"Wotcher, you must be Harry Potter."
"Indeed, and you are Miss Tonks correct?" the boy inquired, his eyes seeming to pierce through her own gaze, as if he stared into her very soul.
"Y-yeah, I am the uh… the Auror here to make sure everyone is safe."
"I see, well I certainly feel safer with you around."
If it had been anyone else Tonks might have found sarcasm in his voice, but oddly there was none. Apparently the young man truly did feel safer around her, sending an odd feeling of triumph through her body.
"I am glad Mr…"
"Please, just call me Harry. I do so hope we can see more of each other as the school year goes on. Naturally I pray you solve the mystery behind these attacks though. Quite the conundrum I find myself in."
"Um yeah… I uh… agree and stuff…"
"Well if you ever need anything Miss Tonks, it is never difficult to find me."
"Yeah sure, I will remember that thanks." With that the woman practically bolted down the hallway, trying to figure out why in Merlin's name she was acting like a lovesick school girl around the boy… and to calm her rapidly beating heart.
...
"So Neville, how has your studies progressed this year?"
The previously chubby boy slowed, allowing for his closest friend to catch up with him. "Very good my… Harry. It seems like Snape has backed off a bit lately, which has even helped out Potions class."
"Indeed, quite an odd turn of events."
"I thought you would have been the cause of that."
"Not this time. Although I may have been indirectly, perhaps the Headmaster finally decided to force professor Snape to cease his mindless bullying."
The Longbottom shrugged as the pair walked together. "I have to thank you though, Gran sent me a letter last month about how proud she was of my improvements. The only reason for those is your tutoring, the Slytherins helping me in a few classes, and my new wand. All of these were because of you."
"Nonsense Neville, you have grown on your own just as I knew you would. You will continue growing so long as you can find the inner strength to do so."
"As long as I am with you Harry I know I can do anything."
"Then continue to walk with me Neville, and you will achieve greatness you cannot imagine."
...
The door slammed behind her as Hermione Granger ran into the nearest stall, thankfully not occupied, and hastily shut the barrier behind her before locking it and slumping down onto the toilet. Seconds later the tears she had held back came running down her face despite her efforts to control her sobs.
This year was supposed to be different. She had rationalized that the first year was sort of an introduction to the Magical world, a test run for everyone to get to know each other and then they would come back after the summer more mature and accepting. That hadn't happened… in fact it was even worse this year. The bullies were stronger, braver, and more vicious in their words. The girls in her class would taunt her about her hair, her lack of makeup, her 'ugliness'. While the boys, usually Ronald Weasley, would laugh at her lack of friends and her 'annoying behavior'.
But she could have disregarded it, could have ignored it all if she could have just made a single friend… but she hadn't. No one had even bothered to pretend this year, unlike last when they at least acted like they might be interested in her.
Worse still was her parents. She had been warned that it was a difficult transition for Muggle-born Wizards and Witches. Most of the Pureblood, and even some Half-bloods, already had ties and friendships established from before they entered Hogwarts, she had none. When she had returned to her family over the previous Winter holidays her mother and father had attempted to converse with her regarding school but… it was no use. They simply could not comprehend the cultural differences and the subtleties of magic.
Even worse was that during the summer her lack of exposure to the Muggle world was far more obvious than ever before. She had sat in silence for the first dinner back trying to think of something to talk to her parents about… but there was nothing they held in common. She could not keep up with recent events and could not explain the magical classes she took.
.....
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