Christina began arguing with Ron and Harry on whether they would "let her" go with them to save Hermione, while Dumbledore gave out orders to the prefects. Harry and Ron were just about to give in, when Ron suddenly thought of something.
"Prefects take your table up to the common room where dinner will continue."
As ordered the many prefects rose up and began leading the students out of the Great Hall single file. Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw were the first out, then Slytherin and Gryffindor. Ron, Harry and Cristina followed their prefect. Ron quickly led them aside, just as Harry had done in their first year.
"I guess we're going to have to let her tag along," Ron sighed. "Just like Neville in first year."
Harry and Christina gave Ron identical looks of confusion. Harry's eyes suddenly widened with comprehension. Neville didn't try to join them, but did try to stop them from facing who they thought would be Snape, and was rewarded with the full body bind courtesy of Hermione Granger.
"You or me Ron?" asked Harry simply.
"I guess me," said Ron, who shrugged hands in his pocket.
As quickly as they could see Ron had his wand out and was pointing to Christina. Ron was already in mid incantation when Christina figured out what was happening.
"Petrificus Totalus!"
Christina's legs slapped together, her arms slapped to her body, her whole body rigid; she fell. Harry caught her shoulders.
"Ron you get her feet. We'll have to carry her to the common room," said Harry trying to balance Christina.
The trudged up the stairs toward the common room carrying Christina in their arms. To Harry it was almost as bad as when he and Hermione had to drag Norbert up to the top of the highest Astronomy tower in their first year, almost.
"Christina, - you've – got to – cut – back – on – the – pump- kin – pasties," grunted Ron as they carried her up the stairs. Though Christina was under the effects of the full body bind she still managed to glower at Ron.
When they reached the Fat Lady's portrait the Fat Lady began telling them off. "What are you three playing at still out while a troll is running amok? What happened to her? You lot could have been –"
"Fish and Chips." Harry thought it weird that they would have a muggle food as a password, but didn't let it distract him from entering the common room and escaping the Fat Lady's voice.
The Fat Lady swung open still telling them off. Upon entering the common room Ron and Harry were bombarded by questions.
"Did you defeat the Roll?"
"How many points did McGonagall give you this time?"
"What spell did you use?"
"What –"
"We didn't defeat the troll, zero points from McGonagall, we used the full body bind on Christina, and we're going to finish our dinner," said Harry heatedly as Ron did the counter spell to the body bind.
"RON WEASLEY!" yelled Christina in furry as her right cross connected with Ron's jaw. Ron was lifted off his feet and was introduced to the floor.
"What did you do that for," Ron asked while moving his jaw around. Though he'd never admit it, that punch hurt a lot.
"For putting me in that spell, you git."
"I'm sorry, we – we just didn't want you to get hurt," Ron quickly retorted, his temperature, and temper, starting to rise.
"I can take care of myself, and we're going back out there now!"
Ron looked over to Harry who was looking for Hermione while he and Christina were making an unplanned, but semi-welcome distraction; Ron's jaw still hurt.
Harry shook his head slowly.
"Okay, okay," said Ron pulling Christina over to the corner. "We'll go upstairs to Harry and my room."
"I know you're attracted to me Ron, but I don't think this is the time to put the move on me," Christina whispered, feigning innocence. Ron rolled his eyes.
"We're going to get Harry's invisibility cloak. That's what we came for anyway; you should be thankful I was thinking of keeping you under the spell," Ron whispered.
"An invisibil –" Christina was about to yell "invisibility cloak", until Ron clapped his hand over mouth. Her eyes flashed to his with anger. He released his hand quickly and blushed when her gaze changed to a soft stare of awe.
"Why didn't you tell me that Harry had an invisibility cloak," asked Christina quietly.
"Because I knew you'd do something like you almost did, but anyway we have to hurry."
They left Harry in the common room eating, and just distracting the students from seeing Ron and Christina run to the boys dorm rooms.
Ron quickly grabbed the invisibility cloak from Harry's trunk, taking a few sugar quills and a dung bomb. The sugar quills were for him, the dung bomb for the troll
Ron threw the cloak over himself and Christina, then slowly made their way down the stairs.
Ron and Christina had a difficult time dodging the people in the common room to meet Harry.
"Psst. Harry, we're going to go, we'll meet you back here with Hermione. Give us a distraction so that they won't notice the door opening all by itself.
"All right then."
"Everyone, I'd like to make an announcement," Harry began. Everyone turned their attention to the boy who lived. "We are looking for reserve players for the Quidditch team, if anyone would like to try out come and talk to me. I've talked to Dumbledore, and he said that first years will be able to join the team."
This gave Ron and Christina the time they needed to sneak out of the common room. Of course the Fat Lady was utterly bewildered as to why someone would open the door, but dismissed the thought when the door was shut.
"Where to first," Cristina asked, turning her head slightly to the side, allowing her breath to tickle the hairs on Ron's neck.
"I think we should split up, we'll cover more ground. Hopefully we can find Hermione before the troll does," Ron said edging slightly away from Cristina.
"I call the invisibility cloak," cried Cristina instantly.
"I was going to let you have the cloak anyway," Ron said defensively. "You check the girls bathroom on this floor, I'll start on the next one. Then you check the Astronomy tower, while I check the library. If we don't find her there then we meet up at the library and search room by room."
"Alright I'll take you as far as the stairs before I take the cloak for myself."
Cristina and Ron crept quietly toward the end of the hall toward the stairs. Before they could reach half way Snape came charging from the stairs. Ron abruptly pulled Cristina and himself against the wall. He covered her mouth, not trusting her to quiet herself.
Snape reached the Fat Lady seconds from emerging from the stairs.
"Hurry, go," said Cristina. Ron slid down the banister, Cristina making her way toward the girls' bathroom.
"Let me inside," snapped Snape.
"Password," asked the Fat Lady. Though he may have been a teacher he still needed the password.
"This is Professor Snape. The first one to let me in will get a get out of detention free certificate," enticed Snape.
Quick as a flash dozens of students leapt for the portrait hole. Seamus was in front, but on the bottom; several students stepping over him. Harry reached the portrait hole first; not surprising since he sat next to it waiting for word from Ron and Cristina.
Harry opened the portrait hole. Though he was expecting Snape, he didn't expect him to seem so pleased.
"Ah, Potter. Just who I wanted to see. I am here to make sure that you stay put and stay out of the other professors' way," Snape said, a smile on his face. "Now, where would your sidekicks Mr. Weasley and Ms. Granger be?"
"Hermione is in the bathroom when we were in the Great Hall," Harry said, hoping against hope that Snape would somehow forget about Ron.
"And Mr. Weasley," Snape asked sensing apprehension emanating from Harry. "Where is he?"
"I don't know sir. I didn't see him during all the commotion in the Great Hall." Which was near the truth, he did have trouble while they were piling out of the Great Hall.
Snape glared at Harry before he turned on his heel and spoke to Harry with his back turned. "If I find that you left this room I will give you two detentions a day."
Snape opened the portrait hole, and exited. Harry slumped against the wall as everyone went about their business.
Ron flew into the bathroom and made a quick check. "Damn." He quickly runs by rooms, hoping that he won't be stopped by any teachers. Heart beating unbelievably fast, breath ragged, and sweat drenched, Ron arrived at the library.
Ron opened the doors and quickly shut them behind him.
"Hermione are you here," Ron said hoarsely as he walked toward the library's tables.
"Ron? What are you doing here," asked Hermione, looking up from what looked like Arithmancy homework. "Aren't you supposed to be at the Great Hall, where's Harry?"
"Hermione I've got to get you out of here," Ron said yanking her out of her chair. "There's a troll on the loose, and with our luck it'll probably be here any minute."
THUNK. THUNK. THUNK.
"Oh bloody – let's get out of here," Ron led Hermione toward the back of the library.
Hermione's voice was caught in her throat. Ron's arm was around her, clinging her close to him in an attempt to protect her from the troll. Ironically Ron released her and headed toward the front of the library.
Ron turned his face toward Hermione. "I'll distract the troll, while you go and get a teacher."
"What if it's a professor in the library," asked Hermione before he left.
"Um… I'll just say that we were… er making out," Ron said turning away before Hermione caught him blushing.
Ron burst out to meet a twenty foot troll; its dull yellow gnarly teeth mashed together making an eerie sound. The troll had dark red skin, and was wearing what seemed to Ron as a dress. Its face seemed as though it were in a trance, staring off in the direction of a bookshelf. The eyes bloodshot and glazed over, giving Ron time to think of something to do.
"Holy crap," Ron whispered searching desperately for his wand.
What should I use? The levitation charm? No, it doesn't have a club. I'll use that blue flame Hermione likes. I like it too, if it comes to that. We have a lot in common she and –
The troll just noticed Ron and took a swing at him with its enormous arms. With Ron aside it moved toward Hermione, who was hidden in the back of the room, as though it knew it was there. Thinking quickly Ron used his wand to drop bookshelves upon the troll.
The troll rose in a flash of anger. It's eyes, glowing green, while it seemed to glide toward Ron.
Think quick Ron, Come on.
Ron caught the sight of the troll's dress that covered most of its body, and got an idea.
"Etroleumpay," Ron bellowed, petroleum flowing from the tip of his wand dousing the dress. The troll raised its hands, ready to bring them down onto Ron.
"La carnum inflamare!"
Ron's wand spit flames toward the troll's dress, igniting it instantaneously. The fire rages on as the troll screamed and flailed its arms around, burning alive. Ron sat there at the bottom of a bookshelf, mesmerized by the flames of the troll.
"Ron," a voice yelled snapping Ron out of his trance.
"Hermione, are you okay," Ron asked, closing his eyes. His hand was being held by both of Hermione's hand.
Hermione's face showed hew worry for Ron as she checked for wounds. She found one, at the back of his head where blood flowed freely like Butterbeer on a Hogsmeade weekend. And there on the floor was a book with blood on the corner of its bindings, which obviously collided with Ron's head.
She stayed with him, while the doors banged open. While dozens of professors were screaming and shouting, asking "what happened?" and "are you alright?". She didn't hear that. She just stared into the closed eyes of her love, her reason for living, wondering if she should tell her how she feels. Not realizing that things could only get worse.