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Chapter 10:
It was dinner at the current moment at Hogwarts, and two days after the nine Gryffindors and two Slytherins had witnessed the events that took place through the trapdoor in the third floor corridor, and they were all anxious to see what would happen next.
The eleven students would constantly fidget around and keep their eyes peeled for any holograms, even going as far as passing through the Hospital Wing in case a hologram would appear of her finally waking up after the horrifying event with Quirrellmort as Sirius dubbed him.
Albus Dumbledore was the first one to notice that the decorations in the Great Hall was slightly changing to be replaced by Halloween decorations, and it wasn't until Hologram students and teachers began appearing around the Hall, that the rest of the population in the Great Hall took notice.
There were some shrieks and gasps as the current students began backing away so as to not interact or interfere with a hologram, but once again the main attention was on the Gryffindor table, and the focus was precisely on three first year students.
Esmeralda Potter, Ronald Weasley and Neville Longbottom.
The Headmaster and the rest of the staff, who were already out of their seats due to holograms taking their place, were the first to congregate by the middle of the Gryffindor table where James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew, Marlene and Marissa McKinnon, Lorelei Grey, Pandora Loxias, Lily Evans, Frank Longbottom, and Alice, Fabian and Gideon Prewett all sat.
The Hufflepuffs, Ravenclaws and Slytherins scrambled forward as well, not wanting to miss out on the new holograms that had just appeared, and they listened quickly with abated breath as to what they were about to witness.
"Where's Hermione?" asked Esmeralda looking slightly concerned.
Ron, whose mouth was stuffed with a mouthful of food merely shrugged, but it was Neville that spoke up in a whisper, "I overheard Parvati tell Lavender that she's been in the girl's bathroom all day, crying."
They were all confused as they watched Esmeralda and Neville shoot Ron a slight glare, who shrugged once again although he had a guilty look upon his face.
"Why would she be crying all day?" asked Lily in confusion.
"With the slight glares they gave Ron, I think it's safe to say that he did or said something to upset her," said Pandora shrewdly, her eyes narrowed slightly – she didn't tolerate bullies at all, especially after the hologram she had seen of her future daughter.
Bellatrix scoffed and whispered to her fellow Slytherins something about filthy Mudblood; the ones that heard shot her glares of their own and she sneered back at their faces.
They watched as Esmeralda was helping herself to a baked potato when a Professor who wore an absurd, lurid purple turban that was slightly askew, ran into the hall, a look of terror on his pale face.
Rabastan and Regulus acted nonchalant, but Albus Dumbledore, Minerva McGonagall and Howard Jones (who were all in the Order) narrowed their eyes at him, and the nine Gryffindors hissed in contempt, confusing the rest of the students and teachers.
Everyone stared as he reached Dumbledore's chair, slumped against the table and gasped, "Troll – in the dungeons – thought you ought to know." Before he sank to the floor in a dead faint.
"Faker! I bet you anything that bastard let the troll in!" growled Sirius and James.
"Mr. Black, Mr. Potter! Language," yelled Minerva, although she shared their sentiments.
"What's up with you two?" Rodolphus Lestrange asked in confusion, but before anyone could answer all the holograms began yelling and screaming in fear, dropping their food onto their plates and standing up abruptly.
Everyone in the present time jumped as the hologram-Dumbledore let out several purple firecrackers into the air from the end of his wand, bringing an eerie silence into the Hall.
"Prefects," he rumbled, "lead your Houses back to the dormitories immediately!"
"What about the Slytherins?" asked Lily in concern, shocking most of the students especially the Slytherins who all stared at her with an unreadable expression.
"Not to worry Miss Evans, there are other ways of entering the Slytherin Dormitory," chuckled Slughorn good-naturedly.
"Follow me! Stick together, first years! No need to fear the troll if you follow my orders! Stay close to me, now. Make wat, first years coming through! Excuse me, I'm a prefect!"
"Looks like that's Percy," Fabian chuckled.
"Merlin, he's barely a few months old right about now," gaped Alice and Fabian.
The present students watched all the holograms filing away from the Great Hall.
"Whoever wants to follow them they can, but we must all stick together and follow my lead," suggested Dumbledore, and all at once everyone assembled behind Dumbledore as he followed Esmeralda, Ronald and Neville, having a hunch that the action lied with them in this current scene.
"How could a troll get in?" Esmeralda asked as they climbed up the stairs.
"Don't ask me, they're supposed to be really stupid," said Ron. "Maybe Peeves let it in for a Halloween joke."
"Wait, isn't there a girl crying in a bathroom?" a fourth year Ravenclaw blurted out, causing all the teachers and the nine Gryffindors eyes to widen in shock.
Suddenly Esmeralda grabbed Ron and Neville, "I've just though – Hermione."
"What about her?" asked Ron.
Neville's eyes widened, "She doesn't know about the troll."
Everyone changed course as they began speeding at an alarming rate after the three first years towards the girl's bathroom.
"Esmeralda Potter!" growled Lily, "She should inform a teacher or a prefect! This is your entire fault," Lily snapped, hitting James in the back of his head, and despite the situation, everyone couldn't help but laugh in amusement.
"Ouch, how's it my fault?" snapped James, but he too looked worried at the predicament his future daughter was getting herself into.
"Oi! You two, in case you both failed to notice, but our son and nephew is going head first into the same situation, so knock it off and shut up!" Alice growled, making everyone stare in shock at the usually sweet and gentle sixth year.
Frank placed an arm around her in the hopes of calming his girlfriend down, just as they all stopped behind a large stone griffin.
They all found themselves staring at an older version of Snape.
"What's he doing?" Esmeralda whispered. "Why isn't he down in the dungeons with the rest of the teachers?"
"Search me," Neville and Ron both shrugged.
"He's heading for the third floor," Esmeralda said, but Ron held his hand, "Can you smell something?"
They all stared in trepidation as they heard low grunting and the shuffling of footsteps; staring at horror as they found the troll, they watched as the three first years locked it into a bathroom.
"Good, now go inform a teacher or a prefect," Remus sighed in content.
But he spoke too soon as a high petrified scream resounded all around them.
"Did they just-"Marissa began.
"Yup they just locked Hermione in there with the troll," Lorelei gulped.
"Hermione!" all three of them yelled together, before running headfirst into the bathroom.
They watched as Neville tried getting Hermione to stand up – but she was petrified in shock. Ron began throwing stones at the troll to confuse it and then Esmeralda had the brilliant idea of leaping at the troll and sticking her wand through its nose.
"Bloody brilliant," growled James sarcastically. "Is she trying to get herself killed?!"
"Albus!" Minerva whimpered, clutching onto his hand in fear, and he was not faring any better.
Ron said the first spell that came into his head, and with a swish and flick, he yelled, "Wingardium Leviosa!"
the club flew suddenly out of the troll's hand, rose high up into the air and slowly turned over – dropping with a sickening crack onto its owner's head. The troll swayed on the spot and then fell flat on its face, with a thud that made the whole room tremble.
"Did two first years just defeat a troll?" asked a flabbergasted Barty Crouch Jr.
"Yes," replied a disbelieving and wide-eyed Lucius Malfoy.
"That was fantastic!" crowed Lorelei, her eyes widening in amazement.
Esmeralda got up on her feet, cleaning her wand from the troll's snot, and Hermione walked over, "Is it – dead?"
"I don't think so," said Neville, "I think it's just been knocked out."
The audience all turned their heads sharply behind them at the sound of slamming doors and hastened footsteps approaching; it turned out to be Professor McGonagall, followed by Snape with Quirrell bringing the rear.
One look at the troll and Quirrell let out a faint whimper and sat down on the toilet, clutching his heart.
"How the bloody hell is he a teacher?" snapped Antonin Dolohov.
"He's a bloody faker, that's what he is," growled James, and everyone but Dumbledore, McGonagall and Howard Jones were confused as Sirius, Remus, Lily, Alice, Fabian, Gideon, Frank, Marissa, Marlene, Lorelei and Pandora growled and nodded in agreement.
"Okay, what do you twelve Gryffindors know that we don't?" demanded Rodolphus curiously, everyone's eyes were on them as well and Rabastan and Regulus shrunk back, not wanting to bring attention onto themselves.
"How about we discuss this at a later time, it seems Professor McGonagall's hologram-self is about to speak," Albus chuckled, sending a wink to the grateful Gryffindors who smiled in thanks.
"What on earth were you thinking of?" said Professor McGonagall with cold fury in her voice. "You're lucky you weren't killed. Why aren't you in your dormitory?"
As the three Gryffindors stared at the floor, a small voice sounded out from behind them.
"Please, Professor McGonagall – they were looking for me."
"Miss Granger!"
"Is she going to do what I think she is going to do?" asked a shocked Lorelei, her mouth agape.
"I think she is going to do exactly what you think she is going to do," answered an equally shocked Sirius – even though they knew them to be friends in the future, they never figured out how Esmeralda, Ron and Neville befriended Hermione.
"Would you two shut it?! You're confusing all of us," growled Narcissa.
"Sorry cousin," smirked Sirius sarcastically, not looking sorry at all as he placed an arm around Lorelei in camaraderie fashion.
"I went looking for the troll because I – I thought I could deal with it on my own – you know, because I've read all about them."
"She's lying to a teacher," gasped James and the staff began chuckling at the look of outrage that appeared on Minerva's face as she watched the scene unfold.
"It is so weird seeing myself as a teacher … and older," mumbled Severus, causing Regulus and Rabastan – who heard, to smirk at him in amusement.
Apparently, Esmeralda, Ron and Neville were shocked too by the looks on their face.
"If they hadn't found me, I'd be dead now. Neville tried protecting me and getting me oit, Esmeralda stuck her wand up its nose and Ron knocked it out with its own club –"
"Which was bloody awesome," cheered Lorelei and Sirius in unison, ignoring the grumbles they got for interrupting.
"- they didn't have time to come and fetch anyone. It was about to finish me off when they arrived."
"Well – in that case …" said Professor McGonagall staring at the four of them, "Miss Granger, you foolish girl, how could you think of tackling a mountain troll on your own?"
'If they were honest then I wouldn't have berated her at all," grumbled Minerva, much to everyone's amusement as they tried covering their sniggers behind their hands. Albus Dumbledore however, chuckled out loud, ignoring Minerva's glare.
"Miss Granger, five points will be taken from Gryffindor for this," said Professor McGonagall. "I'm very disappointed in you. If you're not hurt at all, you'd better get off to Gryffindor Tower. Students are finishing the feats in their Houses."
As Hermione left, they all watched as McGonagall turned to the three first years remaining.
"Aw, come on Minnie, you aren't going to take points from them, are you?" asked James innocently.
"Ten points from Gryffindor Mr. Potter, how many times must I tell you not to call me that!"
"But Minnie-"Sirius began.
"Another ten points Mr. Black … one more time and it will be detention!" she snapped causing everyone to laugh.
"Well, I still say you're lucky, but not many first years could have taken on a full-grown mountain troll and live to tell the tale! You each win Gryffindor five points for sheer dumb luck! Professor Dumbledore will be informed on this. You may go."
And after Professor McGonagall said the last word, the holograms all dissipated into mist before vanishing completely before their eyes.
Everyone was silent for a while, all of them in shock after what they had seen.
"A troll! A troll roaming around in Hogwarts," said Professor Sprout breathlessly.
"I don't know what is happening in Hogwarts my dear," Albus sighed.
"Quirrell happened," James growled.
But before anyone could question him further, an adder patronus appeared in front of Dumbledore.
"Albus, a hologram appeared just now in the Hospital Wing … it looks to be from the one a few days ago; come quickly."
"Esmeralda finally woke up," shrieked Lily, confusing everyone once again.
No words were spoken as everyone rushed out of the crowded bathroom and followed the Headmaster as he made his way over to the Hospital Wing just in time to see a hologram-Dumbledore walk in swiftly.
"Albus, she's beginning to wake up, I saw a hologram of myself send a patronus to your future-self informing you that she is beginning to wake up," said Madam Pomfrey rapidly, sparing a look of bewilderment at the large entourage gathered behind the Headmaster.
They watched as a weather-beaten Esmeralda Potter who was nestled into the many blankets began fluttering her eyelids in a sign of regaining consciousness.
"What happened to her?" asked Anton Greengrass.
"You are about to find out, Mr. Greengrass," replied Albus kindly, his eyes never leaving his hologram-self who was smiling at Esmeralda Potter as she opened her eyes.
"Good afternoon, Esmeralda," said Dumbledore.
Esmeralda stared at him for a while in confusion before it looked like she remembered something as she frantically said, "Sir! The Stone! It was Quirrell! He's got the Stone! Sir, quick –"
"What is she blathering about," Bellatrix grumbled in frustration.
"Listen and find out Miss Black," said Minerva sternly, causing her to grumble even further and bury herself into Rodolphus' arms.
Rabastan and Regulus leaned forward eagerly.
"Calm yourself, dear girl, you are a little behind the times," said Dumbledore, "Quirrell does not have the Stone."
"Then who does? Sir, I-"
"Esmeralda, please relax, or Madam Pomfrey will have me thrown out."
"Well, if you are disturbing my patient of course I will," muttered Madam Pomfrey, but everyone heard and let out a slight chuckle while Albus stared at her in amusement.
"Woah, look at all that candy," said Remus salivating slightly in awe as they all noticed her stare at the mountain-full of chocolate and candy.
"Tokens from your friends and admirers," said Dumbledore beaming as he looked at all the candy. "What happened down in the dungeons between you and Professor Quirrell is a complete secret, so, naturally, the whole school knows. I believe your friends Misters Fred and George Weasley were responsible for trying to send you a toilet seat. No doubt they though it would amuse you. Madam Pomfrey, however, felt it might not be very hygienic and confiscated it."
"Well – I, but, Well of course I would!" stuttered Madam Pomfrey in indignation.
"Fabian, Gideon, I love your nephews," chortled Sirius as nearly everyone laughed at the situation.
But most were frustrated, wanting to know what the holograms were talking about.
"How long have I been here?"
"Three days. Mr. Ronald Weasley, Mr. Longbottom and Miss Granger will be most relieved you have come around, they have been extremely worried."
"Three days," gasped James, "One more day and she would have never woke up!"
"What do you mean?" Mary Macdonald asked.
"A few days ago we saw hologram-Dumbledore bring her in and Madam Pomfrey's hologram-self said that if she doesn't wake up from her coma in four days then she might never wake up," said Marissa McKinnon quickly, averting her attention back to the holograms as everyone gasped, taking the new information in.
"But sir, the Stone-"
"Yes, I would like to know that as well," muttered Albus to himself, but everyone heard and they listened anxiously to the holograms.
"I see you are not to be distracted. Very well, the Stone. Professor Quirrell did not manage to take it from you. I arrived in time to prevent that, although you were doing very well on your own, I must say."
"What about that stuttering, cowardly fool?" spat Azrial Nott.
"You got there? You got Hermione's owl?"
"We must have crossed in midair. No sooner had I reached London that it became clear to me that the place I should be was the one I had just left. I arrived just in time to pull Quirrell off you –"
"It was you."
If it was possible, everyone was even more confused and more frustrated … Professor Quirrell tried to kill Esmeralda Potter?
Why?
"I feared I might be too late."
"You nearly were, I couldn't have kept him off the Stone much longer –"
"No regard for her own safety," said Howard Jones in disbelief as everyone else gaped at her in shock, but none more than James, Sirius and Lily.
"Not the Stone, girl, you – the effort involved nearly killed you. For one terrible moment there, I was afraid it had. As for the Stone, it has been destroyed."
Albus sucked in a harsh breath; he had to prevent this from happening in the future, he couldn't bear for Nicolas and Perenelle to die.
"Destroyed?" said Esmeralda blankly. "But your friend – Nicolas Flamel –"
"Nicolas Flamel?" everyone asked in shock.
"Oh, you know about Nicolas?" said Dumbledore, sounding quite delighted. "You did do the thing properly, didn't you? Well, Nicolas and I have had a little chat, and agreed it's all for the best."
"But that means he and his wife will die, won't they?"
"They have enough Elixir stored to set their affairs in order and then, yes, they will die."
They all chuckled at the look of surprise on young Esmeralda's face, and although the situation was no laughing matter, the look on her face was comically hilarious.
"To one as young as you, I'm sure it seems incredible, but to Nicolas and Perenelle, it really is like going to bed after a very, very long day. After all, to the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure. You know, the Stone was really not such a wonderful thing. As much money and life as you could want! The two things most human beings would choose above all – the trouble is, humans do have a knack of choosing precisely those things that are worst for them."
"Couldn't say so any better myself," Albus chuckled.
"Of course you would, you said it in the future," rebutted Sirius.
"Yeah Headmaster, you're kind of agreeing with yourself there," Lorelei chuckled, and everyone watched in shock as the headmaster laughed! They would never dare to speak to him in such a joking and camaraderie manner.
"True, true," Albus smiled, his eyes twinkling at the two Gryffindors, shocking their audience even more.
"Sir," said Esmeralda. "I've been thinking …Sir – even if You-Know-Who –"
"Call him Voldemort, Esmeralda. Always use the proper name for things. Fear of a name only increases fear of the thing itself."
Nearly everyone flinched and some of the Death Eaters hissed, but they were ignored as the ones who didn't flinch rolled their eyes in exasperation.
"Yes sir, well Voldemort's going to try other ways of coming back, isn't he? I mean, he hasn't gone, has he?"
"Gone?" some people mumbled in delight, only most of the Slytherin stood there stonily unable to believe the Dark Lord was gone in the future.
"No, Esmeralda, he has not. He is still out there somewhere, perhaps looking for another body to share … not being truly alive, he cannot be killed. He left Quirrell to die; he shows just a little mercy to his followers as his enemies. –"
The Death Eaters and the students that wanted to follow the Dark Lord fidgeted uncomfortably, staring at the holograms in horror and disbelief; Rabastan and Regulus shared a nod which spoke volumes, 'they will show them the memory when they get back to the Slytherin common room.'
"- nevertheless Esmeralda, while you may only have delayed his return to power, it will merely take someone else who is prepared to fight what seems to be a losing battle next time – and if he is delayed again, and again, why, he may never return to power."
"Are you telling me that an eleven year old defeated the Dark Lord," hissed Bellatrix in disbelief.
"Not exactly," said Pandora casually. "If you listen then your answer may be revealed."
Esmeralda nodded, "Sir, there are some other things I'd like to know, if you can tell me … things I want to know about …"
"The truth," Dumbledore sighed. "It is a beautiful and terrible thing, and should therefore be treated with caution. However, I shall answer your questions unless I have a very good reason not to, in which case, I beg you'll forgive me. I shall not, of course, lie."
"You and your riddles," James sighed in exasperation.
"You really are fond of her in the future," mused Remus, everyone nodded in agreement and Albus smiled albeit a little fondly at the little girl that lay on the bed talking to his future-self.
"Well … Voldemort said that he only killed my mother because she tried to stop him from killing me. But why would he want to kill me in the first place?"
While everyone began mumbling about Lily being murdered by Voldemort and him wanting to kill Esmeralda, they all listened intently for hologram-Dumbledore's response – the nine Gryffindors and Albus most of all.
Dumbledore sighed deeply, "Alas, the first thing you ask me, I cannot tell you. Not today. Not now. You will know, one day … put it from your mind for now, Esmeralda. When you are older … I know you hate to hear this … when you are ready, you will know."
"Headmaster!" half the room yelled in annoyance, and if Albus was being honest with himself, he was rather annoyed at himself too – he wanted to solve the damn riddles, even though he knew he must have had a good reason for not telling her in the future; perhaps it was because she is still too young to know.
"But why couldn't Quirrell touch me?"
The nine Gryffindors, the two Slytherins, Albus, Minerva and Howard leaned forward, desperate to get the answer to another one of their questions.
"Your mother died to save you. If there is one thing Voldemort cannot understand, it is love. He didn't realize that love as powerful as your mother's love for you leaves its own mark. Not a scar, no visible sign … to have been loved so deeply, even though the person who loved us is gone, will give us some protection forever. It is in your skin. Quirrell, full of hatred, greed, and ambition, sharing his soul with Voldemort, could not touch you for this reason. It was agony to touch a person marked by something so good."
They all watched as Esmeralda discreetly wiped away a few stray tears from her eyes as the hologram-Dumbledore politely looked away, and Lily began bursting out in wracked sobs.
Nearly all the girls were in tears and the boys looked solemn.
Albus was deep in thought and Minerva, Pomona and Poppy were wiping away their own tears.
"You saved our daughters life," said James in a voice full of love and adoration, not caring that everyone could hear them, and Lily gave him a watery smile as she wiped away her tears.
"And the Invisibility Cloak – do you know who sent it to me?"
"Ah – your father happened to leave it in my possession, and I thought you might like it," Dumbledore's eyes twinkled.
"And there was something else-"
"Fire away."
"Quirrell said Snape-"
"Professor Snape, Esmeralda."
"Yes, him –"
Everyone burst out laughing at that; glad for the tension reliever and even Snape managed to crack a little smile.
"- Quirrell said he hates me because he hated my father. Is that true?"
Here, everyone sent a glare to a sheepish Snape who avoided eye contact with everyone as he kept his eyes on the two holograms in front of him.
"Well, they did rather detest each other, not unlike yourself and Mr. Malfoy. And then, your father did something Snape could never forgive."
"What?"
Everyone was curious now, though none more than James and Snape.
"He saved his life."
"What?"
"WHAT!" everyone yelled, though none louder than Severus Snape himself.
The teachers all looked flabbergasted and the Slytherins were all starting at James Potter in surprise and astonishment.
James himself was spluttering like a fool, unable to comprehend what the hell was happening in the future.
"Yes …" said Dumbledore dreamily. "Funny, the way people's mind works, isn't it? Professor Snape couldn't bear being in your father's debt. … I do believe he worked so hard to protect you this year because he felt that would make him and your father even. Then he could go back to hating your father's memory in peace. …"
"You're dead too?" asked Daniel Wood in horror.
"Voldemort murdered me right before he did Lily from what we heard two days ago," mumbled James as he stared at his daughter with an anguished gaze.
All the students were fidgeting uncomfortably while the teachers looked on sadly.
"And sir, there's one more thing …"
"Just the one?"
"How did I get the Stone out of the mirror?"
The nine Gryffindors and two Slytherins were listening with rapt curiosity; they had been wondering the same thing as well when they witnessed it happen.
"Ah, now, I'm glad you asked me that. It was one of my more brilliant ideas, and between you and me, that's saying something. You see, only one who wanted to find the Stone – find it, but not use it – would be able to get it, otherwise they'd just see themselves making gold or drinking the Elixir of Life. My brain surprises me sometimes. –"
"Brilliant!"
Everyone began exclamations of awe and Albus smiled modestly at them all.
"- …Now, enough questions. I suggest you make a start on these sweets. Ah! Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans! I was unfortunate enough in my youth to come across a vomit-flavored one, and since then I'm afraid I've rather lost my liking for them – but I think I'll be safe with a nice toffee, don't you?"
"I don't think that's toffee Headmaster," said Sirius, smothering his laughter as they all watched him pop a golden-brown bean into his mouth.
He choked and said, "Alas! Ear wax!"
Everyone burst out in uproarious laughter as the holograms vanished.
After they had all collected themselves, the Headmaster dismissed them all, and each and every person went to ponder the events of the night in their common room and offices.
A/N: So this was a long chapter explaining some of the questions and riddles that they wanted to know. The next chapter will be the events and repercussions for this chapter.
ENJOY! R&R!