Chapter Summary: More of the developing friendship between Ron, Hermione, and Harry… and how Hermione's roommates react to the sudden change.
--- Begin Fic Here ---
Hermione looked up from her book when the portrait swung open. Harry was entering. She hadn't actually been reading "Great Wizarding Events of the 20th Century," she just didn't want to look like she was waiting for Harry to arrive, even though she really was. It had only taken her five minutes to make it back to the common room from her hiding place up on the ramparts, but it took Harry 30 minutes to arrive. She suspected that he couldn't help spending some extra time on his Nimbus 2000.
Harry immediately headed up to his dormitory without any acknowledgement to Hermione or anyone else in the common room. Ron was nowhere to be seen so she assumed he was up in the dormitory as well.
She put the book back in front of her face and pretended to read again; a little disappointed that Harry hadn't come to sit with her or even just wave at her. Even after their talk a half-hour ago, she still felt a little nervous in his presence around the other Gryffindors. In the back of her head, she wondered how open he would be out their friendship. After all, she still was only barely tolerated by her housemates and disliked by most of her other classmates.
"Maybe if I hang out with Harry, I'll be more popular," she thought absentmindedly. "I can't believe I just thought that! I'm not going to use my friendship with Harry to be popular. He's just another person like everyone else and it shouldn't matter that he's considered famous. But I guess it does even if I don't want it to. Being closer with him is going to automatically make me more liked by some people and hated by others, but I guess that would be kind of the same with anyone you're friends with, but on a smaller level. Then again, I'm still assuming he'll even want to be seen with me in public, maybe the only time I'll get to talk to him is when I go up on the…"
"So you don't have any homework left I'm guessing?" Harry had plopped down in the chair in front of her. He dropped a few books on the table they were sharing.
Hermione's mouth dropped as she watched Harry busying himself with pulling supplies from his bag. Without any warning or preamble, he had just come and sat with her as if it were the most common thing for him to do. Hermione looked slowly around at the others in the room, from behind her large book. She noticed that many of them, especially Parvati and Lavender looked just as shocked as she felt.
"Harry," Hermione hissed. "People are staring at us."
Harry didn't look up from the book he was reading. "I'm used to it. You should have seen it when I was in Diagon Alley."
Hermione thought about this. She remembered the first week that Harry was at school, all the stares he would get when he walked down the hall. He had to be used to people staring at him by now, especially those trying to get a look at his scar.
"Where's Ron," she asked switching subjects.
"He'll be down in a bit. He said something about looking for his potions book."
"Did you tell him… that we're talking?"
"Nope." Harry said still engrossed in his book.
Hermione's eyes widened. "Do you really think that was wise?"
Harry finally looked up, "Hermione you worry too much. You've got to loosen up."
"And how would you purpose I do that?" Hermione huffed.
Harry gave her a half grin. "Well I'd start by working on your sense of humor."
Hermione was about to tell him that she didn't think there was anything wrong with her sense of humor but at that moment Ron arrived.
"Oy, I see you're speaking to us now," Ron said, plopping down beside Harry. "Finally given in, eh?"
"I'm speaking to Harry," Hermione said haughtily. "I haven't made up my mind about you yet."
"Still high and mighty Hermione, I see." Ron said as he pulled some things from his bag. "You'd think almost getting killed by a troll would loosen you up a bit."
"What is it with everyone and me loosening up?"
"It's a conspiracy, I tell you," Harry laughed.
"No, this school work is a conspiracy," Ron sighed as he stacked books on the table. "An essay in every class; what are our teachers playing it? It's lunacy. This is no way to start the weekend."
"You're telling me," Harry said. "I still haven't gotten the one for McGonagall done yet. She wants, 2 ½ feet. That's way too much."
"Really?" Hermione said. "I've already done it. I have 3 feet."
Ron and Harry shared a look that made it all too clear that this didn't surprise them.
"Well since you're already done, maybe you can help me make sense of this assignment Snape gave us," Ron asked hopefully.
Hermione thought about this for a second. Then an idea jumped into her head, the kind of idea that once again made her wonder if she had a sadistic side.
"For you, Ron, anything," she said with a sly grin.
Ron gave her a quizzical look. "What? Just like that? I'd have thought you'd charge me 10 galleons."
"No of course not. That would be against the agreement that Harry and I have." She pulled Ron's potions book towards her.
"What agreement?" Ron looked from Harry to Hermione.
Harry looked only mildly interested in the conversation.
"Oh didn't he tell you?" Hermione said matter-of-factly. "See, Harry told me how you were trying to figure out a way to get me to 'help' you with your studies, so he and I worked out a deal. You two get as much help with your schoolwork as you want, I guarantee you'll pass all your classes."
Ron's eyes widened. "Really? That's great." Ron said excited. "Beats studying." He finally noticed that Hermione had a sly grin on her face. "Wait a minute. What do you get out of this deal?" he asked skeptically.
"Harry has to marry me." Hermione said calmly as she turned a page in the potions book.
Ron almost fell out of his chair. "WHAT?"
Hermione made a concerted effort not to laugh. "Well not now, of course. After we leave Hogwarts."
"You're kidding." He turned to Harry. "She's kidding right?"
"Hermione has no sense of humor, remember?" Harry said blandly, going along with the joke.
"Harry, you can't do this." Ron pleaded. "It's not worth it."
"Hey, I resent that," Hermione said with mock anger.
"You have to admit Ron, you're grades aren't that great," Harry reasoned. "It's a pretty good deal if you think about it."
"Hermione Granger-Potter," Hermione said dreamily. "Has a nice ring to it don't you think?"
Ron was turning green. "I don't believe this. Harry, have you lost your mind? This is Hermione we're talking about. You can't marry her!"
"And why not!" Hermione said defensively, still trying not to crack a smile.
"Yes Ron," Harry added coolly. "Why not?"
"Because… because… well just because!"
"Oooo, that is a very good reason," Hermione teased.
"This isn't funny." Ron was making such a scene that several more people were staring at him now.
"Oh calm down, Ron," Hermione chastised. "You have to get started on your potions essay. Unless you want Snape to give you detention for not having it done."
Harry turned his book around so Hermione could read it. "Before you do that, could you help me with the levitation charm. I just seem to have a block for it."
"How can you think about charms at a time like this?" Ron said almost shouting.
"Well I figure if I've got to marry the girl, I should at least milk my end for everything it's worth. You should too, you know. After all, I made this deal for you."
"He's got a point," Hermione said in a chipper voice.
Ron started shaking his friend. "Harry, you can't sell away the rest of your life just for some good grades. It's not worth it."
"Well it's too late now," Hermione, said pulling out a quill. "A deal's a deal. There's no turning back. We've got a contract."
Ron stood, exasperated. "I can't deal with this. Harry, when you two are through, I think we need to have a nice long talk." He stormed off towards the stairs to his dormitory.
When he was out of earshot, Hermione and Harry collapsed on the table in a fit of laughter.
"Not bad Hermione." Harry said when he finally composed himself. "I can't believe you actually got him to buy that."
"The beauty of being known as a goodie-two-shoes is that no one will ever suspect that you're lying." Hermione said with the same sly grin.
"I think I had you pegged all wrong," Harry admitted. "You've got a bit of a dark side."
"So when are you going to tell him?" Hermione asked, moving Ron's book aside.
"I think I'll give him a couple of hours to simmer," Harry decided. "That should give you enough time to help me with that charm."
"Oh I see how it is," Hermione gave him one of her trademark disapproving looks. "You'd better be careful, Harry Potter. I'm going to be a demanding wife."
"I can imagine."
-----
"It's not funny!" Ron said for the fifth time. Harry and Hermione were still laughing over the way they had tricked him the previous night. It was Saturday morning and the trio was eating breakfast.
"Let me take you back Ron," Harry laughed. "'Harry, you can't sell away the rest of your life just for some good grades. It's not worth it.'"
Ron turned red, but said nothing.
"Now you know not to mess with me, Ron Weasley." Hermione warned with a grin.
"You're scary, you know that?" Ron sighed. It seemed he had finally gotten used to the idea of having Hermione around.
"Oh look, if it isn't Potty and the Weasel," came a drawling voice from behind them that could have only belonged to Draco Malfoy.
The three friends turned to see Malfoy and Pansy standing behind them. "Oh and look, the dynamic duo added a third loser to their ranks." Malfoy continued.
"First poor pathetic Weasley, now muggle-born Granger," Pansy snarled. "What's next?"
Harry was about to answer but Hermione cut him off. "Well we were thinking about adding a trained monkey to the group, but it looks like you're already with Malfoy."
Harry and Ron laughed. Malfoy and Pansy stormed off saying nothing.
"I can't stand that girl." Hermione said returning to the book in front of her.
"So what should we do today," Ron asked Harry.
While Harry and Ron talked about their plans, Hermione started thinking about what she had planned for the weekend, and realized that she had nothing. It was the same every weekend. She had two choices, she could either go sit with Lavender, Parvati and their Ravenclaw friends while they prattled on about their latest crushes or she could go to the library and be alone and lonely. Neither of the ideas really appealed to her. What she really wanted to do was spend more time talking with Harry. She had really enjoyed the conversation they had the previous evening. But even though she was finally friends with Harry, she knew that he'd still probably spend most of his time with Ron, leaving her to fend for herself.
Harry and Ron stood from the table. Hermione had been so deep in thought that she hadn't heard a word of their conversation.
"Are you coming?" Harry asked her.
"Huh?"
"I told you, those books have rotted her brain," Ron said with a grin.
"We're going to go see Hagrid." Harry said. "Didn't you hear us?"
"Oh, yes of course I heard you." Hermione shut the book in front of her. "Who's Hagrid?"
-----
Hagrid as it turned out, was the Hogwarts grounds keeper. She had seen him from her spot on the ramparts several times walking across the courtyards, but she'd never actually talked to him or seen him in person, except eating at the head table.
As it turned out, Harry was friends with Hagrid and had been even before school started.
"He's the one who first told me about Hogwarts and being a wizard." Harry explained as they walked towards Hagrid's cabin. "He's really nice, just… don't eat anything he offers you," he warned.
They knocked on Hagrid's door and immediately heard a booming bark in response. "Uh, what was that?"
"Oh it's just Fang. Don't worry, he's harmless."
Anything that loud couldn't possibly be harmless, but Hermione took his word for it. The door opened and Hermione got her first up close and personal look at Hagrid. He was huge.
"Oh my," she thought. "He's got to be a giant. No wait, giants are much bigger, but he's definitely half-giant, probably on his mother's side. I never noticed it before but now I'm absolutely positive."
"Well, 'ello Harry, Ron. Who have we 'ear?" Hagrid said jovially as he opened the door.
"This is Hermione," Harry introduced them and Hagrid shook her entire arm.
"Oh, I remember you telling me about 'er." Hagrid said. "Cleverest witch in your year."
Hermione blushed. Had Harry really said that about her?
"Come in, I just finished makin' some treacle fudge. You want some?"
"No thanks Hagrid, we just ate breakfast." Harry said hastily as they sat down.
Fang bounded from his corner and pounced on Harry before he even had a chance to get to the table. Hermione was relieved to see that the dog was as harmless as Harry had said. He seemed to like Harry and licked him feverishly until Hagrid pulled him off.
"How's quidditch practice going Harry?" Hagrid asked as he sat down at the table.
Harry told Hagrid all about his practices with the team, then the trio shared the story about the troll. Harry was careful to leave out the real reason why Hermione was in the girl's bathroom to begin with, and she was grateful for that.
"I heard summat 'appened with you three from Professor McGonagall, but I never knew all that." Hagrid said when they finished their story. "Are you alright Hermione?"
"Yes, I'm just glad they made it there in time." Hermione said.
"Well, I've got me chores to do," Hagrid announced. "What're you three up to?"
"Dean wants to teach all of us about muggle soccer this afternoon," Ron told him. "We're supposed to meet him down by the lake in a few minutes. This should be a hoot."
"Yeah, we'd better get going." Harry stood. "You coming Hermione?"
"Uh, I may come watch but I don't think I'm going to play." Hermione decided. "Maybe I'll go up to the castle and bring a book down so I can read while you boys kick around."
"Alright, we'll we're going to get going then. We'll see you down there." Harry and Ron left out of the cabinet.
Hermione got up from the table and was about to leave when Hagrid spoke again. "So, what're you think of our young Mr. Potter, Hermione."
Hermione hadn't expected the question. She looked in his beetle-black eyes that shined with a hidden knowledge. "Well, at first I didn't know what to think. I mean, after all, he is Harry Potter. But he sort of surprised me. So I don't know anymore."
"Oh I think ya do know," Hagrid said with a booming laugh. "Let me tell ya something. Harry's just wants to be like every other boy 'ere at Hogwarts. He's just as confused about who he is as you are. If ya want to really know Harry though, just be 'is friend. He could use another good friend who doesn't treat him differently 'cause of you know who. I think you'll be good for him."
"Really?" Hermione brightened.
"Behind every good wizard, there's an even better witch." Hagrid said.
She laughed. "I doubt he'll see it that way."
"Give 'im some time, I'm sure he'll come 'round," Hagrid assured her. "Sure you don't want any fudge before you go?"
"Uh, no. I'd better get going." She walked towards the door but then turned around. "Say, Hagrid, did Harry really say that… what I mean to say is do you think he… um… well…" She couldn't figure out the right way to ask the question without sounding like some obsessed Harry Potter fan who wanted to know if her idol ever breathed her name.
Hagrid seemed to understand. "Well, I'll tell you one thing Hermione, you're the only girl I've ever heard Harry talk about. That's gotta mean summat."
Hermione tried to hide her intense elation as she hurried out of the cabin.
-----
Hermione sat under the shade of a tree as she watched several Gryffindors, Ravenclaws, and Hufflepuffs play muggle-soccer. Some of the older boys who hadn't gone to Hogsmeade conjured up a few goals and after the rules were explained, Dean broke out his ball and the game began.
Hermione was glad she had decided to sit this out as it looked like the boys were playing rough. There were only a few girls on the field and they all looked far more athletic than her.
None of the Gryffindor girls were on the field and that didn't surprise Hermione at all. She had watched as Lavender and Parvati made their appearance 15 minutes into the game but only to be overenthusiastic cheerleaders for the Gryffindors, especially Harry. The Slytherins were also on the scene, but they mostly just made snide comments about how "respectable wizards and witches would never engage in such a degrading muggle activity."
During one of the breaks, Harry came and plopped down next to Hermione. He was sweating but had a huge grin plastered on his face. Ron was across the field getting tips from Dean. "Oy, this is pretty fun. Definitely not what I expected."
"You act like you've never played soccer before," Hermione put down her book.
Harry shrugged. "I haven't really. The Dursleys never let me join any sports teams or have any extracurricular activities."
"Oh," Hermione said. She'd never heard Harry talk about the Dursleys but she knew that these were the people that he had lived with almost his whole life. "Why not?"
Harry shrugged again. "I guess they were afraid to let me have contact with other kids, in case my magical side kicked in."
"They knew you were a wizard?"
"Yeah, Aunt Petunia was my mom's sister. They knew alright, but they tried to stomp the magic out of me by making my life as miserable as possible."
Hermione's eyes widened. "You're kidding?"
"They treated me like I was a dog they couldn't get rid of most of time. When they found out that Hogwarts sent me my letter, they tried to keep it from me, but I think they were glad to get rid of me for most of the year one way or another. I'm glad too. I never want to go back. If I could stay here all year long I would."
Harry continued to tell Hermione all about his life with the Dursleys. How they never celebrated his birthday; how they, until recently, always made him sleep in a cupboard under the stairs; how his cousin Dudley and his friends always managed to find new ways to make his life miserable. Hermione was completely shocked. She'd never known what kind of life Harry had while living with his muggle aunt and uncle. No wonder he was so quiet all the time. He had grown up in a world where he wasn't allowed to ask questions or have any imagination.
"Oh Harry," Hermione bit her bottom lip. "I didn't know."
"Not many people do, except you and Ron. I don't like to talk about it a lot." Harry admitted. "But I figured since you opened up to me, I should do the same."
"Thanks," Hermione said, not knowing what else to say. She wished she could talk with him like this forever, but a moment after she thought it, Ron appeared.
"Harry, we're about to start again. You ready."
"Yup," Harry said getting up. "Say Hermione, it looks like Neville's on his last leg. I'd bet he'd appreciate it if you subbed for him."
Hermione gave him a look of disgust. "I'm not going out there and running around that field chasing after some ball."
"Oh come on, it'll be fun," Ron said cheerily. "Unless you're afraid you'll be bad at it."
"I'd rather not find out, and besides I'd practically be the only girl out there. I don't see you asking Lavender or Parvati to play."
"Well that's different, I mean Lavender and Parvati, they're… we'll they're girls." Ron said awkwardly.
"Oh and what am I?" Hermione retorted with a hint of anger in her voice.
"You're Hermione!" Ron said as if this made perfect sense. "Besides, you should do something besides just read all afternoon."
Hermione was about to say that she enjoyed reading and didn't see anything wrong with that but Harry was quicker. "Let her read Ron, there's nothing wrong with that. If we were half as smart as Hermione we'd be studying now anyway." He dragged Ron back to the game. "We'll see you later, okay?"
Hermione nodded in shock. Harry hadn't known it, but his words had been the one thing she'd been dying to hear ever since she was little, someone who finally accepted her fondness for reading and didn't criticize her for it. Obviously Harry wasn't as much of a bookworm as she was, but it didn't matter. He was fine with her the way she was and didn't mind her idiosyncrasies. She wondered if she and Harry would become as good of friends as he was with Ron. Was it just wishful thinking?
"So I see you've got something going with Harry?" Hermione was thrown out of her thoughts once again, this time by Parvati. She was standing in front of her with Lavender and Padma.
"Huh?" Hermione jumped. Parvati had a rare serious expression on her face and it was a little scary.
"We've seen the way you've been hanging with him lately. What's going on?" Parvati asked with a hint of anger and jealousy in her voice.
For a split second, Hermione debated about telling Parvati the same lie she had told Ron yesterday. These three girls were dumb enough to fall for it without any question. They'd think it was the only way a girl like her could get in good with "the famous Harry Potter," but then she realized that it would be more trouble than it's worth. Telling Parvati and Padma anything was a sure fire way to get it spread all over school and she didn't want to ruin her growing relationship with Harry by having a nasty rumor being spread around.
She wondered what she could tell Parvati that would make that scowl go away. "Well… uh… Harry and I just decided that we should at least be civil to one another since we're in the same house, that's all."
"Well remember what I told you, about Ron using you to get free homework help." Lavender reminded her. "Don't let them take advantage of you."
Hermione doubted very seriously that these girls cared anything about her being taken advantage of, but she smiled sweetly anyway. "Oh I won't. Don't worry about that."
"Well we're going back to the castle, to grab a snack. You want to come with us?" Padma offered.
"No, I promised Harry I'd wait for him until after the game." Hermione couldn't believe she'd let that slip out, but she was nervous with these three girls standing over her, "Stupid, stupid, stupid!"
Parvati's face fell again. "I see. Well I guess I should have known that."
Before Hermione could say anything, the girls had strolled off. "Oh great, I've just started a war with my roommates. I have to live with these girls for 6 ½ more years. Now I know I need to become head girl my seventh year. I hear they get their own room. I never knew making friends was this much work. I wonder if Parvati is going to throw herself at Harry even more. This is just what I need. Oh well it could be worse; at least I have someone to talk about it now. Actually I have more than one person to talk about it with. Hagrid really seems to understand me too. He's nothing like I would expect a giant to be. Maybe it's because he's only a half giant. Ron's not too bad either, in his own way. I guess I can put up with him."
She watched as Harry and the other students ran up and down the field. Neville was looking very tired. Hermione reached inside her pocket and pulled out her wand. "Well since I'm here, I might as well give Neville a little pick-me-up." She pulled out her wand, muttered a few choice words, and watched as Neville's energy and speed increase two fold. She noticed Harry was looking at her. He'd seen her do the spell on Neville and gave her the thumbs up.
Hermione smiled and returned to her book, "Saucy Tricks for Tricky Sorts."
All and all, things were looking up for Hermione, she may have to deal with some jealous roommates but at least she had some good friends, and she knew now that Harry would stick by her and be a true friend. She couldn't ask for anything more. Life was finally looking up at Hogwarts.