"I'm telling you, Ron, whatever is under that trapdoor is related to the vault at Gringotts that was broken into!" Harry announced at breakfast. He and Ron had decided, mentally, that the trip to the third floor corridor was a great adventure. The fact that the whole thing seemed to make Hermione so mad she refused to speak to them may have played a role in that choice.
"I believe you. Hey, look, Nott's buddies are pissed you're still here," Ron said with a laugh, looking to see if Hermione would scoff at his language. She, however, was sitting at the end of the table, alone, reading a huge book.
"Bet he thought we would get expelled," Harry said with a laugh as the post owls came flying in. Hedwig landed in front of the twins, dropping a long, thin package on the table. Fred gave her some bacon while George took the note off the top.
"Harry, why is Sirius sending us a spare broom?" George asked, confused.
"No reason," Harry said with a shrug. George opened the package and balked.
"Harry, why did he send us, the Beaters, one Nimbus 2000?" George asked.
"Still no reason," Harry said, again shrugging. "But, if you could bring it to the pitch for your Quidditch practice tonight, it'd be lovely."
The twins just nodded, knowingly. Harry and Ron left, intending to get ready for classes. Draco, however, followed them out, wanting to get a word in. He caught them just outside the Great Hall, tapping on Harry's shoulder to get his attention.
"Hi, wanker," Harry said, punching Draco in the face when he saw who it was.
"I tried to get a hold of you, you arse. We need mirrors like Sirius and James had," Draco said, wiping blood from his mouth. "Nott tried to keep me from getting out. He's recovering from 'a fall down the stairs,'" Draco informed them.
"Well, you missed out. We found out what their hiding in the third floor corridor," Harry gloated.
"Oh, and what is that?" Draco asked.
"For us to know and you to find out," Ron said, leaning into Harry.
"Jerks. I'll find out another way," Draco vowed.
"What did you find in the third floor corridor, Neville?" Draco asked, cornering his friend.
"A three headed dog, why?" Neville asked, cocking an eyebrow.
"Whatever Harry is paying you, I'll double it," Draco said, not believing Neville's story.
"He's not paying me anything. Do you think he should be?" Neville asked.
"If he's not paying you, then why are you lying to me?" Draco asked.
"Do we need to punch him, Malfoy?" Goyle, or maybe Crabbe (Neville didn't know the difference yet) asked, popping his knuckles.
"No. Neville and I are friends. He's not getting punched. Unless he doesn't tell me the truth," Draco said, threatening Neville with his eyes.
"Draco, I'm telling you the truth. We ran around, took a secret passageway- already found- then ended up in the third floor corridor hiding from Filch. There was a three headed dog and he was standing on a trapdoor. Or, at least, that's what Hermione said," Neville said with a shrug.
"Wait, you took Granger and not me?" Draco asked.
"I don't think she was supposed to come. Ron and Harry were upset she was there," Neville informed him.
"What's under the trapdoor?" Draco asked.
"No clue. Harry's gonna figure it out," Neville said.
"Can I study with you?" Draco asked, causing Hermione to jump.
"I'm a muggleborn. According to Ron, that matters to you," she informed him, turning back to her work.
"Ron's a prat. He also thinks I cheat at Quidditch because I'm a better Chaser than Ginny is. Don't listen to Ron, he'll lead you astray," Draco said with a roll of his eyes.
"What do you want to study with me for? Harry and Ron hate me. Shouldn't you hate me to?" Hermione asked, shoving her books to the side.
"I can think for myself. You didn't know about Harry's parents and you seemed to feel bad about it afterwards. Hestia told him to expect comments, so he's just being sensitive. Also, as far as I can tell, you're the smartest person in our class. So, why wouldn't I study with you?" Draco said, inviting himself to set at her table.
"So you're using me?" Hermione asked.
"Merlin you Gryffindors! Not everything is black and white! Yes, I benefit from this because I get to study with you. You, however, benefit because you come under my wing of protection, " Draco explained.
"I don't know what that has to do with anything, but you can study with me as long as you can keep up," Hermione said, pulling her book back and beginning her homework/again.
"Good answer, Granger," Draco said with a smile.
"I think Harry and Ron are keeping secrets from me," Draco confided two weeks later. He had noticed his friend didn't have time to hang out since the three headed dog incident.
Hermione was pleasantly surprised when Draco was able to not only keep up, but challenge her. She still didn't understand what he meant by wing of protection, but she figured she would find out soon enough.
"He's been having secret meetings with the Weasley twins for the last two weeks. I think that may have something to do with it," she replied, making him shudder.
"Is there really a three headed dog in the third floor corridor?" He asked, wanting confirmation now that he had her trust.
"Yes, it's awful. That poor thing should be out where it can move and exercise. Not stuck in a school guarding a trapdoor," she said, shaking her head and checking her charms work.
"Where do you think it came from?" He asked.
"Greece, if I had to guess. I wasn't expecting that when I joined the magical world," Hermione confided.
"Yeah, that's not normal, even for the magical world, and Harry's godfather can turn into a dog," Draco reassured her.
They worked in silence for a while before Hermione asked, "Why are you so nice to me? All of your friends hate me."
"Neville loves you, don't think he doesn't. Harry and Ron don't like following rules and you seem to follow them pretty close. Don't worry about them, they'll come around," Draco said, trying to explain 11 year-old boys.
"Is Professor Snape really your step-father?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah, just don't go telling anyone. It was okay growing up- he was always here and we were at home- but now, he's here all the time, and my head of house. It's a nightmare," Draco shuddered.
"Sorry I asked, I just had to know. Mum says it's a sickness, my curiosity. She says it'll get me killed someday," Hermione said, looking downcast.
Time passed and soon Halloween was upon the students. Harry was already in a miserable mood, being the anniversary of his parents death. As he got older, he understood the importance of this holiday and why Remus and Sirius usually got drunk after he went to sleep. He wondered how they would handle it this year, the first time he wasn't there for them.
Where Potter Manor was glum with a facade of happiness on Halloween, Hogwarts wore an air of victory and mirth. The twins started the morning pranking Ron by throwing a rubber spider on his face. Ron shrieked, causing many students to start looking over the first year girls in an attempt to find the distressed one.
The Great Hall, and most of the school, smelled like baking pumpkin, giving the students hope for that night's Halloween Feast. In Charms, Flitwick announced that they were ready to make objects fly. He then sent Trevor zooming through the air, much to the student's' amusement. He reminded them of the swish and flick, then paired the students up.
Ron and Harry were the first students he chose to separate. Harry was paired with Seamus, much to his disappointment (Neville had been trying to get his attention). Neville was forced to work with a blonde girl named Lavender. Ron was paired with Hermione, and neither one were happy about the fact.
"Swish and flick, swish and flick. And saying the words properly is important, too. Never forget the wizard Baruffio, who said 's' instead of 'f' and found himself with a buffalo on his chest."
Flitwick flicked his wand and passed out feathers to each pair of students. Harry and Seamus tried their hardest, but Harry was beginning to doubt that he had gotten his mother's skill at Charms. Seamus eventually got frustrated enough to just poke the feather until it combusted and Harry put it out with the aguamenti charm Remus taught him.
The next table over held Ron and Hermione. Ron was shouting 'Wingardium Leviosa' and flailing his arms about.
"No, no, no! You're saying it all wrong! It's Wing-gar-dium Levi-o-sa. Make the gar nice and long!" Hermione directed.
"If you're so clever, you do it," Ron snarled.
Hermione rolled her sleeves up, flicked her wand, and said, "Wingardium Leviosa!"
Their feather floated four feet in the air and hovered there.
"Well done, Miss Granger! Look, class, Miss Granger's done it!" Flitwick squeaked.
Ron was in a very bad mood when class ended.
"Honestly, it's no wonder she hasn't got any friends!" Ron exclaimed, pushing his way into the crowded corridor. "She's a nightmare, honestly."
Harry was hit in the back as someone pushed past him very quickly. Harry found himself startled that she was crying as she rushed away.
"Uh, Ron, I think she heard you," Harry said, suddenly feeling bad as Hermione ran off. Fortunately, Neville hadn't heard, as Trevor had just ran off.
"So? It's not exactly a secret. She's got to notice she's got no friends," Ron said, but he looked a bit guilty.
"Hey, where's Hermione?" Neville asked, finally catching up to them, needling Ron unknowingly.
Hermione didn't show up to class the rest of the day. Harry heard Lavender that Hermione was crying in the bathroom and didn't want to be bothered. Ron looked even more awkward at that. When they entered the Great Hall, however, Hermione left their minds.
There were thousands of live bats everywhere and the feast was served on the same golden plates as the start of the term feast. Harry helped himself to a baked potato as Quirrell came sprinting in , his turban askew.
"Troll! Troll in the dungeon!" He gasped. Then, he fell over face first in a spectacular faint.
Chaos ensued. Dumbledore had to fire off purple fireworks to calm the students.
"Prefects! Lead your houses back to your dormitories immediately!" He rumbled.
Percy was in his element, demanding students follow him. Unfortunately, the Gryffindors had minds of their own. Harry, Ron, and Neville broke away from their group and found Draco in the Great Hall.
"How did a troll get in?" Harry asked.
"I don't know! They're really stupid. Maybe Peeves let it in as a joke?" Ron asked. Harry, then, clutched Ron's arm.
"Ron, what about Hermione?" Harry asked.
"I don't know, what about her?" Ron asked back.
"She wasn't in the Great Hall, she won't know about the troll. She could get seriously hurt," Harry said, catching Draco's full attention.
"Where, exactly, is Hermione?" Draco asked, dangerously low.
"Lavender said she crying in the bathroom," Harry said, ears coloring. Right then, the prefects started moving the students apart and back to their houses.
"You'll explain that one later, Potter. I have to get to the dungeons, you go rescue her. It's your fault she's not here, I'm sure," Draco said turning to join his year group.
"Or what, Malfoy?" Ron asked to cover his guilt.
"Or I owl Molly and Aunt Hest and tell them you lot don't know how to treat women," Draco said, an evil glint in his eye. "Don't think I won't, Weasley."
Harry and Ron knew Draco well enough to know that they should go find Hermione, no matter the consequences.
Harry and Ron played it cool, watching the mass of students rushing to their respective common rooms going in the opposite direction. Taking three turns they finally found the girl's bathroom, watching the troll waltz its way in.
"This is where I want to swear," Harry said with wide eyes.
"Bloody Hell!" Ron said for him. "That thing is massive!"
"Come on, I'm not getting detention and a Howler from Hest if we screw this up." Harry told him, wand at the ready, he slowly opened the door. "Hermione?" He whispered.
Hermione's eyes were focused onto the Troll, who was pulling back his club to swing at her. She rushed into the stall, trying to take cover. "Do something!" Hermione yelled at them.
"Like what!" They both yelled to her.
"Don't you EVER pay attention!" She screamed, moving again from the Troll's club. "Use the switch and flick!"
"What's the spell again?" Harry asked, rushing the troll, and grabbing onto the club.
The Troll, who was oblivious to the boys before now was attempting to shake Harry off.
"Oh! For goodness sakes!" Hermione screamed as the Troll almost ran over her as she ran across the bathroom to Ron."Wingardium leviosa!"
"Right!" Harry screamed, trying to hit the Troll's head. He succeeded in making it angry.
"Wingardium leviosa" Ron yelled to the Troll and failing.
"Don't hit Harry!" She screeched.
"Wingardium leviosa!" This time it finally worked. The club was hanging in the air and Ron was singing in his victory.
Harry shimmied down the Troll's body as Ron let the club down to hit the troll in the head.
Harry fell to the floor, rushing over to the two of them, wrapping his arms around them. "I think I'm starting to understand the luck thing people keep saying I have," Harry told them with his head down.
"What are you both doing here?" Hermione demanded as the door opened. The three stepped away from each other. McGonagall, Snape and Qurirrell started to stare them, but their direction was moved to the troll, laying flat on it's stomach.
"I could ask you the same question," McGonagall demanded.
"I was-I thought I could take on the troll myself, Professor. It's a good thing Harry and Ron showed up, or else, I'd be dead."
"Ms. Granger, I thought someone of your intelligence would know not to take on a full grown troll by yourself. Fifty points from Gryffindor for your arrogance, Miss. Granger." McGonagall informed them. "As for you, Potter and Weasley, your bravery, no matter how stupid, I award you each fifty points. For sheer dumb luck."
Gabs: Kat made me reign myself in.
Kat: Well, you can get wordy, you little introvert.
Gabs: You love my lyrical prose!
Kat: Well, someone did ask us how we can write so alike. We do share a brain somedays.
Gabs: All days. Thanks you all our lovely reviewers.
Kat: Yes, thank you! As always, we own nothing.
Gabs: You forgot! There may be an update Thursday if I get my butt in gear.
Kat: Will it be a one-shot?
Gabs: No… I'll write a chapter while you grade some papers.
Kat: It is that time of the year. 7 school days until you and I can write three chapters ahead! And I whine about the GRE!
Gabs: ….Something to look forward to…. Yay, Christmas….
Kat: Comment! We love it when you do! It can be your gift to us!
XOXO
Gabs & Kat
