Back to School, Boi!

Harry drops into a seat on the Hogwarts Express, Nanthisk slithering next to the window as he pulls out one of the many books from the Vatican on Alchemy. Was it surprising there were many variations and interpretations on the school of alchemy? No, and considering the Church's long history of witch-hunting, they were bound to collect lots of articles of interest.

Though, the fact each book had accompanying notes pinned to their backs that were written by priests was slightly annoying. Most of it was belligerent ranting about Satan's gift of magic, there were a few written by 'not-stupid' people that had something intelligent to say... His current book, 'The Change and Unchange of Alchemical Reagents' had notes on the links between some symbols, astrology, and the possible 'heretical' cultures they may be from.

To be honest, Alchemical symbols were kind of like runes, except they had a larger emphasis on science instead of magic. It was still involved of course, but Harry was having trouble wrapping his head around the peculiar mix of science, belief, and magic.

*Click!*

"Harry! How was Italy!?" Hermione enthusiastically greets while sitting opposite him.

He shrugs, "Pretty good, your guidebook is helpful." he adds.

She smiles, "Really! Good! I'd thought you wouldn't have gotten any use out of it, it's a relief!... Oh!" she pulls out her book on Occlumency, "Why do they not teach this to everyone in their first year!?" she suddenly exclaims.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, since I've started practising it my memory has gotten better, I have a better grasp on my emotions, and if I try hard enough I can recall full memories!... Do you have any idea how much time I've mentally spent in class over the break!?"

"Ah..." Harry utters in realisation, maybe he should've expected this, after all he'd been basically the same when he first learned the art. "I'm glad you're finding it useful."

"I am but really! Why isn't this in the school's curriculum!? Even the worst student could pass with flying colours if they had this!"

"Well, Pure-Bloods teach their kids Occlumency before they enter school, so the bigots in charge see no need for the 'Mud-Bloods' to learn of it." he says, bringing a school to her face, "Plus, those in positions of authority like to use Legilimency to read the minds of people under them. If everyone knew Occlumency, it'd remove one facet of their control."

"L-like Dumbledore!" she exclaims, recalling their discussion before Christmas as understanding lights up her face, "Of course! He's in charge of what we learn, and if he was using Legilimency to read students' minds he wouldn't give us the ability to protect ourselves!"

"Got it in one, Hermione... There are also people in the government who make large use of it, or so I've heard. Plus, if you don't have good Occlumency shields you can't work in positions of power, for obvious reasons. It's just another method they use to control Muggle-borns... The magical world is corrupt, Hermione."

...

She slumps and sits there in silence, brushing her fingers over the cover of her book while deep in thought.

*Click!*

The duo look over as a short boy pokes his head into the room and perks up at the sight of Harry, a grin plastering his face. "Harry!"

"Nick." he simply greets, honestly anticipating the effects the Fuath Stone would have had on him. "How was your break?"

"Good! Really good actually! Never better!" he happily chirps before trailing off, "Ah, can I sit here?"

Harry shrugs, and the boy shuffles in and sits in between Hermione and Nanthisk, "Hello boy!" he greets the snake.

"Begone, warm blood!" Nanthisk hisses in annoyance, but Nick just laughs and smiles in response, taking the snake's reaction positively.

"Ah-erm, I don't think we've officially met." Hermione stutters and holds her hand out, "I'm Hermione Granger."

"Nick Spooner, good to meet you!" he shakes her hand vigorously before turning on Harry, "I need to thank you again for your gift, it's fantastic!"

Harry hums in interest, "Really?"

He nods, "For the first time in my life I actually won a fight!"

"You fought? Tell me about it." Harry urges as Hermione sits forwards in her seat, somewhat confused.

"My cousins, they were going around causing trouble in my room, they broke my bookshelf and tried to grab the stone you gave me. I lost it and beat them both, they're two and three years older than me so they definitely didn't expect it!" he eagerly says.

"Wait, you beat up your cousins? Why!?"

"Didn't you hear him?" Harry cuts Nick off before he can speak, judging by the sudden frown on his face he wouldn't have been nice at all. "He defended himself, I'm assuming he didn't have any other option so all he had left was fighting. Since he won, I'd consider that a win."

"Totally!" Nick grins, "You should have seen that prick's face when I stomped on it. They won't be able to bully me anymore!"

Hermione blanches at that, "You stomped on his face...?"

"Yeah, I know, Mum got involved before I could do anything else. Maybe smacking them with some books would have been better?"

She turns to Harry, "J-just what did you give him? He sounds like a thug!"

"Hey!" Nick protests but he's ignored.

"I gave him a stone that'll slowly boost his confidence and make him better in stressful situations. Hermione, he got hospitalised by the Slytherins because he's my roommate, it'd my responsibility to help him."

"B-but..." she trails off, inwardly thinking about what it'd be like if she was in the house. Surrounded by Pure-Blooded bigots who likely saw no punishment for any actions they took against her. Reluctantly, she sighs and decides that giving him the ability to defend himself was likely the boy's only option, especially given all she'd learned about Dumbledore so far.

"Well, I suppose... As long as he's defending himself..."

"That's the spirit, Hermione!" Nick throws out a couple awkward jabs, "Let's see those Slytherins touch me now, they'll definitely regret it!"