Friends

Harry sat beside Hermione, frozen as she silently cried. Raising his hand, he tried to comfort her only to once again freeze mid-way. What did he know about comforting someone? No one ever consoled him when he cried, not his aunt, neither his uncle; and his school teachers just didn't seem to care. Hermione was fragile, and he did not want to hurt her when she was at her weakest.

But just then an invisible force pushed his hands into Hermione's bandaged hand. Alarmed, he tried to pull back only to stop at a thankful look in her eyes. Uncomfortably settling on holding her as Hermione got hold of herself.

"Thanks, Harry"

"Don't mention it." He shook his head, "How are you feeling?"

"Better" She replied and went silent.

An uncomfortable silence settled in.

"I took notes for today's classes.", Harry's words brought her out of her mental prison.

Placing parchments of paper in her lap, he motioned her to read them. Hermione picked them and raised her brow, "You took these notes? Really?"

"Come on, not you too." Harry lamented, lightening the air.

Hermione rolled her eyes and engaged in reading his notes. For just two first-year lectures, notes he wrote were far too extensive and comprehensive. Harry knew the theories behind the magics far better than most and he was sure Hermione would appreciate his effort.

"Wow Harry, there are great. Thanx", Harry rubbed his nose, embarrassed.

Harry discretely picking up his get-well message and placed it in his pocket, "I should go now. It is time for class."

Hermione jerked her head, and Harry could see her panic, "Don't worry, it is just one class. I will be right back."

Hermione nodded but just as Harry turned to leave, she called from behind.

"Harry, you are good with combat magics, aren't you?"

"Hmm"

"Can you teach me?" Harry turned back, frowning internally. From what he knew, she was not interested in magical combat but was still better at it than any first-year has any right to be. But for her to ask his help?

"Ok Hermione, I will show you what little I can."

Leaving the Hospital wing, he immediately pulled out the parchment, and cast to intent revealing charm on it,

"mente glorieris calumniam sustinens"

Getting the results, his eyes widened. There were few spells that stood out to him, all cast in continuity and around the same time. First, an obscuring charm and finite incantatum, then a stinging hex, a minor dark curse, and the caster used legilimency although it was not successful and invisibility charm. All casts had an intent of anger, greed, and impatience behind.

But it was next magic that alarmed him the most. A single spell was cast with such overwhelming power that he had no idea what intent was behind it, only that it was a healing spell he only heard mention of, a spell that could bring back someone from the brink of death, and he hella sure Madam Pomfrey does not have even a fraction of magic to cast this spell.

Gears in his head turned, he had plans to make and new charms to learn.

.

.

Late was late in the night when almost invisible Harry sneaked out of Griffindor tower to guard Hermione at night and find who the intruders were. It was risky, he knew that; someone that could use the spell he recorded would be beyond powerful. But perhaps it was his youthful ignorance or his worry for Hermione, someone closest he got to know as a friend; he did not care for the danger. Also, a logical part of him reminded it was a healing spell, its user may not hold any ill intent at all.

He made his way to Hospital Wing, narrowly avoiding Flinch on the way. His invisibility charm was not cast perfectly as the edges of his body were clearly visible in moonlight; after all, it was a complex charm, and he only a few hours to study it, not to mention it is supposed to work only on stationary targets. If he had not learned from the recording charm that one of the intruders used, he would have no idea that it could be used this way.

Reaching the hospital wing, he hid behind a plane of curtains not far from where Hermione was resting, standing almost still. Detecting moving invisibility charm was easy, a stationary one was difficult but a camouflaged one in with other objects like Harry did was near impossible with the naked eye.

So he stood there, maintaining a silent watch behind the curtains. Boredom did not bother him, he endured far worse with an aching stomach.

'Guess I would thank Dursleys for something, for teaching patience, to remain deadly silent for hours. If not anything, at least that makes him an ideal candidate for becoming a Ninja.'

Entertaining himself with mind games, it was late when his budding magical senses picked up a new magical signature entering the Hospital Wing. Watching through the seams of curtains, he could not make out anything but his senses were not lying. Whatever it was, the invisibility spell was not it. He could not sense any spell being used, just the presence of a powerful magic source.

As the source reached Hermione's bed, Harry was ready to cast to incapacitate, with only the fear of hissing and hitting Hermione stayed his hand.

Just then a ghostlike hooded figure appears in thin air, right beside sleeping Hermione, its back bare to Harry. He silently moves out of his hiding space, keeping his wand pointed at the figure.

"You know, there are more ways to see than seeing?", Sudden question stopped Harry midstep. Cautiously he questioned back, keep his wand firmly pointed at the back of the figure.

"Ghosts are not supposed to have magic. Who are you?"

"To able to sense magic at such young age, quite the genius you are.", Figure gave a non-answer.

"Step away from her and turn around."

"Harry don't!" both Harry and the figure turned to look at Hermione, who was trying to sit up, "She is not an Enemy."

"She healed me, and also saved me from the troll." It was figure's time to be astonished.

"I didn't notice you saw me.", Ghosty figure lowered its hood, and Hermione grasped,

"Grey Lady"