Disclaimer: All recognizable characters and settings belong to J.K. Rowling.
A/N: I truly do appreciate everyone who takes time to review! Thank you!
Kaiden felt himself being jostled and slowly opened his eyes. "Ugh, my head is killing me." He groaned as he sat up.
"Are you okay?" Hermione asked, tears in her eyes.
"I'm okay," Kaiden assured her. He looked at the troll. "Is it dead?"
"I think it's just knocked out," Draco helped his cousin up. "Are you sure you are okay?"
Kaiden rubbed the back of his head ruefully. "Yeah," He said. He could a feel a bump already rising and it hurt but he'd had worse. "Are you okay Hermione?"
Hermione nodded. "Thanks to both of you!" She flung her arms around Kaiden and then Draco, who looked embarrassed.
"It was nothing," Draco muttered.
"Nothing? You both fought a troll!" Hermione said incredulously. She looked at both of them and smiled. "Thank you."
"You're our friend Hermione," Kaiden said. "We came to warn you, Pansy told us you were in here and upset. To be honest, the troll was said to be in the dungeons."
"How did it get in the castle?" Hermione wondered out loud.
"I have a better question, why aren't you three where you are supposed to be?" A frosty voice asked.
Professor McGonagall glared at the three children. Professor Quirrell was with her, looking like he might faint again and a second later, Severus and Bella ran in.
Bella gasped when she saw her son standing next to the unconscious troll. "Kaiden!" She grabbed his shoulders and looked him up and down. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Kaiden said, his heart sinking at the stern look on his father's face. Worry was there as well and his mother kept checking him over. He winced when she ran her hand over the back of his head.
"You have a bump!"
"Kaiden was knocked out for a moment," Draco said. He returned his cousin's glare evenly; he knew Kaiden needed to be checked out.
Severus immediately ran a diagnostic on Kaiden, reaching out a hand to gently feel Kaiden's bump.
"Are you two okay?" Bella asked her nephew and Hermione. When they nodded she turned back to Kaiden.
Severus read the diagnostic. "You don't appear to have a concussion," He said with relief. "Do you feel dizzy or sick? Any blurriness?"
"No, it hurts a bit but that's all," Kaiden answered, biting his lip. Now that he had been checked over, all the adults were glaring at the three of them. Well, except for Quirrell who was whimpering to himself as he gazed at the troll.
"What in Merlin's name were you thinking of?" Minerva asked with cold fury in her voice. "You could have been killed! Why are you not in the Tower?"
"A very good question," Severus said sternly. He and Bella had come running when they heard the racket coming from here but they had not been prepared to see their son standing next to a troll!
"It is my fault Professors'," Hermione spoke up. "I went looking for the troll. See, I've read all about them and thought I could deal with it on my own." She looked down. "If Kaiden and Draco hadn't found me, I'd probably be dead. Kaiden jumped on the troll to distract it and Draco knocked it out with its own club. There was no time to get help; the troll was advancing on me."
Professor McGonagall and Quirrell looked shocked while Bella and Severus were looking horrified. They could also tell by the surprised look on Kaiden and Draco's faces that it was not entirely the whole story.
"You jumped on the troll?" Severus stared at his son.
Kaiden bit his lip nervously and nodded. "It was going after Draco at that point." He explained. "Then Draco got it to knock itself out."
"Yeah but you got hurt when it fell," Draco sighed.
"It was still brilliant," Kaiden insisted, not wanting Draco to feel bad.
"Honestly, you three," Professor McGonagall huffed. "Miss Granger, how could you be so foolish as to think you could take on a mountain troll on your own?"
Hermione hung her head, ignoring Kaiden and Draco's stares. "I'm sorry," She whispered.
"Five points will be taken from Gryffindor for your serious lack of judgment," Professor McGonagall said. "As for you two," She glanced over at Severus and Bella and then gave a small shrug. "In my opinion, you were both very lucky. Not many first years could take on a fully grown mountain troll. I'm awarding each of you five points…for sheer dumb luck. Now I'm sure there are two very worried prefects in Gryffindor right now, I'll escort you three to the Tower."
Severus had to restrain himself from protesting the points when he realized that Minerva had actually given points to Slytherin while taking points from Gryffindor. It was rare for a professor to do that, even ones that tried to be fair like Minerva did.
"Kaiden will be staying with us tonight," Severus announced. "He needs to be watched in case signs of a concussion appear."
"Yes, I agree," Bella said with relief. She wanted her son in her sight after hearing of his little adventure.
Kaiden gave his friends a reassuring smile as they left, which faded when they were out of sight. He looked nervously up at his parents. "Am I in trouble?"
Severus raised an eyebrow. "We need to discuss this further that is for certain." He glanced at Quirrell. "I trust you can take of the troll?" He smirked a bit at Quirrell's sputtering and led his family out of the chamber.
HP
"Sit down," Severus pointed to the couch as soon as they had entered their quarters.
Kaiden obeyed, still nervous that he might be in trouble. Snidget came running and jumped into his arms, which Kaiden was grateful for as he hugged the soft cat to himself.
Severus summoned a vial and a small jar. "Are you still feeling fine besides the pain from your bump? Be honest, it is important."
"Yes," Kaiden said. "I don't feel sick to my stomach or dizzy."
"Here, this is for the pain," Severus handed Kaiden the pain reliever. "This balm will help reduce the bump faster."
"I'll apply it," Bella said, taking the jar.
Kaiden sat still as his mother gently spread the balm onto his bump.
Severus paced slightly in front of them. "What is the truth of what happened? We know Miss. Granger's version isn't entirely accurate."
Before Kaiden could respond, there was a popping sound in the kitchen and when they looked to see what it was from, they saw food from the feast on their table.
Severus sighed; figuring that food had been sent to all the common rooms and that the Headmaster already knew what had happened and didn't want Kaiden to miss out. "We'll talk as we eat," He said, smiling slightly at the way Kaiden's eyes brightened. His son was still fairly thin but not nearly as thin as he had been during the summer.
"So what really happened?" Bella asked as they began eating.
Kaiden hesitated and then decided to tell the truth. He wasn't really sure why Hermione felt the need to lie but he was touched that she had tried to get them out of trouble. "During our Charms class, Weasley said some mean things to Hermione. Then at the beginning of the feast, Pansy said that Hermione was in the bathroom crying and wanted to be left alone. After we heard about the troll, we realized that Hermione didn't know about it. So Draco and I went to find her while Pansy and Blaise were going tell a prefect."
"Why didn't you just wait and let a prefect go find Hermione?" Bella asked.
"She was already upset and we were worried about her," Kaiden explained. "The troll was supposed to be in the dungeons!"
"Yes, it was," Severus said slowly, exchanging a look with Bella. Another thing that was suspicious about Quirrell. They had seen him heading to the third floor and when he saw them, he stuttered that he had gotten separated from Minerva and then had heard a noise. He had hurried away from them then, to catch up with Minerva. Severus was going to talk to Dumbledore about it as soon as he got a chance.
"Nevertheless, you should have gotten the attention of a professor or prefect immediately. You were sent to the Tower for your safety and you disobeyed." Severus said. "You, Draco and Hermione were very lucky tonight young man."
"I know," Kaiden said quietly. "I'm sorry."
Bella patted him on the arm. "You were also very brave." She said, ignoring Severus's exasperated look.
"Brave and reckless once again," Severus said with a frown. "You risked your life for yet another Gryffindor."
"He went to help a friend and things got out of control…again," Bella corrected him. She looked at her husband and they had a quick silent conversation before returning their attention back to Kaiden.
"You are not in trouble," Severus said finally. "It would be different if you had gone deliberately looking for the troll."
"We didn't, honest," Kaiden said quickly.
Severus nodded. "However, we want you to be careful and think your actions through. It is just like with the Remembrall, you reacted without thinking through what could happen to you."
"We are proud of you as well," Bella added. "Taking on a troll…that is pretty amazing. And something I never want you to do again." She pointed her fork at him.
Kaiden laughed and nodded. "I won't," He assured them, relieved that they weren't mad at him. "No more trolls."
The Snape family spent the rest of the evening playing exploding snap and giving Kaiden his first chess lesson with Severus's old set. They ended the evening with Severus reading out loud from a book of age appropriate scary stories until Kaiden fell asleep. It was the best and most exciting Halloween Kaiden had ever had.
HP
The next morning when Kaiden rejoined his friends in the Slytherin common room, he received a lecture by Marcus who apparently had been worried sick. By the look on Draco's face, he had already received the lecture the night before. He and Percy had already entered the Tower by the time Blaise and Pansy reached him to tell him where Draco and Kaiden had gone and the Gryffindor portrait wouldn't open back up as it had been instructed to stay closed until the Headmaster gave the all clear. When McGonagall had brought Hermione and Draco back, it was to the cheers of their peers and to the lectures of their worried prefects.
"I'm sorry Marcus," Kaiden said once the Slytherin prefect had stopped lecturing.
Marcus sighed. He had been so worried when he had discovered Kaiden and Draco missing and then when he had heard about their escapade with the troll, he'd been scared and angry as they could have been killed. "I know…just next time get me or Gemma okay?"
"Okay," Kaiden said.
"I'm glad you weren't hurt, well, hurt worse than you already were. How is your head?" Marcus asked, more relaxed now.
"Fine. The balm my parents used healed the bump." Kaiden answered, touching the back of his head where the bump was no more.
"We were worried sick!" Pansy hissed once Marcus had walked away. "I can't believe you two fought a troll!"
"I've already heard this from you," Draco said in a bored voice.
"Kaiden hasn't," Pansy snapped.
"Poor Hermione, she was really shaken up," Blaise said.
"She lied for us, she tried to make it where we wouldn't get blamed," Kaiden said.
"Yeah, I asked her why she did that and she said she couldn't bear seeing us get in trouble for helping her," Draco said, shaking his head. "Gryffindors." Kaiden could tell he was impressed though and responded with a grin.
"Neville was a nervous wreck, he knew that Hermione had been in the bathroom because of what Ron had said to her," Blaise said. "Unfortunately for Weasley, Percy overheard our conversation and knows the truth. He was really angry at Ron."
"Yeah, the lecture Marcus gave us paled in comparison to Percy's lecture to Ron." Draco said gleefully.
"He made a good point about how Ron's cruel words could have had disastrous results," Pansy said. "Because of what he had said, Hermione hid out alone and almost got killed by a troll. She wouldn't have been in danger if Ron hadn't been so mean. Not that he is to blame for the troll but I think it actually made Ron feel bad."
"Really?" Kaiden asked in surprise.
Pansy shrugged. "It looked like it to me. He also looked impressed when he heard about you guys and the troll."
"We're heroes," Draco said smugly.
Kaiden snorted while Pansy and Blaise rolled their eyes good-naturedly.
"Well, I'm just glad everything worked out," Pansy said finally. She pointed a finger at Kaiden and Draco. "Don't ever worry us like that again!"
"Yes Ma'am," Kaiden joked.
Their adventure with the troll was the talk of the school for the next few days and then things calmed down and once again, Kaiden was busy with homework and Quidditch practice. Soon it was the day before the Slytherins first match against Gryffindor.
"Good job!" Marcus called as he waved down his team. They had just finished another practice. "We are so ready for tomorrow!"
"Those Gryffindors won't know what hit them!" Miles Bletchley, who played Keeper, said triumphantly.
Marcus had arranged the practices to where they wouldn't be spied on, so that the other students couldn't see just how good Kaiden really was on a broom.
"I want everyone to get a good night's sleep and eat a healthy breakfast," Marcus ordered his team.
"Sir, yes sir!" Adrian Pucey, Chaser, saluted.
Marcus rolled his eyes and sent them off to the showers. Later, Kaiden joined his friends in their common room to go over their potions essay. He was exhausted from the intense practice and curled up on the sofa.
"It's going to be hard for you to write like that," Pansy said.
"Eh, give him a break. He needs to rest up for tomorrow." Draco said.
"Quidditch is not more important than homework," Pansy said.
"Yes it is," Draco and Blaise both said.
Kaiden snorted as he reluctantly sat up to work on his essay. He suddenly remembered that he was supposed to get his glamoured scar strengthened. Since it was a curse scar, the glamour needed to be re-applied monthly by his parents or Madam Pomfrey. He decided to remind his dad in the morning about it, he was too tired to move. Tomorrow morning would be fine.
HP
At breakfast Kaiden was too nervous to eat, despite Draco piling his plate with food. "I'm not hungry," He said for the fourth time.
"You have to eat something," Pansy told him.
"Yeah, you're the seeker. The players always try to clobber the seeker," Blaise said as he piled scrambled eggs onto his own plate.
"Gee, thanks Blaise," Kaiden made a face, though he began to nibble on a piece of toast. He was so nervous about the game that he completely forgot that his scar needed to be strengthened.
HP
"I'm so nervous!" Bella said as gazed at the Quidditch pitch waiting for the players to come onto the field.
"He will be fine, he is an excellent flyer," Severus said, though his tone was nervous as well. His son's first big game!
"This is exciting!" Dumbledore said happily. "The first match of the year and Kaiden's first time playing. This should be some game!"
Minerva nodded. "Yes, both teams have been practicing like crazy." She remarked.
Severus smirked. "Worried Minerva?" He asked innocently.
"Of course not," Minerva replied. "Gryffindors team is excellent this year."
"Sure it is," Severus chuckled, ignoring Minerva's scowl. He was used to trading jabs with her regarding Quidditch. While he was nervous, he was also excited to see his son play. In the back of his mind he had a feeling he was forgetting something important that he needed to do, but dismissed the thought as the players finally flew onto the field.
HP
At the sound of Madam Hooch's whistle, fifteen brooms rose up and they were off. A Gryffindor, Lee Jordan, was doing the commentary but instead of talking everyone through the game he kept commenting on how attractive he thought Gryffindors Chaser, Angelina Johnson was.
Kaiden sat on his broom, his eyes scanning for signs of the Snitch as he also cheered his team on. He gave a cheer when Marcus made the first score of the game. It was exciting to watch, though Kaiden was careful to keep out of the way so that the other team couldn't send a bludger his way. Suddenly, Kaiden saw a flash of gold and dived towards it. The Gryffindor seeker, Owen Anthony, had seen it too and soon they were neck and neck as they chased the snitch. Kaiden was close to snagging it when a seventh year Gryffindor chaser deliberately blocked him and nearly knocked him off his broom.
Oliver Wood, the Gryffindor captain, began yelling at the seventh year and the Weasley twins joined in.
"All right there Kaiden?" Fred asked as he flew next to Kaiden.
"Yeah, I'm okay," Kaiden said, his heart racing.
"That guy has always been a git," George said as he flew past them.
Madam Hooch lectured the disgraced chaser and then ordered a free shot at the goal posts for Slytherin. In all the excitement, the snitch had disappeared and Kaiden was back to waiting for it to show itself again. He sat on his broom, scanning the field when it happened. His broom gave a sudden jolt and Kaiden felt like he was going to fall. He gripped the broom tightly, trying to hold on.
Kaiden began to really panic when it happened again and he realized he couldn't control his broom at all. It began zigzagging through the air while giving more of those scary jolts. Kaiden's eyes widened in fear as he held on for dear life.
Below the players Draco's eyes widened when he saw what was happening to Kaiden. "Something is wrong with his broom!"
"Did that Gryffindor do something?" Pansy asked with concern.
Hagrid was standing near and looked up. "Can't have. Only powerful dark magic could interfere with a broom like that," His kept worried eyes on Kaiden.
Hermione grabbed Draco's binoculars and began scanning the crowd.
"Hey!"
"It has to be an adult doing this, the broom is being jinxed!" Hermione said as she scanned the stands where the professors were. All of them were trying to help and mouthing words as they focused on Kaiden. "It looks like the professors are trying to counter it…but one of them must be causing it!"
"A professor?" Neville squeaked as he watched Kaiden fearfully.
"Like Hagrid said, no student could do this." Hermione thought for a second and then handed Draco his binoculars back. "I'll be right back!"
Up in the air, Kaiden's broom gave another jerk and he slipped off of it, dangling from it while he held on with his hands. What is happening?! He wondered as he held on tight. He noticed his teammates and the Weasley twins were trying to help him but anytime they got close, his broom would jerk away and rise higher.
"Severus!" Bella gasped as she continued her counter curse.
Severus was about to summon a broom and fly up to his son when he heard a yelp and turned around, seeing a fire start behind him.
All of the professors moved, some knocking each other over as they did and Dumbledore quickly put out the fire. Quirrell was stuttering nervously as Flitwick helped him up.
Severus and Bella looked back up and saw with relief that Kaiden was able to climb back onto his broom, which now appeared to be behaving normally. He began diving towards the ground and held his hand to mouth as he hit the field. He coughed and something gold fell into his hands. He had caught the snitch! He held it up triumphantly. The crowd burst into applause and cheers.
"Good job, that was amazing!" Marcus Flint shouted as he patted Kaiden on the back.
The Gryffindor chaser who had block Kaiden was complaining loudly. "He didn't catch it, he swallowed it!"
"Oh, shut up!" Oliver Wood yelled at him. "Slytherin won fair and square!"
"Congratulations Kaiden!" The Weasley twins shouted at him. Despite being bummed that their team had lost, they were happy for their friend.
"Kaiden!" Severus and Bella burst through the crowed, Draco following closely behind them.
"Are you okay?" Severus demanded, pulling his son into a hug. He didn't care what it did to his stern reputation; he was too grateful that his son appeared all right.
Bella grabbed Kaiden to hug him as well. "We thought you were going to fall!"
"So did I," Kaiden admitted.
Severus took a deep breath. "Before you celebrate with your team, I want you checked out by Madam Pomfrey," He said.
"Aw, Dad," Kaiden started to complain.
"No Kaiden, your father is right," Bella said. "I'm sure it won't take long and it will give us peace of mind."
"I'll come with you," Draco offered.
Kaiden sighed and nodded, he didn't have much of a choice anyway.
"We'll see you in the common room Kaiden, get ready to celebrate!" Marcus called to him as he walked off the field with the team.
"What happened to Kaiden's broom?" Draco asked as they reached the infirmary.
"I don't know for certain, but you can bet I will find out," Severus said in a tight voice.
"Someone jinxed it didn't they?" Draco asked.
"Why? Someone wanted Gryffindor to win that badly?" Kaiden asked as he hopped up onto a cot as Madam Hooch bustled around him.
"Quidditch," Poppy muttered as she ran several diagnostics. "I've told the Headmaster a thousand times how dangerous that sport is."
"I'm fine though," Kaiden insisted to his parents. He saw Draco staring at him. "Draco? What's wrong?"
"Kaiden," Draco said slowly, his grey eyes wide with shock. "Why do you have a lightning bolt scar on your forehead?"
TBC: Sorry for another cliffhanger! Hehe =)