Chapter Text
Herbology had been great, much more fun than potions. She sat next to Neville on purpose, using the opportunity to bond with the boy over his favourite subject. She even used the little elemental magic she knew to tame their plants with her touch so they could repot them easier, which pleased the Hufflepuff boy. She was beyond pleased that he seemed to grow more comfortable around her, smiling freely and adjusting her runespoor when it slightly shifted off her shoulder. He was even coming into his bravery easier when surrounded by real friends.
She pulled Hermione to the Hufflepuff table for lunch, joining the others to continue their conversation. A third-year boy asked why Eagles were at the Badger table, so Harmony glanced around at her friend group with a raised eyebrow. Her face clearly said, "Because we"re sitting with friends". He looked at the group, still confused as he questioned if that was allowed. She cited the copy of the school charter she"d been sent when the Board of Governors had debated letting her sleep in the girls" dorm, that students only needed to sit at their house"s table for feasts or other ceremonies.
"So, I could sit with my Gryffindor friends right now?" He grinned.
They laughed, shooing him away as he abandoned his plate to jog off to the Gryffindor table. Harmony watched as her friends started chatting again, feeding her familiar from her plate, and seeing the guy sit down with the Weasley twins. She watched them talk before their eyes darted over to her. For some reason, her instant reaction was to look away with a flushed face while she tried to integrate with her friends and pretend she hadn"t been staring at the twins like a freak. She was 28 years old mentally, she shouldn"t be reacting like a child with a crush. Even if she wasn"t experienced with romance, she felt stupid being so shy. And she suddenly wasn"t that hungry.
They split up after lunch, the Hufflepuffs going to Charms class while the girls went to Transfiguration. Patil didn"t feel as comfortable with the Slytherins, so stayed with Hermione. Except Mione stayed with Harmony, who led them to sit in the middle of a snake pit. She sat directly next to Draco, his face impassive other than his eyes widening. She just smiled, leaning forward to smile at Zabini, Nott and Greengrass.
"Hey guys, do you have a study period after this?"
"Yes..." Greengrass answered hesitantly, clearly unsure about someone in another house being friendly with them.
Harmony grinned, "Then join us. A few other first years and I are forming a study group, we"re meeting in the library. Come meet everyone."
Draco, Nott and Greengrass seemed unsure, but Zabini steamrolled them with a smirk, "We"d love to."
Harmony chuckled as the others stared at him, annoyance breaking through their impassive expressions before McGonagall entered the room. The professor started her lecture with Harmony making her notes around the theory in her textbook, knowing everything was already trapped in her head by her blessed memory. The practical work was simple too, she"d already studied the spells in her first life. Her toothpick became a needle immediately after being tapped with her wand.
"Merlin," Draco gaped. "How did you do that so quickly?"
Harmony explained her process, feeling for her magic and directing it through her wand with the words and wand movement, teaching the students around her. They didn"t have the magic power that she did, so they only made wooden needles, but McGonagall was still impressed enough to give them 5 points each and Harmony 10 points for teaching them. It seemed to help Greengrass and Nott feel comfortable with her, Zabini looking smug as he led the Slytherins along the hallways to the library with the girls after class.
The Hufflepuffs were already sitting at a table near the back, so Harmony led them over with a bright smile. She handled the introductions, making sure to use both names for the Slytherins since they liked to be formal using their last names. There was still an unofficial divide when they sat down, keeping next to their housemates, but Rome wasn"t built in a day. She would have them all chatting in no time, even if they would only talk about lessons right now.
"She smells nice," Noodle sighed, reaching passed Medusa to scent Malfoy"s hair. He tensed but didn"t move away.
"That"s a he, not a she," she huffed, nipping at his side aggressively. "And don"t just lean over me, moron."
"Hey, stop it," Harmony frowned, poking her nose. "Noodle"s leaning doesn"t hurt you, and since Draco doesn"t understand either of you, I"m sure the "she" comment doesn"t bother him."
"You understand them?" Susan gaped.
"She?" Draco frowned.
Harmony giggled, "Yes, I do. I assume it"s part of them being my familiar, the same way I feel them in my soul. And yes, noodle called you "she". He thinks you smell nice."
The students around them laughed. Draco blushed, but took the compliment for what it was and tentatively reached out to stroke Noodle"s head. This led Hannah to ask more about the runespoor, her curiosity outweighing her timidness as the others asked questions. They spent the whole study session learning about her familiar before dinner, which Harmony insisted should be at the Slytherin table.
"I don"t think people are alright with us sitting here," Hermione murmured, keeping her eyes down as she scooped mashed potatoes onto her plate.
"Ignore them," Harmony advised.
"What she said," Zabini agreed. "They just don"t trust you guys. Slytherins usually just stick together."
"Oh, it"s the prejudice again," the muggleborn sighed. "They"re not used to students from other houses that don"t bully them. That"s awful. But we won"t bully you guys."
"Hell no, we"ll back you up if anyone even tries to bully you," Susan said, her eyes narrowing into a determined scowl. Hannah nodded her agreement, looking just as silently determined.
Neville smiled at them, bumping his shoulder against Zabini"s, "We"re Puffs, loyalty is our strongest trait. And you"re our friends, we"ll have your backs when you need us."
The Slytherins looked stunned, their impassive defences crumbling over the blatant support they hadn"t expected. Harmony was so pleased, enjoying the glares from Parkinson and the troll twins. She was smug about bringing these students into her friend group. They would be better influences, with two purebloods who could teach them to ignore their blood-purist upbringing. She was doing what she could to achieve her destiny at this stage, making wizarding Britain better one person at a time.