"Mr. Nott." Severus acknowledged as the door to his office opened.
"You wanted to see me, Professor?" Nott asked.
"Yes." Severus stood up. "Have a seat."
Nott sat.
"Mr. Nott, I have just recently heard from one of your classmates about something very interesting." Severus cryptically stated. "Would you like to take a guess at what that thing was?"
Nott shook his head, looking extremely confused.
"I have received word that you have been using the short time that we've been at school to bully Mr. Potter." Severus informed Nott. "Do you deny this?"
Nott stared at the floor.
"Let me tell you, Nott." Severus warned. "If I get word from anyone that Harry has been getting ill treatment again, the result shall. Not. Be. Pleasant. Am I clear?"
"Yes sir." Nott mumbled to the floor.
"Good." Severus studied Nott for a moment. "You may leave."
Nott hurriedly left the office.
oOoOo
Harry, Ron, and Draco were walking down a crowded hallway when they heard a shout behind them.
"Potter!"
The hallway quieted, and people moved out of the way to let Nott through. Harry slowly turned to face him.
"You're a little tattle-tale!" Nott exclaimed. "You couldn't handle that someone didn't worship you so you ran to daddy. You're pathetic, Potter!"
"Hey Nott!" A female voice rang through the crowd, and the girl that Ron and Harry had seen on the train shoved her way towards them. "Why don't you leave Harry alone? He hasn't done anything to you! And besides, he didn't tell Professor Snape. I did! Everyone could see that you were bullying him. Just leave him alone!"
Nott looked off-balanced for a moment, but quickly recovered himself.
"Whatever." He stalked off.
"Thanks for that, uh, what is your name?" Harry asked.
"I'm Hermione Granger." Hermione said. She turned to Ron and Draco. "What are your names?"
"I'm Draco Malfoy, and this is Ron Weasley." Draco introduced them.
"Wonderful to meet you." Hermione smiled at them, and Harry spoke again.
"Why'd you say that you told my dad?" he asked. "I mean, I did."
"Because I could see that if he knew that you told Professor Snape, it would just make things worse." Hermione explained.
"But, I mean, you didn't even know me." Harry said, looking confused.
"Does that mean I can't help someone out?" Hermione asked. "Besides, I'm always willing to make a new friend."
"Harry, is this what you were talking to Snape about during History of Magic?" Draco asked. "Is this why you missed Transfiguration?"
"Um, maybe." Harry hedged.
"Why wouldn't you tell us?" Ron asked.
"Because I wanted to figure it out on my own." Harry explained. "And when that wasn't working, I decided that I could just tell Dad. That way nobody else figures it out, I don't get more attention, and Nott would leave me alone."
"Well, we'd best get to Potions." Hermione slipped into the conversation. "He may let you off, Harry, but I don't want to be late."
"I don't think I want to be late, either." Harry said, walking with his friends down to the dungeon.
ns 15.158.61.20da2
