Chapter 7

Percy Weasley tamped down his panic after Professor Quirrell's unexpected entry and announcement, forcefully reminding himself that he was a Prefect of Gryffindor, and more than that, he was an older brother who had to keep his younger ones out of danger. And as such, he was able to spot and do a timely interception when his smallest two brothers attempted to slip away from the group making for Gryffindor Tower.

"What do you to think you are doing?" He demanded, shooting a wave at his fellow Prefects to keep the other students moving.

"We've got to go warn Hermione!"

"What?"

"Hermione Granger, Perce, she's still in the girl's bathroom on the first floor, and she doesn't know about the troll!" Seeing the fear on Harry's face and the guilt on Ron's, Percy squared his shoulders and made a decision.

"Right then. Both of you, join the others, find the twins and don't leave their side. I'll go retrieve Miss Granger and make sure she comes to no harm." Both the boys appeared relieved, and hurried off to follow his orders. Scanning the retreating group of Gryffindors, Percy caught sight of Fred and George's concerned faces. Watch them, he mouthed, gesturing to the pair of first years scrambling up to staircase. Nodding assent, the Weasley twins began to shove their way back through the crowd so as to reach their smallest brothers and make sure they kept up.

Brotherly duties fulfilled, Percy started off down the hallway in order to do the same with his Prefect obligations.

-TEW-

"WHAT IN MERLIN'S NAME WERE YOU THINKING?!" Poppy winced as Molly Weasley's voice careened about the Hogwarts infirmary, directed squarely at her third eldest son. The medi-witch thought it nothing short of a miracle that the lad hadn't yet cowered before his mother, but instead was looking up at her with a tired but steely expression.

"A student was in danger, mother-"

"So WHY didn't you go get a TEACHER?!"

"There wasn't time!" He protested. "I was barely quick enough to stop Ron and Harry from going-"

"WHAT?!"

Sighing, the lad took a moment to adjust his glasses before answering. "The girl in question was a friend of theirs, mother, and the two of them had been about to run after her themselves. I would much rather prefer that I got a minor concussion and a few bruises than for something much worse to have happened to one or the both of them." Silently, Poppy had to agree with his perception of the situation - having Molly Weasley in her infirmary delivering the same bellowed conniptions at two of her youngest would have been an infinitely more exasperating situation than the one they were currently in. Or, had things not turned out well, having a sobbing Molly Weasley bent over a pair of small, sheet-covered forms... No, the medi-witch quite agreed with the Prefect's course of action.

Apparently the Headmaster thought so as well, as he said as much upon entering her infirmary. "And for your actions in putting family first, Mr. Weasley, I should like to award Gryffindor twenty points. It should also bear mentioning that for their willingness to go to a friend's aid despite the danger, I have awarded both the youngest Mr. Weasley and Mr. Potter ten points each."

The fifth year sitting propped up on a bed blinked as he did the math. "But, sir, that cancels out the points Professor McGonagall took away earlier-"

"I'm quite aware of that, dear boy, and Professor McGonagall is as well. I believe she was quite pleased with the amount of Gryffindor bravery shown this night, but had to deduct those points as a matter of principle, especially in front of myself and the other teachers."

"Oh."

Shaking her head at the lad's dumbfounded expression, Poppy bustled over to run her diagnostic spells over the patient once more. "Excuse me Albus, Molly, this won't take but a jiffy." Seeing that her potions had done their jobs, she pronounced the student to be fully set to rights. Mrs. Weasley immediately hauled her son to his feet and walloped him upside the head.

"Ow! Mum!"

"That is for not going and getting a teacher." The woman said sternly, before pulling him into a tight hug. "Oh, but I'm so glad you and the little ones are alright..."

"Ahem," Poppy coughed politely as Albus merely stood by and smiled. "Molly, if you crack that boy's ribs or suffocate him, I shall be most displeased with you."

It took a few moments more, but eventually the emotionally exhausted woman released her son. "Right, right, you need to get back to your dorm and get some rest, and I need to go track down your father-"

"No need, my dear." Albus spoke up. "After we left my office, I believe Arthur was headed directly to Gryffindor Tower so as to have a word with the rest of your boys."

"Ah, thank you Headmaster. We'll just pop off for there now, come along, Percy."

Shaking her head in exasperation, Poppy had to admire the lad, who didn't make a face at the prospect of his mother escorting him back to his common room.

-TEW-

If Minerva's heart had nearly stopped when two of her students were nearly killed by a troll the night of the 31st, it was greatly warmed the next day when she saw four of her first years sticking together like glue, and always in the company of at least one of the elder Weasley brothers. It seemed that Miss Granger had been firmly and irrevocably added to the friendship between Harry, Ron and Neville, for which the aged Transfiguration professor was grateful. She'd been worrying about the girl, truth be told, and the lack of meaningful relationships for her.

Still, as glad as Minerva was for the way things turned out, the troll incident was not something to be overlooked, hence why she, Albus and the other Heads of House gathered together that first evening of November in order to discuss various aspects of the situation.

The talk wasn't going as well as it could have.

"As I've said and am going to continue to say, someone is in the castle and searching for the Stone - we cannot afford to rely on so few defenses to keep it safe."

"So you have told us time and again, Minerva, but I believe the spells we have all contributed will be enough."

"For once, Headmaster, I am inclined to agree with our Head of Gryffindor." Severus drawled from the seat where he kept his injured leg at a careful angle. "That beast of Hagrid's may be a formidable first guard, but no creature is infallible."

"That's why we have such a variety of defenses though, isn't?"

"Exactly so, my dear Pomona. And then there is my contribution to the final protection, which I am absolutely certain will prevent the Stone from falling into the wrong hands."

Flitwick arched an eyebrow at the Headmaster. "Oh? Do you intend to share with us, Albus?"

"Let us just say, it is a matter of one's mindset." No matter how the teachers pressed him, Dumbledore refused to say any more on the matter.

"Well," Minerva huffed. "Shall we move on to the matter of the troll, then? And exactly how someone managed to sneak it into the castle, putting the students in danger?"

"I have not yet had an opportunity to investigate, but I would place the most likely way as to one of the secret passages into the dungeon having been temporarily enlarged and stripped of certain wards."

"Entirely likely, Severus. If it wouldn't be too much trouble, would you mind terribly if I accompanied you on the search to find any such passages?"

Bearing in mind his fellow professor's excellent prowess with a wand, the Potions Master was quick to agree.

"And how are your lions doing after their ordeal, Minerva?" Dumbledore asked, directing the others' gazes back to her.

"Quite well, thank you Albus. Mr. Weasley is hardier than he appears, and Miss Granger has a few of her classmates rallying around her for emotional support."

"Ah - would I be correct in guessing that among them would be the two lads who very nearly rushed to Miss Granger's defense themselves?"

Minerva narrowed her eyes at him. "You would be correct. Does it matter?"

"No, no, just a conjecture on my part. Now, as for the proper disposal of the troll's body..."

A/N: Thoughts? Reactions? Anyone particularly ecstatic over the changes I'm making to members of the Weasley family? I always thought that for a kid with three brothers ahead of him in Hogwarts, Ron never got very many examples of elder sibling over-protectiveness. So, that's getting tweaked now.

-Triscribe