The next day after classes, Hermione stormed off to her màthair's office. After banging the door against the wall, the angry young witch stomped to Minerva's desk and slammed her palms on it.
Minerva raised an eyebrow. "And what do I owe the pleasure of this surprise visit?"
"There is a giant, three-headed dog guarding something on the third floor." Hermione challenged, eyes flashing.
"Hermione" Minerva sighed, "Fluffy is guarding something. And no I can't tell you what it is."
"Màthair if it's dangerous, I need to know to be able to defend myself." Hermione furrowed her brow, very concerned.
The elder witch pinched the bridge of her nose. "Here's what I can tell you, other than Fluffy there are other enchantments that are guarding the thing that Albus insisted on bringing here."
"You're not happy with dad are you?" Hermione asked as she crawled into her mother's lap.
"No I am not." Minerva chuckled without humor, "This may be one of the few times I have sent him to the proverbial couch, so to speak."
"Who's on the proverbial couch?" Albus asked as he walked into the room and tried to kiss his wife on the cheek, only to have her turn her face away.
"Màthair doesn't like that fact that you are guarding something dangerous in the castle." Hermione shrugged, snuggling closer to her mother.
"You told her?" Albus asked incredulously.
"Yes, Albus I did!" Minerva shouted, she was, quite frankly done with Albus' meddling.
"Why would you do that!" the wizard roared, causing Hermione to whimper and shrink into Minerva.
Albus didn't notice this, however, Minerva did. "Shh, Kitten, it's alright." Minerva petted her hair. "Albus, dear, she discovered Fluffy."
The older wizard put his head in his hands and groaned. "How?"
"After I showed Potter and Weasley James' trophy, that dammed…."
"Hermione! Language!" Minerva frowned at her daughter
Said witch rolled her eyes, "Moving staircase dropped us off at the third floor. I didn't know until we opened the door and saw all the dust. Mrs. Norris found us and we fled Filch."
Albus looked at her. "The only way to open that door is with a key."
"Or" Hermione tossed her head, "With an unlocking charm, that all first years are taught."
Minerva chuckled, "Most students won't go there and I hope you and Misters Potter and Weasley have learned your lesson."
"Don't worry màthair." Hermione assured her mother, "I have no intention of going to the third floor until Fluffy is gone."
"Have you made any friends yet?" Minerva smiled slightly at her daughter.
Hermione sighed and rolled her eyes, "Does Nymph, Fred and George count?"
"In your year?" Minerva tried to glare at her daughter and failed.
"No." Hermione sighed, hanging her head.
Minerva tilted the young girl's head up and smiled at her. "It is going to be fine. You will find friends."
Hermione woke to a sunny Halloween morning. Classes went well until her last class of the day, Charms. Hermione was a natural at Charms and was one of Filius' favorite Gryffindors.
"Now remember." The diminutive Charms professor instructed, "Swish and flick." After the class had demonstrated they knew what they were doing, Flitwick continued, "Now, saw the incantation, 'Wingardium Leviosa'."
"Wingardium Leviosar!" Ron scowled, jerking his wand up and done, trying to get his feather to float.
"Stop! Stop ! Stop!" Hermione thrust her hand other his wand, an irritated look on her face. "You're going to poke someone's eye out!" She had donned her best 'teacher voice.' "Besides, you're saying it wrong. It's LeviOsa, not LeviosAR!"
"Well, you do it then if you're so smart." Ron petulantly snapped, he wasn't going to admit that she sounded crazily like Professor McGonagall.
Hermione sat up straighter, and with a crisp swish and flick, "Wingardium Leviosa." She raised the feather almost to the ceiling.
"Miss Mc….Granger's done it!" Flitwick praised, Hermione beamed. "Well done, well done! Ten points to Gryffindor."
Ron scowled and slumped into the desk.
After class, Ron was complaining to Harry. "She a menace, honestly. It's LeviOsa, not LeviosAR! No wonder she doesn't have any friends."
Hermione slammed her shoulder in the rude ginger's, hard enough to make him stumble. She kept her head down, sniffling and trying not to cry.
"I think she heard you." Harry whispered.
Hermione, however, ignored them and rushed to the nearest bathroom. She closed herself in a stall and had a good cry.
A few hours later Hermione crept out of the stall, wiping her eyes, planning on going to go see Minerva immediately; however, she stopped when she saw two very large, very greenish-grey feet. She slowly brought her eyes up, seeing two tree-trunk like legs, a rather large torso, followed by a small head with ears two sizes too big and beady eyes.
Hermione's eyes widened and she scampered into the stall she just vacated. She dove toward the floor as the troll destroyed the wooden stalls with its club. Wood chunks buried Hermione as she covered her head with her hands. I bloody hate trolls!
"Hermione, move!" Harry shouted.
Hermione attempted army crawled to the end of the stalls, but had to cover her head when the troll swung and destroyed some more of the stalls.
"Oi! Pee brain!" Ron yelled at the troll and threw a chunk of wood at it. Hitting it in the head and getting its attention.
Hermione used the distraction to crawl under the sinks, she was shaking by now.
However, the troll was not to be distracted from its original prey and it sung its club at the sinks. Thankfully it missed the one Hermione was hiding under. As the troll was about to swing again, Harry leapt onto it and landed on the creature's shoulders and his wand ended up the creature's nose.
The troll was confused and pulled Harry by the leg off its shoulders. Before the troll could brain Harry with its club, Hermione whispered, "Wingardium Leviosa." The club floated into the air above the troll's head and Hermione canceled the spell. The hundred pound club hit the troll on the head, knocking him unconscious. He dropped Harry as he crashed to the floor.
"I-I-Is it d-d-dead?" Hermione stuttered as she crawled out from under the sink.
"No, I think it's just knocked out." Harry said as he pulled his wand out of the troll's nose. "Ew, troll boogies."
"What on earth!" Minerva exclaimed, her eyes quickly finding Hermione trying to assess if there was any damage. "Explain your selves!"
Both boys opened and closed their mouths, but no sound came out. Quirrell looked like he was about to pass out and Snape just looked angry.
"I-I-It was m-my faul-t-t pr-pr-prof-f-fessor." Hermione couldn't meet her mother's eyes. "Y-you see, I have r-read about t-t-trolls and I thought I could take c-c-care of myself. If H-Harry and Ron hadn't f-found me, I'd be d-d-dead."
Both Harry and Ron looked at Hermione, why was she covering for them?
"Well, fifty points from Gryffindor and I want to see you in my office." Minerva was trying very hard to control her emotions. "Twenty-five points each, to Misters Potter and Weasley, for shear dumb luck!" Minerva swept out of the room with Hermione right on her heals.
Hermione had to run to keep up with her màthair, "Professor?"
"Not right now, Miss Granger!" Minerva snapped causing Hermione to flinch; she had never seen her mother this angry.
Hermione spent the rest of the walk to Minerva's office in silence.
As soon as they got to her office, Minerva locked and warded the door before continuing to her quarters. "Hermione…."
"I-I-I s-s-sorry." Hermione squeaked shrinking into herself and shaking.
Minerva slowly approached the fearful witch. "Kitten, it's okay. Come here."
Hermione slowly lifted her eyes from the floor and met her màthair's concerned ones and launched herself into waiting arms. "I-I-I was so sc-sc-scared." The young witch hiccupped and finally let the tears fall.
"It's okay, you're safe now." Minerva assured her as she ran her fingers through her daughter's hair. "Now, I'm not mad, well I am, I am furious. But I want you to tell me want happened and don't lie this time."
"Well," Hermione hiccupped, "I had been in the bathroom since Charms…"
"What were you doing in there?" Minerva asked it wasn't like Hermione to hide in the bathroom, the Library, yes but not the bathroom.
"I had tried to help Ron during class, but he didn't take it well and after class he said some really mean things. I didn't want anyone to see me cry. I was headed to see you when I ran into the troll." Hermione snuggled closer into her mum's lap.
Minerva was quite for a while. "Hermione, did you get hurt. And do not shrug it off and say it's nothing, I saw what was left of the bathroom."
"The stalls fell on me." Hermione shrugged, "I think I may have gotten a few scrapes."
Minerva took a deep breath. "Hermione, I don't want you getting hurt."
"I know, màthair. I think that I should head back." Hermione smiled, "I think Harry and Ron will be worried."
"Oh?" Minerva asked, eyebrows rising.
"I covered for them." Hermione shrugged and slid off her lap. "I'll be fine I promise."
After that the three Gryffindors became as thick as thieves, but that's what happens when you face off against a mountain troll together.
A/N: Sorry that it took so long to update, with school restarting and switching my major this week was hectic. On the bright side, I should have more time to write now. Also, sorry that I didn't answer any of your comments, FanFiction was being weird and they weren't showing up. But I have them now and shall answer all! :D
Arial Wolf: Thank you very much!
May a Chance: Ah, an iconic Hermione line.
Venetiangrl92: Thank you, and here it is!
TyoCre : Yes, there are going to be some differences, I can't give you too much without spoilers. But I will tell you that Ron and Hermione are not going to be together. Oh and Dumbledore was never gay for Grindelwald, he has only loved Minerva. Minerva is also a pureblood in my story.
SassyKinglet21: Thanks so much! I do try.
Guest: That would be spoiling it ;), but I will tell you that you haven't met him yet.
Guest: Sorry about that, I can't spell to save my life. I actually panic when professors tell me that if you spell something wrong they are going to deduct points.