AN: So here's the new chapter. And this is specifically to Guest, but just so everyone knows, I have read the books. When I say that I've read them I mean I have read them. All of them at least 3 times, and that includes the 3 books in the Hogwarts Library (Quidditch Through the Ages, Fantastical Beasts and Where to Find Them, and Tales of Beedle the Bard). Also, I forgot to mention that Luna is going to be one year older than in canon. One more thing, the Halloween plot is kinda backwards, like troll than third floor corridor. You know what to do. Read and Review.
Disclaimer: No mine Potter Harry.
The rest of September did not consist of anything interesting. There were classes, Potions essays, Quidditch practices, and reading with Hermione, Neville, and Luna. The quartet, newly named the Ghosts of the Founder's Four, spent their days in classes and their nights exploring the castle under the invisibility cloak, in the library, or annoying the Almost Silver Trio – Potter, Malfoy, and Weasley. The Professors believed that each of the four represented the qualities of one of the Founder's Four. They had soon figured out who was which one. It took a long time to convince Neville that he was in fact the Chosen One of Gryffindor and not Hufflepuff, for that was Hermione. Many believed that Hermione was Ravenclaw, but as the only Ravenclaw in the group, Luna was the obvious choice. That left Harry for the Snakes, and the boy wasn't surprised. He was a Parselmouth and the Sorting Hat did want to place him in Slytherin.
October came faster than expected, and the Great Hall was filled with bats, pumpkins, and cloudy skies. The Ghosts of the Founder's Four along with the Weasley Twins had planned something special for that month. October 30th, the night before Halloween, their plan was set into action. They had cast a spell on the Headmaster's robes, which Dumbledore probably would pass over, to make them switch to Prosser Snape's robes for the day. The Great Hall was in shock when Albus Dumbledore entered the Hall with pitch black robes billowing behind him. However, that was nothing compared to the jaw-dropping reaction that a certain Potions Master received. The once dark and dreary Severus Snape had electric pink hair thanks to the knowledge of a certain Muggleborn. Everyone smirked at the sight of Professor Snape, and when Dumbledore tried to get his robes under control the entire Hall burst out in laughter. Harry, Hermione, Neville, and the Wealsey twins high fived under the table. Harry knew that Dumbledore was trying to use Legimens on him, but Harry was smart enough to avoid eye contact.
The next day, Harry received a parcel at breakfast. It was poorly wrapped parcel that looked suspiciously like a broomstick. The first owl dropped a letter in his lap, while the other two dropped the parcel on his plate, causing the bacon to fly off of it. Harry ripped open the letter which read
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. Quidditch practice starts after Halloween. Professor M. McGonagall
Everything became exciting one Halloween in Charms class. Professor Flitwick was showing the class how to cast the Levitation Charm, Wingardium Leviosa. "Now can anyone tell me how this spell can be helpful when learning others?" Flitwick asked.
Neville raised his hand timidly, and Flitwick gestured for him to speak. "It's not the spell itself, but the wrist movement, Swish and Flick. The movement is used for most spell, so once you perfect it in Wingardium Leviosa, it will be easier to cast other spells."
"That is correct Mr. Longbottom. Now everyone partner up and practice the incantation." Flitwick ordered.
Neville immediately paired up with Harry, so that meant Hermione was stuck with Weasley. After a while, Ron started flicking his wand all over the place and Hermione said, "Stop! Stop! Stop! You're going to poke someone's eye out. Plus, you're saying it wrong! Its levi-O-sa, not levios-A. Stress the O not the A."
Flames of anger flickered in Ron's eyes. "You do it then if you're so clever!" He challenged her.
Hermione grinned, pulled out her wand, and commanded, "Wingardium Leviosa." With the swish and flick of her wand, Hermione's feather gently floated into the air.
"Look here everyone! Ms. Granger's done it!" Flitwick proclaimed giddily, clapping his hands as he spoke. He might have been happy, but Ron was in a terrible mood the rest of the class.
As they were leaving Charms, Neville, Harry, and Hermione were talking about their homework. However, as they were walking past Ron and Benjamin they overheard Ron say, "Did you hear her? Its levi-O-sa not levios-A. Honestly, she's a nightmare. It's no wonder that she doesn't have any friends."
Hermione's cheeks flushed a deep red colour when she heard what the Weasel said about her. She bit her lip and ran past the two twats, brushing Ron's shoulder as she passed by. The tears streaming from her eyes were visible, and Ron had the humility to look bashful. Neville stomped up to them and lived up to the name of Gryffindor. "She does have friends. She has me, she has Luna, and she has Harry. She will end up having more friends than you if you keep having that crap attitude." Neville practically shouted, his hands clenching into fists as he talked.
Harry walked with Neville and told him, "Nice going Nev." Neville glowed and beamed with pride. "Now let's go find 'Mione."
They searched for the rest of the day, but to no avail. They couldn't find Hermione anywhere. At dinner they heard Pavarti tell Lavender that Hermione had been in the girl's loo all day crying. Harry and Neville decided that they would find her after dinner. However, their plans were soon interrupted when Professor Quirrell burst into the Great Hall screaming, "Troll! In the dungeon! Troll in the dungeon! Thought you ought to know!" Once he finished speaking he fell forward in a dead faint. Harry narrowed his eyes with suspicion. A month of first-aid and health classes helped him to know that nobody fell forward when they fainted. Neither a muggle nor a wizard.
Everyone broke out in panicked conversation. That was until Dumbledore stood up and yelled, "Silence!"
The noise stopped. However, everyone still looked extremely nervous. "Prefects," Dumbledore commanded, "lead your houses back to their Common Rooms. Teachers, follow me."
All of the students started to stand up until Harry cut in, "The Slytherin Common Room is in the dungeon."
Snape smirked at the Headmaster, while the Headmaster looked bashful. "Slytherin house, stay here in the Great Hall. Everyone else head back to your Common Room."
The Gryffindors followed Percy Weasley up to their Common Room. "Neville, Hermione's still in the girl's loo. We need to help her." Harry whispered to Neville. "We can't let Percy see us."
Neville looked incredibly nervous, but he still nodded. The two first years ran to the second floor girl's bathroom. They could instantly smell the horrific troll stench when the entered the bathroom. Hermione was hiding in one corner of the washroom screaming, as the troll blindly swung around his club. The club broke the stalls and ruined the sink piping. Water splashed all over the tile floor, soaking Hermione's robes. What the boys didn't expect was to see Weasley throwing bits of wood at it and Potter aiming stunning spells at it. However, anyone who picked up a book knows that trolls can't be stunned, and if they were able to be stunned only a powerful wizard could stun one with magic. Unfortunately for Weasley, the boy had very bad aim. A piece of wood that he threw had hit Benjamin in the head, and knocked him out cold. Neville ran in front of Weasley, holding him back, while Harry ran up to the troll. His mind floated back to something he read when he was six. Ice Elemental. His Avada-Kedavra green eyes scanned the water on the bathroom floor and he grinned. He took out his wand and cast, "Glacio!"
The water turned solid ice. The troll slipped and fell down on his back. Hermione yelled to the red-head, "The club. Swish and flick."
Ron's eyes widened with realization and pulled out his wand. He swished his wand and cried, "Wingardium Leviosa!" The wooden club lifted into the air and Ron beamed. Although, once he smiled his concentration wavered and club fell and hit the troll right on the head with a sickening crack. There was a sudden, loud crash and the bathroom door burst open.
"What in the name of the devil is going on in here?!" Snape exclaimed, his robes billowing behind him. He peered over at the troll. Professor Quirrell was shaking behind him, whimpering at the sight.
Professor McGonagall stared furiously at the boys. They had never seen her look so angry. Her lips were pursed, and her brow furrowing. "What on earth were you thinking?" She proclaimed with a cold fury in her voice. "You're lucky that you weren't killed! What happened to Benjamin?"
Harry opened his mouth when Weasley intervened, "I accidently knocked him out with a piece of wood when I was throwing them at the troll." The other three looked at the red-head in shock. He hadn't lied about them.
"Actually they came to rescue me, Professor." Hermione said. "I went after the troll, having read all about them. If these four hadn't come I would be dead."
"Why Miss. Granger. I expected better from you!" Professor McGonagall frowned. "Five points from…"
"Wait Professor." Harry almost screamed. "That's not what happened."
Hermione stared bashfully at the floor. "Okay. Mister Potter will you please explain what happened."
Harry started to explain the situation, Neville jumping in where Harry forgot something. After telling the whole story McGonagall nodded. "Ten points from Gryffindor Mr. Weasley, and an apology to Ms. Granger. Severus, take Potter to the hospital wing. The rest of you, get to your dormitory, and ten points to each Mr. Potter and Mr. Longbottom, for sheer dumb luck." She turned around and stalked off with Professor Quirrell trailing behind her, and Professor Snape bringing up the rear carrying Benjamin bridal style in his arms.
Breaking the silence, Neville said, "Well, that could have gone worse. We better go back to the Common Room."
"Or we could do something exciting." Harry grinned slyly.
"Like what?" Weasley asked smiling.
'Weasley's not too bad.' Harry thought to himself. "Why don't we explore the third floor corridor?"
"Harry no way! You heard Dumbledore at the welcoming feast. The third floor corridor is out of bounds." Hermione exclaimed.
"Well that's the adventure!" Harry said excitedly. "Come on! Let's go!" He grabbed Hermione's and Neville's hand as he ran out the bathroom door, Weasley running behind him.
They ran up the magic staircases up to the third floor corridor, the torches lighting with flames when they ran past. There was a wooden door calling their names, beckoning them to come closer. They approached the door with caution. That was until Mrs. Norris meowed from around the corner. Everyone's heads whipped around to stare at the grey tabby cat.
"Oh shit." Harry whispered. "Everyone. Back away from the devil spawn."
Ron snorted, but when Hermione furiously whispered, "Harry, this is not a time to make a joke."
They backed away from the cat and ended up with their backs against the door. Then they heard a raspy voice, "Where are they my sweet?"
"It's Filch! In the door." Ron exclaimed. Neville tried to open the door but he whimpered, "It's locked."
"Oh move over!" Hermione pushed him. She pulled out her wand and cast an, "Alohomora."
"Alohomora?" Ron asked.
"Standard Book of Spells, Chapter 7." Hermione told him. "Now get in the room."
The four students crowed through the door and exerted a sigh of relief. Until they looked up and saw a three headed Cerberus staring down at them. Its warm breath, that surprising smelled like mint, was tickling their faces. The four brave Gryffindor student all screamed in panic. They quickly fumbled for the doorknob and exited the room. The four started running and didn't stop until they reached the portrait of the Fat Lady on the seventh floor. "Pig snout! Pig snout!" They screamed frantically.
The portrait swung open and they all ran inside. "What do they think they're doing, keeping that thing locked up in a school?" Ron immediately said.
Hermione had got both her breath and her bad temper back again. "Didn't you see what it was standing on?"
"I w-wasn't lo-looking at h-h-his feet, I w-was b-b-busy with it h-heads." Neville stuttered.
"It was standing on a trapdoor. It's obviously guarding something." Hermione glared at them. "I hope you're pleased with yourselves. We all could have been killed – or worse, expelled. Now if you don't mind, I'm going to bed. Good night."
"You'd think we dragged her along, wouldn't you?" Weasley said. Neville nodded in agreement.
"Ron, Neville," Harry started, "we did drag her along."
AN: So Ron is almost friends, but not really. We'll see how the story progresses.
