Chapter Four: Halloween
Thursday morning during breakfast the Gryffindor table was buzzing with excitement. Gienah climbed onto the bench next to Hermione and rubbed her eyes looking for the coffee. Pouring a mug of coffee she took a large gulp and helped herself to a large helping of porridge while listening to Hermione spouting some memorized nonsense about flying.
"What's this about flying?" She asked Hermione .
"You didn't see the notice board?" Hermione asked her with wide eyes. "We have our first flying lesson this afternoon with Madam Hooch!"
"Ooh you don't say!" Gienah suddenly felt much more awake. "I've never flown one." She'd never been able to afford one and Tonks wasn't allowed anywhere near a broomstick due to her difficulties keeping balance on ground let alone mid air. She was sure she'd have an affinity for flying, having spent many evenings flying over the Welsh mountain range.
"According to Quidditch Through the Ages every action on a broomstick determines the flight. A firm hold of the broom, a streamlined position, feet tucked behind and shoulders pushing forward are all a good stance to-" Hermione continued to advised her, but Gienah noticed that her fingers were awfully fidgety. Hermione was nervous about a lesson! Gienah almost smiled. Finally, something Hermione wasn't going to ace in her first ago.
The owl post arrived and swooping past her was a tawny grey owl dropping a letter above her porridge. With an expert eye she caught it before it fell into the grey sludge.
Dear Gienah,
I believe he did abandon you when he decided to betray his loved ones. You do not know of his true crimes. He murdered a friend, betrayed his best friend, your mother and left your brother an orphan. He acted without your best interest at heart. I will grant your request but you must not raise your hopes. He may be your father by blood but you have family. I love you more than my life. You are all I have in this world and I couldn't be more proud. We will arrange the visit during the holiday.
With love,
Your father
At half past three she and Hermione hurried down the front steps onto the grounds for their first flying lesson. It was a clear, breezy day and the grass rippled under their feet as they marched down the sloping grounds towards the smooth flat lawn opposite the forbidden forest, whose trees were swaying darkly in the distance.
Madam Hooch was a woman who took much after Professor McGonagall. Short grey hair and yellow eyes like a hawk. It didn't take much for her to have everyone's attention.
"Everyone stand by a broomstick." She shouted down the rows of broomsticks. "Come on, hurry up".
Once everyone had settled into their positions she continued barking out orders.
"Stick out your right hand over your broom," called Madam Hooch at the front, "and say 'Up!"'
"Now, when I blow my whistle, you kick off from the ground, hard," said Madam Hooch. "Keep your brooms steady, rise a few feet, and then come straight back down by leaning forward slightly. On my whistle - three - two -"
Gienah was delighted when her broom obeyed, rising confidently and swiftly. Neville on the other hand had risen straight up like a cork shot out of a bottle. Having reached about thirty feet they all watched as his little white face looked at the ground, gasped and slid off the broom.
WHAM - a thud and a nasty crack and Neville lay facedown on the grass in a heap. His broomstick was still rising higher and higher, and started to drift lazily toward the forbidden forest and out of sight.
Madam Hooch was bending over Neville, her face as white as his.
"Broken wrist," Gienah heard her mutter. "Come on, boy - it's all right, up you get.".
"None of you is to move while I take this boy to the hospital wing! You leave those brooms where they are or you'll be out of Hogwarts before you can say 'Quidditch.' Come on, dear."
No sooner were they out of earshot than Malfoy burst into laughter.
"Did you see his face, the great lump?" Malfoy sniggered.
The other Slytherins joined in.
"Shut up, Malfoy," snapped Parvati Patil.
"Ooh, sticking up for Longbottom?" said Pansy Parkinson, a hard-faced Slytherin girl. "Never thought you'd like fat little crybabies, Parvati."
"Look!" said Malfoy, darting forward and snatching something out of the grass. "It's that stupid thing Longbottom's gran sent him."
"Give it here Malfoy." Growled Gienah, rearing to go.
"Look who it is. My dear cousin."
"What are you talking about?" Gienah demanded.
"My mum and your dad are cousins. She was a Black before she married my father."
"A touching and unfortunate story" sneered Gienah. "Now give back what isn't yours. Didn't mother dearest teach you manners?"
"I'm surprised you'd know. What's it like having a father in Azkaban?"
Gienah pounced but he swung onto his broom and hovered above her.
"None of our family knew you existed. I reckon he was ashamed of you." Malfoy taunted her, throwing the remembrall and catching it before it fell.
Gienah mounted her broom and hovered to his height.
"No!" shouted Hermione. "Madam Hooch told us not to move - you'll get us all into trouble."
"Give it back" she threatened him. "Or I'll knock you off your broom."
"Fine" Malfoy smirked. "Fetch!"
The remembrall went flying across the grounds. Gienah soured, her eye fixed on the glass ball before swerving to capture the ball in her hands. Smiling she punched the air as the students below whooped and cheered.
"Ms. Black!" A silence ensued as the voice of her head of year called from below. Her stern gaze gave nothing away. Gienah leaned forward, gradually coming down from her high. flying was exhilarating.
"Never - in all my time at Hogwarts -"
Professor McGonagall was almost speechless with shock, and her glasses flashed furiously, "- how dare you - might have broken your neck -"
"It wasn't her fault, Professor -"
"Be quiet, Miss Patil
"But Malfoy -"
Gienah closed her mouth at the unwavering look McGonagall sent her way. Hermione folded her arms and looked away. Ron was smiling mouthing brilliant with a thumbs up. Gienah felt a little sick. She followed the professor up to the first floor. She wondered if she would be seeing the headmaster, if she'd be expelled.
Professor McGonagall stopped outside a classroom. She opened the door and poked her head inside.
"Excuse me, Professor Flitwick, could I borrow Wood for a moment?"
Out emerged a burly fifth-year boy with sandy hair.
"Follow me, you two," said Professor McGonagall, and they marched on up the corridor, Wood looking curiously at Gienah.
"In here."
Professor McGonagall pointed them into a classroom that was empty except for Peeves, who was busy writing rude words on the blackboard.
"Out, Peeves!" she barked. Peeves threw the chalk into a bin, which clanged loudly, and he swooped out cursing. Professor McGonagall slammed the door behind him and turned to face the two students.
"Black, this is Oliver Wood. Wood - I've found you a Seeker."
Wood's expression changed from puzzlement to delight.
"Are you serious, Professor?"
"Absolutely," said Professor McGonagall crisply. "The girl's a natural. I've never seen anything like it. Was that your first time on a broomstick, Gienah?"
"Yes ma'am" Gienah nodded.
"She caught that thing in her hand after a fifty-foot dive," Professor McGonagall told Wood. "Didn't even scratch herself. Charlie Weasley couldn't have done it."
Wood was now looking as though all his dreams had come true at once.
"Ever seen a game of Quidditch?" he asked excitedly.
"Wood's captain of the Gryffindor team," Professor McGonagall explained.
"We'll have to get her a decent broom, Professor - a Nimbus Two Thousand or a Cleansweep Seven, I'd say."
"I shall speak to Professor Dumbledore and see if we can't bend the first-year rule. Heaven knows, we need a better team than last year. Flattened in that last match by Slytherin, I couldn't look Severus Snape in the face for weeks..."
Professor McGonagall peered sternly over her glasses at Gienah.
"I want to hear you're training hard, Black."
During dinner Gienah told Harry what had happened. Ron had a piece of steak and kidney pie halfway to his mouth, but he'd forgotten all about it.
"Seeker?" Ron said. "But first years never - you must be the youngest house player-"
"-in about a century", said Gienah, shoveling pie into her mouth. "And the youngest girl. Ever".
Ron and Harry just gaped at her.
Hermione pulled her head away from her book and sniffed. "I suppose you think this is a reward for your rule breaking"
All three rolled their eyes.
"I start training next week," whispered Gienah. "But you can't tell anyone, Wood wants to keep it a secret."
Fred and George Weasley now came into the hall, spotted Gienah, and hurried over.
"Well done young Gienah," said George in a low voice. "Wood told us. We're on the team too - Beaters."
"I tell you, we're going to win that Quidditch cup for sure this year," said Fred. "We haven't won since Charlie left, but this year's team is going to be brilliant.."
"Anyway, we've got to go, Lee Jordan reckons he's found a new secret passageway out of the school."
"Bet it's that one behind the statue of Gregory the Smarmy that we found in our first week. See you."
Malfoy walked over to them just as the Weasley's disappeared.
"Your father could never keep his nose clean either, Black" Malfoy smirked. "Off to the orphanage? Or do you have a mother?"
"Shut up" Gienah hissed.
"Is she a mudblood then? Is that why no one knew about you?"
"She's dead!" Gienah yelled. A few people turned and stared.
"Pity." Malfoy said coldly. "Did he murder her?"
Gienah Black had blistering tears pouring down her cheek.
"You're scum" Hermione said, shutting her book and drawing her wand. Ron watched her with awe.
Malfoy came close up to Gienah.
"Now you mention it… your eyes look remarkably like Potter's." Malfoy murmured in her ear. "I hear Black and Potter were friends before he betrayed them to the dark lord. Do you think they shared wives? If they did, your father did murder her."
Gienah slapped him.
"Does Potter know?" He sneered holding his red cheek.
"Know what?"
"Don't tell me you really are that blind?" Malfoy laughed. "Have you two looked in the mirror. Dear Gienah Black is your half-sister! Your mother was a harlot and I bet you're father was as blind as-" Malfoy froze. Quite literally.
Hermione put her wand back in her pocket hurriedly as Harry chased after Gienah. Gienah ran outside, across the grounds, beyond Hagrid's hut and into the forest. Finding the clearing the unicorns slept that night she sobbed, holding her knees to her face, hating Malfoy with all her heart.
"Is it true?"
Gienah jumped. She looked up and saw Harry sitting in front of her crossed legged.
"You're my sister?"
He looked into those eyes that looked so much like his own.
"I'm sorry you had to hear about it from Malfoy." Gienah said sadly.
Next thing she knew she was pulled into a fierce hug.
"You're not angry at me?"
"Are you kidding me?!" Harry laughed. "All my life the closest thing to family I've had were my uncle and aunt and their excuse of a son. You. You're family."
"You have a big sister." She smiled, the tears fading.
"By a few months" He snorted.
"So your father…"
"Isn't the dad I told you about. I live with my godfather, Remus Lupin. He was my father's best friend. Sirius Black is in Azkaban. I don't remember him."
"What's Azkaban?"
"The wizarding prison." Gienah explained. "According to Hagrid, it's dreadful. But I'm going to visit him in Christmas. Find out is he's sorry. Whether he misses me. Dad said not to get my hopes up but I'm not leaving him there to rot!" Gienah ended fiercely.
"He should be proud to have a daughter like you." Harry smiled.
"You know apart from your eyes and the colour of your hair you look nothing alike." Hermione said as she scrutinized them from left to right in the common room that evening.
"They aren't identical twins" George and Fred said at once.
"You reckon he's as good as his sister on a broom?" George asked Fred.
"You should try out for the reserve team Potter" Fred said with a nod.
"That's nepotism" Ron sulked. "What about me? I'm your brother."
"And don't we try and forget it." sighed Fred.
"Gienah, I'm meeting Malfoy in the trophy room tonight. Wanna come?"
"Excuse me?" Gienah raised her eyebrow.
"After your little reunion Malfoy started mouthing my family off" Ron said curling his fists. "He challenged me to a duel."
"I'd be all up for that but don't really fancy getting in trouble a second time today" Gienah resigned.
"What's this?" Fred grinned. "Young Gienah abiding the rules?"
"Hey, hey." Gienah put out a hand. "I'm a rule breaker that knows when to toe the line."
"Ooh" George leaned back. "That's us told."
"Oy!" Ron barked. "Go get your own mates."
"Now, now Ronnikins. Young Gienah and we have been friends since our first night of rule breaking together."
"I remember it well" swooned George.
"Boys… behave." Gienah warned lightly. The twins waved their hands in surrender and sulked off to their dormitory.
Harry and Ron stood up and hesitated.
"Go ahead. Hex him good. I'm going to finish some homework"
"Hermione's rubbed off on you" Harry teased.
"I don't know how you stand her" Ron muttered, frowning.
Gienah looked behind her sharply, but Hermione appeared not to have heard a thing.
"Watch it" Gienah snapped. "She's a loyal friend"
"The girl's a nightmare!" Ron retorted. "She's always telling me off, or correcting me, or boring the pants off anyone who's too polite to tell her to shut her-"
"Listen up Ronald Weasley" Gienah hissed. "I won't have you badmouth my friends in front of me."
Ron's face went red in a mixture of anger and embarrassment.
"That was a bit harsh mate" muttered Harry.
"Let's go" grumbled Ron. Harry looked at Gienah apologetically before following him out of the portrait hole.
Gienah went upstairs to get her books and returned to the common room and looked around… where was Hermione? Gienah calmed herself before she began. That Ron could be a complete arsehole. Thank god Hermione hadn't heard. Despite her front she was a sensitive soul. Malfoy had said something snarky about her teeth and she'd sobbed in her room that night until Gienah found her and said she had nothing to be ashamed about and that who was Malfoy to talk disparagingly about looks when he walked around with a permanent smirk on his face.
She sighed and returned to her potions work. Snape was such a demanding teacher that she wasn't even doing homework, having completed it the first night it was assigned. Taking a leaf out of Hermione's book she was doing some extended reading. By the end of the year he was going to sit up and take notice. If she had to spend most of her evenings in the library then so be it.
It was nearing one when Harry, Neville, Hermione and Ron came running into the common room, clutching their chest and breathing heavily. All four collapsed, trembling into armchairs as Gienah watched amusingly.
Gienah cleared her throat as a few moments passed.
"Trap," wheezed out Neville.
"The stinkin' coward" said Gienah.
"That wasn't the worst thing…" said Harry, his eyes blank with fear.
"What do they think they're doing, keeping a thing like that locked up in a school?" said Ron finally to Harry and Ron. "If any dog needs exercise, that one does."
Hermione had got both breath back again. "You don't use your eyes, any of you, do you?" she snapped. "Didn't you see what it was standing on.
"The floor?" Harry suggested. "I wasn't looking at its feet, I was too busy with its heads."
"No, not the floor. It was standing on a trapdoor. It's obviously guarding something."
She stood up, glaring at them.
"I hope you're pleased with yourselves. We could all have been killed - or worse, expelled. Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to bed."
Ron stared after her, his mouth open.
"No, we don't mind," he said. "You'd think we dragged her along, wouldn't you."
"Ooh" Gienah giggled. "What's got her knickers in a twist?"
"We ended up running from Filch and onto the third floor"
"You didn't" gasped Gienah. "Damn, I should have come with you."
"Ha!" Ron laughed a little hysterically.
"Three headed dog Gienah." Harry looked at her seriously.
"Wicked!" Gienah said.
"It was massive!"
"Teeth" shivered Neville.
Gienah rolled her eyes.
"Wonder what it's guarding." She said thoughtfully.
"I think I have an idea." Harry said bleakly.
"An adventure!" Gienah jumped with joy. "What?"
Ron and Harry looked at eachother before regaling Harry's first day in Diagon Alley.
"You reckon whatever it was is being kept safe here?"
"Hagrid said there was nowhere more safe than Hogwarts." Harry said.
"Then it's none of our concern." Gienah shrugged. "It's safe behind that trapdoor".
"I suppose." Harry said.
"Anyone told you you worry too much dear brother?"
Harry smiled at her, thinking he could get used to this. The boys headed to bed as Gienah finished her chapter. Yawning she quickly wrote a letter to her dad.
Dear Dad,
I've been put on the quidditch team! It's a crazy story. I thought I was in trouble but Professor McGonagall was really impressed with my flying and introduced me to the captain, Wood. I think they might get me a broom. I can't wait - though I'm dead nervous.
Lessons are going well, potions is the most difficult but I've started doing additional readings to keep on top of it all. The professor is a greasy old bat. Awfully prejudiced against Gryffindors. I think it's my favourite lesson so far though. Really challenging.
Urm, I don't want you to be mad but Harry found out I was his sister. That annoying boy I was telling you about told him. But Harry's chuffed. I invited him over for Christmas and he said he'd love to meet you. He's really the most polite boy. Though a lot of people stare at him because some dark wizard murdered his parents. I didn't know mother was murdered. I'm not angry dad. I suppose she did abandon me. Did she dad? I feel like there's so much I don't know anymore.
Love,
Gienah.
As the owls flooded into the Great Hall as usual, everyone's attention was caught at once by a long, thin package carried by six large screech owls. Gienah was just as interested as everyone else to see what was in this large parcel, and was amazed when the owls soared down and dropped it right in front of her, knocking her apple to the floor. They had hardly fluttered out of the way when another owl dropped a letter on top of the parcel.
Gienah ripped open the letter first, which was lucky, because it said: DO NOT OPEN THE PARCEL AT THE TABLE It contains your new Nimbus Two Thousand, but I don't want everybody knowing you've got a broomstick or they'll all want one. Oliver Wood will meet you tonight on the Quidditch field at seven o'clock for your first training session. Professor McGonagall.
Gienah had difficulty hiding her glee as she handed the note to Ron to read.
"A Nimbus Two Thousand!" Ron moaned enviously. "I've never even touched one."
They left the hall quickly, wanting to unwrap the broomstick in private before their first class, but halfway across the entrance hall they found the way upstairs barred by Crabbe and Goyle. Malfoy seized the package from Gienah and felt it.
"That's a broomstick," he said, throwing it back to Gienah with a mixture of jealousy and spite on his face.
"10 points to Slytherin" Gienah rolled her eyes and snatched it back.
"You'll be in for it this time, Black, first years aren't allowed them."
Ron couldn't resist it. "It's not any old broomstick," he said, "it's a Nimbus Two Thousand. What did you say you've got at home, Malfoy, a Comet Two Sixty?" Ron grinned at Gienah. "Comets look flashy, but they're not in the same league as the Nimbus."
"What would you know about it, Weasley, you couldn't afford half the handle," Malfoy snapped back. "I suppose you and your brothers have to save up twig by twig."
"Malfoy, Malfoy, Malfoy." Gienah tilted her head and looked down at him. She was taller by an inch. "When will you learn it's not about how much gold you have, it's about talent, ability, skill. I understand these words are unfamiliar to your inbred ways but… we live in a modern age where women can vote and pureblood mania is a thing of the past. If you want to survive, I advise you run with the times. Goodbye."
Ron and Harry oggled at Giena as she skipped along with her broom at hand. Hermione stood behind Malfoy having heard the whole thing. She quirked her eyebrow, walked past Malfoy who looked confunded and said "For what it's worth I suggest you take that advice."
"I love that woman." Ron murmured. Harry hit him on the back of the head.
That evening was her first quidditch practice one to one with Wood. They went through the basics. Her task as seeker was to capture the golden snitch, avoid the bludgers and make sure to capture the snitch at strategic times.
The next day they had practice with the entire team. Fred and George Weasley lifted her up, perching her on each shoulder and brought her onto the pitch yelling "VICTORY IS OURS. LIONS WILL DEVOUR. GRYFFINDOR GRYFFINDOR ROAR ROAR ROAR"
Wood told them to cut it out and threatened them with a bludger to shut them up.
"Team." Wood paced up and down in front of them. "We have a new seeker. A fresh start. Since Weasley's left us we've suffered defeat after defeat but no more! We'll be training harder than ever. Victory will be ours." Wood had a determined glint in his eye. Gienah couldn't believe her luck. The adrenaline pumping through her blood felt incredible. She was rearing to go but not before being lectured by Wood for an hour. He went on about stamina and endurance and what else Gienah couldn't tell you.
Finally they began practice. An hour later Gienah was muddy, sweaty and exhausted. She felt completely unfit, Wood was not impressed with their stamina. They would begin running the next morning at seven. The Weasley twins looked mortified.
The next few weeks went speeding by. What with training, quidditch practices, homework and extended reading Gienah barely had a moment to herself. Before she knew it it was Halloween. In the morning they awoke to the delicious smell of baking pumpkin wafting through the corridors. In charms they practiced the levitating charm. Disastrously Ron was paired with Hermione. Harry and Gienah looked at each other warily. Let's just say Ron and Hermione's friendship was strained. Gienah and Hermione had been practicing spellwork before their lessons so she had no problems getting to grasp the spel. She moved on to help Harry and Neville.
"You're saying it wrong." Hermione snapped. "It's win-gar-dium levi-o-sa, make the gar sound nice and long."
"You do it, then, if you're so clever," Ron snarled.
Hermione rolled up the sleeves of her gown, flicked her wand, and said, "Wingardium Leviosa!" Their feather rose off the desk and hovered about four feet above their heads.
Ron was in a very bad mood by the end of the class. "It's no wonder no one can stand her," he said to Harry as they pushed their way into the crowded corridor, "she's a nightmare, honestly. "
Someone knocked into Harry as they hurried past him. It was Hermione. Harry caught a glimpse of her face - and was startled to see that she was in tears.
"I think she heard you."
"So?" said Ron, but he looked a bit uncomfortable. "She must've noticed she's got no friends."
"Oh I'm sorry, what am I then. Her invisible friend?" Gienah said hotly, shoving Ron and running after her.
Gienah lost her in the crowd. Ron had to be the biggest prat she'd ever had the displeasure of meeting. After Malfoy of course. Hermione didn't turn up for the next class and wasn't seen all afternoon. On their way down to the Great Hall for the Halloween feast, she overheard Parvati Patil telling her friend Lavender that Hermione was crying in the girls' bathroom. Gienah glared at Ron before taking a napkin and filling it with a few pastries and a bunch of grapes and heading to the bathroom.
Knocking on the one closed cubicle she called Ron every bad word she'd ever learn off the twins before Hermione came out with a watery smile.
"That's quite a vocabulary."
"Something about that peabrain just really ..inspires me." Gienah said quite seriously.
"He's right though." Hermione said looking down at her feet. "No one likes me."
"Seriously?!" Gienah stamped her foot. "Can I be acknowledged as a real person please? What am I? The pity mate? The invisible friend?"
"You really want to be my friend?"
"Please Hermione." Gienah flicked her hair. "We are friends."
"I... Thank you." Hermione smiled at her. "For putting up with me. I know I can be a bit bossy and serious."
"While it's true it'd be nice if you loosened up now and then, I like you for who you are. You're intelligent and fiercely loyal. You hexed Malfoy when he was being a complete butthead. You drag me out of bed every morning even when you don't have to wake up for another half hour! You bring me cream cheese bagels and coffee saturday mornings during quidditch practice AND you proof-read my essays. I have no idea what Ron's talking about coz I reckon… I reckon I've struck gold with you Hermione Jean Granger."
"Did anyone tell you you give the best pep talks?" Hermione grinned at her, wiping away her tears with her sleeve.
And then they heard it - a low grunting, and the shuffling footfalls of gigantic feet.
It was a horrible sight. Twelve feet tall, its skin was a dull, granite gray, its great lumpy body like a boulder with its small bald head perched on top like a coconut. It had short legs thick as tree trunks with flat, horny feet. The smell coming from it was incredible. It was holding a huge wooden club, which dragged along the floor because its arms were so long.
The troll entered the bathroom and looked lazily about the room. Then the door behind it slammed and Gienah thought she heard the door lock with a sinking heart.
Hermione released a high, petrified scream.
Gienah shoved her to the side where Hermione took shelter beneath the sinks. Whipping out her wand she yelled "Hey ugly!" The troll turned and was greeted by a hex straight to his chest. Her hex didn't make a slight bit of difference bouncing off his thick troll skin. Gulping she retreated slowly, placing her wand back in her pocket. looking nervously at Hermione she decided to risk it. She pounced. Mid jump she transformed into a great big wolf with gnashing teeth she bit deep into the troll's arm. He began flailing around, taking Gienah with her. At that moment Harry and Ron entered with their wands before them.
"Is that a… werewolf?" Ron gulped.
"Hermione!" screamed Harry. The troll's club hit the sink mere inches away from her as the wolf continued to tear away at his flesh. The troll howled and thrashed his club dangerously close to Hermione.
"Confuse it!" Harry said desperately to Ron, and, seizing a tap, he threw it as hard as he could against the wall.
"Oy, pea-brain!" yelled Ron from the other side of the chamber, and he threw a metal pipe at it.
"Come on, run, run!" Harry yelled at Hermione, trying to pull her toward the door, but she couldn't move, she was still flat against the wall, her mouth open with terror.
The shouting and the echoes seemed to be driving the troll berserk. He managed to throw the wolf into a far corner where Gienah whimpered. It roared again and started toward Ron, who was nearest and had no way to escape. Gienah transformed back into a human.
Harry then did something that was both very brave and very stupid: He took a great running jump and managed to fasten his arms around the troll's neck from behind. Harry's wand had still been in his hand when he'd jumped - it had gone straight up one of the troll's nostrils. Howling with pain, the troll twisted and flailed its club, with Harry clinging on for dear life; any second, the troll was going to rip him off or catch him a terrible blow with the club.
Hermione had sunk to the floor in fright; Ron pulled out his own wand - not knowing what he was going to do he heard himself cry the first spell that came into his head: "Wingardium Leviosa!"
The club flew suddenly out of the troll's hand, rose high, high up into the air, turned slowly over - and dropped, with a sickening crack, onto its owner's head. The troll swayed on the spot and then fell flat on its face, with a thud that made the whole room tremble.
Harry got to his feet. He was shaking and out of breath. Ron was standing there with his wand still raised, staring at what he had done.
It was Hermione who spoke first.
"Is it - dead?"
"I don't think so," said Harry," I think it's just been knocked out."
"Gienah!" Hermione ran to Gienah who had a trickle of blood seeping from her head.
A sudden slamming and loud footsteps made the three of them look up. They hadn't realized what a racket they had been making, but of course, someone downstairs must have heard the crashes and the troll's roars. A moment later, Professor McGonagall had come bursting into the room, closely followed by Snape, with Quirrell bringing up the rear. Quirrell took one look at the troll, let out a faint whimper, and sat quickly down on a toilet, clutching his heart.
Snape bent over the troll. Professor McGonagall ran to Gienah and cast a few healing spells to stop her bleeding before wrapping her head with a bandage. Then she turned to Ron and Harry. Harry had never seen her look so angry. Her lips were white.
"What on earth were you thinking of?" said Professor McGonagall, with cold fury in her voice.
"Please, Professor McGonagall - they were looking for me."
"Miss Granger!"
Hermione had managed to get to her feet at last.
"I went looking for the troll because I - I thought I could deal with it on my own - you know, because I've read all about them."
All of them stared at her.
"If they hadn't found me, I'd be dead now. Gienah distracted the troll. Harry stuck his wand up its nose and Ron knocked it out with its own club. They didn't have time to come and fetch anyone. It was about to finish me off when they arrived."
"Well - in that case..." said Professor McGonagall, staring at the four of them, "Miss Granger, you foolish girl, how could you think of tackling a mountain troll on your own?"
Hermione hung her head. Gienah was impressed, and rather proud. She looked at Ron with a raised eyebrow. Hermione was the last person to do anything against the rules, and here she was, pretending she had, to get them out of trouble. It was as if Snape had started handing out sweets.
"Miss Granger, five points will be taken from Gryffindor for this," said Professor McGonagall. "I'm very disappointed in you. If you're not hurt at all, you'd better get off to Gryffindor tower. Students are finishing the feast in their houses."
Hermione left.
Professor McGonagall turned to Gienah, Harry and Ron.
"Well, I still say you were lucky, but not many first years could have taken on a full-grown mountain troll. You each win Gryffindor five points. Professor Dumbledore will be informed of this. You may go."
They hurried out of the chamber and didn't speak at all until they had climbed two floors up. It was a relief to be away from the smell of the troll, quite apart from anything else.
"Good of her to get us out of trouble like that," Ron admitted. "Mind you, we did save her."
"She wouldn't have been there in the first place if you hadn't made her cry!" Gienah said itching to throttle him. "Honestly Ron."
They had reached the portrait of the Fat Lady.
"Pig snout," they said and entered.
"Right" Ron said glaring at Gienah. "Mind explaining how there was an injured wolf one second, then you with a bleeding head the next?"
"None of your business." Gienah said sourly.
The common room was packed and noisy. Everyone was eating the food that had been sent up. Hermione, however, stood alone by the door, waiting for them. There was a very embarrassed pause. Then, none of them looking at each other, they all said "Thanks," and hurried off to get plates.
But from that moment on, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley became friends. There are some things you can't share without ending up liking each other, and knocking out a twelve-foot mountain troll is one of them.