Making Friends and Enemies

Snape marched them through the corridors, and Harry stayed at the back of the group, watching the three older boys shuffle along with their heads down. They didn't look so scary anymore.

When they reached the gargoyle guarding Grandpa Dumbledore's office, Snape muttered "Fizzing Whizbee" and the statue leapt aside. Harry had always liked watching that part.

The three Slytherins were very quiet now as they climbed the spiral staircase. Their faces were still pale, and they kept glancing nervously at Harry when they thought no one was looking. Harry noticed this and couldn't help feeling a bit pleased - they weren't so brave now that they'd gotten caught.

As soon as they entered the circular office, Harry spotted the familiar figure of Grandpa Dumbledore behind his desk.

"Grandpa!" Harry ran over to him, ignoring Snape's disapproving look. "They were being mean! They made me all stiff and I couldn't move and then they made me laugh and laugh and my hair went pink!"

Dumbledore's blue eyes twinkled as he pulled Harry onto his lap, though his expression grew more serious as he looked at the three Slytherin boys. "Is this true, Professor Snape?"

"According to the Grey Lady, these three were indeed attacking Mr. Potter. When I arrived, they appeared to be experiencing some form of mass hysteria, surrounded by fog."

Harry cuddled closer to Dumbledore, feeling safe now. "They couldn't hurt me anymore after the Mist came," he said proudly. "They got all scared instead."

Dumbledore nodded gravely. "And what happened then, my boy?"

Felix Rosier, the tallest of the three Slytherins, stepped forward. "Headmaster, we were only trying to help-"

"Are you quite certain that's the story you wish to tell?" Snape cut in silkily. "The portraits in that corridor would be most interested in sharing their version of events."

Felix's already pale face went whiter still, and he fell silent.

"Why," Dumbledore asked quietly, "would three fifth-year students decide to cast spells on a four-year-old child? What could possibly have motivated such behavior?"

When no answer came, Dumbledore sighed disappointedly and continued. "One hundred points will be taken from Slytherin. For each of you. You will serve detention for the remainder of the school year, with Professor Snape deciding the nature of your punishment. Furthermore, you will be suspended for three weeks. Your parents will be notified to collect you, and they will be fully informed of your actions today." He paused, looking at each boy in turn. "You will also apologize to young Harry."

"We... we understand, Headmaster," Felix managed weakly.

"Follow me," Snape commanded, his expression promising further consequences once they reached the Slytherin Common Room. The three boys shadowed their Head of House, shoulders slumped.

Once they were gone, Dumbledore looked down at Harry, who was practically vibrating with glee. "Now then, what's this about mist?"

"Oh! Oh!" Harry beamed up at him. "When they were being mean, something told me I could make Mist! And it said-" his face scrunched up in concentration as he tried to remember the exact words, "It said I could make people panic if they're in it! And if I use lots of magic, they see things they're really scared of!"

"Did it now?" Dumbledore's eyebrows rose slightly. "And how exactly did you learn about this... spell?"

"I dunno," Harry shrugged, playing with the sleeve of his robe. "It just popped in my head when I got scared. Like magic!"

Dumbledore stroked his beard thoughtfully, watching the small boy bounce on his feet. "Could you show me this mist, Harry?"

"Right now?" Harry's green eyes lit up with excitement. "But who should I use it on? I don't wanna make you scared, Grandpa."

"Ah, not to worry." Dumbledore smiled warmly and raised his hand. A small snap later, and three colorful canaries appeared, chirping merrily as they fluttered around the office.

"Wow!" Harry clapped his hands, momentarily distracted by the display. "Can you teach me to do that?"

"Perhaps when you're a bit older," Dumbledore chuckled. "Now, about that mist?"

"Oh, right!" Harry scrunched up his face in concentration. Just like before, wispy tendrils began rising from his skin, gradually thickening into a swirling fog. The mist crept across the floor toward the birds, who were still singing cheerfully.

The moment the fog touched them, their sweet songs turned to frightened chirps. The birds began flying erratically around the office, bumping into each other in their panic.

Dumbledore watched with plain amazement as his conjured birds lost all semblance of control. "Deliberate wandless magic at such a young age...?" he murmured, more to himself than to Harry.

Dumbledore kept muttering to himself, occasionally casting a spell at the fog that still lingered in his office. The frightened birds had finally calmed down after the mist dissipated around them, returning to their cheerful chirping.

"Harry," Dumbledore said after a while, lowering his wand. "Could you do something for me?"

"What is it, Grandpa?" Harry asked, swinging his legs as he sat in the big chair across from Dumbledore's desk.

"I'd like you to look into my eyes and think very hard about when that 'something' told you about making the mist. Can you do that for me?"

Harry nodded eagerly, always happy to help his Grandpa. He squeezed his eyes shut for a moment, remembering the strange words that had appeared in his head. Opening his eyes again, he met Dumbledore's blue gaze.

A few seconds passed before Dumbledore let out a relieved breath. "Well, that's rather interesting," he said, reaching for his candy bowl. "Lemon drop?"

"Yes please!" Harry grabbed the offered sweet, popping it into his mouth. "Did I do good?"

"You did very well," Dumbledore smiled, though his expression grew more serious. "But… we need to talk about this new spell of yours."

"Am I in trouble?" Harry asked around the lemon drop, his lower lip starting to wobble.

"No, no, not at all," Dumbledore assured him quickly. "But we need to set some rules about when you can use this mist. You see, making people see their fears isn't very nice."

"But they were being mean first!" Harry protested.

"I understand that, Harry. And you were very brave today," Dumbledore said gently. "But I want you to promise me something. If anyone tries to bully you again, I want you to transform into an eagle and fly straight to the nearest professor. Can you do that instead of using the mist?"

Harry thought about it for a moment, rolling the lemon drop around in his mouth. "Even if they're being really, really mean?"

"Even then. Unless you have no other choice," Dumbledore nodded. "I'll make an announcement at dinner tonight about what happened, so the other students will know not to bother you. But just in case, promise me you'll try to find a professor first?"

"Okay, Grandpa," Harry agreed reluctantly. "I promise."

Dumbledore reached for another lemon drop as he watched Harry swing his legs back and forth in the oversized chair. The boy's earlier fright seemed forgotten now that he was safe in the familiar office.

"Actually, Harry, there's something else I wanted to talk to you about," Dumbledore said, unwrapping his sweet. "The Ministry is having a special gathering next week. Lots of important witches and wizards will be there with their children."

Harry perked up at that. "Children? Like me?"

"Yes, exactly like you. Some are even your age," Dumbledore smiled. "I thought you might like to come with me. Perhaps make some new friends?"

Harry's face scrunched up in thought. "Will Auntie Min come too?"

"If you'd like her to, I'm sure she would be happy to join us."

"What about the other kids? Are they bigger than me?" Harry asked, remembering his earlier encounter with the older students.

"No, no. These children are just your size," Dumbledore assured him.

Harry fidgeted with the hem of his robes. "But what if they don't like me?"

"I think they'll like you very much. And if you feel scared, you can always hold Auntie Min's hand. What do you say?"

"Can I bring my special bracelet?" Harry held up his arm where the bracelet was wrapped around his wrist.

"Of course you can. We wouldn't want to leave that behind, would we?"

Harry nodded slowly. "Okay, I'll go. But you promise the others are small like me?"

"I promise," Dumbledore said solemnly, though he had a small smile on his face. "Now, shall we go find Auntie Min and tell her about our plans?"

oo0ooOoo0oo

A week later, Harry clutched McGonagall's hand tightly as they prepared to apparate to the Ministry. He'd never done this before, and his stomach felt all fluttery.

"It'll feel a bit strange," McGonagall warned him, "but it'll be over quickly."

Harry nodded bravely, but still squeezed his eyes shut when the world twisted around him. When he opened them again, they were standing in a huge room with shiny floors and lots of people walking around.

"Welcome to the Ministry of Magic," Dumbledore said, placing a gentle hand on Harry's shoulder. "The children's gathering is just through those golden doors."

Harry peered around McGonagall's robes at the other children playing in the next room. Some were chasing each other, while others sat in small groups with floating toys.

"Remember what we talked about," McGonagall said softly, smoothing down his perpetually messy hair. "If you need me, I'll be right over there with the other adults."

A witch with bright yellow robes greeted them at the playroom entrance. "Oh my, if it isn't Harry Potter! Welcome, welcome! I'm Miss Pembroke, and I'll be watching over all the children today."

Several kids stopped what they were doing and rushed over, forming a small crowd around Harry. He straightened up, noticing right away that none of them felt dangerous like the older students at Hogwarts.

"Are you really the Boy-Who-Lived?" a girl with pigtails asked, bouncing on her toes. "My mummy says you live at Hogwarts!"

"Is it true you fought a dragon last week?" a boy with missing front teeth chimed in. "My brother said you did!"

Harry giggled. "I didn't fight any dragons, they're still too strong for me! But I do live at Hogwarts with all the professors."

"What's it like?" another girl asked. "Do you get to do lots of magic?"

"Sometimes," Harry said, puffing up his chest a bit. "Auntie Min - that's Professor McGonagall - she teaches me lots of things. And I can turn into a bird!"

"No way!" several voices chorused.

A boy with perfectly combed blonde hair pushed his way to the front. "Prove it then! I bet you're lying."

Harry immediately felt annoyed at the way this boy was talking – he was way too weak to accuse him of anything. "I don't have to prove anything to you," he said, crossing his arms. "You're too little to understand anyway."

"I'm not little!" the blonde boy protested. "I'm Draco Malfoy, and my father says-"

"Want to play exploding snap?" a friendly-looking boy interrupted, holding up a deck of cards. "My mum put a charm on them so they only make tiny pops."

"I'm better at chase games," Harry said, knowing he could easily outrun them. "Want to play tag instead?"

Most of the children agreed enthusiastically, but Draco hung back with a scowl. "That's a baby game."

"You're just scared I'll catch you first," Harry taunted, feeling bold.

"Am not!"

"Prove it then," Harry mimicked Draco's earlier tone. The other children giggled.

Soon they were all running around the playroom, shrieking with laughter as Harry easily caught one child after another. He was faster and more coordinated than them, used to racing around Hogwarts' corridors and catching small prey outside of the castle.

"Got you!" Harry tagged a small girl with red hair. She stumbled and started crying when she fell.

"Susan!" Miss Pembroke hurried over. "Are you alright, dear?"

"Harry pushed me!" Susan sniffled.

"Did not!" Harry protested. "She fell by herself 'cause she's clumsy!"

"Now, Harry," Miss Pembroke began, "we need to be gentle with-"

"But she's just being a baby," Harry interrupted. "I barely touched her! It's not my fault she's weak and falls over nothing."

Harry watched Susan cry, reminded of how the white rabbits would squeal when he caught them. She was small and weak just like them. Though he couldn't play with her the same way - Auntie Min would be really mad, and everyone else would probably not play with him anymore.

"Perhaps we should try a different game," Miss Pembroke suggested, helping Susan up. "Who wants to play with the snitches?"

The children cheered and followed Miss Pembroke to where several toy brooms and practice snitches waited. Harry took the lead, making sure to stay ahead of the group.

They had been chasing the snitches for a few minutes when one of them started moving strangely. The snitch's wings hummed with an angry buzz before it shot toward his head, much faster than the others.

His body tensed as danger flooded his senses. Without thinking, Harry transformed into an eagle, the snitch whizzing past where his head had been moments before.

"Immobulus!" The Ministry worker supervising them quickly froze the malfunctioning snitch. "I am so sorry about that! These are supposed to be child-safe..."

Harry changed back, still tense at the unexpected danger. The other children crowded around him, their eyes wide with excitement.

"That was so cool!"

"Can you teach me?"

"Do it again!"

"How'd you learn that?"

"It's only because he lives at Hogwarts," a boy with dark hair cut in. "And has no parents. If I lived there, I could do it too!"

Harry felt his face get hot. "What's your name?" he demanded.

"Theodore Nott," the boy said, lifting his chin.

"Well, Theodore," Harry stepped closer, "you're wrong! I can do it because I'm the Boy-Who-Lived. Not 'cause I don't have..." he trailed off, getting angrier.

"At least I have parents!" Theodore shot back.

Harry went very still. His angry expression melted away into an odd smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Want to be friends, Theo?" he asked sweetly, holding out his hand.

Theodore stared at the offered hand. "Why?"

"Just shake it," Harry insisted, grabbing Theodore's hand before he could pull away. A thin wisp of mist curled around their joined hands, cool and damp against their skin. The air grew heavy with an unnatural chill that made Theodore's fingers tremble in Harry's grip.

Theodore's eyes went wide with fear. His lower lip trembled as he tried to tug his hand free.

"Still think you can do everything I can?" Harry asked quietly.

Theodore shook his head quickly, tears forming in his eyes.

Harry let go of his hand and grinned at the other children who were watching. "Let's keep playing! I bet I can catch the snitch first!"

Theodore stood frozen in place as Harry ran off with the others. Harry glanced back, feeling confused. Why had Theodore tried to be mean to him? Everyone should know better - just like how Harry knew not to bother the students because they were stronger than him.

"Weird," Harry muttered to himself as he chased after a practice snitch. Maybe Theodore was just dumb, like those rabbits that tried to fight back instead of running away. And that Draco boy too - acting all important when Harry could tell neither of them could hurt him at all.

"Harry! Harry, look!" Susan had long forgotten about their little 'fight' and was now pointing at something. "The snitch is stuck in the curtains!"

Harry zoomed over on his toy broom, spotting the golden ball trapped in the heavy fabric. He reached out to grab it, but paused when he noticed Theodore staring at him from across the room. The boy quickly looked away when their eyes met.

"Got it!" Harry announced, snatching the snitch and holding it up. The other children clapped and cheered, making him smile. This was better - they were acting right now, being nice to someone stronger than them.

Miss Pembroke called them all for snacks soon after. Harry sat between Susan and a quiet boy named Neville, deliberately ignoring Theodore who kept stealing glances at him.

"Want my biscuit?" Neville offered shyly. "Gram says sharing is nice."

Harry grinned. "Thanks! But I'm not very hungry. Auntie Min says I don't need to eat much."

"Who's Auntie Min?" Susan asked through a mouthful of juice.

"Professor McGonagall. But I only call her that when there's other students nearby," Harry explained proudly. "She teaches me lots of stuff, and doesn't get mad when I turn into an eagle inside."

The other children looked impressed, except for Theodore who was still pretending not to listen. Harry wondered if maybe he should use the mist again, just to remind him who was stronger. But Grandpa had made him promise...