14 14

The days pass by very quickly and the lessons start to pick up the pace and start focusing on practical aspects of magic.

Transfiguration had us transfigure small items such as matchsticks into various objects. Snape oversaw as we brewed very basic potions. And charms had us practice the wand movements and pronunciations of spells.

Quirrell still didn't teach the class anything, with his constant stuttering and the disgusting smell in the room, no student was able to focus.

Professor Binns' class of History of Magic saw the majority of students sleeping while even the most diligent students fought hard to stay awake.

And lastly, the outdated astronomy class was just that. Looking at the stars and star maps.

Quickly, the month passed, and it was soon time for the first major event of canon.

The date anniversary of my Parents, and their killer. The day Quirrell would let the troll inside the castle walls and Hermione would become friends with Ron and myself.

However, with me here, things didn't go as usual.

"Oi Hermione, who cares what that prat says. A jealous little child will only know how to spout nonsense.

You are an amazingly talented witch. Better than all the others in the cohort. You just tried to help him succeed, but your kindness was returned with jealously and harsh words.

Why let these insignificant beings affect the way you live your life?

Why let the words of some passer-by in your life ruin your confidence?

You are strong, intelligent girl, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise, you understand?" I passionately talk with the depressed young witch who was about to head into the girls bathroom to cry her eyes out.

"But what he said is true. No one wants to be friends with me. No one likes me. They all make fun of me. Whenever I try to talk with people from our grade, they just want to use me for their homework. The moment I walk away, I can still sometimes hear them making fun of me.

Why? Why does no one like me. I thought coming to Hogwarts would let me fit in. I always felt that I was different back in the muggle schools. The place might have changed, but the people still haven't." with tears streaming down her face, Hermione looked at me with her red and swollen eyes and poured her heart out.

"Well, you know Hermione. There are many times that you are correct. I would say, almost every time you state a fact, it is correct. But now, you have a few things incorrect." I calmly mention to the girl as I stroke her hair to let her know I am there.

"What did I say wrong?" she asked as another torrent of tears escaped her eyes.

"That you have no friends. That no one likes you. And that whenever someone talks to you, they only do so to use you to complete their homework." I give her a small smile as my words seeped in.

"What you say does have some truth in it. The students in this school are at the end of the day, Human. Doesn't matter their race, gender, age of whether they are muggles or wizards.

The human nature is fickle and fragile. It will instinctively attack those that they perceive as better than them. If you compare the students from your previous school with yourself, you were and still are better than them. You have a gifted mind, one that incites the jealously from others.

Same in Hogwarts. Not many have gifted minds such as you. So they try to bring you down.

So don't let the weaker people bring you down. Rise above them, and let them know, that the person they looked down upon, is so much more than they can ever hope to be. So much more than they can even imagine with their feeble minds.

Rise above them. Pity them, not because they are different, but because they cannot see greatness that is in front of them.

Let me help you achieve that greatness. Will you allow me, your friend to help you reach your highest potential, and let those that looked at you with the wrong eyes be proved wrong?" I ask as I put on the most reassuring smile on my face and reach out a hand to her.

She looks at the hand in front of her, then at me, then absorbs the words I uttered, and a change occurs in her eyes.

Her previously sad and depressed eyes gain their lustre and shine brightly as she takes my hand and with the most determined look on her face, she says, "Help me become stronger. Help me so that no one can ever pull me down ever again. Help me reach my potential, my friend."

"That's the spirit, Hermione. I will help you become the greatest witch that the world has ever seen. I will make you a living god." I say as I reach out and wipe the tear stains streaked across her face and pull her up from the floor.

"Thank you. Harry." She mutters as she rushes in and wraps her arms around my body, slowly crushing my bones in the process as I reassuringly pat her back softly.

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Walking around the castle to clear our minds, we eventually reach a deserted corridor and take a seat at the windowsill, overlooking the gorgeous black lake.

"Rinky." I call out to the air while Hermione looks at me confused.

"What was that?" she asked.

"Nothing, by the way. I guess you want to have dinner out here tonight. I'm not really in the mood to eat with the rest tonight. What do you want for dinner." I ask.

"Yeah, I don't feel like eating with those brats as well. I'll just have what's on the menu tonight. I heard the school has a special feast for Halloween. I wonder what it tastes like." She says as she looks out at the great lake.

"Wonderful. Hey Rinky, we'll have 15 portions of dinner, heavy on the meats, and just 2 pumpkin juices, please. Thanks." I say to the short house elf that appeared behind me.

"Of course, Mister Potter. Rinky will bring the food shortly." She bows and apparates away to get the order.

"What was that?" Hermione asked when she saw the disappearing house elf.

"That is a House elf of Hogwarts. They are the workers that keep the castle clean, prepare our food and serve it to us during mealtimes. They also look after the gardens and almost everything that requires labour, either magical or manual." I explain shortly.

"Oh, so basically like caretakers of the school." She asked.

"Yep, exactly like that."

Soon food arrives and the wonderful spread of Halloween was placed in front of us.

Pumpkin Pies, apple pies, candied fruits, fruit breads, pumpkin breads, pork and beef roasts with delicious glazes, and many more items were placed in front of us.

"Hey harry. I thought I heard you wrong before, but why did you ask for 15 portions. There's only two of us." Hermione asked cutely.

"Oh, about that. You see, I have a special condition that makes me eat about 10 times more than a regular human. Think of it like a parasite than sucks the nutrients out of you. Once you feed and satiate it, it will no longer interfere with my normal life." I explain with a smile and start piling my plate high with food.

"Oh, that must be horrible. Have you gotten it checked out? I'm sure the nurses at Hogwarts would be able to treat this parasite."

"What I have is more like a symbiotic relationship with the organism. Its just for a few years, it will grow, so it needs a bit more nourishment than normal. A few years later, I would be better than ever. Don't worry about it."

Soon, we talk about random things as we enjoy the feast before us. Sounds of innocent laughter echoes the empty halls as the chilly winds of the night dissipate, replaced with warmth and joy.

However, with the life of Harry Potter, joy never lasts long.

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