potter.
Now readers, we can only assume that Black has escaped Azkaban Prison to finish the job he started on Halloween twelve years ago; to kill The-Boy-Who-Lived and finish off the last of the Potter line for his master He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Because of Black's horrible nature the Ministry of Magic has declared a Kiss on Sight order and has requested the public to never travel alone, to be extremely cautious and to owl or floo the Department of Magical Law Enforcement immediately if there are any tips on the whereabouts of Black. Do not go after this man; he is an exceedingly dangerous wizard.
For a full background and list of his crimes turn to page 12.
A pin dropping could have been heard in the Great Hall as the student body read the short article. Once Harry looked up from the paper he noticed the Hall students and teachers alike all staring at him. Hermione poked him in the ribs to get his attention and nodded her head in the direction of the exit. Harry nodded and they pushed their dinner away and stood, both looked to Ron who shook his head not wanting to part with his food. Hermione curled her lip at him in disgust as that was the red headed boys third plate of food for the night. Harry just dropped his head to look at his feet which had Hermione shaking her head while grabbing Harry's shirt sleeve to drag him with her to exit the Hall. Just as they got to the doors Hermione turned around and glared at everyone in the Hall, "Enjoy the show? Go back to your dinner. You should all be ashamed of yourselves for staring."
Most of the hall had the decency to look slightly ashamed of their actions, teachers included. Satisfied at their shame, Hermione turned and exited the hall after Harry.
"You didn't need to do that 'mione." Harry mumbled at her even though he was glad she had stuck up for him.
"Of course, I did Harry, you're my best friend. I know you would have done the same for me." She hooked her arm through his and smiled at him as they wandered the corridors. Harry didn't know why, but Hermione was the only person who could touch him randomly without him feeling uncomfortable and his body automatically stiffening. For most people it was like he needed to brace himself for pain.
XxxX
After about fifteen minutes of silence Hermione stopped walking and spoke again. "Come on, let's go exploring. This is our third year here and we haven't seen any part of the castle aside from our classrooms, Gryffindor Tower and the random places we have been when we break the rules."
Harry turned to face her eyebrows high on his head in pure disbelief.
"You want to go randomly exploring the castle?" He tried to keep the hope out of his voice as this was something he had brought up with her multiple times since they became friends in their first year. In first year, she was always turning him down claiming they would get in trouble for wandering around with no purpose; and in second year there was the basilisk to worry about, plus Hermione had been petrified for almost half the year. "Miss, we will get in trouble if a teacher sees us." His voice went to a horrible high pitch, mocking the way she spoke. Hermione laughed as she shoved him in the chest. "Yes, you prat. You have been bugging me about it and I feel like now is a good time as any; plus, you carry the cloak with you everywhere you go. Now," Hermione raised her nose in the air and in an extremely snooty accent spoke "escort me on our adventure."
"Whatever you wish milady." Harry mockingly snapped his legs together and bowed to her with his arm out waiting for her to take it; she curtsied and wrapped her arm around his, "thank you, my good sir." They took off again both over exaggerating their walk until they could no longer contain themselves and broke out into laughter. After their laughter subsided Harry looked at Hermione "what was it like growing up for you?" Hermione glanced over at him, surprised that he wanted to know about her childhood. She thought about how to respond when she wanted to know about his childhood too.
"I'll tell you if you tell me about your childhood too." Harry grew silent and closed off as he looked away from her. Hermione nudged him to get his attention, he looked almost frightened. "Harry I would never tell anyone what you tell me, I hope you know that." He frowned in thought for a moment as if he could not decide what to do.
"You know that was much too Slytherin for someone who is supposed to be a lion." He narrowed his eyes at her "How about we play twenty questions?"
"Ok, but, any question you ask you need to answer yourself too."
"Deal. Ladies first." Harry smiled at her and held out his arm again for her to take so they could continue their adventure.
"What skill or spell would you like to master?"
Harry thought for a moment "to be honest, potions." Hermione couldn't help but stare at him. "yeah, I know. I love to cook, and the technique and procedures are similar, it was the class I was most excited to start in our first year, and then Snape started being his dickish self that first lesson and it really put me off the subject in general. Your turn."
"I'd love to become an Animagus."
"A what?" Harry asked.
"An animagus. A witch or wizard that can willingly turn into an animal. Like Professor McGonagall can turn into a cat." Hermione explained.
"Ok, that would be cool. I'd love to learn to be animagi. Can we look into it?"
"Well technically you need to inform the ministry and then when you achieve your form you need to tell them what it is and how you can be identified. It's an extremely advanced form of transfiguration. Maybe we can ask Professor McGonagall if she has any research recommendations?" Harry shrugged and nodded his head.
"Ask your question 'mi." Hermione smiled at the way he shortened her name. No one had called her Mi before.
"Oh yes, I guess I got a bit side-tracked with the explanation. What other house did the sorting hat want to put you in?"
"How do you know it wanted to put me in another house?"
Hermione laughed. "You looked like you were having an argument with it."
Harry couldn't help but laugh at Hermione's response. "Yeah it wanted to put me in Slytherin. My only experience with them was Malfoy being Malfoy on the express and I remembered him being a snot in Diagon Alley when I went to get my supplies and it put me off the whole house completely. What about you, any other house options?"
"The hat told me I would benefit the most from Slytherin and the only reason I wasn't going to be put there was because I'm a muggleborn. It also said that Ravenclaw was good but not great because I like to learn but because I don't just hoard knowledge like a niffler with gold and I actually like to learn stuff that will benefit me. It settled on Gryffindor because I need challenges in my life, and this would be the house to do that."
"Wow. What about Hufflepuff?" Harry asked with a grin. And Hermione burst out laughing. "Said there was no chance in hell I'd end up there because I don't have the patience for dummies." Harry laughed with her about that and recalled one of their charms lessons when Hermione had tried to tell Ron how to correctly cast the levitation charm.
"Then how come you always help me?" Harry joked.
"Because you're not a dummy and actually take my advice and do the work to correct your mistakes. Plus, you do not just expect me to do all the work for you like Ronald does." Hermione rolled her eyes thinking about the red head. "The only reason he has passed first and second year is because I nag him about his homework and then get so annoyed that I have to keep correcting his essays I just do it for him."
"Wait. You've done them all for him?"
"Except the ones assigned before we became friends." Hermione shrugged as if it was no big deal, but Harry was frowning at her. "Anytime he got a passing grade was because he would copy my re-write so it looks like he has written it. He thinks that I don't know that he does it on purpose, but I just get so sick of arguing with him about it that I just let it go."
"How did I not notice this happening at all? Am I actually that oblivious?" Harry was muttering to himself at this point and Hermione covered her mouth to hide her giggle.
"Maybe a little." Harry looked up from his frown and noticed Hermione laughing at him. He narrowed his eyes and poked her in the side, and she laughed even harder. Harry's façade cracked and he smirked at her. "Next question Mi."
"What magical creature would you like to have as a pet?"
"Well, that's easy. A dragon."
"What?" Hermione looked at him he was crazy.
"I know Norbert was a little bit of crazy," her face went deadpan. "ok a lot of crazy but, seriously Mi. A dragon would be so cool! I grew up in the muggle world too and then found out dragons were actually real."
"Yes, ok you definitely have a point. I get what you mean. I would pick a unicorn. I know it's cliché, but they are incredibly beautiful and highly intelligent creatures. Similar with you finding out dragons are real; I have the same thought about unicorns."
"That's fair. Do you think Hagrid will show us them this year?"
"They are not part of the curriculum this year but with Hagrid being the Care of Magical Creature teacher this year who knows." Hermione grinned and shrugged.
"Ok, my turn. What is one thing you would change about yourself if you could? It doesn't need to be a physical thing."
"My teeth." Hermione looked slightly ashamed of her superficial answer. "In muggle primary school I was always bullied about them and then coming here the same thing happened. Does it make me vain that I care about what those people said?"
"Not at all." Harry shook his head. "Bullies leave scars on people, and they're not always visible."
"You're speaking from experience." It wasn't a question. Hermione raised one of her eyebrows at him and he looked away. "Your turn to answer. What would you change?"
"My name?" Harry sighed. "I mean, there is always something. Either people can't stop staring because I am the boy-who-lived, only survivor of the killing curse and slaughter of my whole family, Merlin come again or they can't stop staring because they think I'm a horrible person, a parselmouth, the Heir of Slytherin." It's as if he could not stop once he had started. "And now, they can't stop staring because Black has escaped Azkaban to come and kill me. I am bloody famous for not dying! How does that even make sense? I swear last year it was like Ron got offended because I did not want to celebrate Halloween. It is the anniversary of my parents deaths for Merlin sake. Why the fuck would I want to celebrate?" By the end of his rant, he was almost yelling with his arms flailing about around him. Hermione pulled one of his arms down and hooked her own through it again.
"I know you hate it. It's honestly a surprise that no one else seems to notice it; it's written all over your face any time someone refers to you that way." Hermione was not surprised with Harry's answer or his mini rant; she had been expecting it for a while and so didn't reprimand him for the swearing. "I am actually waiting to see what bad thing happens this Halloween. First year it was the troll, and last year the basilisk petrifying Mrs. Norris."
"I didn't even add that up. At least Lupin hasn't tried to kill me. Yet." Harry chuckled a little trying to make light of his first two years at Hogwarts.
"I don't know how I feel about you joking about that." Hermione shook her head. "Shall we move onto the next question?" She asked.
"Sure."
"Who is your most and least favourite teacher?"
"That's an easy one. McGonagall would have to be my favourite."
Hermione grinned at him. "She is my favourite too."
"She sees me as just Harry. Well, mostly. I mean she did let me join the house team when I was in first year but I think that was more for her benefit so she could rub it in Snape's face not about me being, well, me. But she also is a great teacher and explains things in a way I actually understand. Which is why I don't need too much of your help."
"I completely understand. The fact that she doesn't get frustrated about my asking questions and she will give me extra credit assignments when I've read too far ahead-"
"Too far ahead? Mi you've finished the book twice by now." Hermione blushed and Harry couldn't help but let out a loud laugh. "How much further ahead could you get than that?"
"Oh, shut up you prat." She smiled at him. "Your question."
Harry sucked in a deep breath and asked the question that started their little game. "What was it like growing up for you?" Hermione looked at him trying to decide if he was comfortable knowing he needed to answer the question himself. "Are you sure Harry?"
"Yes." He said it a bit too quick but then nodded his head. "Yes, I'm sure. If I'm going to talk about it with anyone I'd like it to be you." Hermione squeezed his hand in a thank you.
"Mum and dad are self-employed; they own their own dental practice and quite a few properties around England. To be honest, they don't actually need to work because they both come from well off families, but they enjoy what they do. They tried for a baby a while after they got married and well finally I came along." Hermione figured she should start at the beginning. "They adore me; sometimes I think a bit too much but then I remember that they had a few miscarriages before me. I get my reading habit from my dad; he is always finding new books to read and his collection at home just keeps growing so I would always find my way into our library. Well, I call it a library but it's just a spare bedroom that's filled with books. But because dad taught me to read so young by the time I got to primary school I was very advanced with learning and the other kids thought I was strange. No one wanted to play with me, and I had no friends." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "It only got worse when my accidental magic started. The kids would pull my hair, make fun of my teeth, and call me a freak. I did get a broken arm once from being pushed down a few stairs by some other girls." Hermione was looking down and didn't notice the way Harry flinched at the word freak. "I would come home crying most days and mum and dad would phone the school but were told that because it was never witnessed by the teachers they couldn't do anything about it. I accidentally blasted one of the kids across the playground when he pulled a chunk of my hair out. The school tried to send me home, but my parents just asked them how it was possible that an eight-year-old girl could possibly throw and boy twenty meters; they didn't have an answer, so the matter was dropped. But other than the bullying it was a good childhood. We went on holidays to Europe every year and still do in the summer holidays. Maybe I could ask and see if you could come with us this summer to Croatia, Greece and Italy." Harry came to a sudden stop and was staring at her not saying anything. "I mean, er, i-if you w-want to?" She got nervous and started to stutter.
Harry pulled her into a tight hug and whispered unsure. "Really? You're not just saying that? You want me to come with you?"
"Of course, I want you to come with me Harry. You're my best friend." Hermione tightened her grip on him, and Harry realised she was just as lonely as he was away from Hogwarts. He pulled away from her and asked what her favourite country was. "Italy." She said automatically her face lighting up. "The history, the food, the beaches, it is absolutely beautiful. We went the summer before first year and I have been bugging them to go back so they said we could go this summer as long as we go to Croatia and Greece too. We try to go to a new place each year."
"Mi, I'm so happy you got some good in your childhood. Honestly, I am jealous. My childhood hasn't been happy or good." Hermione lost her smile and held onto him tighter knowing what he said would not be good at all. "My Hogwarts letter was addressed to H.J Potter, Cupboard Under the Stairs, 4 Privet Drive, Surry." Hermione's face drain of colour when the address registered in her brain.
"What the fuck!" She couldn't help it. She yelled and it echoed in the empty corridor. "Harry-" she didn't get any more out because he covered her mouth and pulled her into an empty classroom. He didn't uncover her mouth until they were seated on the abandoned teachers desk.
"Mi, I have a bedroom now and have since I got back from Hogwarts at the end of first year. I think they were scared I would put a curse on them, so they let me have Dudley's second bedroom." Harry had to stop when he saw Hermione's expression.
"Dudley's second bedroom?" She whispered as her left eye twitched. "They made you live in a cupboard under the stairs until you left for Hogwarts whilst your cousin had two bedrooms?" Her hair was crackling with purple sparks and blowing around as if caught in a lightning storm that only Hermione could feel. Hermione launched herself off the desk and pulled her wand out. "Bombarda!" The small desk she was pointing her wand at exploded. Hermione blasted two more desks before she turned around with a smile and sat back down next to Harry who was seeing her in a new light. "Tell me more Harry."
He looked unsure and she could tell that he didn't want to tell her any more, but he said he would, so he swallowed the nervous lump in his throat and continued. "I have a list of chores that I need to complete daily, cleaning, gardening, cooking, that sort of thing. If they aren't done right then I get a smack. If I speak without being spoken to first I will get a smack, it doesn't matter what I am saying. If anything in the house got broken, I would get a smack even if Dudley were the one to break whatever it was, he always blamed me anyway. When my bursts of accidental magic happened, I would get it bad. Broken bones mostly and bruised but nothing on the face so they would not be noticeable when I was at school." Harry's voice was shaking, and tears had formed in his eyes, but he refused to let them fall. Hermione having no shame in her tears grabbed his hand in support and gave it a tight squeeze urging him to continue. "I know now that they knew what my accidents were, but they would use it as an excuse anyway. I wasn't allowed to eat anything until they finished, and I then got whatever was leftover. I didn't have toys unless I was at school, my clothes are hand me downs from Dudley and are about five sizes too big. When Hagrid took me to Diagon Alley just before my first year it was the first time I have ever received anything new and belongs to me." Knowing he wouldn't be able to say anything more Hermione just pulled him into a tight hug and whispered nonsense into his ear.
"Why don't they care for me?" Harry finally choked out a sob and let his tears fall. "I was only a baby."
"I don't know Harry." Hermione couldn't help the sadness and rage that was building up in her. They would get what is coming to them if it is the last thing she ever did. They would pay for treating Harry as they did. "Some people are just horrible to the core, and they enjoy watching others suffer and hurt. But those people always get what they deserve in the end."
XxxX
They sat together in the old classroom on the second floor talking about nothing important for what seemed like hours. Hermione cast the tempus charm and stood to stretch her muscles and saw that it was twenty minutes past curfew, and they would need the cloak to get back to the tower.
"Shit." She exclaimed. "We need to head back, it's past curfew." She pulled Harry over to her and he pulled the cloak from his trouser pocket. Hermione narrowed her eyes at that. "How did you get the cloak to fit in that pocket? It's not physically possible."
Harry smirked at her, happy that he finally knew something she did not. "I found a little spell when I was in the library doing some research last year on one of Flitwick's assignments when you were petrified. It's called an undetectable extension charm. It basically can extend any space to fit anything you need in it and on the outside it looks perfectly normal."
"Wow. Can you teach it to me?" Harry smiled and nodded as he threw the invisibility cloak over the both of them and they left the classroom to make their way back to the tower. "It clearly comes in handy."
"I cannot believe we are still only on the second floor" Harry said as they rounded the random corridor to get back to the main part of the castle. "I knew Hogwarts was big, but this is just ridiculous, I don't think we even use half of the castle."
"Over the years the magical population has very slowly declined here in Britain, so they no longer need to use these parts of the castle. There are even some subjects that are no longer taught because they are deemed unnecessary and we only learn them if we go on to further studies or if they are taught as a requirement for a job."
"How the bloody hell do you know that?" Harry's brows furrowed.
"I read about it in Hogwarts: A History."
"I should have guessed."
"It really is quite fascinating. I think you would actually like it. You want to explore the castle so much you should read some of the history and secrets the castle has." Harry thought on it a moment and nodded his head.
"I might need to borrow your copy then. But a map would be great for all these random rooms. It would be nice to be able to mark off which ones we have already been too." Hermione raised her eyebrows at that.
"You want to keep exploring the castle?" She was surprised. Tonight, seemed like such a disaster.
"Too right I do!" Harry grinned "I plan on us doing this at least once a month until we see everything. But, and don't tell Ron, I want it to just be a me and you thing. Sometimes he just gets a bit too clingy, almost like he needs everyone to see that we are friends. Like some sort of validation. It's quite frustrating because we do everything together anyway."
"I understand Harry. I promise I won't tell him. It will be our little secret. Pinky promise." Hermione stuck out her pinky to him and it took him a moment to realise she wanted to show the seriousness of sealing it. They joined their pinkies and stamped their thumbs together because you can't forget to stamp it otherwise the pinky promise means nothing.
They got to the seventh floor and Hermione realised it was her turn to ask a question. "My turn to ask a question."
Harry chuckled at her. "Go ahead milady."
"What, my lord" she said mockingly. "is your favourite colour?" she finished dramatically.
"Well, we mustn't ever tell anyone else or I will be treated as a traitor." He said doing his best Draco Malfoy impression. "Tis green. A dark forest green to be exact. What about you?"
"Mine is green also. But, more of an emerald green." They both laughed as they came to a stop in front of the Fat Lady. Hermione gave the password, "catulus leonis." The Fat Lady frowned at her and opened her portrait silently and the pair walked in laughing at her disapproving look. By the time they had gotten to the Gryffindor Tower it was well past curfew and everyone had gone to bed. Still chuckling Harry walked Hermione to the stairs leading to the girls dormitories. "Sorry we didn't get to finish our twenty questions Mi."
Hermione shrugged at her friend and smiled. "We can keep playing on our next exploration. Goodnight Harry."
"Deal. Goodnight Mi, thank you." Harry gave his friend a hug and made his way to his own dorm. His roommates where all snoring. He made his way to his bed, changed into his pyjamas, and climbed into bed falling asleep within minutes.