Author's Note: Well, here it is: part 2 of Halloween night! Please comment and tell your friends! (insert: "Shameless Advertising Plug"Also, if you want to read another good Harry Potter story, read "Guarding His Life" by Aileen Autarkeia/insert: "Shameless Advertising Plug")

Chapter 10: Halloween, Part 2

"There's nothing down here!" Draco said disgustedly.

"Maybe Quirrel was lying…" Harry said, running his hand against the cold stone walls of the dungeon.

"I doubt it. Did you see his face? He looked scared." Harry had to agree, something had definitely frightened the professor. "And oy, Potter. I haven't seen your father around either."

"He's probably busy."

"Or avoiding you."

"Thanks for the reassurance." Harry said sarcastically.

"My pleasure" said Draco with a mocking bow. "Where do you think that troll went?" Harry looked around, eyes wide. There were some puddles on the ground, probably from the leaky roof. Apparently, they were underneath the lake!

"Can trolls swim…?" Harry muttered.

"What?"

"Nothing." Harry said louder. "And we should go back. You said 'just the dungeon' earlier. We agreed."

"But" Draco whined. "I thought there would be a troll down here. You did too. Let's just look around some more, please?"

"I really shouldn't let you bully me around so, Draco. It's bad for my self-confidence." Harry said with a laugh. In truth, he was just glad to have Draco as a friend.

"Oh well we all know how badly that is doing." Draco said, returning the chuckle. He walked over to the nearest wall, ear pressed against it. "Maybe we can hear it…" Draco mused.

"Or maybe we could follow the large globs of mud on the floor that look troll-foot-sized." Harry said, pointing at the dirty floor.

"Right. Let's do that." The trail seemed to lead up a staircase that neither of the boys had seen before. Draco accidentally stepped in some of the mud. "Gross. Now I'll have to burn these shoes!" He complained.

"It's just mud." Harry interjected. Draco scowled.

They were just reaching the top of the staircase when Harry heard voices. It was his father! And….Quirrel?

"Sh…" Harry whispered to his friend. "I want to listen."

Harry peered above the staircase, where Snape and Quirrel were speaking in hushed tones.

"You released the troll?" Snape said. He looked a bit nervous and his hair was uncombed. Quirrel looked nervous too, but then again…he was always nervous.

"Of course I have. I'm no fool, Severus!" Wait…Quirrel was speaking WITHOUT a stutter? Harry looked at Draco, who also had an expression of surprise on his face.

"Good. That should distract them. Now all we have to do is get the package."

"You sure you know the barriers?" Quirrel said questioningly. Snape sneered.

"I shou-"

BOOM! A huge crashing noise echoed through the hallway. Draco stood in the staircase, a gargoyle in pieces at his feet. Harry looked at the two men talking. Or…not talking. They both looked around and finally saw the two boys standing nearby.

"Run Draco!" Harry said, pushing Draco away. Harry didn't know why, but he felt that getting caught by his father was not a good thing to be done, at least, not for right now.

"What HAPPENED Draco?" Harry said, while running. They were almost at the Slytherin doorway. Harry looked behind him. He couldn't see his father or Quirrel. But he had to be sure. He sprinted to the door and yelled the password, "Salazar!"

He ran into the common room out of breath. Draco arrived shortly after him.

All the faces in the room turned towards the newcomers, surprise and betrayal on their faces.

"Now what were you two doing outside, eh?" Marcus Flint stared at them, arms crossed.

"I forgot about this…" Draco whispered to Harry.