Dark Memories

Book 1 - Part 6: Contemplation

Harry woke up to the smell of dog breath brushing against his face.

He quickly sat up to find Fang resting his head on the couch cushion, looking at him.

At first, he was at a loss for where he was, but then remembered everything. The nightmare, McGonagall, and the talk with Hagrid.

"Hi, Fang," he said, standing up to stretch.

Hagrid opened the door, and entered.

"Ah, good mornin', Harry. Yer friends are outside. Here, they brought yeh this." Hagrid handed him a bag with clothes, his shoes and wand at the bottom. "Uh, Professor Dumbledore took the liberty of suggestin' it. Ron did the packin'. Well, we'll be outside then, they're helping me with my little garden. Neville certainly knows his stuff. Oh, and I told Hermione when she had come after Ron and Neville, that yeh had come earlier upon my request to help clean the Gurdyroot. Just carry it out when yer ready."

Hagrid pointed to the already done bucket next to the table. Harry smiled before Hagrid smiled back and left, shutting the door behind him.

A moment later, Harry stepped out, pajama free. He found Ron, Neville, and Hermione waiting for him with Hagrid.

He could tell that Ron and Neville hadn't told Hermione; she didn't have the slight concern in her eyes like they did.

"Hey," Harry said, trying not to look nervous as he carried the bucket over to them.

"What are we planting again?" Neville asked, rubbing his hands together.

"Gurdyroot," Harry answered, going along with Neville's show to convince Hermione. "It sort of looks like a green onion, huh?"

- - -

For the rest of the day, Ron and Neville tried their best to act like their normal selves. Hermione had once thought she had seen concern on Neville's face when he had been looking at Harry, but she quickly reasoned it had been her imagination.

Harry didn't know how it had happened, but the four of them had become friends.

Hermione seemed to appreciate Harry's ability to handle Malfoy and his thugs, and liked to discuss fascinating plants with Neville, and as for Ron...he wasn't that bad, and he was actually funny at times, not that she'd ever tell him that.

Hermione pushed Neville, as well as the others, forward in all of their classes, making them put forth more effort than what they would have initially without her constant prodding.

Neville liked being wanted, to be frank, and helping others with the one thing (it seemed) that he was good at (Herbology), filled him with purpose and belonging. He helped Ron the most, since Ron had a harder time with Herbology than the others, but sometimes, Ron would ask a question that would make him go look something up, making them all learn even more.

Neville looked up to Harry in a way one looks up to an older brother. At first he was beyond intimidated by Harry. Harry had a 'take-on-anything' kind of personality, whereas Neville was the opposite, or at least was before he became one of Harry's friends. Now he felt he could at least face some things, instead of none at all.

Ron was the closest to Harry, and Harry was glad to know he had his back, especially now after the whole nightmare incident. Ever since he first met him on the train, he knew he was a vital ally to have. The way he stood his ground with Malfoy, even though he was taking a verbal beating, had not been overlooked by Harry. And having seen the memory concerning Fabian and Gideon, the brothers of Ron's Mom, he felt a connection with Ron and his family, just like he felt with Neville after discovering what his parents had faced.