It was Halloween. Harry was watching everything he could due to having long since came to term with the potter curse. He knew something bad was going to happen he just didn't know what it would be. Surely, nothing like last year's debacle about being kidnapped as ransom against Sirius? Not that it went anywhere he personally freed himself and wound up killing two of the ten men himself. But he thought that since he was at school that he would be fine. He was currently sitting at the Hufflepuff table and watching most of the students enjoying the Halloween feast. He however noticed one notable exception to the Ravenclaw table. He couldn't find Hermione anywhere. He caught Draco and Neville's eyes and motioned to come to him.
The two boys got up and walked over to him. "You need something cousin?" Draco asked looking a bit distracted.
"Either of Y'all know where Hermione is?" Harry asked with out preamble.
"She is hiding in the bathroom from charms this morning." Neville growled. "that bugger Weasley was saying cruel things about her for helping him in charms and she ran away crying. Heard from Parvarti that her sister told her she was still in there when we arrived for the feast."
"Hm, perhaps he needs a taste of what it means to hurt friends of house Malfoy?" Draco muttered darkly.
"He needs to stop bein' a thoughtless cull." Harry said angrily. This caused the two other boys to pause before Neville asked. "Uh Harry, what's a cull?"
"It's a member of a herd of cattle so worthless it has to be cut from the herd and killed off." Harry said with a fierce scowl.
"Hm, describes the useless prat pretty well." Draco said thoughtfully. Neville nodded with a thoughtful expression.
"Well let's get goin' boys she ain't gonna find herself." Harry said getting up from the table. He was instantly flanked by Draco and Neville. They made their way to the Ravenclaw table, and Padma. "Howdy Darlin' could you tell us which Bathroom Hermione has locked herself into?"
"Why do you want to know?" Padma asked looking at the three suspiciously.
"We're her friends." Neville said politely. "We're going to bring her to the feast."
Padma's eyes softened. "Well she's in the second floor bathroom. I tried to convince her that Ron Weasley wasn't worth listening to."
"He'll get his I assure you of that." Draco snarled through gritted teeth.
"Now now cousin careful whatcha say. Too many witnesses at present to be plottin' any kind of revenge." Harry said placating the other boy.
Draco's face lost all emotions and he seemed to center himself. "You are right this is behavior unbefitting a pureblood scion."
Neville gave a wry smile before he looked at Harry. "Let's go get our cute little bookworm."
"Couldn'ta said it better myself brother mine." Harry said turning toward the great hall's door only to come to an abrupt stop when they burst open to reveal a heavily panting Professor Quirrell Harry eyed the cowardly professor suspiciously. His suspicion was confirmed when the professor screamed. "Troll in the dungeons! Thought you ought to know." Before passing out and falling face first to the stone floor. The Pandemonium was instant. Everywhere there were children screaming and crying in terror. Harry took off running at top speeds with Draco and Neville right behind him. His boots made rhythmatic clacks against the stone as the trio thundered towards the second floor girls bathroom. They arrived just in time to see a twelve foot mountain troll enter the bathroom and hear a distinctive voice scream in fright.
The trio charged in and took stock of the situation. The troll had Hermione backed up against the wall with its club raised. Draco looked at the hulk and roared angrily. He raised his wand and fired off a bludgeoning hex at the back of the creatures head. Unfortunately due to the fact that the trolls hide was magically resistant, Draco having a small core and the curse he used being intended to be cast by adult wizards. It only felt to the troll like being slapped in the back of the head. Harry however thought it was perfect opportunity as the troll spun around and roared at them. At the exact moment the troll roared at the boys, three things took place. 1) Hermione scrambled away from the wall and into Draco's grip, 2) the door opened to reveal Professors Snape, McGonagall, and Sprout, and 3) Harry threw back the sides of his duster and with the speed of a striking snake fired off a pair of piercing hexes right into the roof of the trolls mouth. Bits of bone, blood, and brain matter erupted from the top of the beast's head like and erupting volcano. Harry smirked and calmly put his wands back into their holsters. He turned to see the stunned-stupid faces of everyone in the room. He gave a wan smile and took off his black cowboy hat.
"Hey, Nev could ya hold on to this for me please?" He asked holding it out to the larger boy. Neville nodded stupidly and took the hat. Harry Gave a relieved smile and closed his eyes, and fell to the ground like a marionette with its' strings cut. Everyone rushed to his side. Snape was casting diagnostic spells as he moved and when he stopped he grunted. "Magical exhaustion. He'll be fine with a few days sleep."
"Well I never saw the like." Professor Sprout said looking at the three standing preteens, as well as the unconscious one and the dead troll. "I think perhaps fifty points to each house is in order for being able to overcome house prejudice in times of need?"
"I agree Pomona." Professor McGonagall said with a tight smile. "I also believe you should all make your way to the hospital wing before I decide to take twice that for your stupidity." Needless to say the trio beat feet.
When the trio left McGonagall asked. "Is there more you couldn't say Severus?"
"About his condition? No." Severus said with a grim look. "But I know I'm not the only one here who caught the fact he was using two wands. One of which I haven't seen before this juncture."
"Yes I saw." Professor Sprout stated with a frown. "Is that an issue?"
Professors McGonagall and Snape exchanged a look before Snape explained. "It is only a problem if the Headmaster finds out. He want far more control over mister Potter than he has any right to expect. I know for a fact that he has charms tracking every spell done with the Phoenix feather and Holly wand. The other is not even known before now."
Professor Sprout sniffed in affront. "Well he'll surely not learn this from me." The other two nodded to this and left the room levitating Harry toward the hospital wing.
Harry woke up to see the face of Madame Pomphrey. And he could tell right away she wasn't happy. "Ah you have decided to grace me with your conscious. How thoughtful of you."
"Sorry 'bout this ma'am. I mighta over did it against that damned troll. But I couldn't let the ugly bastard hurt my friends. They didn't deserve to get hurt cause I'm too damned stubborn to back down when a friends in trouble." Harry said sheepishly though with conviction.
Madam Pomphrey looked at him with a faraway look. "You know your father said much the same in his fourth year when he came here to get a 'prank' reversed."
"A prank ma'am?" Harry asked confused.
"After I asked why he was lying to me about trying to accomplish the Animagus transformation he replied nothing was too much to accomplish when a friend needed his help." Madam Pomphrey said with a fond smile. "Just be careful please James was my best friends' son so he was like a nephew to me I would like to see you in much the same light."
Harry gave a small happy grin and said. "I'd like that Aunt Poppy."
Madam Pomphrey gave him the same fond smile and gave the boy a hug. "Now you need some rest."
Harry nodded. He did need rest his body felt like it was on fire. Magical exhaustion was a bitch. As he lay in the bed he thought of what had happened he scowled at the thought of the troll. For the suppose Safe place in the magical world this school was a very dangerous place. Perhaps he should step up his remove Dumbledore from power plans. He grinned maliciously at the thought. Yes it would be good to see the old fool's expression when he was removed from power. The last thought harry had before succumbing to his exhaustion was. 'it's good to have a plan'