No Longer A Target

Chapter 2:

Harry Who?

The platform was getting even more crowded as families rushed to get their children on the train. But there still was no sign of Harry or Ron. According to my new T.d.w.m watch (a new invention which allows the muggle version of the watch to work in magic surroundings places like Hogwarts) they had five minutes to get on the train, I was proved correct when the conductor blew his whistle twice to signal a five-minute warning.

"Hey Hermione what's wrong?" my newest friend Michelle was staring at me with a worried look on her face. I had only met her minutes ago when she walked into my compartment but we were already friends. In all my five years at Hogwarts I hadn't met anyone that shared my passion of attaining knowledge except Michelle. As soon as introductions were made we sat talking about our holidays and what books we have read and what spells we have learnt. It was almost too good to be true!

I had also learnt that Michelle was transferred to Hogwarts due to unnatural ability at spells, charms and hexes, not to mention potions. She apparently had done a little too well in the school's exams and was accused of cheating (even though every school takes Anti-Cheating Measures). When she denied it she was transferred to Hogwarts in the hope that Hogwarts would prove a little more of a challenge and could help to "straighten her out". But I also secretly bet that she was sent here so the professors and headmaster can keep a more watchful eye on her.

Hence when I was asked if something was wrong I just smiled and said, "Yeah I'm fine, just a little worried that Harry and Ron haven't shown up yet. I don't know why I even bother trying to get to Platform Nine and Three Quarters early. They are always late."

The answer must have satisfied her because she went back to staring at all the families rushing around outside.

Time started ticking away and soon only two minutes were left.

"What did you say Ron and Harry looked like again Hermione?" I looked over at Michelle and saw she was staring straight at something on the platform.

"Well, Ron has red hair and has probably grown even more since I saw him in Diagon Alley, as a matter of fact all of his family has red hair. So they aren't very hard to miss. Harry on the other hand was messy black hair and is about so high," I raised my hand above my head showing how tall Harry was, "Why do you ask?"

"Because there are two boys over there that look just like you said and they are surrounded by red haired people," Michelle said and pointed to a group of people near the gateway.

I recognised them instantly. Ron had grown even more and was reaching the height of his father quickly and Harry looked just the same from this distance though he did look like he had a lot of Mrs Weasley's cooking and wasn't so skrawny. Harry, Ron and Ron's little sister, Ginny, were currently running towards the train.

I had to laugh though when Mrs Weasley stopped Ron and started rubbing off a bit of dirt on his face. The look on Ron's face was priceless, it was first all over again for a minute.

They stepped on the train and the exact moment the conductor blew his whistle and the train started to pick up speed.

I sat back in my seat and sighed, knowing that once again Ron and Harry had arrived just on time to get on the train. Now the only thing I had to do was wait for them to find me. Well it was really us now, probably considering that Harry and Ron were going to have to meet Michelle sooner or later.

I had seen all the scenery outside the window before so I turned my attention to see what Michelle was doing and found she was staring down at her hands and absentmindedly fidgeting. I thought she was nervous about coming to Hogwarts, then I thought she doesn't have to worry about that until the train stops, so she must be worried about something else. Then the little light bulb went on in my head. She was probably nervous about meeting Harry and Ron!

I didn't think she had anything to be nervous about, I mean Ron and Harry and both great people. Sure Ron's temper can be a little over the top and Harry has been a bit moody after Sirius's death but I was positive they would both like Michelle or be unnervingly polite until they knew her better.

But of course Michelle can't read my, "Hey Michelle, you really don't have anything to worry about. I'm guessing that your nervous about meeting Harry and Ron but really you'll get along fine. I mean as long as you know something about Quidditch you'll always have something to talk to them about."

Michelle just nodded gratefully and continued fidgeting, slightly less frantic this time though.

I knew Harry and Ron well enough now to practically hear the two thumping down the corridor. With any luck they wouldn't check Malfoy's compartment and cause a fight.

Sure enough both of them arrived minutes later looking untidy and drained. They hauled their trunks in and were just about to sit down when they noticed Michelle.

I thought I better do introductions before they started asking questions.

"Harry, Ron, I would like to introduce to my new friend Michelle. Michelle is the new student from Australia's magic teaching school. You might remember the letter from McGonagall Ron? Anyway that was about Michelle. She's going to be sorted tonight at the start of term banquet. In any case, Michelle I would like to introduce you to my two best friends. This is Ronald Weasley, but call him Ron. And this is Harry. Harry Potter," I said. I was hoping to make a good impression on Harry and Ron to Michelle. But she didn't really seem to interested in names.

I was also expecting some sort of reaction to Harry's name. Maybe a gasp, a jerk, a jump, I expected something! But for the first time in my life, I saw someone who had no reaction what so ever to Harry's name or was just very good at hiding it. Michelle just got calmly off the seat shook hands with the both of them and introduced herself a bit more thoroughly and sat back down.

I think Harry was expecting a bigger reaction as well. I mean, he has gone his whole life with people doing all sorts of weird things when they meet him. There was even that marriage proposal once, but he doesn't like talking about. Michelle on the other hand just greeted him just like he was Ron or I.

Ron, who had sat next to me, was staring at Michelle as if she was some sort of mutated animal. Michelle had started squirming again so I used my elbow to poke Ron in the ribs to stop. He stopped but not before he gave me affronted look.

It was finely Harry you broke the very uncomfortable silence and asked the question that had been on our, or at least my mind for the last five minutes of silence.

"Um...Michelle? Can I...er... ask you something," said Harry nervously. You would think having me (ie. a girl), as a best friend would give him some confidence in talking to new girls.

"Sure...Harry. Ask away."

"I was, sort of wondering, why you don't react to my name like everyone else," said Harry, this time a bit more boldly.

What ever Michelle was expecting I don't think it was that, "Am I supposed to react to your name? I don't really know who you are, except that Hermione just introduced us a minute ago,"

Harry was just about to answer when Ron cut in, "You honestly don't know who this is?"

Michelle just shook her head. I don't know how she cannot know who Harry is. But I don't think she was playing around. Her face was going red and she looked really uncomfortable.

But Ron being Ron, didn't stop. "This is Harry Potter. Defeater of You-Know-Who when he was a year old! Then again at 11, and well pretty much every year since then. How can you not know who Harry is?!" said Ron, his voice getting louder as he got more into his speech. I could see he wasn't doing any good now. Michelle still look down right confused and now he was making Harry uncomfortable. It was time for me to take over.

"Ron would you shut up! All your doing is probably confusing Michelle even more than she already is and your embarrassing Harry," I practically had to scream to make myself heard through Ron's thick skull.

But it worked, Michelle was looking more comfortable and Harry had stopped blushing.

I took a deep breath and turned to Michelle, determined to solve this dilemma.

"Michelle. I can't understand how you don't know who Harry is but we'll start at the beginning and explain it to you. First thing's first. Do you know who You-Know-Who is? Wait, that won't help you. Do you know who-," at this point I took a deep breath. I hated having to say the same, "Voldemort is?" There it was done. I had said it.

I waited for Michelle's response. She seemed to think for a moment and then slowly shook her head.

There was a massive thud next to me and I turned to see that Ron had fallen off his chair and Harry's mouth had practically dropped to the ground.

It would have been quite funny if it hadn't been so serious.

Ron was the first to recover and got up off the ground. "You don't know... you honestly don't know...how could you not? I mean, I know you live or lived, what ever, in Australia and stuff but don't you have a big, murderous wizard that recruits evil, twisted people and goes around killing random, defenceless people," he said breathlessly. Then he seemed to remember Harry's parents and said, "No offence meant to your parents, mate."

Harry closed his mouth and replied, "None taken." That's all he really said and started to stare out the window.

From that point Ron and I spent our train trip explaining what You-Know-Who had done and all the adventures the three of us had been through, with Harry adding in a comment now and then.

We were just getting to the point where we were about to enter the Department of Mysteries when Malfoy arrived. I should have known he would turn up sooner or later.

He threw open the door and just walked in like he owned the place. Behind him stood his two bodyguards. If it was possible Crabbe and Goyle had got bigger and more ugly over the holidays.

Nevertheless, Harry wasted no time standing up and saying, "What the hell do you want Malfoy? Haven't you got some poor defenceless little child to torture?"

Malfoy face didn't change once. Anyone would think the wind had changed and his face stayed like that every day.

"Oh Potter you wound me. Here I was coming to say hello to my three most favourite people. The Mudblood, The Scarhead and the Poor Weasel and all you can do is insult me. I'm hurt," Malfoy smirked.

In my own opinion the whole Mudblood was old and didn't hurt as much as it used to. But the whole name-calling thing still ticked Harry and Ron off.

But what was really starting to tick me off was how his eyes had been flickering to each of us as he spoke. It was like we were just pieces of meat in his eyes! It infuriated me above anything else!

Then he spotted Michelle. I swear I saw surprise or something in his eyes but it was gone as soon as it came. It was then I got a small ball of dread in my stomach. He was just staring at her, like a cat might stare at a mouse and it was a bit freaky. I tried to get Harry or Ron's attention but they were too busy giving Malfoy death glares. I swear Ron was going to start growling soon. That Weasley temper of his was really showing.

"Malfoy...get the hell out... before I curse you into next week," said Ron through his gritted teeth.

But Malfoy still had his face painted on and replied calmly, "Not until you introduce me to your newest friend Weasel. And if she is who I think she is I want to know why she's hanging around trash like you and your pathetic friends."

Ron was about to answer when a small voice spoke up from the back.

"My name is Michelle Spence. And I already know who you are. You could only be a Malfoy, though your nothing like Matt and Lizzy. And for your information I probably am who you think I am. Just so you know Malfoy, I really don't like bastards that think they are better then everyone else. Especially when they go around insulting people...like my friends. So I'll give you a choice Malfoy. Leave or I'll make you leave," Michelle said this very quietly but everyone heard it.

Malfoy didn't even look fazed. I myself was starting to get a bit scared of her. She was mad, and I'm not talking Ron's temper mad. She had the "controlled anger" which was a lot more dangerous, because she could think clearly while still being angry. I had a brief thought that she was also mad: insane mad. As much as all of us brag we could kick Malfoy's ass he still probably had the most knowledge of spells in hexes in the school (well I could argue that point with myself as well). Most of them were probably from his father's Dark Arts books to.

"You think your threats scare me and that I care what you think? I'll stay here as long as I want insulting your "friends". Let's see...where should I start? How about Mudblood's hair, that's always fun, or Weasel's lack of money or-,"Malfoy had got cut short, seeing as Michelle's wand was now pointed at his throat. I hadn't even seen her cross the room.

"Make your choice Malfoy. There is a reason I was friends with Matt and Lizzy and if you don't shut up I'll show you why," Michelle whispered. I made a mental note to never get on her bad side. And from the looks Harry and Ron were giving her I think they were thinking the same thing.

"You think your pathetic threats scare me you piece of-,"said Malfoy. I could see Malfoy reaching for his wand but before I could warn Michelle she exploded.

"Expelliarmus!"

The next thing I knew Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle were lying unconscious on the floor in the corridor and Michelle was slipping her wand back into her robes.

There were hundreds of things I wanted to ask her but my mouth wasn't working so I could only watch was she closed the door and sat back down.

There was a very awkward silence for about ten minutes until Ron broke it by whispering, "Wow."

That simple word started a chain reaction. First I started giggling then Ron joined in and then Harry and soon we were all laughing our heads off at Malfoy's face. I guess the questions could wait for later.