1. No Ron

Disclaimer:

I don't own Harry Potter. I am not making any money from this.

"Have you seen a toad? Neville's lost one," the bushy-haired girl asked.

"No, sorry," Harry said apologetically.

"Are all those sweets for you alone?" She asked, looking at the pile sitting beside him.

"Would you like to have some? I thought I would try them all and I bought too much," Harry told the two of them, holding out a pasty to the girl.

"You shouldn't eat so many, you know. They're really bad for your teeth."

"I know," said Harry, wanting to defend himself for his stupidity, "I just saw them all for the first time and they looked very interesting, but I have too much now. Would you like a pasty?" Harry asked, now directing his question to the toadless boy who looked at the girl for direction, and then asked, "Can I?"

The girl nodded at Neville and went and sat beside Harry, on the other side of all the sweets and proceeded to look at the packaging of them all. Neville sat opposite them after taking the pumpkin pasty being offered by Harry.

"What are these?" Hermione asked Harry quietly, holding up a pack of Chocolate Frogs, "they can't really be frogs, can they?" Harry just shrugged in response.

Neville saw them talking, and decided to focus entirely on his pasty.

"May I open this?"

"Go on."

The girl unwrapped one and took out a card. Harry leaned over to see what it was.

"So this is Dumbledore."

The girl turned the card and quickly read it out loud. When she turned it back over, they both saw, to their astonishment, that Dumbledore's face had disappeared.

"He's gone!"

"Yes, it mentioned in Hogwarts a History that the people in all the paintings in Hogwarts can move from their paintings as well. But this is the first time I've seen one as well. Oh look, he's back." They both stared as Dumbledore sidled back into the picture and gave the girl a small smile. Both of them simultaneously went for another frog, the previous one remaining uneaten.

The two of them opened up all of the packs to get all the cards they could, reading together about the famous wizards and witches.

Finally, after reading all the cards they had, Harry looked at all the uneaten frogs they had and offered one to Hermione.

"No, I don't eat sweets. But thanks for offering," the girl said, "I'm Hermione Granger, by the way, who are you?"

"Harry Potter," said Harry.

"Are you really?" said Hermione. "I know all about you, of course – I got a few extra books for background reading, and you're in Modern Magical History and The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts and Great Wizarding Events of the Twentienth Century.

"Am I?" said Harry, feeling dazed.

"Goodness, didn't you know, I'd have found out everything I could if it was me," said Hermione. "Anyway, do you know what House you'll be in? I've been asking around, and I hope I'm in Gryffindor, it sounds by far the best; I hear Dumbledore himself was in it, but I suppose Ravenclaw wouldn't be too bad. … Anyway, thanks for letting me read all those cards but we'd better go and look for Neville's toad. You had better change, you know, I expect we'll be there soon."

"Thanks for keeping me company," Harry told her with a smile. Neville also thanked him before following her outside.

"You – Potter – why didn't you tell him not to add the quills? Thought he'd make you look good if he got it wrong, did you? That's another point you've lost for Gryffindor."

This was so unfair that Harry opened his mouth to argue, but Hermione's hand on his arm stopped him.

"Don't say anything," she whispered, "he would just take more points off."

As they climbed the steps out of the dungeon an hour later, Hermione tried to cheer him up, "Don't worry. It was not your fault. He was completely unfair. What a horrible person! But forget about him. Let's go and meet Hagrid. I can come with you, right?"

"I'd take you on anytime on my own," said Malfoy. "Tonight, if you want. Wizard's duel. Wands only – no contact. What's the matter? Never heard of a wizards duel before, I suppose?"

"Of course he knows what it is," the red haired first year in their house came up and told Malfoy.

"No, I don't know. What is it?" Harry asked Malfoy honestly, after looking sideways at Hermione to see if she knew what the blonde kid was talking about.

"Why should I tell you?"

"Because you want one with Harry," Hermione answered snarkily.

"Don't worry. I'll tell him. And I'll be his second. We accept," the red haired kid told Malfoy, making Harry hold back Hermione to prevent her from shouting at him.

"Okay, midnight all right? We'll meet you in the trophy room. That's always unlocked."

When Malfoy had gone, Harry set Hermione loose.

"What makes you think you can go and accept fights on Harry's behalf?"

The Weasley kid looked at Hermione and told him, "Go away, it's none of your business."

"And it's really none of your business either," Harry announced.

"But I'm your second", he pleaded.

"No, he's not," Hermione said, looking at Harry.

"Why? Are you going to be his second, then? You don't even know what a wizard's duel is."

Harry covered his eyes with his hands and walked away slowly.

"That's a broomstick," Malfoy said, throwing the package back to Harry with a mixture of jealousy and spite on his face. "You'll be in for it this time, Potter, first years aren't allowed them."

"Ok," Harry said and turned away, smirking when he heard Malfoy's huffed "I'll show you" from behind.

"Professor, professor, Potter's been sent a broomstick," said Malfoy to Professor Flitwick who arrived with Hermione behind them.

Harry stopped and turned towards the tiny professor who was beaming at him. "Professor McGonagall told me all about the special circumstances. And what model is it?"

"A Nimbus Two Thousand, sir," said Harry, fighting not to laugh at the look of horror on Malfoy's face. "And it's really thanks to Malfoy here that I've got it," he added.

Harry headed upstairs, smothering his laughter at Malfoy's obvious rage and confusion. Hermione followed behind, not looking particularly happy with him.

"What? It's true, if he hadn't stolen Neville's Remembrall I wouldn't be on the team."

"So I suppose you think that's a reward for breaking rules?" Hermione asked him angrily.

"What? No. I just wanted to help Neville. Why are you getting angry?"

"You shouldn't have got it," Hermione said as she stomped up the stairs, looking disapprovingly at the package in Harry's hand.

"Well, what do you want me to do? Give it back? Professor McGonagall gave this to me."

After a long moment, Hermione said, "You got it for doing something incredibly dangerous. So I don't think you deserved getting an expensive broom instead of a punishment."

"Oh! Right," Harry told her angrily, "Well I'm very sorry that I wasn't expelled. Okay? Good-bye!"

"Oh, well done! Everyone see here, Miss Granger's done it!" said Professor Flitwick, clapping.

After the class, Harry heard Ron say, "It's no wonder no one can stand her, she's a nightmare, honestly."

Someone knocked into Harry as they hurried past him. It was Hermione. Harry caught a glimpse of her face – and was startled to see that she was in tears.

"I think she heard you," he heard Seamus say.

"So? She must've noticed she's got no friends."

Harry was horrified. But as much as he hated Ron at that moment, he fought down the urge to argue with him as he couldn't even call himself a friend of Hermione's anymore.

Hermione didn't turn up for the next class and wasn't seen all afternoon. On his way down to the Great Hall for the Halloween feast, Harry overheard Parvati telling her friend Lavender that Hermione was crying in a girls' bathroom and wanted to be left alone.

Harry decided to go to the bathroom to check on her before going to the feast.

Harry called out Hermione's name from outside instead of peeking in. He heard perhaps the softest version of her voice he had heard yet say, "Go away."

"Come on out now. The feast is starting."

"No. You go. Just leave me alone."

Harry resisted the urge to do what she was asking of him. "What are you even doing in there?"

She didn't reply.

"Hermione! … Forget about what Ron said. It isn't true. Come out. Please."

"Stop lying. You think I'm a nightmare too, don't you?"

"Of course not."

"Just leave me alone. You have for the last month. Why are you talking to me now?"

"Hermione! …" Harry didn't quite know what to say.

"I don't think you're a nightmare at all. You're a hundred times better person than that idiot Ron. … I'm sorry I ignored you. I was just mad about the things you said about my broomstick."

"But you never even let me explain it to you. I didn't want you to be expelled."

"I know."

"I just wanted you to have a detention, nothing more than that."

That made Harry laugh. And he heard Hermione chuckling inside as well.

"Well, I'm sorry I ignored you. I wasn't that mad at you. But now, please come out. The feast must have started already."

"You go, I'll be there later, don't worry," he heard from inside.

Suddenly a foul stench reached Harry's nostrils, and he heard a low grunting, and the shuffling footfalls of gigantic feet.

Then he saw it, at the end of the corridor to his left, something huge was rounding the corner. Harry quickly hid behind the door and watched.

It was a horrible sight. Harry wasn't sure what it was, but he quickly went up to Hermione and hissed, "Come on. We have to run."

"What are you doing? I said I'll go later," she said, backing away from him.

"No, no. I think there's a troll outside. Come on," he grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the door and they both peeked out. The troll was coming right towards them. Harry looked at Hermione. She looked like she was about to faint.

"Hermione! Come on, run run run."

Harry risked a look behind them as they ran. The troll was stupidly alternating between staring at them and the doorway.

He and Hermione just ran towards the Great Hall without stopping. There were different groups of people hurrying in different directions. They jostled their way to the entrance where they found Professor McGonagall, who looked at them and sternly asked, "Miss Granger, Mister Potter, why are you not with the rest of your house?"

"Professor, there's a troll." Harry told her between gasps.

"Yes, I am well aware of that. And that is why you should be heading to your common room."

"Professor, there's a troll there," Harry told her, pointing towards the girls' bathroom they had just come from, "in the corridor outside the girls' bathroom."

"PROFESSOR QUIRRELL! Come quickly. You two, stay here."

Many students around them turned to stare as Professor McGonagall hurried past them. Quirrell followed a few feet behind her.

Suddenly, they all heard a loud howl followed a few seconds later by thud that made the floor tremble.

Many students started to go in that direction. Harry started to, but was held back by Hermione's pleading voice saying his name.

"Harry!"

"What? Oh, right, sorry, I forgot," Harry said, coming back to stand beside her, quelling the urge to go see the mangled remains of the troll, "But maybe she only meant, stay here till we take down the troll. I mean, we'll only be going towards her."

"Please," she said in the same soft voice that was so unlike her.

"Okay, okay, don't worry."

She looked at him in a funny way, and said, "Thank you!" But after a few seconds, she looked like she was going to cry.

"Ummm, are you okay?" Harry asked pensively.

"Mhm," Hermione said, now looking on the verge of tears.

Harry nodded, feeling awkward standing beside her, not knowing what to do. There were very few students standing around them, but he felt incredibly weird whenever anyone of them glanced at the two of them. Soon, McGonagall reached them, telling all the students she came across to get to their respective common rooms.

Upon reaching them, she asked Hermione, "Miss Granger, are you hurt?"

Hermione shook her head, bringing a hand up to wipe the moisture from her eyes.

"How did you two know where the troll was?"

"I was in the bathroom and Harry came to get me, and then he wouldn't go away,"

"Mister Potter!"

"No, no, not like that. He just wanted me to come to the feast," Hermione defended him.

"But then, he came inside and made me run out and the troll was right behind us. So we ran to get you."

"You weren't here at the feast when Professor Quirrell came in?" She asked Harry.

"No ma'am."

"Well – in that case..." said Professor McGonagall, staring at the two of them, "you each win ten points for coming to me. If you're not hurt at all, you'd better get off to Gryffindor Tower. Students are finishing the feast in their Houses."

"I do feel so sorry," said Draco Malfoy, one Potions class, "for all those people who have to stay at Hogwarts for Christmas because they're not wanted at home."

He was looking over at Harry as he spoke. Crabbe and Goyle chuckled. Harry ignored them. After the class, Hermione asked him, "Is it true? Do your family not want you at home?"

"Uhhh… Yes, but don't worry. I don't want to want to go home either."

"Oh!" Hermione was scared of the thought of Harry spending the Christmas holidays alone with only the Weasleys as company. She knew Harry didn't hate her, and didn't like Ron, but who knew what would happen if they only had each other for company in the holidays. Ron's idiocy might be contagious. And part of her was sure that Ron would try to set Harry against her. It was a silly thought, but also a scary one. She had written to her parents to ask them for permission to ask Harry to stay with them. She didn't know if her parents would be comfortable with a boy staying over. And she didn't want to give Harry false hope. It had been many days since she had sent her letter with Hedwig, but perhaps due to the horrible weather, she had never received a reply.

"Harry, what will you do during the holidays?"

"I don't know. Uh, you aren't going to ask me to utilize my time in the library, are you?" Harry asked, only half-joking.

"No… It's just… Hedwig hasn't come back yet, has she?"

"No, I hope she's okay. Maybe she'll come today. It doesn't seem as bad outside, right?"

Hermione dearly hoped so.

Hedwig didn't show up that evening. Hermione decided to just take a chance. "Harry", she asked him that evening in the common room, "would you like to come to my home for Christmas?"

"What? Really?"

"Yes, I'm sorry I'm asking you so late. I asked my parents if they were okay with you staying at our home in my last letter, but Hedwig hasn't come back yet but I'm sure they would be completely okay with you staying with us. I don't want you to be alone here. So I would love it if you would come with me tomorrow."

"But I already entered my name in the list."

"I already asked Professor McGonagall. She says it's no problem. We can still ask her to take it off."

After a few seconds, Harry asked, "Are you sure your parents would be okay with me staying?"

"Yes, yes. I mean, I'm just 12," she said with a blush, "and you're my best friend."

"You're 12? But then, you didn't tell me about your birthday?"

"Yes, my birthday was in September. I didn't want to make a scene of it."

"What? Hermione! I should've gotten you a gift. I didn't even wish you. When was it?"

"September 19, but don't worry about it. I don't care. Just tell me, will you come?"

"Of course, I would love to. But only if you're sure it's okay."

"Yes, yes, I'm sure. … Do you need any help with packing?"

"No, no, don't worry. But listen, maybe, I shouldn't come if Hedwig doesn't show up. I mean, what if you take me and your parents really don't want me there? I don't want to have to go to the Dursleys."

"Harry, trust me. They would love to have you."

"... Well okay, hah. I'll go and tell Professor McGonagall then. But maybe, we should at least wait till tomorrow morning. Maybe Hedwig will come by then."

Hermione just stood up and took her book in one hand and his arm in the other and started walking him out.

"Okay, okay, fine, haha."

The next morning, Hedwig did show up, but fortunately, Hermione's parents were perfectly fine with Harry coming.

The train ride back was quite pleasant. Harry and Hermione spent a lot of time staring out of the window of their compartment. Hermione told him some stories from her childhood, of her trips with her parents to some other countries.

"Have you ever been out of the country?"

"No. I've never been, well, anywhere really. I've only visited London and the zoo and Hogwarts, and we recently went to a lighthouse near… I don't even know where it was, but yeah, that's it."

"Why not?" Hermione asked reservedly.

"The Dursleys just used to leave me with someone else, Aunt Marge or Mrs. Figg. It's no big deal. I wouldn't want to travel with them anyway."

"Why do they treat you like that?"

"They just don't like magic, I guess. And they always knew that I was a wizard. I don't know. But it will be better with them from now on. Now that I have my wand."

"But you can't use magic outside school. You'll be expelled."

"Yes, but they don't know that."

"Oh! Okay, well, right. Tell me, did you ever do some accidental magic?"

"Yes, sometimes. Well, okay my hair, it never gets shorter than this. No matter how many times I went to the barber, after a few hours they would be back to the same length, so one time, Aunt Petunia she cut almost all of my hair except just a little bit here," Harry said, pointing to a spot above his scar.

"That's so horrible."

"I know, but it was okay because the next morning, they were again the same as before."

"How did your aunt react?"

"She locked me in the cupboard for a week."

"WHAT? What did you say?"

Harry looked genuinely scared for a moment.

"They locked you in a cupboard for a week?"

"No, no, I mean, they let me out to go to the bathroom and the kitchen. Oh wait, you misunderstood, it's not like, a cupboard in their room. No, no, the cupboard under the stairs, it was my room."

"Your room… Is a cupboard?"

"Well, now they gave me Dudley's second room. So, not anymore. But calm down, don't worry about it. Anyway, okay, there was this one time, just this year, in fact, it was this year, it was Dudley's birthday, and they couldn't leave me with anyone else because Mrs. Figg broke her leg and had to cancel at the last minute, so I got to go to the zoo for the first time. So, there was this reptile house. And the largest snake in the place, it was so massive it could have wrapped itself around a car. And it was sleeping and then it woke up, and it winked at me."

"What, really? Are you sure?"

"Yeah, yeah, but, what happened was, I was talking to it and -"

"You were talking to it?"

"Yeah, it was weird. Like, I said to it that it must be really annoying having visitors rap on the glass repeatedly, trying to make it do stuff, and it nodded, like that."

"Oh, ok!" said Hermione, deciding Harry must be exaggerating for his story.

"But then, Dudley came from behind and punched me aside. And he and his friend, Piers, were leaning against the glass, but then the glass completely vanished."

"Woah."

"And then all the people were screaming and running for the exits. And everyone was confused. Where did the glass go? Now I know, of course, but then I didn't. And the snake slid by me and I thought it talked to me again. I remember, it said, 'Brazil, here I come. … Thanks, amigo.'"

"It actually talked to you?" Hermione asked, looking a bit shocked.

"Well, I could've just imagined it. It is kind of stupid."

"No, no, actually some wizards, they supposedly can speak to snakes."

"Really?"

"Yes, they're called Parselmouths. Salazar Slytherin was one. They're supposed to be incredibly rare."

"Oh. Ok. Wow. Maybe I did talk to it then."

"And then?"

"Then, Piers told Uncle Vernon that I had been talking to the snake, so he locked me in the cupboard again."

"Harry, they're so horrible to you."

"Well, he didn't actually lock me inside. He just told me to stay inside. I could still go to the bathroom and sneak out for food."

"You had to sneak out for food?"

"Yeah, unfortunately, he was really mad."

"They're terrible. Why do you have to stay with them? Don't you have any other relatives beside them?"

"No. I don't have anywhere else to go to. When I was younger, I dreamed of some unknown relative coming to take me away, you know, but of course it never happened. But it won't be as bad anymore."

"Harry, you have me. We'll talk to my parents, okay? Maybe you could stay with us in the summer as well."

"No, don't."

"Harry, I couldn't live with myself if I knew you were staying with those horrible people."

"I told you, it won't be that bad."

"But still, what if they find out that you can't use magic? They will be even worse then, won't they?"

"Yeah, but … I'm not your parents' responsibility. Maybe I can just spend most of my time in The Leaky Cauldron, or somewhere else. I don't know. I don't want to be a burden to your family."

"Harry, you won't be a burden to them. At all. Really. We have some extra rooms in our house. And we rarely have any guests. And besides, they're always saying they're sorry they have to leave me alone at home to go to work. This way, I'll have you and I'll never be alone," she finished, a cute blush developing on her cheeks when she realised what she had just said.

"I don't know, Hermione."

"You'll see. And besides, then, we could study for our next year together. It'll be great."

A/N: This is going to be a fic completely focused on Harry and Hermione, no Ron. Just friendship for now. Romance much later on. Hope you like it.