Merlin's Apprentices

Chapter 14

After five days and plenty of nagging from Hermione and Peter, Harry finally forgave Ron and things got back to how they were, only this time, Harry was different, and they had a new addition to the group.

“What do you mean you want to study?” Ron whined one night. He had been trying to convince everyone to join him to visit Hagrid, but Harry and Peter were determined to finish their homework that night, even though they weren’t due for a few days.

“I mean,” Harry said in exasperation, though he didn’t look up from his essay, “that I want to finish my work so I can have time to go with Remus tomorrow. Sev said we couldn't go unless we had our homework finished.” The day was supposed to be a way for Remus to get to know Peter before agreeing to teach.

“I’ll go with you, Ronald,” Hermione said, giving Harry an odd look. He was always so busy studying, and she frowned as she realized that this is probably how Ron and Harry had felt about her last year. She felt like he was growing apart from them, like he was distant. She felt inferior when he began to ramble about his studies and felt bad for making Ron and Harry feel that way before.

Ron was jealous. He wouldn’t admit it, but he was jealous of Peter, who seemed to be the only person Harry talked to nowadays. He missed when Harry hated school just as much as him. He huffed and strode out of the common room, Hermione following quickly.

“What was that?” Peter asked Harry after watching how the redhead had stormed off.

“Ron is upset because I like school now. I hated it last year and Hermione had to drag both of us to the library to study. Hermione is probably finding it strange that I suddenly like to study.” Harry finished his essay and rolled it up before moving to his next assignment.

“Maybe we should ask Remus if they can join us in Diagon Alley?” Peter suggested. “Maybe they just need to spend more time with you.”

Harry sighed and looked up from his work. “It’s not just that,” he said. “Ron doesn’t want to accept that I’ve changed. Hermione will come around, but I’m not so sure about Ron. Besides, we’re going for books. Ron would never like that.”

“What about Hermione? She likes books, and she can make for good conversation too.”

Harry bit his lip before nodding. “If you want, you can invite her. The only problem is that Sev is going too and they don’t get along well.”

“We compromise with them. Sev can bring someone else in on our little group, so long as he makes peace with Hermione, and Hermione can join our study group as long as she makes peace with Sev.”

Harry thought for a moment. “I suppose it’s not a bad idea,” he muttered. “Sev did mention someone else he’d like us to work with and I’ve been thinking about inviting Hermione to study with us anyways. She’s really good at memorization and could definitely keep up. She is the smartest witch of our generation, after all.”

Peter grinned. “Then, it’s a plan. Though, I do feel bad excluding Ron.”

Harry felt bad too, but he also knew that him and Ron’s relationship was going to change. They would hopefully still be best friends, but Ron needed to learn to accept Harry as he was, not as he had been. “We can invite him into our study group too,” he said hesitantly. “He does need some help studying, and we could help him.”

“Like, tutoring?”

Harry nodded.

“I can do that. Hopefully it will help him warm up to me.”

The two got back to work, and were soon finished. To pass the time, Harry talked with Cleo while Peter worked on his blueprints.

Hermione and Ron came back just before curfew and sat down to watch them, since they hadn’t noticed them come in.