"Where were you yesterday? Pansy asked as she and Tracy sat down at the table. "I know you don't like quidditch, but you just completely disappeared."

Of course she asked this as soon as I had taken a large bite of my pancakes, so she had to wait for my answer while I chewed. "I went up to the astronomy tower for some quiet and ended up taking a nap. I must have been exhausted because when I woke up it was already past curfew."

"Well it's a good thing you didn't get caught on your way back." Tracy opined.

"Yeah. I did have to take the long way back though. There were a couple prefects at the bottom of the grand staircase. Which reminds me, how well versed are either of you in Greek mythology?"

Pansy had a questioning look and shook her head at me as she said matter of factly, "You'll have to explain what sneaking back after curfew has to do with ancient mythology." Which got a silent nod from Tracy.

Glancing around to make sure no one was listening, I lowered my voice and replied, "I found something strange. I'll tell you more once we get somewhere a little more private." This got silent nods from my friends, and as soon as we finished eating we were back in the dorms and all three of us sitting on my bed.

"So what's the big secret?" Pansy asked.

"Ok, so like I said, I had to take the long way back through the third floor. I was creeping along and I heard scratching, like metal on wood. The sound led to a locked door, so I opened it to find a giant three headed dog."

"A three headed dog!? That's it? A three headed dog?" Tracy obviously wasn't impressed with the news and seemed a bit disappointed that it wasn't a piece of juicy gossip, and she picked up my copy of Teen Witch Weekly and started to flip through its pages as she does when irritated.

"Yeah, a giant three headed dog, big enough to eat each one of us whole all at the same time. Sorry for finding that suspicious." I said and stuck my tongue out at her, which caused her to roll her eyes.

"That's weird." Said Pansy. "I wonder what it's doing inside the castle."

"Well it was chained to the wall, and there is a trapdoor in the room. As soon as I opened it, the dog woke up and lunged at me."

"So what does any of this have to do with Greek mythology?" Asked Tracy, her eyes still looking at the magazine as she flipped through the pages.

"There was a giant three headed dog guarding the afterlife, or something like that." Pansy answered.

"Cerberus. And it guarded the entrance to the underworld." I corrected.

"Well, pretty much all muggle myths and legends are just their way of explaining our world. You don't believe that there is a portal to the afterlife hidden here at Hogwarts, do you?" Tracy looked up from the magazine long enough to look me in the eyes while I answered.

"Of course not. But you said it yourself, that muggles turned things from our world into myths and legends. But you have to admit the muggles got a whole lot of stuff right. Sometimes it's hard for me to separate the facts about some of the creatures we study in DADA from what the muggle world has made up, the two can be very similar to each other."

"Well, about all I know of Greek mythology are the names of a few of their gods, and that Zeus guy couldn't keep it in his pants with the human women." And from the movement of her eyes it seemed she found an article worth reading, I doubt she'll have too much more input to offer.

"Well, I know a few stories, but I never paid it too much attention. I always liked Egyptian mythology more, the fact that wizards and witches ruled the country for so long has always been inspiring."

"Plotting world domination in your spare time, are we?" I said with a smirk which resulted in Pansy sticking her tongue out at me after smacking me in the face with a pillow. I couldn't let her assault go unanswered, so I replied in kind. The three of us soon descended into a giggle filled pillow fight that ended in full blown laughter after one of the pillows exploded, covering my half of the room in feathers.

It took some time for the three of us to gather up all of the feathers, but once we had them back in the pillow, a simple mending charm had everything back to normal. While I would have enjoyed spending the entire day goofing off, I had homework to do, and hopefully some research on 'Cerberus'. "I'll see you guys at lunch. I need to get started on my homework. If you need me, I'll be in the library."

"Have fun." Tracy and Pansy both said as I threw my books in my bag and headed out the door.

Upon entering the library, which was a little more crowded for a Sunday morning than normal, I walked to where my friends and I usually sit. The table was already occupied by some older kids from different houses, and by the look of them and the little bit of their conversation I overheard were probably seventh years. Looking around, there weren't any unoccupied tables, but Hermione and Neville were sitting alone at a table with five open seats. I was hoping to talk to both of them anyways, so I considered myself lucky.

Walking over to them I asked, "Mind if I join you two? The other tables are rather full."

"Not at all." Hermione said pointing to the chair opposite her. "Maybe you can help me explain something to Neville here."

Setting my bag on the table and sitting I replied, "I'll try, but I have a favor to ask of one of you and a question for the other."

"We're not dating!" Neville shot out quickly and nervously. After seeing my reaction and then glancing at Hermione he added "Not that I wouldn't want to date you… I'm just not… I don't know if…"

Hermione cut him off before he could say anything else "It's okay, Neville. I'm not looking for a boyfriend right now."

Pulling out my books I said, "Well, now that 'that' is settled, Neville, can you look over my herbology homework? I want to make sure what I'm planning won't kill my plant." 

Neville's eyes lit up a bit at the mention of plants, and his previous embarrassment disappeared. "Of course."

"So I take it you have a question for me then?" asked Hermione.

"Yes. How well do you know Greek Mythology?" I asked.

"Pretty well. But why are you asking me?"

"It's kind of a personal project. I'm comparing things in muggle myths and legends to the real wizarding world. Looking for similarities between the two."

"Oooh. That sounds like a lot of fun. I'd love to work with you on that. I had been thinking of doing something similar myself." Hermione was jumping at the bit as I hoped she would.

"And that's why I wanted to ask you. I thought you'd be interested. I wanted to start with Cerberus. I know he was the guardian to the underworld, but I know someone was able to sneak past him."

"Umm. Girls? Do you think we can get back to my priblem? I don't want to fail this class."

"Of course. I'm sorry, Neville. I didn't mean to interrupt your studies. So there's something you need help with?"

"Yeah. I can't get the banishing charm to work right." Said Neville with his head hung low.

"We figured since you're in the dueling club you could help. None of my advice seems to be helping." Hermione said.

"I'll talk to Professor Flitwick at lunch and see if we can borrow the dueling room. They have dummies in there and the room is protected." 

"You think he'll let us?" Asked Neville in surprise.

I shrugged my shoulders and replied, "Can't hurt to ask."

So with us all in agreement, Hermione went to gather some books for 'our research project' while Neville started helping me with my herbology homework. He said I was on the right track for my fertilizer, and it should work well, provided I don't use too much. After getting Neville's approval on my idea the paper was quickly written. I was writing my last paragraph when Hermione came back with several large books she placed on the table then, without a word, went back to the stacks for more. There was a certain pep to her step that I've seen in her before, but haven't seen in a long time. I've often wondered why she got sorted into Gryffindor as opposed to Ravenclaw, she seems way too happy at the idea of hours of reading. 

I finished up my writing then started on my potions work. It was a rather simple assignment, to identify the ingredients in a forgetfulness potion, explain why each ingredient is important, and then explain why someone would willingly consume it. I was already done writing it and just starting my transfiguration essay when Susan, Hannah, and Lisa came and sat down.

"Hey, you." Susan said as she kissed me on the cheek. "I missed you yesterday. You weren't at the game."

"Quidditch isn't my thing. I figured I'd get some quiet time to do my homework, but ended up taking a nap and slept the day away."

"Poor baby. Have you been pushing yourself too hard practicing for the dueling club again?" Susan asked as she ran her fingers through my hair.

"No." Susan gave that look of hers that lets you know she doesn't believe you. "Okay, maybe a little. But it's not like I'm spending all of my free time practicing." I said.

"Apparently you spend some of it sleeping, too." Hannah chimed in, which got giggles from most of the table.

"Quiet, you." I responded and followed up by sticking my tongue out at her. I was kind of wishing I had a pillow to hit her with, but remembering a little over an hour ago, made me glad that I didn't.

"Oh. Hello everyone." Hermoine said dropping an even larger stack of books on the table than the first time. "Holly, I think you'll enjoy this one. It's a magizoology book. It covers a lot of what muggles call mythological creatures, including the three headed dog."

"What are all of the others?" I asked, pointing to the stack of six or seven other books.

"Just a bit of light reading. I know you are looking at creatures, but I thought it interesting to expand that out to artifacts as well." 

"You know, I think you put most of us Ravenclaws to shame if you call that stack light reading." Lisa said as she took a look at some of the titles. "I think a few of these are NEWT level books or higher."

"That reminds me, Hermione, how did you end up in Gryffindor instead of Ravenclaw?" I asked, which all of a sudden drew all eyes to her. When I noticed this I added, "Not that there's anything wrong with being in Gryffindor, or anything."

"Well, the sorting hat and I had a long conversation about that. I was originally wanting Ravenclaw or Slytherin actually. Being a muggle-born, the hat was quick to explain why that wasn't a good idea, which I agreed with. In the end, the hat thought it better if I were to come out of my shell more." She looked down at her lap as she continued, "The hat was afraid that if I were in Ravenclaw I would spend all of my time locked away in solitude, studying." She looked up and I saw on her eyes she was holding back tears. I put my hand on the table to reach out to her. Before I, or anyone else could say anything Hermione reached her hand out to hold mine and said, "I never had any real friends growing up. I've always been considered a nerd, or a know-it-all. And when strange things started happening around me most of the kids that would at least talk to me started shunning me. It made me withdrawn. Now, I have people that I can call friends, and that call me a friend. Friends that get me out of my shell."

I wasn't sure if she was holding my hand because she just needed a physical human connection, or because she thought we were friends. We are definitely friendly, but I wouldn't exactly call us friends. We have done research together a few times, and been partnered up in various classes, but we have never hung out in a strictly social environment. Maybe this is her way of asking for my friendship. It would cause a bit of strife in Slytherin House, the next 'Princess of Slytherin' publicly acknowledging a friendship with a Gryffindor muggle-born, but I never cared for that blood purity nonsense. All it is is a way for the Noble families to maintain their illusion of control and authority.

I gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "I know it's hard to admit things like that, Hermione. I didn't have any friends growing up either." I felt Susan place her hand on my leg, but I kept looking into Hermione's eyes. "I'm happy to call you a friend." I felt Hermione give my hand a squeeze, and I looked over at Neville and said, "That goes for you, too, Neville."

Neville's face blushed a little before he responded with a simple "Me too."

Hermione and I released our hold on each other's hands and as I pulled my hand back Susan was quick to grab hold of it. I'm not sure whether her possessiveness is endearing or concerning, but right now it feels nice to have someone feel that way for me. I scooted my chair right up to hers and leaned my head on her shoulder. "I'm gonna need my hand back if I'm going to finish this charms paper."

"You can have it back in a few minutes. It's not even lunch time, and you are Professor Flitwick's favorite. For good reason of course. And besides, I barely saw you at all yesterday." I could tell by her voice that she would have been giving the puppy dog eyes if I could have seen them, and knowing her she probably had them on anyways."

"Ahhhhhhh, how cute" Hannah and Lisa said which got a giggle from Hermione while Neville quickly stuck his nose in his book to hide his embarrassment.

Being quite used to this from our friends, Susan and I had no further reaction than to smile back at them. "First, Professor Flitwick doesn't have favorites. Second, while the day is young, yes, I promised to help Neville here with his Depulso. I'm going to ask Professor Flitwick if we can use the dueling room after lunch. You're all welcome to come along if you like."

"That sounds like fun. But if Professor Flitwick says yes, it just goes to show that you are in fact his favorite." Susan was trying to rile me up. Unfortunately for her it wasn't going to work this time.

"No, it just means he trusts me more than you. There 'is' a difference, you know."