The Wizarding world had a field day over the next article Rita Skeeter wrote for the Daily Prophet. More Howlers were sent to Hogwarts, which all went off during breakfast. The Hogwarts Board of Governers had an emergency meeting, where they immediately removed Dumbledore as Headmaster and placed Filius Flitwick, the Charms teacher, as acting Headmaster until they voted for a new Head. Minister Fudge sent three members from the Department of Magical Law Enforcement and five Aurors to arrest Dumbledore for his use of the Imperious Curse and meddling in the affairs of Harry Potter.

Unfortunately, Dumbledore wouldn't go quietly. He made a grab for his phoenix, but Fawkes apparently was repulsed by his behavior and disappeared. Fawkes appeared later in the office of Professor McIntyre, and bonded himself to her. He also bonded with Triana, the phoenix that had bonded to one of the founders of Myrddin School and upon her death bonded to the school. It seemed likely that they might produce a chick eventually.

Dumbledore tried to find other ways to escape, but his fireplace was cut off from the Floo Network, and the wards on the Hogwarts prevented him from Apparating. He tried to create a Portkey, but Amelia Bones cast a shield of sorts around all the objects in the office so that no spells could hit them. Dumbledore finally cast Stunners on everyone and tried to jump out the window, but one of the Aurors, who had the wit to fake being Stunned, hit him with a Stunner instead. Auror Kingsley Shacklebolt then revived the others and they transported Dumbledore to a cell in Azkaban.

The Wizarding world cheered this news, and Ron said acidly, "About bloody time. Dumbledore's getting what he deserves."

Harry slept much easier at night, and no longer felt so scared of being sent back to the Dursleys. He suspected that his worst fear would change soon. He focused on schoolwork and Quidditch, and found himself doing better in classes, though he was nowhere as brilliant as Hermione or Emily.

In the beginning of October, Harry was attempting to transfigure a beetle into a button. However, he still didn't have much luck. By the third class, he had finally been able to transfigure a match into a needle, though it looked a bit misshapen. In subsquent classes, it had taken him a long time to finally succeed in a transfiguration, and then the object wasn't perfect. Neville struggled with transfiguration as well, but when he succeeded (usually at the same time as Harry), the objects were perfect.

At the end of class, Professor McGonagall asked him to stay behind. "Harry, it seems that you have not inherited your father's talent in Transfiguration," she said gently. "But you are the worst pupil in my class. Even Neville is better than you. That is not good. Your mother was better at Charms, but even she was among the top four students in my class, the first three being your father and two of his friends. Something is the matter with you, for if you continue at this rate, you will only achieve an 'Acceptable' during your practical O.W.L. for Transfiguration and if that brings your overall score to 'Acceptable', you will not be allowed to take my N.E.W.T.-level class."

"Then what do I do, Professor?" asked Harry, biting his lip worriedly. "I don't want to only barely pass your class."

"Either you should ask Hermione or Emily to tutor you in Transfiguration, or see Professor McIntyre and have her check if something is affecting your magic," responded McGonagall. "If I were you, I would do both, to be on the safe side."

Harry scheduled a meeting with the Headmistress for Saturday. For half an hour, Professor McIntyre preformed various magical tests. When she finished, there was an angry look on her face. However, she said in a calm tone of voice, "There is nothing wrong with your magical abilities. You are not 'almost a Squib', as Mr. Longbottom seems to think of himself. Please tell him that all he lacks is confidence, for if he had little magical ability, he would not have received an invitation to Myrddin Academy. Now, in regards to your power, it has been merely been bound so that in classes which requires the use of a wand, you do poorly in. I have just unbound your magic."

"Does this mean that I will do very well in Charms and the rest now, Professor McIntyre?" asked Harry eagerly.

"I don't know about very well, but you will improve," answered the Headmistress. "It doesn't seem that you will do as well as your father in Transfiguration, but you will certainly be on par with your mother's ability. And vice versa for Charms."

The next Transfiguration class, Harry was able to produce a perfect button on his fourth try, and in Charms, he mastered the Unlocking Charm (Alohomora) on his fifth try. Tutoring sessions with Hermione and Emily helped as well.

In the middle of October was Dumbledore's trial. Harry had to appear and give evidence on being controlled with the Imperious Curse. Dumbledore spoke under the influence of Veritserum, and revealed more crimes. He had gone against the Potters' will, and had allowed Sirius Black to be sent to Azkaban without a trial when he suspected that Sirius might not have been guilty of being a Death Eater. The Wizengamot glossed over that incident, and focused on everything else Dumbledore admitted to. Among them was his saying that the Philosopher's Stone, created by Nicolas Flamel, was being held at Hogwarts for safe-keeping.

When he admitted that it was in the vault that had been the target of the Gringott's break-in, there was a cry of outrage. "You're putting innocent students in danger!" exclaimed Madam Bones. "If someone went after it in Gringotts, what's to say that they wouldn't go after Hogwarts!"

Finally, the entire Wizengamot found Dumbledore guilty, and he was sentenced to life imprisonment in Azkaban. There was talk of using the Dementor's Kiss, but as he had defeated Grindelwald and fought Voldemort, it was decided against. Fudge did give orders to reinvestigate the Sirius Black affair, but in the excitement of finding Dumbledore guilty and seeing him escorted to Azkaban, the orders were ignored. Fudge also forgot about the orders the next day.

The Philosopher's Stone was removed from Hogwarts, and Nicolas Flamel had it returned to its vault in Gringotts, with even more protection.

On Halloween, there was a feast. Harry had sat down when he noticed that Hermione wasn't at the table. "Where is she?" he asked.

Mari sighed. "In the bathroom, crying. Blaise Zabini teased her about being a know-it-all. Hermione rushed off and I found her there. I did my best to comfort her, but she refused to cheer up and said she's not coming to the feast. I offered to stay with her, but she said to just let her cry alone."

The others looked concerned. "I've been teased before," said Mandy. "For all those odd things I did in school. Prehaps I can make-"

"It won't do any good, Mandy," interrupted Emily. "I spoke with her just before I came here, and she says to just leave her alone. She'll cry herself out eventually and will feel better tomorrow."

Halfway through dinner, one of the ghosts glided swiftly through a wall and shouted, "Someone let a troll in!"

Everyone stared at each other in confusion, and wondered if the ghost was playing a Halloween prank, for trolls did not appear at schools.

"I'm serious!" snapped Sir John angrily, his head falling off. He grabbed it, jammed it back on his shoulders, and continued, "This isn't a prank. A troll has somehow gotten in!"

Professor McIntyre stood up. "Students, proceed directly to your common rooms. Prefects, escort them. The staff will deal with the troll."

"How did a troll get in?" asked Justin.

"Who knows?" replied Neville. "Maybe a troll was wandering by, saw the school, and entered."

"Have you forgotten about Hermione?" demanded Padma. "She's crying in the bathroom, and doesn't know about the troll."

"Then we warn her," said Abby firmly. "Come on, guys." They gave the other students the slip and rushed off toward the bathroom. They were almost there when they were hit with a very disgusting smell. It was a combination of old gym socks and the kind og public bathroom that nobody cleans.

"Ugh!" exclaimed Terry, holding his nose. "What is that stink?"

"I think the troll," answered Harry. "I read that trolls stink."

Just then, there was a scream, and they exclaimed simutaneously, "Hermione!" They ran the last few feet and burst into the bathroom to see Hermione, crouched against the wall, a terrified look on her face.The troll was standing over her, a club in his hand.

"Distract it!" shouted Harry desprately. He grabbed a fallen tap and threw it at the troll.

Emily took out her wand and shouted, "Expelliarmus!" This had no affect, other than to cause the troll to turn around. Neville and Justin threw pieces of rubble at the troll, further distracting it, while Padma and Mari darted forward and tried to get Hermione to move. However, the bushy-haired girl was petrified, and in the end Padma and Mari had to drag her away.

Terry and Abby joined Emily in trying to disarm the troll, with little success. It finally blinked, and confused by all the noise, went lumbering after Ron. Harry then did something very stupid and brave. He jumped on top of the troll. As he still had his wand in his hand, the wand went up the troll's nose, causing it to bellow in pain. Harry held on for dear life as it tried to flail him off. Abby finally disarmed the troll and she ducked as the club went flying towards her. Ron pointed his wand at the club and said the first spell that came to mind, the Levitation Charm. The club flew up into the air, and Justin shouted, "Hit the troll with it!"

Ron took the suggestion, and the club landed with a sickening crack on top of the troll's head. The troll fell to the ground. Hermione finally recovered from her fright and asked in a tiny voice, "Is it dead?"

Harry got up and bent over the troll. "I think it's just knocked out." He retrieved his wand and wiped it on the troll's trousers.

That was when the Heads of all four Houses and Professor McIntyre came in and surveyed the bathroom. "What is the meaning of this?" demanded McGonagall. "You should be in your common rooms."

"They were rescuing me, Professor," said Hermione in a quiet voice. "I was in here crying, and my friends-"

"Realized that you didn't know about the troll, came to warn you, and ended up having to fight it," finished Professor McIntyre. "That was very brave of you all. Most first years wouldn't be able to deal with a troll, even if there were eleven of you. Fifty points each will be added to Sapphire and Diamond House. Now, if you aren't hurt, I suggest you go up to your respective common rooms. The students are finishing the feast there."

"Professor, do you know how the troll got in?" asked Harry.

Professor McIntyre exchanged looks with the teachers, then nodded at Professor O'Leary. "The troll apparently was wandering by, saw the school, and came in, Mr. Potter," the Deputy Head said curtly. "No more questions, please."

The students left the bathroom in silence. When it came time to go separate ways, they looked at each other. Hermione broke the silence by saying, "Thanks for rescuing me, you guys."

"It was nothing," the others mumbled. They then went to their respective common rooms. However, from then on, their friendship grew even stronger, and it appeared as if their lives would be bound together. After all, there are some things in life that brings people closer together, and fighting a mountain troll is one of them.

(Blaise Zabini heard about what happened the next day and apologized profusely to Hermione. She accepted the apology and forgave him, but they never became more than classmates and acquaintances. Professor Snape heard about it and gave Blaise a detention for teasing her.)

Author's Note: Please don't be annoyed with me by putting in the troll scene. I needed a way to cement the friendship of the students firmly and bring them closer, and that was the only way I could really think of. I would have used another creature, but they either weren't scary enough, too dangerous (in the case of a bailisk) or there wasn't any way for it to get inside the school. (like a dragon or manticore) As things stand, Hermione and Ron wouldn't end up together unless they were much closer friends. The troll really was wandering by and saw the school.