Different Perspectives

When Hermione Granger decided that she would attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, she had no idea what she was getting herself into. She was placing herself in a dangerous situation for several reasons; she was a target for prejudice and bigotry, she was throwing herself into a world she knew nothing about, and she was opening herself to one of the most perilous things a human being can endure: falling in love.

And even today, Hermione wouldn't have it any other way.

It always amused Hermione to think back over her years at Hogwarts and watch her relationship with Ron Weasley progress over time. It had certainly changed from year to year.

For example, her first-year at Hogwarts, the first time she had laid eyes on Ron, her thoughts had been anything but romantic.

**

September 1^st, 4:39 p.m.

"I can't find him anywhere!" Neville Longbottom wailed as he returned to the compartment that he was sharing along with Hermione Granger, Parvati and Padma Patil, and Dean Thomas.

"He'll turn up eventually," Parvati Patil said with feigned interest as she continued to page through her magazine, Witch Weekly. Padma made a faint sound in the back of her throat as she ignored Neville completely.

Hermione frowned slightly at the two girls; honestly, they could be just a little nicer to poor Neville. It was quite obvious that he cared a great deal for his pet, although Hermione couldn't see why anyone would get so worked up over a little toad. Nevertheless, Hermione got to her feet.

"I'll help you look, Neville," she offered with a kind smile.

"Thank you," Neville said profusely as she followed him out into the corridor. He crouched down so he could get a better view of the carpeting to see if his frog had crawled under it.

"Did you ask anyone else if they had seen him?" Hermione asked.

"Yes--yes," Neville mumbled, "No one had though."

Hermione had a sneaking suspicion that most of the other children had acted like...well, children...and dismissed Neville completely. Resisting the urge to roll her eyes, she marched over to one of the compartment doors and slid it open while Neville hurried over to join her.

There were only two boys in the compartment, and judging by their appearance, they were probably in her year. They hadn't changed into their robes yet, and the one on her left was wearing jeans that looked about three sizes too big for him, a shirt that could have fit two of him, and thick black glasses. The over-sized spectacles couldn't shield the brilliance of his green eyes, though, and Hermione also noted that his hair was almost as thick and unruly as hers, except that his was black and hers was plain chestnut brown.

The other boy was wearing clothing that were so well worn that they obviously weren't his own--probably had an older brother. He was much taller than the other boy though, and his face was covered with freckles except for the dirt smudge on the side of his nose. Hermione had seen red hair before, obviously, but his bright hair color struck her much differently though. Her lips twisted up in a half-smile at the sight of it--the sunlight was hitting it, making his hair flash with a copper brilliance. His blue eyes swung up to peer at her expectantly, his pet rat still seated on his lap.

"Has anyone seen a toad? Neville's lost one," she said. She waited for one of the boys to answer, struck at how, well, nice they looked. She had been talking to several other children for the entire trip, and she hadn't met anyone yet that she felt she could really talk to and become close with. Leaving all of her friends in Winterbourne was quite terrifying, and she was quite worried about meeting new people in a new world that she was completely unfamiliar with. But these two...she could see herself spending her time with them. The redhead, especially, he just looks so friendly...

And then he opened his mouth.

"We've already told him we haven't seen it," he said impatiently. Hermione was rather startled with the curtness of his tone--it wasn't very polite to be so rude to someone he had only just met. But then her eyes caught on his wand, and she forgot about his atrocious manners, and smiled.

"Oh, are you doing magic? Let's see it, then."

She took a seat, ignoring the shocked look on his face. Honestly, why shouldn't she sit down? It's not like she needed his permission to chat with them, now did she?

"Er--all right." The boy cleared his throat. "Sunshine, daisies, butter mellow, Turn this stupid, fat rat yellow." He waved his wand with a flourish, but nothing happened. Hermione tried not to sigh with disappointment.

"Are you sure that's a real spell? Well, it's not very good, is it?" Hermione could sense that she was starting to ramble as she always did when she got excitedly nervous. "I've tried a few simple spells just for practice and it's all worked for me. Nobody in my family's magic at all, it was ever such a surprise when I got my letter, but I was ever so pleased, of course, I mean, it's the very best school of witchcraft there is, I've heard--I've learned all our course books by heart, of course, I just hope it will be enough..." Hermione quickly listed the information she had just revealed about herself in her head--let's see, they now know I'm a Muggle (that's the word, isn't it?) that I'm smart since I know all of the courses, what else should they know...oh, yes, forgot the most important thing! "I'm Hermione Granger, by the way, who are you?"

The two boys exchanged a look as if they were silently asking each other if he knew the course books by heart too, and Hermione stifled a giggle at the expressions on their faces.

"I'm Ron Weasley," the redhead muttered.

"Harry Potter," the other boy said.

Hermione almost exploded with shock and excitement. Harry Potter, the Harry Potter was sitting across from her in this very compartment? "Are you really? I know all about you, of course--I got a few extra books for background reading, and you're in Modern Magical History and The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts and Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century."

"Am I?" said Harry, looking dazed.

"Goodness, didn't you know, I'd have found out everything I could if it was me," Hermione said in disbelief. She glanced back over at the redhead, Ron, and tried to get him involved with the conversation despite his behavior earlier. "Do either of you know what house you'll be in? I've been asking around, and I hope I'm in Gryffindor, it sounds by far the best; I hear Dumbledore himself was in it, but I suppose Ravenclaw wouldn't be too bad..." Her eyes caught on Neville, he was still fidgeting in the doorway. Hermione suddenly remembered why she had come into the compartment in the first place. "Anyway, we'd better go and look for Neville's toad. You two had better change, you know, I expect we'll be there soon."

Hermione breezed out of the compartment, Neville close behind, and she smiled. She had just met her new friends. Well, Harry definitely. He certainly seemed nice enough, a lot nicer than most of the students she had already met on the trip over. She would have to try to get to know him better. Hopefully he wouldn't always be hanging around with that Ron fellow. She wasn't too sure about that one. Ron looked nice enough, but if he was always that short with her, she may have to slap some sense into him.

**

It was interesting how accurate that first impression had been; in the years Hermione Granger had known Ron Weasley, she had come close to slapping him quite a few times but had always managed to contain herself. She still believed that Ron was rather nice looking, but not for the first couple of months. She had kept trying to be friends with him since he and Harry had always gone around together, but she had finally given up. That hadn't stopped her from keeping an eye on him and Harry, letting them know whenever they were getting themselves into trouble.

And then they had gotten her into trouble and almost killed too when they led her to that three-headed dog. She had then decided that she was better off without those two troublemakers and tried her best to forget about them.

But she couldn't. She still found herself watching them, and she had actually been secretly thrilled when she and Ron were paired as partners in Charms class that fateful Halloween. Then he had started being an idiot, as usual, and she had only gotten annoyed, and he had gotten angry.

"Honestly, she's a nightmare. No wonder she doesn't have any friends."

It was one of the most painful things that she had ever heard.

It still hurt recalling it even to this day, but Hermione just had to remind herself of all that had occurred because she had run and hid in the bathroom that night, the same night a possessed professor had chosen to release a mountain troll into the castle. She had gone into the lavatory crying because she hadn't any friends, and left the bathroom with two new, best friends.

She had been so pleased that Ron and Harry were so nice to her in the common room afterwards, that when she woke up the next morning, she thought it had been a dream, and she told herself not to expect anything to change.

But, thank Merlin, it had...

**

November 1^st, 8:16 a.m.

Hermione Granger sat down at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall, trying not to care that no one even looked up when she had walked by. She didn't expect the older students to notice a first year like herself, obviously, but none of the first-years she had seen this morning thus far had even said good morning to her. She determinedly ladled out some porridge into a bowl and opened her book. She wasn't going to let it get to her.

When Hermione had realized that making friends was harder than she had expected, she had decided that she was perfectly fine with being the loner of their year. As long as she was top of her year, her parents would be fine with her attending a school of witchcraft.

The problem was, despite her telling herself that she was fine with having no friends, she did in fact care that no one liked her very much. She cared very much. Hermione turned the page of her book, careful not to spill any pumpkin juice on it as she continued to read without really absorbing the information. Just stay focused on your lessons and your books, Hermione told herself. You'll be perfectly fine.

Besides, Harry and Ron don't hate you, she reminded herself with a smile. They saved your life last night. She had to admit, she didn't know what was more shocking, walking out of the stall to find a mountain troll staring down at her or hearing the bathroom door burst open and the two boys, one of who was the very reason she was crying in the bathroom in the first place, rushing in with their wands ready. She had been so grateful to them that she hadn't even thought twice about placing all of the blame on herself. At least Gryffindor had ended up gaining points instead of losing any. Still, Professor McGonagall may think less of her because of the lie, but Hermione didn't care. Harry and Ron shouldn't have been punished for saving her hide, so she was happy to help.

She looked up out of the corner of her eye, and saw Harry and Ron enter the Great Hall. She noted with a pang that several Gryffindors looked up, waved, and spoke to the two boys as they walked to the table. They certainly are popular, Hermione thought a little sadly as she refocused on her book. Who wouldn't want to be friends with them? They probably don't expect to be lifelong friends with you, Hermione told herself. They had been very friendly to her last night, sure, but that was just because she had gotten them out of trouble. Don't expect anything out of it, she thought firmly but sadly.

"Morning," Ron said offhandedly as he plunked down right next to her. "Pass the pumpkin juice." Hermione looked up from her book in surprise as Harry sat across from her. They were really sitting with her, the girl who was teased by the whole first year class. She instantly obeyed, and Ron poured himself, Harry, and after a brief second, Hermione a goblet full of pumpkin juice. Hermione knew she looked rather shocked, and Harry must have noticed, for he flashed her a quick smile before tucking into his breakfast.

"Ronnikins!" one of the Weasley twins (Hermione couldn't for the life of her tell them apart) mussed his brother's hair as he walked past. "Nice going last night!" Ron swatted his brother's hand away, and Hermione noticed that his ears were a bright shade of red. I wonder if that's a habit of his, she thought vaguely.

"Absolutely corking of you," the other twin said, "You're getting into more trouble than we did in our first year."

"We didn't get into trouble," Ron corrected, "We earned five points!"

"How'd you manage that," the first twin asked. Both twins' eyebrows were arched with skepticism, but Hermione could tell that they were still begrudgingly impressed.

"Hermione here," Ron gestured over to her with his fork, throwing bits of scrambled eggs on her robes. She tutted under her breath as she wiped off her front, but her annoyance faded with Harry silently passed her a napkin. "lied to McGonagall for us."

"You?" one of the twins stared at her with open disbelief.

"Lied?" the other twin finished for his brother. Hermione shrugged awkwardly--honestly, she wasn't that much of a goody-two-shoes.

"She took the blame all on herself, she did," Harry cut in. Hermione gave him a grateful smile. It was funny--when she had read about the famous Harry Potter, she had expected him to be a little arrogant since he was after all a household name in all wizarding families. But Harry was as kind as an eleven-year-old boy could get.

"It was good of you to do that," Ron admitted to her quietly. He raised his voice as he rolled his eyes towards his brothers. "It was the least you could do after I did save your life." Hermione's jaw dropped with outrage although she knew he was putting on an act for his brothers. "Good thing I knew that charm, really," Ron added with macho pride.

"You mean, good thing I taught you that charm, really," Hermione corrected. To her surprise, Harry, Fred, and George burst out into laughter, and she received a clap on the shoulder from one of the twins.

"Hey! She does have a sense of humor!"

"Anyone who insults Ron is okay in our book," the second twin told her as the two walked off, still laughing. Ron glared at her, but there was no real hatred behind it, so she returned it as she handed him another piece of toast.

Harry chuckled at the two of them as he gestured towards the still open book in front of Hermione. "What are you reading?"

"Quidditch Through the Ages," she replied, showing him the cover. "It's quite interesting, really. Did you know that they are seven hundred ways of committing a foul, and all seven hundred of them were committed during the World Cup in 1473..."

Ron by this time was pretending to snore. Harry however looked a little intrigued. "Do you think I could borrow that?"

"Sure," Hermione pushed the book towards him, "I've all ready read it."

"Then why are you reading it again?" Ron demanded.

"Haven't you read the same book over and over again?" Hermione countered.

"Yes, but not every book I've ever read in the history of the entire universe," Ron replied. Hermione rolled her eyes, producing yet another laugh from Harry as he thumbed through the book.

"We better get to class," Hermione said, loving that the word we really did apply to the situation. "We don't want to be late."

Harry and Ron both nodded and after taking a few final bites of their breakfast, got up and followed her out of the Great Hall. Hermione was finding it very hard not to grin from ear to ear.

She had been right when she first met them--those two were just as nice as she had thought.

**

First-year had ended up being one of the best in her life. Even with all her worries about classes and Harry, she had had so much fun with her new friends. She had never been extremely popular in school, and the few friends she had ended up making weren't nearly as wonderful as Ron and Harry. She supposed that the first-year had been a vital step in her and Ron's relationship, because this was the year that she got to know him, and realized that sure, he was a prat, but he was one of the good prats.

But she hadn't realized just how much he meant to her until she had almost lost him...

**

June 21^st, 10:01 p.m.

Hermione opened her eyes and she was relieved to see that she had gotten through the purple flames without any injuries. She bit her lip as she stared back. Harry had to be going through his own flames by now.

"Good luck," she whispered.

She whirled around and took off at a sprint, pausing slightly only at the doorway to make sure that the troll was still unconscious. She ran so fast through that room that she didn't even smell his horrendous odor. But then again, she knew how to take on a troll now. All she needed to do was use the Levitation charm, as Ron had proven to her.

Ron. Hermione forced her legs to pump faster. She couldn't believe that she had left him at that chessboard when he had been so badly hurt. She had seen the blood on the floor beside his head before she and Harry had left the chamber, but she knew that Ron would kill her if he woke up and knew she had willingly let Harry go fight Snape all by himself. By explaining to Ron that she couldn't go with Harry as there was only enough potion for one person, she'd avoid a row. Besides, Ron really did need medical attention.

She made it back to the chessboard. The injured and broken chess pieces were starting to move and magically mend themselves so they could return to their place on the chessboard. Ignoring them completely, Hermione darted over to where Ron unfortunately still lay on the ground. She had rather hoped that he would be awake by now.

She knelt down next to him. "Ron? Are you okay? Ron, can you hear me?" She gulped when there was not the slightest movement from Ron except for the trickling of blood from the gash on his forehead. He was as still as death.

"Ron, please wake up!" Hermione shook Ron's shoulders as hard as she could, but he remained motionless. She winced as she swiped blood off his forehead from the cut he had received from the queen's powerful swing. "Come on, we have to help Harry!" She tried to pull him upwards by herself, but she only managed to raise his shoulders several inches before he slumped back to the ground. "We have to get Dumbledore! Harry went alone, Ron! Doesn't that make you angry? Do you want Snape to get the Stone and Harry to die trying to protect it, because you know he will! Only Dumbledore can stop that from happening, we have to get him, but I can't leave you like this, so come on!" Hermione tried again to heave him to his feet, but he once again slipped out her grasp. Her eyes were starting to burn, and she fought the urge to bury her face in her hands and weep. But she couldn't--she had to help Ron and then help Harry. She couldn't dwell on the fact that she was worried sick about the both of them. She had to hold herself together.

Hermione shook Ron's shoulders once again, and even slapped him on the face, but nothing. The burning in her eyes was growing even stronger and the lump in her throat rose, forcing her to swallow hard. But this only caused the moisture in her eyes to leak their way out, and once the first drop trickled down her cheek, the rest came pouring out.

"Ron, come on!" She sniffed, hating that tears were dropping onto his pale cheeks. "I need you to get up! I can't do this alone! Please! I need you!"

And Hermione for the first time in her life realized that she did indeed need someone. She wasn't so independent after all. The revelation was so surprising that tears stopped as abruptly as they had started. An overwhelming sense of defeat washed over her, and she lowered her head, unable to look at Ron's limp face any longer. "Ron, please," she muttered. "Please, please, wake up."

"Leave me alone," Ron whined groggily.

Hermione's head jerked up, her heart leaping with relief and joy. "Ron! Ron, are you all right? Can you hear me?"

"Hermione?" he asked groggily, "What are you doing here?"

He's confused, she realized, he thinks he's in his dormitory. "Ron, open your eyes," she demanded, a little frightened that he was so disoriented.

Ron obeyed, blinking several times as he stared up at the ceiling before his eyes slid over to lock on Hermione's. "Hermione?" he repeated as he started to push himself up into a sitting position. An unconscious smile flittered across his face that warmed Hermione's heart in such a way that she couldn't resist throwing her arms around him.

"Oh, Ron, you're all right!"

"Oomph!" Ron grunted, "Hermione, get off."

"Oh, sorry," she apologized hastily, releasing him and staring at him anxiously. "Does your head hurt? Are you dizzy?"

"I'm all right," Ron reassured her, "Where's Harry?"

"He went after the Stone," Hermione started to explain.

"Alone?" Ron burst out, clamoring to his feet. He swayed slightly and Hermione quickly steadied him. "Why did you let him?"

"There was only enough potion for one of us," Hermione said offhandedly. They didn't have time to get into this. "Harry told me to wake you up and then use the brooms in the room with the keys to get past Fluffy so we can send an owl to Dumbledore. He's the only one who can help us now..."

"Well, come on!" Ron cut in, taking off at a run with Hermione trailing behind him. Despite the dire situation Harry was in, and how worried she was about him, she couldn't help being relieved that Ron was by her side now. It seemed now as though she could get through anything.