27 Chapter 27: Flying, Dogs, and Pumpkins

On Thursday in his second Week at Hogwarts, flying Lessons would Start. The Ravenclaw had theirs together with the Hufflepuff in the afternoon, while the Gryffindor was together with the Slytherin in the morning. Considering the relationship between House Gryffindor and Slytherin, someone wasn't really thinking this plan through, after all, it's not like the relationship between the two Houses wasn't toxic for years. Especially the relationship between the redhead Ronald Weasley and Draco Malfoy brought this whole conflict to a completely different level. Harry even overheard them that they would have a Wizard Duel, which made him snort secretly since both of them had trouble casting even the simplest spell right now.

Well it didn't have anything to do with Harry, he only heard the flying lessons ended with a broken arm and resulted in a fight between the two. His own flying Lessons went much calmer, he was a natural talent on the Broom. Madam Hooch told him he should apply for the Ravenclaw Quidditch team next year, with his talent there was no doubt that he would get in. But Harry himself wasn't sure whether he should, that Game sounded so illogical. The Seeker position sounded as if someone created it, to give only one person a meaningful special role while making the rest of the game mostly obsolete.

Flying on a Broom was cool, but flying with his own Devil Wings was far more amazing, the feeling of freedom they gave was just so wonderful. He loved flying but investing a lot of time training for such an imbalanced sport didn't sound like a good investment of his time, especially if he could use that time to learn magic or explore the castle.

He spent quite a lot of time in learning the ins and outs of the ancient castle, he felt it contained many useful secrets. Harry even dared to take a look behind the forbidden Door after figuring the unlocking Charm out, while nobody was watching he quickly opened the door. Inside he saw a big three-headed dog, a Cerberus the legendary guard dog of the Greek part of the Underworld. But it seemed to be a smaller descendant, a true Cerberus wouldn't fit into this small room. Below its paws, Harry saw a wooden Trap door leading further into the depths of the Castle. Having no way to safely bypass the three-headed dog, he couldn't look at what was below there.

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The Wizarding Duel between Ronald and Malfoy ended with Ronald having to attend Detentions with Filch, polishing the Trophy Room for multiple weeks. This Duel was a trap by Malfoy to lure the Redhead out of his bed during the night and get caught by the spiteful caretaker and his cat Mrs. Norris.

This turned Ronald's mood really sour, not only failed all his attempts to befriend Harry Potter, as Harry was doing his best to avoid the fame-hungry boy, but he also turned into the laughingstock of the castle, after falling for Malfoy's trick. Paired with the fact that he lost a ton of points for his House, his mood turned for the worst and didn't get better during the next few weeks.

Weeks passed by as September ended and they entered October, on Halloween morning the Ravenclaw had Charms with the Gryffindor. While the corridors were filled with the smell of delicious baking pumpkins, their Head of House announced they were ready to learn how to make things fly.

They would be learning today the Levitation Charm, Professor Flitwick put the

class into pairs to practice. To form a better relationship between the Houses, the tiny Professor paired Gryffindor with Ravenclaw. Daphne worked with Seamus Finnigan, Tracey with Neville Longbottom, Harry was paired with Parvati Patil the twin Sister of his House mate Padma, meanwhile, Hermione had the worst lot, she had to work with the already ill-tempered Ronald.

It was hard to tell whether Ronald or Hermione was angrier about this, Hermione had absolutely no interest in working with such a rude and unpleasant Person. Ronald on the other hand, was already in a bad mood for the last few weeks, what makes it even worse was the fact that he was highly jealous of the Bushy-haired girl, who managed to befriend the Boy who lived. He felt that she took his chance for fame and attention away from him.

"Now, don't forget that nice wrist movement we've been practicing!" squeaked Professor Flitwick, perched on top of his pile of books as usual. "Swish and flick, remember, swish and flick. And saying the magic words properly is very important, too — never forget Wizard Baruffio, who said 's' instead of 'f' and found himself on the floor with a buffalo on his chest."

Harry had no problem performing the Spell since he was already halfway done with the coursework for the first year. If he didn't try to master every spell without a wand and create a corresponding magic Circle, he would have already completed all the first-year Spells.

After performing the Spell and earning an excited squeak with a few house points from their half-goblin Professor, he focused on helping his Partner Parvati. "You need to move your Wand like that." Explained Harry as he guided her hand, to the correct movement so her magic would flow properly for the Spell, "And then say it like this Wingardium Leviosa."

With a blush, the girl followed his instructions and gained a smile on her face as the Spell worked and her Feather began to float. Parvati also earned House points from the Professor, and so did Harry again for helping a fellow student.

While the other Students were working hard, the partnership between Ron and Hermione turned for the worst and ended with the red-headed boy insulting the girl before she ran out of the class in tears.

"You are an arse, Weasley. Stay away from my friends." Warned Harry the boy as they were leaving the classroom, "If I ever see you insult my Friends again you will regret it." He threatened with a cold look in his eyes. Before a hand landed on his shoulder.

It was Daphne as she tried to calm him down looking at him with worry. Harry realized that he was leaking a lot of power in his anger, calming himself down again. "Come let's look for Hermione." Offered Tracey as she saw the boy had calmed down, "She could use our Support."

This was the last class for the day, and most Students headed for the Great Hall, which was beautifully decorated for the Halloween feast. With carved Pumpkins, flying candles, and A thousand live bats fluttered from the walls and ceiling while a thousand more swooped over the tables in low black clouds, making the candles in the pumpkins stutter.

Meanwhile, the three of them were searching the Castle for their friend, finding her crying in a locked stall inside the Girls' Bathroom. After confirming it was empty beside Hermione as everyone was at the feast, Harry followed Daphne and Tracey inside as they knocked at the Stall.

"Hermione are you okay?" asked Harry with worry.

"Go away." Shouted the Girl as she was crying.

"We won't. You are our friend. And friends are there for each other." Replied Tracey this time.

"That's not true. You are probably only hanging out with me because you pity me." She cried clearly with hurt in her voice, "It's like in my elementary school, people don't like me. They are just using me for their benefit."

"Why are you listening to a prat like Ronald Weasley? He is the one who has no Friends, and is dislikable." Said Daphne as they could see anger on her face against that redhead.

"All of us do our own Homework. Yes, you are brilliant, Hermione. But we are your friends not because we need something of you. We genuinely like you. You are a young cute and brilliant girl, with a beautiful mind." Consoled Harry her, as he listened to her stopping her sobbing.

"Do you really mean that?" she asked with a vulnerable voice.

"Yes, Hermione. So come out and let's go to the feast. Let's just ignore that prat and make the most of our time here at Hogwarts." Agreed Daphne.

For a short moment, there was Silence, before Hermione unlocked the Door to her Stall and came out. Instantly the three of them pulled the bushy-haired girl into a warm hug. Giving her warmth and comfort. 'She probably didn't have many friends in her old School because of her brilliance. Children can be that cruel. She is just like me.' Realized Harry as he patted her back.

Suddenly the Door to the Girl's Bathroom opened and a disgusting stench filled the Room, as the four people turned around staring at the entrance.

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