How to tame a Basilisk

Ron has been avoiding Harry ever since he found out about him being a Parselmouth. At first Harry had resolved to just give his friend some time to get over himself, like he used to do in the past, but Christmas is edging closer and Harry has no desire of prolonging their fight over the holidays. So one day, after Transfiguration, he corners Ron and pulls him into an empty classroom to talk.

For a second there's a flicker of hope on Ron's face, but it's soon replaced by anger, as he tries to push Harry out of the way to the door.

But Harry won't have it ''No Ron, we need to talk.'' he declares firmly, ''You're my oldest friend and I'd really hate to lose you over something like this.''

Ron crosses his arms but stays ''If I'm your oldest friend, how come you didn't tell me about you speaking Parseltongue?'' he inquires tetchily.

Harry sighs, expecting this question ''Look, I really would have told you I swear! I didn't mean to exclude you. It was an accident that Neville and Hermione even found out. And to be honest... I was scared of your reaction, and with how it is now between us, you can't exactly tell me I was wrong to be.''

Ron scowls, but says nothing.

''Look Ron, I don't want to lose you, so we have to sort this out or something like this will eventually come up again.'' Harry tries to reason with his friend.

Ron raises an eyebrow at that ''What do you mean it's gonna come up again? Have any more dark secrets you're not telling me?''

Harry exasperatedly throws his arms up into the air, ''No, that's not what I meant! It's just... why do you think you got so angry over all this? You don't actually think I'm evil, do you?'' Harry asks, suddenly anxious that he's mistaken and Ron really does think him to be the next Dark Lord or something.

Ron looks perplexed for a second, but then scowls again ''Are you joking? You're a dark wizard and I was friends with you for over a year wand didn't know!'' he cries indignantly.

Harry takes a deep breath ''I am not a dark wizard Ron, and I think you know that.'' he calmly, but resolutely says, pushing away the fear that Ron might really think just that.

Ron huffs and looks away from Harry, but doesn't answer, so Harry pushes forward ''Is it because I hurt your feelings by not telling you?'' he whispers.

Ron immediately gets furious again, but Harry can see the hurt behind it as he says ''Well, I thought I was your best friend, but apparently that's Neville and Hermione now, so excuse me for thinking you'd confide in me.''

Harry let's out a relieved breath, so Ron doesn't actually believe him to be evil. ''Ron, you're still my best friend. And so are Hermione and Neville, but you will always be my first friend.'' he states firmly, ''But you do know that you're more than that, right?''

At that Ron turns back to look at him confused ''What do you mean?''

''Look, I think it must be hard with so many older siblings, who all excel at their own things, and feeling like all of those expectations have been passed upon you.'' Harry tentatively explains ''But your thing is not just being my best friend. You're your own person Ron.''

Ron huffs and rolls his eyes ''Yeah, obviously, I know that.'' but he doesn't seem to really believe what he's saying, looking pretty uncomfortable and unsure of himself.

Harry just continues ''Ron you're super strategic and really funny and smart and I think you need to realize that more.''

Ron kind of deflates at the praise ''But how?'' he asks dejectedly ''Bill and Charlie were both Head Boy and Percy's on his best way there too. And Fred and George have each other and their pranks and stuff and Ginny is the only girl that my Mum always wanted.'' he sinks to the floor, leaning back against the wall ''What am I if not the one Weasley kid who's best friends with Harry Potter? There's nothing else making me special.''

Harry sits down in front of Ron and eyes him sternly ''That's not true! And it kind of hurts to hear you say that. For one, because you're talking about my best friend there, and secondly because it kind of sounds like you're only my friend to be special.''

Ron looks up at Harry, wide-eyed ''No Harry! That's not it, I promise! You're my best friend because you're kind and you make me feel seen and you stood up for Malfoy for me. I'm sorry I made you feel that way, it's just...'' Ron takes a deep breath before continuing ''Sometimes it's just hard because everyone always just sees me as either your side-kick or they have all of those ideas about my brothers in their heads and see me as only my last name.''

Harry nods ''I can understand than Ron, but you know that I don't see you like that, so it's pretty unfair when you let it out on me.'' He explains, ''And I understand that it must've hurt when I didn't tell you about being a Parselmouth but I swear I didn't mean to tell Neville and Hermione either, they just found out. I would've told you eventually, it's just that I know how people might perceive that as me being evil and I already have so many rumours about me going around, with being the boy-who-lived and all.''

Ron looks sheepishly down to the floor ''Just like I did, huh? I'm sorry Harry, I was being a right git.''

Harry smiles at his friend ''It's okay. But please just remember that you're always my best friend and I won't ever wish anything bad on you, you know. And I think I have an idea that might let others see you for how amazing I know you are. What do you think about opening up a chess club?'' Harry smirks.

Ron's hesitant smile that had formed at Harry accepting his apology immediately turns wide and he nods excitedly.

***

Ever since Draco stuck up for Vince and Greg, they have come to trust him more and more. He's gotten to know them more than he ever did in all of those years they'd known each other. After all, their parents had introduced them when they were just 4 years old, trying to build some more pureblood-alliances early on.

For example, Draco had never known that Greg spends his summers tending to his own little greenhouse and that he's just too shy to speak up in Herbology classes, contrary to what he believed to be just plain stupidity. He's also been surprised to learn that Vince has gone on safari in Uganda, to study Erumpets with his uncle. Philip Crabbe apparently has some contacts at Uagadou, which helped them find the best spots to observe the big beasts in their natural habitat.

Draco feels kind of bad that he never took the time to really get to know the two boys that have been trailing him ever since he can remember. He might've actually gotten to like them, had he known them for their own selves and not just for what their alliances could provide to him as the Malfoy heir. And maybe, just maybe Draco could help them now that he knew their real selves. If he could manage to make them more self-secure, they perhaps wouldn't need their fathers' approval that much and wouldn't turn to the dark side as easily. Once again, Draco is thankful that Potter convinced him to change things for the better, as that means he gets to try and save Vince's life as well as Greg's sanity.

For now he settles with showing the both of them his silent support in spending time with them and, like at the moment, playing Gobstones together. Just when Greg is about to win the round, Blaise struts into the common room, smug smile in place.

Pansy, who until now has been quietly reading this week's edition of Witch Weekly immediately perks up and teases the other Slytherin ''Well, chumming with the Gryffindors, are we Blaise?'' she grins. ''Going to start wearing red and gold now?''

Draco looks up at that exchange ''What are you on about Pans?'' he asks confusedly.

Blaise just rolls his eyes at Pansy and shrugs at Draco as he says ''I joined Weasley's chess club. He's really good.''
That makes Draco startle ''Did you just compliment a Weasley?'' he asks, gob-smacked.

Blaise raises one eyebrow at him ''Honestly Draco, you're still such a child. I for one am thirteen now, so I'm a teenager. Just because you can't see the other houses as anything but enemies doesn't mean I can't see the opportunities more ally-ships can bring. I'm even closer to the boy-who-lived now than you'll ever be, since I'm spending time with his best friend. Didn't he reject your friendship last year?'' he smirks.

Did this thirteen-year-old brat just call Draco a child? What the fuck, he's a grown-up! He's certainly not behaving anymore childishly than the others in his year, in fact, he is absolutely being the most mature of the lot!

Draco just huffs ''Whatever Blaise, go spend time with your little lions then. I for my part have standards'' he waves a hand at his friend dismissively.

But secretly, Draco envies Blaise and his ability to look past houses without the fear of being punished for associating with 'the enemy'. If Draco ever tried to align himself with Potter openly, his father would make sure that he felt all of his displeasure.

Blaise interrupts his thoughts, still smirking at Draco ''You should try and get over your Slytherin pride and play a match against Weasley. He's actually really good, as much as it pains me to admit that. Nobody has managed to beat him yet.'' he tells them thoughtfully ''Would be nice to see him beat by a Slytherin.'' Blaise grins.

And to his horror, Draco actually starts considering this. It might get him closer to Potter in public, and even though he still doesn't believe the Gryffindor would ever return his feelings, a friendship would at least be something. And his father be damned, for the Weasel, Draco wouldn't risk his wrath. But if Blaise is right and Potter could really start to appreciate Draco apart from their forced proximity due to their shared time-travel experience, playing chess against the red-haired boy might be worth risking his father's displeasure after all.

***

Ever since learning about all the injustices in the wizarding world, Hermione has been constantly thinking about how to change them. She's read up on all of the books in Hogwarts' library that she could find, which are about creatures and the related laws. The best way to start would probably be to begin with the house-elves, as she already knows of some type of spokesperson in Dobby, if she can convince him to help in her endeavour. Hermione just needs to remind herself to ask Harry to call for the free elf again, so that she can ask him about his opinion on the matter. And didn't Harry say something about Hogwarts' elves working mostly in the kitchens? She's going to have to ask him to take her there too, maybe she can convince some of the other house-elves to join her cause.

Hermione knows she can be a bit much. That is, after all, why she never really had any friends back in the Muggle world. And that's also why she had been so surprised and happy last year, when Harry and Neville had approached her in the library. Though the two boys are definitely not as studious as herself, they both take their school work seriously and accept Hermione for exactly who she is.

At first she's been so awed to finally have friends, that she'd tried to reign in the amount of academical stuff she was talking about, not wanting to scare them away as quickly as they came into her life. But Neville had asked her for her help with his homework, and soon they'd also spent time outside of classes and homework sessions, talking about the various things they learned during their lessons. It's also quite fortunate that Neville, as one of the sacred 28 which he explained all about to her, knows a lot about wizarding culture and traditions. Things that mostly have gotten lost to time and that Muggleborns usually wouldn't have access to. Hermione loves learning about this great new world, that even after more than a year knowing about it still never seizes to surprise and amaze her.

And Harry is the same, astonished at any new things they encounter and happy to learn more about their surroundings. Though he sometimes seems to know way more than Hermione, despite he told her that he grew up with Muggles, just like herself. But then again, Hermione supposes, Harry must have known at least a little bit about magic, considering the way his parents had died and all of that horrible stuff. Harry also never gets annoyed at Hermione, when she loses herself in one of her study rants, instead he actually encourages her to find even more books to read, whenever he thinks of something that might interest her. All in all, Hermione is just very grateful to have two such amazing best friends.

Ron is also okay to be around, she thinks, but the red-haired boy has quite the temper and is not at all as interested in his studies as the rest of them. So he tends to spend more and more time with the other Gryffindor boys in their year, Seamus and Dean. Also, and Hermione feels kind of bad about still thinking of that, but Ron and Seamus were the two main boys that made fun of her in first year, before she got to know Neville and Harry better. She really doesn't want to be resentful, but that really hurt her back then and she just can't seem to shake the association with Ron entirely, so Hermione isn't that concerned about the boy distancing himself further from their group.

And though she really trusts her best friends, Hermione is still a little worried about Harry and Neville's reactions to her plans on founding an organization meant to fight the injustices against creatures in the wizarding world. She just doesn't want to annoy he first two friends, but the topic is too important to ignore.

So she has decided to found the society against the discrimination against creatures, short SADAC. She's even started to make pamphlets and badges, planning on giving the latter out to new members for a donation of two Sickles each. As soon as she's ready with the transfiguration of the badges, she approaches Harry and Neville at breakfast, to introduce her idea.

To her surprise Harry is immediately on board, complimenting her plans ''That's such a great idea, Hermione! Do you have a suggestion on how to proceed?''

Hermione beams and explains her idea ''I thought we could focus on elves first, with the help of Dobby. Then we could work our way up to Werewolves and Goblins. Maybe we could free the elves here at school by knitting clothes and leaving them around Hogwarts for them to find and thereby freeing them!'' Hermione enthusiastically tells Harry and Neville.

But Neville seems unsure and hesitantly says ''I don't know if that's such a good idea...''

Hermione immediately turns defensive, crossing her arms in front of her chest, but Harry proceeds to point out to her ''Yeah, I don't think that would work, either. Most house-elves take great pride in their work you know, they'd probably take offence at being offered freedom.''

Hermione gasps ''But that means they're brainwashed then!'' she exclaims.

''Yeah, maybe'' Harry allows, ''But you won't change that by forcing freedom on them. I think we should start by making sure that house-elves have rights and can't be treated and tortured like Dobby was.''

Hermione beams at her friend for his use of 'we', including himself in her plans. She has to admit that that plan sounds better, though she's unsure about the proceedings ''But how are we supposed to do that? That would take going in front of the government, right?''

Harry frowns, clearly contemplating her worries ''You know...'' he starts tentatively ''I don't actually like my fame, but maybe we could use it for good with this.''

Hermione gasps at that offer, knowing how much Harry hates his fame and all of the attention that comes with it ''You'd do that for me?''

Harry smiles at her encouragingly ''Of course I'd do that for you! But this is about more than that, this is about doing the right thing and I think we should definitely try to use whatever resources we have.''

''Thank you Harry! Thank you so much!'' Hermione exclaims happily, ''I'm going to try and find something on laws and how to propose new ones. I already have borrowed a few law books from the library, from my research on discriminatory laws against creatures. I'm going to find out what course would be best to take and then we can go from there. In the meantime we should try and gain more members to back up our demands once we know how to propose them.''

Harry and Neville easily agree to spread their message and handing out badges. Hermione really couldn't be happier to have such supportive friends.