Chapter 11
There are tears running all down my face, my nose is running like a tap. I'm, almost, running away from something. I crash through the doors of the girls toilet on the second floor and head towards one of the many stalls. I sit on the toilet and try to calm myself, I'm hyperventilating whether from the run here, or the crying I don't know. I wipe my eyes on my cloak sleeve, and put my head between my knees. I need to get a hold of myself. I'm in the bathroom for an indeterminable amount of time. I hear the door open and a dragging noise then the door slams shut. I listen as carefully as I can, there is the dragging noise and the odd grunt and shuffle. What on earth? I open the cubicle door and see the troll, I scream what am I to do? I've read about trolls, they are considered rather stupid, but are strong and destructive. This one looks like a mountain troll, it's about 12feet tall, is holding a club that is about 6ft and is about to swing it at my head. I throw myself to the floor, and crawl as quickly as possible to the other side of the room. The stall I was in, is now non-existent and the shards are flying all over the room. How am I going to get out of here, alive? My brain can't seem to work a way out of here. Just as I start to get desperate, the doors to the bathroom open again, and I see, of all people, Harry and Ron. I hear Harry tell me to move, I crawl again around the room. The troll continues to destroy the stalls with its club. When I manage to look up I see both boys are throwing the remains of the stalls at the troll and Ron yell "Hey peabrain" and throw another piece of wood at the troll. This hits the troll right on the head, and forces it's attention towards the boys instead of me. I scream for them both to help me. Harry pulls his wand and somehow manages to get onto the back of the trolls head. This certainly distracts it. Harry's wand ends up, up the trolls nose. The troll manages to reach up and grab Harry from behind his head and is holding him upside down by his ankle. Harry shouts out "do something ….. anything" Ron pulls his wand from his sleeve and I mime to him the swish and flick of the charm we learnt in the previous lesson. I hear Ron yell "wingardium leviosa". When the troll goes to swing his club again his hand is empty. The club is floating about 2 feet above the troll. Ron's spell wears off and the club comes crashing down on the trolls head. It seems dazed, it drops Harry and takes a few steps forward unsteadily then crashes to the floor.
I wake with a start. My heart is again hammering inside my chest. At least I know I survive the ordeal with the troll. However, I still don't know when it's going to happen or what causes me to be in the bathroom in the first place or why Harry and Ron are the ones that try to rescue me. I make a decision to try and befriend both so that when the troll situation does happen that they will come and rescue me, as I dread to think what could happen if they don't.
I lie in bed for a bit longer, going over the dream again. I dreamt about a spell we haven't learnt yet. I could do with finding out when we are going to learn it so I can at least try and figure out WHEN the troll is going to get into the school. The rest can come after. I roll out of bed and go to the little bathroom as is my usual morning routine.
Breakfast is a quiet affair, toast and jam and an orange is my choice today. I chat with Neville a bit to try and calm him down about potions later. He's got himself all worked up. I try and make conversation with Harry and Ron but I just get grunts as Ron's mouth is completely filled with food and Harry looks disinterested.
We all head to History of Magic. I struggle to concentrate in this lesson. My mind is preoccupied with the troll. How does it even manage to get into the school? If trolls are as stupid as I've read about there's no way it manages it on its own. Which means someone has to let it in. But for what purpose? To create a diversion? But from what? I have far too many questions and not enough answers. History of Magic passed slowly.
Double potions and today Professor Snape informs us that we will be making the forgetfulness potion, "not that many of you need it". I make sure that Neville is keeping up with me this time. But this costs time, and we don't manage to finish brewing the potion in time for the end of the lesson. Snape vanishes everyone's contents from their cauldrons and admonishes those that haven't finished. I feel deflated as we walk out of the dungeon. Neville keeps apologising, it's his fault we have to write a 5foot essay on the uses of forgetfulness potion and it's dangers. I agree with him in my thoughts, but that's not what I say to him "At least no cauldrons were damaged this time Neville, that's a vast improvement, we just need to move quicker that's all"
The rest of the day passes without incident. And that's saying something for flying class after the last lesson. We all managed to hover for 5 minutes and come back down to the ground safely. Astronomy class was, as interesting as ever. Mars has a big influence over earth it seems as does the moon, when those two align we are in for trouble. Which, if my calculations are correct is due to happen towards the end of the year.
As we are descending the many stairs from the astronomy tower I overhear Harry and Malfoy in a heated debate about quidditch and Malfoy challenges Harry to a duel the following night at midnight. Harry agrees, and Ron volunteers to be his second. What are those boys up to? I'll have to find a way to stop them participating or Harry will be expelled from Hogwarts for sure this time.