Harry drew Hermione out of her daydreaming by offering a knut for her thoughts.
“Oh, I was just wondering about today’s lessons,” she admitted.
“We’ve got Transfiguration this morning.
You and Professor McGonagall didn’t exactly hit it off at the sorting.”
Harry laughed, the sound easy and genuine.
“Well, that’s certainly one way of putting it.”
They had been comparing notes on their first week, and so far the Hogwarts curriculum had been a decidedly mixed bag.
“Herbology was great,” Harry said.
“Professor Sprout really knows her stuff.
History of Magic, though…” He shook his head.
“That was a joke.”
“Harry, with your goblin sense of humour, that last remark could mean anything.”
“We were learning about famous wizards and the impact they’d left on the world.
How could anyone possibly make that sound boring?
Even a goblin wouldn’t think a class of children being taught by a ghost was something to laugh about.” He paused.
“Speaking of laughable, that’s really the only word I can think of to describe our Defence professor.
That loud redheaded Gryffindor broke wind as Quirrell walked past his desk, and our brave Defence professor almost jumped six feet in the air with fright.”
Hermione tried very hard not to laugh at the memory.
Professor Quirrell really did look as nervous as a stray kitten in a dog pound.
She agreed with Harry and added her own thoughts on the curriculum.
“Charms looks really interesting, but I just wish we had gotten to try a few of them.
Hopefully I’ll get to use my wand in Transfiguration.”
They were interrupted by Eargit swooping down in a graceful arc.
The snowy owl dropped a letter into Harry’s lap and a small, neatly wrapped parcel into Hermione’s.
Harry’s questioning eyebrow made her blush.
“I asked my mum to send me some exercise clothes,” she confessed.
“I was hoping I could join you for a bit of training in the morning?”
Harry’s smile was warm and immediate.
“Okay, but I think we should wait until Saturday morning before beginning.
That will give you a couple of days to get used to the training without having to attend classes too.”
He then opened his own note, nodding as though the news was expected.
“My father is coming to Hogwarts tomorrow.
We have a meeting with Dumbledore.
I wonder if Master Flitwick knows?
Father can decide tomorrow if we want him in there with us.” He folded the letter and tucked it away.
“We better head off to class.”
Harry was either stuck in some chivalrous period of history, or that goblin sense of humour was having a laugh at her expense.
Either way, wherever they went, he offered his arm.
Hermione gratefully took it.
She didn’t know if this increased the whispering that followed Harry wherever he went, and she didn’t really care.
Last night she had been on his arm under the stars.
It may have only been their Astronomy lesson, but that wasn’t the way Hermione chose to remember it.
In her mind it was easily the most romantic night of her young life.
They began walking toward the Transfiguration classroom, with all the portraits making sure the Hogwarts champion knew exactly where he was going.
Quite a number of the other first-years had sussed this out, so they tended to have an entourage between classes.
Padma usually stuck quite close to them, and all three were fine with that.
It was the rest who were becoming ridiculous.
Not all of them were content to just follow on to class.
Parvati and that other Gryffindor girl were desperately trying to attach themselves like limpets to Harry.
The Gryffindor boys, however, were becoming even more pushy—especially the redheaded one.
“Hey Harry, mate, you must get fed up hanging around with the bookworms.
Anytime you want a break, the Gryffindor guys will make you more than welcome.”
Harry just looked at him.
“And you are?”
“Oh, sorry.
I’m Ron.”
Harry’s stare never wavered.
“And who are you?”
Ron didn’t appear to get what Harry was asking.
“I’m Ron.
This is Dean and Seamus and he’s Neville…”
“Well, Mr Ron Ron, thanks for introducing yourself and your friends.
Now, if you will excuse me.”
Harry pushed past him toward the boy hanging at the back.
Since Hermione still had hold of his arm, she followed.
“Well met, Neville Longbottom.
I’m Harry Crow and, since you are practically family, please call me Harry.
The young lady on my arm is Hermione Granger and this is our friend Padma Patil—her twin sister is in Gryffindor with you.”
Neville stared unbelievingly at Harry’s offered hand before nervously shaking it.
“Hi everybody.
Eh… family?”
“Did you know my mum was your godmother?” This was clearly news to Neville, but not as shocking as the next bit.
“Your mother is also my godmother.”
The boy appeared ready to cry at that, but Harry now had his hand comfortingly on Neville’s shoulder and Hermione had moved to his side.
“Voldemort cost both of us, Neville, but I think you got the worst of the deal.
There is no way you should now have to put up with a Death Eater teaching you.
I would like to offer you the opportunity to join us for separate Potions lessons.”
“Are you sure?” The pleading nature of Neville’s demeanour at Harry’s offer was heartbreaking to watch.
He clearly had no self-esteem and couldn’t work out why anyone would make such an offer to him.
Harry responded the only way he knew how—honestly.
“I’m very sure, Neville.
Both the offers of private lessons and friendship are genuine.
This is not some sick prank.
Had things been different, we would have grown up together and I’m certain we would have been best friends.
We may have lost years, but I would like us both to start down that road now.”
The smile that spread across Neville’s face was all the answer Harry needed.
The four of them resumed their journey to Transfiguration.
Neville gave the impression of someone who had just had the weight of the world lifted off his shoulders.
He explained this as they walked.
“Snape terrifies me, and we’ve heard he saves his worst behaviour for Gryffindors.
Ron’s been trying to catch your eye all week.
We’re all desperate to get out of Snape’s class.”
“I’ve had the people in my own house dropping subtle hints all week too,” Harry said.
“The problem is that when my father arranged this, it was supposed to be for me and hopefully a few friends.
I can’t really turn up with three quarters of first year without talking to my father again.
He’s coming to Hogwarts tomorrow, so I might be able to help a few more out then, but I think I should offer places to my own house first.
I would appreciate it if you could let slip to Ron Ron that I don’t like pushy.”
“Ah!” It was plain to see that the penny had dropped for Neville.
He blushed and offered an explanation.
“Parvati was moaning about how you appeared friends with Padma but practically ignored her.
She couldn’t understand it…”
The musical laughter coming from Padma cut Neville off.
“Oh, pushy is a good description of Pav.
There are a few other words I could use as well.”
“So you’re not identical then?”
“Physically yes, but we’re definitely two different witches.”
They chatted all the way to Transfiguration before doing their usual and sitting at the front of the class.
Harry’s bag was charmed weightless and bottomless, and he insisted that both girls put their book bags in there too.
He handed Hermione hers and was about to do the same with Padma when the redheaded Gryffindor stepped over the line.
He’d just pushed Neville out of the way so he could claim the seat on the other side of Harry.
“What are you playing at?”