Making a Statement.

Surprisingly Harry had managed to avoid the ridiculous duel attempt with Draco, he figured that the train and the stunner he received during their first flying lesson had put the other boy off…but that only means he'll try harder to get you later… a small voice in his mind told him. It also meant that they hadn't found themselves on the third floor facing fluffy, Harry now had to figure out a way get them interested in the stone without letting on.

His new Harry Potter Special Edition Nimbus 2001 had arrived; again this was intercepted by Malfoy who couldn't wait to tell the teachers that Harry had been sent a broom. Harry would cherish the moment that Draco found out not only that it was allowed but just what broom it was. The entire team had been there when Oliver started to tell Harry the rules of the game, they all wanted to see the broom in action, Harry stalled him and told him that between his books and Ron he already understood the game… The next twenty minutes on the broom were incredible; when he finally landed it was to quiet and visibly stunned teammates.

"Where the hell did you learn to fly like that?" questioned Fred or George.

"I don't know, I just do." Harry shrugged and headed for the changing rooms not listening to the awed whispers behind him. Harry chuckled; maybe I shouldn't have used some moves that haven't been invented yet?

That soon bought them to the day that Harry dreaded… Halloween, for the first seventeen years of his life nothing good had ever happened on Halloween. In his first timeline after Hogwarts he had always visited his parent's graves on the anniversary of their deaths, so he was a bit down; this was soon picked up by Ron. Who with all the tact of a rampaging dragon asked Harry what was wrong, his exact words… "What's wrong mate… its Halloween… and the anniversary of the day you kicked you know who's arse."

Harry had snapped back without thinking in front of the whole common room "It's also the day my parents died you twit, leave me alone." He stalked out of the common room and walked around the lake, in the distance he spotted a rather large eagle owl heading towards him across the lake. The owl circled him, Harry held out his arm and it landed, a small box was attached to its leg with a letter. Harry opened it.

Dear Mr Potter,

Please find enclosed within the warded magically expanded box your new sword and belt dagger.

Thank you for your purchase.

Master Ironfist

Harry opened the box and pulled out both the sword and the dagger and laid them on the grass. The sword looked a little odd but that was because the blade was hidden within a special expanded scabbard, the handle of the sword poking out, he pulled it from the scabbard and marvelled at the sword. It was a true work of art, the sword had a similar look to a Japanese katana but was a little shorter and had a wider blade and even wider tip, the centre of the blade was thinner than the outside edge, making the sword lighter and easier for him to wield. Tiny engraved runes covered the entire centre of the blade; this led to the intricate wooden handle that was a little longer than its Japanese counterparts giving Harry greater strength with the sword. The handle was holly and had a beautiful dragon head at its end, Harry knew that within the blade a small hollow had been created that carried through the length of the sword, it was this that the handle extended into and just like a wand had a magical core of phoenix feathers, dragon heart string and unicorn hair creating a sword that would also act as a powerful wand and because of the runes on the sword it would also be a very powerful warding tool. All he had to do was jam the sword into the ground and the area around him would be protected, the sword itself was protected by an Arthur clause, in the event someone else tried to use the sword without Harry's permission the sword would bury itself in the ground up to the hilt and only Harry would be able to retrieve it. He took the sword and smoothly replaced it into the scabbard noting that close to where the blade meets the handle the word POTTER was inscribed.

The dagger was a little different, the blade was flat, eight inches long and led to a point, the handle was also flat, runes were laid into the grip, this led to the square end that showed the crest of the Potter family, it was a beautiful weapon. It was also designed to be hidden as it also came with a dragon hide belt that had a small hole that the blade slipped into where the belt buckle should have been. Harry exchanged his belt and slipped the knife in, it fit perfectly and he didn't feel it at all. The dagger could be pulled in a seconds notice, he was pleased with both of his purchases, Harry thought they had definitely been worth the money. All he had to do now was coat them in basilisk venom and they would be perfect for destroying horcruxes.

Harry headed back inside to dinner, noting that Hermione was at the table, Ron looked ashen faced, it looked like he'd had an earful from more than one person. As soon as Harry found his spot at the table Ron looked over, Harry gave him a brief nod… that nod said a lot… Its okay I am not mad any more… it's just a rough day for me… still mates? Ron gave him a nod back and a relieved sigh, that Harry snorted at.

About fifteen minutes later Quirell burst into the Great Hall and ran its length "Troll…troll in the dungeons.. thought you ought to know." He promptly fainted. Harry narrowed his eyes…what do I do? Do I go after it or do I leave it? It was then that a dark feeling crept over him, where was Neville?

As they were being led out he asked Ron.

"Oh… he had a ton of chocolate frogs, he's got a bit of an upset stomach so he went to the toilet…" The look of horror on Harry's face stopped him in his tracks.

"He doesn't know about the troll, we have to find him."

Ron looked stunned, Hermione looked as if she was about to run for a teacher when Harry tore away at a full sprint… oh god oh god oh god….

Does this mean fate can't be changed…? Screw it I am still going to try.

Harry raced the distance from the great hall to the third floor bathrooms, he knew that the troll would smell the nearest human and in this case would end up in the boy's bathroom hunting for Neville. He saw the back of the troll enter the bathroom as he turned the corner of the corridor. Ron and Hermione raced up the stairs after Harry and both were panting hard when they saw Harry push his way through the bathroom door, as the door closed they heard a scream.

The smell hit him at once and for a moment he wasn't sure if it was the troll or the fact that this was the boy's bathroom, or just because of Neville's upset stomach. Before he could do anything the troll had swung his club at the stalls, he heard a scream, then a rough groan.

Harry took aim with his wand "CONFRINGO." The basting hex hit the back of the troll and it stumbled forward and then slowly turned… I can't use anything too powerful… that will let the cat out of the bag…

"CONFRINGO…." The second blasting hex hit, but this time it hit the trolls head, Harry knew that trolls have a very thick skin that was strong enough to withstand most curses. Harry fired off one more blaster at the trolls hand; this was enough to make the troll drop his club… "Incarcerous." Ropes burst forth and snagged around the trolls legs, "Wingardium Leviosa." The club raised high in the air just as Ron and Hermione bounded into the bathroom, Harry smashed the club down on the trolls head, not once or twice but three times, he knew just how lucky they had been the first time round and he wasn't taking any chances. The troll had fallen back, Harry took a closer look, the trolls head was caved in, it was over but there was still Neville to worry about.

The boys started to move the pile of wood and rubble, they found Neville, he was still breathing.

"Hermione turn around." Harry shouted out.

"Why?" She wanted to know… but was afraid of the answer.

"Because Neville was on the loo, and his trousers and boxers are still round his ankles." Harry looked over and saw that she had flushed bright pink and quickly turned on the spot.

Nev mate, I'd only do this for my friends…Harry grabbed his boxers and trousers and quickly pulled them up, Neville was stirring when the door burst open, Snape, McGonagall and Quirrell charged in wands drawn.

"What…what happened here?" She demanded, Harry stood, as Professor Quirrell slumped down.

"We were heading for the dormitories when we realised that Neville wasn't back from the toilet, so we went to get him, because he didn't know about the troll. We figured that we'd be safe enough as this is the third floor and the troll was supposed to be in the dungeons." Harry took a moment to look over Quirrell in disgust "As soon as I walked in I saw the troll in here, there wasn't time to get anyone, it was taking out the cubicles, I heard a scream, I just reacted… I hit it with a blasting hex a few times, then an incarcerous around its legs, then I levitated its club and dropped it on its head."

"Is it dead?" Hermione asked in a small whimper.

"I bloody well hope so." Harry mumbled back, he heard Ron snort, then cover himself by coughing.

Professor McGonagall regained her composure "and what were you two doing?" her question to Ron and Hermione but again Harry answered.

"They were outside, while I went in to get Neville, as soon as they heard the scream they came in, but by that point the battle was already on, and it was over in seconds."

Snape seemed to glare at him, Harry didn't feel the mental probe but he was sure that Ron and Hermione's minds were open to him, but his story meshed.

"Well done Mr Potter, not many first years could take on a fully grown mountain troll and live to tell the tale, let alone kill it, you showed outstanding courage, twenty points to Gryffindor."

She was rewarded with smile and a groan from the floor, Neville was trying to move, "We should get Neville to the hospital wing, he's hurt."

"How did you know?" Hermione whispered as they followed Professor McGonagall who was levitating Neville along the corridor towards the hospital wing.

"I didn't," Harry lied "I just knew that I had to get to my friend, I had no idea the troll was up here, I'd have done the same for either of you… I do know one thing though…"

"What's that?" They asked together.

"You two followed me in there, I am sure Nev would have as well… we have each others back… that means a lot."

Both Ron and Hermione were a little flushed at the compliment, but they both nodded and continued walking, to Harry's amusement he saw that Ron was walking a little taller.

They sat quietly while Madam Pomfrey worked on Neville, who was badly shaken but otherwise okay, she had wanted to keep him in overnight, but Neville was adamant he was fine and that he hated hospitals, the matron instantly gave in… Wow I have never seen that before, she must know the reason why Neville hates hospitals. Together they trudged there way back to Gryffindor tower, but before they got to the portrait of the fat lady Neville stopped them.

"I wanted to say thank you… I am sure that you saved my life."

"You don't have to thank us Nev it's what friends do for each other… I will just say one thing…next time you might want to be a bit quicker in the loo." Ron snorted, Hermione giggled and Neville rolled his eyes. Harry held out his hand "I guess this makes us friends for life…" He grinned "I can think of worse things to be."

Harry lay staring at the hangings over his bed, After all my plans my friends were still in danger… I am I doomed to repeat fate? NO… death said it was my choice what happened, I let Neville down, I should have been there earlier, I shouldn't have snapped at Ron….

Meanwhile Hermione was writing another letter to her parents, so far she had managed two a week, but she knew that she'd need to send a letter because there was no telling what her head of house would say or write to her parents.

Dear Mum and Dad,

It's Halloween, we had a huge feast in the great hall, Hagrid (The gamekeeper) had grown these giant pumpkins, they made the best lanterns I have ever seen, and the biggest. However something happened today that I think I should tell you about. Somehow a troll made its way into the castle, no ones sure why, but the general gossip is that it must have been close and smelled the food. We were sent back to our houses while the professors dealt with the troll, however while on the way we realised that Neville was missing. He'd gone to the toilet and didn't know about the troll, it was last seen in a different part of the castle, anyway when we found Neville we also found the troll.

I know you worry so know that I am not injured in any way, my friend Harry saw the troll first and quickly killed it, helping our friend Neville. I said he was good at magic…that gets on my nerves sometimes, it just seems to come easy for him, but I beat him in every essay.

Neville is fine, though a little shook up, no one expects a fully grown mountain troll to visit you in the bathroom.

I'll write soon,

All My Love

H.

This time it was Jean Granger that took the letter off Hedwig, she came to love the beautiful white owl that brought them news of their daughter, Robert had an early client so she sat, opened the letter and began to read, the parchment was soon shaking. Robert Granger had a similar reaction but realised quickly that there was little they could do, they felt helpless as parents.

Ooo000ooO

At the same time that Hermione was writing her letter Professor Dumbledore sat in his office staring out of the window After everything I have done to protect Harry and he still manages to fight a troll. Dumbledore had inspected the troll, he saw the results of Harry's blasting hexes, the tight ropes around the trolls legs and the caved in skull, I was right Harry will be powerful…imagine taking on a troll at eleven…its ludicrous… he's in even more danger now, he's getting noticed.