Snapshots of an Unremembered Life

Harry turned the corner into the Potions section. A small girl with long, curly brown hair was jumping up and down madly.

"So... close..." she grunted, trying to reach a book. Harry came up behind her and plucked the book from the shelf, handing it to her.

"Thank you," said the girl gratefully, clutching the tome to her chest. She smiled beatifically at Harry, and he couldn't help but grin back. "I'm Harry," he said, holding out a hand.

"I'm Hermione," the girl replied, taking it and holding it with a firm handshake. "First year?"

"Yeah," said Harry with a rueful grin. He looked at the large stack of books by Hermione's feet, and his eyes grew in alarm. "I didn't know we had that many books!"

"Oh, we don't," assured Hermione. "It's just for a bit of light reading."

"Basic Theory of Charms... A History of the Dark Arts, oh, that sounds like loads of fun... Hogwarts, a History. That one looks interesting."

"It is!" exclaimed Hermione, her eyes lighting up. "I've already read the first chapter; it's all ever so fascinating!"

"Maybe I'll pick up a copy," said Harry shyly. The girl smiled shyly back at him. "Oh," she said, looking back at her paper, "we've got one more Potions text."

They both looked up at the towering mound of books; the one that they needed was at the very top of the shelf. They grinned at one another, and both started jumping, trying to reach the top shelf.

"Almost...got...it..." panted Hermione.

"Almost there," added Harry. They both shared a good laugh; their fingers were a good half a foot short from the top shelf, even jumping as they were.

A pair of freckled arms shot out over their heads and pulled the last books from the shelves, shoving it under their noses.

"Looking for these?" asked one of the boys. They were twins, and as identical as two peas in a pod.

"Yeah, thanks," said Harry, taking the books and handing one to Hermione.

"I'm Fred Weasley," said the twin on the left.

"And I'm George Weasley," added the twin on the right.

"And if you haven't noticed-"

"We're identical twins."

"I would have never guessed," said Hermione dryly, making Harry laugh again. Fred and George shared a deep, rumbly laugh.

"Muggleborns?" asked George politely.

"I am," said Hermione, picking up her stack of books.

"My parents were wizards," said Harry, shuffling his feet. "They're dead, though."

Hermione put a small hand on his pale arm, and Harry turned to her and smiled. She smiled back at him.

"I'm here with Hagrid," said Harry, straightening up.

"Ah! Hagrid!" said the twins in unison. "We know him!"

"I should ruddy well think so," came Hagrid's deep, amused voice. "These two," he said, jerking a thumb at the twins, "are always kippin' off into th' forest, makin' a nuisance of themselves."

"But you love us all the same, Hagrid," said Fred with a perfectly innocent face. Hagrid snorted, and then smiled.

"That sounds awfully dangerous," commented Hermione.

"Danger?" asked Fred.

"Danger is our middle name!" declared George.

"No it's not, our middle name is Thomas," cut in Fred. Harry and Hermione laughed.

"How's about some ice cream?" asked Hagrid. "You an' yer friends, 'arry? My treat!"

"Ooo!" squealed Hermione. Everyone laughed, and they went to pay for their books. Hermione told her parent she was off to have some ice cream, and they set off.

++++

They were all comfortably seated at the ice cream parlour, eating their sundaes and generally enjoying themselves. Hermione was perched comfortably on Hagrid's knee, her legs crossed and her sundae balanced on her left leg.

"Blimey, I didn't realise you were Harry Potter!" exclaimed Fred. "Can you show us your scar?"

Harry lifted the fringe of his hair up. Fred and George whistled in amazement.

"How'd you get that scar, Harry?" asked Hermione in a quiet voice. She lifted her hand and gently put a finger on it; her skin was warm against Harry's cool forehead.

"I'm not sure," said Harry somewhat glumly. The kids looked at Hagrid, and he sighed, motioning for them to lean in closer. Even Fred and George, who already knew the story, were somewhat apprehensive. Hagrid told them, in his low, comforting voice, what had happened that night at Godric's Hollow. Harry stomach squeezed tighter and tighter as the details came out. A small squeak came from Hermione; Harry had gripped her hand and was squeezing it so hard that it was close to bruising. He let it go, but Hermione took it back gently in her hand and held it firmly, smiling tremulously at him.

"So that's how, huh," said Harry dully. "Killed by Voldemort."

"Shhh!" hissed Hagrid, looking around. "Don' say his name. People here are afraid of it."

"It's just a name," commented Hermione.

"It still brings a lot of fear," whispered Hagrid.

++++

Harry smiled as Hedwig blew into his room, dropping two letters into his lap and throwing herself into a vacant cushion. He had gotten his customary two notes from the twins and from Hermione, whom he had been corresponding with regularly since he had met them at Flourish and Blotts. The very idea of having friends warmed Harry to the core; the twins were so funny and rambunctious, unlike the children he had gone to school with. And Hermione was kind, and really smart, and seemed to take a real shine to Harry.

Fred and George's letter made him laugh; they gave him detailed exploits on their continuing quest of torturing their brother Percy, and told him that they had written Hermione, and that they would all meet at the train station.

Hermione's letter, a novel in the making, was filled with rambles on all the interesting new things that she had read in the books Harry had gotten for her as an early birthday present. He chuckled at her evident excitement.

She also sent some notes from a book on the Dark Arts that had some interesting information about his family. Tears welled up in his eyes at Hermione's tiny, flowing script, carefully transcribed from the books, detailing the lives of James Potter and Lily Evans. At the end of the note, Hermione had written “Buck up, Harry, I'm sure we'll learn more." The idea that Hermione would be with him lightened his heart, and he fell asleep in the beams of the setting sun, warmed by the light and the letters.

++++

Harry popped into Platform 9 and 3/4's after the twins, nearly running over a tall black boy in the process.

"Ah, Harry," said Fred brightly. "This is our best friend, Lee."

"Pleasure to meet you, Harry," said Lee, smiling. Harry nodded, and then began to look around, standing on tip toe and straining his neck.

"Looking for Hermione?" asked George. Harry nodded, then yelped as Fred and George picked him up, waving him around in circles.

"Attention: Hermione Granger!" yelled George. "We found your Harry. Please pick him up at carriage ten! I repeat, Hermione Granger, we have found your -"

"I heard you the first time, George," came Hermione's voice from behind the twins. Harry grinned ruefully from his spot in the sky, and Hermione smirked, her arms crossed. She held her arms out. "I'm here for my package, Misters Weasley."

The twins set him down, and Harry and Hermione embraced. Lee and Hermione were properly introduced, and they bundled themselves into the train. Fred and George stuck their heads out the window to say goodbye to their mother and little sister, Ginny.

"We'll send you a toilet seat!" shouted Fred from the window.

"THAT'S NOT FUNNY!!" shrieked Mrs. Weasley as Ginny tried not to laugh.

"We'll make sure it's disinfected first!" hollered Hermione, sticking her head and torso out the window. Ginny burst into laughter as Hermione pulled herself back into the carriage. She sat on her trunk, reading one of her many books, as everyone began to make themselves comfortable. A little while later, Harry purchased a large quantity of sugared goods, which everyone but Hermione took. She was very conscientious of her dental needs.

A short, white-blonde boy strode into their carriage, rudely shoving the door open and posing in the doorway. Hermione looked up, frowned at him for disturbing her peace, and went back to reading. Harry began to wonder who he was, but was distracted by the sound of Fred's deck of Exploding Snap blowing up in his face.

"Still got your hair, Fred?" asked Hermione, sucking on a juice box.

"Most of it," he said, "but I think I lost part of my eyebrows." Lee snorted.

"Ahem," said the little blonde boy silkily. Hermione raised an eyebrow. "Can we help you?" she asked, marking her place in the book with her finger.

"It's true then," said the boy. "Harry Potter has come to Hogwarts."

"Ooo, Harry, you've got the first member of your fan club!" cackled Lee. The twins laughed uproariously as the boy turned a strange shade of pink.

"You must be Weasleys," drawled the boy as he tried to regain some composure. "All that red hair, the freckles, the shabby clothes..."

"You must be a gargantuan git," said Hermione as she returned to her book. "The over gelled hair, the stuffy clothes, the gigantic stick up your-"

"Hermione!" exclaimed Harry, choking down some laughter. He turned to face the silver haired boy. "Yes, I'm Harry. Who are you?"

"Draco Malfoy. These are Crabbe and Goyle," said the boy, all cool dignity again.

"Ah," said George. "You were right, Hermione."

"I often am," she retorted, picking up a quill and underlining a passage from her book. She looked up and stared straight into Malfoy's face. "If you've nothing else to say...?"

"It's funny, though," mused Fred, sinking back into his seat. George lay down on one seat, looking pointedly at Crabbe and Goyle. "I didn't know they'd started letting us bring gorillas in as pets-"

Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle stormed off, unable to find a fitting comeback to the onslaught on insults. Harry joined Hermione on her trunk, picking up a book and beginning to read.

++++

"Bye, guys!" shouted the twins and Lee as they headed for the Horseless carriages. Harry stepped into the first available boat, holding a hand out to help Hermione in. They were joined by a round faced boy named Neville, who had gone searching for his toad, and a flame haired boy with dirt on his nose.

Hermione dipped her handkerchief into the Lake, wringing it out. "You've got a bit of dirt on your nose," she said, handing the hankie to the boy. The boy took it and hastily rubbed his nose.

"I'm Ron," he said, proffering a hand. "Ron Weasley."

"Oh!" said Harry. "Are you related to Fred and George?"

"Yeah," said the boy glumly.

"What's wrong?" asked Hermione.

"Nothing. I hate being just another Weasley," said the boy, running his fingers over the edge of the boat.

"I'm sure you'll be more," said Hermione warmly. Ron grinned.

++++

"So all we've got to do is put on a hat?" asked Harry, staring in disbelief.

"Looks like it," said Hermione. "We'll be going in alphabetical order..."

"I don't care," said Harry stoutly. "Whatever house you're going into, I'm going there too."

Hermione flushed pink, but smiled gratefully all the same. "Of course we'll be in the same house, Harry," she said earnestly. "I just hope we get sorted with the twins and Lee; it's nice to have friends, you know?"

"What, don't you have friends outside in the Muggle world?" asked Harry. Hermione's face fell, and she shook her head.

"They didn't like me much there," she said sadly. "I was smarter than most of them, and I can be, er, a bit bossy at times when I'm trying to get something done."

Harry squeezed Hermione's elbow; he knew what it was like to be friendless. "Friends 'til the end?" he asked, holding up a pinkie.

"Friends 'til the end," echoed Hermione, hooking her pinkie with his. They stood in the front of the crowd, pinkies linked, until "Granger, Hermione!" was called.

"Good luck, Hermione!" whispered Harry quickly. She blushed, but clenched her fists and marched straight up to the hat. She plopped down on the stool and tugged the hat over her head. From where Harry was standing, he could see her lips moving furiously as she silently talked to the hat, arguing with it. A minute later, it yelled "GRYFFINDOR!" and Hermione yanked off the hat and sprinted to the Gryffindor table, where the twins scooped her up into an enthusiastic hug.

Harry's stomach plummeted to his knees as he continued to wait for his turn. Finally, "Potter, Harry!" was called up to the Hat. He slowly began to walk to the stool, turning to look at Hermione and the twins. They all waved at him, and Hermione held up her left hand and crooked her pinkie. Harry jammed the hat on.

"Ah," said the Hat. "Oh, this will be fun. Let's see... oh yes, you're very brave. Loyal too, I see, although your loyalties have yet to be tested. You've got brains as well. Oh, and a need to prove yourself... you'd do well in Slytherin, you know."

"I want to be with my friends," said Harry staunchly. The Hat chuckled. "Well, I could really place you in any house... but Slytherin and Gryffindor both seem appropriate..."

"Not Slytherin," said Harry firmly. "Gryffindor. I want to be in Gryffindor." He pulled the Hat up a bit, and peered at the Gryffindor Table. Hermione had both her fingers crossed, and the twins had their hands on her shoulders.

"Ahh," said the Hat. "I think I see now. Well, if you're sure... better be GRYFFINDOR!" The Hat shouted the last part. Harry tossed the Hat off and ran towards the table, hugging Hermione around the middle, and gasping as the Weasley twins thumped his back. Harry and Hermione sat between the twins, cheering when Ron was sorted into Gryffindor.

++++

Harry and Hermione got to Potions class with two minutes to spare. They sat by the wall, getting their textbooks and parchment ready for class.

Harry frowned when Malfoy and his friends came in. Hermione was flanked by himself and the wall, and Harry tried to make himself as unnoticeable as possible. Malfoy, having nothing better to do, spotted him, and started whispering dramatically about 'Potty'.

"How original," murmured Hermione. "Did he think of that one all by himself, or did he have Monkey One and Monkey Two help him out with the really long words?"

Harry stuffed his fist into mouth to keep from laughing too loud, his thin shoulders shaking. All noise in the dungeons died as the Potions Master swept into the room silently, staring ominously from the head of the class.

"You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion making. As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses... I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death -- if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach."

"What an eccentric performance," whispered Harry. Hermione barely bit back a giggle, hiding a smile behind her hand. On the other side of Harry sat Ron, who had run in moments before Snape.

"Ah, Mr. Potter," drawled the tall, greasy man. "Our new celebrity."

"Er, whatever you say," said Harry nervously, eliciting laughter from across the room. Snape frowned, then proceeded to bombard Harry with questions. Harry silently thanked the heavens that he and Hermione had read up on the first chapters of the Potions text the night before, and answered them all correctly. Snape arched an eyebrow, staring at him considerably for a moment. Harry squirmed, wondering if he had done anything wrong.

"Correct, Potter," Snape snapped, then glided back to the front of the room, starting on the new lesson. Harry let out a sigh of relief, and Hermione grinned at him. "Well done," she whispered. His heart soared.

++++

On the morning of September 19th, the whole of Gryffindor Tower was woken up by a loud wail.

"LEAVE ME ALONE!" moaned Hermione as she was lifted out of bed and carried down the stairs to the Gryffindor Common Room.

"But it's your birthday, Princess," said George, grinning evilly.

"You deserved to be pampered, polished, and many other verbs that begin with the letter P," added Fred.

"Don't call me Princess," grumped Hermione. Harry, in his dorm, smiled; the twins and Lee had nicknamed Hermione 'Our Little Princess', much to her chagrin. He jammed his glasses on and grabbed her birthday present. He had already bought her some books when they had first met at Flourish and Blotts, but he had found something later that he just had to get her.

" 'Morning, Harry," said Hermione grumpily as Harry descended into the Gryffindor Common Room. He gave her a good morning and birthday hug, helping her to her feet.

"How's it feel to be eleven?" he asked, smiling as she scowled sleepily.

"Extremely annoying," she retorted, smiling despite herself. She was immediately crushed by Lee and the twins as they jumped on her, hugging her enthusiastically and peppering her with kisses. Harry couldn't help but laugh at Hermione's face, torn between irritation, embarrassment, and happiness at being so coddled in the morning.

"We have a long day planned for you, Princess," said Fred grandly.

"And this is only the start," broke in Fred excitedly. Hermione gave another little moan of despair. Harry had to cover his mouth from laughing too hard; the twins had shared a few of their plans for Hermione that day, and from what little he heard, she was probably going to hex them into oblivion before the sun had set.

Hermione squawked as Lee shoved a large tinsel crown on her head. It was red and gold, with the word "Princess" etched into the fore of it. Hermione buried her face in her hands as the twins scooped her up and marched out of the Common Room and down to the Great Hall.

"I hate you," she groaned over and over. "Harry, save me."

"No can do, Hermione," he said with a cheeky grin.

"Oh, excuse me, Mr. Saviour of the Wizarding World," she said in mock-anger, "I thought you, of all people, would recognise a Damsel in Distress."

"Hermione, what are you wearing?" asked Lavender curiously.

"I was ambushed in my bed," said Hermione crossly. "I was held down and forced to wear this against my will. I may press charges."

"Ah, you love us Princess," said Fred sweetly. The girls of Gryffindor all cooed happily. Harry snorted into his plate of eggs, and Hermione let loose a string of curses that made Lee stare at her in surprise.

"My, you have been spending a lot of the time with twins, haven't you?" asked Angelina Johnson, raising an eyebrow. Hermione broke down and laughed. Seated firmly in George's lap, she began to eat, occasionally trying to remove the crown from her hair, to no avail. She sighed in defeat, throwing an evil look at the Slytherins who laughed at her crown.

++++

Hermione marched to Charms class, arm in arm with Harry. The twins and Lee followed at their heels, glaring at anyone who began to make a comment about Hermione's crown, or her choice in clothing.

"It's my birthday," she had said when she refused to change out of her pyjama pants. "And if the world doesn't like it, it can… I don't know, do something awful."

"My God, Granger," came the cool voice of Draco Malfoy from next to them. "Is that a crown? Don't you look smashing? And by smashing, I mean -"

Whatever Malfoy had ever meant by smashing was lost as he stumbled. Lee had cuffed him heartily, causing Draco to fall forward.

"And by smashing," he said in a friendly voice, "you mean absolutely gorgeous-"

"Incredibly sexy-" cut in Fred.

"Angelic and cute-" added George.

" I am NOT sexy!" growled Hermione.

"And wonderfully beautiful," finished Harry, glaring at Malfoy. Malfoy turned a strange shade of puce and moss green, but nodded and took off, striding as fast as he could.

"Okay," said Hermione in satisfaction, "that was worth this stupid crown."

"Wasn't it?" asked Lee rhetorically. "And you do look-"

"Don't push your luck, Lee," she said warningly. Everyone had a good laugh, and Harry and Hermione went to Charms class.

++++

"That stupid idiot!" shrilled Hermione as Draco flew into the air with Neville's Rememberall. "Ooo, I wish I could hex him. D'you think the Professors would notice?"

"Probably," said Harry. He felt his broom tingle in his hand, and he pressed his lips together. "I'm going to go get it."

"Harry, you'll get expelled!" said Hermione desperately. "You heard what Madame Hooch said!"

"It's not right, Hermione," said Harry quietly. "I have to go get it." Hermione's face stiffened, but she nodded her head.

"You're right," she said. "Just… be careful, okay? I suppose I'll get my trunk packed too."

"What?" asked Harry in confusion.

"Friends 'til the end, Harry," said Hermione. "If you go, I do too. And I wouldn't be surprised it Fred, George and Lee followed us out. And unless you want to face the wrath of Mother Weasley, you'll be quick about this."

Harry nodded. Hermione squeezed his wrist, then backed off to let Harry take off.

++++

"You got onto the Quidditch Team?" asked George in total amazement.

"I'm the new Seeker!" crowed Harry jubilantly. They were sitting at the Great Hall, everyone eating. Hermione, as usual, had taken residence in one of the older boy's lap, this time seated on Fred. It was one of their unusual habits, but it was simply the way they operated. She asked Ron for the salt shaker, repeating herself several times as Ron gawked at Harry.

"Ron, strap your chin back to your jaw," she snapped irritably as Ron continued to ignore her. He started, then handed her the salt, blushing profusely. Ron had been one of the students who had questioned Hermione's odd habit of sitting on 'her boys', as they were often referred to. George and Fred had threatened to hang him by his ankles from the Astronomy Tower if he didn't stop asking stupid questions. When Draco had attempted to bully her into telling him why she was often found in a male lap, insinuating all sorts of horrible things, she had merely smiled and said that the next time he asked her that, he would beg for death before she had finished with him. The twins had brought back butterbeer and held a small party for their little princess that night, in celebration of her "inner demons" as they called it. Hermione's reputation, both as being the smartest student in her year, and the snippiest, was quickly being cemented.

++++

"Malfoy challenged me to a Wizard's Duel," said Harry unceremoniously as he dropped into a squashy chair next to Hermione.

"Did he now?" asked Lee with a frown. He shook his head. "I didn't take Malfoy to be a total idiot. Dueling is against the rules, and you'd flatten him in a minute besides."

"You're not going, are you Harry?" asked Hermione quietly. Harry looked at her in surprise.

"I don't want you to get expelled," she said in a very small voice. She looked down at her hands. Harry looked at her long face.

"Of course not," he said. "I don't want me to get expelled, either." All thoughts of thrashing Malfoy flew out of his head at Hermione's smile as she beamed at him. They both relaxed into their shared armchair, silently enjoying each other's company. Hermione pulled out her Potions book, and the two began to read together. Lee got up and jogged into the third year boy's dorm, returning a few minutes later to Harry and Hermione.

"We're going to see if Malfoy actually has the stones to come duel with you," said Fred, pulling a piece of parchment out of his pocket.

"What's that?" asked Hermione, peering over her book.

"The Marauder's Map," said Fred. At Harry and Hermione's confused looks, he hastily added, "It's a map that shows everyone and everything at Hogwarts."

"It looks like ragged parchment," said Harry, looking at the crumpled paper.

"You have to activate it," replied George, placing the paper in Hermione's outstretched hand. "Just hold you wand to it, and say the proper incantation," he continued, whispering the proper words into Hermione's ear.

Hermione took out her wand and held it to the edge of the paper.

"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."