Sorry it's been awhile! I've been busy this past week, a lot of family in town. But here's an update, which is pretty long…for me at least!
Chapter 14
The train compartment was filled with hyperactive, too much sugar consumed first year girls and the Head Boy was standing smack in the middle of it, trying to settle them down. Easier said than done. Some girls were jumping on the seats, some were giggling in a group while they snuck glances at Harry, while others were tugging at his robes, asking a million questions about Hogwarts.
Harry sighed. "No, sweetie, the armor suits don't attack you in the dark," he told a blonde girl with wide blue eyes.
"But my brother said…"
"He was just trying to scare you." Harry then turned around and pulled off some girls off the seats. "Girls, off the seats please," Harry said. "Geez, what happened to shy, quiet first years?"
Harry then noticed a small girl sitting quietly by the window reading a book as if she was in the library instead of a compartment full of loud and obnoxious girls. She had dark black pig tail braids that draped over her shoulder and already had her Hogwarts uniform on. He smiled softly as he made his way over to her and sat down. "Hey there."
The girl looked up to reveal her hazel eyes. "Hello."
"What are you reading?" The girl lifted her book off her lap and Harry bent to read the cover and laughed. "Hogwarts: A History. You know, my best friend loves that book."
"Really?" she asked interested.
"You bet. She's Head girl, have you met her yet?"
"Oh, yes. Hermione right? She helped me with my trunk when we were boarding the train."
"That's the one," he grinned. "You remind me very much of her. What's your name?"
"Emma…and you're Harry Potter."
"Last time I checked. Are you excited about seeing Hogwarts?"
"Oh yes," she said as she nodded her head. "I didn't even know I was a witch until a month ago."
"Oh, so you're a Muggleborn," Harry said as he turned more towards her to block out all the commotion from the other girls.
"No, I'm a full blood, but grew up in an orphanage. My parents both died when I was young. I didn't realize I was a witch until a huge man came and visited me. I was scared at first, but he actually was very nice."
"That's Hagrid, he came and told me I was a wizard, too. I'm sorry to hear about your parents; I know what that's like. Were you happy at the orphanage?"
She looked at him with sad eyes. "No, I never could seem to fit in with the other kids. They thought I was different and I never realized why until now."
Harry's heart went out to the girl. "You know, I didn't have a great childhood either, I didn't have any friends. My cousin constantly bullied me and my aunt and uncle never loved me or treated me well. However, finding out I was a wizard was all worth it. I came here and met my two best friends Ron and Hermione and knew I was finally where I belonged."
"I don't have any friends yet," she said miserably as she cast a glance at the girls.
"Don't you worry, Emma, you'll make friends in no time. You know, Ron and I didn't befriend Hermione at first, which was a big mistake on our part."
"What made you become friends?" she asked curiously.
He grinned. "Saving her from a huge troll in the girls' bathroom."
Her eyes widened. "A troll?"
"What about a troll?" a girl said nearby.
"You saved a girl from a troll?" another girl asked. "Oh, please tell us!"
"Yeah, tell us!"
Harry blinked and looked around to see that every girl was looking at him…quietly. If this is what it took to keep them quiet, then so be it. "Well, I guess for you to really understand the story," Harry began as the girls got situated around him. "I have to start with earlier that day.
"It was Halloween and we were in our Charms class where Professor Flitwick was teaching us how to make objects fly." There were some ooohs and ahhhs from his audience. "He gave us feathers to use and put us in pairs. I paired with Seamus, who on occasion managed to set our feather on fire." The girls giggled and Harry smiled. "My best friend Ron was partnered with Hermione, who was the smartest witch in our class. Ron of course wasn't paying attention and was flaring his wand around like a mad man.
"Hermione of course, had to correct him and I still remember exactly how she sounded… 'Your saying it wrong! It's Wing-gar-dium Levi-o-sa, make the gar nice and long.' Ron then boasted, 'You do it if you're so clever then!' Hermione never turns down a challenge so she tilted her chin up, picked up her wand and did the correct wand movement and pronounced the magic words properly. That feather went right up to the ceiling and Hermione gave a smug look at Ron."
"Brilliant!"
"She sure showed him!"
"What happened next, Harry?" Emma asked hurriedly.
"Well, Ron was angry at Hermione. His ego was deflated; so he put her down to make him feel better. He was making fun of her to the guys and me, when I felt something bump into my shoulder. It was Hermione and she was crying."
A gasp emerged from a red headed girl. "She heard him?"
"She did," Harry said softly.
"Awww."
"Poor Hermione!"
"That stupid git!" one girl cursed Ron causing Harry to laugh.
"Well, Hermione hid herself in the bathroom all afternoon and she wasn't even at the Halloween feast. I was very worried about her."
"Awww."
"Then all of the sudden a professor came bursting into the Great Hall, screaming there was a troll in the dungeon!"
"How scary!"
"So Professor Dumbledore ordered us to head strait to our dormitories immediately, but on the way I realized something."
"Hermione! She doesn't know!" Emma gasped.
"That's exactly what I said to Ron," he said pointing to Emma. "So Ron and I ran as fast as we could to the bathroom to warn Hermione, but unfortunately we ran into the troll on the way. We saw him go inside a room so we quickly shut the door and locked it in."
"Whew!" one of the girls said.
"Yes, that's what I thought. We saved the day. That is…until we heard Hermione scream inside from the room we had just locked.
Every girl gasped. "You locked the troll inside with Hermione?!" Emma shrieked.
"Oh no," another girl groaned slapping her hands over her face.
"I fumbled at the locks as quickly as I could and the two of us busted into the room. Hermione was pressed up against the wall, horrified and completely frozen in fear. We tried to confuse it so Hermione could run, but she was too scared to move."
"What did you do?"
"I did the first thing that came to my mind, I jumped up on his back and held on tightly to his neck. He was too strong to realize I was on his back, but he sure felt it when I stuck my wand up its nose."
"Ewww!"
"I held onto the troll while it howled in pain, twisting and swinging his club. Any second he would get a hold of me a crush me with his club!"
"Oh no," a girl whispered.
"Then, I hear Ron's loud voice yelling out the words, 'Wingardium Leviosa!' The club flew right out of the troll's hand and hovered about his head, before it fell right on his head, knocking him out flat on his face."
"Cool!"
"Bloody brilliant!"
"So you see, if Hermione didn't teach Ron the spell, who knows what wouldn't happen."
"So you saved her!" a girl exclaimed.
"Yep, Ron and me both. However, as soon as the teachers came rushing in to see what we did, I was sure we were in for it. Professor McGonagall was furious with us. Then, Hermione did something very good of her and took the blame for the troll, helping us out of a jam." He shook his head. "Ron and I couldn't believe it, Hermione hated breaking the rules, but she did just for us. After that, we've been inseparable ever since."
"Are you telling a tall tale?"
Harry, along with every single girl in the room, looked over to see Hermione standing at the door. "Hermione, Harry told us about the troll!" a girl said.
"Really?" Hermione asked looking over at Harry.
"You bet. I told them that's how we became friends."
"Were you scared?" another girl asked.
"I was very scared, but glad it happened."
"Why?" a few asked.
"Because, if Ron hadn't insulted me, then I wouldn't have cried in the bathroom and Harry and Ron wouldn't have come to my rescue and we wouldn't have become friends."
"Awww.."
"That's so sweet!"
Harry finally got up and made his way over towards Hermione. "All right girls, now that you've calmed down, Hermione and I are gonna head out."
"Thanks for telling the story," Emma said.
Harry grinned at her. "Anytime, Emma."
XXX
"You should have seen yourself," Hermione said as they walked into their private compartment. "There you were sitting around a bunch of first year girls, while they hung on your every word."
"I have to admit," Harry said as he plopped next to the window. "It was kind of fun. They did wear me out though."
Hermione sat down next to him. "I'm pretty pooped myself."
"Is it always going to be like this?" Harry groaned as he leaned his head back.
"No, everyone is just excited," Hermione said as she propped her feet on the empty seat across from them. "My feet are killing me." She kicked off her shoes and wiggled her stocking covered toes. "What chance do I have in convincing you to rub my feet?"
Harry gave her a bored look. "Very, very slim," he told her as he took of his shoes as well and rested them next to Hermione.
She giggled and Harry scowled at her. "No giggling."
"Sorry, but your big toe is sticking out," she laughed. "Really, Harry, I think you can afford better socks."
Harry wiggled his exposed toe. "I have a problem throwing things away."
Hermione snuggled closer to him. "Now I know what to give you for Christmas."
"I get enough socks from Dobby, thanks," Harry said smiling at her.
Just then the door to their compartment slid in and they both saw Emma backing herself inside, then closing the door behind her. "What's up Emma?"
The girl gasped and spun around to see Harry and Hermione smiling at her. "Oh..I'm so sorry, I didn't know you'd be in here."
"It's all right," Hermione said with a smile. "Is everything all right?"
"Yes, I was just…wanting to find a quieter place to read, that's all."
Harry winced. "The girls still rowdy?"
"Yes," she exasperated. "I've never seen girls giggle so much."
Harry grinned. He definitely liked this girl. "Well listen, we actually want it quiet in here, so this is the perfect place to read."
"Really?" she said warily. "I won't bug you guys?"
"Not at all," Hermione beamed. "Go on have a seat."
Emma grinned and sat down on the seat across from them but closer to the door. "Thanks!"
"No problem," Harry said and shared a smile with Hermione, before turning his attention out the window. Dark clouds swirled the skies and knew rain wasn't far off. Sure enough, he saw the first drop of rain hit the window then the second, third, until finally dozens of drops splattered against the glass.
Harry turned when he felt something hit his shoulder and smiled when he realized it was Hermione. She had fallen asleep and her head had found his shoulder. A curtain of her hair spilled across her face, so he gently swept it away, tucking it behind her ear. She moaned in her sleep and snuggled closer to Harry and he felt an unusual tightening in his heart. Confused, he rubbed his chest as he continued to watch her sleep. She looked so innocent and fragile, he had the biggest urge to cradle her in his arms and hold her.
Well, why shouldn't he? She was his best friend after all, he would just be doing something nice that would feel nice in return. He took a quick glance at Emma and saw that she was engrossed in her book, then finally lifted his arm up and around her. She sighed in content when Harry pulled her close to him and he couldn't help but notice how comforting it was to hold her.
"Mmm…Harry," she whispered as she buried her face against the crook of his shoulder.
Not caring that someone else was in the room, Harry closed his eyes as he nuzzled his cheek against the top of her head, feeling sleep slowly take over him. He hadn't felt this relaxed in the longest time and he knew it was being with Hermione that helped.
With a grin, Emma looked over at the Head Boy and Head Girl, who were both fast asleep in each other's arms. She admired the view and couldn't help but wish for the same friendship they had shared. Maybe, there is a guy out there who could care for me that way.
Then something flashed a light of gold in the corner of her eyes and she shifted her eyes over to Harry's silver necklace. Funny, she thought as she looked at the necklace. She could have sworn it flickered to gold.