Struggling Through New Beginnings

Chapter 14

Hermione hurried down the hall to her favorite class, Arithmancy, her books thumping against her back as she walked with a satisfied smile on her face. Harry, Ron, and surprisingly, Greg trailed along behind her.

“Is she always this fast?” Greg gasped as they followed the little woman in front of them.

Neither of his companions answered immediately, but then Harry cleared his throat and mumbled, “Any time she likes where she’s going.”

It had been a surprise to both Harry and Ron when Gregory Goyle had approached them, Millicent in tow, at the beginning of Care of Magical Creatures. Both boys mouths dropped open in shock when not only did Ginny greet “Greg” warmly, but so did Hermione. They actually reached for their wands when he stepped forward and leaned in closer to Hermione as he said his hellos. Millicent Bulstrode’s grunt was more like they were used to and almost made them relax. But, then their abject shock returned as Goyle launched into a story about a muggle band he had heard was pretty good and asked if Hermione knew of them and liked them.

“Of course, Greg! Everyone’s heard of U2!” she exclaimed with a grin. “I have some of their music if you want to hear it sometime. I can bring it with me to the all-house common room.”

He nodded eagerly, his smile almost dreamy as he gazed down at her.

The look seemed to be the last straw for Ron, “Am I having some awful nightmare, Harry?”

Harry shook his head, but continued to stare at Goyle. Then he asked incredulously, “Are you okay? Do you know who you are? Who we are?”

Ginny, Hermione and Greg all laughed a little, then the larger man nodded, “Yeah, Potter, I know who you are, who I am, and who they all are. And, thank you for caring, but I am completely fine.”

“Blimey, you can talk!” Ron said as he stepped forward to peer at Goyle like he would a zoo animal.

Ginny giggled, “That’s kind of what I said, too.”

Harry still stayed back from the larger man as he’d had too many years worth of abuse and threats from him, “Ginny, Hermione, you want to tell me why Goyle is standing here like…like…”

“Like a person who has grown up and would like to start over and get to know the people who saved his life?” Greg supplied with a small smile.

Harry nodded, “Yeah, what he sai…What?”

Luna had joined the group moments before and answered for Greg, “He’s apologizing to you. Love makes people do all manner of strange things.”

Harry choked out, “Love?”

Greg turned red and seemed to choke on his tongue. Millicent, Ron and Harry looked even more confused. And, Ginny and Hermione tried to hold back their giggles, even as Hermione blushed to the roots of her hair.

Thankfully for Greg, Hagrid chose that moment to start class. For the remainder of class, Harry and Ron decided to let things play out. They didn’t trust Goyle, but he hadn’t as yet done anything wrong that they could see. If his questions of them were anything to go by, he really appeared to be genuine in his desire to get to know them. At first they tried to ignore him, but the disapproving looks from Hermione, Ginny and Luna finally made them grunt answers as they searched for the elusive bug in the mold and growth at the base of the trees along the edge of the Forbidden Forest.

Millicent’s continued grunts of displeasure made them feel better and soon they were both trying to get her to talk to get the attention off of themselves and Goyle. They’d been very happy when class had finally ended, but it was a short-lived happiness, as he fell in step beside them to go to their next class.