Author's Note: Long time, no see! Troll! is a completely random idea that just had to be committed to paper. There will be four chapters, posted each Tuesday for the next month.
A/N 2: Thank you, as always, to my wonderful beta, BurgundyHope.
A/N 3: This story is dedicated to mydearlizzy who wondered when I'd have something new to post. Hope it doesn't disappoint.
Disclaimer: With a few exception, the world and characters belong to JK Rowling.
Troll!
It began as any other Saturday at Hogwarts. Gryffindor were scheduled to play their first match. It was a young team, their Captain only a fourth year, but a lot was expected of him. He was Oliver Wood's son, after all. Of course, they were playing Hufflepuff, the previous year's Quidditch Cup champions, whose mountainous Keeper was Oliver Wood's nephew. Needless to say, the whole school was looking forward to this show down, but nobody more than first year Roxanne Weasley.
It was an ungodly hour—six a.m. and on a weekend—but Roxy had been waiting in the common room for fifteen minutes already. She'd grown up in and out of the Wood's family home, and there were two things she knew for sure: 1) Quidditch was everything at Red's Wood and 2) they started the day at sunrise. So there she was, dressed and perched on the arm of the sofa, when Bobby Wood appeared from the boy's side. He took one look at her and scowled.
"Morning," she chirped.
"The match isn't for another six hours," Bobby reminded her.
"You're up."
"It's my team, isn't it?" he replied, scratching his chest. "And you've got another year before you're on it."
Bobby was a git. As far as Roxy was concerned, most boys were. She thought it over and amended her opinion—all boys were gits. She ought to know. She had loads of experience with their species with a little brother at home and a hoard of cousins, and now there were all the boys in her year. Gits, every last one. However, as big a git as Bobby was—and he was the absolute biggest—he all but promised her a spot on next year's team. They'd played Quidditch together all their lives. He knew what she could do on the pitch, and it was a lot.
"I won't be under foot," Roxy said and hopped off the arm the sofa. "Think of me as the team mascot."
Scowling, Bobby peered up the darkened stairwell, probably for his younger brother who was about to make his Hogwarts debut. Rory played right Chaser and Bobby was center. If it weren't for the stupid rule about first years playing Quidditch, Roxy would be left Chaser.
"Go back to bed," Bobby said at last.
Roxy crossed her arms, pursing her lips. She was not going back to bed.
They heard Rory before they saw him. His feet thundered down the steps without any concern for the other boys asleep in the dormitories. Rory was like that. Not inconsiderate exactly, just an idiot. Git.
"You're going to wake the whole House," Bobby hissed.
"It's Quidditch," Rory exclaimed, his dark hair standing on end. "Who can sleep?"
oOo
"Mm. Come back to bed, love."
Adrian Pucey, Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, cracked open his eyes in the dim light to catch his new wife's silhouette bustling around the bedroom. Judging by the shapelessness of her otherwise spectacular figure, she was already dressed in her work robes. For some reason, the yards of crimson cloth and starched, white apron always got his blood humming.
"Can't." Alicia popped over to his side of the bed, planting a quick kiss on his lips. "It's Quidditch today and that means new patients."
Adrian tried to catch her around the waist, but missed. "I'll make it worth your time."
Alicia disappeared into the loo, calling over her shoulder, "The dog needs to go out."
The ridiculously named Ralph leapt onto the mattress, wagging his stubby tale and whinging. In the first blush of love, Adrian allowed Alicia to name the black and tan cocker spaniel puppy. He would need to be more clear-eyed when it came time to name their child. Ralph padded over, standing on Adrian's chest. Despite himself, Adrian scratched Ralph behind the ears. The spaniel had abysmal manners, and Adrian put the blame for that at Alicia's feet, as well. For a city girl who didn't particularly like dogs, Adrian had found her cuddling Ralph in their bed nearly every night. Pushing Ralph aside, Adrian threw back the blankets. So much for a lie in.
"Down." Adrian pointed at the ground, but Ralph cocked his head to one side and remained on the mattress. Rolling his eyes, Adrian lifted the spaniel off the bed and got a tongue bath. "It's a good thing you're cute because you're certainly not smart."
When Adrian set the dog on the floor, Ralph went straight into the loo.
"Adrian!"
He rushed in to find Alicia kneeling before the toilet and fending off Ralph. His entire body wriggled as he tried to sidle up against Alicia. She kept pushing him back, her face a bit green around the nostrils and mouth.
"Love…."
"M'fine." She gripped the toilet edge with both hands. The cocker spaniel budged up against Alicia's body and whimpered. "Just take him out."
Adrian gripped Ralph's collar. "Are you sure I can't do anything?"
She shook her head before dry heaving.
oOo
The Care of Magical Creatures professor was also looking forward to a lie in next to a warm body. Her arrival on his doorstep the previous night had been an unexpected, but very welcome, surprise. Whatever was between them had no name, and they weren't broadcasting it. In fact, he hadn't expected her to still be around in August when he returned from Romania. Not after all the noise she'd made about them being "two ships passing in the night" and it being "nothing serious" and for him not to "get attached."
"Charlie." A small hand pushed at his chest, and he grunted. "Wake up, Chuck, someone's at the door."
"Dreaming," he muttered, wrapping his arm around her middle and pulling her close. "Not even light out."
"Charlie…."
The pounding invaded Charlie's consciousness, and he groaned. Who the hell was pounding on his door at—he squinted at his alarm clock—a quarter after bloody six in the morning on a Saturday? But the list was not short, and he didn't welcome the many possibilities. There was Bill, or even Percy, and while both would take the mickey, Charlie could count on their discretion. However, it could be Mum and there was no way Charlie was ready for her to meet Lavender, especially not like this. Or, and the thought propelled him out of bed, it could be his son. Pax might be fifteen now, but Charlie had a strict policy of keeping his love life (shambolic as it was) separate from his kid.
Charlie pulled on the trousers he'd discarded with such haste the previous evening and snagged his shirt from the floor. "Don't move an inch," he instructed Lavender, kissing her full lips.
"Be quick. I'm getting cold."
Charlie's bare feet slapped against the icy floorboards, driving away the last vestiges of sleep from his brain. The three-room cottage was positioned on Hogwarts' grounds between the castle and Hagrid's hut. It wasn't much, but Charlie's place on the dragon reserve hadn't been much either. The pounding started again before Charlie made it as far as the kitchen table.
Yanking the door open, chill air slapped Charlie in the face. "Hagrid?"
"Sorry to wake ya." Mist swirled around the half-giant's ankles as he clutched hands the size of dustbin lids together.
"What is it?"
"Trouble, I think."
It had better be to pull me out of bed at this hour. But Charlie kept his thoughts to himself. Instead, he stepped out of the cottage and closed the door behind him. Sticking his hands under his armpits, he regarded his old friend.
"What kind of trouble?"
"Mountain troll trouble. I was in the Forrest, ya see, and the centaurs are in a right fit. Seems something's uprooted trees from the mountain, through the forest, and…and there's footprints."
"Leading where?"
Hagrid looked towards the castle.
"I'll get my boots on…."
There hadn't been a mountain troll sighting near Hogwarts since the nineties. In fact, it was Charlie's youngest brother who felled the last one, and it had been a plant by a professor working for Voldemort. The Ministry of Magic was supposed to keep the mountains surrounding Hogwarts clear of trolls, considering the risk they posed to the general population and students in particular. Charlie reckoned his tax money had gone to waste.
"We might have a situation." Charlie sat on the edge of the mattress and pulled on socks.
Lavender sat up, the sheet sliding to her waist, and pushed her honey gold hair off her shoulders. "Not your mum, is it?"
"Only slightly less alarming—suspected mountain troll on the loose."
"Oh?" She smirked. "Is that all?"
As much as Charlie would love to find Lavender still warm and willing in his bed after this mess was cleared up, he knew he couldn't risk it. If—and it was a big if—there was a mountain troll, the outer buildings would be at particular risk. Hogwarts' magically reinforced walls could take a lot of abuse, but the cottage would be demolished in one good swipe of a troll's club.
"Listen," Charlie said. He set his boot on the floor so he could wrap his arms around Lavender, kissing the scars on her neck. "I'm going to be awhile, and it's not safe. Go home."
Lavender's fingernails scraped down his back through the thin cotton of his shirt. "I was looking forward to…breakfast."
"I'll come around yours when this is over. We can do…dinner."
"We'll see." She gave him a coy smile that could mean anything, but Charlie hoped it meant he could expect her for dinner. "Go play hero."
"It won't come to that." Every part of Charlie wanted to crawl back in bed with Lavender, but he forced his arms way from those tempting curves and finished dressing.
oOo
"'Morning, professor."
The Gryffindor Quidditch team were streaming out the castle doors as Adrian led Ralph back inside. The elder Mr. Wood led the way, his face set in stern lines, ready for battle. The younger Mr. Wood was in a pushing contest with Miss Roxanne Weasley, one of the Weasley Three who were sorted in September. Their Seeker, Pax Weasley, was yawning in the rear.
"Up early, aren't you?" Adrian said. He was still in his dressing gown, which was no match for the morning's autumn chill. Twice he'd lost sight of Ralph in the thick fog.
"It's Quidditch," replied Rory Wood, and the rest of the team groaned. They were not as enthusiastic about early morning, pre-game warm ups as the Wood boys.
"Good luck," Adrian called.
He meant it. Slytherin's team might be considered good in any other year, but they were going to need numbers on their side if they hoped to compete with Hufflepuff for the Quidditch Cup. Gryffindor needed to defeat Hufflepuff today, and Slytherin needed to defeat Gryffindor in the spring. In all honesty, Adrian knew Hufflepuff would roll into first place without much competition.
The smell of ham wafted from the Great Hall. Not many students were inside yet. Even the professors were slow to get around on such a cold morning. However, Alicia strode down the corridor—now wearing the pristine cap that covered her sensible chignon—looking less peaked.
"Feeling better?" He caught her by the elbow, bending to kiss her.
"Yes." Her hand fluttered over her stomach. "I do wish Hortensia would finish that vat of Ginger Up. I could make it myself if she weren't so territorial about her still room."
"Well," Adrian said, his lips twitching, "after the last time we were brewing a potion—"
Alicia covered his mouth with her hand. "Don't say it."
Laughing, he kissed her fingers. "I'll get dressed and join you for breakfast."
The front door opened again, letting in a blast of cold air. Charlie and Hagrid marched up the Grand Staircase two steps at a time. Ralph barked and plopped his rear onto Alicia's feet.
"What's that about, do you suppose?" Adrian asked.
"I don't know." Alicia trailed her fingers over his jaw. "Dress. I'll wait for you before eating."
oOo
Hogwarts Headmistress had never been one for a cozy lie in. A family trait, she thought, certainly her parents had never lingered in bed when there was work to be done. However, as Minerva aged, the tendency to rise before the sun seemed to intensify. This morning, for instance, she woke at half past four. To compensate for this unfortunate habit, she found herself dozing off after lunch. It was humiliating. Minerva McGonagall did not take naps.
She poured herself another cup of tea. One did not take breakfast before dawn, which meant she had hours upon hours to while away as the rest of the castle slumbered. She would prefer to read the Daily Prophet, but could not as it was not delivered until seven o'clock. Instead, Minerva most often found herself in her office, drinking cup after cup of tea and doing paperwork.
Minerva sighed. Old age was a tedious business.
The scrape of metal against stone alerted Minerva of impending visitors. She straightened her already rigid spine and held her quill over the stack of parchment on the desk, waiting. Sometimes Filius would join her for morning tea, old age wreaking havoc with his slumber as well. However, he usually sent an owl in advance of his appearance.
"Professor?" Hagrid, wrapped in moleskin and cold air, huffed and puffed into Minerva's office.
Charlie Weasley stepped out from behind the half-giant, a frown carved into his face. "We've trouble."
Minerva did not so much as blink at his blunt statement. She had become accustomed to his direct manner ages ago. Steepling her fingers, Minerva inclined her head towards the chairs before her desk. "What kind of trouble?"
"There's evidence a mountain troll has wandered onto the grounds." Charlie gripped the back of the chair.
"Where is it?"
"Don't know," Hagrid said. "Tracks all over the place, but not seen hide nor hair of it."
"How, exactly, do you miss a mountain troll? They're twelve feet tall for goodness' sake."
"And none too bright," Charlie agreed. "We didn't take the time to do a thorough search. I figured we should tell you sooner rather than later in order to safeguard the students."
Minerva nodded. "Yes, yes, you are absolutely correct."
A mountain troll! There hadn't been a sighting of one of those since Potter was a student. Well, it was not as if the blasted thing was in the ladies' this time so there was that, but trolls were dangerous. They needed to act in order to protect the children. She pulled out a fresh sheet of parchment, scribbled a note, and duplicated it thirteen times. Waving her wand, the sheets folded themselves into airplanes and zoomed over Charlie's head and around Hagrid, down the stairwell.
"I've summoned the staff," Minerva said.
oOo
"Remind us again why we're up before the sun, Wood," shouted Valentina Hornsby, sixth year Beater.
"You want to win, don't you?" Bobby replied. The team trailed behind him, grumbling. He'd known his early morning practice schedule would be unpopular, but he had enough determination for the lot of them. "Hufflepuff's our toughest opponent."
The sky was steel gray, the fog so thick it was almost solid. The gates of the Quidditch pitch were a smudge in the distance. Bobby couldn't decide if he hoped the fog would burn away before tip off, or not. On one hand, the limited visibility would make for a sloppy game, and he wasn't sure his team had the cohesion to overcome that. On the other hand, Hufflepuff would be hindered by the same factors, and Campbell, Hufflepuff's Keeper and Bobby's cousin, was night blind. Bobby and Rory could score on Campbell all day long in conditions like this. Besides, if Pax was on his game he was the best Seeker at Hogwarts. But that was a big if. As far as Bobby could tell, Pax was lackadaisical about life in general, and Quidditch in particular.
"But you know their Keeper better than anyone, right?" Melinda Tuttle slipped her arm through Bobby's and batted her eyes at him. She was in his year and the best potential Chaser at try-outs, but Bobby was beginning to regret picking her for the team. Molly Weasley had warned him about Melinda's crush.
Bobby hated it when Mol was right.
"Aye, that's true," Bobby said. Campbell was more of a brother than a cousin. "But he also knows everything there is to know about me and Rory."
"He doesn't know me."
"He doesn't need to," Roxy muttered on his other side.
Melinda shot Roxy a nasty glare. "Excuse me?"
"Nothing."
Some mascot, Bobby was pretty sure taking the mickey out of the team's weakest link wasn't in the job description. Roxy's innocent grin could use a bit of work, but at least she'd distracted Melinda long enough for Bobby to extract himself from her grasp. This was far from Bobby's first match, or even his first time playing on the opposite House team from Campbell, but Bobby couldn't remember ever feeling as nervous as he was at that very moment. Mum called this feeling "butterflies in the stomach," but nothing as quaint or harmless as butterflies could describe the churning in his gut. It was more like a pack of Nundus. Bobby was the youngest team Captain for the Gryffindor side since his own dad. There was a lot to live up to, and there were moments when he second-guessed all his choices. They weren't a team yet, not really, and Bobby wasn't sure what to do about it. He wanted to be his own man, but maybe he needed a wee bit of advice.
The gates were mere feet away. Bobby wasn't going to walk his doubts onto the pitch. He'd spent hours honing his teammates' skills, drilling them on plays he'd created, and working up a game plan. He'd done the best he could and now it was time to—
"Oof."
He was arse over elbow in a ditch. Melinda squealed his name. Rory and Roxy were bent double laughing at him. Sitting up, Bobby brushed dirt off his kit and peered around. There shouldn't be a ditch two feet away from the Quidditch pitch. Bobby leapt to his feet, scanning the area, but the fog made the world nothing but shadow. He scrambled out of the ditch. It must be three feet long and just as wide. Five round impressions dotted the widest part.
"Pax," Bobby called.
The tall, wiry, black-haired boy pushed through the Beaters. Pax Weasley was keen on magical creatures and not bad at Defense. "Cap?"
"What does that look like to you?" Bobby took his wand out and pointed at the ditch.
The two lads stood side-by-side, surveying the crater.
"A footprint?"
Pax's answer sounded more like question, but it confirmed Bobby's suspicions. He'd done all his Defense Against the Dark Arts reading for the year, he knew there weren't many creatures large enough to make ditches like this.
"Giants?" Bobby whispered.
Pax shook his head. "In Scotland? No way."
"What do you think?"
"I think we should go back to the castle," Pax said in a low voice only Bobby could hear.
"There's not a lot of cover between here and there," Bobby replied. The hairs on the back of his neck were standing at attention.
oOo
"A mountain troll?" Neville blurted.
"I thought we were done with this kind of nonsense after Potter graduated," Fillius said.
The other professors snickered, fidgeting in their spots, but Minerva's lips nearly disappeared. Alicia's hands clenched over her stomach. She was thirteen again, flanked on either side by Angelina and Katie, marching back to the Gryffindor common room. She could almost feel the squeeze of their hands around hers and the giddy smiles they'd shared. The prospect of a mountain troll in the ladies' was equal parts exciting and terrifying.
Glancing at Adrian, terror washed through Alicia.
Adrian's polite mask was in place, but the corners of his mouth were tight. Mountain trolls were dangerous, dull creatures. For a moment, Alicia's mind flashed back almost fifteen years to the Battle of Hogwarts. She saw herself flying figure eights between the legs of giants, Angelina flying the opposite route, trying to bring the monsters down. A troll wasn't as big as a giant, but they were every bit as destructive. Adrian's eyes caught Alicia's, and he tried to smile for her.
"The students must be confined to their common rooms," Minerva said. "Professor Hampstead, do be so good as to see to the Slytherins for Professor Pucey. Adrian, I want extra wards placed around the castle."
"Of course," Adrian replied. He placed a hand in the small of Alicia's back.
Minerva nodded. "And Madam Spinnet-Pucey, I trust you'll be prepared for any casualties. I've sent for the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, with any luck they'll arrive with haste and subdue the troll without incident, but we must stand ready."
Alicia nodded and attempted a smile. "Well, I was planning for concussions and broken bones already, what's a few more?"
"The Quidditch match will have to be cancelled," Minerva added.
Neville groaned. "Would anyone like to volunteer to give the Wood boys that bit of bad news?"
"Oh, bloody hell," Adrian muttered. His eyes snapped to Neville's face. "I saw the Gryffindor team headed for the pitch earlier."
Neville swore and pushed out of his chair.
"I'll fetch them." Charlie was already halfway to the door, but froze when a bellow echoed through the room.
Silence smothered Minerva's office, everyone's eyes traveling to the window. The roar had come from outside, muffled by distance and stone walls, but audible all the same. Alicia took a step towards the window, breath caught in her throat—Katie's children were out there. The room shook and new cries rent the air.
Alicia stumbled. Her fingers scrabbled for the back of the chair and missed. Strong hands caught her around the waist, keeping her from falling. Alicia's heart slammed against her sternum as she was hauled against her husband's chest, Adrian's familiar piney scent wrapping around her. She gripped his hands still spanning her middle. Behind her eyelids Bobby and Rory's broken bodies faded into Adrian's lifeless stare. They'd been married a short time…She'd already lost her entire family in the war…
"I won't take any unnecessary risks," Adrian said in her ear.
Alicia crushed his hands.
"I'm not going anywhere." He kissed her cheek. "Now, you've work to do and so do I."
"Go." Alicia took a deep breath, forcing herself to concentrate on all the little details around her. Adrian's hands slipped from her body. Charlie, Hagrid, and Neville were already rushing out the door. Minerva had her head in the Floo, demanding to speak with the person in charge. Alicia allowed herself one last glance at Adrian's back as he ran to catch up with Charlie before shutting her mind to those worries. Adrian was quite correct—she did have work to do.
oOo
"But why are we going back?" Roxy buzzed around Bobby's elbow.
"Shut it, Rox," Pax said. He grabbed a handful of her robes and dragged her along behind him.
"Oi!" she screeched, smacking at her cousin's hand. "Let go."
Bobby's eyes scanned the faces of his teammates, doing a mental head count. They weren't even halfway between the pitch and the castle yet. Maybe they should have retrieved their broomsticks from the changing rooms first. Aye, it would have wasted a few moments, but they could have made up time in the air. He swallowed around the lump lodged in his throat. He should have told the team why it was urgent to get back to the castle, instead of giving a curt order.
"Rooooaaarrr!"
The team froze.
"What the—"
The stench came first—like rotten eggs in the sun—followed by a massive, gray lump of a figure. The troll, a loincloth covering its bits, must have been twelve feet high and wide as a house. It let out another bellow, raising a club the size of an oak over its head.
Had it seen them? The fog was still thick, and according to the textbooks mountain trolls had poor eyesight. There was a chance they could use the mist to hide in. On the other hand, they had no cover. Even if Bobby cast a shield over the team, they were vulnerable.
The troll slammed his club against the ground, earth and grass flying.
Melinda screamed.
"Shut it!" Pax hissed. He let go of Roxy to slap a hand over Melinda's mouth.
The troll wheeled around, its club slashing through the air, and bellowed again.
"Run!" Bobby ordered. "Back to the pitch. Get underground."
He grabbed Roxy's arm, wide eyes hitting Bobby in the face.
"Rory!" Bobby shoved Roxy into his brother's arms. "Get in the changing rooms and stay there. Keep Roxy safe."
Rory nodded, half carrying Roxy as he followed his elder brother's instructions.
The troll was charging straight at them. Bobby pointed his wand at the ground, a brick wall sprouted up. One foot, five, ten…the troll burst through it. The ground at its feet exploded, a wide crater opening up, and the troll tripped into it. Ears ringing, Bobby whipped his head around and found Pax standing beside him with his wand pointed at the troll.
"C'mon," the Seeker yelled, grabbing Bobby's jersey. "It won't keep him long."
The two boys raced to catch up with the rest of the team, tossing jinxes and curses behind them. Every few seconds, the troll screamed, telling Bobby they had bought few more seconds. Pax skidded through the gates of the Quidditch pitch, but Bobby stopped dead.
"What are you—"
Bobby raised his wand. "Protego totalum!"
Pax matched Bobby's spell with his own and a shimmering, purple barrier engulfed the Quidditch pitch. The troll was barreling down on them, its club raised over its head. The shield wouldn't hold against a very determined troll forever, but maybe it would give the professors long enough to subdue the creature.
"Shite," Pax breathed.
A second troll, bigger than the first, came around the Whomping Willow. The tree twisted around and pummeled the troll with its branches, only to be beaten back by a club. The second troll bellowed and charged towards its companion.
"In the changing rooms," Bobby yelled over the roars. "Fast."
A/N 4: See you next. Please review.