50 Gratitude

That was the first time I lied to a professor or teacher, and I was sure they didn't believe me. Gryffindor lost 10 points because of me, and Slytherin lost 20 points too. Why was he hiding info about the incident?

Last night was tough. I usually fell asleep as soon as I lay in bed due to mental exhaustion caused by reading, but yesterday was different. I had nightmares about the troll and him saving me.

I was grateful to him for saving me, but yesterday I forgot to thank him due to my anger. He might see me as an ungrateful girl, which I am certainly not. Today, I have to thank him.

He was weird, though. He was a very bad boy, the kind of boy my mom had told me about. She told me to stay away from people who hurt others, and he did hurt people in his first year. But he also saved me. He was an exception to the rules of Hogwarts. He usually skipped classes, sat at any house's table except Ravenclaw, was first in his year, and exceptionally talented in magic.

If we ignore his violence and rule-breaking tendencies, he might be a good boy.

I walked out of the common room, thinking about how to approach him. As I arrived at the Great Hall, I saw Agustus Peverell, Tonks, and Cedric Diggory sitting at Gryffindor's table and talking with the Weasley twins.

Great, now I don't have to go to the Slytherin table to thank him. I nervously walked towards him.

Hermione Granger walked towards the Gryffindor table and greeted them, saying good morning and thanking Agustus for saving her last night.

"No worries, how could I let my cat get hurt!" said Agustus, as the Weasley twins and Cedric laughed.

Hermione was angry at him. She said, "Cat, cat, cat. Who's your cat? If you call me your cat one more time, I will-"

"What? What would you do?" interrupted Agustus.

Hermione struggled a little and said, "I will tell Headmaster Dumbledore that you lied about the troll."

Dora just rolled her eyes at Hermione, while looked at Agustus who looked amused.

Fred perked up and said, "Look, brother, now little Miss Firsty decided to blackmail Heir Peverell."

George grinned and said, "Right, who would have thought she would get dirt on him? Maybe she let loose the troll and pretended so Agustus could help her?"

Fred caught on to the theory. "Yes, you're amazing, George. Maybe she is the mastermind."

Hermione, hearing the twins, was stunned.

'I just didn't want to be called a cat, and now I am the mastermind of the troll incident. Where can I get a troll to let loose on these two?' She glared at the twins and said, "Very funny."

The twins laughed, seeing her reaction. Dora came closer to Hermione and hugged her, surprising her.

"It must have been hard for you. You're a strong girl, Granger," said Dora.

Hermione, feeling warm, tried to stop her tears but couldn't, the near-death experience was a lot for an 11-year-old girl. She remembered her parents' hugs and cried in Dora's embrace. Seeing both girls, Cedric and Agustus sighed.

Dora gently patted the girl's back and said, "It's alright. No one will hurt you now. We are friends now. You can call me Dora."

Ending the hug, she wiped her tears and said, "Hermione Granger. Call me Hermione."

Dora smiled at her and said, "Alright, Hermione. If this guy bullies you, tell me. I would punish him." She pointed towards Agustus, who looked surprised at Dora. He didn't expect Dora to befriend Hermione.

She nodded and hopefully looked at Dora and said, "Can you stop him from calling me his cat?"

Dora turned her head towards him, but he shook his head in denial, she looked back at Hermione with pity.

He smiled and said, "Nope, no one can stop that, You're my cat."

She glared at him again and growled, "No, I'm not."

"Yes, you are."

"No, I'm not."

"Yes, you are. If you don't agree, I will tell the professors you lied last night."

Hermione laid her head on the table dejectedly, and the five of them laughed. What they didn't see was she was smiling too. She now had friends.

Last night was horrible. I couldn't enjoy the Halloween feast because Professor Quirrell thought he had seen a troll.

Honestly, I respect Headmaster Dumbledore, but why hire someone like him? I'm sure anyone would be a better teacher than that stuttering man. Age might be catching up to Dumbledore.

Harry had been very busy lately. He had changed a lot. I had known him for more than 3 months before he met his godfather.

He had been cheerful, which is good, but Black had been more demanding of Harry. He used to wake up with me, but now he wakes up early, exercises, and spends his time reading rather than playing Wizard Chess with friends.

He was more and more distancing himself from his friends, behaving like Granger.

The change had also astonished Neville and Seamus; they too are now not really talking to Harry.

Sirius had now changed Harry's personality just by writing letters.

He also didn't talk to me that much after he found out about me kissing Pettigrew, which in my opinion is stupid.

I arrived at the Gryffindor table and saw my brother and his friends sitting with Hermione Granger. Even Peverell was sitting with them.

They were laughing and having a good time. Granger was also smiling, talking to them. This is the first time I had seen her so cheerful after meeting her in the Hogwarts train compartment. She's a bitch, a traitor like my brothers who betrayed Gryffindor.

I was already hungry and a little upset. Seeing this made my blood boil, but I know I couldn't do anything, could I?

I am stupid, but not suicidal to question Peverell. I bet Fred and George wouldn't intervene. Percy might, but again, nothing is certain.

I ignored them and sat as far as I could from them. It had been very hard for me to control my anger in interactions with Draco, but the helplessness I feel when I see Peverell makes my anger disappear.

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50 chapters, let's go. Next chapter on 18-19.

See ya.

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