The next morning Alice found out from a very excitable Ron what happened when after she left. "…and then Harry catches the Rememberall before it collides into the tower", Ron said finishing the tale.

"Blimey Harry. Trust you to go and do something stupid and incredibly cool at the same time the second you get a broom. I wish I could've seen it", Alice said then it occurred to her "hold on that means you've got to be the youngest…"

"The youngest seeker in a century, so Professor McGonagall said", Harry finished for her.

"Well done Harry, Wood just told us", Fred said as he and his brother came up to the trio.

"Fred and George are on the team too, Beaters", Ron explained.

"Our job is to make sure that you don't get too bloodied up too much. Can't make any promises. Rough game, Quidditch", George said.

"Brutal but no one's died in years. Some will occasionally vanish…" Fred added.

"But they'll turn up in a month or two!" George called after them as the 3 started to walk across the courtyard. "Go on Harry. Quidditch is great, best game there is! And you'll be great too", Ron said trying to persuade his friend.

"He's right Harry. From what Ron told me, you'll be fine", Alice added.

"But I've never even played Quidditch. What if I make a fool of myself?" Harry asked the pair.

"You won't make a fool of yourself. It's in your blood", Hermione said when she caught up with the group. She took them to a trophy case and pointed to a specific trophy.

"Harry, you never told me your dad was a seeker too", Ron said looking at the trophy which names Harry's dad James as a seeker.

"I didn't know", Harry said.


The four walk up a staircase. Ron, Harry and Hermione were up ahead whilst Alice hung back. There was a jolt as the stairs started moving. "Whoa", Harry said holding onto the banister.

"What's happening?" Ron asked

"The staircases change. Remember?" Hermione said recalling what Percy had said to them when they first started. The staircase came to a stop.

"Come on", Harry said going up the last few steps.

"Hurry up Alice!" Hermione said to the girl and followed Harry and Ron. Alice hurried up the steps.

They walked down the dingy, dusty corridor "does anyone feel like we shouldn't be here?" Harry asked

"We're not supposed to be here. This is the third floor. It's forbidden", Hermione reminded the other 3. A flame lights in the support next to them with a whoosh.

"Mrs Norris is coming", Alice said her ears picking up Mrs Norris's paws approaching.

"How do you know?" Hermione asked.

"Just trust her", Ron said knowing that she must've heard the cat.

"Not that way", Alice said tugging on the back of Harry and Hermione's robes when they tried to go out the door they came in. They hurried down the corridor away from the door they entered through "hurry she's come in!" Alice said hearing Mrs Norris' meows knowing that Filch wasn't far behind. This made the other 3 speed up.

Harry tugs at the handle of a door at the end "it's locked!" he said.

"We're done for!" Ron added voicing his fears.

"Move over", Hermione ordered before pushing Ron out of the way. "Alohomora!" she said pointing her wand at the lock. The lock clicked and the four enter the room. They close the door and listen for Filch.

"Alohomora?" Ron asked

"Standard book of spells chapter 7", Hermione answered.

"Uh guys?" Alice said looking at a very large dog with 3 heads. It yawned and then growled when it noticed them. All four kids yelled and ran out of the room. They struggled to get the door shut on the dogs but with a lot of effort they manage to.


~Gryffindor Common Room~

"What do they think they're doing keeping a thing like that locked up in a school?" Ron asked breathless as they made their way up to the dorms. Once they left the room with the dog, the four ran all the way back to the common room.

"You don't use your eyes do you? Didn't you see what was standing on?" Hermione asked

"Um Hermione we were more interested at their heads to worry about what it was standing on", Alice put in.

"It was standing on a trap door which means it wasn't there by accident. It's guarding something", Hermione said when they reached the girls dorm.

"Guarding something?" Harry asked

"That's right. Now if you two don't mind I'm going to bed before either one of you comes up with another clever idea to get us killed. Or worse expelled", Hermione said going into the dorm.

"See you guys tomorrow", Alice said before heading in herself.

"I can't believe those two!" Hermione said crossly.

"To be honest Hermione, it's not really their fault. The staircase changed and we had no idea where it led", Alice said defending Ron and Harry.

"I suppose", Hermione said "how did you hear Mrs Norris' paws over the torch?" she asked.

"I've got good hearing", Alice said vaguely. Hermione fell asleep pretty quickly after that while Alice lay awake in two minds whether to tell her friends about what she is. She didn't like keeping secrets from her friends but she was afraid that they may look at her different if she told them. The only Alice sighed and closed her eyes.


September slowly turned into October. The lessons were getting far more interesting as they'd mastered the basics. In charms class they'd moved on to levitation charms. Professor Flitwick had paired the students off with a feather each. Much to Hermione's dismay she had been paired with Ron. Alice had better luck as she'd been paired with Harry. Both attempt to get their feather to float but was having no success. Alice can hear that Ron and Hermione not faring well either as they were arguing. "Stop. Stop. You're going to take someone's eye out. Besides you're saying it wrong. Its leviosa, not leviosar", Alice heard Hermione say. She was too busy listening that she didn't hear Harry speak to her. "Hm?" Alice asked

"Do you want to have another go?" Harry asked.

"Oh, uh sure", Alice replied.

"Wingardium Leviosa", Alice said doing to correct swish and flick motion. Their feather rose just after Hermione's and Ron's did.

"Well done Miss Granger and Miss Bl-Weasley", Professor Flitwick said quickly correcting himself.

"Wingard Leviosa. Wingard Leviosa", Seamus said waving his wand over his and Neville's feather. BOOM! The whole class stares as their feather explodes.

After charms class the boys walked ahead with Neville and Seamus whilst Hermione and Alice hung back chatting. "It's Leviosa not Leviosar", Alice heard Ron say pretending to be Hermione. "Honestly she's a nightmare. No wonder she hasn't got any friends", both girls heard him say and Hermione's face fell.

"Hermione!" Alice said as she walked towards the boys. She watched as the brunette pushed past them and she heard her sniffle.

"I think she heard you", Alice heard Harry say.

Alice stormed up to Ron and smacked him upside the head. "Ow! Seriously Alice what the hell!" Ron cried rubbing his head.

"You really are a moron Ronald! I'm her friend! Think I didn't hear you mock the way she talks?" Alice exclaimed. Ron didn't say anything. "So what if the girl is better than you at a little spell. Makes you look pretty pathetic", Alice ranted "next time you see her you'd better apologise". Ron took a step back as her eyes had turned gold in her anger. Even Harry was a little unnerved. The two boys watched as Alice stormed off.


"I'll see you later", Alice said as they came out of their final class of the day.

"You're not coming to the feast?" Harry asked. He'd been concerned about his friend as she'd been in a bad mood since her argument with Ron.

"Not hungry. I'm going to look for my friend", Alice replied giving Ron a glare. She walked off without saying another word. Alice wandered through the corridors occasionally checking classrooms for her friend. So far no luck. She eventually decided to head to the feast in case Hermione went there. Alice walked through the first floor when she heard quiet sobs over the flicking torches on the walls. She headed off in the direction of the sobs until she reached the first floor girls bathroom where the sobs where the loudest.

"Hermione?" Alice said entering the bathroom.

"Go away", Hermione called.

"Look what Ron said was out of line. He's a boy it's just what they do. Besides he didn't know you and I were friends", Alice said. There was no answer from the brown haired girl. Alice knelt down and peeked under the stall "Come on Hermione. Please come out. Pretty please?" she stood up when she heard her friend unlock the door. When Hermione stepped out of the cubicle, Alice hugged her. The half fae froze when she heard thudding footsteps over the thunder and lightning.

"Alice what's wrong?" Hermione asked

"I thought I heard something", she replied walking over the large bathroom door and peeked out. Alice gasped when she saw a large troll in the hallway! She shut the door quickly and backed away drawing her wand.

"Th-there's a troll out there", Alice stammered. Hermione paled and dragged Alice into the bathroom stall. The two girls waited hearts hammering trying to be as quiet as possible. Alice put her finger to her lips as the bathroom door is pushed open. They wait with baited breath praying that the troll won't see them and leave.

Their hopes were dashed when they heard a noise above them. The troll had spotted them! It roars and smashed its club into the stalls. Both girls scream as bits of wood come raining down on them. They throw themselves to the floor.

Hermione and Alice see Harry and Ron run in. "Hermione, Alice move!" Harry shouted to them. They scrambled from under the debris to the next lot of undamaged cubicles. The troll wasn't going to give up and destroyed those cubicles as well. Both girls scream.

"Hey Pea brain!" Hermione and Alice heard Ron shout. They took the opportunity to crawl out of the debris and over to the sinks. The troll sees them and smashes its club down. Alice cried in pain as the edge of the club landed on her foot. Hermione pulls her friend backwards as the troll raised its club again. They were surprised when it didn't come down. Hermione and Alice stared as Harry was now on the troll's neck. Harry then put his wand up the troll's nose!

The troll shakes his head trying to throw Harry off. It succeeds and is now holding Harry upside down by the leg. The troll swipes and Harry narrowly avoids it. "Do something!" Harry yelled and moved to avoid getting swiped again.

"What?" Ron asked not sure what Harry expects him to do.

"Anything!" Harry yelled avoiding the club for the third time. Ron pulls his wand out

"Hurry up!" Harry adds.

"Swish and flick!" Hermione says miming the wand movement while Alice leans against her looking pale.

"Wingardium Leviosa!" Ron says correctly this time. The club stays in the air when the troll tries to swing it at Harry again. The troll looks up and the club comes down on its head. The Troll sways and drops Harry who scrabbles backward to avoid getting hit by the troll as it came crashing to the floor.

Hermione got out from under the sink and helped Alice to her feet. "Ah!" Alice cried when she put weight on her foot. She gripped the sink for support so that she didn't have to put weight on her foot.

"Let's get you to the hospital wing", Hermione said as Harry and Ron went over to them. Alice put her arms over Harry and Ron's shoulders and they supported her around her waist. The group was about to leave when three of their Professors came rushing into the room. "Oh my goodness!" Professor McGonagall exclaimed seeing the troll. The head of Gryffindor House then took one look at Alice who was being supported by Harry and Ron and said "take Miss Weasley to the hospital wing and then I want a full explanation".

Harry and Ron walked slowly supporting Alice up to the hospital wing. Hermione hung back to explain to her teachers what had happened.

~hospital wing~

"What happened?" Madam Pomfrey asked when the two boys brought in a pale looking Alice.

"My foot came into contact with a troll's club", Alice replied gritting her teeth against the pain as her friends led her to a bed "think it's broken but don't know how badly". She grabbed Harry's hand and squeezed it as the pain shot through her when the Healer removed her sock and shoe.

"Pes emendo", Madam Pomfrey said. There was a flash of light and Alice's foot was healed. She wiggled her foot and smiled.

"Uh Alice I think your crushing Harry's hand", Ron said as Alice was still holding Harry's hand tightly.

"Oh Sorry", she said letting his hand go

"That's ok", Harry said flexing his hand after she released it. Alice had pulled on her sock and shoe when Professor McGonagall came in.

"Professor we can explain", Harry said.

"There's no need Mr Potter. Miss Granger explained how you three helped her. I hope you 3 know how fortunate you are to take on a fully grown mountain troll and come out with just a broken foot. Because of that I'm awarding you 5 points each", Professor McGonagall explained. Harry, Ron and Alice exchanged smiles "for sheer dumb luck", their head of year added.

The trio left the hospital wing and headed back to the dorm. Hermione stood when they entered the common room. "You're ok!" she said giving Alice a hug.

"Yep. Me foot's all healed", she replied wiggling it. "Ron isn't there something you want to say to Hermione?" Alice asked turning to her brother.

"Oh yeah. Um I'm sorry for what I said", Ron apologised.

"That's alright. I suppose saving the both of us from the troll is an apology in its self", Hermione said. From that moment on the four became closer friends. It was hard not to be after sharing that particular experience.